With the plethora of unattractive pet paraphernalia available in the market (think dog-bone motifs and polar fleece) it's a refreshing surprise to see Australian architects Ben Edwards and Juliet Moore come up with a dog box that feels a little less like a dog box, and more like a design statement. Made from bespoke mirrors, the box is made from laser-cut mdf. And, named after Edwards' first dog Jimmi, it gives the owner a slightly more sophisticated option for their beloved pooch.
These incredible works are recreated true to size sculptures made from cardboard by sculptor Chris Gilmour.
For more images and information go here.
Arik Levy released a new product for company Flora at Maison & Objet in September this year. Titled 'Comb-Ination', the honeycomb structure allows plants to climb and twist. Modular in shape, it can be configured differently to suit each environment and because of its sculptural form, it looks almost as good standing alone, as when adorned with plants.
We've seen raindeer, bells and holly, but typically grenades don't feature as our preferred choice for christmas tree decorations. That is until Manchester design team Dorothy designed this decoration for British design brand Suck UK. The designers wanted to remind us of the suffering in war torn countries during the festive season.
To see more of their work go here.
Inspired by the work of Charles & Ray Eames, design company Klein Reid have created these spinning tops for the Herman Miller Select series. Select is a once a year limited edition release of an item that stands out for its originality and authenticity. The Spinning Tops are inspired by Charles & Ray Eames philosophy of 'serious pleasure' and their 1969 film "Tops". "Toy's are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas" - Charles Eames. The Spinning Tops are made from solid walnut and are available as a set of three for a limited time only.
Herman Miller is available locally here.
What looks like a prop from a Sci-Fi movie, this curvy cacoon is in fact the latest in sleep therapy. The result of two years of research into sleep habits, problems and therapies, The Lomme (Light Over Matter Mind Evolution) combines natural therapies with cutting edge technology. Be lulled to sleep by meditative chants from within the pod's arches while being massaged by the visoelastic memory foam mattress, all the while protected by a special system that creates a force field around the bed, keeping any stray electromagnetic waves at bay. And when you must be woken, it happens gently thanks to tiny increments of simulated daylight.
Pixel It is simple yet thoroughly effective idea - a
visually professional and attention grabbing alternative to messy
blackboard writing. The poster has two layers of paper; cuts on
the white outer layer allow the user to fold parts out and therefore
create slogans by showing the colour underneath.
Along with hundreds of other design savvy Aucklander's, we made our way over to The Department Store in Takapuna last Friday night to celebrate the opening of the new concept store. A collaboration between some of the city's best design retailers - Simon James Design, Black Box Boutique, Flotsam & Jetsam, Karen Walker, Steven Marr, and Lucy and the Powder Room. We are super impressed by both the space itself and all of the fabulous pieces on offer. It's a must visit. The Department Store concept is definitely something that we'd like to see more of around Auckland. When you visit be sure to check out Simon James Design, where you'll find excellent new design offerings from New York based designers Areaware (as shown above.)
Designer Jung Hwa Jin has created the Polaroid Flower Vase, a small planter that recalls the nostalgic form of polaroid, with the plant becoming the focus of the "picture." The planter is suspended with a clothespin on the end of a cord, with a small embedded lamp illuminating its subject.
A genius yet simple idea by