Great design with unusual welding technique

London designer Paul Cocksedge presented at Friedman Benda Gallery in Chelsea Freeze - a new collection of furniture where metals meet extreme cold to create objects of beauty. My favourite is the Ring table where the experimental welding technique results in a unique design showing the beauty of several metals. I haven't seen another design making use of so many metals at once - and in such a beautiful way!

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It shows that metal can be warm and inviting and great choice for commercial interior design projects. How do you like it?

Trend alert: golden and rose lustre

The copper trend rules interior design world for already several years and the IMM Cologne and Paris Maison&Objet proved that it will continue to do so along with increase of popularity of warm glittering metals - gold, rose gold, brass. I was glad to see some elegant new designs that use these metals in an unexpected way:

Gubi -TS Table, Semi Pendant and Beetle Lounge Chair (source)

Foldwork - a glamorous drying garments rack by Friederike Delius

collection Audrey designed by Jean François D’Or for Maison Vervloet (source)

Table Fancy Chic – Ligne Roset

Phobos – Ligne Roset

Fall trends for your home

 With the cold weather coming, it is wise to look for some ways to transform our homes into a cozy winter retreat. One of the main trends this year in interior design is the increased use of copper and brass - they both are warm metals and definitely will help you with this. Adding a touch of copper or brass here and there will make your interior much more warm and welcoming. If you like the charm of ancient crafts a lamp like this one can transform completely the atmosphere at you home:
Desiree Metal Bell Pendant Lamp
If, like me, you prefer the mellow beauty of copper, try to warm your home byadding some copper accent pieces:
IMAX 44191-3 Palmer Copper-Plated Tall Vases
Hammered copper provides both - visual and textural interest. 

This Oval Hammered Copper Party Tub is a great way to chill drinks for any party - whether indoors or out. This tub is also ready for everyday use! Use it to store firewood by your fireplace! Place it in your living room to catch magazines and books. Free Shipping.
And for a more modern style, the designer to look for is Tom Dixon - he is a great example of modern way of using copper and applying crafts. His Void Pendant Light reference the Olympic medals with three metallic finishes: brass, polished stainless steel and copper. Inspired by vacuum flasks, these mysterious lighting objects conceal a powerful halogen lamp that concentrates the light to create a soft directional beam. Solid metal sheets are pressed, spun and braised to form a double wall shade. They are hand polished to create a mirror surface which is lacquered to maintain a high gloss finish. Void makes use of existing techniques and regular fittings - the innovation lies in the undulating form of the shade:
Void Mini Pendant by Tom Dixon

Void Pendant Light 

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Beat Light Pendant - Fat by Tom Dixon is part of a series of lights inspired by the handmade brass cooking pots and water vessels found in India. Made from spun and hand-beaten brass, the interior retains its golden reflective quality while the exterior is painted a contrasting Matte Black. Also available in Stout, Tall and Wide versions.

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This Cast Mini Jack by Tom Dixon is a petite aluminum version of the original polyethylene Jack, that "sitting, stacking, lighting thing" first designed in 1994. At less than 5 inches tall, the hefty Mini Jack is ideal as a paperweight or doorstop. It is also the perfect decorative piece, with its distinctive lines gleaming in a warm Copper plate.
Step Pendant - Tall by Tom Dixon - made out of spun copper, which is then finished with a White powder-coat on the exterior and a Clear lacquer on the interior. The white stands in crisp contrast to the polished copper's warm, burnished glow. Exquisit!


Etch Candleholder by Tom Dixon

Copper Shade Pendant


Especially the Copper trend has been huge now for quite some time and since this is one of my favourite materials, I have dedicated to it a lot of posts - get some inspiration!

London Design Festival 2013 - Themes and Trends

Just a few days before the opening of this most important design event in UK we already have some impressions about the themes and trends that are expected to be seen at London Design Festival 2013:

• growing interesrt in modern crafts, but at the same time 'avoiding the pitfall of slipping into rustic pastime pastiche'

Obelix hand-made stoneware by Norwegian Designer Kristine Five Melvær

Galvin Brothers - (Perfectly) Imperfect Stool

• all things geometric + optical illusion:

Ettore, Be+Have

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• metallics - the real ones and also all things bright and shiny

Erica Wakerly’s Block wallpaper

  Cloche Lamp by Lars Beller Fjetland 

This not a new trend - I have published about it several times, especially about the obsession with copper, which is one of my favourite metals.
More will follow soon, so check regularly or subscribe using the links to the right.

Trends 2013 - A Touch of Copper

It seems that copper - one of my favourite materials, is going to be very popular this year - look at the numerous new suggestions:

Shinè bath by Minotti

Euclide washbasin by Minotti

Furore by Supergrau

Seam Two by E15 source

House and Garden

I like the soft glow of copper - it makes us feel good. It is warm and quite unlike other metals creates atmosphere of coziness and calmness. 

 “Glaze“ by Corinna Warm, made of copper and porcelain, designed for Innermost, photo © Dimitrios Tsatsas