CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK STARTS TODAY

Very excited about the start of Clerkenwell Design Week today.  Had a sneak peak yesterday at the Farmiloe building, and oh I just don't quite know where to start!   There will be lots of very informative and interesting talks, open studios and pop-up venues in and around Clerkenwell.  And plenty of GREAT design all around!  I've spotted MUUTO already, and the reflect sideboard I blogged about a few weeks back is on display, cannot wait to see it up close!

I'll be mostly at the Farmiloe buiding, facilitating some of the talks - today at 2:30pm Kirsten Zumstein chairs an insightful talk on workplace design featuring Linda Morey Smith, Colin MacGadie from BDG and Paul Dunn from RTKL.

And at 6pm an architecturally focused panel discussion, chaird by Tom Dyckhoff bringing together lead thinkers to explore work and ideas involving construction and habitation on water.  This is one I most definitely won't want to miss.

Pop in and say hello!

For more info do visit Clerkenwell Design Week and hope to see you there!

CASA CERRADA REFORMA 108 BY DCPP ARQUITECTOS

This residential project is located in San Angel in the South of Mexico City.   The plot is rectangular and measures 20 x 10m, with the house constructed on exactly half of the space.   The other half contains an amazing  minimalist courtyard and in such creates 2 specific areas of positive and negative space - both feeding into each other, and from each other.

The black walls and wooden screens with bits of lush greenery is soothing and very calming and almost has a 'boutique hotel' feel.

Images via Dezeen

TADELAKT - DREAM BATHROOM

I think I have just found my dream bathroom!  Tadelakt finished from the walls to the basin to the little bath and floors -  in this beautiful white Tierrafino stone Tadelakt.  Just stunning!

Images via Tierrafino

R HOUSE - TAMIZO ARCHITECTS

  

Today's eye candy is all the way from Poland!  I found some amazing images via Pinterest of some extraordinary projects by Mateusz Kuo Stolarski - founder and chief Architect at Tamizo Architects.

Today I am sharing just a few favourite images of R House - but as you can imagine and looking at the many images in todays post.... they were pretty much ALL my favourites!  Tamizo Architects was responsible for the beautiful interior design of this house.

I love the lounge arrangement with the sofa's - some facing the fireplace and some facing the plasma TV - but still a wonderfully connected space - I love the views beyond the fireplace and that finish - is it stone or a concrete finish?  I can't really tell, but I love it all the same.  The colours and tones the whites and greys and blacks and wood.

And now onto the kitchen,  all white and minimal - the Gaggenau appliances are woo-worthy in such a beautifully designed space.  I do love all of it!  

I am excited about life and about what each new day may hold.  And I am happy that there are so many inspiration out there to keep me focused and motivated to also bring some beauty into the world. 

Have a great week everybody!

Images via Tamizo Architects

MUUTO REFLECT SIDEBOARD

Designer Søren Rose says "Reflect owes its stunning and unique look to the phenomenon that has inspired it: Scandinavia's natural light. The four corners of each front has a unique curve and thickness that contributes to the tray reflections. The design and craftsmanship also underlines the warm and natural feeling of the oak, it also sends a tribute to the masters of classic Scandinavian furniture craftsmanship. '  

Designer: Søren Rose is one of the hottest Danish designers and interior experts right now, and they have also discovered outside the country. For months he commuted between New York and Copenhagen to do his job, but at last he took the consequences of its success and established a design studio in NYC and moved over there. He initially worked on web design and is self-taught designer. In 2008 he started his own studio in Copenhagen, from which both performed furniture design, interior design and web design.

Info: The sideboard is made ​​of oak, and it is also available as black lacquered, l 180 xd 40 xh 69.5 cm.
You can buy it in MONK Shop, Torvegade 25, 1400 Copenhagen K.
See more at munkshop.dk .

http://munkshop.dk/
http://www.muuto.com/frontpage.aspx 

Image and text via urbankbh.dk
http://www.urbankbh.dk/stil/guide-koebenhavner-design-i-dit-hjem

GARRETT ECKBO (COURTYARD HOUSE) AND THE ART OF LANDSCAPE

I love outdoor spaces, courtyard spaces and interesting spaces with a bit of greenery.  This mid-century mansion is set on more than 2 acres in Holmby Hill (Southern California I think) and even though there are some hints here and there of mid-century design elements and furniture pieces - overall I felt the interiors just a bit overdone.

This wonderful courtyard on the other hand is just beautiful - inviting, spacious and a feeling of calm and tranquility; a lovely space to entertain in, but just a nice space to just relax in with a book and a cup of tea.  How wonderful is that tree growing into the courtyard and the proportions and colour tones are harmonious and well planned.

Images via LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-garrett-eckbo-pictures,0,7993600.photogallery

DANISH MID-CENTURY MODERN HOUSE

I am so happy today - yesterday I finally managed to upgrade my Mac, and now I am working on a neat little Macbook Air - I can sit in the garden and work, or head out to a cafe, or take it along to meetings.  And best of all .... it is super speedy, and I have written this blog post in absolutely no time!  Very grateful for all of this.

I found these stunning images via the Scandinavian Retreat blog.  I think I would've been very comfortable to have lived in the 1950's - and even today still this style is so very timeless.  I have some furniture from that era; unfortunately they are in storage for the moment, but I know someday we will be reunited again.  In these images I love the whitewashed brick walls - and I also like the exposed brick walls, the open shelves and the minimalistic furniture - pretty much everything indeed!

Have a lovely day to you all - it's sunny and bright in London, and I am sat in the kitchen with the warm sun bursting in through the open doors.  Later on I will be doing some more concrete work outside, but first I have some project work to get on with...

Via Scandinavian Retreat

DAR BIBINE - TUNISIA

 

 

More images to entice all senses and this time to North Africa.  Dar Babine, a 4 bedroom boutique hotel is located on Djerba in Tunisia - and this seriously chic 'maison d'hotes' is packed with promise.

"Brilliantly white walls and cerulean blue doors impart a Greek island feel; the designer furnishings are straight off London’s Kings Road. It’s a bold design choice for this dusty village, where the locals travel by donkey and dress in long tunics, but the juxtaposition of the 2 is somehow cool.

Belgian owners Isabelle and Gérard spotted the houch (ancient house) in Er Riadh's medina 2 years ago; since then they’ve been carefully restoring it to be just so. It’s been a true labour of love and today it’s beautifully spruced up with a tranquil roof terrace, a small indoor pool and 4 stylish bedrooms. Antonio Citterio (of The Bulgari in Milan) has helped with design; Philippe Starck dressing tables sit alongside Descamps bathrobes. If you’re looking for an indulgent retreat and an insight to the culture that surrounds you, book in while you can. We think it’s going to be a big hit" quoted directly via I-Escapes listing.

I spotted Dar Babine on another lovely and inspiring blog called 'Lifestyle from Amsterdam to Marrakech'.  Blogger Melanie el Hadded also run a webshop called El Ramla Hamra with her husband.  Here you can find all kinds of original Moroccan interior accessories and home wares  - all sourced personally by Melanie and her husband.  Her blog has lots of really beautiful images and I am sure to visit again.

Images via Lifestyle from Amsterdam to Marrakech and  

Dar Bibine and 

I-Escape

FOR THE LOVE OF CONCRETE

 

Today I am happy to share some experimental photo's I took last week in our garden.  It was a lovely sunny day and the light was bright and perfect for what I had in mind.    I had just finished my first concrete furniture piece (still have to seal it... hopefully today) and wanted to use that to try out my hand at a bit of styling.

And all I can say is that there is still a very long road ahead for me.  

To all the photographers and stylists and bloggers out there that so often share their beautiful and inspirational work - you are all so amazingly talented and thank you for keep inspiring novices and amateurs like myself.

This afternoon I will have another go, and perhaps try and create a slightly different mood and scene.

In these photo's are a few of my favorite things:

a Marimekko mug, 

a Bodum assam cast iron tea press, 

some inspirational books - one; the works of Saloua Rouda Choucair, a gift from a friend

a favorite quote

and some delightful tea-light holders by Broste Copenhagen

Images by me