This was one of the best things I saw all day - a light made from silk cocoons collected from farmers throughout Thailand. By Ango.
'Saw table light' by HutJ. When you lift the light and place it in a different slot, the wattage level changes. Seems like a lot of work for a lamp, but it's an interesting idea...
Ceramic 'Candelabra Cups' by design student Aimee Whitehead
'The Bend' - three versions of a fruit bowl by Israeli designer Eli Chissick (The one on the right is actually a continuous piece of plywood that bends due to it's unique cut)
Jed Crystal's cool crochet lamps
The Kastrup Sea Bath outside of Copenhagen is a perfect example of the Danish aesthetic. A simple clean design ,which incorporates the natural elements. The curved shape beckons bathers out from the shore and protects them from the wind once they arrive. While the wooden structure is beautifully designed, what I love most is simply the idea of creating a space for a sea bath. It's an entirely different experience than walking into the water from the beach, where most people never venture out over their head. And it looks amazing lit up at night...a lovely amphitheater out in the sea. (via plataforma arquitectura)
I'm getting ready to head to NY for ICFF so I think tomorrow may be my last post until Thursday or Friday. I plan on seeing as much as I can, both in the Javits Center as well as the surrounding shows (HauteGREEN etc.), and of course I'll be reporting everything back to you. If there are any hot spots you want me to check out or if there's a particular designer you're interested in, please drop me a line. Also, if any of you will be attending the show and want to meet up to walk through together - send me an email or leave a comment below. It's going to be a very busy couple of days...
Pretty tableware from Dianes Sol, shown as part of the Design Academy Eindhoven exhibition in Milan. (via grijs)
The details really do make all the difference. GAMplusFRATESI added a nice little punch to their otherwise ordinary 'Bouquet Table', simply by painting one of the legs.
I saw this image a while back on designboom and it has stayed with me ever since. 'Bullet Lights' is a design proposal by Dutch architecture student Edwin Gardner. He came up with the project after viewing the war torn streets of Beirut and noticing the number of bullet holes left behind. His idea is to light up these walls in select locations throughout the city in the hopes of "...introducing unexpected poetic moments of beauty. The project doesn’t want to make a point, it just invites people to look at things differently. Seeing things from more than one perspective is the starting point for empathy."
Charlie Davidson's 'Black Light' is not for the faint of heart. It resembles a large glowing mass of lava, casting off daggers of light from it's mysterious orange center. At first glance, I would say it's not something I would put over my dining room table, but seeing the lights installed in the photo above makes me appreciate the unique style these black beauties offer.
I love the furniture being made by the British design duo &made. Their collections deliver clever social commentary, while leaving room for a little fun too. In their 'Lost and Found' series, tables and stools arise from discarded items discovered in the streets, while the more recent 'Either Oar' table prepares you for the bleaker days of climate change. If you find yourself in a sudden flood, the table legs will convert to oars and you can paddle your way to safety aboard the tabletop.
To be honest, I don't know where I read about Zinoo Park, but what I do remember are their oh so clever '5 Minute Candles.' Just think of all the important Indiana Jones moments these would be useful for...in addition to the practical times of power outages, lighting birthday cakes, yada yada.
To call Reiko Sudo a mastermind of textiles would probably be an understatement. The Japanese designer is world-renowned for her her innovative, visionary fabrics - although I hadn't even heard of her until a few years ago. Now, whenever I'm feeling low on creativity I can look to her work and feel inspired.
The folks at Molo have done it again. The makers of the wondrous 'Softwall' now bring you 'Softseating'. Made entirely from kraft paper, these compressible pieces can be used as stools, benches and (my favorite) loungers. Although the paper will soften over time, the seats are designed to last, thanks to their sturdy honeycomb structure. Available in natural, unbleached kraft paper or black (dyed with bamboo charcoal ink).
This is smart. How many times have you left your phone or iPod laying somewhere to charge, only to end up tripping over the wire and knocking the gadget from it's precarious perch? The answer for me is...many times. 'Load-Ding' by the German company XXD offers a simple solution to all the clumsy and/or careless folks out there. A little pouch keeps all the cords tidy - and your electronics safe - while they power up.
After seeing everyone rave about Maxim Velcovsky's redesign of St. Bartholomew's Church, I wanted to find out more about the Czech designer who created all the commotion.
The 'FormFoam' chair by the Finnish group Anteeksi is a true DIY adventure. Tiny pins create the chair's delicate details, while giving the piece an overall finished look.
Want to beat those rainy day blues? Look no further than your own patio with Frederik Molenschot's 'Solid Poetry' tiles. When they get wet, a pretty pattern appears. (via core 77)
Every Friday I feel like I should be posting something a little more inspiring than just the latest cool product. Like many of you, I like to use my weekends for more creative pursuits and would appreciate seeing something amazing to get me going.
Meet the new Swedish label Paperhead. I really like their chairs, especially the low 'Bull' seat shown above. Their website doesn't have much info, but you can still look at all the pretty pictures.
