Amsterdam based designer Kate Hume has been working in the design world for twenty years – from fashion to film sets and interiors in Europe and the USA. An enduring interest in glass as a medium led to the design and production of a small collection of unique pieces in 1999.
Hume’s collection of mouth-blown pieces has gradually expanded to incorporate over fifty basic forms. Most of the pieces are designed to form ‘still lives’ and are presented in complimentary groups.
My favourite collection is the Gem collection. The designer has added trails of clear glass to the basic vessel shapes almost at random. The glass is then cut and polished to represent the crystalline magic of minerals and precious stones. Also the beautiful colours are gem inspired: rose quartz, amethyst, and ruby, pyrite, cinnabar and aquamarine. Visit Kate’s website for more information and to see all her gorgeous collections.
I can truly enjoy well-designed packaging material. Take for instance these gorgeous wine containers. They are not only good looking but are eco-friendly as well!
The Boisset family, with its roots in Burgundy, France, has been making quality wine for two generations. Their label French rabbit was born out of a passion for delicious wine and respect for the earth. The grapes for the wines are sourced through sustainable farming in the sunny vineyards of Languedoc Roussillion region in southern France. French rabbit is committed to the environment at every stage of the life-cycle of their wines. Their Tetra-Prisma containers are 100% recyclable and take less energy to produce, transport and recycle. The containers reduce packaging by 90% in comparison to typical glass wine bottles. More information on the French rabbit wines can be found on their website.
Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a very happy holiday. I will be around for a post every now and then but will resume regular posting on 2nd January.
Click here to see a very sweet & stylish holiday greeting from UK design firm One Point Oh.
(via Oh Joy!)
Raffi is a life style brand that was founded in 2001 by designer Maarten Vrolijk and interior architect Age Jan Mulder. The Amsterdam based design company carries a broad collection of wall paper, fabrics, stationary and home accessories. All of Raffi’s designs are inspired by nature. My favourite design in their collection are the interior stickers. Click here to go to their website where you can see all the Raffi products.
MeS Textiles is a Dutch design company by Marlies Spaan. Marlies creates wonderful patch work pillows and plaids which are available in different sizes upon request.
Mes Textiles also carries a collection of furniture. These gorgeous silkscreen printed cupboards are made from birch plywood. For more information you can contact Marlies at marliesspaan@mes.nl. Click here to see the rest of the collection.
Earlier this week I posted about The Rug Company’s collaboration with many famous designers. One of the designers is Paul Smith. Not only has he created some gorgeous rugs for The Rug Company, he also designed this beautiful wall hanging. Check out The Rug Company’s website for more information and to see the rest of their collection.
In these grey and wet days without any sunshine (at least in this part of the world), I have a strong urge to post about sundecks (see yesterday’s post about Gandia Blasco’s gorgeous sundecks) and tropical places. These photo’s of Hotel Azucar make me want to jump on the next plane to Mexico! This great little hotel in San Rafael, Mexico, has 20 bungalows, each with a private terrace and a hammock. The interior is basic but very stylish. Much of the furniture is made of driftwood that was collected on the beach. The hotel’s rustic decor can give you lot of ideas on how to use natural resources in your home.
I can already picture myself in that hammock! Check out the hotel’s very cute website for more photos and information.
Although winter has just started in this part of the world, and summer is far away, I can already picture myself lying on one of these gorgeous sundecks from Gandia Blasco. This Spanish company carries a great line of outdoor furniture and accessories. You can find their extensive collection on their website. All I have to do is wait for those lazy summer days!
When I moved into my current house, I couldn’t find the right lamp for my bathroom. After a while I didn’t even notice the bare light bulb hanging in my bathroom. Do you recognise this? Studio Ditte has found a great solution.
Light sheet is a lampshade that hangs directly on the light bulb. The lampshade consists of a plastic board which has small holes in a flower pattern. The light comes out through these holes, which creates a special light effect. Light Sheet is delivered broadsheet and can be folded into a lampshade in no time. Isn’t this a great and cheap solution? Click here to see Studio Ditte’s full collection.
The Rug Company works together with well known designers to create the most gorgeous rugs. The UK based company features an extensive list of designers from Diane von Furstenberg and Paul Smith to Matthew Williamson and Vivienne Westwood, each offering gorgeous designs in their own signature style. Christopher Sharp, founder of The Rug Company, says that quality is key. “Every rug we offer is a unique creation. All are made by hand; nothing that we do is mass produced ore standard”.
In 1997 Sharp, then a video editor, and his interior designer wife, Suzanne, started selling antique and traditional oriental rugs. They decided to invite ten interior designers to work on a contemporary collection and its launch was an instant success.
Rug Swirl, featured in the top photo, is by the hand of Paul Smith. Diane von Furstenberg is the designer of the Tribal Diamond rug, made from Tibetan wool.
My personal favourite is this gorgeous rug designed by Matthew Williamson. The rug’s beautiful colours mix very well with that wooden cabinet. On the Rug Company’s website you can browse through their extensive collection and choose your favourite design.
