WIDN Blog
Book Review: Interiors by yoo
December 18, 2009
Combing heavy-hitting names in the design industry with tips and tricks to make modern design accessible, Interiors by yoo is like part yearbook, part style manual. Projects by Philippe Starck, Kelly Hoppen, Jade Hagger and Marcel Wanders are paired with Q&As on each designer's process
ReardonSmith's subterranean hotel scheme
December 17, 2009
As a child I was in love with Earth homes. I honestly don't know what about them captivated me. It's probably one of the reasons I'm so excited about this scheme by ReardonSmith for a sustainable, luxury hotel and spa, for a proposed development at Hersham Golf Club in Surrey.
Book Review: Hull Traders
Published to accompany the exhibition by ACC Editions in association with the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull City Council, I'm going to go as far as saying, this is the "Jack of all Trades" for your giftlist. It will appeal to history buffs, midcentury modern fanatics, art lovers and textile enthusiasts.
Snowflake Mini Wall Art Stickers
One way of making your home festive in a subtle and unusual way is with these Snowflake Mini Wall Art stickers from FunToSee. The silvery snowflakes can be used to transform an entire room, decorate a window or affix to Christmas cards. They are re-usable, pre-cut and self adhesive and can be simply peeled off of your chosen surfaces at the end of the season.
Kors' New York interiors
December 16, 2009
Glenn Gissler designed these spacious penthouse digs for fashion designer and Project Runway judge Michael Kors. Gissler has also designed showrooms for Kors' collections. We're only less than a month away from the PR seventh season, and in anticipation, here's sneak peek into Kors' New York quarters.
Christmas at Indian Ocean Collection
These are a selection of items from the Christmas at Indian Ocean Collection. It is available from Indian Ocean's London stores in Balham, Chelsea and Hampstead and is made up of unique decorations and gifts sourced from throughout Europe including: Decorations for the home and Christmas tree, dining ware and festive gifts.
Cutture laser cut Christmas decorations
Cutture specialise in laser cutting designs and have created a range of Christmas decorations. The designs are also available in clear and white. Due to its method of manufacture, there is a two-in-one effect, with each decoration consisting of a positive and negative version. They cost from £3.50 and are sent out in smart white boxes, making them ideal gifts for people who love Christmas so much they want their Christmas present to be Christmassy!
Book Review: Downtown Chic
I'll admit when I first heard about the forthcoming Design Sixx show on Bravo, I was sceptical. This was last spring amidst the very public self-combustion of the Gosselin marriage and I was disheartened to hear another family was taking to the airwaves.
Salvaged decorations from Lassco
One of my favourite salvage stores, Lassco, has a selection of gorgeous Christmas decorations made from reclaimed materials. These decorations are made of drop chandelier crystals removed from the ballroom chandeliers of the Hyatt Carlton Hotel, Knightsbridge.
Book Review: Books Do Furnish a Room
December 15, 2009
Not really a how-to manual, but definitely a great source of inspiration with plenty of photographs. It starts by showing every living space of the home, even the loo, furnished with books, then moves to libraries and studies.
Recycled Christmas decorations from Nigel's Eco Store
These Christmas decorations are made from recycled circuit boards that would otherwise have been thrown away. They'll look great hanging on your tree... especially under equally eco-friendly low energy lights! They're available from Nigel's Eco Store which also has lots of other recycled decorations and gift ideas.
Christmas decorations by Jonny's Sister
Here are some lovely festive decorating ideas from Jonny's Sister, a Dorset based company that creates handmade 'love letters' that can be teamed together to make beautiful and thoughtful focus pieces suitable for all occasions... including Christmas!
London Borough of Newham Offices
ID:SR plays on the concept of neighbourhoods for Newham Council's new headquarters in the Royal Albert Docks, London. The 23,000sqm local authority offices over eight floors take inspiration from the density of urban spaces, where compact desking areas are combined with shared spaces for meetings, break-out and refreshments.
Christmas Past at the Geffrye Museum
December 14, 2009
The Geffrye Museum's annual Christmas Past exhibition is back, and as always, the museum's eleven period rooms are decorated in authentic festive style, evoking some of the rich and colourful traditions and celebrations of Christmases past.
Also Home Christmas decorations
I love this beaded bird from Also Home! Each bird is hand beaded and lovingly hand made in South Africa by a small community. The birds are silver and white and are perfect as special Christmas decorations for the tree or Christmas table. It could even be a 'partridge in a pear tree'! Also Home have lots of other festive items, including beaded butter knives and other gorgeous decorations.
Marriott Warsaw, Poland
An injection of color livens up the Marriot Warsaw with vivid patterned carpeting. London-based interior design firm RDD Plc specified the Timorous Beasties collection from Brintons for public areas like the ballroom, function rooms, corridors and lobby.
Book Review: Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge
'Tis that time of year to scramble through the shops in pursuit of the perfect present. While dragging a suitcase packed with hardcovers through Heathrow is never the highlight of the holiday season, I still swear by books for everyone on my giftlist. This week I'll be reviewing several new reads for the interior design enthusiast. Though if you're like me, the next two weeks won't slip by without treating myself to something new.
Interviewing 36 designers about their work and inspirations, Bradley Quinn presents a worldwide view of the textile industry and where it's heading with hundreds of colourful images.
'Think Trimmings: Don't just trim your Tree, Trim your Room!'
December 11, 2009
There are rarely enough hours in the day to get even standard chores out the way, let alone preparations for the fast approaching Christmas season! So, let the team here at WIDN Blog help you out a bit. Here are some handy hints from Jenny Gibbs, the Principal of KLC Design which will help you give your living room a festive makeover in just one weekend!
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Using a staple gun, from floor to ceiling, attach hanging lengths of either green or red felt covering one wall
Using a staple gun, attach light garden trellis work to a wall; thread through greenery and fairy lights
Buy a few inexpensive red and green cushions/cushion covers
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Fill a bowl full of pomegranates/pinecones (you could also spray some of them gold)
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Candles - everywhere!
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Fix garlands of fresh ivy/greenery to the mantelpiece
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Hang crystal balls at differing heights in the window
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Drape sheets of fairy lights in/over/around the window
Wow! Quick and easy but with stunning results. If you take time this weekend to do any decorating, why not send a photo of your Christmassy-creatiion to editor@widn.com?
'Epiphyte' by dan pearlman
December 10, 2009
I love this room designed by German design firm dan pearlman! The theme here is 'epiphyte', which is a type of plant that normally grows on another plant, not in a parasitic way, but using the host plant for support only. dan pearlman and werk5 collaborated to create these rooms from which furniture dissolves from its fixedly defined application and becomes more flexible. The development of design and the implementation are crosslinked non-stop so that design can be realised in real-time.
Zero outdoor fireplace
To me, this is just an outside fire, an accessory verging on the superflous. A posher version of an oil barrel surrounded by tramps warming themselves under a bridge in a film set in New York. But according the designers, Italy's AK47Space, it is nothing less than: "A nest in which to seek refuge, enjoying the warmth of the fire: the eccentric dance of the flames is replaced by the silent burning of the embers. A sweet warmth that comforts your guests" - obviously!
The Cartel Club and Restaurant, Greece
December 8, 2009
This is the Cartel Club Restaurant in Larissa, Greece. I think it's probably one of the coolest places I have ever seen! Spread over a floor area of 1,200 m² and with a height of 20m, it has a capacity of over 3.000 people. It is a steel structure with a flooring of polished concrete, with a roof that opens in the summer and closes when it's cold. Dominating the space inside the club are two 17m long self illuminating glass bar counters which bathe the entire room in neon light. The counters coordinate with the two 7m long and 2m wide lounge bars which are on an upper level and reached via two stairways also made of glass. The exclusive venue was built in only two months, and understandably, the opening was a massive success.
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