For me a house never feels like a home unless I have all my books surrounding me, but sometimes I wish they were in a more exciting environment. Dbd Studio seems to have read my mind with their digitally fabricated bookshelf. Custom made for a condo in Washington DC, this piece is more than just another [...]
For me a house never feels like a home unless I have all my books surrounding me, but sometimes I wish they were in a more exciting environment.
Dbd Studio seems to have read my mind with their digitally fabricated bookshelf. Custom made for a condo in Washington DC, this piece is more than just another storage unit – it’s an art piece.
Created from 17 sheets of birch plywood digitally formatted to fit the specific space, the shelves seem to be moving, as if undulating in the wind.
Distorted and definitely different, this design piece would make an interesting addition to any home – as long as you have the space for it.
A nice kindergarten is not enough for today’s parents; they work hard and want the best for their children, including the best design. Everything in this kindergarten in Ramat Hasharon is perfect, if you ask me maybe even too perfect for little kids. Forget the messy sandbox and the small squeaking chairs (at least according to [...]
A nice kindergarten is not enough for today’s parents; they work hard and want the best for their children, including the best design.
Everything in this kindergarten in Ramat Hasharon is perfect, if you ask me maybe even too perfect for little kids.
Forget the messy sandbox and the small squeaking chairs (at least according to my own kindergarten experience) and instead imagine a wonderful soothing space that is taken out of your dreams.
The entrance hall has a vast reading room with a white circular table and PVC leather chairs in blue and red. The living room is decorated with wooden panels with different characters explaining what they do at every space in the garden and the dining area has its own small tables.
“Everything has been taken into account with the Safety Advisor” says architect Lilach Lev. Everything is soft with a lot of white and blue. “Precisely because it is a room for the kids to go wild in, it is important to moderate the adrenaline”
The "Nature Room"
The special areas for the kids are designed according to various topics such as the “Nature Room” or the “Sea Room” abd the “Fairytale Room” (which is designed as a castle). The kids may be fast but the kindergarten is quite big, and to accomodate it designer Shani Hai designed a toilet for every room.
“No parent will put his kid in a kindergarten just because it’s pretty; this is the ideal – a combination of educational vision and a beautiful design.”
According to the designer, the materials are simple and easy to clean. If you ask me, all of this effort to design such a sterile look is not actually for the kids rather for their parents, but what’s so wrong about that?
This post is about thinking outside the box, and here is the perfect example for that brought to us by Shmuel Linsi. Concrete, ideal for building homes and roads but what will happen if we try to use it for designing small items? This is a tough question to answer, but apparently we can take [...]
This post is about thinking outside the box, and here is the perfect example for that brought to us by Shmuel Linsi.
Concrete, ideal for buildinghomes and roads but what will happen if we try to use it for designing small items? This is a tough question to answer, but apparently we can take Shmuel Linski’s help on this because -he designed one. Linski is a student at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design and he is about to graduate next year .
Shmuel Linski
Shmuel Linski’s ‘Espresso Solo’ flies right in the face of product designers who associate design aesthetics with the utilization of materials that lends a smooth soft appearance. Linski: “The design process began in choosing the material: I chose concrete. I had a vision: concrete in the kitchen, not only as a wall or decorative part, I wanted it to be a desirable consumer product”.
Willing to experiment with a variety of material combinations, this designer has crafted an espresso machine from concrete. Espresso Solo was specifically designed for Lavazza. The combination sets a wonderful contrast between the roughness of concrete and the clean lines of the metal parts. Shmuel has kept the project simple, the machine makes only espresso: short and long. A chamber for the beans and an outlet for water are all that it features. No fuss, just solid love for caffeine and irresistible forms.
For those of you who want a work space but don’t actually have a separate room to dedicate to this purpose; and for those of you who, like me, just love smart & beautiful ideas, I have found the perfect piece. Have a look at this portable desk: the ‘Fold-Out Convertible Desk” which when not [...]
For those of you who want a work space but don’t actually have a separate room to dedicate to this purpose; and for those of you who, like me, just love smart & beautiful ideas, I have found the perfect piece.
Have a look at this portable desk: the ‘Fold-Out Convertible Desk” which when not in use folds to become a 6” deep wall cabinet for easy storage. The compact workstation, other than providing an instant workspace, also includes a number of shelves to store office supplies, slots for file folders and a corkboard for notes. Measuring 22”x32”x 6”, the convertible desk is ideal for small family rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, small apartments or wherever you might need it.
Stay organized when paying bills and comfortable when using your laptop.
Made of MDF& veneer. In walnut or black finish.
A great way to make the most of a guest room space without cluttering it with extra furniture. Just tuck the desk back into the cabinet when visitors come!
All you need to do now is mount it on the wall and start working.
You can find this at Solutions — browse through their site for all kinds of great ideas.
Have you ever noticed that when you wash your dishes in the sink water splatters onto the wall and floor immediately making a mess? In order to solve this problem I usually buy myself a little rug, but after a few days I’m faced with a new problem – a dirty rug! So naturally I was [...]
Have you ever noticed that when you wash your dishes in the sink water splatters onto the wall and floor immediately making a mess? In order to solve this problem I usually buy myself a little rug, but after a few days I’m faced with a new problem – a dirty rug!
So naturally I was so excited when I came across this awesome product from Brita Sweden – a plastic rug that you can just wipe off in seconds.
Of course the next thing I had to check out is what these plastic rugs looked like. The answer is in front of you, and if you ask me it has just become more attractive – available in a cheerful Scandinavian array of colors and patterns, these may be just the thing to infuse a little life into a white kitchen.
The next thing I always check is the company’s attitude towards green issues.
Brita Sweden’s ambition is to work only with suppliers who have an environmental policy. Their packagings are produced with EU Ecolabel standard. They will soon have a climate neutral choice for your parcel delivery. It will cost more but will leave no carbon footprint
I’m always searching for unique home items or special designs to write about, but I believe your style does not have to remain behind the moment you step out your front door. I believe you carry your lifestyle with you even when you’re just going out to buy some groceries. Reusable shopping bags are everywhere these [...]
I’m always searching for unique home items or special designs to write about, but I believe your style does not have to remain behind the moment you step out your front door. I believe you carry your lifestyle with you even when you’re just going out to buy some groceries. Reusable shopping bags are everywhere these days, so when you find one with features that make life a little easier and still keeps you stylish, it’s always worth a closer look. JP Monkey totes, manufactured in Los Angeles by a Santa Barbara company, include a keychain for keeping grocery store club cards handy as well as many more special features that separate them from their competitors in the market.
JP Monkey bags come with a removable hard bottom to prevent contents from sagging and shifting. They’re also equipped with thick reinforced handles to manage heavy loads without ripping. They’re machine-washable, an important factor in keeping cross-contaminating meat and poultry bacteria at bay.
But like I wrote at the beginning your style mustn’t stay at home - JP Monkey bags are made of handsome upholstery fabrics. And for those of you (I believe that’s all of you) who don’t want to be a walking billboard, the totes are advertisement-free, making them versatile enough to be carried for work or play, on neighborhood errands or while traveling the world.
JP Monkey founder Joslyn Gray, a commercial interior designer in Santa Barbara, started sewing shopping bags for personal use in 1995 and, after receiving overwhelming interest from admirers, launched her company in 2007. “We’re just one option out of many now,” Gray says, “but our main mission remains the same — to get people reusing bags instead of choosing paper or plastic.”
The bags cost $25 each on the JP Monkey website, where buying four or more gets you an automatic 15% discount.
Every little touch contributes to the style of our homes so I was delighted to discover Forbes & Lomax – a brilliant company whose vision can bring some light into our lives. 20 years ago, the elegant glass, nickel and brass light switches of the 1930s were no longer available and the modern alternatives were too simple and [...]
Every little touch contributes to the style of our homes so I was delighted to discover Forbes & Lomax – a brilliant company whose vision can bring some light into our lives.
20 years ago, the elegant glass, nickel and brass light switches of the 1930s were no longer available and the modern alternatives were too simple and lacking any sophistication, which made them unsuitable for high end projects.
It was at this point that Forbes & Lomax was founded, and with these problems in mind the company launched the invisible light switch – a light switch that combines the two different design styles, the simplicity of modernism with the class of the 1930s.
A transparent acrylic plate, allowing the wallpaper or wall paint to show through combined with a stylish metal toggle switch in the center.
A complete range of dimmers and outlets were designed to suit the exacting demands of architects, interior designers of both traditional and contemporary flair.
I love it when I find students’ work when I’m searching for things to write about as their biggest advantage over the working designers on the market is their ability to dream. These dreams may never come true but the way I see it they are the basis for tomorrow’s new inventions. Students from the University [...]
I love it when I find students’ work when I’m searching for things to write about as their biggest advantage over the working designers on the market is their ability to dream.
These dreams may never come true but the way I see it they are the basis for tomorrow’s new inventions.
Students from the University of Karsruhe in Germany have been experimenting with a unique new type of modular housing – “Rolit” is a cylindrical experimental house that includes everything you’d need in a home for one. A bit like a mouse in a wheel, the resident pushes the unit by walking in the center to rotate the structure to the desired position. Simply exert a little bit of energy to access a bed, a lounge chair, a table, built in storage, a shower, a toilet, or even the kitchen sink!
The unit is built from four support rings over a rigid inner shell, while a translucent membrane wraps the cylinder and can be printed with advertisements. Thin wooden slats circle the unit to provide a smooth running surface to roll it and openings on the side and slated windows let light into the interior. Mattresses and cushions are held on with velcro or put away inside cabinets when not in use. The interior is covered with 15 mm thick OSB panels.
Rollit, which won a design competition in collaboration with the Institute for Industrial Design and construction output (IFIB), was carefully designed and configured to incorporate multiple uses inside a small living space. The table, lounge chair and bed all cooperate with one another at the far end of the unit – the seat for the lounger is top of the table, while the bed is directly overhead. Just make sure that you’re on flat ground with a break – otherwise things could get way out of hand if you started to roll down a hill.
The Roh Collection by Spot On Square is every modernist’s dream, giving your baby a true room with a view. The use of a durable half-inch, BPA free, phthalate free, 100% recyclable clear acrylic that is framed by locally sourced Walnut creates a truly stunning and innovative design for the modern nursery. This original material [...]
The use of a durable half-inch, BPA free, phthalate free, 100% recyclable clear acrylic that is framed by locally sourced Walnut creates a truly stunning and innovative design for the modern nursery. This original material allows you to see your baby and adds a unique touch to the crib’s look.
The generously sized, coordinating walnut dresser will have parents considering a set for their own bedroom as well. A removable changing tray is available.
The ROH collection is offered in beautiful combinations of Walnut and White or Walnut and Grey; while the acrylic on the crib can be ordered on just one side, or both sides. There is a toddler conversion for the crib to convert it to a child’s bed, allowing the furniture to grow and adapt with your child.
This premium collection by Spot on Square raises the bar with innovation of design and material for the nursery, and the most wonderful thing about it is that it is MADE IN USA.
When an international tourism magazine ; “Conde Nest Traveler “, cfhooses the new design museum in Holon, a small city in Israel, as one of the new wonders of the world, alongside th stadium football city set up for the World Cup in Johannesburg, a museum competed in Calais, France, the Guang TV Tower in China, [...]
When an international tourism magazine ; “Conde Nest Traveler “, cfhooses the new design museum in Holon, a small city in Israel, as one of the new wonders of the world, alongside th stadium football city set up for the World Cup in Johannesburg, a museum competed in Calais, France, the Guang TV Tower in China, and others I had to find out what is so special about this architectural project.
The building was inaugurated On January 31st, 2010 following four years of construction, by Ron Arad architects.
The design museum Holon is Arad’s first architecture project of this scale. Constructed of five twisting bands of varying shades of COR-TEN (weathered steel).
The museum is comprised of two primary galleries and a number of alternative exhibition and education spaces. The upper gallery (500m²) celebrates the abundance of natural light in Israel and the qualities it can bring to the display of three-dimensional objects, while allowing curatorial flexibility through modulating light levels.
The smaller, lower gallery, (250m²) is taller inside but offers a more intimate, personal relationship between the visitor and the objects on display.
The project was initiated by Holon’s mayor Mr. Moti Sason and managing director, Ms. Hana Hertsman who invited Ron Arad architects to create the iconic building. Ron Arad architects has been involved in the project from the program development stage throughout the conceptual stage and the completion of building.
“Working together from such an early stage of development has enabled us to find answers to the question of the relationship between curatorial space and public circulation. We were able to capitalise on the potential space between the curves of the bands so that all the surfaces around the galleries and public facilities would fit comfortably in and in many cases, created bonus galleries. The bands form a visual key that carries visitors into the building, through it and then out; the bands instantly become a string that ties the whole building together inside and out” says Asa Bruno, supervising architect.
The overall purpose of the institution is to explore the impact of design and its relation to urban spaces and everyday life. The new museum will join Holon’s mediatheque – the cultural centre of the city, which includes the national cartoon museum, repertoire theatre with original productions, cinematheque, material and public library.
“Holon is a city which is re-inventing itself culturally, with ambitious plans that are investing a lot into culture. The concept of this museum in the Middle Eastern sun is just one instance. The city was brave enough to give us the design task and I hope that it is
received well by the municipality and the public.”– Ron Arad
Ron Arad’s design for the museum demonstrates a sculptural approach, combining ingenuous and playful functionality with highly visual design. In reference to his approach he says:
“Every project is unique; each one invites a different response. When we started working on the design museum Holon, it was like a white canvas, things developed and a direction was formed. We created a hierarchy of outdoor spaces so you walk in under the building into a semi-covered yard, where you have a choice to take the air-conditioned route or one exposed to the elements.The building envelope is not just a pretty space; it’s also a structure.”
