Friday’s News: Purple rain, a modern neck of the woods and new from Fisher Price… 20 November, 2009
Posted by katiehodgkiss in Daily news.Tags: antonio lupi, bathroom, children, contemporary, eco-friendly, forest, news, pool, recycled art, rural home, rustic, sculpture, shower, toys
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Another year of Children in Need, another charity single. As a northern lass, I usually look forward to each of Peter Kay’s new endeavours, but the thought of a second ‘Amarillo’ plaguing the charts fills me with dread. Nevertheless, mydeco wishes the best of luck to those of you who are raising money, at home, school or in the office today. If you have a spare minute between the face painting and sponsored waxing, make sure you take a look at our selection of Friday’s best design news.
mydeco’s pick of the top three news stories:
1. dornob: Colourful ceiling shower concept seeks extra long curtain
Image credit: dornob
Sans curtain, this minimalist shower is probably only suitable for the exhibitionists amongst you. Created by innovative Italian company Antonio Lupi, the design utilises chromotherapy (that’s different coloured lighting to you and me), shifting from hues of red, green, purple and blue for the ultimate relaxing shower experience.
2. dornob: Rustic modern plus rural retro
Image credit: dornob
If you go down to the woods today…you’ll find a contemporary, eco-friendly home, built with materials which compliment the natural surroundings. This luxurious pad may be aesthetically rustic, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the design. The award-winning home by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architecture has separate wings for master and guest, who can enjoy the scenic hillside views out of their floor-to-ceiling windows. The icing on the cake? A ‘infinity pool’ that continues out of the house, forming a cascading forest waterfall. Is this the perfect home? Well it’s located in Utah, so no.
3. Inhabitat: Recycled toy sculptures will scare the kids
Image credit: Inhabitat
Remember how devastated you were when you’re mum decided to give all your toys to charity because you were too old for them? Well, imagine how you’d feel if she had donated them to this art project, which turns recycled toys (along with other materials) into terrifying gothic sculptures. According to the artist Kris Kuksi, this project is about ‘a new wilderness, refined and elevated, visualized as a cultivation emerging from the corrupt and demoralized fall of modern-day society.‘ Hear that kids? Still, Barbie will fit in well.
The best of the rest:
Inhabitat: Mons lavabo sink helps kids save water when washing hands
Cool Hunting: Frédérique Morrel at Le Printemps
Design Week: Green awards fail to pick packaging winner
The Telegraph: Property: Therapy for the City Weary
The Telegraph: Interiors: Bambi Sloan’s Apartment is a frenzy of colour
The Times: Tired of country life, downsizers are moving back to the city
The Times: Salisbury: an über town that has bucked the recession
Daily Mail: Interiors: Baby it’s gold inside
Ahh Friday, j’taime. However, the advent of the weekend does mean that you will have to survive without your daily fix of design news for two whole days. Don’t worry though, we’ll be back on Monday with all the design updates. See you then folks!
Wednesday’s News: Building a tree house, joining the jolly sailor and a funeral for a home 11 November, 2009
Posted by katiehodgkiss in Daily news.Tags: art, building, commemorative, dead houses, floating, news, pirate, remembrance, renewable, sailing, sculpture, street art, sustainable, treehouse
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Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s news blog! As London becomes ever more Dickensian in its constant cloud of smog, the mydeco team consider it our duty to brighten your day with the best (and the weirdest) design news from around the globe. Take a look and see what’s on offer today…
mydeco’s pick of the top three news stories:
1. Inhabitat: Beautiful buildings made from whole trees
Image credit: Inhabitat
There are certain buzzwords that commonly trigger feelings of innate boredom. Sustainable. Ecological. Paris Hilton. Luckily, companies such as Whole Tree Architecture are helping to make this a thing of the past, with an approach to design that is both environmentally friendly and visually stimulating. Instead of milling trees to simply harvest the largest piece of lumber, whole ‘weed trees’ (branches and all) are used to create the supporting structures for new residential and commercial builds. The results are easy on the eye as well as the environment.
2. dornob: Swimming cities: Floating trash or modern pirate treasure?
Image credit: dornob
As Peter Pan will tell you, growing up is no fun. But don’t worry, it’s not too late to fulfil childhood pirate fantasies – simply join the crew of musicians and artists that this floating mobile home has picked up on its travels around the world. Built from scrap wood, metal and textiles by street artist Swoon, the structure looks more like the floating equivalent of a hobo’s shopping trolley than a pirate ship. Still, that never bothered Huck Finn…
3 dornob: Dead Houses: Crafted in memory of lost and destroyed homes
Image Credit: dornob
I constantly bewilder my friends by naming inanimate objects (my hoover is called Kevin), so I can empathise with artist Loren Schwerd, who feels that a house, despite being made out of bricks and mortar, has a life of its own. Not in a literal sense of course, but by the memories it holds: certain features or rooms are the landmarks of experience. It is with this in mind that Schwerd created The Mourning Portrait Series - commemorative sculptural interpretations of houses abandoned or destroyed that are effectively architectural ‘lost souls’.
The best of the rest:
Techwatch: Broadband is the key to the property door
The Times: Kitchen Comfort Zones
The Times: Christie’s auction of items from country home of Yves Saint Laurent
The Times: The grandest B&B in Britain
The Independent: Looks good on paper
The Independent: Garden winter warmers
The Telegraph: Selling houses when the price is not right
The Telegraph: The Garden that sells the house
The Observer: My space: Marc Quinn, sculptor
The Observer: How to transform old household goods
Design Week: Interiors Birmingham to showcase new design
That concludes today’s segment everyone, please come back and see us again tomorrow for more weird and wonderful design updates!
The history of Interior Design – free! 26 October, 2009
Posted by kiadesigns in mydeco guest blogger.Tags: design, Eco, exhibition, furniture, interior design, news
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The Geffrye museum is a hidden gem in London’s East End: if you have a passion for Interior Design it is simply a must … The museum takes you on a journey stopping off at various points throughout the past 400 years of Interior Design – one visit to the Geffrye museum will allow you to stand back and watch how Interior Design has grown and evolved from the 1600s parlour to the modern open plan living spaces of the 20th Century!
Image credit: The Geffrye Museum
Image credit: The Geffrye Museum
Image credit: The Geffrye Museum
What’s on right now?
Image credit: The Geffrye Museum
Eco Home (Tuesday 13 October 2009 – Sunday 7 February 2010) is a fantastic exhibition that highlights some of the most wonderful eco-friendly designs currently available. Such items range from new floorings to fabric made from milk fibres (with ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ as its mantra) – it truly is a must see for anyone looking to revamp their home whilst simultaneously aiding the environment. On the theme of environment I decided to take the bus to the museum – although it wasn’t the hardest decision seeing as I do not drive…
Image credit: The Geffrye Museum
So, what did I get out of my visit? I left with the sense that everything in life is in transit – what was ‘in’ in 1960 was considered hideous in 1990 and is considered retro and daring today. Therefore, my visit consolidated my pre-existing idea that design must be daring – if you see it and you like it, go for it and, if you keep it for long enough, it will eventually draw a compliment!
Also worth mentioning for the mothers and fathers amongst you, the Geffrye is extremely child friendly with a wonderful cafe and a specially designed children’s area ideal for any budding interior designers! The shop has very cute selection of ceramics, books, postcards and even a ‘learn to weave’ kit for the kids – definitely something to keep them busy over the half term!
Address: 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8EA
Tel No: 020 7739 9893 Web: www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mons 12noon – 5pm
Travel: Buses: 149, 242, 243, 67 or 394
Tube: Liverpool St, then bus 149 or 242/Old St (exit 2), then bus 243
Designer’s Market 13 October, 2009
Posted by Nicola Wilkes in mydeco guest blogger.Tags: community, design, designers, exhibition, new designers, news, style, Trends
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Image credit: Wonder Culture Events, 2009
Having blogged over the last few weeks about the launch of the 5th Cardiff Design Festival taking place in the Welsh capital this October, I thought it only right and fair that I follow suit this week with the low down on one such event that drew the crowds in this weekend…
…Saturday and Sunday saw the turn of Wonder Culture’s ‘Designer’s Market’ on this month’s ‘Design Trail’ (think Mini Milan) – a vibrant, farmer’s market style shopping showcase (but for interiors and gifts obviously!) with various Welsh brands selling everything from vintage clothing to Welsh themed crockery – staged in the newly refurbished and oh so fashionable, Chapter Art Centre in the heart of Cardiff city centre.
Image credit: Wonder Culture Events, 2009
Apart from the fact that Wales at Home had their very first ’stand’ at the event, we had plenty of time for some serious retail therapy of the most relaxing kind…ambling from stall to stall with a cup of coffee in hand, browsing and chatting to our favourite Welsh designers.
And my hot picks?
1. Welsh themed crockery courtesy of Keith Brymer Jones from Bodlon – if you ever need a stylish and personal gift to say ‘thanks’ to a generous host (I love the Brecon Gin hamper), or simply want to say ‘thinking of you’ to a special friend (who wouldn’t be touched by a pack of heart shaped Welsh cakes and stylish mug?) – then this is always my first port of call (see website for prices);
Image credit: Wonder Culture Events, 2009
2. Hand-printed tea towels from Peris & Corr add a quirky touch to any kitchen, £9;
Image credit: Wonder Culture Events, 2009
3. Limited edition cushions from Nomad & Nest, £45, and handy leather shoppers;
4. Vintage style, fabric covered from By Kirsty (a visit to her city centre studio where she is known for holding rather popular ‘micro beer festivals’ also adds to her appeal’;
Image credit: By Kirsty, 2009
5. Tactile alternatives to the ever growing trend for wall decals in the form of felted butterflies and flowers from Rachel Horrocks;
6. Mode provided plenty of ideas for essential Christmas presents with their Big Hand coat hook, £22, and Fridge Monkey,£4, (yes, I know it’s early but who could resist?);
7. And a ‘oh so pretty’ illustrated tea cup tea towel for £5 from Eak Design naturally found it’s way home with me!
Image credit: Eak Design, 2009
Monday’s news: Kim Clijsters, tuna tin art and a bath that’s out of this world… 14 September, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: design, gossip, news, property, Trends
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Design Week – Design Museum picks 2009 Designers in Residence
Design Week – British consortium works on Bahrain airshow
Image credit: Design Week
MoCo Loco – Käpy Lamps by Anna Mari-Vierikko
Trendir – Futuristic LED bathtub Nirvana ‘feels like drifting through the galaxy’
Image credit: Trendir
Interior Design – 10% profits from Furniture for the Cure will go to cancer research
The Telegraph – £3.75 million house overlooking 18th green at St Andrews launched
The Metro – Tin can artists show what tins can do
The Reak Estalker – Sneak peek into Kim Clijsters’ Jersey home
Image credit: The Real Estalker
The Times – Go bold, go bright, go beautiful — here’s how to work solid colour
The Times – Inside the studio and family home of luxury bag designer Pauric Sweeney
Thursday’s news: Telepathic TVs and a lamp of sliced mushroom? 3 September, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: design, designer, news, property, style
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The latest news and goss in the world of design and property:
BBC NEWS: Australia mulls future of Sydney Opera House
Image credit: BBC NEWS
BBC NEWS: A cosy compensation sum for bottom-burning sofa
Has your sofa burnt you? You may be entitled to – thousands of pounds? These days, you can claim compo for anything. However, even with that grumble in mind, no one wants their new sofa to do them an injury.
The Times: Sony plans to put 3D TVs in homes by end of 2010
The Times: Quilts come in from the cold, with V&A collection as an art show
Image credit: The Times
Design Week: The restoration of UCL interiors nears completion
Design Week: Priestman Goode wins interior revamp of Turkish Airlines
Design Week: TfL sponsors limited-edition Oyster wallets
MoCo Loco: Helpful bookmark design by Propaganda
The Telegraph: Furniture SOS – sometimes it’s best to call in the experts
If you’re more Bob the Bodge-it than Builder, take heed of the Telegraph’s furniture-saving advice.
The Telegraph: A fond farewell to Robert Harling’s house, the late editor of House & Garden
Image credit: The Telegraph
Daily Mail: Historic White Horse landmark ‘ruined by Anneka Rice quick-fix’ to be restored
Twenty years since the botched restoration job, the White Horse is set to dazzle us from its hillside once again.
Homes and Property: New homes – size really does matter
Homes and Property: Usain Bolt’s West Drayton penthouse is for sale
MoCo Loco: New curvaceous light by Arik Levy
Inspired by a sliced mushroom… designers get their ideas from the strangest places.
Image credit: MoCo Loco
dornob: New design – fake wood grain + sticky notepad = cool desktop idea
dornob: Design and build your own bookcase
Become your own furniture designer. If you fancy becoming your very own interior designer mydeco can help. Our 3D Complete Room Planner lets you create a room perfect for you at no cost or hassle.
Image credit: dornob
The Guardian: Ikea’s new flat-pack font
The Guardian: Hidden property gems open doors for heritage weekend
Wednesday’s news: UK design winners, scrap funiture and a £4 million hostel 2 September, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: celebrity, design, gossip, news, property, style, trend
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Want to know what luxury accommodation for the homeless looks like? Or the luxury mansions that your fave celebs are languishing in? We do! Which is why mydeco brings you up to date on all the design, property and home interiors news every day. Here’s the latest installment to keep your design news-cravings satisfied:
The Guardian: Britain’s first tailor-made homeless hostel
I wonder if all lodgers have to be homeless? ‘Cos I wouldn’t mind taking a holiday in this swish hostel. From experience, Poland should definitely take note.
Image credit: The Guardian
Daily Mail: £5.5m Poole house that was built in a Frankfurt warehouse
Flat-packed housing anyone?
Daily Mail: Trend – Raiding Granny’s attic
Florals, vintage crockery and kitsch treasures create a look that revives the past.
Image credit: The Daily Mail
Design Week: The design industry and the UK economy is to be investigated
Design Week: Hemingway’s Kioskiosk will be permanent
Entrepreneurial designers look this way – following the success of the nomadic pop-up shop Kioskiosk, three permanent positions will soon pop up and stay. What’s more, they’re rent free – surely the aforementioned investigation can’t find fault with this idea.
Design Week: Three British designers among Sappi design winners
Design Week: The ‘lower-tech’ version of West Brom’s Public Gallery
dornob: New design – Scrap metal furniture
Image credit: dornob
dornob: Trend – bathroom designs
Trendir: Unique design – an unusual sofa from Bla Station
This high-backed formal sofa with comfy cushions for every head-rest position will have you blushing red with desire.
MoCo Loco: Landmark lights series by Sylvain Willenz
MoCo Loco: Bizarre ceramics by Fabrica
Image credit: MoCo Loco
MoCo Loco: Unique design – L.O.F.T. Workstation by Maciek Wojcicki
Interior Design: Abstract tantra art
The Real Estalker: Rihanna is buying
Rumour has it that popette Rihanna is about to shelter a very large and brand new 90210 gated mansion under her real estate umbrella-ella…
Image credit: The Real Estalker
The Real Estalker: Ben Stiller is selling
The Telegraph: Eco houses – Barnsley Hill Farm
The Telegraph: Paint the garden red: how to grow perfect currants
The paintings and sculptures at the Mall Galleries have also been entered for this year’s Threadneedle Prize.
The London Evening Standard: Confessions of an art collector – New Charles Saatchi book
Tuesday’s news: Yurts, treehouses and floating homes 1 September, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: design, news, style, Trends
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Hopefully you’ve all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, enjoying the last teasers of sunshine before the autumn really does settle in. The news, on the other hand, is never restful. To see the latest interior design trends, celebrity property gossip and the pick of home and design news stories, here’s what we’ve saved from the weekend to keep you up to date:
The Times: Why a yurt is better than a country cottage
Calling all potential second homeowners – the seaside cottage is sooo yurtserday. Invest in this cool alternative instead.
Image credit: The Times
The Times: James Perkins’ the tower and the folly
Known for converting countryside property, James’ latest project has turned a Round Tower into a quirky home, via an underground extension.
The Times: Inside British Artist Gavin Turk’s house
Image credit: The Times
The Daily Mail: Park and thrive: Try London’s green havens for the perfect retreat
The Daily Mail: Bag yourself a bargain French chateau
The Guardian: Trend – Plant pots with a difference
Image credit: The Guardian
mydeco has a vast array of gardening essentials, including plant pots, and with the Autumn fast approaching you can get all the advice you need for bringing your outdoor plants inside.
New design: Novelty bedside rug with built-in bedroom slippers
dornob: New design – five offbeat outlet plates and strange cord-hiding solutions
Image credit: dornob
dornob: Organic + nomadic = green floating home
MoCo Loco: New design – The dual range by Alex Bradley
Origami-esque designs are taking the design world by storm. Bradley’s leaning storage panels with mirrors are certainly ideal for those of us who like to strew clothes around the room. For origami inspired architecture, look at this amazing origami house in Ireland.
The Real Estalker: Lindsay Lohan is moving house
After all those burglaries, we’re nor surprised.
The Real Estalker: Sandra Bullock buys new house in New Orleans
Image credit: The Real Estalker
Design Week: Studio 48 designs New York-style bar in Canary Wharf
Design Week: Spunique Design Competition winners announced
Interior Design: Interior Design proudly presents the fourth annual Best of Year Awards
For superior interior design projects and products, this is the Awards bash that showcases the best of the bunch. Keep an eye out for what may be the next big thing.
Interior Design: From Treehouses to Treetowers
The next ‘branch’ for the treehouse:
Image credit: Interior Design
The Telegraph: A Japanese charred-timber house inspired by a cave dwelling
Strange but true – how to burn your house in order to construct it…
The London Evening Standard: Boris Johnson calls for meters in every home to cut water demands
Friday’s news: flashing lights, floating homes – and Michael Jackson 28 August, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: design, gossip, news, Trends
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It may be the end of a busy week for most but the news never rests. Before we all skip off for some Bank Holiday fun in the sun (fingers crossed!) here is the last installment of this week’s roundup of design news, trends and property gossip:
The Telegraph: Sir Terence Conran celebrates an eco-house in France
Oui, oui, tres bien. At last – my limited grasp of the French lingo makes sense with the subject matter!
Image credit: The Telegraph
The Telegraph: Why the Tudors still rock
Image credit: dornob
dornob: New designs – Fantastic Floating Homes
Sadly this is one for the very rich I’m afraid. Even if we can’t play on board these fantastic industrial design house boats-cum-cruise-ships-cum-sci-fi boat, we can still marvel at the pictures.
dornob: New design - Do-It-Yourself Bathroom Faucet
Brilliantly designed, these contemporary DIY bathroom fixtures are made up of modular tubes slotted together to create a towel rail and a tap in one! A perfect job for the weekend. Check out our Bank Holiday DIY guide for more creative ideas.
Image credit: dornob
Design Week: Event’s interior designs for Giant’s Causeway visitor centre
Design Week: LDA funds designer-maker collectives
Design Week: British Institute wants to raise profile of interior designers
Design Week: Mather & Co tees off with luxury golf hotel interiors project
Golf just got creative.
Design Week: Designing with pandas
Image credit: MoCo Loco
MoCo Loco: New design – interactive toy lighting
The new party light: the Boid Interaction Toy by Klaas van der Molen are coloured globes of light which flash at each other when in close proximity. Keep an eye out for these – we hope they’re the next big thing.
Interior Design: Helsinki Design Week Set for September
Interior Design: New York festival celebrates 400 years since the arrival of Dutch Design
Image credit: Interior Design
The Independent: Buried in a hurry – but it took a millennium to find
Stumbling across buried treasure – no exaggeration – of Viking gold and jewels in a field will make all of us want to take up metal detecting. I know what I’m doing this Bank Holiday…
The Independent: Councillors reject ‘twee’ architecture for royal palace
The Independent: ‘Mona Lisa’ comes to life in high-tech art exhibit
Strange but true – the famous portrait will be answering people’s questions in Mandarin.
Image credit: The Times
The Times: See Michael Jackson’s drawings for the first time
The Times: Architect Will Alsopp has created a locals-friendly housing scheme in Manchester
Apartment Therapy: The ultimate Star Wars themed home
Not just for Star Wars geeks – even the Darth Vader bathroom balances tasteful decor.
Thursday’s news: Extinct TVs, million-dollar makeovers and brand new designs… 27 August, 2009
Posted by eleanorjoslin in Daily news, Ellie's blog.Tags: celebrity, design, gossip, news, property, style, Trends
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Once again, the mydeco news hounds have had their ears alert for the latest in design news, property and style trends. Here’s what we sniffed out this morning:
BBC NEWS: End of the line for British TVs
Image credit: BBC NEWS
After a season of Union Jack galore, it looks like patriotic design has been waning in the electronics sector. But as we love all things revival (Take That? Yes please!) hopefully British TV manufacturing will return in the future. Pay homage with our range of televisions, both modern and retro.
BBC NEWS: Campaign to save historic mansion in Wales
BBC NEWS: Picasso gallery to be renovated
The Telegraph: Picasso’s stolen ‘The Naked Woman’ found in Iraq
Long time dead but hogging the limelight – Picasso is headline news today. If you can’t see the real thing due to scaffolding and thieves, buy a Picasso with mydeco.
The Telegraph: $27billion oasis makeover of Saadiyat, an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi
Image credit: The Telegraph
The Telegraph: Mediocre second home or a share in a glamorous getaway
Not a tough decision – especially when you see the gorgeous, sun-drenched properties that could be (half) yours.
The Telegraph: Lofty ambitions for student accommodation
The Telegraph: Trend – Card Sharp sculptures
Image credit: The Telegraph
Cool hunting: Have the iMax video experience in your home with dome screens
This looks super-cool and interactive – apparently it’s as if you’re actually on stage with your guitar heroes, dodging a bullet in James Bond and up close – very close- to Jude Law. It’s on my Christmas list – along with Jude.
3rings: New design – Alexandra von Furstenberg’s Limited Edition Lucite Desks
The Guardian: This chair has still got legs – relaunch of a classic
dornob: New design – Julien and his amazing techni-coloured furniture
Image credit: dornob
Not the most comfortable benches by the looks of them but certainly the most colourful new designs we’ve seen in a while.
Design Week: Winning entries for Design Against Fur competition are announced
Dexigner: Young designer challenge to makeover McDonalds
Homes and Property: The ultimate treehouse
Image credit: Homes and Property
The Real Estalker: Alec Baldwin Seeks to Sell Two at the Eldorado
Metro: Trio sought over Lohan break-in
Perhaps not the only three-way saga classy Lindsay Lohan has been involved in…
The Times: The last Big Brother house
One word: Hurrah!
