ThiRty1SeVeN: An Unpretentious Guide to Beautiful Chaos

The design of the Grid House

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:04:00 +0000

The Grid House is a beautifully designed and constructed, deeply thought of house blended with the lush surrounding landscape. Designed by Brazilian Architectural Firm Forte, Gimenes, & Marcondes Ferraz. I'm in love that something so geometric has been put into this beautiful environment and blends in very well, speaking of the wood, the open grid plan, the format of the house is just amazing. The interior furniture could be much better, but as of now, I'm just admiring the architecture of it all..

Read the article about it here. via contemporist

Who said DIY can't be pretty?

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Not Maison Martin Margiela.. during his show in the Artisanal Fall 2009 Collection. Yes, recession is still here but hopefully its getting better, we need not to speak too soon.
The message of this show was DIY. You can do anything yourself, and it CAN be pretty, not overly messy or chaotic, unless beautifully chaotic of course! Inspiration? Anything! Materials? your local hardware store, or any other place that you can find materials and morph them into something uniquely creative made by you.

via, today and tomorrow

Kimonoesque

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:32:00 +0000

For a Japanese-Kimono statement furniture in the room, the Kimono Chaise lounge and Hakama Chair & ottoman by Kimono New York speaks..designed by designer William Gordon, and manufacturer Walter P.Sauer. A contemporary form of furniture in a traditional japanese fabric made from Nishijin silk Obi. Such delicate work and long labor time to create this fabric, really brings out its beauty.

Kimono New York, a company in NYC that is dedicated to promoting the use of the kimono and oni textiles for furnishings and decor.

Kimono New York

via

AndeL's Hotel

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0000

More and more boutique hotels are getting hip and better than some five star hotels..From the design, to the service, and more. It just gives off a different feel. But this is no boutique hotel, its Andel's Hotel in Łódź, Poland. Its the fourth designer hotel from Andel's chain but the first 4-star deluxe design hotel in the area. With 278 rooms and suites, great conference areas, located on the grounds of the Manufaktura Art and Culture Center, its a brilliant melange of quirky modern interiors designed by Jestico + Whiles. Located in what was a former textile mill, once the place of Polish textile magnate Izrael Poznanski, following strict orders of historic building preservation, its gives off this lofty historical industrial feel with the exposed brick walls, the cast iron and steel around the place, combined with modern designs, creating a unique experience for hotel guests.

via

Seeing RED

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Bushido - A recently opened Restaurant/Bar/Lounge in Bahrain (the previous place of the Blue Elephant Restaurant). It's a chic trendy Japanese inspired setting featuring samurai armors in floating glass cages, with refined ornaments, and a majestic concept. The food combines traditional "Robata" and "Fusion" cuisine in this elegant restaurant that's rich in atmosphere and ambiance.
Feel like reading a book? A book of Fashion? Fashion A to Z: An Illustrated Dictionary by Alex Newman and Zakee Shariff is it. With more than 2000 entries, and up to 240 pages, this book fills a gap in the market for an affordable, accessible and up-to-date guide to fashion terminology.

Temperley London and The Rug Company has collaborated together to create this vibrant new Nepalese Rug, Ophelia, by Fashion designer Alice Temperley, along with other handmade cushions. It's a hand-knotted 150 knot, Tibetan Wool rug. The Rug Company is located at City Center Bahrain.

This oversized bell lamp is a new creation by Italian lighting manufacturar Axo Light, which is great for use in large spaces. It comes in other different colors.

The Volant Armchair by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola for Moroso. It's made out of Alcantara, an extraordinary non-woven textile that has tactile qualities of leather. It's finished off beautifully with a hand printed motif in vivid red and small series of smock embroidery also in red, contrasting the beige base and breaks for a brief moment the repeating rhythm of the pleats.

Do-It-Yourself Creativity! Seriously!

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:39:00 +0000

A boot becomes a vase, a trowel to serve sushi, a rope becomes a fruit basket, a chain becomes a stool..you get the idea. Something strange yet simple and very creative, just one thing, you can do this on your own! Change do-it-yourself objects and make design objects of them: inspired from creative designer Herve Van der Straeten.

Herve Van Der Straeten currently draws models for the manufacture of Sevres vase and works on the opening of the design art gallery of Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah in Dubai.

A pair of wellington boots is used as a vase. Fill it half up with some water and add in some pretty roses or any flower to your liking. It would be beautiful if you contrasted the colors of the flowers with the boot color.

Tired of your old lamp? What you can do is take some copper tubes, and bend it to create a modern shape. Once you put it next to a traditional gilded framed mirror, it looks beautifully chaotic.

A useless chain can become a stool, it just needs some cleaning, some welding, and some painting and you're done. Place it next to a velvet Louis XVI settee, to look unusual.

A rope can be braided to become a fruit basket. Choose a bold color, but please no tacky stripy patterns, it will just counteract the effect.

When friends come over for some sushi, get creative by not serving the sushi in plates, but in trowels.

The bread basket just got interesting. Take a shallow open container, bolt in some wheels, and you have your own bread basket cart. If you have a mini shopping cart, it'll look good.

Gallery Van Der Straeten
11, street Ferdinand Duval, 75004 Paris.
Tel.: 01 42 78 99 99

photocredit: CMF

Remember Lego?

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:21:00 +0000

Back in the days, it was great playing with LEGOs, and I always thought it really fuels your creative juices to come up with the most abstract ways of creating/building something, from a funky house, to a dinosaur, etc.. I was amazed when I saw these and thought what a creative way to use LEGO bricks to cover holes in the walls! Dispatchwork is a project by artist Jan Vormann, now located in Berlin, he did this previously in Bocchignano (a village near Rome), and Tel Aviv. With some helpers, he filled in World War II bullet holes in a building of Humbold University, and some other walls around town. You can go for a great walk around Berlin looking for LEGO patched up walls. He also has a exhibiton at Jarmuschek + Partner gallery until June 13th.

Jarmuschek + Partner
Invalidenstrasse 50/51
Halle am Wasser
10557 Berlin
Tu-Sa 12-18 h
+49 (0)30 28599070

via

Playing with the Lines

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:55:00 +0000

It's something that you don't see in facades of modern buildings, yet it kind of reminds me of our traditional wooden Bahraini windows.

The colorful aluminum panels on the main facade is giving off such a light-hearted fun feel, that shows you can really do anything to the facade to make it more attractive and welcoming. Step Up on fifth provides homes, support services, and rehabilitation for the homeless and mentally disabled.. located in downtown Santa Monica, California, designed by Pugh + Scarpa Architects. The custom-made water jet-anodized aluminum patterned panels gives off a rythmic contrast to the other side of the building with its asymmetrical horizontal openings. The building is a great success of the articulation of elements.

via

Visual Poetry

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:43:00 +0000

I was just in awe when I saw these!! Words are merely not just words..they speak, dance, play, move us in so many different directions. They are alive..and tell us such amazing stories as these sculptures do by designer Ebon Heath. His visual sculptures just makes us stop and admire how words could be so powerful in our world today..at the same time looking at them feels like time has stood still for a mere moment or two. Creative no? Imagine if he did it all in arabic?! Ahh..B E A U T I F U L !

photocredit: yatzer

Wild Etiquette by Dima

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:36:00 +0000

A new concept lounge chair is ready by Russian Industrial Designer Dima Loginoff. The "Wild Etiquette Lounge" chair is based on the shape of a big wave influenced by feminine curves. Decorated with the classic toile de jouy fabric, it makes it a unique piece of furniture. The lounge comes in two parts - the lounge body and the fabric sunny cap (which can be removed).

photocredit: yatzer

A new hunt..

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Skitsch is now one of my new favorite hunts for unique furniture pieces! Located in Milan, Italy, it is a new Italian design brand that was debuted in Salone del Mobile, where it presented its first collection, and opened its new store. Skitsch worked with 28 international designers including Maarten Baas and the Campana Brothers. In its retail store located in Via Monte di Pieta, the house collection is complemented by a carefully curated selection of contemporary pieces of furniture from other design brands. Founded by Renato Preti and a team of creative enterpreneaurs, it is a place filled with statement pieces of furniture.

photocredit: modemonline, skitsch

A colorful exterior houses colorful art

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:26:00 +0000

A striking building with an unique facade of 36,000 brightly colored ceramic rods stands in Munich as a new landmark. Soon on May 21st, is the opening of Museum Brandhorst in Munich, Germany! This colorful building is designed by Berlin Architects Sauerbruch Hutton, gives you the opportunity, from the 21 - 24 of May, to get to know a contemporary modern art exhibition by artists Udo and Anette Brandhorst, for free. The museum houses around 700 artworks from artists such as Gerhard Richter and Andy Warhol - alongside 112 illustrated books by Picasso. If you get the chance to visit, it would be wonderful!

photocredit: Museum brandhorst, cubeme

A Shop for Modern Curiosities

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Looking for an antique stapler? or a gilded motorcycle helmet? or maybe something that you don't have yet but will put a nice touch? .. Look no further..its all found here in Partners & Spade, located in Greenwich Village, New York. It is best described as a retail experiment, which is very interesting, filled with random assortments of modern curiosities in every place of the shop. Founded by Andy Spade and Anthony Sperduti. A place well worth the visit, it's more than a concept store.. its a unique retail experience. Thirtyoneseven gets inspired from places like these!

photocredit: men.style.com

The International City of Lace and of Mode

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:56:00 +0000

It's almost time for the unraveling of the Cité internationale de la dentelle et de la mode! in Calais, France. A museum of Lace which is nothing new for a city which since 1816, has devoted such gracious designs and touches to this uber delicate airy fabric. After much history, Calais today has six companies of lacemakers (Boot, Brunet laces, Codentel, Cosetex, Desseilles international, Noyon laces), accompanied by eight companies of completions (cutting, dyeing, etc.), all in the same levels of famous fashion houses like Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Chantal Thomass, Aubade, Warner..

The inauguration is set at June 11, 2009, by the Mayor of Calais. The building is designed by architects Alain Moatti and Henri Rivière (worked in the head office of Jean Paul Gaultier). What they had to say about the project, “To keep the traces of time and the scars, to thus allow the factory to continue its life and to add, with the frontage light moving, a ultra-technological object, an unreal world, an always renewed glance. There is not of another relationship between the factory and this frontage, only that which opposes the softness of lace with the brutality of the factory”.

The museum will house an extraordinary permanent exhibition showcasing the history, the present, and the future of the lace of Calais. Many visitors would be able to discover the trade secrets of the most extraordinary fabrics. There are so many great events that follow the opening that is sure not to be missed!

Cité internationale de la dentelle et de la mode
135, quay Commercial, 62100 Calais
Inauguration on June 11, 2009.
“Sea - lace, lace - sea”, of Maria Dompé
Varnishing on Thursday May 14, at 6 p.m.
www.citedentelle.calais.fr

via prestigium mode, ville de Calais.

A little simplicity..

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:39:00 +0000

is all that it needs.

Sometimes its just something that's so simple, it makes a difference. You can radiate a room with a contemporary touch, some playfulness with a bold color, a different texture, and a great finish. My simplicity? A hot pink stance chair by John Niero accompanied with an Inchino floor lamp for Busnelli designed by Antonio Sciortino.

Simple yet Modern.

via contemporist

When they say "More is More"

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Beautiful Chaos takes inspiration from Ricky Kenig's Residence in Brooklyn, New York by Slade Architecture.

"More is more" but its not clutter in this case. Well designed and organized, a lot of pictures on the wall, or an organized collection of rare shoes, or stacked coffee table books, or... you know where I'm going with this don't you? This is pulled off brilliantly, and I have to say, it speaks out about the personality of the homeowner. So when putting on display a unique collection that belongs to you, it can tell us a lot about your personality. Do so..bring them out rather than having it collect dust, or tucked deep away in the closet. If you're afraid to put it out there, then have it secured.

Let people know who you are! But please, no clutter! you want to display it like its in an art gallery, not make a mess out of it.

photocredit: Archdaily

Mirrored Treetop Hotel

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:29:00 +0000

For the savvy adventurer and hotelier who loves to try new experiences..head to Harads, Sweden (the north of Sweden), where you would find treetop hotel suites, a concept for a tree hotel by Architects Than & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter to be ready by next year. By raising the Eco-tourism to new heights, these treetop suites are actually lightweight 4x4x4 meters aluminum boxes clad in mirrored glass, and built around tree trunks. What seems camouflaged in its own surroundings, its a peaceful retreat above the grounds in a modern way for those who seek the high life unique hotel experience.

photocredit: dezeen

Ladies Toilet @ the V&A

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Fun, Stylish, Elegant, Circles, Fan-like, Flow, Simply Beautifullll!...When going to an Art Museum, especially a well-known one, even the toilet has to meet the standard of promoting fine decorative art with great craftsmanship applied..and these architects have done it well.

This is the interior of the ladies toilet, off the grand entrance at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Done by London architects Glowacka Rennie, after winning the competition from the Museum in May 2008.

Descending down the stair-case to the toilet, the height of the space is exaggerated by the rhythmic flow of the panels, along with the painted whimsical blue circles by Swiss artist Felice Varini, which is only revealed as complete circle shapes when looked at from the basin mirror.

The light space is contrasted with a black stone wall and black cubicle interiors. A sense of jewelery-like accents are played in the space with the use of brass fittings and trims, giving a touch of style to the monochrome interior.

via dezeen

Corsica & Provence Inspired Ideas

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:10:00 +0000

Lounging by the pool in a villa in Corsica, or taking indoors the charms of Provence, with beautiful panoramic views and days filled with sun, what more than to give you bright colorful decor ideas to pull this off in your own home.

1. As I always say, Accent don't overwhelm. Accent your decor with colors that inspire you, either alone or with complimentary colors. The colors of the sand, sun, sea, greenery, or even spices (think saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, etc.) gives off a great feel to the space.

2. Incorporate the colors in different amounts around the house, indoors and out, to give a sense of feel of what is sort of expected. Do that with different textures and materials. For example, in the outdoors we have long orange red vases by the door, once we step inside we see the color repeated but used on the walls (best bet: If you're doing a bright colored wall for the interior, please do so in one wall only so that you won't overwhelm the whole area).

Another part is the use of the same color on the sofa. (Important: Compliment the colors and textures with things that go with them or contrast them in a good way, ex. the use of different types of rich woods such as walnut, with the bright orange red color goes well together.

3. In the outdoors, go white..on the walls, the sofas, the tables, chairs, etc. Accent them with bright colored accessories, like a sunny yellow, an olive green, terracotta, or even turquoise. Whether out by the pool or by the garden. Ex. pillows, vases, glasses, dining ware.

4. Giving an airy feel of the space by adding a bright color. The use of a bright color in somewhere unusual gives a breathe of fresh air in the space, a more open fun kind of feel. Just don't do a color explosion, it could counter the effect.

photocredit: CMF

A Journey of Tastes

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Ah yes..now tis time to do some travel tasting across the countries. It's all about the teeny tiny things that makes a difference. Now if I just had the time to do so..where would I go?

First of all, on the start of my travel, something that I would probably take along with me though this may sound crazy, is this Mypressi Twist, the world's first portable espresso machine. Just add the coffee and hot water, with no external power needed, there's espresso ready anytime..The reason being is that sometimes you don't come across a good shot of espresso (thankfully I've come across many good ones ;) ), and that's why you can have your own portable machine, with your own choice of espresso beans, and you're done.

I'm off to Paris..now I'll have to stop by La Grande Epicerie..mmm tasty treats all around but that's not what I'm here for, I'm here for the Photography Exhibition Le Goût du Luxe (Taste of Luxury) of fashion made with food. On display until May 17, so hurry!
Next stop, the Dammann Tea House in Place des Vosges. Dammann Freres teas date back to 1692, and house rare offerings of teas such as "Pu-Erh", a fermented tea with a deep aroma produced in Yunnan. There are tea tasters and wine tasters, etc. and this is a great tea tasting trip to make.

Over to New York, the Momofuku (meaning Lucky Peach) Milk Bar, the recently opened bakery in East Village, opened by chef-entrepreneur David Chung. A mix of American cuisine with Eastern influences united together. Banana green curry bread, marshmallow cookies, luscious cakes and icecream, are a few of the creations offered by Pastry chef Christina Tosi.

to be continued..

A Stylish Gym at Home

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:56:00 +0000

From Milan Design Week 09, we saw a stylish collaboration between Philippe Starck + Alias. Taking care of yourself in an elegant stylish way, with this new collection for fitness at home called Home/Gym/Office for Alias. It's sleek, and no more bulky machinery at home. Who knew that the stacked dumbells could also look like a beautiful sculpture! Now this looks more appealing to work out at home.

photocredit: spotd

Rolf transforms furniture

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:27:00 +0000

"I saw parts, I add new parts, I give a new life to a piece of furniture."

That's what I thought about once I first saw this designer's works. Meet Rolf.fr, a furniture transformer. True cutting traditional pieces of furniture can be brutal but what if you could turn its life around? Add in a few modern pieces, look at it in a different way, but it totally serves the same function! A cupboard is still a cupboard.

The reason being is that sometimes when a younger generation inherits traditional furniture used by their elder family members, they want something thats more modern or more their style not the style of their grandparents..though there are some who love traditional pieces of furniture and would rather keep it that way. These are for those who want to get rid of it but not really get rid of it, because it stores emotional memories, feelings over the years of the family together. Thus, Rolf.fr transforms the traditional furnitures in order to gain their place in the interiors of the younger generation, and keep their emotional value.

Rolf, an architect, also transformed old buildings into new buildings, useless ones into useful ones, etc. All the point of getting a new span of life.

photocredit: rolf.fr

A Geometrical Swimming HausBoot

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:45:00 +0000

I can't help but notice all the detailing of this home! Lots of different geometric shapes have been used and they all come together beautifully. This is the Silberfisch SchwimmHausBoot (floating house boat) in Oldenburg, Germany. The design was completed with furniture and accessories by Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann of German design firm Confused Direction.

When they say that to build homes on water shouldn't be a blockhouse, but one that marries Design and Maritime romance together. Flowing, water, soothing, colors of the water, smooth finishes, something that reminds you of the sea, ex. the woods in the dock, the yacht design, the fish, etc. The shape of things, and the material of things are very important, and when doing this design of the boat house, they have successfully achieved it.

For more visit, Silberfisch SchwimmHausBoot.

via contemporist, SSHB, Confused Direction.

Tom Dixon by George Smith

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Love the continuous contrast of the bold orange amongst the others...
blue glorious blue...
Did you see the door handles? Cool aspect..
A slice perhaps?..

From Milan Design Week 2009, one of the most exciting brand collaborations comes is Tom Dixon by George Smith collection, uniting quality traditional manufacturing techniques and contemporary design. Bringing together British manufacturing and innovation from two iconic brands together. Products are all designed by Tom Dixon, and made in the George Smith factory in Newcastle, UK. The capabilities of British design and manufacturing is creatively growing, and one small example from many, is this partnership.

via Tom Dixon by George Smith

Folds Pleats and Layers

thirtyoneseven@gmail.com (thirty1seven) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Layers are unraveled and formed, long fabrics gathered and pleated..fluidity, motion, and texture creates a unique characteristic. A different material, a different application, and a different perspective.. pushes the design dimension but fosters the same idea. Starting from a point, folds, pleats, cut-outs help define the space or object creating a sculptural characteristic based on how its been done and whats been used.

1-2. Neil Barrett Flagship Store in Tokyo by Zaha Hadid.
3. The 25 Bench created by Omer Arbel for Bocci.
4. Poster picture layered dress.
5 . The Clair Floor Lamp by Giuseppe Viganò for Saba Italia.

photocredit: contemporist, yatzer