teejay's backsplash

updating.... updating..

2007-01-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

please bear with me. trying to figure out this new blogger...

merry christmas to all!

2006-12-25T04:36:00.000-08:00

nope, still no new posts on furniture and home decor items. just want to shout out my love to all my readers on the Christmas Day! here are the photos that i took in my neighbourhood and of the Christmas wreath in my apartment.

i apologize for not updating teejay's backsplash for a long time. it had just been crazily busy at Light Couture and in my personal life. we just finished decorating a client's apartment before Christmas. i'm so glad that nothing needed to be dragged over the holidays. after that, it was Christmas present shopping and home decorating madness. you know how that is. now the madness is over; we've started enjoying our holidays. love the feasts, love the parties, love the presents, and most importantly, love the time we get to spend with family!

i still owe you a report of Vancouver's East Side Culture Crawl. i promise i'll get onto that after the holidays. also, i will show you some photos of the recent apartment decorating project.

i hope all of you have enjoyed your holidays like i have. i would like to wish all my readers a great holiday season and a wonderful new year! thanks for your love and support in 2006!

blend

2006-11-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

notice i keep coming back to Karim Rashid's designs? if there's anyone who thinks outside of the box all the time, it's Rashid. Blend is a vertical storage space from his first collection for Horm. it reminds me of Hawaiian breeze, Vancouver Jericho Beach's waves, and ripples on the surface of the pond in my grandfather's garden. i would be so mesmerized by the illusion that Blend creates if it were in my bedroom. available as a 1-door cabinet for $2599US, single wardrobe for $2699US and a double wardrobe for $4299US @ Generate.

albermarle

2006-11-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

i love, love this table!! designed and hand made by William Earle for Blankblank. it's elegant but not overly feminine; it's organic but modern; it's grand but subtle. it's such a piece that would represent the style that i want for my future house. i can't wait to serve dinners on this table to entertain my friends. available in husk, nut, beach, bracken, bark & cane. $2,800 per pair of table legs; glass top is available separately.

pill blue-microdot

2006-11-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

i think the first time i saw Vancouver designer Mario Sabljak's Pill Blue was about 2-3 years ago in a show. at that time, we were in a preparation stage to start our company Light Couture. the concept of lit furniture was something we wanted to do for Light Couture. we were so fascinated to see this beautiful design in front of our eyes; it was just like Sabljak realized part of our dream! we saw his work in this year's Vancouver Interior & Design Show. great to see that Sablijak's Flavour Furniture is doing so well. this design Pill Blue-Microdot is fun, vivid and unforgettable. the table is made of wood and laminate. the orange dots you see are l.e.d. lights. go and check out other Sabljak's designs.

wallpaper clocks

2006-11-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

the trendy wallpaper design company Muurbloem created these funky dome Wallpaper Clocks - (27.50GBP. above left to right) Stencil, Floral, Lily, (12.5GBP. below left to right) Circles, Tiles, and Dots. inspired by the company's own beautiful wallpaper, these big and bold wall clocks will add sophistication with modern element to your rooms. available @ Dutch by Design.

circles

2006-11-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

designer Erin Adams created these beautiful mosaics for Ann Sacks. 'the hallmark of this line is a warm, creative aesthetic that employs a wealth of colour.' with the beautiful colours and large size selection, you can have endless possibilities to create an one-and-only focal wall. only hand-mixed artisan glass are used for these mosaics. starting from $102.80US/sf @ Ann Sacks.

mandala

2006-11-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

inspired by antique Tibetan Thangka paintings, designer Joanna Michalowicz at Asha Carpets captured her own clouds and wind in Mandala. the rich coral reds with blue, silver, turquoise and gold silk outlines really gives a great burst of colours. warm, exotic and mysterious. i would want this in my dream home office against all the white furniture and dark chocolate surroundings. made of the best high land Tibetan hand spun wool or 100% New Zealand wool and silk. also available in rectanglar shape and different sizes.

dal

2006-11-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

ah... the first Christmas item here. i don't mean to give you any more pressure; just want to give you some holiday decoration/gifting ideas from this week on. CB2's reasonably priced Dal serving bowl or 4-part server can be used to add some festivity to your space and serve snacks or condiments. made of aluminum with coloured shiny enamel on the inside. to clean, just give it a wipe with a dry cloth; avoid abrasive cleaners. available @ $19.95US each.

teejay's own - wedding decorations

2006-11-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

i know.. i know... i haven't updated my blog for 2 weeks. i apologize. but i had such amazing and exciting 2 weeks because i was working on this wonderful project - decorating a wedding! this post is not directly related to furniture or home decor, but i decided to show you what i had done for this wedding. sorry there's no professional photos in this post though.the bride is one of my best friends; it was truely my pleasure to become her wedding decorator and coordinator. i have designed furniture, interior spaces, gardens and show booths but the only wedding decorations that i designed was my own. it was great to know that she had such faith in me. we all know how it is - all girls want beautiful weddings in spite of the sizes of the weddings. the more she trusts me, the bigger pressure i put on my own shoulders. i promised to give her something a bit different from what she has seen in other weddings. the boutonniere shown above was designed for the groom, bestman & the parents.

this boutonniere is designed for the ushers and the MCs.

'teejay's flower shop' - all the flowers in my kitchen. getting ready to work on them.

the bride's bouquet. this fragrant bouquet is consisted of lisianthus, salal leaves and a variety of roses.

i created this simple and light bouquet for the maid of honour. used lisianthus, roses, and salal leaves - same as the bride's flowers.

2 flower arrangements on the sanctuary's center stage. i wanted to give a bit of decorous feel in the santuary, so i kept the colours to the minimal. still wanted elegance and not overly festive. i chose lilies, snapdragons, carnations, roses, and hydrangeas. submerged aspidistra leaves to cover up the messy stems in the vase.

teejay working on the 'cones' for the pews. after the ceremony, we transferred all these flowers from cones to glasses; re-used them as the centerpieces for the banquet in the evening. for those of you who extremely dislike baby's breath (i'm one of you), you can consider of using waxflowers instead. bigger and more interesting blooms makes fuller arrangements but less lacey (cheesy).

aisle runner with rose pedals (required by the bride). glued rose pedals and rhinestones on the runner to form their initials.

pew flowers and sparkly initials.

garland and ribbons for the sanctuary entrance.

festive flower wreaths for the church entrance. used carnations and spray chrysanthemums. thanks to my favorite 3M Command adhesive and hooks, we could easily hang these wreaths on the glass doors.

flower arrangement at the santuary entrance to welcome guests. the droplets of roses enchoed the bride's bouquet.

centerpiece for the head table. i named this 'sushi.'

flowers are connected by the fishline for the wedding car decorations. we are car lovers - absolutely against sticking pom pons on cars. no sticky substance was used on the car surface.

the couple decided to give daffodil bulbs as their wedding favours. we put them in brown bags, printed the thank-you's and planting instructions on colourful paper

anquet setting. we reused every bloom to decorate the restaurant. that beautiful artistic cake topper was made by the groom! it's the bride with her violin, the groom with his artist brush and their puppy.

place cards. i stapled satin ribbons onto a canvas with wood frame then slipped the place cards between the ribbons and the canvas. the couple can use the them as bulletin boards after the wedding.

congratulations to my dear friends! i love you guys!

vancouver home & interior design show 2006 ~ 2 ~ designers & boutiques

2006-11-04T23:36:00.000-08:00

i've included some remarkable boutique products & designer's creations from the show in this post. i left out some great designs because i have mentioned some of them in my previous posts or i want to save some designs for the future posts.

university of alberta
these design students' works are awesome! design students are often the most creative bunch. also, the booth design was very nice and the designs were well displayed. thumbs up, guys! check out their blog 'Slavin' Maven.' here are several pieces that i can't wait to show you:

75
coffee table by Sari Maani. made of MDF & maple veneer. i like the details of the table legs very much. from a certain angle, they look like strong, thick and solid legs. when you approach the table from a slightly different angle, you get to find out the 'truth' about them. i like designs with little surprises.

circumflex
accent chair by Zoe Mowat. made of walnut, MDF, & steel. this stylish chair would be great in any modern space, especially compact condos. i wonder if Mowat will go further and make 'circumflex' into a bar stool. it's hard to find good-looking bar stools these days.

balloon party
table by Natalie Kruch. made of 450 balloons & Baltic birch. isn't this fun? i have this balloon-phobia. hmm.. i'm so afraid of balloon popping sounds. but hey, i won't complain when they are in this form and used to make such a cute table.

softie
stool by Tyler Vreeling. made of aluminum plate & tube. i see this it as a great multi-functional piece. it's a stool that can also be a flower vase, an accent table that severs candies, or an office supply central. i will probably sort my markers in colour groups and put them in these tubes.

soft table
table by Zoe Mowat. made of rubber plywood, birch plywood, & industrial felt. this is one table design with an interesting material combination. you can probably put hot dishes on it without needing to worry about burning the surface. you can also pin your notes on the table. i happen to know that my cats will enjoy this table very much....

line
low coffee table by Joanna Goszczynski. made of MDF, Baltic birch plywood, processed fir, maple veneer & black walnut veneer. a very nicely designed coffee table. i like the table legs curved into and sandwiched by the table top layers.

mimi law
Mimi Law's minimalist booth caught my attention. i spotted this interesting steel sculpture from afar. with her multicultural background, education and work experience, Law creates unique objects with the mind of an engineer, the eye of an artist and the hands of a craftsperson.

brent comber
if you're my loyal reader, you'd know i'm a loyal fan of Brent Comber's creations. aren't these just amazing? they give the beauty and life back to these reclaimed and recycled woods. the fact that Brent Comber's collection has minimal or no negative impact on the environment is just so wonderful.

gregory kenny
some of you may remember Kenny's work for Kilowatt in DV show. this is my favorite piece among all his designs. the door with slanted edges gives this piece such smooth and clean lines. the look is modern, complete and just so perfect. he used special-ordered hinges for the door mechanism. you can check out his designs at the recently opened 7one6 Studio in Vancouver.

csi
like i mentioned before, shiny and sparkly things always gets my attention. it's like i can sniff the nearest sparkles in any space. so when Creative Surfaces Inc. displayed their new tile line 'Carat' at their booth, i was pulled right in. the tiles create this illusion that it's raining diamonds and the raindrops lingered on the tiles. just about right amount of sparkle can remain subtle and also generate great excitements.

nettie
interior-designer-turned-textile-designer Paula Lukey has successfully created this elegant but not overly feminine textile line for interior space. her designs provide calm, peaceful yet lively graphics and colours. they are 'soothing to the eyes yet breathe a sense of life and character when adapted into any environment.' my favorite one is her signature icon 'kissing fish.'

chocorex
organic material in modern form to the ultimate extend. these reasonably priced lighting fixtures work well in any modern space with their modern shapes. the natural stones and shells Chocorex uses brings warmth into the often cold modern interior. their lights can balance the natural and industrial feels in your space. they also offer huge slabs that can be used for bars or walls.

modernkid
i just love ModernKid's collections. here are some new arrivals that were shown at their booth. this updated, stylish-looking wooden car 'Automoblox Pink' has rubber wheels and interchangeable parts. the whole vehicle comes apart and can easily be put back together. a great developmental tool. also, ModernKid will donate a percentage of the proceeds to the BC Cancer Foundation. $45CDN.

another exciting new product is the 'Dirty Laundry Sticker Stories' collection that includes Princess, Monster Truck & Rocket Dog. just like other wall decals, you peel, stick, and create you own wall designs. what differentiate this one from the rest is that the ordinary wall decals only come in one colour while this collection comes in colourful decals in one package. $95CDN.

ma maison designs
Spick & Span Tradings has these wonderful home accessory collections from ma Maison Designs. the vibrant colours and graphics will definitely bring some great energy to your space or parties. mmm... some of them can make hors d'oeuvres and desserts look so yummy. they can also be great displays or accessories.

koolhaus
i spotted this interesting glass curtain divider from the trendy Koolhaus booth. i'm pretty sure it's from the wholesaler Global Views in the US. the cuved glass 'hooks' reflect the light beautifully but you'll have to make sure that you have a kids- or pets-free living environment to own this.

vancouver home & interior design show 2006 ~ 1 ~ concepts & show highlights

2006-11-04T22:20:00.000-08:00

the show's definitely getting better and better every year. there are more outstanding local designers' participations and some very interesting concepts were exhibited at the show. here's a list of show highlights and wonderful designs for you.

BARK ATC
the Canadian debut tour of the All-Terrain Cabin, a 420 square foot, fully outfitted cabin for the 21st century - mobile, self-contained, low-impact, smart, tough, cool, and all Canadian. based on the ISO container format, it can be transportable to any place in the world. when it gets to its destination the contents won't be unloaded, instead the entire shipment will unfold, deploy, and spread its wings to become the All Terrain Cabin (ATC). check out the details here.

EAST MEETS WEST
Gau Designs & Concepts, back for the second year, teams up with Montreal's hottest new designers. East Meets West showcased work from design disciplines such as furniture, lighting, graphics, & architecture. a new generation of display – it will be dynamic, flexible, and animated by light and sound. here are some of the examples:

gau designs & concepts
i already prepared to write a post about Gau Designs' wonderful 'zen' garden sink this Fall. it was great to see and touch it at the show. although it's subtle, it's zen, it can create such a powerful image to make a bold statement. definitely a conversation piece in the garden. in fact, i might just use this indoor.

beau & bien
so peaceful, elegant and mysterious! the Smoon collection, including remarkable Sensitive Smoon, Nomad Smoon and Water Smoon (shown), lets you own a small moon at home. wired or wireless, with switch or without, dry or wet, Beau & Bien makes sure that you get to enjoy your moon the way you want.

perez
'Bequia' from Perez allows you to create your own configurations. this systems gives you endless possibilities with style. you can change your sofa setting anytime for any occassions and activities.

erratum designers
'Suggested Presentation' from ErratumDesigners is a range of consoles that need walls for support. as no hardware is needed, they leave no holes in your walls, giving them true hassle-free mobility.

tangram

2006-10-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

fun!! designer Daniele Lago's 'Tangram' reminds me my childhood. i'd play tangram for hours and come up with so many shapes of different objects or animals. now this concept is adapted to create this shelf system. 7 pieces of shelves + a wide variety of colours and finishes = enless shelving possibilities. i bet you'll never get sick of your wall storage ever again. by the way, this 'cartoon' shown above caught my eyes; it's just too funny and cute. via 25togo.

tube top

2006-10-13T02:42:00.000-07:00

i have to admit that when i heard about 'tube top' i did not expect to see this elegant but not overly feminine lamp. designer Peter Stathis once again amazed me with this beautiful lamp for Pablo. this lamp consists of only 3 components: an acrylic base, a slip-on fabric shade, and a metal harp for holding the bulb. they can be snapped aprt for recycling later on. this is a great example of pure beauty, pure design, and pure innovation. the base comes in clear and charcoal; the shade comes in white and charcoal. available @ 2modern for $100US.

gregory calendar

2006-10-13T01:50:00.000-07:00

designer Demain Conrad's interative 'Gregory Calendar' is not only great for kids, it will also bring out the child in you. trace a line with the white magic marker everyday; by the end of the month, you'll discover one of Gregory's mysterious friends. this calendar can help the kids discover the world of numbers and stimulate their perceptions of time. as for you, you'll be looking forward to a new day so you can draw that magical white line. you can customize your calender by colouring it your way and writing down daily notes right beside the dots. 25EURO @ Dadadum.

identity5

2006-10-13T01:14:00.000-07:00

Identity5 offers '2-dimensional furnishings with a pop attitude.' these colourful digital prints are great accents to your modern homes. the prices are amazingly affordable. museum-quality archival inks are used on heavy canvas. (archival inks: they'll last around 100 years if hung out of direct sunlight) sizes range from murals to smaller, more intimate pieces. available both mounted and un-mounted. example shown here: belle de jour (above) & la dolce vita (below) for $320US to $650US.

conceal

2006-10-13T01:12:00.000-07:00

floating shelves are just not 'minimal' enough for you? you want to showcase your books, not the shelves? check out Umbra's Conceal bookshelf designed by Miron Lior. Umbra sponsored design competition with Pratt Institute located in Brooklyn to challenge the industrial design students to create the next new Umbra product. Miron Lior won the first place in 2005. this powder coated 'invisible' steel bookshelf can handle up to 15 pounds of books. available @ Umbra for $14.50US

mocha

2006-10-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

found several little interesting innovative designs on this online store. want to share them with you. 'Harry Organiser/Harry Jr Organiser' (shown above) by designer Reinhard Schmoelzer. i find concept funny and cute; this messy little thing can actually help a lot of people become more organized. available in white, natural, black, pink & blue @ Mocha for 25GBP/18.50GBP.

'Safe Key-ping' (below left) by designer Richard W Crane. here's another creative way to preventing you from losing your keys. nylon bristles packed in a metal tube - nice, clean looking and easy to use. available in white & red @ Mocha for 12.50GBP.'Dunk Mug' (above right) by designer Dominic Skinner. ahh.. dual purpose drinking mug. now that's an ideal mug for me. chocolate chip cookies and coffee, yummy! the ingenious part is that it comes in right and left handed versions so you won't dump the cookies onto your lap. available in white, mocha brown, sky blue, lilac & mint @ Mocha for 13.99GBP.

scoop

2006-10-13T00:29:00.000-07:00

inspired by a grain scoop, Turnstone's principal designer Kirt Martin created this cute little stool with a wire frame and molded plastic seat. Scoop has commercial grade quality; it's durable and can be cleaned easily. its soft plastic glide is for use on any floor. it's great for energetic working environment or a modern home. available @ Steelcase for $199US.

castlefield design centre

2006-10-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

the grand-opening of Castlefield Design Centre is a great news. located in Toronto's interior design district, this design centre is opened to general public. ' from underfoot to overhead, and all you could need in between, you'll be surrounded by top designers, suppliers and services ready to help you pull it all together in the way that best defines your personal home style.' now with 15 stores - Au Lit, Domani Kitchens, Grace Gallery, Horse Feathers Home, Inside & Out Marchand, Kartell, Missoni Home, Natali B, Roots Home, Studio B, StudioVella, Threadcount, TilesPlus, Viking, & Weavers Art - under one roof, people in Greater Toronto Area can really enjoy shopping for their homes. hmm.. this is such a great idea. maybe i should open one in Vancouver - if i can get enough funding.

little field of flowers

2006-10-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

Studio Tord Boontje's design 'draws from a belief that modernism does not mean minimalism, that contemporary does not forsake tradition, and that technology does not abandon people and senses.' this hand loomed rug designed for Nanimarquina definitely lives up to that goal. the marriage of Tord Bonntje & Nanimarquina is a guarantee of great design and high quality. this rug takes 'shag' rug to another level. it would make a good conversation piece that brightens your room, brings in the nature, and provides great coziness. i absolutely adore it.

lehti

2006-10-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

just like her jewellery collection, Maria Jauhiainen's organically-inspired 'Lehti' revolutionized metalsmithing standards. it is in the permanent collections of London's V&A Museum and MoMA in New York City. the impressive design astounds all who see and touch it. formed by an intricate metal mesh, this serving vessel is flexible yet strong and durable. each piece is individually hand-formed. available in red & green ($775US) @ 2Jane; in black ($795US), in silver ($1200) & sterling silver ($1995) @ Urban Peel.

oak leaf

2006-10-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

relax and connect with nature in a sleek modern way. designer Agnar Ferchland's oak leaf swiveling lounge chair and acorn ottoman are just too cute! they look comfortable, too. bases are made of satin-finished steel. you get to choose among 50 colours of upholstery in leather, wool, or wool-viscose blends. for some reasons, i think my 2 cats will take over if i bring the set home. i can just picture that one curling up on the ottoman and the other lying on her back on the chair.

hola

2006-10-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

as much as i love crystal chandeliers, i'm also open to other lighting options for dressing a high-ceiling foyer. this one is definitely on my list. designer Miguel Herranz created this warm and chic suspension lamp for Luzifer. each wing is made of 2 fine veneer sheets that house 3 lineal lights. it's airy but substantial. the soft curves formed by the flexing veneer gives the fixture an elegant style. it's a surprise every time you turn your head as you walk upstairs or downstairs. it's a different piece of art from a different angle.

adagio

2006-10-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

to you, a clawfoot bathtub is too feminine and a clean-line modern bathtub is not special enough. you're hard to please; you just can't seem to find that extraordinary tub that will look perfect in your dream bathroom. don't give up just yet. give Adagio's wood bathtub a try. the rich colours of the wood and the dramatic shape definitely generate the 'wow' effect. better yet, this tub looks good in both modern and classic bathrooms.

mizu

2006-10-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

inspired by classic Japanese stoneware pottery, Walker Zanger created handmade ceramic tiles 'Mizu,' which means 'water' in Japanese. just like the name suggested, these tiles' deep crackle glazes create the effect of pooling water and convy depth. a wall of 'Mizu' tiles creates a beautiful style and peaceful atmosphere. they bring in the nature in the luxurious form. perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and spas. a wide variety of colours are available. shown: bamboo, sea, plum, cherry blossom, tea, pebble, and spring water; not shown: honey, koi, pearl, ricepaper, sand, tatami, and wasabi. well, if i become loaded one day, i want them for my outdoor pool...

nesting tables 101

2006-10-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

talented Francis Lemieux is the principal designer of Frank Smith, a furniture line produced by British Columbia (Canadian) based Francis Lemieux & Co. this space-saving and elegant set consists of 4 tables and a cube which can be used as a seat, footrest, speaker stand or pedestal. this design is way more functional than most of the nesting table designs. once all tables are 'nested,' you can move the whole set easily. each table can be ordered individually. available in walnut, cherry, maple, mahogany, or white oak. you can also place special orders on cumtom wood and non-standard finishes through their custom shop.

yang

2006-10-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

sick of ordinary looking sectionals? check this one out. desigher Francois Bauchet created this interesting sofa for Ligne Roset. when used alone, 'Yang' is a comfortable chaise that provides a generous amount of seating. it can be interlocked to form a sofa or a sectional. this system is good looking from every angle. i want 4 to form a sqare with lots of comfortable pillows so i can climb in and enjoy my little world within the sofa arms. the feet are made of matte chromed plated steel. a wide selection of fabric and colours are available.

skyway

2006-09-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

this handy little side table may just become your best friend especially if you're a couch potato! designer William Earle handmade this piece for blankblank. with Skyway, you can eat your dinner in front of tv (who said tv dinner tray table has to be ugly?), you can use your laptop while comfortably sitting on your couch, and you can easily reach your coffee mug while reading your favorite book. couch potatoes can have good tast, too! $400US.

invitro

2006-09-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

designer Cecile Grimaldi created this interesting piece for Kollection. i like how this idea expresses the concept of 'the potential that exists before being.' the design caught my attention and the concept made me think. i think all designers can relate themselves to this little vase/planter.

polar ice

2006-09-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

a reader from the UK asked me where he could buy a transparent chair like the one we used for Lara's wedding show booth. that chair is actually Lara's mom's. you can find it here. i want to show you another option in the UK and a great table to go with it - John Lewis' Polar Round Table & Ice Chair. they're great for small dining space. if you think this whole set would be too cold and industrial looking for you, you can mix and match with pieces that made of other materials or add natural accessories like plants or colourful cushions. also check out their Ice Bar Chair & Lolly Folding Chair.

add the feel of light and space to a kitchen or dining room with this modern chrome plated pedestal Polar Round Table. its top is made from 10mm thick clear tempered glass. 195GBP.

continuous chrome frame ensures flexibility and great ergonomic comfort in this versatile Ice Chair with acrylic resin seat. 89GBP. also available in frosted green and frosted blue.

cloud

2006-09-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

here's another suspended lamp from Rotaliana. designer Toyo Ito created Cloud by overlaying 5 thin layers of acrylic. the stratification of these layers, the breaks in continuity in the material building up the concentric spaces, the transparency of plastic material, and the reference to the changing shape and immateriality of clouds, all contribute towards the search for a new model of fluid substance. if your work involves any level of creativity, get one; i'm pretty sure these clouds can inspire you. if you claim that you only do routine work, these clouds can at least put a smile on your face or help you daydream.

flow

2006-09-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

designers Dante Donegani & Giovanni Lauda created 'Flow' for Rotaliana. to me, this looks like the new age Asian lanterns - with more depth and dimension! this hanging lamp characterized by spheroidal diffuser made of transparent polycarbonate. the volume of the diffuser is visually decomposed into a serie of overlapped concentric rings, which intercept and propagate the light. this airy and modern lamp can bring warmth to your dining table or any corners.

drop

2006-09-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

designers Heinerich Fiedeler & Michael Raasch created this suspended lamp for Anta. just like their other designs, 'drop' has the whimsical style in the most modern form. a series of them will be great for hanging over the bars and reception desks. their material will give the serious or professional feel while the cute drop shapes will bring the playfulness into the space.

capiz

2006-09-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

i know i just recently mentioned to you about 3form's product. i'm just really in love with many of their 2006 collection that i have to show you more (of course the cute puppies caught my eyes, too). although capiz shells are known as popular organic materials, they have been used quite often in modern design to soften the overall look. 3form's reinvented these shells in playful colours and patterns to make your space more interesting and updated. they are available in (L to R, T to B) honey sienna, natural cream, natural silver, silver pink, turquoise blue, full straight, and random.

panelite

2006-09-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

these translucent and lightwieght Panelite materials provide both light transmission and visual privacy. they are durable and surprisingly environmentally friendly. they maximize the use of post-consumer recycled material to manufacuture panelite and most of the structure and be recycled when reclaming is not an option. 'the company's trademark Honeycomb Construction gives an organic dimension to this space-age material.' they are capable of a full range of custom applications such as walls, ceilings, furniture, and exterior facades. shown here is the furniture example - IIT Study Carrel desk.

hotel fox

2006-09-22T02:24:00.000-07:00

saw this on the great blog 'Apartment Therapy.' i wanna go i wanna go!! if i ever get to go to Denmark, i'll be staying in Hotel Fox room 412 (shown above). if you're sick of ordinary hotel rooms (even boutique hotel rooms for some of you), try this one. you'll be looking forward to going back to your hotel room. 'for the launch of the new Volkswagen Fox 21 international artists from the fields of graphic design, urban art and illustration turned Hotel Fox in central Copenhagen, into the world’s most exciting and creative lifestyle hotel.' there are 61 rooms, 21 artist, 1000 ideas. 'each room is an individual piece of art. from whacky comical styles to strict graphic design. from fantastic street art and Japanese Manga to simply spaced out fantasies. you will find flowers, fairytales, friendly monsters, dreaming creatures, secrets vaults and...' rooms are available in 4 sizes: small, medium, large, and x-large; they will cost you approximately 125EUR to 215EUR.

breeze

2006-09-22T02:19:00.000-07:00

i saw Breeze on this wonderful blog "better living through design." fell in love with it. designer Kazuhiro Ymanaka created this humble, subtle piece for Pallucco. with my Asian and buddhism background, i might know a bit more about zen than a lot of people. and i see zen in this piece.
'a little wave moved by a light breeze. a little wave that implies the handle of a fold down door. the shape is pure - not a technical component in sight." the white cabinet has a blue inside panel behind the handle; all other versions have a white one. available @ the magazine.info for $3857.30US (78.75") & $5132.30US (94.5").

soft system

2006-09-22T02:08:00.000-07:00

countless sofa formations and 10 colour selections. Tom Dixon, Habitat's creative director, can definitely catch your attention with this Soft System. made of multi-density foam over wood and high quality textile, this seating design is one of a kind that provides both comfort and style. you can customize your very own Soft System according to your colour scheme, budget and room size.

balloon lamp

2006-09-22T01:56:00.000-07:00

why didn't i think of this first? i play with lights and i design home decor with lighting in mind... right, i don't like balloons, especially when they pop. well, i have to admit though, this is an ingenious design. i mean, party decoration and lighting in 1; how great is that? the l.e.d. light in the balloon doesn't generate much heat so it doesn't harm the balloon. because of the long-lasting l.e.d., you can re-use them and tie balloons in different forms for different occassions. available for 2940YEN @ Kyouei Design.

lace embossed concrete tiles

2006-09-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

designer Jethro Macey's lace concrete tiles has the unusual high-tech sophiscation. you can find unisex designs out there but you can hardly find a design that has both masculinity and femininity in one. the lace rose pattern is translated into a 3-d form using CNC milling. the slabs reveal the rose pattern when laid in multiples. both interior and exterior tiles are available. they are slightly heavier than normal wall tiles so they suggest a strong adhesive. available in grey & white for 38GBP per tile @blend design store. minimum order of 3 tiles.

intricate

2006-09-22T00:50:00.000-07:00

'the gracefully woven roettes of Intricate mimic the appearance of delicate lace in an exaggerated scale.' the lace trend in decor is not going to be over anytime soon. Intricate from Maharam Design Studio can definitely bring the femininity and sophistication into your space. this high-quality textile gives you lace in a much more durable form. use it to re-upholster armchairs with more curves. you'll find the result way more modern than you imagined. available in charcoal, crimson, coffee, teal, royal.

fromage

2006-09-22T00:41:00.000-07:00

isn't this just so cute and delicious looking? for a cheese lover like me, i'm not sure if this is a good idea to own a side table like this.. i'll have craving for gourmet cheese all the time! this is from a Vancouver design shop small | medium | large. i haven't had a chance to see it in person; i'm not sure if you'll be able to put your drinks on the table without a glass top. hmm.. i guess i'll have to visit the store and find out for you.

teejay's own - greysquare photographics' show booth

2006-09-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

our talented photographer Lara from Greysquare Photographics was an exhibitor of the Grand Wedding Show at Canada Place last weekend. jw and i had been working on the design of her booth all week long. please excuse the horrible photos... afterall, we're designers, not photographers.

we wanted to create a cozy environment that could make visitors feel like home. we knew right away that we'd provide comfortable seatings for people to talk to Lara and view albums and slideshows. we wanted to generate enough storage to hide supplies and backpacks and effective ways to showcase her photos without cluttering the space.this was a 10' x 10' corner booth. this rendering reflected the original information we recieved from the organiser - a 8' backdrop divider and a 3' side divider. later we found out that both of the dividers would be full length @ 8', we decided to hang the saree onto the black side divider to brighten up the space.

once Lara okayed the general direction of the booth design, we started working on the design details and building. here's jw working hard on building the backdrop panels.

here's Lara at her booth - all set up and ready to go! since Lara's thinking about doing several shows this year, we wanted to give her something versatile, easy to assemble, and easty to store. the 3 light weight shelves covered in burgundy satin provided table top space for the monitor screen, prize draw box, contest entry forms, prizes and the post cards for visitors to take home. they also provided enough storage space underneath. with her portfolio albums and giveaway post cards on the coffee table, a comfortable 3-seater couch, and home-gallery-style backdrop to show off her photos, the booth generated a cozy, relaxed environment for visitors to enjoy Lara's photos and conversation with her.

we had Lara mounted these beautiful 11" x 14" photos on foam cores. we then placed them off-centered on these 21" x 21" frames that we customized for her. we used black paint for the frames and white silk on the mat. they made the photos seem popping out of the grey walls so they effectively caught visitors attention. this is a good way to show off her works without needing to print very large photos. also, thanks to Studio 306's great and fast job on making the large sign for the logo across the top of the backdrop. the illuminated sign made a huge difference.

the Grand Wedding Show started as Cultural Wedding Show; the record shows that the majority of attandence has Asian cultural backgrounds. we added Asian-influenced accessories such as pillows, a vase, orchids, and a colourful saree to spice up the booth. when Lara's going to exhibit at different types of shows later on, she can simply change the accessories to create a different theme.

together we picked 4 of her photos and printed them into post cards as giveaways. each of them may appeal to a different crowd. this was a thoughtful, generous and effective idea for visitors to remember Lara when they go home. there's all her contact info on the back. also, visitors can send them to friends and Lara can get even more exposure. although the accessories represent different cultures, we used the colours to tide them toghether. the autumn-colour orchids brightened up the black corner. for a small booth, one flower arrangement is often enough to make a statement (of course, unless you're a flower vendor).

we decided to make 9 "grey squares" and bolt them together to form the backdrop panels to showcase 3 of her photos. these squares echo her company name. also, she wouldn't have to worry about where to store a 7' x 7' panel because all the squares come apart easily. this set up will fit into her smaller booth (8' x 8') at later shows.

Lara had a very successful show; the response was great. she had minimal downtime. many visitors love her photos, her work and her personality; i'd say they enjoyed the booth as well. i'm so very happy for you, Lara. it was a great first show. i hope you get great businesses out of this!

anna torfs

2006-09-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

here's another one of my favorite glass artists - Anna Torfs. i love all her works. i don't know how she does it, but all of her designs can just quitely make bold statements. she uses the centuries old Bohemian techniques to create a timeless collection. here are 3 examples of her work. (top left) 'Double Bubble' is blown free without mold in 4 layers and then cut, grinded, polished and sanded. (top right) 'Mo' is blown in transparent or coloured glass without mold and then cut, grinded and polished. (below) 'Caja-caja' is free-blown. it has a coloured centre in translucent glass or a a coloured centre with an opal layer in translucent glass. Anna Torfs collection is sold in 27 countries by carefully selected shops and galleries.

andy warhol tacoma tumbler

2006-09-14T03:46:00.000-07:00

Andy Warhol is best known for his extremely simple, larger-than-life, high-contrast color silk-screen prints of packaged consumer products, everyday objects (Campbell's Soup and the banana appearing on the cover of the rock music album The Velvet Underground and Nico) and for his stylized portraits of 20th-century celebrity icons (Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Judy Garland, and Elizabeth Taylor). read about Andy Warhol here.

here's your chance to bring his bold pop art into your home. these scallop-edged tumblers feature a different day-glo print of his Tacoma flowers. every sip of your beverage becomes a pop art viewing event. available @ Urban Outfitters for $20US (set of 4).

t table

2006-09-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

designed by Patricia Urquiola for Kartell, this table is highly functional and decorative. at a glance, you'd know why T Table was huge in Milan this year. the surface of the table is reminiscent of embroidery. one's enough to make a great conversation piece; imagine what effect the tables can bring when used in groupings. made in durable PMMA. available in 3 heights (11", 14", and 17") and 6 colors. you can find it @ Unica for $227US.

graphic

2006-09-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

oh! this is so much fun! awesome graphics on transparent surfaces - 2 of my favorite things. Graphic is one of 3form's new collections; it's 'bold in size, fresh in perspective and clean in presentation.' 8 patterns are available: (from top left) mega dentelle, bulbe, spot, dentelle, jacquard, mega bulbe, fern and dentelle pinke. these glass panels make great room dividers. the best part of choosing 3form's product is that you get to customize the colour to match your space. the colour example shown here is gulfstream. go to the 'You Create' page to experience the full range of colours.

cowley manor

2006-09-14T02:50:00.000-07:00

when i saw the photos of Cowley Manor's lobby about 2 years ago, i wished i could fly to England right away just to see this crytal lighting installation. the crystals splatter in the air, creating the illusion of crystal explosion. l.e.d. lights that were installed in the floor shoot straight up to make the crystal shiny and glittery. it seems like Cowley Manor has captured a piece of starry skies.

of course i noticed the classic architectural features that surround the modern lighting fixture. i immediately wanted to find out more about this hotel. as i suspected, the rest of the hotel is just as stunning. architect firm De Matos Storey Ryan did such a splendid job. they restored the original features and introduced new materials in modern forms to create perfect balance of and connection between the old and new. you have to check out the rest of the hotel on their web sites.

trace

2006-09-14T02:07:00.000-07:00

this collection from Naughtone has table tops that trace the frame perimeter perfectly and are invisibly suspended flush with the surface. all that and the immaculate steelwork create this clean, complete, powerful, and vivid image. the collection includes low tables and dining tables that seat 4 and 6 people. various standard frame colours are available. besides choices in glass, the surface is also available in marble, slate and wood veneers. you can also request RAL colour frames and other special surfaces.

ice kabobs

2006-09-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

i need to show you this before summer's over. not only they keep your drinks nice and cold, they also make great stirrers! that's not all; you can use them to make ice pops with any flavours. i like grape juice and cranberry juice the most. the colours are beautiful and they're so very tasty. available @ Teatro Verde for $11.95CDN. i'm pretty sure you can find similar products in many other stores as well. make some ice kabobs and say a proper goodbye to summer.

134

2006-09-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

i would say yes to jw if he proposed to me with these diamond chairs. (don't get me wrong; i have the best ring in the world!) Aceray's 134 has an interesting mix of straight and curved lines. the seat is made of acrylic with a diamond detail and the frame is made of chromed steel. the chair comes with legs or a sled base; you can stack up to 4 chairs together with the sled version. available in solid white or black, and translucent blue, red or clear.

softseating

2006-09-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

you probably remember the cool soft wall from my dv Urban Living Expo post. Stephanie Forsythe & Todd MacAllen from Molo Design used the same concept to create this fantastic new collection. the collection consists of low tables, stools, benches, and loungers. you can stack them together and create the right height for your own unique uses. available in white and brown.

casecase

2006-09-06T01:02:00.000-07:00

Turkish designer Adnan Serbest created this shelving unit in the most simple and pure form. although it's large in scale (18' long), with its glass shelving and pencil-thin metal bars mounted on the wall, this bookcase can take minimalist style to a whole new level if you don't put any books on them. it can serve as a grand, sleek backdrop in a space. with stuff on it, it can still keep its airy and floating look.

espalier

2006-09-06T00:50:00.000-07:00

you've probably figured out by now that i'm drawn to patterns that have potential to make people dizzy. for some reasons, they inspire me when i stare at them and daydream. designers Ragnar Hultgren & Jenny Oldsjo's Espalier is another great example. this partitioner is made in white & black plastic. the bonus of this design is that it's just like building blocks. you get to change the shape whenever you feel like to. it's a good balance of freedom and restriction.

mushroom

2006-09-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

this Mushroom stool shown on Blueprint magazine caught my eyes. designed and won a Tendo's design competition in 1961, this geometric stool is made of mahogany plywood. the interlocking of these steam-bent pieces creates an never-ending illusion. originally created as a stool, it can also be used as a night stand, an end table, and a coffee table with a piece of glass on the top. available @ Tortoise for $550US

baby bobo

2006-09-06T00:23:00.000-07:00

Dauphin's Baby Bobo chair is so cute; it calls out the kids in all of us. admit it, you were smiling when you saw these photos. the chair back and feet are beech. the seat cushion and the back can be upholstered in fabric and leather. the full-size version is also available - unfortunately, without the duck feet. let's complain to Dauphin.

candle

2006-09-06T00:05:00.000-07:00

what an interesting concept. Fredrikson Stallard's candle will make you appreciate what you own and what you have left. 'the notion of a candleholder as a durable and precious product of utility is questioned by an object that is beautifully destroyed in course of its use.' this is definitely a conversation piece when you use it for your party. available @ Citizen:Citizen for $72US.

bibliochaise

2006-09-05T23:56:00.000-07:00

Nobody and Co.'s Bibliochaise houses about 5 linear metres of books! this is a great piece for who 'likes to be immersed in deep reading,' literally. you can customize the armchair by choosing its many available finishes or tints and 6 cushions colours: red, white, orange, blue, grey, green.

goodbye, caban

2006-09-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

ah... i'm going to miss Caban alot. Ralph Lauren, which acquired Caban in 2000, announced the closure of this Canadian hip lifestyle/home furnishing/clothing store in June 2006. when i saw the headline on Globe and Mail, i was quite surprised; i always thought Caban did fine. one major cause was that Loblaw, the landlord of 3 main Caban locations, wanted to use the space for its own recently-launched clothing line, Joe Fresh Style, and expected to expand into homewares.

'Caban made a big splash when it was launched in 2000 as a stylish home fashion chain under the creative inspiration of Mr. Mimran. But it later lost its focus after he was ousted from Ralph Lauren that same year, shortly after the New York fashion retailer had acquired Mr. Mimran's Club Monaco.' 'the turn of events has an ironic twist to it. Joe Mimran, who came up with the Caban concept when he headed hip fashion retailer Club Monaco, is now the chief architect of Loblaw's private label home furnishings and fashion lines.'

the closing sale is still on at several locations. hope you'll find a good deal and then say goodbye to the store.

vintage

2006-08-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Osborne and Little's patterns are always elegant and stunning. here is some vintage fabulousness for you. acclaimed as part of the design revolution of the '60s, 8 of their most successful and dazzling designs are reintroduced in new and contemporary colourings. they return as the Vintage collection. the examples shown here are: Wilde Carnation - rows of stylised carnations in metallic and lacquer (left); and Minaret - an all-over striped pattern in the form of a tower(right). just like fashion, home decoration goes in a full circle as well.

mekong

2006-08-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

designer Gala Wright created these fabulous occasional tables for Viable. constructed from 2-way mirror glass, the table surfaces are fully reflective. when the light is on, the sperical light fixture submerged in the table becomes visible with multiple internal reflections. these tables have the ultra-modern concept but somewhat subtle appearances. don't worry if your home decorating styles are not ultra-modern, they will definitely fit in your spaces.

corallo

2006-08-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

the brother design team Fernando & Humberto Campana's Corallo armachir for Edra is a beautiful combination of handicraft and design. this expoxy-painted steel wire armchair meets all industrial designers' goals - it's artistic and functional. taking a look of it, everyone would question its comfort level. i actually had a chance to sit on it and was i surprised! although i'm not sure if i sat on it long enough to make a fair judgement, i felt really comfortable on it and defintely enjoyed it.

bin bin

2006-08-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

how cute and creative is this? designer John Brauer created Bin Bin for Essey. this is a wastebasket with an identity of its own. it looks exactly like the contents - crushed paper. the shape is just about right. it makes a statement in a room but the lines are simple enough so it wouldn't make the room look messy. Brauer designed them in black, red, white, and brown. available in white and black @ Scandinavian Design for 469KR.

objects for walls

2006-08-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

designer Erika Hanson felt thtat room surfaces should have a living presence. she began experimenting with shapes that might make people want to touch. the result is these Objects for Walls. they offer 'a contemporary alternative to the plain walls typical of modern interior environments. blurring traditional categories of sculpture, architecture and furiture, these objects change the way we perceive the boundaries of a room.' with these 3-in-1 Objects for Walls, you can have a wall that no longer just to divide spaces but 'interact' with your life by being a sculpural-like art and lighting for ambience.

balance

2006-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

now that i've mentioned Designers Guild, i want to talk about them a bit more. they're the leading British Interiors specialists. since Tricia Guild founded the company in 1970, they've been famous for their contibution of colour and pattern to interior design. their collection include fabrics, wallcoverings, upholstery and home accessories. shown here is the 3-seater, armchair and ottoman of Balance from their furniture collection. Balance has sleek lines, modern and simple styles, and high-quality upholstry. the most exciting part of buying furniture from Designers Guild is you get to choose from the huge selection of their fabric colours and patterns.

LG steam washing machines

2006-08-29T10:34:00.001-07:00

this is what a collaboration of top-of-the-line technology and cutting-edge interior style looks like. LG and Designers Guild teamed up to create these limited edition Steam Direct washing machine. Tricia Guild, the founder of Designers Guild, says that consumers are demanding more unique design outside of the traditional fabric and wallcoverings. so these appliances get an makeover. these eye-catching machines come in 4 prints to match Dersigners Guild's fabric: Sevilla (above), Cloisonne (below right), Imperial Flower (below middle), and Ribailagua (below left).

technology-wise, it's a world first using a Dual Spray system to spray hot steam and water on fabric continuously to improve washing performance. and of course the efficiency is expected. besides the eco-friendly features like less water and engergy usage, best of all, the Refresh feature eliminates the need for ironing.

Imperial Flower, Sevilla and Ribailagua will be available @ Harrods and John Lewis from June 2006 and Cloisonne from October 2006 for approximately 1300 – 1500GBP.

philipp plein garden

2006-08-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

here's an extravagant brand for you. German designer Philipp Plein's all about luxurious goods. besides the fashion collection, he has a full-line home collection as well. now the summer's almost over, i've selected these outdoor pieces to show you: bench Daytona, chair Lucky Star (above), and swinging Summer Bed (below). all made in stainless steel. his pieces definitely look like they belong in movie stars' and Italian fashion designers' homes. i'll show you more of the indoor ones later on; you'll understand what i mean.

blik

2006-08-16T00:46:00.000-07:00

blik is wall graphics for the commitment phobic. i know people who need and want changes for their spaces all the time. i also know people who tried to spice up their walls but hated the results after many hours stenciling. i think i've found a solution for them. blik is a collection of oversized, geometric decals that allow users to create personalized wallscapes. all the decals are self-adhesive, easy to apply, and removable. you can change your minds anytime. the collection is priced from $32US to $56US.

nido

2006-08-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

desiger Jarvier Mariscal created this cute nest/cave for Magis MeToo collection. inside of the cave, the floor has grass pattern and graffiti on the underside of the roof. made of rotational-moulded polyethylene, it's suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses. i can just see how much fun kids can have in this bright-coloured buggy nest/cave. even i want one! fine, i know it won't fit me... available @ modernkid for $1695CDN.

blottoman

2006-08-16T00:22:00.000-07:00

another fun creation from designer Karim Rashid. created for Nienkamper, these ottomans are lightweight, soft, and comfortable. although their bulging appearances give out this 'cute' impressions, they can still fit in any serious and mature setting. i have to tell you that this design caught my eyes mainly because i thought they look like sponge cakes (especially the beige-brown ones). available in monochromatic or 2-tone colour scheme of contrasting fabric, leather or vinyl. prices range from $515CDN to $1740CDN @ Nienkamper.

tango

2006-08-16T00:14:00.000-07:00

summer's almost over, but i think it's still appropriate to show you this chair. with its hand-woven natural fibers in a circle pattern and optional ultra suede cushion, it looks so much like an opened coconut!! it's fun but not tacky. the chrome legs makes the chair stays in the modern category. it's a good mix of the natural and modern elements. i found it here.

fushion

2006-08-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

although i know every piece form Ikea by heart as a designer, there's rarely anything that i want to write about. but this new dining table & chair set designed by Sandra Kragnert attracted my attention. the backs of the chairs are shaped to the corners of the table. this does provide a smart solution in terms of space saving. the design of the set is simple and lively. i have to admit that it is great when nice designs and concepts are affordable to the general public. $449CDN @ Ikea.

shelflife

2006-08-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

it was a huge success in 2005 when Viable's designer Charles Trevelyan created the first 'Shelflife' - a shelving unit or room divider with removable chair and side table (shown below). this year, Trevelyan came up with the desk version of Shelflife (shown above). the angular shelves of this collection prevent books from toppling. stylish and functional, these are ideal pieces for small space living. both made of LDF and are available in white, grey, and eggshell blue.

scratchcard

2006-08-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

do you read magazines or newspaper when eating breakfast? now you get to try something new. how about some scratch & reveal fun? i found this post on this awesome blog "Cool Hunting," and i have to share this with you. London-based textile designer Linda Florence came up with this cool concept making the already hot wallpaper trend even more fun. the silver substance on scratching & win tickets is applied to her beautifully designed floral patterns. unlike those lottery scratch cards, it's a 'win' everytime you work on your wallpaper.

sinko

2006-08-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

if you care about every little decorating details in your home like i do, this product will make you happy. designed by Olof Hansson, this sinkplug is beautiful and functional. the whole thing is made of stainless steel - it weighs almost a kilogram! also the dome-shaped surface forms a complete seal; you can be sure that it'll stay put in your sink. it fits almost all sink and bathtub drains with a diametre up to 82mm. available for 419KR @ Scandinavian Design.

*according to reader Lara, Sinko has a second use because of its stainless steel. after cutting smelly things like onions and garlic, you remove all odor by 'washing' your hands with it. thanks for the great tip, Lara!*

dform

2006-08-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

founded by James Dieter, dform expores the manipulation of flat sheet materials into dynamic 3-d forms. all of their lighting and wall covering products are made of interlocking die-cut wood venner or plastic with layered surfaces of pattern and shadow. the examples shown here are basket saucer (top) and spade drum (drum). besides the wonderful designs, they've also done many incredible special projects for commercial and residential spaces. after checking out their special project portfolio, i really want to check out those restaurants with their lights.

4-petal

2006-08-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

many of you probably have already seen this wonderful and functional recycled design. i still decided to show it to you here just because it's a great concept. designed by Josh Levy, this environment-friendly piece is made of cardboards. it can be used horizontally or vertically. when used horizontally, the table can store up to 12 wine bottles. $493.75US (add $19.99US for pre-applied ReviveX brand stain and water protection).

vase of phases

2006-08-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

these interesting vases highlight the beauty of experience and reflect designer Dror Benshetrit's ruminations on the ideas of purity, damage, and transformation. the shadows on the vase creates a big impact on its visual presentation. this wonderful design is a part of the permanent collection of the "Staatliches Museum fur Angewatne Kunst" Munich, Germany and the "Eretz Israel Museum" Tel Aviv, Israel. available in 3 sizes and in black & white. prices range from $125US to $325US.

wishbone

2006-08-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

what a master piece. this is the famous CH 24 chair designed as far back as 1949 and is the first of Wegner's chairs for Carl Hansen & Son. it's known as the "Wishbone" chair because of its Y-shaped back. the streamline form and and the semicircular top rail makes the chair inviting and unforgettable. available in Vancouver's Inform Interiors and $798CDN @ Toronto's Kiosk. (photos by Soren Larsen)

inhabit

2006-08-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

looking for things that will add vibrant colours and graphics to your space? check out Inhabit. each collection includes bedding, pillows, stretched wall art and slats. the examples shown here are: (L to R) sprout in chocolate, weee, and quattro in sulphur. 3 sizes are available for these pillows 18"x18" ($60US), 13x24 (66), and 19x19x 3 (88). also, if you're into designs and good at it, maybe you'll be interested in their "the great pillow design competition." trust in yourself and give it a try. maybe you're just one step away from becoming a textile designer - you never know.

antibodi

2006-08-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

famous designer Patricia Urquiola can always come up with extraordinary ideas. created for Moroso, this is not your chaise/lounge chair. what makes this playful piece different from others is the reversible cover which consists of padded triangular petal cells. the cover is made of felt and wool on the feminine petal side and wool and leather on the musculine geodesic side. the reversible cover successfully deliver the idea of the 2 different and striking moods.

kyoto

2006-08-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

check out Zue's glassware collection. the patterns remind me of calligraphy and Asian paintings. i like their elegance and simplicity. the example shown here is Kyoto cylinder vase. if i owned one, i'm not sure if i'd actually put any flowers in it. i'll probably just display them as art pieces. this is made of high-quality handblown glass and hand-numbered edition of 250. available in black, glod, and bronze. 11" x 3 3/4". $135US.

creepers.mgx

2006-08-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

these creepers don't give me creeps at all. i think they are elegant and playful. designed by Lionel Theodore Dean for Materialise.mgx, this lighting/room divding system is a combination of art and technology. clipping an array of them on floor-to-ceiling cables creates floating clouds of light that divide interior spaces. the designer "imagined this design slowly spreading across the room sending out 'feelers' for the next attachment." Creepers are white until the selected l.e.d. lights are on then the entire system takes on the hue of the colour of the lights. available @ Generate for $399US.

teejay's week off

2006-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

it was my Lunar Calendar birthday (also the Chinese Valentine's Day). happy Valentine's Day to all my Chinese friends. i'm taking a break so no new posts for the week.

my family always celebrates Lunar Calendar birthdays. j/w and i spent some quite time together during the day. had a great buffet dinner with my family at the casino. my sister made this super delicious and beautiful angel food cake. a couple of my girlfriends took me out for dessert/snack. i had a great time and felt really pampered with all the skin care gifts.

i get to spend my actual birthday with friends; really looking forwards to that!

bolle bottles

2006-07-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

they are chic, clean, simple, graphic and vivid. with the retro-modern style, they add a splash of colours into your space. designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1968 for Venini, this series of bottles employs the 'Incalmo' technique wherein 2 different types of glass, worked separately, are fused together to obtain, within a single object, separate areas differentiated by colours. this technique was developed and perfected by the master glass-workers at Venini. set of 5 for $7380US @ Moss.

liquid crystal privacy door

2006-07-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

if you have tried on the anything in Prada's flagship store in Soho, Manhattan, or if you have visited Bar89 on Mercer St. (shown), you would know about these fancy doors. besides the fact that Prada was too busy that night, i was just too poor to even try on any clothes in the store. didn't get to see the doors but that was the first time i heard about these liquid crystal doors through my friends. i will not go into the technical details; i'll just simply describe what they can do. the door is transparent but becomes opaque when the room is occupied (the switch is turned to on). if you're interested to know more about it, check out SwitchLite and Priva-Lite.

la paz

2006-07-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

this is the light fixture series that would flip your world up-side down. conceptual designer Iris Kadouri started working on the La Paz project while studying at Central Saint Martin's and invested a great deal of time in developing it. this is a reminder of the beginning of the industrial revolution and a period of inventions. Kadouri calls La Paz a "light source within a light source," in which the blown-glass shade echoes the bulb within. it's a play on what you 'see' and what you 'know.' available in pendant ($829US), table ($400US), and floor ($589US)versions @ 20th Century Chairs.

modular arts

2006-07-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

if textured wallpaper just doesn't seem to give you the depth you want, then modularArts may be the solution. many great designs are available for these smooth, ceramic-like panels. many designers have used them in commercial spaces such as restaurants and designer clothing store. small scale to create depth and shadow; large scale to create pleasing visual illusion. another plus of modularArts, the panels are able to protect the materials behind them from the heat of hte flame for up to 2 hours because they are entirely mineral.

scintilla

2006-07-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

you want something brilliant for your home; use Scintilla for your walls for floors. hundred of light conducting channels are carved into a transparent block of clear of pigmented polymer to create each Scintilla tile. these fiber-optic elements give the material the ability to shift, shimmer and ripple in response to movement and changes in light intensity on the tiles. the tiles will respond to shadows, moving lights and will also pick up colours and disperse them on its surface. Scintilla can be used in both horizontal and vertical applications but are not recommended for areas of high-heat or open flames. Scintilla is available in 5 colors. check out Sensitile for other more sutble Terrazzo & Volatile.

monster

2006-07-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Edmonton-based designer Adriean Koleric wanted to take the same feel from the designer toy culture and transfer it into the furniture design scene. then Monster was born. although this lamp should make you feel like there's something creeping out of your closet, i think it's just so adorable! it's a monster you can hug. Koleric wants to further explore the customization process so he has contacted designers within the Vinyl community to take on the lamp and recreate it as they see fit.; first custom work by Brooklyn-based animator, Motomichi Nakamura, is coming soon. this would encourage the users to become a part of the ever evolving design process. made of lacquer painted MDF and translucent acrylic. $600CND.

pick chair

2006-07-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

this is such a great idea. designed by Dror Benshetrit for Gruppo Sintesi, this is the first foldable cantilever chair. with just a flick of the wrist, Pick Chair goes from a 2-D decorative piece to a functional 3-D chair. the concept gives you additional seatings and help you maximize the space when the chair is "stored" away. i just love multi-functional pieces with styles.

the circle project

2006-07-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

this is a series of drawings created by Richard Sarson, a recent graduate of the Royal College of Art in UK, using a compass and coloured felt-tip pens. according to Sarson, 'the works explore pattern, symmetry and composition, also a desire to create something complex using simple tools and a mathematical approach.' more than 1000 circles are drawn for each piece. he creates such great illusions to the eyes. i think the circles would enhance any space with their random colours. well, i know for sure i wouldn't hang one in my office; it won't help my productivity - i'll stare at it for hours.

living art

2006-07-19T01:51:00.000-07:00

many of us conduct busy lives and live in small spaces without our own yards. Vancouver's Kermodi provides beautiful living art to fulfill the missing element in our lives and spaces. to create the fresh, clean, and modern feels, they use materials such as stainless steel, timeless ceramics, natural stones, speckled sand, and exotic plants. most of the plants are easy to maintain so they won't take up too much of your time just to care for them. they adds tranquility and make a great scenary on your balconies, mantels, windowsills, bathroom counter tops and the foyer floors. reasonably priced; they make great gifts.

digital stained glass

2006-07-19T01:35:00.000-07:00

PixelBlocks are not just another Lego wannabe. what's so special about them is their Digital Stained Glass service. it lets you turn any photo or artwork into a permanent translucent creation made from PixelBlocks. the finished products look like glittering stained glasses. you can upload the image onto the website and it turns the image into a pattern file (.pdf ). with this file printed out and information on how many blocks you should buy for each colour, you can assemble it on your own. when i have more spare time, i want to build one and light it up from the back. and no, this picture won't be the project that i'll work on. just want to show you the result of my test trial. $8US for 1 bulk packaging (200 blocks).

honey

2006-07-19T01:22:00.000-07:00

this multifunctional piece of Hivemindesign's is a room divider that can also act as light shelving. it's a modern design with retro geometric aspect. although there's lots of lines involved, it won't make the space busy because the pattern's unified and repetitive (unless you put too many random pieces on it, in this case). remember this when you consider of incorporating any graphics on room dividing units. made with Knoll textiles; if you view the unit straight on, it's almost transparent. if you view it at an angle, you won't see past it.

twister

2006-07-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

designer Yuriko Takahashi created this functional seating for Swedese. i like the illusion Twisters creates when arranged together. if i see a bench setup like this, i'll probably spend quite some time staring at them. i like the curves that generates the ripples and the straight lines that cuts across the ripples to tie everything together. well, maybe it's just me; i'm always drawn to geometric patterns.

mansion

2006-07-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

if there were 'fashion shows' for furniture, this would be the showstopper. even if you are not a stencil person, you can fall in love with this. Erich Ginder's chandelier design has the grand, dramatic mansion idea and the modern, clean laser-cut look. made in aluminum, glass and stainless steel. available in anodized black, anodized gold, anodized natural, citron, powder coated white, and red. available @ Design Public for $3700US.

elements

2006-07-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

designer Ryan Grey Smith created this beautiful sculptural artwork/hanging lamp series. they are made by heating and shaping sheets of polycarbonate by hand. he has been commissioned to create some wonderful work. the examples shown here are the grand fixture at Saks 5th Avenue in San Antonio and a 11' fixture for a large residential foyer. to be honest with you, these lamps look quite 'delicious' to me because the beautiful sheets actually reminds me of the wonton skins that my grandma made. available in five sizes and in translucent colors.

eva solo bbq

2006-07-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

you love barbecuing but don't have enough space on your tiny apartment balcony, or the looks of the barbecues just don't go with your style and your beautiful backyard. then this is for you. Tools' Claus Jensen & Henrik Holbak created this simple and functional barbecue for Eva Solo. it's pleasing to the eye and its flat lid turns it into a nice side table on the patio so you won't have to hide the grill away after use. unlike others using enamelled, chrome or nickel-plated parts, it's made exclusively in stainless steel so it will last longer. easy to empty ashes with its portable coal bucket. available @ Unica for $560US. smart and sleek accessories are available: grill tweezers, skewers, spatula, grill starter, stainless steel cooking dome, durable fabric cover, and table legs to turn the lid into a tabletop. check here for their prices.