Designer Profile: Pols Potten

This design shop is quickly becoming my go to option for wacky, awesome design objects.  POLS POTTEN from Amsterdam is overflowing with super cool and interesting treasures just waiting to be found.  Here are a few of my favourites.

This is a piece of art…..yet it’s a candelabra!  A sculpture of coral with holes in the top for a beautiful, candle lit centrepiece for your table - Innovative, and eye-catching!

A very cool and sophisticated addition to any dining room (it would also look great in your living room on a coffee or side table or mantle!)

Ok, so by now we all know my obsession with making old designs new.  This is a spitting image of that whole concept – J’ADORE.

A Louis XV inspired chair entirely sprayed in bright, funky colours!  A great way to go modern while keeping traditional elements.

This oversized light fixture is spectacular.  It has the look of a large bell cloche but is given the dramatic texture of large fish scales.  I just LOVE this.  It is gorgeous and striking and while it is very contemporary, could fit very well in a myriad of different styled rooms.

Element of fun? CHECK!  Haven’t fulfilled your fix of random for a room?  Why not try a watering can headed dog….teapot!  It will definitely reach your…..WhAt?? quota!

I love crazy fun items like these.  It follows along with that fill your room with random porcelain animals trend (which I think was started by MOOOI but who really can tell these days).  So if you are one of those people that has to have the newest trend to show off to all your friends – this will definitely one-up them.

I have to say scouting out designers and familiarizing myself with their new collections is really a lot of fun.  I always say that ‘I’m working’ – but really I’m just at play!  Hope you’re enjoying this romp around Paris as much as I am!

Designer Profile: Jardin Pamplemousse

The design company JARDIN PAMPLEMOUSSE produces beautiful collections with unexpected bright colours and shapes characteristic of the 60’s and 70’s.  It is a beautiful blend that creates a surprisingly elegant finish.  Here are a few pieces and images that will give you a very good idea of their production.

 

This stunning study set is a favourite of mine (actually quite a few of this series are favourites).  The curved edges of the desk are a definite reminiscence of the 1960’s era, and the bright colours mix hippy style with the opposite elegant formality of the time. 

This deep lounge chair is a beautiful combination of retro and modern.  The bright orange with the straight clean lines harkens me back to the time of smoking rooms.  I can almost see Don Draper lighting up in a crisp suit while reclining on this piece.  Genius always comes to mind when I see a piece that has blended old and new into a flawlessly executed design.

This set definitely leans closer to the contemporary side of the scale, but the curves of the desk and the stark contrast of colours undeniably evokes the characteristics of the MOD period.

I’ve added the two showroom images below just to highlight the beauty of their creations.

Mad Hatter Designs

Did you ever wonder what living in a Disney cartoon would be like?  Well, wonder no longer as I have the answer for you.  KARE has come up with a collection that would make you believe you are Alice herself wandering through a dream wonderland.  I really could go on and on and on about this company because they have so many interesting and wild collections that are just ridiculously fun.  Here are a few pieces from their ‘Wonderland’ line.

This wacky and bright chest of drawers takes an old style commode (perhaps Victorian) and has distorted the lines to accentuate the curves, livened up the finish and creates a piece that I would definitely believe comes from that crazy dream world.  Don’t you just love the addition fluorescent woodland animals?  

This cabinet looks almost typical (if you can ignore the bright violet colour), but when you open it, you know for sure you are no longer in the land of the drab and unexciting because you are hit with an abundance of the brightest lime green interior!  (The purple pig helps too).

Mad Hatter Tea Party Chair

This is not actually an abnormal design these dates.  There are many oversized wingchairs in current collections.  It is the colour that makes this piece so extraordinary.  You can almost see the tea party going on! 

The inspiration for this chair is mighty clear.  The Queen of Hearts is one strong, interesting character, and it comes through in the shape and colour of this chair.  Wild it may be, but intriguing none the less.

This little chest of side drawers actually makes me think it really was designed for the Disney bedroom line.  It looks like a cartoon!  The curvy, warped lines, the fluorescent colour, and its overall presence makes me hope the majority of owners of this piece are 8 years old.

I have to be honest, Wonderland always freaked me out as a kid, and it still does today.  Something about the playing card soldiers, and the dope smoking caterpillar – it’s just WEIRD right?  I don’t know how realistic this line is, you would have to be a certain type of person to enjoy this in your home.  But it’s fun to look at and if you love the dreamy storyline maybe it’s for you.

Le Recyclage: Part Deux

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, the salvaged look of recycled objects is always a great addition to a space.  It adds an authentic dimension.  Here are a few more options to get this look.

The two tables below by OFICINA A LAPA are perfect examples of using bits of something old to make something used.  Remnants of aged pieces of wood have been remodelled together to create wonderfully striking designs.  The random images on some of the pieces add that little bit of extra interest.  A different and unique addition such as these would create a strong central focus for any space. 

The chair below by PO PARIS is an adaptation of Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair.  It’s not as large as the original design but is equally extraordinary.  Old bits of barrel steel have been fashioned to create the chair’s shape.  The external barrel colour and flecks of old paint are what produce the antique feel, yet with the contemporary Egg Chair design it is the perfect blend of old vs. new.

Also by PO PARIS below is an old barrel that has been adapted to create an exceptional side table with extra storage space (something we all need).  With a new coat of paint, it looks as good as new.

A piece like this will add not only the necessary requirement of a table and storage, but also an element of interest and fun. 

With pieces like these, you will always have an amusing element of surprise in your home.  It’s always best to keep a space light-hearted and young rather than worn out and dreary isn’t it?

Disappearing Act

Don’t you love it when the typically ugly yet necessary items of your household like speakers, television, storage units can be hidden so they just slip into the background unnoticed?  Well I have a couple of those here, except they’re not ugly.  They’re like art.  Yes, they do slip into the background but as pieces of sculpture and not hideous storage.

The Italian company DE CASTELLI has created in my opinion one of the most beautiful and innovative solutions to storage yet.  If you look at the image below you see what seems like a tower of slate bricks; perhaps a pedestal for a vase or a sculpture sitting in the centre of a foyer or the corner of a room.  

However; it is an illusion.  This pedestal is actually a tower of many different sized drawers that are on push-to-open drawer runners.  And it isn’t made of slate; it is actually wood treated to look like the beautiful shale.  I absolutely love this.  A tower of drawers that looks just like an interesting sculpture base is actually a much needed storage space.  I love the hidden mystery of it.

Another Italian company, OPINION CIATTI has created a similar solution to storage.

At first glance, this tower looks like metal building blocks piled up on top of one another in a somewhat cockeyed manner.  However; hidden in these building blocks are wonderfully spacious storage areas.  It is the mitred edges of the storage doors that helps keep the secret.  I am also fascinated by the way they are stacked askew.  It distorts the clean lines and creates this imperfect perfection.

 

 And there you have it.  Different ways to avoid the dreaded question of:  “How do we get more storage??”  It is creative, interesting and adds a little bit of mystery to a space. Everyone loves a surprise ending.

Designer Profile: RILUC

The Franco-Portuguese furniture design company RILUC was created in 2009.  They have a distinct approach to the design of their furniture as they strive (and in my opinion have succeeded) to combine engineering with design.  RILUC’s core material of choice is stainless steel which they believe ensures the high quality and durability of each piece. 

When I encountered RILUC at Maison Objet I was blown away by the presence of every item.  They all combine this robust, sheer strength with an elegant beauty.  That shows me that the designers behind this company really have the creative know-how it takes to succeed if they are able to combine two completely opposite characteristics into one object.

I have included four different pieces to show you what this amazingly innovative design company can do.

I adore this console table or 'Mousse Sideboard' as RILUC calls it.  It looks like a bunch of bolts or screws attached together which gives it that engineered, industrial quality, yet the graphical impact of it is so appealing, beautiful and light.  These two characteristics blend together to create a dramatic, eye-catching piece.

The base of the 'Tower Table' below looks like a geometrically shaped crystal.  The reflections and the play of light off the shapes of the stainless steel definitely grab me.  It is a stunning piece, well designed yet simple at the same time. 

The 'Aline Chair' made me laugh at first because it reminds me of a balloon animal with its tubular structure.  But, when I sat on it I was extremely surprised that I was able to sit on it for a period longer than a minute.  It really wasn’t an uncomfortable as you would think!  Of course I don’t know if I could last for a three course meal on it but that’s not really the point of this chair.  It is beautiful, creatively engineered and a work of art.

I absolutely LOVE RILUC's 'Twist Table'.  It is such an uncomplicated design and is a beautiful piece of contemporary furniture.  I think what I love about it, is you could actually use it in a variety of different styled rooms.  Of course the uber modern is the most obvious choice, but you really could use it in a contemporary-traditional space.  It could create a beautiful juxtaposition next to a French Bergere chair upholstered in a contemporary fabric. 

  

I love discovering new designers because it takes you away from using the typical designers that you feel comfortable with.  It forces you to take a chance, explore the unknown and get those creative juices reenergized again.

The Plastic Option

Who doesn’t love wacky and colourful right?  That’s what I thought when I came across two design companies who only produce acrylic furniture….but with a fun and whimsical twist!

ACRILA’s acrylic furniture line is really quite amazing.  The majority of their collection applies the image of a traditional style of furniture (in fantastic bright colours) onto plastic contemporary furniture (chairs, coffee tables, lamps, stools etc).  I find this idea to be innovative, creative and full of funky charm.  It mixes the über contemporary with traditional, elegant style – not always the easiest of tasks.  

KOMODO also produces plastic/acrylic furniture but has added a wonderful element of randomness.  The two tables below are both, cubist in shape, but include a surprising twist on the table tops.  The first one has a gigantic birthday cake emblazoned on it - An absolutely hilarious surprise that produces a fabulous ‘EAT ME’ wonderland quality.

The second has filled the table top ‘box’ with clear plastic balls……creating a very ‘je ne sais quoi’ factor, no?

Very fun, very quirky and definitely not for everyone, but I just love throwing out the wonderful and crazy for you all to consider.  Tell me what you think of these….please!