A magical outdoor party

I just love the beautiful prints on the products at Cath Kidston. Like this magical gazebo with rose pattern. Perfect for a garden party with wine and good company. Unfortunately, they don't ship these overseas.

Too many shoes?

Having a problem organising your shoes at home. The Hotel Box may be the perfect solution for you! Easy to stack, this box comes with a window for you to find the shoe you need when you need it. Available in many colours and prints at Designmyworld.

Fancy Faire

Was at the Fancy Faire show at Orchard Hotel today. Started in 1986 as a organisation of women crafters and artisans, Fancy Faire is a wide and unique showcase of arts & crafts, apparel, jewellery, paintings and antiques from all over the world by small businesses without retail outlets. Setting up a booth at a show like this is an excellant way to test the market with any small creative business/retail concept or simply to gain exposure.

The current "summer show" ends today. Be sure to check out their next one in October!

Fancy sleeping in a pipe?

Designed by Austrian art college graduate Andreas Strauss, these "hotel rooms" reminds me of the ubiquitous capsule hotels you can find in Japan. Made from large sections of concrete drainage pipes and measuring 2m in diameter, the pipes are roomy enough to accommodate a double bed and storage space. Click here to book a room online the next time you visit Ottensheim, Austria!

Green walls

Take highrise greenery to the next level with these green walls! It is aircleaning and conditioning, sound barrier, psychologial stimulate effect - all in one! By indoorlandscaping from Germany.

Livingstones

What a great idea for a space that can be arranged according to your mood! So much fun! Great for those office lounges that are meant for"brain-storming" sessions. By smarindesign.

Conversation starter

Ever struggled to make conversation over dinner? Struggle no more! This table cloth design with 300 riddles will save the day! By SEMdesign.

Stamp away!

This is such a fun way to personalise a book gift or lay claim to a book. Brilliant idea from Martha Steward!

Shoot Factory

Amazing pictures from the Shoot Factory, a uk location agency that scouts international locations and posts pictures online for potential photographers to view. If you need an inspiration fix, this is the place to go!

I just love how they used the soft pinks and whites in the pictures below to create visual interest.

I would so like to have a dresser like the ones below.

The quality of light and texture in this image is breathtaking! Love the wrought-iron spiral stairs.

{all images from shoot factory}

Rita Saardi

Fashion designer, illustrator and stylist, Lebanese-born Rita Saardi's work has an ephemeral quality to it. She feels that, “Fashion is about l’air du temps, as Coco Chanel once said. It’s true, but today it’s more about you’re own world, your own air du temps. If everyone else is using color and you want grey, well then it should be grey. It’s your mood, your air du temps.”

{all images from Rita Saardi's showcase}

Marie Claire Maison

More eye candy from the French!

The Ferrari of bathtubs

Bold colours and textures. Ooommph!!

Images from Marie Claire Maison.

Cote Maison

Truely inspirational images from the french website Cote Maison. You got to check it out. May be a little difficult if you don't know French. Will just have to let the pictures doing the talking, I guess.

[all images from Cote maison]

Outofstock

Celebrating childhood, Outofstock's debut collection are a reminder of a time of climbing trees and rolling in fresh snow. Their stools from the "WINTER" and "FOREST" collection are my definite favourites.

[Photos LEFT: Forest Stools. RIGHT: Winter stools]

What they did with the "Story Chair" [pic below] is clever and humorous. (The cage design is supposed to evoke childhood memories of us stroking our pets in their grills!!)

Decorative Things

Decorative Things pride themselves on turning ordinary things into decorative things by laminating gorgeous fabrics into sturdy plastics. Featured in magazines such as Oprah, Shop Etc., and House & Garden, Decorative Things offers over 50 items for entertaining and decorating. Items include pretty butler trays, stylish wastebaskets and their best-selling eyeglass trays.

I just love their their dustpans (US$22) which comes in 8 different fabric patterns. Makes cleaning the house just a little more exciting! A great housewarming gift.

Print your fabric course outline

click on image to enlarge

Reupholster Stakmore chairs

The colour of the reupholstered chair is chosen to echo the yellow hues of the fireplace.

Fabric: Chestnut Hill Blackeyed Susan Stripe - forest mix from retrodepot.

Carr Designs

Am showing my soft spot for loft spaces again...Really love these spaces designed by top Australian achitecture and interior design firm Carr Designs. So bright and clean! Lots more tastefully designed spaces on their website.

{images from Carr Designs}

Kyouei Design

I am so FACINATED by these balloon lights by Kyouei Design. They look so much fun and am sure they will light up any party! These are selling at The Asylum (which by the way has a beautiful website. i.e. must click to understand what I mean. Love the crazy music on their site and Japanese 101!).These chandelier bulbs are also so clever! You can even hang your favourite jewellery on them! Wonder if you can hang your clothes?

5 minute candles

oh...yet another clever design by Zinoo Park.

Having a picnic?

What a brilliant way of designing the packaging for disposable cutlery. There is even a toothpick! Available at Fredflare.

Eastern and Oriental Express

I am always on the lookout for unique travel experiences and adventures round the world. Sometimes, I do overlook the fact that we are living in the midst of a traveller's paradise here in this part of the world. The idea of exploring the region in a train intriques me. Check out these amazing tours offered by the Eastern and Oriental Express! They do train rides from Singapore to Bangkok in 3days/2nights in style and comfort. Love the warm lighting and wooden panels in their train cabins!

It seems like I have been making a lot of posts on travel and hotels recently. Perhaps this is a sign?

House with Chapel

Really love the textures and volume of this renovated 16th century farmhouse in rural Austria by Stadtlabor architects. The house is composed by 3 elements: the old farmhouse, the stable and the chapel. The pictures below show the chapel, partially destroyed during the war. It is now being reused as a kitchen.

Re-thinking the clothes hanger

These magnetic hangers by Daniel To are so clever! Wonder which store will take up this idea to display their clothes?