The Birdman Furniture collection, designed by Frans van der Heyden, comprises a range of hand crafted oak furniture, from tables, seating, lighting to accessory components. The collection, which is produced in The Netherlands, has a consistent theme of balance and proportion. As a well-known Dutch film director and photographer, Van der Heyden has always been exposed to the design world. Some years ago he was unable to find a square dining table – so he designed and made one himself. With it’s crossed, solid-oak legs and square top, Van der Heyden’s Metro table has since been a design icon.
The designer is inspired by the simplicity of early 20th century Dutch furniture, combined with rigor of mid-century architecture, yet he imbues each of his designs with a singularly modern identity.
Van der Heyden: “I’m fascinated by the timelessness that certain design expose, and I love furniture that has had a life before, vintage pieces that function well in combination with contemporary design. My furniture is modern in both design and execution, and yet maintains a simple luxury and is able to communicate with the better pieces from any period”.
Birdman Furniture is available worldwide through sixty retailers and showrooms. You can find their distribution network on the Birdman website.
If you still don’t know what to give your friends and family for Christmas, perhaps a colourful design from the Missoni Home Collection will make a nice gift!
Missoni, famous for their colorful patterns and stripes, is a Milan-based fashion house in Italy founded by Rosita and Ottavio Missoni. The couple started out as a small family-owned store. Later on, their three children joined the family business. Their lines expanded when Ottavio Missoni began to design carpets and tapestries, but they still retain their trademark, which is colourful patterns, stripes, and liberal use of many different fabrics.
Their Home Collection comprises of bed linen, towels, table linens, fabrics, pillows, bathrobes and rugs. The gorgeous colours and patterns with multi-optical effects are created by the overlaying of fabrics to form a layered rainbow of vibrant effects. The Missoni products are sold worl-wide, check out their website to find a retailer near you.
I absolutely love the wallpaper in Chloë Sevigny’s home which is featured in the January issue of House & Garden. Chloë’s hallway walls are covered with Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis paper. Check out the House & Garden website to see more photo’s of Chloë’s gorgeous house.
(via Design*Sponge)
When I was in Singapore last year I noticed that among the many, many (standard) hotels there were very few innovative design hotels. This has changed with the New Majestic Hotel opening it’s doors earlier this year.
This fabulous hotel, located in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown, has 30 individually designed rooms in which vintage fittings are mixed with designer furniture by prominent local designers. All rooms have customized baths, and can include private gardens. Additionally, the hotel features original artworks from emerging Singapore artists which have been cleverly integrated into the rooms’ design.
Also the hotel’s restaurant is worth a visit with award-winning chef Yong Bing Ngen pairing modern Cantonese cuisine with some of Singapore’s best wines. Click here to see more of this beautiful hotel.
Earlier this week Marike’s elegant bathroom designs were featured on the style files. I love the sober colours of these designs. If you prefer more colour in your bathroom, you should definitely check out these tiles from UK designer Dominic Crinson.
Crinson combines the ancient art of ceramic tile decoration with the latest innovation in print technology. Their colourful wall tiles can been used in numerous locations from domestic kitchens & bathrooms to bars, restaurants, swimming pools, hotels, spas and health clubs. Fired to high temperatures, the tiles are hard wearing and can be installed and maintained in the usual way using ordinary grouts and cleaners.
Dominic Crinson: “Through my designs I aim to challenge consumers not to simply follow the latest trend by to allow themselves to have confidence in their own design choices and emotionally connect with their true style. I aim to foster styles that are more relaxed, playful and individual in nature”. Browse the extensive catalogue to see Crinson’s gorgeous tile designs.
Studio Ditte is a young design agency based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. This Dutch agency is specialized in concept development and product design. Their goal is to add something to the user’s perception of the environment by giving everyday life an extra touch. A hidden story, an element from another culture or a twist that makes you think about things.
Studio Ditte’s Sampling China collection uses elements of Chinese culture as inspiration for its collection. By mixing different cultural bits and bytes, interesting new products can be created. Part of the Sampling China collection is bookcase Kwan (Chinese for stick). This bookcase has been inspired by the way laundry is dried in China: on horizontal sticks hanging from the window. The wooden cabinet is white in order to show off your books. This way the bookcase, available in a standing and a hanging version, will be an eye-catcher in your living room. Contact Studio Ditte for retail information and to see the full collection.
Elegant, clean lines, serene, pure. Those are a few characteristics that I think a bathroom should have. The sanitary products by Marike come very close to my picture of the perfect bathroom.
Marike Europe is a Dutch company, established in 2003 by designer Marike Andeweg. Andeweg has studied Industrial Design and Engineering in The Hague and has worked for several years at the product development department of the Dutch furniture manufacturer Pastoe. The Dutch designer describes herself as sober mindedness, down-to-earth, pure Dutch. With a revolutionary vision, she approaches design and function in a refreshing and different way. She had her breakthrough with the spectacular ‘Well’ bath, which won the prestigious iF Design award in 2005. Since then the brand has grown to an international operating company. In 2007 Marike won two more iF Design Awards.
In three years time Marike has developed a large collection of sanitary products that can create a sphere of simple elegance. The characteristics of her designs are simplicity, pure shapes and varied structures. All products live up to Marike’s motto: “Enjoy the simplicity”. Check out Marike’s website to see all her stunning designs. Available in Europe only, hopefully Marike’s gorgeous collections will become available to the rest of the world soon.
The last post in the Gift Guide series features gift suggestions in the price range up to €250 (US$ 310). So if you would like to splurge on your friends & family, check out these gift ideas! You can find less expensive gifts in the earlier posts: Gift Ideas for Friends (€ 0 – 50) and Gift Ideas for GOOD Friends (€ 50 – 100).
First row, from left to right:
• Fleur Vase set by LightenUp! Designs (€88/$125, at Rare Device)
• Fatboy Marimekko (at Nonplusultra for €245 and at Modernseed for $299)
• Tonfisk Tea Set with tray (€169/$239, at peekkeep)
• Retro style radio (€70/$87, at Nonplusultra)
• Vlieger & Van Dam Guardian Angel bag (€179/$223, at Vlieger & Van Dam)
Second row, from left to right:
• Clock Wooden (€150/$187, at Nonplusultra)
• Lucy candle holder by Marcel Wander (€159/$198, at vivid)
• Teardrop Bottle vase by Sara Paloma (€77/$109, at Relish)
• Candleholder Tenochtitlan Driadekosmo (€139/$173, at Questo Design)
First row, from left to right:
• Tudor vase by Feinedinge (€120/$150, at Feinedinge)
• Sponge Vase by Marcel Wanders (€126/$157, at poaa)
• Silver ring by Corina Rietveld (€115/$143, at Corina Rietveld)
• Story Line book shelf by Studio Frederik Roijé (€189/$235, at poaa)
Second row, from left to right:
• Laptop bag by Ineke Hans (€199/$248, at Vivid)
• Leather City Bag (€239/$298, at Herzallerliebst)
• Fold Table Light (€199/$248, at poaa)
• 13 Shot Glasses (€91/$129, at Generate)
Check out these lights from Brunklaus Amsterdam! Aren’t they gorgeous? Light Delight (top photo) is available in two sizes, the Shady Tree light is available in three sizes. Both designs come in various colors.
Brunklaus Amsterdam was founded in 1998 by Nicolette Brunklaus. At first she was selling her designs via mail order. But soon the Dutch designer found herself selling wholesale to a national and international market. Nevertheless, the designs have always maintained a strong specific personal signature.
Brunklaus’ inspiration comes from imagery, scenes and stories, in which freedom of choice is essential. Brunklaus: “There will always be those who want to express their individuality and search for inimitable, unique products”. Brunklaus Amsterdam’s philosophy is that not only the quality of the object is vital, but it also needs to be a piece of art that enhances the surrounding space. Visit their website to see their complete collection. For information on retailers you contact their office at info@brunklaus.nl.
The last post in the Spotlight series about designer Patricia Urquilola features her Damasco table. This gorgeous table that she designed for French company Artelano is available in four variations: a coffee table, a round dinning table, a square dining table and an expandable dinning table. Damask fabric patterns are combined with Asian silkscreen illustrations to create an beautiful lacquered-inlay table. The tables are made of wenge stained oak and have a lacquered inlay available in white or grey. More information can be found on Artelano’s website.
