Interior Design Blog
Designersblock 2010
September 28, 2010
Jenny Brewer idfx
Designersblock took over an impressive five floors of the Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf last week, filling each floor with the freshest new ideas and products from over 100 exciting up-and-coming designers. Here are a few of our favourites from the show.
A Model City and Other Models
September 24, 2010
This month, as part of the London Design Festival, London based drdharchitects host an exhibition A Model City and Other Models at their Holborn office.
Model Cities started in December 2009, after drdharchitects participated in the Shenzhen Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale. In response to the Biennale's theme of 'city mobilisation' the practice proposed to address how the notions of the universal and particular might be played out in the World's big cities, choosing to investigate the idea of urban modernity through the eyes of children.
Painting the town red - Kate Burnett, idfx editor, on day 4 of London Design Week
September 23, 2010
The busiest week of the year is now in full swing here in London and the idfx team have been painting the town red (hopefully the new hot colour). Tuesday evening was balmy and beautiful and the perfect start to a week of frantic networking (aka partying). The Alternative Plans soiree lived up to its well-deserved reputation for great hospitality with an oriental theme to the food and drinks. We sipped sparkling sake and gazed lovingly (or should that be covetously?) at the kitchens from Italian brands Modulnova and Strato, both new to the UK and destined to be a must-have addition to the rash of ultra luxury pads that are springing up all over the capital. A single kitchen sat in a perspex jewellery box on the piazza outside the showroom with the river and sunset in the background - sigh.
Pitching ideas - Tent London 2010
Today was the first day of Tent London, the multi-faceted, contemporary design show in the heart of East London's cutting edge Brick Lane, in the Truman Brewery. I sauntered past the curry houses and textile shops to be greeted by a huge queue snaking round the corner. It was definitely the busiest and buzziest I've ever seen it.
Welsh Wonders - where you'll find Rebecca Hoh, idfx's assistant editor this month
The world of design becomes rather London-centric in September, so for a change of scene, I'm going to get a taste of contemporary, beautiful products further a field, in Wales! Warp & Weft is an exhibition at the Oriel Myrdding Gallery, showcasing makers who are creating woven textiles with new technologies and aesthetics to interesting effect, such as Kathy Schicker who puts together glowing and light reactive pieces which change colour in sunlight (above).
Orgatec 2010 - More Than Just a Swivel Chair Fair
Biennial office trade fair, Orgatec is one of the most eagerly anticipated events for many architects, interior designers, and specifiers working in the contract sector.
The Best of 100% Design
The Blueprint Awards are back at 100% Design with a format that guarantees the best work will be recognised and all exhibitors have the chance to get a prestigious Blueprint Badge.
Opening up the conventional awards structure, there is no limit on the number of possible badge winners for the Best New Products, New Talent in 100% Futures, and the Best Use of Materials. The Blueprint Badge winners - which will display plaques made by LG Hi-Macs - were selected by Peter Kelly, editor of Blueprint, and design author and curator Max Fraser in late July.
Clerkenwell Capers
September 22, 2010
Jenny Brewer idfx
Last night Clerkenwell had the buzz of Zona Tortona, with reams of big name designer showrooms throwing open their doors for London Design Festival. I went along to three major locations on the design map: the new collaborative space from Kohler and West One Bathrooms (above); the impressive showroom housing Cappellini, Poltrona Frau, Alias and Cassina; and must-see store Ellis and Louca.
Cristian Zuzunaga and Kvadrat collaborate
September 21, 2010
I kicked off my tour of the London Design Festival this morning with a visit to Danish textile company Kvadrat's London showroom. The space, designed by architect David Adjaye and designer Peter Saville, is worthy of a blog entry of its own, but I went there to see some brilliant new work by Barcelona-born graphic and print designer Cristian Zuzunaga, who has created a collection of curtains for Kvadrat using bold architectural shapes. The two designs, Skyline and Cityscape, feature multiple overlapping layers, which reveal subtle shapes and unexpected colours. He has also designed a colourful cushion collection for Kvadrat called Squaring of the Circle.
A Different Kind of Adaptability
Peter Kelly, Blueprint
Toh Shimazaki Architects will open their thoughtful new exhibition entitled 'Adaptable Structures' that illustrates the development of thoughtful new approaches to the evermore pressing issue of adaptability in architecture. The exhibition, in association with Blueprint, will be held at the Toto Gallery, London from the 20 September to 8 October as part of London Design Festival.
Putting aside the sci-fi fantasies of Archigram's Plug-in Cities, the practice proposes a human-focused approach to adaptability that relies on narrative and design skill. 'It's not adaptable in the sense of high-tech, movable parts, like the Pompidou Centre. It's to do with giving freedom to the user,' says director Tak Shimazaki. This scrupulous attention to detail combined with a thorough-going understanding of a buildings potential informs T-SA's forthcoming intriguing new exhibition, Adaptable Structures.
Read moreDouble Dutch in West London
As a little warm up to the marathon of events this week, I went to one of the key London Design Week destinations, the Portobello Dock, on Thursday for the opening of Dutch design brand Moooi's first permanent showroom and headquarters in the UK.
Something's afoot
September 9, 2010
Jamie Mitchell
Specialising in customisable and limited edition trainers, Foot Patrol's new shop in London's Soho has an interior that's every bit as individual as the shoes it sells.
Multi-disciplinary design duo Wilson Brothers and interior designer Brinkworth built an intimate store-within-a-store - something like a garden shed, made of recycled scaffolding boards - which nestles inside a larger building on Berwick Street.
back to top
Latest News- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
