PRODUCTS FROM MOCA

New Belgian design label Moca sent us some of their beautiful products this afternoon. Here are some that caught our eyes.

The Cross 50 side table comes in round or square, the base is painted white. The tabletop is available in red, blue and slate grey.

The low profile Cover coffee table is made of stainless steel and is available in a variety of colors. This table features a rugged design with a focus on practicality. The thin steel and chromed legs give the table a strong, yet fluid look.

This fun and functional Seal ottoman is available topped with felt or faux leather. The bottom comes in a variety of trendy colors. This piece gets its strong contrast due to its white top and colorful base.

Thanks to its simplicity, this Cubic chair is a welcome addition to any room. It is available with or without armrests and comes in a variety of colors. This chair is available in a high quality fabric or leather .

With the Cubic Stool you design your room any way you like. The Cubic Stool is not only a beautiful companion to the Cubic Chair, but a multifunctional piece of furniture that can be used on its own, fitting all interiors.

The colorful Framed buffet stands lovely in a room. All the boxes are at different levels, the frame seems to keep all boxes together but doesn't succeed. This, in combination with the colors, is the eye catcher of the concept. The end result is a rigid designed sideboard with a pleasant character. Framed is available in 4 basic forms and is for sale in specialized design shops.


KUS

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THE WILD SIDE OF INTERIOR DESIGN

No guests to your home will ever remember your beige suede sofa, but a slinky leopard-print armchair will stick around in their mind far longer than you can imagine. Yes, animal prints are totally attention-grabbing, and that's probably why many people love them.

Mark English Architects

Bisazza

Like anything else, there are classy and trashy ways to incorporate animal prints into the home. Just don't let those silly critics cloud your judgment. The general idea is not to bring the safari into your home (we know everyone has a wild side), but use these prints as a mean to accentuate certain spots in a room. The patterns can range from playful to luxurious, and its attention-grabbing pattern enhances just any decor style.

Artistic Tile

Create H

Stan

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MISTIQUE RESORT IN SANTORINI, GREECE

Mention Greece and images of sun, blue seas and surf would inadvertently come to mind. The people behind the luxurious Mystique Resort sure know how to portray a picturesque Santorini to their guests.

The 18 suites and villas, housed in a landscape of more than 2000 square meters, provide a sensorial experience of Santorini in an understated yet elegant setting. All accommodation here is painstakingly handcrafted from local stone, wood and glass. Enticing patterns carved into the walls provide an unique visual interest. And that plunge pool is almost a dream.

But of course, the main draw is the panoramic view of the ocean. I'm packing my bags right away!

KUS

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SCUM CHAIR BY HANNES HARMS

Nowadays, a piece of cardboard and a can of expanding foam is all you need to create a chair. Well, that's if you don't mind there's a high possibility it might not turn out looking very nice under your hands...

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Stan

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THE REAL MEANING OF LUXURY

Luxury. Each of us has our own idea of what that term means, although it is often synonymous with the word expensive. But in the past decade, its definition is becoming more abstract. The concept of sumptuous living extends far beyond a house's size, its price per square foot or the amount of money spent on costly marble or designer furniture within the house.

Luxury provides one with an experience in life that he or she has never ever imagined. It also meets one's expectation for a better life, make no mistake about it. A beautifully-crafted kitchen, finished in high-quality materials and equipped with fine appliances or fixtures, re-defines your conventional concept of a food preparation space and brings about a culinary delight when you are inside. A well-designed bathroom fitted with exclusive faucets and shower set isn't just an area to cleanse the body - it also rejuvenates the soul. Luxury is not a means of showing off, if it brings joy and pleasure to our lives.

And if you are buying luxury because of some 'smart' marketing or peer pressure, good luck.


Stan

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WAVE FROM ARTCERAM

Make art - even in the bathroom. That appears to be the idea behind the design of this unique basin. But the people at ArtCeram surely didn't forget the word function. In one flowing sweep, this sculptural looker manages to squeeze in a mirror cabinet, house a tap and incorporate a wash basin while hiding whatever you don't want to see below. Neat...

Stan

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FRACTALES LAMP BY DARIO STANZIANO AND BATTI

A sewn lamp? You must be kidding. But no, it's not a joke. From designer Dario Stanziano and Batti came these textile pendant lamps which combine fine tailoring with mathematical concepts, establishing "an intrinsic relationship between user and the context in which they are used".

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KUS

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'DESIGNER TALKS HOME' INTERVIEW SERIES: MICHAEL PARKS

This week, up-and-coming designer Michael Parks tells us about his design passion and thoughts on what makes the ideal dwelling.

What drew you to the architectural and design industry? Is that original fascination still alive within you today?

I was drawn to architecture and design very organically. My love of architecture actually began as a child in Washington, D.C. where I played in a house designed by modern architect, Richard Neutra. I loved the spacious openness, bold lines and floor to ceiling glass, which were in direct contrast to the prevailing colonial and traditional architecture of Washington, D.C. Later in life, just for my own enjoyment, I would take walks in various cities and countries, searching out houses by the great modernists, not realizing I would someday be putting this inspiration to use.



Tell us about your typical day (at work and at home).

Fortunately or unfortunately, there is nothing typical about a typical day. If, for example, I am in the initial design phase of a project, my day can range from spending hours in front of my computer working with AutoCAD and Max3ds, creating plans and 3D models, to running across town to look at design materials, trips to the permit office, the actual site or meeting with a client. When possible, I love to go out in the evenings to experience things that I hope will inspire me such as art, music, food, film, theatre, sports, etc.




In your opinion, what are the key challenges in designing a residence?

I find that the creative design phase is the easiest and often most enjoyable part of the process. I have found that many of the challenges tend to be site specific. If, for example, you are working on a hillside property, there are numerous codes, rules & regulations that you do not have when working on a flat parcel of land. These will usually effect the layout and design of the house. In addition, there are many challenges that can result in budget issues if not addressed early. Things such as proper drainage systems, crane and equipment truck access and material back orders. The list can be long. This is why good advance work can be your biggest ally. Another challenge that many architects and designers must learn effective ways to manage is helping the client to make quick, acceptable and budget conscious decisions when it comes to materials, finishes, appliances, etc.

Tell us about your own home.

My wife and I live in Los Angeles in a Hollywood Hills house that is completely remodeled. Originally a run down dwelling with an abundance of problems including severe dry rot and termite damage to every area of the wood - post and beam-built house; windows that did not connect with their frames; a poor floor plan with little worthwhile usable space and only one proper bedroom; a kitchen where I actually put my foot through the rotted floor; poor ventilation with no insulation and an oddly shaped lot coupled with difficult hillside conditions I transformed it into a forward-thinking, open, airy and inviting modern architectural home that I believe accomplishes the rare feat of combining a minimalist aesthetic with both comfort and hip, understated luxury. We are thrilled with the final result and present it often when showcasing of my work.




As an architect/ designer, what do you think defines an inviting home?

A home should be an oasis for those that live in it. Most days, whether at work or in our daily activities, we are faced with often unavoidable pressures and stress. What I believe defines an inviting home is one that allows people to relax and rejuvenate. To achieve this I always try to design with a few basic principles: create warmth, open space and architecture that, like art, people will have a positive emotional reaction to and that will enrich their lives. I like the idea of changing the notion of a house from simple functionality into a place that enhances not only their quality of life but their mood and general state of happiness.

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THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RUG PLACEMENT

Now that you have finally settled on that perfect sofa, it's time to find a matching rug to go with it.

If you are currently in the market for a new piece of rug, you will be very glad to hear that there are many different types of rugs available to the average consumer. But it is also this wide variety of choices that makes purchasing a rug a daunting task to many people. The 'torment' doesn't even stop at the colors, patterns and sizes - the way you place a rug is as much an art as it is science.

Well, who says the job of an interior designer is easy? Link


Stan

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HOME OF THE WEEK: JAMIE AND LARRY OLIVER HOME IN TEXAS

Granted, this is not exactly the kind of sunny, preppy home you’d expect to see in countless design magazines.

Yes, forget about costly designer furniture or extensive built-ins here. What you get is a stripped-down and brooding (not to forget mentioning sophisticated) style that is as much about clean lines as the (lack of) colors. It’s cozy and luxurious but decidedly non-flashy, and exudes a kind of aesthetic confidence that makes total sense for Jaime and Larry Oliver, who own the Esty store Two Art Directors and A Photographer.

The black-white-gray scheme, paired with that seemingly unrestrained mix of rustic and eclectic elements easily makes this our home of the week.

Stan

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'FRESH' FLOWERS BY SANDRA BAUTISTA

This art project, designed by Spanish designer Sandra Bautista, consists of 32 pages of printed flowers in a newspaper format which can be used as floral display for the home.

Maybe the fact that 'these flowers don’t fade and dry, they do not need to be watered, and you don’t throw them away after loving them for a week' might work for some folks. What's your take on this?

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Stan

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GIANT CHESS SET AS DECORATION

Sometimes in life, we don't need a valid reason for doing something. Like placing a giant chess set right at the back of your house...

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Stan

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