I like these stylish bookends by Chilean born designer Francisca Prieto. She launched her design company in 2006 and is currently based in London. She produces small ranges of home accessories and graphic art.
Very cute collages from Katrines Kratt. I like the way she incorporates wallpaper patterns and items of modern furniture.
Right now I'm having a love affair with Japanese design which the recent Tokyo Design Week brought to my attention. These ceramic vessels are by Ikuko Iwamoto. She says "I make exquisite cups and other objects for a bizarre tea ceremony. They suggest the everyday, the ordinary, but are in fact extra-ordinary. They are the vehicle to make visible an invisible, microscopic world. A world of intricacy and detail, of mathematical pattern and organic chaos, of beauty and repulsion."
I like these illustrations by Japanese artist Yosuke Ueno. Cute and characterful, but somehow slightly sad at the same time. I discovered his work at One Small Seed, a South African pop culture mag. The content includes art, architecture, design and fashion. The magazine layout and graphic design is superb, super hip and edgy, and the best thing of all is that the first issue is online, over a 100 pages of delicious eye candy.
Who said hangers had to be boring? The problem with this one, called the Cityscape coat hanger, from Sixixis, is that it's far too nice to hide away in your cupboard. I'd have to put it somewhere it could be seen - maybe hanging from my wooden coat and hat stand. Sixixis also has a fabulous range of furniture, some interesting and unusual designs, like the rocking chair below, made from steam bent ash wood.
These very elegant and sophisticated pieces are by Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon. They're made of plastic, and in the case of the chairs, leather as well. I also think they have a slightly camp, humourous feel about them which I love. That might just be my slightly strange opinion - but this range is influenced by the big Classic MGM musicals. It's called the Showtime Collection and was designed for BD Barcelona.
I'm a complete pushover for retro fabric designs, so I love these bags and cushions from Design House Stockholm. They're made from re-issued fabrics by famous Swedish Designers from the 1950's and there are about five designs to choose from. The range also includes placemats, table runners and cosmetic bags - or you can purchase the fabric and make whatever you want.
I'm delighted to be guest blogging on the Elle Decoration SA blog, thanks so much Heather for your warm welcome. I hope Elle blog readers will enjoy my posts and from my side will certainly be enjoying contributing this week. I'm starting off with some of the unusual furniture designs from Colcha, a store in Venice, California. I'm particularly loving their orange and brown lounge chair with it's strong mid century feel, and these clever metal interpretations of classic, antique chair designs.
