Parasitic Chair

What a cool chair! Via Design Milk

Diem Chau

I found out about the work of Diem Chau via Emma's blog. Born in Vietnam, Chau and her family came to America as refugees in 1986. Chau combines common mediums in her story-telling work to create delicate vignettes of fleeting memory, gesture and form.

Featured here is her most recent work done by embroidery on porcelain plates and cups. I really wonder how she does it!

Fresh Locations

A reader told me about this wonderful site called Fresh Locations that has the most wonderful database of gorgeous locations for stills, film and TV. Here are some of my favorite images below. The Convent (above). This is a Georgian House with River Views in West London. The period interior with the beautiful weathered walls comes with the wooden original staircase. The Old Rectory - Oxon (above). Love the collaged walls in the bathroom here.

Eglinton. Love the high ceilings, light and simplicity of the deco in this Victorian House in South East London.

Thanks for letting me know about this site, Samantha!

Idealist

Have you heard about Idealist? It is a platform for designers and creators to publish their creativity and get feedback from the community. Such a wonderful way to capture and test the random ideas that come our way each day! Some of the innovative ideas can even act as a springboard for other inspirational ideas. Really hope to see some of these manufactured, marketed and sold! (via The Home Rejuvenation)Fancy this? Cool but impractical? Give your 2 cents worth here.

Placebo pills. Getting better each day?

Woo...I just looove this! Funky coloured disposables fashioned after antique silver cutlery.

INSPIRATION poster

For those in search of this magic word. Available at Design for Mankind's Etsy shop.

Break up hanky

Wonder if this will smear? Available here.

Brumbleberrylane

I just love these gorgeous stationary from Brumbleberrylane.

Chair Journaling Cards

Set of scalloped purse tags.

"Crown that Sticker"

James Merrell

Some gorgeous images I found from the portfolio of James Merrell from Judith Miller Inc.

Aged Decals

These decals may appeal to those (like me) who like the aged vintage look. From Harmonie Interieure in France. (via Designer's Block)

Salvaged thrones

I will take the yellow or turquoise throne please! Think this would look gorgeous in a clinical white bathroom. (pic taken by Debi Van Zyl in an architectural salvage yard in LA)

Better View

The Better View black-out shades by award-winning Helinski designer Elina Aalto are composed of small cutout holes that form a city-scape composition of Helinski, Tokyo, Stockholm or Paris. A wonderful way to turn day to night! (via momed)

Folding technique

Try this if you need to sort out that T shirt cabinet at home! (via Core77)

Pulp Bulletin Board

This clever Pulp Bulletin Board made from densely packed magazines even allows you to save on the need for push pins altogether! (via momeld)

Index Chopping Boards

Designed to avoid cross-contamination of various food types, these color-coded polypropylene index chopping boards help keep the cutting of raw meat, cooked foods, fish and vegetables separate. The horizontal filing unit with a non-slip rubber bottom is really neat too! (via Swissmiss)

Tutu Lampshade

I just love this! Available here.

Sparkle Thots

I would like to warmly welcome on board Sparkle Thots, another sponsor of Laissezfaire! You can find the link to their website on the leftmost column of this blog.

Sparkle Thots offers wearable, unique yet affordable designs for trendy women who want a bit of fun. My favourites from their curent collection include this, this and this. Do check them out!

(above) Citi Smoke. USD$13.75

Make an entrance

A welcoming hallway sets the tone for the whole house. Here are some inspiring decorating tips for entrance hallways I found from House to Home. Trying to save cost and not wallpaper the whole place? Try strategically selecting a few key areas in your home to add some drama. Here, the bold red really adds some visual excitement to an otherwise died serious stairway.Wallpaper by Brian Yates, chair (I would love to have) by SCP .
The gorgeous floral wallpaper by Designers Guild will make me feel like I am living in a magical dollhouse in the Lake District. Tip: Stick to 1 collection in your home (in this instance, the floral collection) and you can be sure that the rooms will complement each other.

I just love the look of this graphic hallway. The simple Ikea mirrors really enlarges and brightens up the space. Wallpaper by Jane Churchill, cool coat stand by Skandium

Recycled bathtub

Here is an idea what you could do with an old bathtub. (by Reddish Studio via Apartment Therapy)

Name a son, win a couch

The lovely Raymond & Karina of Pomelo Home emailed me today about a contest they are holding to get friends, family and readers to help name their son who will be arriving in 6 weeks! How fun is this? They are looking for precisely ONE English name, and ONE character for his Chinese name. If the name you propose is picked, you will get a brand spanking new, Blu Dot Couchoid Studio sofa. For more info, click here!

Old School Stuff

I came across a website with one of the coolest old school stationary, living and accessory selection ever. Do check it out!

Coco

Here are some sheer gorgeous illustrations by Coco. As an illustrator with a background in fine arts, Coco begins her design process by experimenting with old-school processes such as painting, drawing and ceramics. She composes the final montages in photoshop. While she like mixes several techniques, she aims for restraint and minimalism in the finished work. Do check out her website for more eye candy.

Catherine Ledner

I find these images by photgrapher Catherine Ledner quite facinating...Love the vibrant colours and wallpaper! Do check out Catherine's book, Animal House, featuring her fantastic animal photography.

Imagekind Story Frame™

I recently found out about Imagekind, the world's fastest-growing online community for creating, buying and selling custom framed artwork and photography. Imagekind recently released their "Story Frame™" collection, a group of customized framing products that allows anyone to transform a series of digital images into a story worth telling.

It has been a few months since I got the very talented Ron Lee of Eyedea's photography to capture the moments of my little girl Vera playing in a park. Some of the gorgeous pictures Ron took were sent to Imagekind and transformed in a gorgeous story frame that is now hanging in Vera's room. I really like the idea that Imagekind’s high museum quality framed works will ensure that the pictures will be preserved and kept as a wonderful keepsake for my child as she grows up.

If you have a kiddo, you may be interested to know that Imagekind is currently organising a "First Moments" Contest. Between now and March 15th, you can send 2 or 3 digital photos of your child’s “firsts” - first day of school, baby’s first bites, first trip to the beach, first time meeting Grandma, that together tell a great story. It could be a collection of different “firsts” or a few shots of one great moment. Imagekind will choose four lucky winners whose photos tell the best story to receive a custom Story Frame™ worth $100. To enter, simply email them your digital photos along with a brief explanation to firstmoments@imagekind.com

Mary Emma Howthorne

I really love these mixed media collages by artist Mary Emma Howthorne. Mary uses her paintings as metaphors for concerns and inspirations in her life. The nolstalgic, aesthetic and emotional elements in her work really intriques me. (via Freshly Blended)

Recycled textiles

These cushion covers made from clothes care labels really take recycled fabrics to the next level! Requires 4 weeks lead time to snip and make from scratch. (via indie-guest)

Marian Bantjes

I have always loved unique typography so it is no surprise that I am drawn to the work of Marian Bantjes. The work featured here is her recent project for Stefan Sagmeister's “Things I have learned in my life so far” series.

Similar to the piece she made from sugar (“Indestructible”) for the Fox River Paper booklet, Marian uses sugar to script the phrase "If I want to explore a new direction professionally, it is helpful to try it out for myself first." She wrote the phrase five times, photographed it, and then destroyed it and photographed the destroyed version. Do check out her website for more images of the project. Sweet! (via Sub-studio)

Knock Knock

Here are some really cool and witty stationary from Knock Knock.

(above) 3-Way Pads organize useful lists into 3 logical thirds. With an elastic band for closure, everything is conveniently contained in one portable, stylish unit.

(above) Witty and honest filing folders