Exquisite craftsmanship and rare woods

That is what one thinks when sees the elegant and truely original furniture by Aaron Poritz, American-born designer who splits his time between Managua, Nicaragua, and New York City. They are a beautiful blend of high-quality craft traditions with contemporary design. Look and enjoy:

MAISON & OBJET 2020: a Glimpse

M&O PARIS 17-21, 2020 will celebrate its 25th edition.
Have a look at some very interesting new designs:

FRIEZE COLLECTION BY MARCANTE-TESTA source: azuremagazine 

Silver Sentimenti Céramique
Ateliers d'Art de France

© Dareels

Forestier

Unique pieces in enamelled ceramic by 

2 FERSAU

More will follow soon.

Tom Dixon shows a softer side with Super Textile line

Industrial designer Tom Dixon this year at Maison & Objet surprized many of us with unexpected textile collection - which is great! When you are good designer materials are just a means to express your ideas. Enjoy some the prodicts:

source: dezeen

Printed, tufted - crafts are again the idea.

Sophisticated elegance - craftsmanship is always on trend

As trends change and designers create new pieces, there is one trend that perseveres -  craftsmanship and especially with natural wood, as far as interior design is concerned. And this is a trend that I am always happy to show examples of:

AUTUMN CHAIR, design by Ichiro Iwasaki

desk by Rob Day and Jeremy Kehoe, source: Core77

elegant and truely original furniture by Aaron Poritz

A clear proof that 'the devil is in the details':)

See some more inspiring examples of craftsmanship with wood.

Beautiful Designer Glass for Your Home

The purity of hand-crafted glass in an unexpectedly geometric, sharp shape. It is made by carefully mouth-blowing glass into a diamond-shaped steel mold. It is cooled, released and then polished by hand to give each vase stunning sheen and smoothness.

RUUTU VASE By Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Iittala

Ruutu 5.5 Inch Vase by Iittala Ruutu 3 Inch Vase by Iittala Ruutu Wide 7 Inch Vase by Iittala

100% Design 2017 is coming

Inspiring new products by young designers will be presented during the coming 100% Design in London next month:

Joshua Till

Aiden Beamish

Standing up lighter, light bowl

OliviaAspinall Studio

Obviously the crafts revival trend continues :)

The symbiosis between digital fabrication and craftsmanship

This is the main theme of Joris Laarman's exhibition Bits & Crafts at New York’s Friedman Benda Gallery:

Soft Gradient Chair, part of the Microstructures Series.

Vortex Console, made from compression-moulded and waterjet-cut aluminum.

Maker Chairs, from left: Polygon Oak, Mesh Magnesium and Maze Maple / Walnut.

“Both need each other,” he explains, “You need material knowledge and experience with form in order to make something nice using digital fabrication and quality materials like solid wood. Digital fabrication helps as a tool, but there’s still handwork.”
Check more posts on 3D printing.

Designer approach to recycling

Photo by Sean Fennessy.

As my regular readers already know, I am Fascinated with glass, its beauty and enormous range of colours, forms and applications, but what I even more like about it is the possibility to be recycled. And one great example of clever designer approach to recycling glass is what Melbourne based glass artist  Ruth Allen is doing and her  Sustainable Stubbies! Functional vessels created from repurposed bottles, beautiful lighting. Enjoy:

Look at her Champagne pendant from the new Sustainable Stubbies LIGHT range:
Aren't they beautiful?

Photo by Sean Fennessy

"The bottles are taken through a hot process that strengthens the product by nature of ‘annealing’, resulting in a vessel that can withstand hot liquid, a dishwasher and the test of time." source
I think that this is one of the best ways to  recycle glass and a great example of sustainability in action.

Contemporary Craftsmanship at 100% Design 2013

Graft Desk by Derek Welsh Studio

 Beautiful, isn't it? This is a desk I would love to work on. You can see Derek Welsh Studio’s first exhibition of the Graft collection at Design Junction 18-22 September 2013
More crafts and wood:

Joined + Jointed

A great example of using wood scraps!

source

You like it? This mosaic is made exactly of wood scraps remaining from the work of designers and woodworkers Jason and Lars Dressler. The huge pixelated image out of scraps adorns the facade of the Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. The tsak was to create something that would evoke Ontario’s north. Inspired by their photograph of a fallen leaf, the Brothers Dressler crafted the mosaic from 35,788 wooden blocks made from a variety of woods salvaged from the collected history of their workshop.  As they explain, 'They include off-cuts from pieces, leftovers from jobs and extra pieces collected over the years and are shown all in their natural colours.'


Interested in other examples of clever recycling? Go here.

ICFF 2013 - sustainability and creativity

Miss Dondola

Poltrona Frau has unveiled two major projects in the flagship store of Wooster Street, Soho:
“Barrique: The third life of wood”, a project that has given shape to a collection of furniture and accessories designed by famous Italian and international designers -  Michele de Lucchi, Marc Sadler, Mario Botta and Alessandro Mendini, and created by the boys from San Patrignano community of life, that welcomes those who are afflicted by addiction and marginalization. The furnishings have been embellished with details and finishes in Frau Leather, as the Doc chaise longue, whose slats, designed by Marc Sadler, create the effect of a spine; Miss Dondola, the rocking chair by Angela Missoni customized with a multicolor pillow; Inverso, stool designed by Karim Rashid. All objects were made with the wood of the barriques, the barrels used for aging wine, which otherwise would have ended up in landfills.

Doga table

chaiselongue DOC

source