Vogue Living May/June

My favourite shot this issue - so stylised... love the limited colour palette too. Can't go wrong with black/white/red.

More red spots here, in the form of 'Growing/Falling' wallpaper by Ilias Fotopoulos. I love the gradual dissipation of those tiny dots into nothing... beautiful, brave and unique.

Both shots above are from the stunning Bachelor-pad of famed New York interior designer Thomas O'Brien. I'm sure I've seen this exact spread before... must have been in an international mag. Oh well... still gorgeous.

This shot from a feature on the Sydney home of Interior Designer Michael Bechara

The latest Vogue Living arrived at my door yesterday... this issue is all about polka dots and spots - on everything from fabrics to wallpapers (love it!), Aussie expats with extravagant homes in France (gorgeous yes, but 'bohemian'... not really), and Sydney-siders with just a tad more money than taste (yes that means you Justin Hemmes).

This issue is a smidgen(?) less exciting than usual... generally the features drip a little too much $$$ , whereas I tend to prefer a bit of balance by inclusion of the odd creative, eclectic, vaguely attainable-looking interior. ANYWAY can't be too scathing... it's still choc-full of the eye-candy we've come to know and love from Australia's best interior magazine.

One of the best shots in this issue... this little image was hidden way up the back in the social pages. It's taken from the opening of Hub's new-ish store in Sydney, and features a pom-pom installation by Sandra Foti. I want one!

Interview - Joel Adams

Custom lining design - Crumpler limited edition Soup & Salad Messenger Bag - The Reliable Gordo

Custom lining design - Crumpler limited edition 5 million Dollar Home Bag - The Rufous Whistler

Crumpler US trade show stands - photos Ben Richards

The Croft Institute

Crumpler shop Hawthorn, Melbourne

Remember my post recently about the Crumpler US trade show stand? The stand was designed by Crumpler's in-house designer Joel Adams, and won them many accolades, including an award for best stand at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2008 in Salt Lake City.

Joel's role at Crumpler seems like a dream job for a designer - his work is so varied - from illustrative and graphic designs (like that great custom lining design in the top 2 product shots), to shop fit-outs, catalogues, product design, and packaging. Joel manages to divide his time between sketching up concepts from home, to hours spent in front of a computer screen, to (more exciting) time spent in his workshop knocking up prototypes etc. Never a dull moment!

Joel has had an interesting and varied background - before jumping on the Crumpler bandwagon he had a hand to play in the fantastic interior fit-out of Melbourne bar 'The Croft Institute', which (for non-Melburnians) is kitted out like a kind of hospital/scientific laboratory. Joel has had many jobs in the manufacturing and building areas, from welding and carpentry to landscaping and shop-fitting. Seems like the perfect varied experience to bring to the table at an exciting company like Crumpler.

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

In 1992 I started a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in sculpture, which is where I met Stuart Crumpler (current employer) who was also studying sculpture. After uni I spent several years focused on making art. During this time I worked several different jobs in different manufacturing and building areas, from welding and carpentry to landscaping. For several years I was self employed doing general building and shop-fitting work, which led to opening a bar in Melbourne, for a couple of years. After leaving that I lived in the country for a couple of years, just making art and odd jobs for people. I moved back to Melbourne to go back to study a masters degree in sculpture, during which I bumped into Dave (one of the owners of Crumpler) who offered me a job. A couple weeks later I dropped out of study and started work as a designer.

What are some of your projects/clients that we might be familiar with?

Apart from the work done with Crumpler, the most familiar would be my involvement in the design of The Croft Institute, a bar in the back alleys of Chinatown in Melbourne.

Where do you find inspiration when beginning a new project?

I find that the project will sometimes define the direction of where the inspiration will come from, but usually I am just looking at a lot of books, at previous work, websites, toy shops. Thinking about function and material influence the way in which I will be thinking about the project.

Are there any particular designers, artists or creative people you look up to or are inspired by?

I am inspired by many different creative people across a lot of fields. Early on the Dadaists were a big influence, especially Marcel Duchamp. Artists such as Wim Delvoye, Joseph Cornell, Bonk Industries, probably too many to mention. Designers such as Piet Hein Eek, and many of the designers who are part of the Droog Collective.

Are you influenced by trends in the broader design world – like fashion, architecture etc?

I am lucky in that most of my friends either are in fashion, architecture and design or are artists, so I’m immersed in this world which influences and informs the way I work.

What does a typical day at work involve for you? How is your time divided between drawing with pencil and paper, sitting in front of a computer, and knocking up prototypes in a workshop/studio?

These days I find myself spending more time in front of a computer, but I still manage to get into my workshop once a week. Depending on my projects at the time I will be meeting up with manufacturers and testing prototypes. A lot of my early prep work will take place at home just sketching ideas. My job involves so many different areas - I could be working on a shop design, a new catalogue, product design, or packaging. It changes a lot and has a lot of variety.

Do you ever feel disadvantaged or limited by being based in Australia? Do you have experience with international manufacturing or distribution?

I don’t see any disadvantage currently by being based in Australia. Since working with Crumpler I have travelled throughout the US setting up tradeshows, spent time in Toronto working on shop designs, and spent some time in China working with our manufacturers based there.

What are you most proud of professionally?

The last two tradeshow stands both received a good response at all the shows we attended. One was constructed out of cardboard boxes, to resemble animal cages. The latest is a highly detailed etching-style print of a city scape, printed onto building-shaped shelving units. Both stands included elements such as customised flooring and hanging mobiles.

What's the best thing about your job?

The variety of projects I get to work on and the freedom I have been given to explore ideas.

And the worst?

The hours when deadlines need to be met.

What would be your dream project?

Probably designing and building my own home.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Setting up my workshop and creating and exploring my own ideas further.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Pizza Mein Leibe in Northcote.

Where do you shop in Melbourne for workshop supplies, art materials or other tools of your trade?

Brims and Gunnersons for timber etc, Deans art for art supplies, Carba-tec for woodworking supplies and Hafele for all sorts of cabinet making supplies.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Hopefully in the Grampians, having a coffee and staring at the mountains with my lady friend and our little girl.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Order and Progress, in Curtin House

IKEA train interior in Kobe, Japan

image montage - pink tentacle

image - Kiyo

Image - Kiyo

Image - Kiyo

I don't think I'm the only one who has a love / hate relationship with Ikea. Such great designs at fantastically cheap prices... but the quality is a little questionable, and it does get a bit boring when everyone you know has the exact same bookshelf.

HOWEVER, you have to give IKEA some credit - their recent(ish) foray into selling fabrics by the metre has been a triumph - great designs, at incredibly cheap prices. They've also done an amazing job of marketing this product range. The latest example is the fit-out of a train from the Portliner Monorail in Kobe, Japan, to promote the opening of IKEA's new store at Port Island. They've fitted out the entire carriage with their latest prints and patterns - inside and out. The train will carry passengers in style until May 6.

via pink tentacle

(Also, I remember seeing some great shots last year of IKEA's temporary exhibit/concept store 'Everyday Fabulous', which coincided with New York design week. Another fantastic marketing concept, showcasing the best of IKEA's fabric and accessory designs, with a pinch of very effective guerilla marketing thrown in for good measure. Pics below.)

Ikea 'Everyday Fabulous' temporary concept store in Manhattan - image Apartment Therapy

More cute IKEA guerilla marketing pop-ups in NYC

Thankyou Desire to Inspire!

Lisa Cohen Photographer - via desire to inspire

Many thanks to Jo from Desire to Inspire for her response to my plea for bathroom inspiration! I have had such trouble finding classic, white contemporary bathroom reference for my own home. Strange I know. Anyway, Jo scoured her vast library of references and pulled together a gorgeous collection, which she posted on her site today. Thanks Jo!!

Wow. I feel special.

Wolveridge Architects - via desire to inspire

ps) The Wolveridge site doesn't seem to be working... and I can't find a good alternative site about them... very sorry. They're based in Collingwood in Melbourne.

Nendo

'Alice's Tea Party' was held at Ozone Living Design Center in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of English tea brand Lipton’s presence in Japan. This incredible event design featured custom made shrunken and oversized furniture - inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. I think this is my favourite of Nendo's projects, and won them a Gold Award at the JCD design awards.

Chocolate-pencils - a collaboration with Japanese patissier Tsujiguchi Hironobu. diners can shave the chocolate shavings onto their dessert using the sharpener. 'Pencil filings are usually the unwanted remains of sharpening a pencil, but in this case, they're the star!'

'Meguro Office' interior fit-out in Tokyo

Some examples of Nendo's product design. On the left - 'Ribbon' stool produced by Cappellini (winner of a red dot award 2007), on the right - Bowls from Nendo's 2006 '1% series'.

Unique climbing wall design for the exclusive Illoiha fitness club in Omotesando, Tokyo. Winner again of a gold award at the JCD design awards 2006.

I first read about Japanese design outfit Nendo in *Wallpaper magazine a year or two ago, and they struck a chord with me immediately. I was so inspired by their multidisciplinary approach - their impressive portfolio of work includes architecture, interior design, event design, furniture design, product design and graphic design. I LOVE this varied approach to design! It's worth a visit to their website to trawl through through their portfolio... such an impressive and varied collection. It must be an incredible place to work!

Nendo is made up of 6 designers from varied backgrounds - but Oki Sato, who set up the company in 2002, is an architect. He created Nendo only 2 years after completing his architecture degree in Tokyo, and I just read on his website that he was born in 1977 - which means he's only 30!! Aggh.

One of Nendo's ongoing projects is their 1% series - a series of products made in limited editions of only 100, so that consumers can experience 'the joy of owning 1%'! (pieces from this collection available at the 1% website)

ps) There's an interview with Oki Sato here (Mocoloco).

bookcase bedroom!?

It's a Bookcase Bedroom! I don't understand it, and I'm not sure I'd want one in my own house... but man it's cute!

Maybe for a kid's room??

progress shots below...

(via best pics around)

Lena Corwin Love

I've posted about Lena Corwin before... her textile and illustration work is simple yet stunning... her blog is an inspiration.... her Flickr site is a treasure trove of picture perfect moments (even photos of her breakfast muesli look too perfect to eat)... but her HOME in Forte Greene, Brooklyn really takes the cake! It is like Amelie meets New York! It is just what I imagined - beautifully serene, homely and warm, slightly Scandinavian in its aesthetic and filled with personal touches - but clean and uncluttered....

ooooohhhh. *swoon*

You must go look. (I only wish there were more photos...)

(via Apartment Therapy)

Ab Rogers Design

Ab Rogers Design does so many great interiors.. and not just your regular interiors... exciting things like installations and interactive environments and 'responsive spaces'...

But they can do simple, classic minimal too. Look.



it's worth going back through the archive on their site... there are so many fantastic projects to trawl through...