The customization trend - create your own faucet!

We have already talked a lot about the Customization trend in interior design. Here is another manifestation of this growing trend - you can design your own faucet!

 

With the KOHLER's Artifacts faucet collection it is now possible to choose a spout, handles and finish to create a look that’s not only timeless, but yours alone. Above is what I created :)

They can fit any style:

Like it? Read more about this fascinating Customization trend in interior design. 

Customized Living

Customization is one of the most popular trends in the last years - creating your own unique look for the things that surround you is a great possibility to express yourself and more and more companies offer customized and personalized products. As an interior designer I am very much pleased with the possibility to choose a rug  and customize it to literally any color combination, size and shape required - carpets are an important part of our interiors and this allows us to implement exactly the color scheme we want for a certain room. We can also use the rug as a way to unite all the colors in a room in the most suitable pattern and style.  

 I have many publications dedicated to this trend and the above abstract is from my post Customization trend: Create your Own Rug. Now I am very pleased to find that  “Customized Living” is a keynote theme at
DOMOTEX 2012. I am eager to see more photos from the event which takes place from 14 to 17 January 2012 and will showcase design trends in carpets, home textiles, resilient floor coverings, parquet and laminates. For those of you who are curious to learn what are the latest trends in carpet design, here below is an abstract from their preliminary publication:

The choice of floor covering is
often the inspiration behind the
interior designer’s whole concept.
A carpet is the unifying design
element which brings together
room decor and furniture
to create an individually styled
living space.

 This trend towards individual, unique style statements – customized living as it is often called – has a massive influence and opens up
new opportunities in personal interior design. Carpets allow almost unlimited possibilities due to the sheer diversity of materials, colours and shapes, not to mention custommade
products. Fashion trends areplaying an increasing role in carpetdesign. Consequently, in the 2012 season we will see lots of bold colour– pink, mustard yellow, cobalt blue, leaf green, turquoise, petroland rust – separately or as blockcolours, but also in funky, colourful combinations. In short, modern carpetsare an attractive and eyecatching design statement.

The  sustainability and “green living” trend applies to flooring, too. There are numerous  materials suited to this trend in flooring and home, such as undyed Himalayan (Tibetan) wool,
hemp, plant fibres and yarns from cacti as well as patterns based on natural forms and images which can
be used in carpets. Countless patterns, shapes and textures are inspired by nature. The natural theme is not simply expressed by the use of environment-friendly fibres and colours, but also by the use of natural images in carpets and rugs.

Prevailing Trend According to Tendence 2012 - Customizable Design

According to the organizers of the Tendence fair in Frankfurt - the most important consumer-goods fair and trend barometer for the second half of the year, running August 24-28,  a prevailing  trend at this year's event will be customization as designers create high-quality accessories that can be tailored to personal style.
I have written about the customization trend many times since 2007 when it first seemed to appear and I am not surprised to learn that - it is quite natural in the times when we have the technological possibilities to supply the customers with the chance to personalize everything they use.
One of the best examples of customization is 3D Printing - it allows to modify designs according to your customers requirements. Here below are a few customizable accessories from the Shapeways gallery:

Clockwork iPhone 4/4S C

Iphone 4 / 4s case - Cell 2

Hyphae lamp

Customization Trend in the Bathroom

Customization trend is not new, but today it is becoming a necessity of modern way of living. I was very pleased to find another example of it: the Cenedese Sink by the North American importer and distributor, Hastings Tile & Bath. Produced in Italy from the world famous Murano glass, each one-of-a-kind custom sink is available in virtually any color or combination of colors and it takes a team of at least six artisans, trained a minimum of 10 years, an average of five days to produce it. Since Murano glass is hand-blow, each piece in the collection is unique. Handblown handles for shower and cabinet doors will be available also when Cenedese adds those categories later in the year.via

Trend alert: A bespoke wallpaper

Custom wallpaper printing is a great way to achieve personalized look for any interior. Have a look at a boutique wallpaper design series by David Carlson - I doubt that there can be anyone who does not like it! This wallpaper is a result of the designer's obsession with roses and his cooperation with Swedish brand Mr Perswall

David Carlson for the Swedish brand Mr Perswall 

 Here is what the company offers:

"Create your own wallpaper mural based on your style, interests, holidays and memories. Dig out your old letters, some beautiful lace, record sleeves you love, holiday photos, children's drawings…
All you need to make your own wallpaper mural is a digital image. If you’re unable to create a digital image yourself, simply send the motif you want for your walls to our design studio and we'll help you."

 Some more examples of boutique wallpaper designs that will help you create your own unique interiors that you can buy without waiting for a production of the bespoke design:
Balloons Boutique Wallpaper by Milton & King


Monstera Boutique Wallpaper in Clear Bleu by Milton & King

Be Cool. Be Unique. Be Individual! 

Bespoke wallpaper design is part of the customization trend that started several years ago and is continuing to grow today.

Customization trend: Create your Own Rug

Customization is one of the most popular trends in the last years - creating your own unique look for the things that surround you is a great possibility to express yourself and more and more companies offer customized and personalized products. As an interior designer I am very much pleased with the possibility to choose a rug  and customize it to literally any color combination, size and shape required - carpets are an important part of our interiors and this allows us to implement exactly the color scheme we want for a certain room. We can also use the rug as a way to unite all the colors in a room in the most suitable pattern and style. 
Rug Couture offers an online service which allows you to design your totally unique custom rug. You can choose from hundreds of bespoke rug designs - from funky contemporary through to straight laced traditional, from post modern to the truly outrageous. Also, you can  choose from over 1,000 colours to add to your custom pallet. Then, depending on quality and size chosen, the rug will be hand made by true master craftsmen for as little as 6 weeks.All rugs are made from beautiful New Zealand Wool in 3 distinctive qualities each priced individually: Tufted, Hand Tufted and Nepalese Hand Knotted.

True luxury is exactly that - best quality and unique design.

High Customization - 3D-printed shoe sole

3D-printing brings the customization trend to the highest possible level - in a short time we shall be able to buy running shoes that have been minutely customised and produced in-store!Adidas have unveiled a flexible and breathable 3D-printed shoe sole that can be tailored to the exact contours of the wearer's feet. It is composed of latticed layer and is created in partnership with 3D-printing company Materialise.

source Dezeen

"Futurecraft 3D is a prototype and a statement of intent," says Adidas executive board member Eric Liedtke. "We have used a one-of-its-kind combination of process and material in an entirely new way... Our 3D-printed midsole not only allows us to make a great running shoe, but also to use performance data to drive truly bespoke experiences, meeting the needs of any athlete."

That is a cusomization which shows the way we are probably going to produce our clothes and shoes in the not so distant future - what do you think of such a possibility?


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Customizable vases and containers

Pi-no Pi-no 

Created by Maija Puoskari and Tuukka Tujula, available in a range of colours, patterns and opacities.

"When receiving flowers one often has just the wrong vase. The glass vase Pi-no Pi-no offers a solution to this problem with its modifiability.The height and colour of this practical and beautiful vase can be adjusted through its stackable glass rings, so that one vase can work in different situations.When not in use for flowers, the vase can be turned into a container due to its wooden lid."Maija Puoskari

Pi-no Pi-no 

 
More on customization trend.

Customization trend in Bathrooms: Create your Own Decor

Well, not exactly your own style, but your choice from several combinations :) There are actually three floral-abstract décors to choose from—Playground, Pretty Silhouette and Cherry Blossom—all available in the color schemes of blue, orange and violet. O.novo Style, the individualized décor for the wash stand launched by Villeroy&Boch can be matched with O.novo Style furniture that is perfectly color-coordinated to these vanities with the fresh new décor. Users can assemble their favorite combination with just a few clicks of the mouse with the online configurator.

Flexible Design

Az my readers know, I value very much flexible design. Here below is the next great example - legs gor table that can be used probably with any table top:
 
the table leg Ribbon

the table leg Delta
Adap.Table legs make it possible to turn any flat surface you like into a table. Just tighten the legs onto a surface using the clamping mechanism and you have a table. Made of robust steel, each set of legs can support over 100kg or 220lbs.
How do you like the idea? As a designer, I appreciate this freedom for choice of table top very much, as well as the possibility to detach the legs at any time we don't need the table any more and store them away. And it is quite in line with the popular customization trend in interior and furniture design. 

Do you like modular furniture?

Even if the answer is 'yes', I suppose it is not for the reason of being fun, but rather for being comfortable to use. Here is a collection that is both:

ROOM Collection Furniture System by Erik Olovsson & Kyuhyung Cho, Photos by Gustav Almestal (source)

It consists of from 25 different pieces and lets you create your own structure. Great example of customizable furniture! 

You can create your own unique sculpture that also houses some of your posessions. Well, not much of them, but it is fun :)

More about the customization trend.

Customization trend taken to high technological level

With the new proposal by Philips, in partnership with Kvadrat Soft Cells - Luminous textile , it is possible now for interior designers to change the mood and atmosphere in an interior with ease. Through integrated LED lights and thanks to the wide range of Kvadrat textiles and broad spectrum of colors in Philips' LED range Luminous textile is a truly flexible way of creating the right atmosphere for a specific space. Not only that - the panels absorb noise and with the help of a content management system that lets you upload and manage imagery in a simple way you can create unique mood panels that are perfectly tailored to an interior space, corporate image or brand personality. Great possibility for hotels, restaurants, working environment, retail and hospitality interior designs - Kvadrat Soft Cells panels can be fitted to any architectural frame.

Amsterdam Philips Headquaters

via

Maison&Objet - rugs with zips and other interesting news

German brand Pulpo will launch a series of rugs that you can join together with zips, created for cc-tapis::

source: clippings.com

Which is a continuation of the major customization trend in design from the last years.

Loop by Danish brand Bloomingville

Light & Living 

Hay - Uchiwa Lounge Chair 

Co-Pilot Aviator Arm Chair, POLE TO POLE

MACRAME CUSHION - En Fil D'Indienne

Handcrafted inspiration

Do you like luxury? Are you from those people who value beautiful design and wish to be surrounded by objects that inspire you? Then you will agrtee with me that most of the time they are crafted by hand and their beauty is also in being unique? Then, also, you are aware that the customization trend is growing and although we learnt to be more careful about spending in the last years, luxury objects are still sought after. True, the idea about luxury has changed - we are now searching for more meaningful and lasting values rather than pure glamour.
One great example of true and lasting value are the bespoke made of 100% pure silk carpets by S2G design - handmade carpets in which one chooses size, pattern and colours.

I was fascinated with the EMPEROR'S GARDEN porcelain dinnerware created by Sieger by Fuerstenberg - a collaboration between two great luxury names in Germany, Furstenberg Porcelain manufacturer and Sieger design studio.Their My China! dinnerware line is of the highest quality porcelain and craftsmanship and is inspired by traditional Chinese motifs. Emperor's Garden is My China! with a pattern lavishly hand painted on it and hand guilded with 24 carat gold.