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!

source

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

A Glimpse at London Design Festival - Tom Dixon's New Lighting

Lustre,  Tom Dixon's  first ever stoneware pendant light, made using a secret glaze containing minerals and precious metals to give a striking iridescent sheen, will be launched at Luminosity at The Dock during London Design Festival.

"A series of 4 pendant shades, Lustre is the first stoneware object in the collection and is handmade in a Dutch family-run factory established over 5-generations. Lustre is the latest discovery in our continued exploration of extraordinary metallic finishes. The iridescent sheen is created by firing the stoneware shades at 1200°C using a top-secret glaze containing minerals and precious metals. The end result is a striking colour change effect reminiscent of peacock feathers or oil slicks on water. 
The handmade process results in a totally unique and unrepeatable finish for each individual object. No two shades look the same as the glaze fixes to the stoneware in an unpredictable way.  This produces a wide spectrum of colour across each light, ranging from a pale lime to a deep bottle green."

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

A lot of Copper at Millan Design Week

In addition to the impressive Tom Dixon lighting collection there were numerous other designs with this beautiful warm material - in the last years copper becomes more and more popular. It is one of my favorite materials, too - it is soft and cozy, quite unlike metals. And at the same time it can look quite luxurious.

Nino & Svenja

25-29 by Angie Anakis for Ligne Roset

Francesco Rota, according to Domus,

 "admits to having always been quite curious or even passionate about copper as a design material ("It is an expensive but splendid material that is hugely satisfying. I find its warm pinkish colour really innovative", he explains). What fascinates him most, however, is its changing colour, the fact that it this material oxidises and changes its character, colour and appearance. "

Set of copper trays by Francesco Rota for KME

Suspended lamp in copper by Front for KME

Our Homes are Getting Cosier

At the beginning of 2007 we began to talk about 'cottage comfort', a 'lake retreat' attitude, the feel of vacation incorporated in the atmosphere of our homes. More and more new products confirm this trend. And Patricia Urquiola is as ususally one of the trendsetters.

Her new Canasta collection for B & B is exactly this type of furniture. Although part of the outdoor series that the company launchead this year at Maison-et-Objet, with their deep seating they are a cozy place to relax that bring indoor this light vacation mood.

The vinyl seats have been inspired by Vienna straw weaving totally reinterpreted in a contemporary way. Urquiola amplified the traditional pattern increasing it to micro-proportions compared to the original.

The other distinct trend is tarnished or burnished metals instead of the expected chrome or stainless steel. Home products move over polished brass, chrome and white - deeper, more matte finishes like oil rubbed bronze, wrought iron and copper have begun to demand attention from designers and are becoming a good means to increase warmth and coziness.

Savvy Brushed Bronze or Copper Two Handle Roman Tub Faucet

This subtle bell shaped

d'ac Lighting Fonari Adjustable Dome Pendant

features a shade of brushed or polished aluminum with baked enamel metallic green finish and a lens of opalescent white acylic.

Design Miami / Basel - a glimpse

I like copper - it is soft and cozy, quite unlike metals, its beautiful and warm very specific pink/beige color glows better than gold. And I like what polish designer OscarZ ieta
has achieved with his latest collection 'Zieta limited" with FIDU technology (free inside pressure forming).
Accompanying the chair is a table designed collaboratively by german architect and cabinet makerLutz Huening and Oskar Zieta.

(left and below, image © designboom).

left - Oskar Zieta, Karena Schuessler Gallery, Berlin, images left and below from Designws.com
where you can find numerous pictures from Design Miami Basel 2010.

right: Design Miami Basel 2010, Gallery Seomi, ‘From Glitter’ collection,design by Korean designer Kang Myungsun, limited edition - a beautiful use of mother-of-pearl.

image: Dailytonic










Hisakazu Shimizu's works Design Miami Basel 2010














Galerie Downtown Francois Laffanour












photos: www.excite.co.jp









Mitterrand + Cramer/Design, Geneva

Interior Design Trends 2010 Review

It is interesting to read all kind of forecasts and expectations for the 2010 trends in interior design, but many of them are connected with just colors or fashionable materials and decorations - yes, it is true that interior design is influenced by trends in fashion, but it is important to consider trends more from a point of view of a picture of society. And having in mind the latest developments in society and economics, I think that the most important and lasting trend in interior design is going to be the search for authenticity - as in the Rough Luxe trend which is not so new, but is finding its natural growth this year and definitely in the years to come, because it "does double duty from shabby to chic by utilizing reclaimed metals,  muted tones and sustainable woods".  Another reasons: we find more and more often that we like products with history, containing emotional value for us. And it is also part of the growing trend for searching sustainable solutions in design and through design in every other area of our life.
A recent article in  PointClickHome.com  describes trends 2010 very well:

  “Survival mode” may have been the name of the game in 2009, but in 2010, the design world is looking to have a bit more fun. While designers are still conscious of the economic and environmental challenges ahead, the upcoming trends they’re fashioning impart a boost of happiness and a shot of color, as well as an infusion of surrealist fantasy and handmade charm." 

Turquoise, the Color of the year 2010 selected by Pantone is definitely a good shot of color and, true, the 2009 shows proved that 2010 will be the year of craft. The appearance of Furniture Guaranteed for 300 Years at Milan Furniture fair shows also that customers again start to value longevity, good quality practical and well designed products that we like to have and keep as long as possible. 
And according to the Cologne Furniture Fair Highlights 2010  

"In the year 2010 the design scene will be dominated by
conflicting tendencies : the experimental on the one hand and durability and quality on the other.
"Trickery", "Comfort Zone", "Rehab" and "Discipline" are the most important developments for the interior design sector 2010."

There seems to be a considerable overlapping in all these forecasts and the result is a trend to a certain maturity - in society and in design.
Some more trends forecasts that  are already making their way or growing:

- Upcycling - "the evolution of recycling, reusing materials to turn them into something more valuable or upscale than they were in their first life." is just one of the trends described by The Commercial Appeal.

           - HOMESTEAD CHIC .
More links will follow so check this post often. You are welcome to suggest interesting links or ideas below, too.
 
There is another link that I am going to add today (Jan.20th)- I just came across The Kelly Hoppen Trend Report 2010 and was pleased to find that she also expects the focus this year to be on "chic design and more comfort", as is IMM Cologne 2010 expectancy:

"Your home is not there to say how much you have but it needs to say how happy and comfortable you are in the most chic way possible!"

See your product here

Update Your Hardware

Bath and kitchen faucets get used every day, all the day. So to install something that pleases you and creates the right statement is important for how one feels at home - both from functional and esthetic point of view. Have a look at some new products that you may find useful.

What I find is a confirmation of a distinct trend for deeper, more matte finishes. Clients begin to prefer tarnished or burnished metals instead of the expected chrome or stainless steel, which brings a cozier style to their homes.

According to BHG.com (Better Homes and Gardens) pull-out faucets are popular for their function, and Moen's Medora Black Pullout Kitchen Faucet adds a matte black finish that accents dark granite or quartz countertops. The sleek silhouette includes single-handle control of temperature and three flow patterns: stream, rinse, and veggie spray -- plus, a handy pause button.

















AmericanStandard's Jasmine Single-Control Kitchen Faucet (above) comes with EverClean Exclusive Patented Finish Technology and a Hi Flow Swivel Spout. A Ceramic Disc Valving assures drip-free for life performance. Durable Brass Construction.




Make a statement with a Satin Black Tub Filler. A satin black finish adds drama to the Danze Tiburon Collection - Widespread Lavatory Faucet . In addition to lavatory faucets, the line now includes a Roman tub filler and an anti-scald tub/shower set with 4-inch-diameter showerhead. Spiral wire handles and intricate trim create more attention-getting detail.

The Lockwood 4-inch centerset faucet stirs up traditional teapot styling with an aged pewter finish and trumpet-style lever handles. Quick Snap technology makes installation fast and easy. Delta Faucet also sells coordinating Roman tub and tub/shower faucets, plus accessories and lighting

Delta Faucet - Lockwood Tub Spout

Technorati Tags:trends, trendspotting,
design, interior design, news, home furnishings

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

source

• 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.