From chaos comes order

here we go! part two of how I created order from chaos

http://www.theobjektsofdesign.com/?p=299

 

Marcel of Wonders

Marcel of Wonders

cow me a river

For a few weeks I have been dreaming  of a cow on the floor. Yes, exactly! I am not a fan of carpets, but for this one  I can make an exception. It was proverbial love at first sight [thank you IKEA] – I saw it and I knew we just have to be together!
I was  searching for a rug which would add color and a twist  to our bleak, neutral living area (in contrary to our Bedouin tent style bedroom. Bedouin who also do appreciate Parisian style and crystal chandeliers)  Anyway -  cow suits me well! I sing along with Justin T.  – cow me a river. OK, OK – CRY me a river, I know that!

PS. for any eco-warriors out there;  it is also worth noting that they last much longer than any of those lesser synthetic rugs, they don’t create as much pollution when producing them, there are no petrochemicals used either. These cowhide rugs thankfully don’t contain any dyes or bleaches too! And here’s the deal – cowhides are not like mink or ermine, or baby seal fur, or ivory tusks. Cows are not killed or hunted to the brink of extinction for their hides. They are raised and slaughtered for their innards not the hides.

I child-proofed my house but they still get in!

As I have mentioned in one of my previous posts, I have always considered designing children rooms, as something underestimated by parents.
Whether your children are two or 11, their bedroom can be inspiring, creative and design- savvy space. And while you know, that at each stage they will be into different things, if you plan ahead and invest in key pieces that can be adopted or added to, their room will stay spot-on, whatever their age is.

Breaking the rules: Who says kids only like pastels? According to the latest research, babies love eye-catching patterns and black-and-white nurseries are where it’s at. Add monochrome impact and create a chic yet theatrical visual effect. For example a single black wall stands in stark relief to white walls and a yellow-and-white ceiling ***. And bear in mind, that you can easily change a black wall into a chalkboard, which is a lower commitment than a real board but just as fun.  And you will not be surprised, when one day your kid will change all four walls into Picasso’s atelier.
Also keep in mind that overly juvenile, cartoon-y motifs aren’t necessarily going to make children happy.  A well decorated space sans theme, which leaves room for the imagination, will appeal to everyone in the family.
And if you really do subscribe to the prescribed pink-for-girls and blue-for-boys approach, consider variations; a vibrant fuchsia or blue-gray are refreshing alternatives for powdery pastels. Also bold walls look great complemented by a graphic wall sticker. Pink doesn’t have to be girly when it’s offset with a black rug or set off with bright orange.    ***circus-y stripes painted on the ceiling give the room a flipped upside-down curiosity.The graphic lines assist a simple mobile in keeping a baby’s eyes busy before bedtime.

Furniture and lighting
unless you plan on constantly redecorating, choose pieces that children will come to appreciate. A beautiful armoire is practical for housing everything from toys to clothing. Reinvent a beautiful chest into a changing table by topping it with a snug cushion. And if a basic rocking chair cramps your style, there are more sophisticated options, like  the Eames rocker -RAR.
Choose furniture with multipurpose elements that can transform a small space into an adventurous landscape and provide opportunities for both work and play. Lighting is essential; kids should have access to an abundance of light; bright overheads, task lamp for desk, reading lamp for bedside table and even night-light, so toes aren’t stubbed on the way to the bathroom.
[RAR by Eames]

[Lumilove Barbapapa]

Storage and safety.    Children have tons of stuff-now figure out where it’s all going.
When choosing a wardrobe, size is everything. Small wardrobes that coordinate with nursery furniture might look cute, but will fill up quickly as your child grows. Storage must be ample and easy to access to ensure toys can be quickly and easy tidied away.
Boxes and canvas bags are both practical and cost effective. They also provide great option as they are easy to transport into another room for play.
While labeled boxes, bins and baskets may seem semi-neurotic, they actually preserve sanity. Everything from superheroes and dinosaurs can have its own designated spot.
This will encourage organization and make for easy after-play cleanup that kids can be involved in.
And remember; make healthy choices especially when it comes to a baby room; a lot of children’s furniture is, unfortunately, made with toxins like formaldehyde. Scrutinize material information and – if it’s possible- go for natural alternatives like wood, sea grass, organic cotton, sisal or jute. Many paint companies offer water-based, low and non VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)products, which won’t release harmful gases into the air.

And for a dessert.
If you are fed up with all this sweet  rocking horses, give your kid something that really rocks the boat! Rocking scoot or rocking motor for sure will do the trick!
Found at PresentTime and Glamstore

and SPLASH some milk!
SPLASH is a modern bottle drying rack that is the perfect and stylish addition to any kitchen. And it’s also the winner of 2008 IDEA (International design Excellence Award). I came across  this  drying rack searching for  something stylish  for my very stylish friends , who became parents. Very stylish ones!
In reality this rack looks even more funky!

You can find it here:  FabrykaWafelkow and SkipHop

***RAR by Eames  designed in 1950 ranks at the top of my list of “best designed” modern chairs of the 20th century. You cant go wrong with this one!

Barbie, eat your heart out! [part two]

… and this is another jaw-dropping dollhouse I happened upon. Designed by Annina Diston, Brighton share-house in miniature form (1:12), it was a creation like no other I had seen so far.You do have to look twice- just to make you’re still looking at a dolls house! Totally convincing! Stunning!
This down-to-earth doll-house is a refreshingly portrayal of daily life that is tiny is size, but teeming with craftsmanship. Annina’s attention to the details of a real-life, lived-in home, and her expert execution of tiny household nuances, from crumbs on the kitchen table top, a glass of red wine, the life drawing, photos on the fridge, and soap scum on the shower tiles, to crammed closets, overflowing bin , shoes and grocery bags peppering the entryway. There is even a Mac computer screen with several windows open! She made the cabinets, the work surface and even the kitchen boiler herself!
Designer said ” ”I wanted to give it a bit of grit. It’s pretty true to life, and typical of flats I’ve lived in – a bit poky, and in a mess most of the time(…)”
This dollhouse embraces the everyday life in the decor.I want to shrink down and move in! (though I do not want to have dirty dishes in the sink  )

Annina, you are my hero!

Here you can find more photos of Annina’s mind-blowing dollhouse http://www.flickr.com/photos/anninja/sets/72157622576068030/

Barbie, eat your heart out!

I decided to write a little about designing children’s rooms, because I’ve always considered this as something underestimated by parents. So far, I haven’t seen a kid’s room decorated tastefully, without pinkish frills for little girls or blue patterns for boys.

And in my opinion, children’s rooms are often reminiscent of storage rooms for unwanted    home furniture and a cacophony of colors and patterns.
Yes, I know that kids can destroy objects with the power of a waterfall, but does that mean you have to surround them with junk?
Actually, I had to start this entry from black color on the wall (because according to the latest research – to make a long story short- babies love eye-catching patterns and black.. ), but unexpectedly I walked into the world of designer dollhouses.
I started with the one, which is a copy of an Arne Jacobsen house… to enter the land of sophisticated designer buildings. All for the kids.
When I was a little girl, dollhouses most often were created from shoe-boxes , in which I cut out the windows and hung curtains in them… Then came the era of blond-haired Barbie and her pink kingdom (which remained in the sphere of my childhood dreams). 

Now, dollhouses on the market are tasteful, beautiful and  give little ones a head style in the style stakes.
Beat your heart out, skinny Barbie!

My favorite is the one based on famous designer and architect Arne Jacobsen’s actual villa built in 1928 in Charlottenlund, Denmark. The Danish company Minimii released their first designer dollhouse in the scale 1:16.  This slick, functional and timeless dollhouse is recreated for the whole family to enjoy. The walls and roof are magnetic  for easy interior access and for hanging art and lights.  Of course the company also produced miniature replicas of some of Jacobsen’s popular furniture designs (like for instance Swan Chair or Egg Chair) in a range of colors.

The Minimii company plans to have more designers create additional furniture and accessories for this house. They also plan to produce more dollhouses based on actual homes and significant architectural designs.

If I had to make a choice, it would be a Villa Savoye designed by Le Corbusier in 1928. With a tiny miniature of Chaise Lounge LC4 upholstered with pony leather.
And with a tiny miniature of me laying on this famous “resting machine” .

free Willy

I keep her free as a bird…

*a bird cage by Zara Home. Lady Piglet from Almi Decor.

 

 

Big Boom!

(…) There’s more than meets the eye with an old-school, hardcover suitcase. This certainly rings true for the Boom Case – customized boom boxes by self-confessed “audio-nut”
and designer Dominic “Mr. SiMo”, who up-cycles these stylish, street-worthy vintage suitcases that are bound to make some heads turn.

The Self Powered, Portable Suitcase Stereo system works with your iPod/iPhone or any device with a headphone jack. This case will last 7+ hours on a single charge (charger built in). In addition to running on batteries, The BoomCase can also be plugged in when the party goes inside. To save on weight, you can opt for a plug-in only version.

With tongue-in-cheek names like “Slim Tim” and “Big Thumpy”, there’s bound to be a classic suitcase that will suit even the most skeptical.
It’s so refreshing to see something so practical made as art(…)

I want one…

1.Butterscotch Deluxe  2.Royal Bot 3.Swirly Shirly 4. The Cyclops

a stag party for nature lovers

An unexpected accessory for your home is created. Achieve a prettier take on the baronial mansion look- no shotgun required with this cheery and quirky patterned stag’s head. Composed of flat-pack pieces printed with patterns taken from 18th and 19th century Italian textiles, he is one classy deer that you can pack away or display whenever the mood takes you.

I love museum stores!  This one found at Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

and for nature-loving people; a lovely birdhouse.

Here’s your chance to be a pet owner without all the work. It i s so realistically designed it’s almost like having an actual pet bird… except you won’t have to clean the cage. Let me introduce Bird Cage by IGE

and one more; if you hate looking at cables running  across the walls , turn them into things of beauty using these handy cable clips that are disguised as leaves and a bird!

hello world!

I  am passionate about beautiful objects and have always appreciated good design and craftsmanship, be it a chair, a pair of shoes or a car.
I’ve  contemplated for a while the idea of writing a blog, but I seriously had to come to terms with the fact that I simply don’t have time. If I can’t maintain consistency, it just doesn’t feel right to me.
I guess I also wasn’t sure what I’d write about to be honest. I love doing many things but it has taken me a while to figure out which ones would really captivate me enough to motivate me to write about them.
Interior design and art would come very naturally as one would imagine doing what I do for a living.
So I dug far and deep and reopened this blog, which I had started to write ages ago and eventually abandoned.  Picking it up from where I left off, I decided to write about my favorite things… my love for interior design, traveling, beautiful objects and all the in-between bits and pieces.
I’m not certain how much of a consistency I’ll be able to maintain, but I’ve made peace with that.
Fun is just a click away!

[a mini Lounge chair by Eames.This little cute bastard knows where to sit]