Dutchtub

Designed like a cannibal's kettle, dutchtub requires no electricity, plumbing or hot water. Just fill it with water from a garden hose or river, put fire wood in the bin, and enjoy a 100 degree soak in nature with roasted marshmellows. This has got to be the closest you can get to enjoying an onsen experience in the middle of nowhere during winter. Fits in the back of an S.U.V, these tubs can also be rented over the weekends for a private party or large event. Looking at these images just makes me go ahhhh...Available in many parts of Europe and the US.

What wood would when willed

Good news! In case you didn't already know, you can now buy cool stationary from labels such as mmmg and rock scissor paper at Woodwould. I was in their shop at The Cathay just recently and had a hard time deciding what to get because everything looked so yummy! And more good news! Woodwould will be giving away a small gift to our blog readers when you purchase anything from them. Just mention laissezfaire at the counter when (and if) you are ready to checkout! Thanks Woodwould!

Adding colour to kitchen

A reader emailed me to ask for some help in adding colour to her kitchen which is being renovated. Her kitchen cabinets will be in glossy white (top) and oak (bottom). She also has a round kitchen table which will be laminated white with oak legs. She is thinking of buying a FLY lamp by Kartell and Magis Air chair to inject some colour into this room. Problem is, she cannot decide what colour to choose. Doesn't this sound familiar to all of us?

First of all, good choice on the lamp and chairs! I completely understand your dilemma with the colour selection. There is just too many beautiful colours to choose from! Good thing is that your kitchen has a neutral base, so I don't think you can go wrong with any colour choice you make.

Personally for me, I like my kitchen to be fresh and bright! I think of fresh green lettuce, ripe lemons, the sky and lots of natural sunlight when I imagine my dream kitchen. Think the colour scheme below pretty much describes it.

So, as a matter of personal preference, my colour palette for a kitchen would gravitate towards the green, blue and yellow spectrum. If I had to choose, I would go for the bolder petrol blue Fly lamp to make it a strong feature in the kitchen, and pair it with the light yellow Magis Air Chair. I will then echo and match these colours throughout the kitchen with lots of fresh greens and fruits. I also like Martha Steward's idea of spray painting metal cannister lids to add spots of colour to your kitchen table. In your case, you can take the colour cue from the colour of the lamp you choose for your kitchen.

Hope this helps! Good luck and do send me a pic of your kitchen when it is done!

(image from House Beautiful)

Hella Jongerius

Designed by Hella Jongerius for Droog Design, these polyurethane wash basins questions the materials often associated with bathroom designs and takes it to a whole new level!

Février

Beautiful hand-drawn notebooks by Février designs. Do check out more of their cool indie stuff at etsy.

Vinyl stickers by Domestic

These colorful wall/ceiling decals are part of the Vynil line by a French publishing house called Domestic. Domestic works with well-known designers to produce products that allow the consumer to contribute to the design. Pretty magical when matched with a ceiling fixture, don't you think?

Park Planters

Drawing inspiration from the bonsai, park planters were created to elevate the common household plant to the status of full grown tree. The potted plant becomes the backdrop for an urban park scene. Simple and beautiful.

Via Product Dose via Josh Spear via Not Cot. whew!

Egg3's newest outlet in Singapore

I just got an email today from Egg3, one of my favourite fashion and home accessories store in Singapore. They are opening a new outlet at 260 Joo Chiat Road! This new nest will continue to house Egg3's eclectic and quirky mix of new Asian fusion style, housing a cafe, art gallery, fashion collections, home accessories and designer furniture, all under one roof. Do check them out as they celebrate their new opening over the National Day holiday tomorrow (Aug 9th). Happy Birthday Singapore!

Glasklasen

Glasklasen (the Glass Cluster) is a chandelier and repository for drinking-glasses with stems by Swedish design company Form Nasielsky. With a clear bulb, Glasklasen will provide a pleasant lighting and will be a gorgeous centrepiece above a dining table. The reflections from the glasses also creates lights and patterns on surrounding surfaces in the room. Available at Style Nordic.

Red, white and green algue

I just love the way the algue from Vitra has been used in these places. Reminiscent of a forgotten enchanted forest, the plastic elements can be linked together to form a design feature for your wall or to create a light curtain or room divider. Each algue is 6" x 12" and sold in sets of 6, available in red, white and green.

(above) images from Vitra

(above) window of Seydlitz (via Decor8)

New designer

I recently came across the work of Catherine Brown, a talented young designer from the UK. Catherine just graduated with 1st Class Honours in surface pattern design. Think she has a bright future ahead of her as her designs are fresh and unique. Check out these eye-catching gift wrap designs!

I also love her collection of designs she did as part of her Level 3 project for furnishings and home interiors below.

Catherine also designs greeting cards for sale. Do check them out here!

New products for kitchen and bathrooms

I was doing some research on the latest trends for kitchen and bathrooms today when I came across these cool products featured at K+BB.

(above) Diamond cooker hood. Looking more like a chandelier than a cooker hood, this will be a great product to add a bit of bling-bling glamour to your kitchen. Part of the Evolution series, this stylish unit from Elica includes ventilation, filters, lighting and controls. It even doubles up as a light!

Those who appreciate good bathroom design will be pleased to hear that the Vero range, by Duravit, now includes a toilet and bidet in the same rectangular shape as their gorgeous washbasin.

Really think these modern bathroom silhouettes from Art Ceram's La Fontana toilets are quite cool. Made from clay, each toilet contains concealed storage compartments that are perfect for hiding cleaning supplies.

Retro inspired deco

I love to mix things up and have fun when I design. Usually, I like to start with a modern and neutral base and then layer it with things that I find in different places to add texture, colour and personality to a space. Recently, I have been drawn to the quirky colours and patterns of retro inspired interiors and fabrics. Check out these retro cool rooms I found!

(above) "Orla Keily classic package" by Luxe Interiors. I love the way the fresh olive green on the walls is repeated in the pattern on the rug in the living room. The warmth of the oak wood really stands out well in the sea of lively colours and retro inspired fabrics by Orla Kiely.

(above) Jon's 60's Retro Bedroom ( via Apartment Therapy). I am so drawn and inspired by the colours in this room.

If you're looking for some vintage reproduction and retro themed fabrics, you can find them at Repro Depot in the US or Pluck in Singapore. Some of the fabrics you find in these places will make wonderful wall hangings, cushions, shower curtains and upholstery. You can even snip them up and frame them in a lovely photo frame to jazz up a wall.

(above) fabrics from Repro Depot.

(above) fabrics and wallpaper from Pluck (images from Fashionisspinach)

White - the colour of the rainbow

I love white, because it contains all the colours of the rainbow and never goes out of fashion. Probably the most used and versatile color in interior design, white can accentuate a space and invoke a sense of romance, luxury and serenity. White-on white is one of my favourite combinations. There are literally hundreds of shades of whites to choose from! I also like the pairing of white with wood and concrete.

Here are some beautiful white interiors from House of Pictures, a Scandinavian company that sells top quality articles on homes and lifestyles to leading magazines and publishing houses worldwide.

Book Bags

Check out these book bags made from actual hardcover vintage books from tizrah's etsy shop. So clever and creative! (via Poppytalk)

Maggie Zanger

I am intriqued by the work of Canadian designer, Maggie Zanger. A woodworker, seamstress, and furniture designer all at once, Maggie creates her beautiful masterpieces through a blending of layers and grouping of unusual materials. Her key projects are inspired from found objects that are integrated into contemporary pieces and spaces. Below are some pictures of a room Maggie designed and constructed, in collaboration with contemporary landscape artist and theatrical scene painter Kelly Palmer, for the Come Up To My Room design event.

The gorgeous table in the room below is built from exotic Koa veneer. To give it a quirky twist, one drawer face is spray lacquered in aqua blue and the interior drawers are custom painted with a graphic design.