Marbleous wood

Marbelous Wood challenges the way we use wood in our built environment, where function and aesthetics work together in new ways.

Pernille Snedker Hansen has repurposed an old marbling technique giving wood a supernatural, organic, colorful and vibrant pattern.  The outcome is a beautiful coloured marble pattern which loosely references a tree's natural growth rings.

Capri Tiberio Palace

Heaven is a place on earth! The beautifully designed hotel Capri Tibiero Palace in the island of Capri come pretty close to it! The 'restyling' was conceived by interior designer Giampiero Panepinto.

The overall character is typical Capri Riviera of the 50’s with peroxide blondes and mint juleps circulating everywhere. The hotel has a great calmness and joy of luxury through its design, where neutral pallets are combined with vibrant upholsteries to rejuvenate and excite. Upon arrival you are instantly overwhelmed with the comfort of it all. Greeted by a lobby consisting of three gold-leaf coated ‘stands’ and a ‘Buffa’ remake vintage design desk from the 40’s acting as a reception desk,  you can’t help but appreciate the delicate detailing. Large openings allow for ample daylight to scatter through the interiors while merging the outside in relationship.

 

Gorgeous patterns and neutral colour palettes cover the walls and floors. Sophia Lauren's portraits are also a feature that send you back into another era of silver screen sirens and  'mad men'. One little thing that could be looked at, only to suit the restyles look and class of the hotel, if the branding. The website is very average in comparison to the stylish and elegant new look of the hotel. For me, it's the very small details, that could make the complete project look considered and revamped, as opposed to an after-thought. Something minimal and elegant with the same powder blue, ochre and coral colour palettes, taking inspiration from the nature inspired textile which were exclusively produced for the hotel by Dedar & Limonta, could make a pop in your mind's eye. Enjoy!

Via Yatzer.

On your marks...

Centauro is a concept sport store in Sao Paolo designed by AUM Arquitetos. The idea revolves around a race track which is a strong graphic and recognizable element. The red track spreads through the store moving from the lower to upper floor, becoming the staircase, counter and lining the floor, ceiling and walls, acting as a corporate identification element of the brand. Sexy, glossy and graphic!

X Libreria

X Libreria is the 'X' shaped flat-packed bookshelf by AIS Design studio, who I've previously posted about here. This is a small clip showing how the bookshelf is assembled, easy as ABC. It comes in various finished, this is the Natural Plywood finish, but I've also seen in glossy Black and it is slick!

Godiva's dripping interiors

Godiva Chocolatier is one of the most elegant Belgian hand crafted chocolate brands in the world, founded back in 1926.  The identity of the brand is perfectly reflected in interior of their Japanese store, designed by Wonderwall Architects, which features dripping and melting ceilings and wall. The shop keeps a primarily classical interior otherwise, with the dripping ceiling giving it a modern and cartoon-like twist.

( Thanks to Andreas for the tip, via Nhit-shis.)

Level Green

Back in 2009, Berlin architects J. Mayer H. designed a permanent exhibition on sustainability for Volks Wagon's Autostadt visitor attraction at their Wolfsburg factory. Below you can see the inspiration is the green recycle symbol which grew and evolved into this overwhelming, futuristic looking exhibition space, keeping the colour pallette green and black.

The group's portfolio features flowing, futuristic shapes from urban and commercial projects to objects and installations. See their site here.
Via Dezeen

Shoe chandelier

Designers Peter Pracilio and Oscar Lopez have taken inspiration straight from the urban landscape and designed these hanging sneakers Shoe Chandelier. Sneakers hanging from power lines are an urban symbol of someone who's died, gang marking territory or bullies throwing someone's shoes where they can't reach them. You can read more about shoe-tossing here.

Room 606

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Arne Jacobsen’s SAS House in Copenhagen, now the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Room 606 is the last remaining interior of Arne Jacobsen’s masterpiece, carefully preserved and remains identical to Jacobsen’s original commission. Phaidon has released a book titled Room 606, examines the only preserved room in detail, from the custom fabrics used to the woodwork and furnishings. 

Welcome mat

Although welcome mats are really rough and intended for outdoor use, I love the effect of so many put together to make a graphic mosaic of 'welcomes'. Maybe for an office or retail..not at home where you may want to kick off your shoes or even sit on the floor, this could cause some serious carpet burn.

Studio Spotlight: The Apartment

The perfect marriage between architecture, interior design and graphic design, The Apartment are a case study proving multi-disciplinary studios (or at least a close collaboration between these three forms of design) create work which is stronger and more sound, particularly in a commercial space. Some exciting project in the NYC-based studios portfolio include a conversion from the first YMCA basketball court to a 5-bed heaven. The project included custom designed wallpapers and furniture, graphic neon colours, original flooring and a disco-ball!!

Below are pics from a spa called Yelo, The Apt are responsible for the naming, branding, architecture and marketing of the whole project, the result being a completely synergetic project.

I cannot express enough, my absolute LUST for this NYC residence. Great open plan layout, large windows with city views, antique and modern furniture, great big bookshelves, natural wood and stone combined with glossy glass and plastics. The best bit is the ceiling mural in the bathroom of a tiger. Just plain sexy!