Summer has arrived. Slow life, gatherings with friends and families, relaxing and having fun.
Check all MONDAY CRUSH here.
WEEKEND SPECIAL | Annaleena's
There are few real homes that are always, truly inspiring and no doubt Annaleena's is one of them. I have been following her blog for a long time now and I am always amazed by the beauty of her home: minimal, scandinavian with delicate touches of green. I am particularly fond of Annaleena's designs and diy that shares her elegant and essential view of interior design, like the magazine stand she created with some leftover from her latest objects (Birds): simple and yet so cool. She always makes me wonder: why didn't I think of that? Let me say, you really need a very clear vision to make reality these beautiful ideas. For more inspiration, visit her blog or instagram account.
Minimal interiors
This house in Sapporo, Japan, is a perfect example of the strength of a basic palette of materials and tones. The wooden elements used in surfaces, elements and furniture works perfectly with the dark concrete floor of the connecting areas of the house. At the same time, it underlines the lightness of the metal stairs, the great protagonist of the space. I find the element to be used in an expected way, especially if we consider the very minimal Japanese interiors we are used to see on magazines and webs. Though much more essential, doesn't it recall Piranesi somehow?
Check other examples here.
Jun Igarashi Architects Via Plataforma Arquitectura
PLACES | A special plant store in Australia
For today PLACES, I invite you to come to visit Loose Leaf, in Collingwood, Melbourne. A poetic plant store that opened its doors just a couple of months ago thanks to partners Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler. The shop is actually a multi-functional space designed to allow space for Wona sculptural creations and workshops ( a must-have for any plant shop nowadays). After educating herself in both floral art and fashion in Korea where she originally comes from, Wona Bae decided to move to Germany to improve her skills. It was here that she met Charlie and decided to go back to Australia to pursuit their dream.
The shop is located in what used to be an old warehouse. In my opinion, this kind of industrial locations are the perfect background for a plant shop for the airy indoor space they usually have and the minimalistic rawness of the space.
Wona Bae's creations mixed together the essential art of Kokozi (Korean style Ikebana), the natural sculptural techniques I honed in Germany with master florist Ursula Wegener and the incredible local material available in Australia. The result is something unique, like this baskets that remind of the world-wide famous kokedamas but are actually a hand-woven pots.
You can also follow Loose Leaf via Instagram. To know a bit more about them, please visit The Design Files where I originally spotted the place.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Sean Fennessy
Confessions of a cocooner
Cocoon, a word
with a long history that through ancient French travels back to Rome
and, eventually, to Greece. In itself, it holds the
possibility of life (the Greek origin of its etymology is seed),
its delicacies (in Latin, it moved to mean berry) and also the
secrecy of its process (the coque in French). It is our
interior comfort place that allows us to stay inactive, before
recollecting the threads of our ideas and opening up to share them.
I have realized I have
been a cocooner for quite a long time, silently held to a nourishing
inner world. But, recently, an urge has started to grow strong,
equally moved by restored energies and the desire to bring together
and share the many passions that move my personal and professional
life.
The exchange that took
place through the blog was fundamental, in particular my inclusion
into the Urban Jungle group (so thanks Judith and Igor) and the
relation I built with some dear fellow bloggers.
In the past, I felt my
work at night (blogging) was almost separated from my daylight job
(landscape and green). At the beginning, this was good because, in a
way, the blog was also a sort of escape from the compromises of my
profession (clients, companies, budgets). But, after some time, I
felt there was some sort of lack though still quite undefined. I felt almost drained by this addictive google
search-pin-post process that, from time to time, started to seem sterile and almost insincere, two things I want my life and my relation with you all to
be completely free of.
Therefore, I started a
journey within myself, keeping silent from time to time, letting
things flow on their own even if it was quite painful. (Am I the only
one with control-addiction problems out there?)
I went back to the roots
of my aspirations, looked them into their (figurative) eyes and
listened silently.
Silence is luxurious, it
really is.
New energies started to
come out in the form of ideas. I collected them and tried to find a
thread that made me happy, something that could bring all of them
together. Unexpectedly, other things
started to move and grow around me. The process
is still going on and, hopefully, will never stop.
Where does this lead us?
Firstly, you will see some evolution in the content of the blog that
will include also inspirations and reflections about my relation with
the green world. The format of these reflections could change from
time to time, especially when related to trends. Also, new exciting
projects will be announced in the next weeks (cannot wait!).
I am sure the new subject will enrich the content you have come to like on FNWG as the conceptual source will not change. I
hope you will enjoy the journey and you will be willing to
participate with all the amazing inputs you have given until now.
MOODBOARD
GREEN #1 | & Other Stories | We left our heart in Barcelona | Via
EDEN | Wyatt McCollum | Self-portrait | Via
GREEN #2 | Helgi Páll Einarsson | Untitled | Via
SELECTED | The best of design from Barcelona
If you have been following the blog, you will remember my earlier post about the first Barcelona Mercado Condal del Diseño, an event created to approach design to the wide public. The Design Market, the first of his genre, took place in the jungle-like location of the Palo Alto foundation in Poblenou, here in Barcelona (check the post here). And I promised you last Monday, here it is the selection of my favourite products.
I have to say I was very impressed by the selection and its international aesthetics: though all the designers here are Spanish and their products made in the country, you will agree with me their story - as a fusion of concept and form - goes beyond the national boundaries. So it is for Branches, a collection of salt&pepper shakers inspired by nature and available in several selected colours (above, hold by Raúl Durà).
Branches is a design by the Valencia-based studio La Mamba for their brand Omelette, whose Mirrors series has been showcased in magazines like RUM, Wallpaper and Case da Abitare or selected by the best design shops, like Lotta Agaton Shop in Stockholm.
I loved the concept behind Branches, simple and functional, the materials and its natural and pastels tones. I am happy to say the wood&black version is now at home with us.
More Nordic inspiration was to be found in Enola cabinets, created by Javier and Laura, previously an engineer that decided to move to design as a way to express their passion for Scandinavian design and well done, affordable furniture (above, on the left).
Another beautiful encounter was the one I had with Ana Roquero, the designer behind Jomon. Ana felt the worldwide fame of Spanish chefs was not mirrored in the tableware design and decide to work with them to create Jomon. The shape is pure, essential and natural and you will agree with a Japanese atmosphere but, actually, the shape comes directly from the tradition of the Basque countries, where Ana Roquero comes from and home to some of the most outstanding chefs in the international scene (above, on the right).
Would you have been able to resist to this sensual piece? I was not so they came home with me.
But I think ceramics was the medium with the higher presence, from jewellery to natural and geometrical bowls and sculpture. Above, the irresistible necklaces by talented Julieta Alvarez, in the hands of Gudy from Eclectic Trends (later on around Gudy's neck!).
Check her web to see more pieces, all available for sale.
Another outstanding piece was the sculpture by Paco Orti in the image below. The presentation of his work was outstanding and, in fact, won the prize from the jury.
Last but not least, Aparentment. As soon as I saw the brass mirror on the Carrara marble stand, I knew I had seen this before. In fact, Josep Vila Capdevila was one of the young designer that presented their work in the Greenhouse, during the last Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair (check more here). It was a real pleasure to meet Josep and listen his story and passion for essential design. The mirror was the piece that caught the most my attention but you can see more of Aparentment works here.
FOCUS ON | Invisible kitchen
Invisible kitchen is a project by Dutch i29 interior architects. The design office offers the perfect solution for all the people looking for a minimal kitchen, for those who suffer at the only idea of having things displayed on wall and shelves.
The idea is to create a system that can blend with the interior space thanks to a series of panels - in this particular case Parisian style ones - that hide behind cabinets and appliances. The most interesting thing is to see how i29 interior architects managed to fit all the connection (water, cooling, electrical) within the black island, whose top is just a few centimetres thick. I find quite intriguing how they solved the lower part of the kitchen island by applying a distorted perspective effect that helps reduce the visual impact of the legs.
Source Design Milk.
A mini apartment to rent in Milan
Concoct Residence is a project coordinated by Milan-based humusstudio that brings together five young design firms to renovate of an old building in the well known via Paolo Sarpi. Humus Studio, 02Arch, Tomo Architects, Giovanni Cagnato, Studio April shares the same great care to details yet developing spaces characterised by a unique approach and atmosphere in the interior design of the residential spaces.
Suite Concoct by TOMOarchitects is my favourite. In the suite, the design of the interior tries to re-create all the traditional functions of an apartment and its fragmentation, taking an opposite approach to the general mainstream of lofts-like spaces. Infact, TOMOarchitects's project create an open space that is actually perceived as a traditional mini-apartment thanks to the vertical wooden structure that creates the entrance corridor. The separation between the wooden bars grants a sense of privacy and lightness at the same time.
Behind the wooden frame are the mini-kitchen area and the bedroom, defined by the addition of two plywood panels painted in black. A great inspiring example for today's urban reduced apartments.
MONDAY CRUSH | Perfect chair
A soft, natural collection of beautiful objects, from interiors to jewellery for today MONDAY CRUSH.
As you probably remember, we are looking for a new flat but it is taking a lot of time, maybe because of someone's perfectionism? In the meanwhile, we are considering the idea of adding new chairs in the Salòn and Visu Chair by Muuto is in up in the my favourites list. What are your favourite chairs? Any suggestion?
| 1 | Perspective
| 2 | Visu chair in oak, Muuto
| 3 | Minimal white kitchen by Philipp Mainzer
| 4 | OOAK necklace by AMerryMishap Jewelry
| 5 | Inspiring words
BARCELONA | Palo Alto for the Design Market
Last weekend took place the first Barcelona Mercado Condal del Diseño, an event where to young designers can present their work to the wide public. The location is one of the greenest in Barcelona, the Palo Alto foundation in Poblenou, a cultural landmark in the city for being, on one side, a real jewel of industrial archaeology (the long factory chimney gives actually name to the complex) and, on the other, an attraction spot for creatives, such as Mariscal the designer of the 1992 Olympic games logo (Cobi).
The industrial warehouses and factories (naves) are perfectly conserved and nowadays covered in a dense green canopy of Parthenocissus. For sure, the extremely favourable climate of Barcelona helped a lot in the creation of this urban jungle and its gardens, where people working in the companies located in Palo Alto can have their lunch. I believe this is one of the greenest spots in the city and the special character of the area just makes you want to pack your stuff and move in.
This unique mix of rough industrial and jungle was the perfect location for the first Mercado Condal del Diseño and a great background for these young talents to showcase their works. I was very impressed by the quality of some of the products, so much some came home with me!
But I will tell you more in the next few days about my most favourite ones, so stay tuned because there were some amazing surprises!
PLACES | Kinfolk Magazine Headquarters
For PLACES, a special post today focused on Kinfolk Magazine studio + office space in Portland, Oregon. We all love Kinfolk beautifully detailed aesthetics, its simple take to life and its embrace to nature and the new space they moved in last December mirrors it perfectly.
A clean, open office - formerly a production company - that looks more like a home than a working area: the Bliss-sofa and chair zone is the meeting room where the 10 people currently working in Portland discuss the future editions of Kinfolk.
The Kinfolk headquarters is thought to be a multi-purpose space designed to reflect the communal and essential style of the magazine. The furniture is clean and "utilitarian" and mix perfectly with the lots of greenery popping up everywhere inside.
I think the office on its own is enough to make you looking forward to going to work on Monday morning and I'm not even taking into account that you have to go to work on the next fab issue of Kinfolk Magazine!
| 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | by Carissa Gallo via Blog West Elm.
| 3 | courtesy of Adriana Xochitl via Instagram.
| 4 | courtesy of Lia Din via Instagram.
| 5 | courtesy of Benjamin Holtrop via Instagram.
A new project by Studio Oink
German office STUDIO OINK specializes in interior and set design for both private customers and media partners. Its work is always characterized by a simple, essential approach to the space and set and the ability to bring together poetry and function into the design.
Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller, the founders and creative directors of STUDIO OINK, has just released their latest styling work, HOUSE C.A.L. The space is calm and relaxing thanks to the soft neutral tones and the use of wood furniture.
I especially like the Aura Ligths by Ladies and Gentleman Studio, an old friend of my wishlist.
All images via STUDIO OINK
SELECTED | Nominees from Nova Award 2014
The nominees for the Nova Award 2014 - Nordic Designer of the year was been released yesterday: the prize will be given to a young designer that works in the Nordic areas. Therefore, participants were selected for each country: Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland.
The selection shows a young generation of talented designers that are able to draw inspiration from the outstanding Scandinavian heritage while looking at contemporary challenges and needs.
Among my favourites is Vera & Kyte design studio, founded by Vera K. Kleppe and Åshild Kyte in 2012 in Bergen, Norway. The collaboration and fusion of their approaches are the driving force of their work, strongly influenced by the Nordic landscape and the Scandinavian design tradition. The were selected by the Nova Award 2014 jury for their optimistic approach to design and ability to create attractive pieces that can fit nowadays homes. Here you see Whisky & Water, a duo of glasses defined by elegant yet unexpected lines that combine together to create a sculptural object. The colours reflect the tones of Scandinavian nature.
The selection shows a young generation of talented designers that are able to draw inspiration from the outstanding Scandinavian heritage while looking at contemporary challenges and needs.
Among my favourites is Vera & Kyte design studio, founded by Vera K. Kleppe and Åshild Kyte in 2012 in Bergen, Norway. The collaboration and fusion of their approaches are the driving force of their work, strongly influenced by the Nordic landscape and the Scandinavian design tradition. The were selected by the Nova Award 2014 jury for their optimistic approach to design and ability to create attractive pieces that can fit nowadays homes. Here you see Whisky & Water, a duo of glasses defined by elegant yet unexpected lines that combine together to create a sculptural object. The colours reflect the tones of Scandinavian nature.
Nordic landscape is the core inspiration also for Hanna Dalrot and her Textile landscapes series, her graduation project from Beckmans College of Design.
I had the pleasure to meet Hanna while visiting the Stockholm Furniture Fair during our Bloggers Tour last February and like many others I was totally blown by her beautiful work. While checking her website, I discovered a real ability to work with different materials and functions and a strong consistency throughout her all production. I cannot help and agree with the jury that we are in front of a new design star.
Images via Vera & Kyte and Hanna Dalrot.
FOCUS ON | Monochromatic loft
It comes with no surprise Desiree-Vosgesparis' apartment was on of the first ones to catch my attention in the jungle of interior inspiration. We are talking about my pre-blogging era [ yes, there was one ], when the only addiction of mine was surfing Pinterest. I believe Vosgeparis account was of the first I followed back then: I simply loved that Scandinavian-Industrial-Rock-Style and those pictures, always full of energy and passion.
As one of the international homes that are part of the Small Cool 2014 in Apartment Therapy, Desiree shared some simple, clever ideas about how to transform a small home into a spacious loft. I was quite surprised to discover the apartment actually measures "only" 80 sqm because it looked much bigger to me. I guess the trick of taking away doors and door posts as well as laying the same floor around the whole house created that sense of vastness. Also the monochromatic palette and the reduced list of big pieces of furniture helped to create a clear, uncluttered space.
You can discover more about Desiree's tricks in Apartment Therapy and vote Vosgesparis home to keep high the good European interior style!
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