Elle Decoration SA

We've moved...

2009-03-13T08:10:00.007+02:00

Please visit the ELLE DECORATION blog at our brand new web address:

www.elledecoration.co.za.

See you there!

New issue... and a new address!

2009-03-12T08:00:00.000+02:00

There's a brand new issue on the shelves today. It's Feel Good issue - just what we all need more of!

And in other exciting news, we're making a little blogging hop over to our own domain name, and we're also spreading our wings with a new blogging platform. So to stay in touch with all your latest DECO news, please refresh your Favourites folder with our new address at www.elledecoration.co.za.

See you there for more about the Feel Good issue!

Report from NYC: Galia Gluckman

2009-03-11T07:55:00.001+02:00

Our New York correspondent Kelly Berman of The Brooklynist is back with us today, freshly returned to NYC after her recent trip to Cape Town. Nice to see you in Cape Town, and nice to have you back online with another great New York find, Kelly!

Galia Gluckman is an artist who makes large-scale collages out of tiny bits of coloured paper. Drawn to intense hues, she trawls through old magazines and scraps of wrapping paper in search of 'families' of colour to use in her pieces. Her painstaking work recently paid off when she won the Global Green Artist Challenge for Best Overall Green Piece at the International Art Expo in New York City at the beginning of March.

Galia cuts the paper into small, mosaic-like pieces and layers them on top of each other, creating intricate surfaces of pattern and colour that come together to create large landscapes, her favourite subject matter. She then applies a sealant to the surface.

"I take great pride in turning paper that may otherwise go to landfills into works of art," she says. "Ninety-five percent of all unsold newsstand magazines are recycled by newsstands and publishers, only about 17 percent of sold magazines are recycled."

A fashion designer who has worked in South Africa, London and New York, Galia's art has been influenced by the vibrant world of fashion and by her family history in the textile industry.

Galia's latest venture involves turning her collages into high-quality prints, which have been attracting the interest of interior designers and hotels in the NYC area. You can see more of her work on her website.

Delicate stones

2009-03-10T08:22:00.000+02:00

Am simply loving these crocheted stones from Knitalette.

Via Design*Sponge

The Low Down

2009-03-09T07:46:00.000+02:00

Today we hear from our new Joburg correspondent, Nicole Ravenscroft, with what we're looking forward to being the first of many guest posts from this vibrant city.

Miniature stools are the latest seating bling in Jozi. Functionally they are great for small spaces and also allow for interesting height dynamics in a room. Finally I can breathe: being short is in fashion!

Space vengeance meets organic lines with Vitra's soft cork stool/table , giving a light, amusing flare to a room. Similarly shaped, but made of plastic, I rather fancy the Plastic stools (below) by Italian company Parri.
More geometric plastic stools (below), this time the Shape stool by Viccarbe, can be used as a stool or a small table. Group them to create ever-changing patterns and groups - great in a modern office space. Find all of these locally at Sean Williams.

Jump back into your imagination with some playful animal-themed stools. The Elephant stool by Vitra, was originally made in aluminium, and is now available in polypropelene.

And, of course, the classic plywood Eames Elephant (below) by Charles and Ray Eames, is also from Vitra.
These are great for children rooms, but hey, I would quirk my space with them too. So come on everyone, take off your heels, pull up a stylish stool and join us shorties!

EDIDA South Africa

2009-03-06T08:28:00.005+02:00

The winners of the annual South African leg of the Elle Decoration International Design Awards (EDIDA) were announced last week, and we're thrilled to share them here on the blog.

The overall EDIDA honours have gone to Johannesburg-based Willowlamp, for their robust yet delicately formed chandeliers made out of fine metal chains.

Industrial designer and jeweler Sian Eliot’s and architect Adam Hoets’s latest range is inspired by flower forms like proteas and fuschias. The striking chandeliers have features such as petals made out of voluptuous ball chain lobes, while the flower stamens and filaments are hanging lights made of frosted pyrex glass visors over halogen lamps.

The winners in each of the EDIDA categories were as follows:

Seating
This category went to Animal Farm's collaboration between Porky Hefer and Warren Lewis. Drawing on the idea of milk crates, used as cheap seating in shebeens, they made up wooden crates emblazoned with social commentary such as “high hopes, big dreams” and “short courage, tall stories.”

Tableware and Accessories
Gauteng glass artist Martli Jansen van Rensburg, won the tableware and accessories category for her small glass domes that slot onto jacaranda wood bases to show off collectables like shells and jewellery.

Furniture
Cape Town-based interior designer Laurie Owen, who uses local materials such as fallen trees and alien vegetation species to make her Romantic Organic range, was named winner of the furniture section.

Bathrooms
Bev Missing won this category for her Rain bathroom and body care accessories range. The natural products are made in Swellendam, and sold in upmarket retail outlets.

Bedding
Baby Podo, a range of contemporary cots and compactums made in Cape Town, won the bedding section for owners Jenna and Anton Robbertse. The range’s flexible cot can be transformed into another piece of useful furniture such as a bed, and most of the pieces can be used independently as stand-alone book cases, cupboards or toy drawers on wheels.

Fabric
The fabric section was won by African Sketchbook’s creative director Dianne Christian and marketing expert Anne Thisleton, who have trained unskilled township residents in hand painting, block printing, stenciling and screening.

Flooring
The flooring section was won by Johno du Plessis, who took up handcrafting cowhide carpets in South Africa after spending three decades abroad. His latest focus is using blocks of colour and juxtaposing black and white and other combinations for 1940, 50s and 60s-inspired rugs.

Wall Coverings
The wall coverings section was taken by practising Cape Town architect Lorenzo Nassimbeni, who works with his building drawings to develop wallpaper for an array of clients from corporates to restaurateurs and boutique owners.

Lighting
A Victorian cartoon featuring a classic anglepoise light was the inspiration for industrial designer Liam Mooney’s winning arc lamp in the lighting section.

Emerging Designer
The Emerging Designer of the Year is 25-year-old Lyall Sprong, who produces objects ranging from lighting and shelves to benches and candleholders.

Craft
The craft section was won by Cape Town creative Louise Gelderblom, who hand-builds sculptural vessels up to 2.5 metres high. Her designs reach “people with big spaces”.

Outdoor
The outdoor section was won by Johannesburg’s Joe Paine, who’s designed a flat-pack customisable vertical planter that you attach to your wall rather like a DIY creeper.

Architecture
The architecture section went to MMA Architects in Cape Town for a low-cost housing design that will soon bring innovation to the Freedom Park community of Cape Town. The architects borrowed thermal performance elements from indigenous mud and wattle building, while the timber frame and sandbag infill construction is efficient and easy to build.

The South African designs will now be entered into the international judging round of the Elle Decoration International Design Awards to compete against entries from 23 other countries. The overall winners in this final round will be announced at the Milan Furniture Fair in April. Good luck to our winners!

Rooftop Airstream

2009-03-05T08:24:00.001+02:00

Today, our features editor Louise McCann (currently on sabbatical) tells us all about... what? A penthouse trailer park, did you say? Tell us all about it, Louise!

In my time, I’ve caravanned on coast and cliffside, veld and forest, but a newly opened trailer park on the rooftop of the Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town's Long Street was pioneer territory. Born-and-bred trailer park trash, I was the perfect candidate to test it out. It was a Saturday night, deep in the nicotine-clogged heart of the city, and it was fabulous.

Of the seven Airstream trailers decorated by talented local designers, we were booked into ‘Love of Lace’ - the masterpiece of our very own ELLE DECORATION stylist, Tracy Lynch. It is, in trailer park lingo, a Passion Wagon.

Complete with a plush bed large enough for the entire Walton family, a sexy little bathroom and dimmer switches on the oh-so-pretty chandelier, this little gem has to be the sauciest boudoir in Cape Town’s skyline.

The ‘Pleasantville’ caravan was put together by furniture designer Liam Mooney. This little slice of life will have you living out your fantasies of the 1950s American Dream. Very, very pleasant indeed…

The blue-and-white splendour of ‘Dorothy’, the cool and crazy creation of art lecturer Sarah Pratt, will drive you dreamy rather than dotty.

The tiniest trailer of all is ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’, created by Chloe Townsend of Missibaba, her partner in Twine, Cara Rosa and artist Tamsin Relly. This threesome has created a space that invites you to bed in and beatle away the hours, playing through the collection of 60s and 70s LPs. And a nice treat for caravanning veterans of communal ablution blocks - this one has a built-on bathroom!

The best parts of this inner city escape? I loved cocktails at the sky bar, lounging around the caravan, popping out to Long Street for supper and vino, with bed just a short walk away. But best best of all? Waking up to a trailer-window view of the slumbering city on a Sunday morning. Unbeatable.

Visit the Grand Daddy to make your booking.

The Tiny Modernist

2009-03-04T07:07:00.000+02:00

Love the mid-century modern look, but simply can't fit a signature chair into your apartment, or your budget? Well, think small - really small!

Etsy seller The Tiny Modernist sells cross-stitch patterns, so you can have all the classics at your fingertips - literally! I could do with this pair of Eames Shell chairs, or maybe the Barcelona chair, or the Eames Lounge chair, or a Eero Aarnio Ball Chair...

Visit the Tiny Modernist for more cross-stitch patterns of the classics, as well as screenprinted baby tees.

Design Indaba: Expo impressions

2009-03-02T07:01:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was the last day of the Design Indaba Expo. I beat the heat and the crowds and got there early to see what was on offer, and to take a couple of snaps. Of course, the sheer quantity is overwhelming, and the poor lighting made snap-taking fairly tricky. So what I have to show here is just a fleeting impression of some of the things that caught my eye and came out reasonably well on the screen.

Heath Nash's work with discarded plastics is as intriguing as ever, and his naively put-together stall quite charming. This white light made with plastic milk bottles is simply breathtaking.

Product designer Cornelius Lemmer has been doing some Frankenstein work, taking apart many old ball and claw tables and cupboards and meticulously putting them back together to make one piece. They really are quite beautiful. See more of his work here.

I'd seen the lovely woven cane lampshades and cactuses by Michelle Petrie of Abode, but these modular shelvings systems were new, and I like them a lot.

I was rather intrigued by the complex work of Pieter Henning of MockMock. This coated steel table is rather special, I thought. Their website's not up yet, and these tables are still prototypes, but should you stumble upon this in the future (the near future, I hope), click here and you might be able to find out more.
The Zenzulu stand was very zen - it only had three pieces on it! But what amazing pieces they were. The three intricate wire wall sculptures are part of their Jungle collection, and really, these photos hardly do them justice at all.

There was more intricate weaving at the Aid to Artisans stall too. These come from KwaZulu Natal, who seems to be the place for weaving champs.

Really, these few pics hardly make a dent in what was on offer, and it's likely that I didn't even manage to see the lot. Next February, make sure you're in Cape Town to attend the Design Indaba and Expo. You'll be so glad you did.

Design Indaba 09 : Day 2

2009-02-27T08:31:00.000+02:00

While the talks I saw on day 1 of the Design Indaba were all engaging with the ethics of design in the real world, the talks I saw on Thursday were all situated right on the needlesharp tip of the high end, where fantasy, imagination, excellence and large budgets meet.

The people I heard speak are so ridiculously famous that it would be silly of me to do a rundown of their work here. However, each one impressed me with one or other thing, possibly worth relating here:

Barber Osgerby - Excellence in process and product
First, I caught the tail end of design duo Barber Osgerby speaking. They were describing the incredibly process-intensive process of making a prototype of this table, involving milling and anodizing hundreds of individual aluminium units that eventually bolt together, partially using magnets. It really was amazing to hear designers talking about the nitty gritty of the process, illustrating how much very hard, hard work goes into realising a high-end product such as this.

Patricia Urquiola - Where flamboyance and simplicity meet
It's something that also arose in Patricia Urquiola's incredibly jam-packed talk, delivered with breathtaking speed and charm: these high-end products often are years in production. The impression, especially with someone as prolific as Urquiola, could be that her designs are churned out, while in fact there's an extensive behind-the-scenes process that takes a lot of time, passion and hard work.

Talking of passion, I liked the way Urquiola paused in her breakneck delivery to tell us how this or that piece carried a lot of emotion for her. And talking of emotion, I'm passionately in love with her Flo Easy Chair (above) and the Tropicalia chair (below).

Ferran Adria - Rigour and honesty
Another Spaniard was up after this - the very charismatic Ferran Adria - the genius behind ElBulli. His committment to exploration in his innovation in a design field as ephemeral as food is quite astonishing, particularly for a non-foodie like me. I couldn't help feeling some sympathy for whoever the Design Indaba had appointed to find lunch for Ferran Adria. What a frightening job description!

Black sesame sponge cake with miso (image from Chubby Hubby)

Marcel Wanders - Fabulous and fun
Lastl up was Marcel Wanders, who says "fabulous" and "fun" a lot. He's clearly a flamboyant and playful personality, and this comes across in his work. There's a sense that, perched as he is on the tip top of the high end, he feels the freedom to do pretty much whatever he likes. And sometimes he does just that, as with his Airborne Snotty vase series, based on high tech analysis of the flying droplets of a sneeze.

But also, he uses his freedom to makes sublimely lovely and rare things, like the Fishnet Chair, only available in a limited edition of 20.

So that's my impressions of the high end so far at the Design Indaba this year. I'll be back again with Expo news soon.

Design Indaba 09 - impressions

2009-02-26T07:45:00.002+02:00

I was only able to make some of the afternoon sessions of the Design Indaba conference yesterday, but even just a few talks left me brimming with inspiration.

15:30 - Stephen Burks
Firstly, I saw industrial designer Stephen Burks of readymade projects inc. While his talk wasn't particularly well-presented, it was great to hear about his collaborative projects, linking real unknowns with massive companies like Artecnica, Cappellini, B&B Italia. The project we're most familiar with in South Africa is his collaboration with wireworker Willard Musarurwa on the TaTu series (below) for Artecnica.

Another of Burks' local collaborations is with Kunye African Trends, who came up with the handmade Love Seat for Cappellini, 16:15 - 5.5
The exuberant Parisian design team, 5.5 was up next. The four young industrial designers regaled us with images of their amusing projects that aim to play with the position and function of design within the lifecycle of an object. The project I'm most familiar with is their recent Sponge House for ScotchBrite.

One of their earliest projects, Réanim, really tickled me. In order to inject Design right at the end of the cycle, they set up a furniture "hospital", where people could queue with furniture on its last legs, get a diagnosis and a prescription for cure. Here, for instance, what's clearly needed for this chair is a crutch.

Et voila! Take two tablets and call me in the morning. Check out the 5.5 website to see more of their fun projects.

17:00 - Bruce Mau
Bruce Mau's talk was practically a call to arms, taking the view that the momentous events of the last year, including Obama's election and the global economic crisis, are all events to view with energy and optimism, as they're reasons to wake up and engage with the world and ourselves.

Mau's Massive Change and Institute without Boundaries projects look at the possibilites of Design to be a force that can change the way we operate on this planet. I came away from the talk infected with Mau's optimism and willingness to DO something. Below this post you'll see the YouTube video for Mau's 2010 Denver Biennale that's currently in planning. "In Good We Trust" is something I can get excited about.

So, a common theme amongst all the speakers I saw yesterday was the need for sustainability, cooperation and an insertion of human relationships into the world of design and production. Let's see what comes up in today's talks. See you at the Design Indaba!

2009-02-26T07:44:00.001+02:00

Polyhedra by Haldane Martin

2009-02-25T07:29:00.001+02:00

Anyone who follows this blog will remember our September interview and studio visit with designer Haldane Martin (read the interview here). At the time, I took a couple of snaps around his studio, including this beautiful paper model he was working on.

Now we're very excited to let you know that at Design Indaba 2009, Haldane will be releasing the outcome of all that model-making: it's his Polyhedra Modular Coffee Table system, and it really is something quite extraordinary.

The intriguing structure of this table is derived from the three-dimensional structures seen by electron microscopes inside human hip bones, as well as on the Weaire-Phelan foam bubble technology as used in the Beijing Olympic Watercube building.

The amazing thing about how Haldane Martin has used these five interlocking dodecahedron and tetrakaidecahedron shapes, is that they are completely reconfigurable, thanks to ingenious inbuilt magnets that hold them together. Haldane puts it well when he says "you could describe it at post-rational Lego for grownups"!

I can't wait to see this in real life, and will be doing exactly that when I visit Haldane Martin's stand at the Design Indaba Expo, opening on Friday 27 February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Design Indaba

2009-02-24T07:51:00.000+02:00

At last, the week of the Design Indaba has rolled around, and from Wednesday to the weekend, this is the event that's filling up my diary.
Highlights for me include Ferran Adrià of elBulli, the world's best restaurant. Then, of course, there's Dai Fujiwara - creative director of Issey Miyake. He's someone I know of because of his intriguing A-Poc series of designs, and I'm interested to learn more.

Other highlights include locally born car designer, Keith Helfet, furniture designers Patricia Urquiola (that's her Tropicalia chair above) and Barber Osgerby, and also designer Marian Bantjes.(that's one of her designs below).

There's lots, lots more, and I'll be keeping you filled in on just what's happening at Design Indaba 2009. See you there!

Design Indaba 09 : MBOISA

2009-02-23T06:14:00.008+02:00

One of the events at every year's Design Indaba is the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa (MBOISA) Award. This year, objects are being judged "according to a variety of criteria resonant with the 21st century, including aesthetic appeal, social significance, sustainability, economic impact, lifestyle appeal, entertainment and cultural flavour."

We've been sent a couple of pics of some the Beautiful Objects that are in the running.

The Crysanthemum centrepiece by artist and electrical engineer, Michaella Janse van Vuuren of Nomili looks extremely beautiful.

I'm looking forward to seeing the delicate Ribbon Plate by Kendell Warren Ceramics in the flesh at the Expo.

The Pretty Filly bench by Richard Stretton of Koop Design, is part of his rather yummy Pretty Filly range of furniture.

To see them all, and to cast your vote, visit the Design Indaba Expo, opening on 27 February.

Nguni Chair

2009-02-20T09:40:00.008+02:00

Cape Town design company Vogel Living Design produces the exquisite Nguni Chair, in both zebrano and kiaat.

Ngunis are the traditional cattle of the Zulu people, and have very distinctively shaped forward-curving horns (see pics here), which is what has been referenced in this design. The woven seat also references traditional riempie seats that were used by the early European settlers in South Africa.

See more work by Vogel Living Design at their website.

Giveaway - India

2009-02-19T05:09:00.004+02:00

The latest of our monthly giveaways from Putumayo World Music showcases India’s rich musical variety, from traditional and acoustic music to Bollywood and electronica, on an album called India.

To be entered into the draw for this evocative album (listen to a preview here), send us an email with your name and address, and the answer to this question:

What is the name of the book Putumayo has published in conjunction with this album?

Click here to email your entry. Good luck!

Report from NYC: SVA Subway Posters

2009-02-18T07:22:00.000+02:00

Anyone who has ridden the NYC subway has probably noticed the eye-catching posters advertising the School of Visual Arts.

I went searching for one online recently after I fell in love with a poster designed by Gail Anderson that had the words "If someone says you shouldn't, ask them who should" in bold, free-hand lettering. I couldn't find it anywhere but I did discover that you can buy previous subway posters directly from the SVA.

Here are a few by graphic design guru Milton Glaser:

Thomas Woodruff's posters sprinkled a bit of fairy dust on the grimy subway platforms. I think they would make beautiful pictures in a child's bedroom:

Different designers have interpreted the "Art is..." theme in interesting ways:

James Victore

James McMullan

Frank Young

I'm hoping that the Gail Anderson poster joins these others on the SVA website soon. Did any other New Yorkers have fantasies about stealing that poster?

Li Edelkoort seminar

2009-02-17T11:08:00.004+02:00

In the leadup to the Design Indaba conference at the end of the month, there are some exciting things happening in the city. One of these is a trends seminar with world-renowned and respected trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, hosted by hot design crew The President.

Edelkoort, whose sphere of influence ranges from cars to cosmetics, fashion to flowers, the food we buy at the market stall and the plates we serve it on, says she has never been more optimistic about the future. Good news indeed from the style guru who has been predicting trends with surprising accuracy for the past 20 years.

See more details about the seminar, including booking information, in the sidebar ad on this blog.

IKEA PS collection

2009-02-17T06:45:00.000+02:00

I've been known to bang on a bit about wishing we had IKEA here in South Africa, and I think these pieces from the PS Collection illustrate exactly why I feel we are so awfully deprived:

The wonderfully wonky PS Svarva lamp is designed by Swedish wunderkids Front - a delightful bit of craziness.
Swedish speakers, I'd be most grateful if you could fill us in on what the IKEA PS Sprakka is for? I think it's a spice grinder. Whatever its practical purpose, it would make a wonderful sculptural piece.
And my favourite, the nifty little PS Karjohan sidetable . It's so darn cute, I'd be tempted to paste eyes on it and take it for a trot in the park.

Oh, and South African readers, you may feel a little better knowing that we're not the only ones without access to these amazing pieces - the PS Collection is only available in Sweden (for a while, anyway)!

Sanna Annukka for Marimekko

2009-02-16T08:47:00.000+02:00

I'm so excited to see that illustrator Sanna Annukka has created fabric designs for Finnish design legend, Marimekko. Her inspiration for this range comes from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

The Kanteleen kutsu design shows forest animals listening to folklore hero Väinämöinen playing a string instrument, made from the jawbone of a giant pike.

This print ranges over other highly covetable household items, like this tray,mugs and tea towels too.

The Taikamylly fabric (below) shows the Sampo, a wealth grinding magic mill, doing its work. I love the closeup version on a porcelain plate too.

Lastly, the Ihmemaa art print shows the landscape of Kaleva, the Land of Heroes, and Lake Alue, in whose depths a whitefish has swallowed fire fallen from the heavens.

See more of this collection, and other designers' work at the Marimekko website.

Cat house

2009-02-13T07:45:00.000+02:00

We've all probably experienced the kind of unholy combination of cats and apartments that results in an unstylish concoction of shredded furniture, and more than a hint of ammonia stink.

However, cat lovers will be pleased to know that their love of felines doesn't necessarily sentence them to a domestic landscape of sisal-carpeted scratchposts, and Japanese architect Asahi Kasei’s Plus-Nyan house is more than enough evidence of this.

Everything in this house has been designed from the start with the integration of cats' and humans' needs in mind, resulting in an extraordinarily good looking home-slash-cathouse!

Sorry, dog owners, I don't think this would catch on with your canine companions. Somehow, I can't imagine a Sharpei galumphing around in the rafters!

Via Modern Cat

Report from NYC: Meet Peter Lane

2009-02-11T06:05:00.002+02:00

Are they vertebrae? Coral? Insect pods?

This week I introduce you to the ceramic artwork of Peter Lane, who shares a studio with the subject of last week's post, Pamela Sunday.

The installation above, called 'Seabed,' was originally commissioned for the lobby (below) of super-swanky apartment building 350 West Broadway in Soho by real estate developer Aby Rosen, under the direction of architect William Georgis.

Lane will soon exhibit 'Seabed III' and IV - a much larger version and a smaller, half-scale version - at the Pavillon des Arts et du Design in Paris in April. He will be represented there through Chahan Gallery, whose sleek modernist furniture presents the perfect counterfoil to Lane's rough-hewn aesthetic.

Rough in texture it may be, but Lane's piece has a poetic quality captured in his artist's statement accompanying 'Seabed':

I love the vision of a school of fish and their mysterious, silent coordination, of ghosts, or spirits, the ghosts of whales, their bones lying in peaceful patterns of the floor of the ocean, the demon spirit of Nature that we try to shelter ourselves from, but can only rejoin, hopefully as something rich and strange.

You can read about how Lane came up with the idea for the piece, and how he made it, on my blog, The Brooklynist.

Lane exhibited a number of pieces at Chahan Gallery in Paris last September. He is known for his "birch bark" lamps, vases and drum tables using a ceramic process that happened to turn out looking like, well, you guessed it, birch bark.

The lamp base on the table above is part of his 'Scholar's Rock' series, amorphous masses of clay that he stacks up and squeezes into shape. They are named after Chinese scholar's rocks that are chosen because of their uncanny resemblance to things like tigers or clouds.

"I'm experimenting and trying new things. I don’t have a specific style," says Lane. "My favorite things are most spontaneous and come directly from the clay itself."

The circular sculpted mirror frame hanging above the table is a spin-off of a larger project that Lane is currently working on, called 'Homage a' Palissy.'

This piece, above, is a preliminary study for this work-in-progress, which will ultimately be a ceramic relief 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide.

"Bernard Palissy was an important artist and folkloric character," Lane told me. "He was a stained-glass artist originally who basically had to invent ceramics from scratch. He burned all the furniture in his house trying to fire up his kiln to the right temperature!"

Apparently, Palissy's masterpiece was a grotto that he made for Catherine de Medici. "The walls were encrusted with sculptures of seaweed, salamanders and shells to resemble an ancient Roman ruin underground."

Clearly, Lane's imagination is up to the task of capturing this fantastical underground cave, as these other studies and tests for 'Homage a' Palissy' show.

Lighting the way

2009-02-10T08:11:00.000+02:00

French-made Jieldé work lamps have been around since the 1950s, when Jean-Louis Domecq grew tired of searching for a reliable lamp to equip his own machine-tools, and made his own articulated Standard lamp.

Over the years, Jieldé work lamps have gained iconic status, as they excel in both form and function, and are now available in a variety of shapes and forms.

If you'd like to get your hands on one, get in touch withTonic Design in Joburg, as they have the agency for Jieldé in South Africa.

Ribbons

2009-02-09T08:15:00.000+02:00

At the end of last year, Japanese fashion label minä perhonen had an exhibition exploring the forms and uses of ribbons. For the show, architect Ryuji Nakamura put together this ribbon installation, called Catenarhythm, using ribbons designed by minä perhonen .

You can see a vimeo of the installation here, and see more pics here. Read more about Ryuji Nakamura at the website.

via Ah-yi

Chicken vs Puppy

2009-02-06T08:07:00.001+02:00

I for one, have had enough of the plastic Puppy by Eero Aarnio. To me, it's a little too ubiquitous to be considered the icon it appears to be held up to be. I propose that it gets replaced by a new plastic animal, and would like you to consider Jaime Hayon's chicken.

What do you think - reckon it'll catch on in the same way?Via Orange you Lucky

Report from NYC: Pamela Sunday

2009-02-04T06:57:00.003+02:00

"A hobby that consumed my life" is how Pamela Sunday describes the exquisite ceramic sculptures she makes in the studio in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn that she cycles to every day. Her iconic pieces have been embraced by the interior design world here in the U.S. and as far afield as India, Japan and Singapore.

Pamela studied economics and math at college, did a stint working on Wall Street, and then became a stylist and art director at Bergdorf Goodman. She discovered she loved clay while taking a class with some colleagues. "We decided to try different classes after work instead of going for drinks," she said.

She's been at it full-time for eight years, during which her style has refined itself into a bold, highly crafted expression of her love for natural forms. Her current work was inspired by microscopic forms such as plankton and algae.

Pamela often uses metallic glazes fired to a high temperature. The result resembles metal more than clay.

"I'm working on the edge of my materials," she said. She works very methodically, labouring over her pieces for weeks sometimes.

While some pieces are lustrous and glossy, others have a more matt texture. "I play mad scientist with the chemicals," Pamela explained while showing me the different kilns she bakes her pieces in.

The beauty of her pieces to me is that they evoke so many different kinds of forms. Many of her orbs look like intergalactic objects.

"Everything starts with an orb and then I either add or subtract elements," she said.

Pamela is experimenting with oval forms now, so watch her website for updates on those. And read about her husband Paul Sunday's paintings on my own blog here.

Cole and son

2009-02-03T07:48:00.001+02:00

Cole & Son has recently released their Contemporary III wallpaper collection with more archive designs from the 1950s and 60s together with original designs.

Just a warning: should you spend some time visiting the Cole & Son website, you'll probably start eyeing the blank walls in your house appraisingly. I know this, because that's what's happened to me!

Design Indaba 09 coming up

2009-02-02T07:34:00.001+02:00

February is Design Indaba month, and I've no doubt that the diaries of design-savvy types are already blocked out form 25 - 27 Feb to attend the conference and the Expo too.

I'll be covering the Indaba, letting you know what I heard from the impressive lineup of international and local speakers, which includes Patricia Urquiola, Bruce Mau, Barber Osgerby, as well as the "best chef in the world" El Bulli's Ferran Adrià.

I'm getting very excited about the Design Indaba conference, and also about all the fresh new design on show at the Expo. Hope to see you there.

No trees were harmed

2009-01-30T08:43:00.000+02:00

"Wood" you like to take a seat, madam?

Actually, this tree stump by designers Ilona Huvenaars and Alissia Melka-Teichroew is not what it appears at all! It's made of soft foam, and comes in colours certainly never seen in nature!

And unlike a real wood stump, these are light, soft and waterproof, so you can take them outside without making the trees in your garden feel nervous.

Available at Kikkerland (with sooo many other cool things!)

Eley Kishimoto

2009-01-29T08:16:00.000+02:00

This Red Flash wallpaper (above) is the design that first woke me up to the amazing work of design duo Eley Kishimoto, and when I spotted their Red Damask design (below), I became a dedicated lifelong fan, prepared to save a wall in my home for the day when I could afford to paper it in an Eley Kishimoto print.

While I'm saving up for my wallpaper, I thought I'd share some of the fab new furnishing fabrics from Eley Kishimoto:

Chains

Beasts of the Night

Domino Butterfly

Tapestry

See more of this talented duo's work at the Eley Kishimoto website.

Issue 59: Painted Love

2009-01-28T10:35:00.000+02:00

I love what the owner of this home featured in the Revamp Issue, Etienne Hanekom, has to say about watching paint dry: "I don't understand why that's code for boring. Paint transforms things, it plays with light and has so much potential".

If you have a copy of this issue, you'll see that Etienne's home on pages 100 - 107 attests to his fascination with paint, light and colour too. But our pics were so good that we used them all up, and all we have left to share with our blog readers are these few colour-bright vignettes:

To see more images of this and other amazing homes, why not take out a subscription to ELLE DECORATION SA, and get your own copy delivered to your door 6 times a year? See the left hand sidebar for details of our special, and then pop an email to us to find out more.

Production: Tracy Lynch
Photographs: Micky Hoyle

Issue 59: Constant Gardener

2009-01-27T08:33:00.006+02:00

Our deputy editor, Lauren Shantall, travelled to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands - and back in time - to visit a formal 18C-style English garden designed by the late Sir David Hicks.

Here we have a couple more pictures of the Riversfield Farm garden, where Sir David decreed an architectural garden, a formal potager, a dovecote, as well as a Gothic-style pool pavilion, all in the manner of an 18thC English garden.

Find out more about Sir David Hicks by visiting his webpage, where you can see a collection of his furniture, carpets and fabrics, as well as images of his interior design work.

Production: Lauren Shantall
Photographs: Angie Buckland

Issue 59 - Father Figure

2009-01-26T07:10:00.011+02:00

To read about a truly grand hotel revamp, check out pages 35 - 37 of the Revamp! issue.

After slumping into scandal and closure, the ertswhile Metropole Hotel on Long Street now has new owners and a whole new look: The Grand Daddy has opened its arms, flashing elegant bling, and it seems that Cape Town has fallen wholeheartedly into this luxurious embrace.

Make a Grand Daddy of a booking, and find out more about the Daddy Long Legs group by visiting the Daddy Longlegs website.

Production: Tracy Lynch
Photographs: Justin Patrick

Issue 59 - Africa Remixed

2009-01-23T07:33:00.001+02:00

The Singita Pamushana Lodge in southeast Zimbabwe, has just had a revamp by Cecile and Boyd's, taking inspiration from wonderfully vibrant regional Shangaan colours, patterns and forms.

Production: Tracy Lynch
Photographs: Mark Williams

New Issue on Shelf - Revamp

2009-01-22T07:29:00.001+02:00

It's on the shelves, folks - the Revamp issue! Check out those 75 pages of beautifully updated homes, and check back in here tomorrow for a peek inside those glossy pages.

Report from NYC: Redecorating the White House

2009-01-21T08:24:00.000+02:00

What do you think: could this French Hawaiian Hibiscus chair encapsulate the look of the new White House?

Domino blogger Nick Olsen thinks it marries the traditional sophistication befitting the new First Family with the tropical flavour of their favourite vacation destination.

Here's a radically different intepretation: a sophisticated but fun modernist look for the Oval Office by Jonathan Adler at InStyle.com.

Adler has used tone-on-tone walls and drapery, his signature Montmartre table and Horse lamps, and a repeat pattern of the presidential seal on the rug.

Designer Amy Mellen at Calvin Klein Home has taken a more minimalist approach:

She's envisioned Jasper Johns’s Gray Flag (1957) above the mantel, large sofas and armchairs in neutral shades, and lots of textures like parchment leather and natural linen.

I, for one, never thought this day would come. I'm referring to the day on which a contemporary, stylish First Couple takes a good hard look at those groaning chandeliers and festooned pelmets in the White House and proclaims, "Yes, we can... redecorate!"

According to Domino magazine, none other than Los Angeles interior designer Michael Smith (above) has been selected as the Obamas' designer-in-residence. "The family's casual style, their interest in featuring 20th century American artists and utilizing affordable brands and products will serve as our guiding principles as we make the residence feel like their home," Smith says on Domino's website.

Smith's trademark style definitely veers towards plush tradition, as you can see in the above photos of other rooms he has decorated, but he creates a feeling of casual comfort by varying subtle shades of colour and mixing different textures and patterns.

In this video tour you can take a sneak peek at his house, which is grand and homey at the same time.

Domino has many other fun features on its site: a room-by-room historical tour of the White House, cast your vote on which administration did it best, and a very amusing and informative First Lady Decorating Smackdown between Nancy Reagan and Jackie Kennedy by Nick Olsen.

In the meantime, we'll have to wait to see just how the Obama family manages to put their stamp on America's most famous house.

Shine Shine

2009-01-20T12:09:00.008+02:00

Earlier today, I visited the studio of Tracy Rushmere's new fabric venture, Shine Shine. And today of all days, I simply had to post about her new cloth commemorating Barack Obama.

Tracy is well known for having started the marvellous African Image in central Cape Town, and also for her work with the Afro brand. Now, with Shine Shine, she's indulging her passion for African commemorative cloths, and putting a super-contemporary spin on them.

There's no Shine Shine website yet, but take a look at what Shine Shine has come up with so far, and get in touch with Tracy to find out more:

Mirror mirror

2009-01-19T09:10:00.000+02:00

Sanell Aggenbach has been having fun making mirrors lately, using some iconic pop imagery.

These are very limited edition (only 5 available!), and are available from African Image in Cape Town.

Sacred from the profane

2009-01-19T08:11:00.000+02:00

The ethereal objects and jewellery made by designer Gülnur özdağlar are a perfect alchemy of the sacred from the profane. These exquisite objects, like insubstantial glowing jellyfish, are implausibly made from discarded PET plastic water bottles.

See more work by Gülnur özdağlar at her blog and get some for yourself at her Etsy shop too.

via Design Sponge

Love your office

2009-01-16T12:43:00.003+02:00

The idea of a company specialising in office furniture could elicit groans of an apprehension of dullness, but Bulo puts a post-Memphis pop into their desks, tables and office chairs for the ‘AND/AND’ generation, so bravo for Bulo!

It’s wonderful to see their collaboration with art photographer Fien Muller to create these arresting still-life images of their new collections:

The Kei collection

The Mtoo collection

Bulo is smart to highlight the emotional component involved in work, as well as the need for functionality and ergonomics - and so they want their pieces to stimulate and encourage creativity.

Take a look at the rest of the collection, and let us know if, as Bulo intends, they make you love your office?

All images by Fien Muller

Woodsmen need wallets

2009-01-15T09:35:00.000+02:00

My Japanese not being what it used to be (ahem), I don't know much more about these gorgeous faux bois accessories than that they're available from Japanese design store Cibone. Whatever else there is to know about them, I reckon they're definitely worth an eyeballing.

Report from NYC: Ork Posters

2009-01-14T06:38:00.005+02:00

It's great to be back to my weekly posts from NYC! I'm starting the year out by showing you a graphic approach to my adopted city.
xx Kelly

Jenny Beorkrem, designer and founder of Ork Posters in Chicago, has come up with a fresh approach to map design.

She breaks up each city into its named sections, varying the size of the typeface to communicate the jumble of distinct neighbourhoods. It's a bold, modernist take on mapmaking, unlike anything I've seen before. Something about packing all those letters into tight spaces conveys the sense of how densely populated and so very large these metropolitan areas are.

Besides New York City and Brooklyn, my obvious favourites, Ork Posters now offers maps of Chicago, Manhattan, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, the Great Lakes, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington DC.
Beorkrem descided to design the typographical maps after a fruitless search for a Chicago neighborhood poster that would look good on her wall. "The project became quite cumbersome with 91 Chicago neighbourhoods in all," she said. Of all the cities that she has mapped, her hometown has the highest number of neighbourhoods.

Her new project has done so well, that even big name brands like Nike have begun imitating her.

Giveaway: Women of Jazz

2009-01-13T08:24:00.000+02:00

It's great to get the year going with a giveaway, and we've got a great CD from Putumayo World Music to give to one lucky reader. This time around, it's a brand new release called Women of Jazz, showcasing 10 exceptional female vocalists from North America.

To win yourself a copy of this collection, which includes original songs alongside classic 1920s ballads and Broadway show tunes, just find the answer to this question:

Who performs a new version of Billie Holiday’s “Lover Man” on this album?

Click here to send us an email with the answer, as well as your name and postal address.

Shippo Plates

2009-01-12T08:41:00.000+02:00

Dutch design superstar Hella Jongerius' modus operandi is to design on the basis of a tradition, researching the history of a product, giving it a twist and creating something new. Her latest exploration is with an old enamel technique called Shippo cloisonné, creating these five Shippo Plates .

Shippo cloisonné is a technique whereby fine silver strips are applied to copper, and then enamel is poured into the spaces, then repeatedly fired and polished. The pic below shows the process at work in the Japanese enamelling studio that produces the Shippo Plates for Tokyo-based company Cibone.

Via Frozen Fountain

Bleu your mind

2009-01-09T12:42:00.001+02:00

Today's post is by our deputy editor, Lauren Shantall.

Bleu Nature is a craft-based business from the north of France, with its tree-hugging credentials firmly in place. The company produces a stylish eco-friendly furniture range made from repurposed wood, and designed by Frank Lefebvre, Bastien Taillard and Laurence Glorieux.

For the past 15 years, Bleu Nature has specialized in using materials like driftwood, flotsam and jetsam, and petrified wood. They've chosen these materials as they are not only sustainable, but won’t deplete any existing resources.

The Bleu Nature team combs the beaches for debris which is then fashioned into a variety of outdoor seating, interior pieces, lighting and dйcor accessories. Take a look at the way they manage to evoke an emotional response by making the most of the imperfect yet beautiful shapes that they find.

Photos : Didier Knoff, Gilles Piat

PS: In South Africa, Bleu Nature's distributor is Dominico. Get in touch with Dominico here.

John Robshaw Textiles

2009-01-08T08:45:00.000+02:00

This image gave me a chuckle when I stumbled across it this morning. I followed some links, and discovered that it's from the John Robshaw Textiles web page, which really is overflowing with amazing prints, just like this taxi cab!

John Robshaw creates original, handcrafted textiles from around the world, employing traditional printing, dying and weaving techniques, reinterpreting them for modern sensibilities. I picked out a couple of images from the vast and varied collection of printed, woven and handpainted textiles to share:

Visit John Robshaw Textiles, and view the Flash catalogue here too.

Sibling Compatibility

2009-01-06T08:45:00.001+02:00

David and Alexandra Ross are currently exhibiting as a duo at the Resolution Gallery with a photographic exhibition called In Camera. The show takes its name from the legal term meaning “in private”, and the grainy images in black and white reveal intimate, moody glimpses into private domains.Interestingly, artist Alexandra Ross has previously styled dйcor for DECO, and photographer David is often called upon to shoot houses and travel features for us. In private, this talented pair turns a trained eye on making fine art, in this case, using low-tech mobile phone and laptop camera technology.

Visit Resolution Gallery in Parkwood, Johannesburg. In Camera is on show until 28 February 2009.

Fun at the office

2009-01-05T09:19:00.008+02:00

Lots of our readers will be back at work today, and you're possibly feeling a little sorry for yourself. So to cheer you up, I've put together a few office accessories that will make take the ho-hum out of a day at work.

Nothing sounds more like getting down to work than the clackety clack racket a typewriter makes. Give your office a sound and colour pop with this genuine 1950s refurbished typewriter from Three Potato Four.

Engage in endless busywork as you juggle your diary with the Puzzle Calendar from Urban Outfitters.
On another level completely, this modular Daily System integrates high-tech devices seamlessly into your daily life. For instance, the Weekly Meal Planner organizes weekly plans for meals and groceries, while a digital frame slideshows up to 1,300 photos on a 6" screen. Talk about getting organized!
Going down a notch or two, I think a caveat should accompany this Wildlife Tape Dispenser from Urban Outfitters: your boss isn't likely to take you terribly seriously with this taking pride of place, so try injecting a spot of Bauhaus gravity with the Bourne desk lamp below, from Habitat.Work hard, everyone!

Liam Mooney

2009-01-05T08:29:00.000+02:00

Today we have our deputy Ed., Lauren Shantall, in the guest blogger seat. Thanks, Lauren!

It’s really encouraging for the South African design industry to watch an emerging designer like Liam Mooney go from strength to strength, providing proof that perseverance and talent will out.

An industrial design graduate, Liam has been producing furniture since 1996 and has exhibited his work locally and in New York, London and Scandinavia. The designs featured here – including the Arc lamp you see above - are all made in sunny South Africa.

A Charming Trestle table

The Lowveld Stool

All Liam Mooney's designs are available through the Whatiftheworld / Design Studio, of which Liam is a founding member.

Chiquita Chandelier

2009-01-02T08:15:00.005+02:00

I thought it'd be fun to start off a brand new year with this marvellously loopy Chiquita Chandelier by Dutch designer/applied artist, Anneke Jakobs.

So, if you've still got a bit of holiday left, and a penchant for a banana or two, why not follow these instructions, and make your very own banana box chandelier?

Via So Sylvie

Ercol Originals in black

2008-12-31T08:56:00.001+02:00

Although I suspect it could be a fake, I still count myself very lucky to own something that looks a lot like a vintage Ercol daybed, and am a huge fan of this UK company's other classic pieces. So I'm particularly thrilled to see that not only has Ercol re-released some of their 1950's Originals in recent years, they've also done some reinvention, producing them in a gorgeous new matt black finish.

And as if that wasn't enough gorgeousness, Ercol also has produced a special edition of the Love Seat in Ercol blue, with the ash emerging from a twilight fade. Just beautiful.

Circles in the sand

2008-12-29T12:42:00.000+02:00

Many thanks to our Joburg bureau chief, Kerstin Eser for today's post.

Ceramicist Loren Kaplan was previously in partnership with renowned local potter Anthony Shapiro, who is best known for his minimalist tableware in soft celadon glazes. Having since embarked on a solo career, Loren’s flair for embellishment has come to the fore in the exquisite patterns she applies to her light diffusers, lamp shades, tealight holders and vessels of various sizes.

Inspired by sand patterns, her latest collection is once again beautifully adorned with her intricately detailed, handmade markings. She has obviously found her voice and a singular one at that.

See more of Loren Kaplan's recent work at Amoeba Concepts.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T06:22:00.000+02:00

From everyone here at ELLE DECORATION, we wish you a joyful Festive Season, with the help of this adorable seasonal card from Dutch Door Letterpress! Many thanks to all our readers for helping to grow our blog so wonderfully this year!

We'll be back again, blogging for all we're worth, on Monday 29 December.

Bed head

2008-12-23T11:31:00.003+02:00

It's the holidays, and time to relax! Our design assistant at the ELLE DECORATION offices, Amy Reid, must have been planning how to spend her time off when she put together this post all about... beds!

Looking to burst the four-poster paradigm and leave sleigh beds in the snow? Well, finding an attractive variation on the traditional rectangle is not that simple, but rest easy knowing that I've hunted down a few viable alternatives. With a focus on nature and, of course, relaxation, dreams in these beds are bound to be sweet.

Waking up after a night in this womb-like bed from LOMME could well feel like a re-birth. LOMME stands forLight Over Matter Mind Evolution, and incorporates light, sound and massage therapies in its designs.

This romantic “nest” by Shawn Lovell invites the outside realm into your bedroom, creating a magical suspension of disbelief.

Cross a hammock with a Sealy Posturpedic, and what do you get? It's the Gazebo Floating Bed by John Huff, that’s what! I wonder if it comes complete with a gorgeous view?

Daybeds urge afternoon slumbers and lazy, dozy siestas. The Salome Daybed is one of many organic options available from the Lifeshop Collection.

Imagine a rocking chair that you would allow you to nod off comfortably. Get your own Private Cloud, and you'll be sleeping on Cloud Nine for sure!

Happy siesta, everyone!

(posted by Amy Reid)

A is for Anglepoise

2008-12-22T08:03:00.000+02:00

This set of alphabet mugs shows the letter on one side, and a picture on the other. So A is for Anglepoise, and T is for... well, it's for Tea, of course! Get the whole set at Pedlars.

Issue 58: Down by the Water

2008-12-18T07:11:00.007+02:00

Doesn't an "Escape" issue make perfect sense at this time of year? I can imagine in utter clarity the feeling of just dropping everything to hop on a Cessna taking me away from it all...

And where better to go than the Xaranna tented camp in Botswana's Okavango Delta? Here, you can relax in luxury during the heat of the day, and when things cool down, there are game drives and boat trips on the delta.

I haven't been there (yet!), but listen to what our travel writer, Louise McCann has to say about it:

"The sala, perched on the water's edge is, for me, theheart of the heart of this place. It's where I feel completely undisturbed and closely acquainted with the god of small things that presides over the wetlands. There is big game: two lazy hippos wallow in the waterway outside my tent and wake me in the depths of the night with their breathing and snorting: giraffes saunter past at sunset; and I spot elephants plucking berries from tall trees on nearby islands."

Hip City Guide is live!

2008-12-18T07:00:00.002+02:00

We've had nasty tetchy tech stuff all week, but at last our Hip City Guide is live and we're loving it!

In the sidebar, you'll see links to the Guide, and these will be up all year long, thanks to our sponsors, Brutal Fruit. So whenever you're heading for Durbs, Pretoria, Joburg or Cape Town (or even if you live there already), all the news on South Africa's hottest city spots is just a click away.

If you have Flash, you can see a zooty animated version of the Guide, otherwise there's a good old PDF to view too. Just click the links in the sidebar.

Issue 58: Lodge Scarborough

2008-12-17T08:04:00.000+02:00

So, we're all starting to get into the holiday mood, but sometimes, travelling to a holiday destination can be the most stressful part of all. That's why I rather fancy the idea of getting away, and I mean really getting away, but only having to travel 35 minutes out of Cape Town!

Our story about ZenSA Lodge on pages 94 - 99 show the gloriously renovated spaces of this Scarborough guesthouse, owned and run by two energetic young Belgians. Just looking at these clear and stylish rooms is enough to get me to start winding down, and I hope they do the same for you.
Hmm. I wonder if they have space for a last-minute booking...

Photographs: Philippe Vanderpoorten

Issue 59: The Milky Way

2008-12-16T07:21:00.000+02:00

With Cape Town temperatures way up in the late 20s today, we're certainly not expecting a white christmas this year. But that doesn't stop our Escape issue from having 12 gloriously pale pages, celebrating the possibilities of white-on-white.

We're so used to seeing perfect pics in magazines, and it's easy to forget how much hard work goes into getting them looking so good. A few months ago, I happened to stumble upon our stylist Tracy Lynch (above) in the middle of her Milky Way shoot, so I took a couple of behind-the-scenes snaps to give our blog readers an exclusive peek behind the scenes:

Clustered around the edges of the studio are hopeful props waiting in the wings, crossing fingers that they'll be included in the final shoot...

Need more white? Easy, just add baby powder!

Want to have some fun with your copy of Issue 58? Why not try to spot how many of the props I've snapped here actually did make it into the shoot!

Production on Milky Way: Tracy Lynch and Yelda Bayraktar
Photographs: Mark Williams and Justin Patrick

Issue 58: Monkeybiz

2008-12-15T08:01:00.007+02:00

The brand new Escape issue shows pics of the seaside home of ceramicist Barbara Jackson, founder of the amazing beading company Monkeybiz. I don't have any extra pics of Barbara's home to share, but thought it might be nice to share some of what Monkeybiz does.
Monkeybiz is a non-profit organisation in Cape Town, and it supports over 450 women and their families – many of whom are HIV positive. By creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind beaded art pieces, the women who work for Monkeybiz have found a sustainable way to support themselves and their families.

Visit the Monkeybiz website to find out more, take a look at their catalogue, and shop online.

Hip City Guide

2008-12-12T06:59:00.011+02:00

There's a brand new issue of ELLE DECORATION on the shelves, which is always exciting news. But there's more excitement this time, because along with the Escape issue, you get your very own free copy of the Hip City Guide.

So, whether you like shopping, or lunching, or partying or relaxing, you can get the skinny on the hottest spots in the cool cities of Durban, Cape Town, Joburg and Pretoria, just by reading the Hip City Guide.

Soon you'll be able to click on the icon in the sidebar (bear with our internet glitches today), and read the Hip City Guide online. It's going to stay there all year, so you can keep returning for updates too.

Right, I'm off for the weekend now, with my Hip City Guide firmly in my back pocket!

Stack 'em up

2008-12-11T07:49:00.005+02:00

Such nice things are to be found at UK store, Pedlars. I'm totally coveting these Japanese maple stacking beakers, and the wooden platters to match.

Report from NYC: Pomme

2008-12-10T07:49:00.000+02:00

I just can't help being drawn to the whimsy, colour and craft of the retro kids' toys, and the inspired decor on sale at Pomme, an airy, light-filled space in an old brick building on Washington Street in Dumbo.

Photo by V. Jane Windsor

This hand-screened linen pillow, available from Pomme, is by the Brooklyn-based duo Atsuyo et Akiko, who make possibly the most imaginative, chic things for children this side of the Atlantic.

The Japanese duo incorporates vintage, handmade elements into their very contemporary clothing, home accessories and jewellery. Case in point: this very dear tote bag, embellished with a pearlescent ribbon.

Even the most humble of toys get a stylish, minimalist makeover with these house blocks made from Japanese ash and this bowling set, both of which come packed in a burlap sack.

Imported from Europe, this classic rocker in birch plywood has been in production for over 50 years.

This glowing bunny nightlight will watch over your bundle of sleeping joy.

And if you think all that was good, I must tell you I've been saving the best for last. In my eye, neutrals have their place - but only alongside wild pops of cherry red, fuchsia and hot pink, like these play blankets in delicate Chinese fabrics.

With a colour palette like this, and a collection of objects from all over the map, it's no wonder that Pomme is one of my favorite stores in all of NYC.

Sarah Illenberger

2008-12-09T09:38:00.000+02:00

Sarah Illenberger is a Berlin-based... um, actually, I'm not sure what to call her. Is she an artist, stylist, illustrator, conceptualiser...? She doesn't fit her work into any of these categories herself, and her meticulous handwork, mostly using mundane materials, is created for a wide range of editorial and commercial clients.

In a week of work insanity, the likes of which I've never seen, I enjoyed a much-needed still point as I sifted through Sara Illenberger's vast portfolio, endlessly delighted by the clever and diverse constructions and ideas recorded there. So if you're experiencing end-of-year madness, take some time out to appreciate her detailed, humorous and meticulous body of work.

via Emma's DesignBlogg

A pattern tale

2008-12-08T12:27:00.008+02:00

Wallpaper is something that catches my eye over and over again, and consequently gets featured on this blog quite out of proportion with other decorative flourishes. And here we go again!

This time, it's a lovely design called Topo Azul from Pattern Tales, designed by Barcelona based artist, Ana Montiel.

Close up, it looks to me like an intricate design of the type one might doodle with a blue ballpoint during a lecture. I don't know how Ana went about designing this pattern, but I love the idea of an idle doodle like this covering an entire wall, don't you?

Visit the Pattern Tales website to see more lovely wallpapers and prints, all printed on premium non-woven Finnish paper.

Raw at Casamento

2008-12-05T08:16:00.000+02:00

I was pleased to get news from Casamento this week, as they always seem to be coming up with new and interesting ideas. Casamento has been reupholstering vintage furniture for a while now, and have made a commitment to using natural fibres. They are now taking this a step further, with their new collection called Raw.

This recycled fifties sofa is the first in Casamento's Raw range.It has been reupholstered in a mixture of raw silk, linens and hemp fabrics. At first glance, it appears unfinished, but a closer look shows you that it's exactly the way it should be.

I saw this sofa at the Neighbourgoods Market last weekend, and although the fabrics look fairly rough, to the touch, they are silken, and the sensual contrast is enough to convince that this is something quite special.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Casamento comes up with next, and will be sure to keep you posted!

Report from NYC: Comfort from the cold

2008-12-03T07:59:00.005+02:00

Baby it's cold outside up here in the northern hemisphere! To warm up our nests, I've assembled a few winter-themed things for you today.

Alyssa Ettinger's beautifully tactile Knitwear Bowls duplicate the texture of a handknit sweater on their unglazed surfaces.

This Brooklyn-based ceramicist sells her designs on her Etsy shop and at Cog and Pearl in Park Slope.

Add a fjordic flavour to your winter pad with these Nordic knit cushions from Urban Outfitters. They're stylish and cuddle-worthy, with understated contrast patterns at the back.

And what would a winter wonderland (even an indoor one) be without a pair of frolicking deers?

These sculpted wooden animals are part of a range made of pear, walnut, beech and other European woods made as kids' toys and sold at Brooklyn-based online shop Romp. Unpainted and finished with beeswax, their unadorned shapes show off the woodgrain beautifully.

This family of blank Russian nesting dolls , also from Romp, leaves much to the imagination. You can decorate them yourself - or leave them as they are, a group of strangely abstract forms.

And finally, you can hold a little sunshine in your hands all winter long, with this ingenious Sun Jar from Urban Outfitters.
The Sun Jar quite literally captures sunlight, giving off a gentle indoor glow. A traditional glass mason jar is fitted with an energy-efficient LED lamp, which charges in direct sunlight.

Stay warm, wherever you are!

Yokoo styling

2008-12-02T07:45:00.006+02:00

After having done a bit of styling on my own products, and sat in on a professional shoot or two, I am in awe of the hard work done by stylists, and always delighted by a fresh approach to the presentation of a product. So when I spotted these witty product shots for knitted things by Yokoo, I just couldn't resist sharing. Hope they inspire you too!

And the icing on the cake (so to speak): this photograph for sale called i wear many hats.

Giveaway - Acoustic Arabia

2008-12-01T07:39:00.002+02:00

It's December, the month of frenzied gift-giving! And in the spirit of the season, we have another CD to give away from Putumayo World Music. This time it's Acoustic Arabia: a collection of contemplative and introspective acoustic music from the Arabic world.

To win yourself a copy of this collection, just visit the Putumayo website and find the answer to this question:

Name one of the three divas performing in the group Les Orientales.

Click here to send us an email with the answer, and remember to include your name and postal address.

Chromolab inspiration

2008-11-28T07:43:00.001+02:00

Today, a series of jolts of glorious colour to inspire, courtesy of the marvellous and witty Chromalab team:

Chromalab consists of a husband and wife team in Boston, who know how to give an old piece of furniture a colour kick in the pants! Visit the Chromalab website and shop for more of their eye-popping inspiration.

Via Design*Sponge

Report from NYC: Little Friends of Printmaking

2008-11-26T06:57:00.001+02:00

The humble print has exploded on the Web as an affordable art work bursting with imagination. I could spend my whole day – and my entire paycheck – buying up prints on Etsy. As the cold winds whip through Wall Street and the art market starts to feel the chill, I take comfort that for a mere $25, I can buy me a heart-stopping little showpiece, like these by the Little Friends of Printmaking.

The Little Friends of Printmaking are the husband-and-wife design team of James and Melissa Buchanan, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They make silkscreen prints, usually in batches of no more than a hundred, which they sell on their fabulous website.

Many of their prints start life as posters for music concerts, film festivals and book readings. Okay, so you didn't actually see Yo La Tengo at Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin, but you feel like you could have been there.

James and Melissa also make art prints that they take on travelling exhibits around the country. I asked James which of his prints were his favourite. "They’re all our children," he said with mock affection. "I tend to divorce myself from them when they come out of the house." Jeez, I hope this guy isn't actually planning to have children any time soon!

Seriously, it's clear that the Buchanan household must be a fun place. A visit to their website is worthwhile, not only to see their fabulous portfolio of posters, but also to read their zany captions.

Where DO they get all these wacky bolts of imagination? "We watch too much TV. We connect the dots wrong between things," said James. "We keep a list of all our crazy ideas."

Not too shabby for a design duo with few prospects after graduating from art school just four years ago. "We were music fans, so when a promoter asked us to make some posters, we thought it would be fun. We didn’t have an inkling we were interested or good at design," says James.

To read about another up-and-coming print artist - this one based in my home town of Brooklyn - take a visit to my blog, The Brooklynist.

Lei Xue

2008-11-25T07:56:00.002+02:00

Is a pile of crushed beer cans ever capable of having aesthetic appeal?

Well, perhaps when Lei Xue makes the cans out of porcelain and decorates them in a traditional Chinese motif usually seen on delicate teacups.

Via Design for Mankind

Air Lines poster

2008-11-24T09:03:00.006+02:00

When I consider graphic design and aviation, all I can think of is diagrams showing how to put on your life jacket, but artist Mario Freese has come up with something that's a lot more interesting, and delicately beautiful too.

His work, Air Lines, tracks the paths of scheduled airline routes on a finely detailed A0 wall poster, available on both black and white backgrounds.

The flight paths he's traced include the big transatlantic flights as well as local Cessna routes, and the web created is quite extraordinarily complex.

Contemplating all this incessant criss-crossing of the globe makes me appreciate those diagrams showing me how my life jacket will help me survive a plane crash a whole lot more!

Visit Mario Freese's Air Lines website for more information and for the opportunity to purchase your own.

o.live

2008-11-21T05:24:00.000+02:00

After showing Rupert Smith and Warren Matthee's home in Wednesday's post, I thought it might be interesting to show you more of their boutique store, o.live, Chemistry of Living. I went to the store to take some snaps, and also managed to pin Rupert down and get him to answer a couple of questions:

What is concept behind o.live ?
Warren and I started o.live about 10 years ago, and the idea was that is would be an outlet for local creatives, and also somewhere we could show the things we are attracted to. It started out as a tiny shop that was going to be a "hobby" for when we were not busy. But 10 years later, i's become something a lot bigger and more time consuming.

I'm always unsure how to pronounce o.live. Can you help?
o.live is pronounced like the word "olive". The spelling is a play on words, highlighting the word "live". We included the unusual punctuation as a bit of a joke, because we came up with the name at the time of the .com boom.

How much of what we see at o.live reflects in your home?
There is definitely a crossover between our house and the shop. Both are filled with things that we love, and we're often torn between what to keep and what to put in the shop.

What are you noticing in terms of trends, reflected in your store?
I do think that retro / vintage is very big, and combining it with new and old makes for an interesting mix. Of course, these days we need to be thinking green, and o.live embraces this by finding and updating old furniture, as well as having tables and benches manufactured from reclaimed wood.

What are some of your favorites in o.live right now?
Vintage gold porcelain tea set , framed vintage horse prints , feather inner pillows for lounging and elongated reclaimed wooden table and benches re upholstered 50's and 60's lounge suites.

Thanks, Rupert (and Warren too)! Visit o.live, chemistry of living at the bottom of Kloof Street in Cape town.

Odili Donald Odita at Michael Stevenson

2008-11-20T08:22:00.004+02:00

Currently showing at top Cape Town gallery, Michael Stevenson Contemporary, is a show of large acrylic paintings and wall paintings by Odili Donald Odita, a Nigerian artist living and working in Philadelphia.

Eternal - Odili Donald Odita

Here and There - Odili Donald Odita

I think they are just beautiful to look at, and was pleased to see that the press release backs me up on this one: "At a time when people habitually mistrust intuition and visual pleasure, his work relies heavily on both". There's more to his work than just an enjoyment of these massive colourful canvasses, of course, but being swallowed up by colour and shape is enough reason to go and visit the gallery.

Click here to find out how to get to Michael Stevenson Contemporary in Woodstock, Cape Town.

Special issue: Fortune's Favours

2008-11-19T09:26:00.008+02:00

One of my favourite shops in Cape Town is O.live Chemistry of Living, an interiors boutique run by Rupert Smith and Warren Matthee. The shop is an amazing and ever-changing mix of flea market finds, modern classics, sophisticated ceramics and glassware, all arranged just so. Rupert and Warren must have a closely-guarded little black book, because somehow the things on the shelves at O.live are not to be found anywhere else.

O.live is always so impeccably styled, I've always been curious to see how Rupert and Warren's home looks, and the Celebrate! issue gives us a peek into their newly-renovated home, on pages 98 - 107.

The wallpaper in the sitting room is by Osborne & Little, while the lounge suite was a lucky second-hand find.

The kitchen has echos of the shelves of O.live, with beautiful things arranged beautifully, creating an air of bounty and care.

If you like what you see, do check in to the blog again tomorrow, for an interview with Rupert, and some more pics of O.live too.

Production: Lauren Shantall
Photographs: Mark Williams

Special Issue: Retropolitan

2008-11-18T07:02:00.011+02:00

Whenever we put together another fab issue of ELLE DECORATION, there's never enough room for all the pics of the gorgeous homes we've hunted down for you. That's why this blog is such a treat for us - we get to share everything, adding to your enjoyment, and ours.

Along with architect Joy Brasler and designer Debra Parkington, Mike Johnston rescued a mock-Spanish horror, turning it into a retro-glam tropical pad of note. There's already full 10 pages of pics of this sensational Durban home on pages 80 - 89 of the Celebrate! issue, but here's even more, so enjoy!

Production: Lauren Shantall
Photographs: Angie Buckland

Special Issue: Celebrate!

2008-11-17T07:43:00.012+02:00

You know, this Special Issue of ELLE DECORATION is not just special because of our 10 year anniversary, but because we're celebrating by giving away (almost) everything in this issue!

The pages are jam-packed with foody treats, holiday gifts, decor finds and great reads, all of which need winning. Here's just a small selection of what's on offer:

And that's just for starters. There's also champagne (by the bucket!), gorgeous homeware and decor, decadent cupcakes, glam weekends away, dinners out... and even a couture hat! It's pretty overwhelmingly generous, actually!

To win, you'll need to get your hands on a copy of the Celebrate Issue, and warm up your texting fingers. See page 26 of Celebrate! for more details. Good luck!

Special issue: Pure Chemistry

2008-11-14T06:56:00.007+02:00

As a big fan of mid-century Scandi style myself, I've been drooling over pages 108 - 115 of the Celebrate issue, where we've featured the Cape Town home of pharmacist Pieter Dreyer.

Pieter spent seven years in New York, which is where his finely-tuned magpie's eye won him some real vintage classics.

Although certainly a disciple of the clean and pared down mid-century style, Pieter's playful little collections of treasures around the apartment show that he doesn't take it all too desperately seriously, and that his place is no Mid-Century style shrine, but is rather, truly a home.

Production: Laureen Rossouw
Photographs: Johannes Dreyer

Special Issue : Celebrate!

2008-11-13T08:53:00.006+02:00

Ooh, look at what I've got. It's the new issue of ELLE DECORATION, and it's a special one, celebrating our 10th anniversary! I've been flagging all the yummy things to share with you over the next week, like extra pics and inside info, just for blog readers.

Subscribers already have their copies of this issue, and if you also want to be ahead of the pack, now's the time to do it!

One of the ways we're celebrating our 10th anniversary is to offer local readers 40% off the cover price when you take out a subscription. This means you can get 8 issues of this delectable mag in your postbox for a mere R180 (saving R116 on the cover price!)

Readers abroad can also subscribe, which will cost just R604 (about 60 US$).

Click here to chat to Resha about getting your subscription today, keep a lookout on the shelves for a copy of your own, and check back in tomorrow for more about what's on those flagged pages...

Report from NYC: Collages at Pavel Zoubok

2008-11-12T07:45:00.000+02:00

Michael Cooper makes finely curated assemblages out of everyday objects and scraps of packaging. He arranges the small items he finds in neat rows, grouping like colours together or following a number theme. The collage above is called - you guessed it - Four.

This is One Through Ten - look closely and you'll see that each piece of collage represents a number. It was an exhibit of Cooper's candy-colour themed collages that first turned me onto Pavel Zoubok Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, which specializes in collage and mixed-media assemblages.

A new exhibition of collages, “Reconstruction: The Art of Salvatore Meo,” opens tomorrow. Meo was one of the first American artists to use natural objects and discarded man-made materials.

He used the most humble of elements - scraps of wood, old toys, rusted wire and other discarded objects he found on the streets. He paved the way for artists like John Evans (below), who turns other people's garbage into intricate images that look like enlarged stamps.

A couple of years ago, Evans exhibited a breathtaking series of “daily collages” created from ephemeral bits and pieces like ticket stubs, product labels and business cards that he picked up off the sidewalks in the East Village.

From 1964 until the year 2000, Evans made a new artwork every day in a spiralbound sketchpad and recorded the date with a rubber stamp in the corner. It resulted in one of the most substantial bodies of work in the history of collage.

I wanted to snap up the whole lot when I saw them displayed together at Pavel Zoubok. Alas, I couldn’t even afford one of these precious pieces! But lucky for me they are collected in a book called John Evans: Collages, available here.

Mac Premo, another artist who shows with Pavel Zoubok Gallery, pushed the limits of his collages even further - into the three-dimensional realm. He describes himself as a collagist, animator, commercial director and carpenter. Based in Brooklyn, Premo makes quirky mixed-media objects that he classifies as "handheld art", "bookheld art" and "wallheld art". In an exhibit at Pavel Zoubok earlier this year, Robert Warner (below) evoked his rural hometown of Angelica in upstate New York in assemblages made out of vintage book covers, chandelier crystals, optical lenses and all kinds of printed ephemera.

There is something about all these collages drawing from the artist's personal life and from popular culture. They've inspired me to make my own mini-assemblage of personal keepsakes. How about you?

Giveaway - Acoustic France CD

2008-11-11T07:28:00.008+02:00

Bonjour, mes amis! Nous avons quelque chose speciale pour vous aujourd hui...

Zut alors, I was getting a bit carried away there, thanks to the gallic flavour of our latest CD giveaway from Putumayo World Music, called Acoustic France.

To win yourself a copy of this collection, featuring contemporary chansons and acoustic pop by established stars and up-and-coming artists from today’s thriving French music scene, just find the answer to this question:

French songstress, Francoise Hardy, has a son. What is his name? (clue: he features on the Acoustic France album)?

Click here to send us an email with the answer, as well as your name and postal address. Bon chance!

Time for a riddle

2008-11-10T07:59:00.003+02:00

Q: What is large, round and woolly, with two arms, and goes "tick tock"?

A: Why, it's the Gomitolo Knit Clock, of course!

The knitted clock by Carlo and Benedetta Tamborini is available from the Conran shop, and you'll be glad to know that the hands of time will be kind to this designer accessory, as the cover may be removed for washing.

Via Dwell

LittleBig magazine

2008-11-07T08:26:00.014+02:00

When Jenny Dalton, previously features editor on ELLE DECORATION UK, made her fairly recent venture into motherhood, she accompanied it with a new editorship - that of online magazine LittleBig, dedicated to "big designs for little people".

LittleBig magazine is not all about just being a stylish parent with stylish kids, but focuses on exploring what good Design is all about: good looking things that do the job right. And, as Jenny Dalton puts it, "We don't believe good design is good design unless it works. Life with kids is complicated enough."

I found some great reads and inspiration at LittleBig, like this charming story of the room belonging to the four-year-old son of stylist Emma Cassi.

A great high chair review (to suit all budgets and space constraints)

I also saw some great tips on where to find cool things for the kids, and also interviews with designers who share the LittleBig interest in finding great design for little ones.
And alongside the magazine, there's also the LittleBig shop where cool (and well-designed) stuff is to be had, such as adorable plywood Enzo Animals by Momoll, and exquisite lambswool blankets by Melin Tregwynt.

Report from NYC: Kitchen gardens

2008-11-05T08:19:00.002+02:00

Now that he really can begin measuring for new drapes in the White House, I wonder what style Barack Obama would choose to redecorate his new home for the next four years? Federalist hip? Mid-century modern?

There might be a more realistic chance of the exterior of the White House being overhauled. Michael Pollan recently wrote an open letter to the next president in an article for the Sunday New York Times’ Magazine advising him to plant a kitchen garden on the front lawn of the White House. Roger Doiron (below), founder of Kitchen Gardeners International, has strongly advocated for this as well.

Kitchen gardens are a growing trend in gardening. As Pollan says, a presidential vegetable garden would set a wonderful example of sustainable living and help wean America off an agricultural industry that is dependent on oil. Lucky for us design freaks, a kitchen garden is also an aesthetic statement.

Photo by Richard Felber for Domino

The haute veggie patch of none other than Oscar de la Renta was featured in Domino magazine in September last year. Take a look at a beautiful slide show of this Connecticut garden here.

Photo by Richard Felber for Domino

According to Domino, de la Renta's garden applies the principles of a formal flower garden: strong structure, strict geometry and colour-blocking of plants.

Photo by Richard Felber for Domino

And it's not all about what the stars can achieve either. The magazine also offers vegetable garden designs, such as the one below, to enable you to transform your humble backyard into a patch of designer dirt, as well as a guide to planting a potted vegetable garden.

A slightly more haphazard approach is taken by artist-turned-garden historian, Leslie Rose Close, the wife of artist Chuck Close. She has a thriving kitchen garden (below) at her home in Bridgehampton, New York, where she applies an artist's eye but leaves room for happy accidents.

Photo by Gordon M. Grant for the NYTimes

There is a memorable article about her garden in the New York Times. "I can't imagine anything more wonderful to do," she says . "It's spiritual, physical, intellectual, aesthetic, sensual. I feel tied to the basic process of life."

I know what she means. Although I'm a garden-less city-dweller, I recently spent a day harvesting spinach, lettuce and carrots in the greenhouse at the Stone Barns Farm (above) in Tarrytown, NY. There was something very novel and satisfying about gently pulling a carrot out of the silty earth, dusting off the soil and eating it right away. The farm supplies the on-site restaurant, Blue Hill Stone Barns, with fresh produce for its highly crafted cuisine.

Maybe Blue Hill chef Dan Barber should start thinking about a new gig as White House chef?

Short, but so, so sweet

2008-11-04T08:36:00.000+02:00

News just in from Three Potato Four is that they have an adorable collection of vintage kids' chairs available for sale.

Other unmissables for kids at this fantastic online store include this stitch-it-yourself Raccoon called Clauss...

And the little blue eyed bunny from Shinzi Katoh, which makes my knees feel fair weak!

Semigood Design

2008-11-03T19:30:00.000+02:00

Seattle based design company Semigood Design makes beautiful things, and I'm particularly taken by their Rian Collection of cantilevered stools, desks and tables.

Semigood is run on ethical and environmental principals, using sustainably-grown wood source in nearby states, so that transportation costs are reduced.

Their furniture is handmade, using the best materials, and it's built to last, which is pretty unusual these days. This is what the guys at Semigood Design say about it: "Heirloom quality products with multi-generational lifespans are the best way to save resources and reduce environmental footprints."

Sounds to me like they should think of changing their name to Whollygood!

Decisions, decisions

2008-10-30T19:23:00.006+02:00

Can't, for the life of you, decide on a colour scheme for your living room? There's only one solution: get your hands on the simply brilliant Rubitone (Rubik's + Pantone). Inspired colour mixes guaranteed!
Via: What's blogging my view

Cast & Crew

2008-10-30T07:04:00.003+02:00

Artist Alex Hamilton's exhibition of 1000 stencil portraits of international and local icons of popular culture opens next week on Wednesday.

Read more about the Cast & Crew show at Alex Hamilton's website. We'll be there because the show includes a portrait of ELLE DECORATION's iconic editor, Karen Roos!

Report from NYC: Boo!

2008-10-29T08:31:00.001+02:00

There is some sca-a-ry Halloween-themed décor around and if you live in the holiday-obsessed US of A, you'll know exactly what I mean. So I’ve been scouring the Web for unusually creepy décor for the Halloween party I’m not having.

My invitations would go out on this wonderful ‘Special Bites’ print, by Matt Cipov, and my guests would be greeted at the door by this bewitching wreath from Plumparty.

A creepy tone would be set by my dark and bizarre table centerpiece, which includes a black rose bouquet from Target, surrounded by a few black crows made with real feathers.

But the piece de resistance at the center of the table would be -- hold your stomach -- this alligator specimen, which I found on Etsy's Cabinet of Curiosities. (I have to say, this strange collection of items on Etsy began to creep me out for real.)

Around the table I'd intersperse some of these creepy colour-changing Dark Secret goblet candles with a skull tea light or two.

Time for a pre-dinner drink? How about a glass of merlot from a Black Diamond wine glass, or you might prefer a cocktail from the skull shaker, served in a raven acrylic tumbler (all from that emporium of high design again -- you guessed it, Target).

Dinner, of course, would be prepared and served with Tord Boontje's Witches' Kitchen set of cooking and serving utensils, recently launched by Artecnica. Creepy it may be, but it's all so very ethically right-on, having been handcrafted by artisans in South American countries, that we might even end up eating vegetarian!

And what would the mistress of the night be wearing? How about this rare Victorian mourning necklace made from vulcanite and jet, teamed with the black rose thorn earrings by Lee Hale, both from Erie Basin.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Scaling the walls, floors, bed...

2008-10-28T07:56:00.000+02:00

Feeling all retro chic and bold? Then get your eyeballs all a-jangle by kitting out your apartment in the full suite of Color Scales accessories - all brand new at Urban Outfitters. You can have the zingiest walls...

...the most hyperactive bedspread around......and a rug that fairly ripples with grooviness underfoot too.

Ashes & Milk

2008-10-27T08:30:00.000+02:00

Despite being a virtual space, Ashes & Milk provides the viewer with a strong sense of being in a quiet place - somewhere to take your time and feel the mood and texture of the exquisite things on offer.

This newly-opened online gallery is all about a reverence for traditional methods, and the belief that the things we bring into our homes should have a soul and a sense of history. Here are some of the things that spoke to me when I visited Ashes & Milk.

These Bamboo Spoons are made by Mori Kowa, master of the Japanese lacquer technique known as Urishi. Each carved spoon is dipped and polished repeatedly, building up the exquisitely smooth lacquer layer over time.

The ceramic Utsuro Ware mug with hollow handle by Taka Suzuki looks more like a sculpture than a household utensil, and just begs to be cupped in your hands.

These illustrated stones - or Pierres Graphiques - are each quite unique, as they're hand decorated by Yoran Morvant. These stones, in a group or just one alone, are perfect contemplative objects.

Visit the Ashes & Milk website to see what catches your eye, and keep up with the gallery's progress and plans by reading the Ashes & Milk blog by owner Nikko Moy.

Styling!

2008-10-24T09:03:00.000+02:00

This is the funnest way to spend an idle hour (or two or three!). Go to Polyvore and play stylist, selecting shoes, dresses, skirts, hats, earrings from a million colour-grouped options, to make up a perfect outfit!

I swear, my To Do list is out of control already, but still I sat glued to Polyvore, happily clicking and dragging together these outfits for Spring, Summer and Autumn. I drew the line at Winter, which I thought showed admirable restraint.

It's not just clothes. Polyvore also allows you to do the same with household items and furniture, from all over the Internet. I didn't dare go anywhere near that section though, but now it's the weekend, so...

Via How about Orange

Fold your own

2008-10-23T07:53:00.002+02:00

You'd be forgiven for mistaking these for origami Christmas decorations, but in fact they're all cardboard chairs for children by Foldschool!

Foldschool is a fun and generous website that enables you to download free templates to make your own stool, chair and rocker for children. The designs are by Swiss architect, designer and bike messenger, Nicola Enrico Stäubli.

In the tough economic times we appear to be expecting, folding your own furniture sounds like hot news!

Report from NYC: Museum roundup

2008-10-22T08:17:00.003+02:00

New York City undergoes a cultural reawakening in the fall. A number of major new exhibitions have opened and some older ones are just coming down. Here are a couple that have caught my attention:

Exhibit A
Over at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, there's a show I'm dying to see, called Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton .

This show is a survey of Peyton's intimate, jewel-toned portraits of well-known musicians and artists over the past 15 years. The New Museum has a wonderful subsection of the website devoted to this exhibit, with an interesting interview with the artist.

Exhibit B
A master of a completely different style and subject matter, Giorgio Morandi, is being featured at the Metropolitan Museum right now.

This is the first comprehensive survey of these calm, contemplative works by "one of the greatest 20th-century masters of still-life and landscape painting in the tradition of Chardin and Cézanne," says the Met's website.

Exhibits C and D
Also on my must-see list are two major exhibits that are drawing huge crowds:

I'll be off to Central Park to see Zaha Hadid's Chanel Contemporary Art Container - a futuristic pavilion housing an exhibition of art inspired by Chanel's emblematic quilted bag.

And now that Van Gogh and the Colours of the Night has opened at the MoMA, I'll be jostling my way through the crowds to stand aghast before his fabled Starry Night.

With the weather getting chillier and more blustery as we inch our way into winter here in NYC, it's just as well there's all this fantastic art to keep me indoors.

A Plate a Week

2008-10-20T18:36:00.011+02:00

Yesterday I stumbled upon a fabulous project called A Plate A Week.

Every Sunday, since July this year, the super talented Mignon Khargie has been documenting the plates that she makes. Some are experiments with glazes, some are hand painted, and others are handbuilt, but all of them are fabulous! I've chosen a couple of my favourites to show you here, but visit A Plate a Week to find yours.

And that's not enough ceramics bliss for you today, take a visit to (one of) Mignon's other websites, A Plate a Day, to check out the plates that she finds inspiring.

via Design for Mankind

WeMade it right

2008-10-20T08:56:00.000+02:00

I'm so impressed with both the products and the concept behind WeMade. This design outfit was started by two Dutch designers who work with crafters in Java to develop beautiful, stylish fashion and home accessories that fit with Western shoppers' tastes while still communicating the flavour and feel of Indonesia.

These Bambuster Vases of pressed bamboo have gorgeous colourful belts made with a traditional Indonesian style of crochet.

These pressed bamboo boards have traditional Indonesian patterns cut out by hand, while the holes punched in the hammered copper Listrik Lamp (below) cast beautiful shadows when lit.

Read more about the things designed and sold by WeMade right here.

Via The Style Files

Revo glass

2008-10-17T08:38:00.000+02:00

Just loving this blown glass fruit, available for sale from Revo Studio. Mmm, delicious.

Exhibition: Periphery

2008-10-16T08:47:00.005+02:00

I'm looking forward to seeing the joint show by Cape Town artists, Gabrielle Raaff and Tamsyn Lancaster, opening at These Four Walls in Observatory on Friday 17 October.

Gabrielle Raaff (above) uses the traditional medium of watercolour on paper, as well as technology like Google Earth, to explore contemporary urban experiences, reflecting on issues of intimacy and isolation within the urban environment.

Tamsyn Lancaster's paintings draw attention to the animals present in our urban environment, using them as a means of noticing in amongst the bombardment of sensory stimulation in our urban settings.

The show is entitled Periphery: observations of urban life in paint, and is open until 7 November. See more details at the gallery website.