MAYAS BED BY THOMAS FEICHTNER

Many designers get their inspiration from their past, and this applies to Thomas Feichtner too. He described his sculptural Mayas bed - designed for the Hirschgasse 17 Pixel in the Pixel Hotel - as 'a flower with petals' and drew parallels to the children’s TV series 'Maya the Bee' from his childhood years during the seventies. The bed is high off the ground by conventional standards (1 meter) and offers a cozy retreat for one to curl up to sleep, just like the protagonist in the animated series. This was the most beautiful and quietest place Feichtner could imagine in those days.


KUS

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TURNING SPILLS INTO POETRY

Kristine Bjaadal’s Underfull Tablecloth seems to encourage the spilling of wines and juices over the table, making for an 'incidental' visual treat: “where this person usually feels clumsy and embarrassed, he will now feel fortunate. An everyday negative situation is turned into a positive experience.”

Stan

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LAKE HOUSE BY BERCY CHEN STUDIO

We think it's apt to call this a space within a space. Bercy Chen Studio expertly turned one section on the second storey of this luxury lake house - situated on a peninsula fronting Lake Austin - into a cozy study and lounging area with the use of warm timber strip panelings and by paying attention to details and lighting.

The result is a space which seemingly transports the occupant into another realm within but yet ties in with the rest of the architecture.

Stan

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EXPLODE AND COLLAPSE!

Inga Sempé has been leaving a deep impression upon us with her innovative lamps for quite some time. We are particularly in love with the Double Stray and Plissé lamps.

We're not quite sure about its actual function, but the Lazy chair successfully marries toys and furniture to an amusing result. Every now and then the chair amazingly stands up before collapsing again some moments later. Seems like it's not that lazy afterall.

In order to reinterpret the classic chandelier, designer Patrick Fredrickson decided to 'explode' his Pandora chandelier, where the form of the chandelier is constantly destroyed and recreated through movement generated by computer-controlled servo motors. The 1,990 Swarovski crystals are initially suspended in the form of a recognizable chandelier, before slowly erupting into controlled chaos.

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LIVE-IN BY NATHALIE WOLBERG

Conventions obviously don't sit too well in this compact 40 meter square extension to her own home, but architect Nathalie Wolberg carefully considered some major dimensions in order to create a coherent framework in her personal experimental undertaking:

• an emotional dimension that meets the needs stemming from the individual’s personality;
• an erotic dimension that satisfies cravings generated by his/her desires and passions;
• a prosthetic dimension that meets the needs rooted in deficiencies and pathologies.

It's described as a multipurpose haven that changes skins. Movable partitions are deployed throughout the day and sometimes mutate into furniture according to the needs and mood of its occupants. An adjustable foam seating unit covered in felt slides in and out to varying sizes, offering much flexibility and adaptability.



Stan

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SER BED BY ZIFT DESIGN WORKSHOP

From Zift Design Workshop in Istanbul comes this Ser bed which is composed of refined lines that reflect the continuity of life. The design team is concerned with design which is shaped by fresh and creative ideas, is equipped with production consciousness and focuses on human and nature.


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LATELY ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Another week has gone by in a flash and here's a look at a couple of interesting finds over on our Facebook Group page.

I love stuff like that. Nothing that looks too serious, just pure fun and humor!

The Coil lamp "reduces the iconic table lamp down to the absolute minimum of defining elements."

The stone walls gave the interiors of this resort home in Thailand a cave-like atmosphere. Now that's on a positive note...
While I'm skeptical about the sturdiness of these wooden chairs, this series wins top marks for creativity and artistic progression.

I've always been finding the opportunity to do something like this but I'm guessing my clients aren't too enthusiastic at the possibility of consuming chalk powder!

Your kitty will thank you for this.

The Hex chair and ottoman is indebted to the timeless geometry of nature.

Not only do these walls made of books save the environment, they easily breathe an unique sense of style into the interior. Don't you think so?


Stan

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HOME REJUVENATED!

It's a common perception that an all-white interior makes for a sterile living environment. But it doesn't have to be this way. A white-on-white scheme can be equally warm and inviting. The key objective in this Tampines home was matching the client's desire for an exquisite all-white interior with my own design philosophy – I had wanted to introduce textural diversity and make it very rich material-wise.

Living area - after

Living area - before

In the main living area, for example, patterned fabrics are paired with gleaming white marble, glossy furniture and frosted glass. Shades of white and a dosh of neutral taupe (in the sofa and wallpaper at the TV area) were combined to achieve a layered look. Elsewhere, subtle white wood offsets the shiny glass altar and sleek leather banquette seating. Mirrors and greenery add further visual interest.

Dining/ altar areas - before

Dining/ altar areas - after

The Home Rejuvenation program here wasn't solely about decoration though. The original layout was tweaked to make the hall light and airy and bring plenty of light into the kitchen - dividing walls forming the original storeroom outside the kitchen were demolished and frosted glass sliding doors were installed at the newly-enlarged kitchen entry. Inside the kitchen, glossy white doors complement the off-white tiles to form a clean-looking cooking space, conjuring up images in this designer of all the healthy dishes that come right out from here!

Kitchen - before

Kitchen - after

In keeping with the material palette, the all-white scheme extends to the family (piano) room as well as the master suite. The idea for these rooms is for the spaces to exude a quiet elegance that helps relax the mind, which explains why subtle-patterned wallpaper and clean white wood and leather finishes were utilized.

Family area - before

Family (piano) area - after

Master bedroom - before

Master bedroom - after

Stan

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DIY PIXELATED PAINTING

Every now and then, we'll come across some DIY projects that will really make our hearts flutter. The same feeling returned when we discovered this pixilated Lincoln painting as showcased on the ever brilliant Apartment Therapy. The monochromatic portrait was done by pixelating a photo and filling in the small squares that were divided up with different shades of grays.


Stan

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TELLING THE DIFFERENCE

You walk into your friend's new home and was immediately blown away by the Swan chair sitting handsomely by the window. But wait! Something's not right about it, you think, but you just can't pinpoint what...

Yes, your hunch could be right afterall.

With an influx of cheap imitations of designer furniture into the market over the past decade or so, it's too easy for consumers who did not do their homework properly to be misled into thinking the pieces they got are the real McCoys.

Frederik Moller, vice president at Fritz Hansen tells us how to distinguish between the authentic and the fakes by noting the following points:

- There are usually specific procedures and methods in the production of designer furniture. Because of these limitations, the finished product only comes in a certain size and material. Shoppers should always research on past product releases to ascertain these colors and materials to avoid being cheated.

- Details are difficult to imitate. The edges of an authentic designer chair are commonly worked on manually, so they should be smooth to the touch. Pay special attention also to the joint between the chair body and the legs or base, which is often located underneath. Manufacturers of imitated furniture aren't usually attentive to minor details and hence a comparison between an authentic chair and a fake one will reveal these joints to be less secure and more prone to cracks.

Now here's the embarassing bit - Moller once discovered many imitated Egg chairs in a restaurant at the Singapore Changi airport during one of his business trips here. Two short months later on another trip, he noticed how the fabrics used for those chairs discolored and the seats deformed from heavy usage. The moral of the story is that a genuine designer chair, other than offering a timeless aesthetic appeal, can withstand wear and tear much better.


Stan

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WISHBONE CHAIRS IN POP COLORS

Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair has always been known as an understated work of simplicity and comfort, its graceful shape hinting at both East Asian design and modernist ideals. Now, it even incorporates a fun pop element to it!

Stan

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HOME REJUVENATED!

A more solid, warm ambience for the living room is desired in this 5-room HDB apartment located in Pasir Ris. In keeping with the tropical feel, oak timber floor boards replaced the cold, hard ceramic floor tiles. A visually interesting timber strip laminate was introduced as an accent material to emphasize the theme.

To add a twist to an otherwise bland 'modern tropical' look, it was decided to play with onlookers' visual experience by experimenting with irregularity. Conflicting lines of perspective create - orchestrated - chaos and add an element of unpredictability to the space. I also like to think that this move would help to 'soften' the room visually and balance the more geometric elements.

Modern looking timber furniture with an Asian flair and oriental art accessories lent the finishing touch to the design.

Living area - after



Living area - before

Study area - before

Study area - after

Stan

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