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?

Paper Softseating

Check out these cool paper chairs made entirely from kraft paper by Molo Design! Each seat can compress like a big book for storage. The paper is also supposed to get better with age as the surface softens with use over time.

Concrete pod

Made from fibre-reinforced concrete, this delicately perforated pod-for-all-occasions design by architect Kazuya Morita is simply magical. With the proportions of a chicken egg shell, the concrete skin (a mere 15mm thick) is immensely strong and can easily bear the weight of a person.

Made in England

Now, for a healthy dose of good old handcrafted goods. Based in Devon, England, Really Rural Inspirations offers a wide range of furniture that is both decorative and practical. Proudly handmade in England.

I just love these wooden stackable Tidy Boxes are made using Vintage Wine Crates. The boxes have two strong British Made Tute handles, and a Brass Name Card holder.


And these wall posts are perfect for organising your post at the entrance.

P van b

For you baroque fans out there, check out the ultra haute collection of contemporary wallpaper by Berlin based wallpaper designer Andrea Pößnicker. Their sophiticated bold takes on traditional baroque prints simply blows me away! Perfect for decorating a ultra hip boutique store, bar or hotel. P van b also carries stationary, home accessories, and clothing.

[all images from P van b]

Ishi pouf

Doesn't Naoto Fukasawa's Ishi pouf for Driade just make you want to sit on it and rock to-and-fro? I can totally imagine this as a centrepiece in a space surrounded by splashes of colours and textures or, better still, out in the garden (if your budget permits that is). This sofa is a wood structure with polyurethane foam padding. The fixed cover is in white leather. Available at SPACE.

Gagatree

Have a bit of fun with these quirky designs from Gagatree. Inspired by toys and objects from her childhood, local designer Yang Qiao'E is reinventing old-school kitsch on cushion covers, alarm-clocks, pouches and greeting cards. Gagatree is available at Egg3, Salad and Anthropology Homeware.

[Photos: Perfect Match series]

Rosanna

How can one resist these exquisite tableware by Rosanna? Their designs, with inspirations drawn from vintage Florentine wood-cuts to funky Scandinavian fabrics, are a definite treat to the eye. Who says we have to have dining sets with the same boring-o-patterns and colours?

(Photos TOP LEFT and RIGHT: "Chelsea Flowers". BOTTOM: "BOHO" collection of plates, teapots, teacups and saucers. All photos from Rosanna Inc.)

Decorating the outdoors

Who says wallpaper are only meant for decorating interior spaces? Check out these outdoor wallpaper designs by award winning designer Susan Bradley. Made of materials ranging from wood and metals to acylic and mirrored surfaces, these designs are perfect as screening devices or for adorning an external wall.

Susan's passion for bringing beautiful and unusual work to outdoor spaces is also evident in these unique decorative mirrors created for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2005

{all images from Susan Bradley's website}

Little Field of Flowers

Look what happens when you combine the design prowess of Tord Boontje and the ultra hip Spanish rug company Nanimarquina! You get a Little Field of Flowers!

Nanimarquina is well known for their colourful hand tufted, loomed and knotted rugs. Tord, on the other hand, is well known for his many beautiful creations inspired by nature. His playful "Until Dawn Curtains" (pictured below) is one of my many favourite pieces.

Lorena Siminovich

Really love these whimsical children illustrations from Lorena Siminovich. Her collages make use of interesting materials such as street maps, letters, achitectural plans and musical scores. Pretty and inspiring!

Cool Kuler!

Ever felt overwhelmed by what colour goes well with what and cannot decide? Kuler by Abobe Labs may be able to help you. You can view the most popular or most highly rated colour schemes and even post your own colour scheme for other users to download. Signup is also free. Kuul!

{image from Kuler's Watermelon colour scheme}

Wedding Ideas

I have a couple of good friends and relatives getting married in the upcoming months so I thought I would do a post on weddings. I had lots of fun planning for my own wedding although I must admit that the whole process can be quite stressful and overwhelming, especially since most people do it for the first time. I found it quite helpful to look at images to find out what I like and to get inspired. There are just so much resources out there. When I have the time, I will compile a list of resources and put them on my blog for your easy reference.

For now, some images and ideas from Cox & Cox. For inspiration only.

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Inspiration 1: Nothing beats making your guests feel special then to handwrite their names on a placecard to reserve their seat.

Inspiration 2: Everyone is giving candles as wedding favours. Why not be different and give matchsticks in personalised boxes?

Inspiration 3: Use paper (could be printed with your wedding music score, love letter or your favourite poem) to make containers for your wedding confetti


Inspiration 4: Make tea light containers like this from old glass containers you have at home. All you need are some wires to make the handles.

Inspiration 5: Why not give a plant or some seeds to your guest as a wedding favour especially if you are having a garden party and encourage them to grow it?

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Tokujin Yoshika

The Japanese are amazing with transforming simple materials such a paper and concrete into works of art that can actually be used. Check out Tokujin Yoshika's "Honey Pop" chair made from glassine paper sheets (i.e tissue paper).


Yoshika also did a renovation room for Muji that have sliding doors that can hide away all the rooms. An idea for those who can't stand clutter.

La Maison Douce

This is the place I am going to the next time I need to recharge. La Maison Dounce in France! Recommended by guides such as Michelin, Routard and Le Figaro, breakfast here is apparently served till 2pm! Perfect timing for me! Prices start at 125 Euros (approx SGD $280)