Douglas Coupland for SwitzerCultCreative

Thursday 31 January 2013



Canadian author Douglas Coupland is the latest high-profile figure to design a collection of furniture.

Coupland's range, made in collaboration with Switzercultcreative, includes a writing desk and seat, bookshelves and lamp, and is said to be inspired by the idea of a "writing nook".

Bocuse d'Or 2013 winners



The Bocuse d'Or is the world's most prestigious culinary competition, which takes place at culinary tradeshow SIRHA in Lyon every year. For this year's event, chefs were challenged to create a meat platter, 14 fish plates, and an improvised side dishes featuring produce they had gathered the night before.

2013's winners are French chef Thibaut Ruggeri (gold medal), Danish chef Jeppe Foldager (silver) and Japanese chef Noriyuki Hamada (bronze). Hamada's victory marks the second time in the event's history that a non-European has made the final three.

Homebuildlife subscribers can see our full coverage from SIRHA next week.

Crayon Creatures: 3D printing kids' drawings



Barcelona-based company Crayon Creatures creates sandstone models of kids’ drawings, which can then be used as permanent decorative accessories. The company brings each artwork to life by modelling a digital sculpture and turning it into a full colour object using Shapeways 3D printing.

Inno at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2013

Aura Lounge Chair

Finnish design brand Inno will present new products including the Aura lounge chair, Intro chair, Propel coat rack and wooden Jr. hooks at Stockholm Furniture Fair next week.

Interactive stationery at Paperworld 2013

Wednesday 30 January 2013


Marks at Paperworld 2013

A number of brands showing at Paperworld have presented interactive and customisable stationery products this year. Marks’ silicone notebooks, shown above, allow the user to generate their own pattern and colour sequences by moving around the puzzle pieces.

Caketoy'Z at Food Studio: Live from Sirha 2013

Philippe Rigollot for Caketoy'Z at Sirha 2013
Tiny edible monsters have invaded the the Food Studio as part of Sirha, the World Food Summit that takes place in Lyon every two years and runs until today. 

Japan Creative at Maison & Objet: artisans and designers pair up

Metal Works and Cabinet by Fujisato Woodcraft in collaboration with Ron Gilad


One of the highlights of Maison & Objet this season was a small exhibition of pieces made by Japanese artisans and international designers.

Organised by Japan Creative to celebrate both the heritage and the future of Japanese craft, the show included colourful sweets by Pauline Deltour, cast iron cookware by Jasper Morrison and new furniture by Peter Marigold and Ron Gilad.

GommaPiuma Décor by Massimiliano Adami

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Photo © Emanuele Zamponi

Opening tomorrow and running until 22nd February, Subalterno 1's new exhibition GommaPiuma Décor is a collection of research-led chairs by designer Massimiliano Adami.


Live from: Christmasworld 2013

Monday 28 January 2013

Viviant at Christmasworld 2012
Festive fever enveloped the halls of Messe Frankfurt this week, with the latest edition of annual trade show Christmasworld. From sumptuous wrapping papers to new colourways for the season, we present three emerging trends from the fair, to be followed by further analysis next week on Homebuildlife.

UK Toy Fair 2013: highlights


Last week London's Toy Fair played host to the launch of thousands of new games, toy products and concepts. An increase in app games was notable across the fair, while dinosaurs emerged as a key product theme.

Live from NYIGF, January 2013

Alexandra von Furstenberg at NYIGF, January 2013

The January 2013 edition of the New York International Gift Fair has a cheerful and warm atmosphere, brought by hints of neon and hot colour combinations applied to homewares, textiles and decorative objects, as well as tactile and detailed textures.

Artisan Business Network at NYIGF

Friday 25 January 2013



Launching at the New York International Gift Fair this weekend are a series of objects by the Artisan Business Network - a craft program supported by the HAND/EYE Fund which aims to improve the wellbeing of Haitians through culturally inspired arts and crafts.

Nala Designs: hyper-cultural homewares

After starting out with just a stationery collection, Nala Designs has now expanded to include textiles and home accessories, which draw inspiration from Malaysia's melting pot of Chinese, Malay and Indian culture.

Das Stue: Design Hotel, Berlin


Boutique hotel Das Stue has taken over the building that formerly housed Berlin's Danish embassy - a 1930s structure in the district of Tiergarten. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the 80 room hotel is intended to be like a drawing room (its Danish name literally translates to Living Room) with interiors that combine modern ease with classic elegance.

The International Space Orchestra by Nelly Ben Hayoun

Thursday 24 January 2013

The International Space Orchestra - a project by Nelly Ben Hayoun. © Nelly Ben Hayoun. Photo by Neil Berrett


Experience designer Nelly Ben Hayoun's feature film, The International Space Orchestra, has been selected for The International Film Festival, and will make its world premiere tomorrow evening in Rotterdam.

Summer 2013 collection by Libeco Home

Feminello Limonchello by Libeco Home

A mix of vintage Americana, rambling English roses and Californian surfing spots were amongst the starting points for the summer 2013 collection by linen brand Libeco Home, which produces bed, bath and table linens as well as other home accessories.

Eclipse clock by Constance Guisset


French designer Constance Guisset has designed a wall clock for Petite Friture in which white dots move around a black background, creating different optical illusions throughout the day.

Sublime Tobacco: smoking accessories from Fornasetti's archive

Wednesday 23 January 2013


Ashtrays and others smoking accessories from the 1950s and 60s, taken from the Fornasetti archive, will be exhibited to the public for the first time next month. From 14 February - 30 March, Barnaba Fornasetti will present the pieces at Spazio Fornasetti in Corso Matteotti 1/a, Milan, in an exhibition called Sublime Tobacco.

Melanie Porter: upcycling with knit

Recently spotted at Top Drawer and Home 2013, designer Melanie Porter restores furniture by using hand knitting and crochet to add new appeal. The Central Saint Martins graduate now sells to worldwide outlets and hand makes each piece herself.

BarberOsgerby: Maison & Objet Designers of the Year 2013

Monday 21 January 2013



Following their unmissable success in 2012 - designing the London Olympic Torch as well as a new £2 coin - British designers BarberOsgerby are Maison & Objet's Designers of the Year for 2013.

CUSTHOM design: crafted in Britain

Bermondsey Square  

Founded by Nathan Philpott and Jemma Ooi, CUSTHOM Design specialises in high-quality wallpaper, textiles, stationery and ceramics. The studio’s work is all produced in Britain: ceramics are made in Stoke-on-Trent while wallpapers are embroidered in Leicester and hand-finished in London at the designers’ studio.

Warm & welcoming: Live from Maison & Objet 2013

Sunday 20 January 2013

Antique Mirror at Maison & Objet, January 2013


The first 2013 edition of Maison & Objet is led by warm, inviting trends across furniture and accessories - in contrast to the snowy surrounds of Paris this week. Here are our top three trends from the show, which will be followed later on this week on Homebuildlife by our uncut photo gallery, and then in-depth analysis of key trends, colours, and print and pattern.

Objects For The Neighbour

Friday 18 January 2013

Pets by Hanna Ernsting


For Objects For The Neighbour, eight up-and-coming designers were challenged to create work exploring the day-to-day lives of neighbours, the objects they use, and how they overlap. The resulting exhibition, which runs until Sunday, is one of the highlights of this month's Cologne Interior Design Week, Passagen.

Sorri Lounge Chair by Gonçalo Campos


Portuguese designer Gonçalo Campos' newest project is a solid wooden chair, produced by Wewood. Designed to mimic the shape of a smile, the chair's wide back invites coats to be draped over it while its upturned seat encourages relaxed lounging. Sorri is being launched at Maison & Objet, which opened today in Paris.

Bedeck S/S 2013

Marco Stripe


British bed and bath textiles brand Bedeck will launch five new collections for spring/summer 2013 - inspired by coastal chic, flowers in bloom, luxurious hotel rooms and French hand-embroidery.

Leitner 2013: linens & romance



Linen homewares brand Leitner has dedicated its 2013 collection, Blue Moon, to the idea of romanticism - from a picnic in the meadow to an evening by the fire.

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Nandini at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

In its latest showing, The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market illustrated the theme of a well-travelled collector. Surfacing trends highlighted nature’s ephemera, the global bazaar, items of industry, elements of vintage glamour and antique market treasures. As in recent years, manufacturers continued to display concern for incorporating reclaimed and organic materials, as well as local production and sourcing methods.

Top Drawer and Home 2013: editor's picks

Thursday 17 January 2013

Grand Illusions

Running concurrently each January, Top Drawer and Home together showcase a wide variety of retail-level products from across in the homewares and gifting sectors, including stationery, textiles and accessories. Here are our highlights from the 2013 show.

Karimoku New Standard at FR66

Soft Triangle Table by TAF
Japanese furniture brand Karimoku New Standard will present its current collection at French furniture store FR66 from 18 - 22 January.

Blissliving Home S/S 2013: Abu Dhabi

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Chanda Duvet by Blissliving Home


The new collection by US homewares brand Blissliving Home is inspired by the rich colours, textures and culture of Abu Dhabi.

Designs of the Year 2013 at The Design Museum

The Shard by Renzo Piano

The Design Museum has announced the nominees for the sixth annual Designs of the Year award. Selected by a panel of distinguished judges, the 90 nominations across categories including Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Product and Transport include self-adjustable glasses, 3D printers, and the redesign of Exhibition Road, by Dixon Jones, which provides a shared space for pedestrians and cars to travel through.

Geo Shakers by Roxanne Jackson

Tuesday 15 January 2013


Designed for Von Tundra, these angular, limited edition salt and pepper shakers came about as a result of artist Roxanne Jackson's recent residency at a ceramics institute in Jingdezhen, China.

D3 Design Talents at IMM Cologne 2013



Highlights from D3, IMM Cologne's up-and-coming designer showcase, include this reflective room divider by Camilla Richter, and optical mirrors by RCA graduate Kim Thome.

Tableware by Alice Melvin


Designer Alice Melvin has created a range of coasters and table mats featuring stylized birds such as owls, bull finchs, blue tits and gannets in repeat patterns. Easy to clean and heat resistant, the coasters are priced at £9 and the table mats £19 for a pack of four.

Das Haus by Luca Nichetto at IMM Cologne 2013

Monday 14 January 2013


Venetian designer Luca Nichetto was invited by IMM Cologne to create the concept and project for this year's Das Haus. The installation, located at Hall 3.1, intends to enable occupants to live in direct contact with plants through a carefully selected range of Nichetto's own creations as well as decorative objects from renowned brands such as Vitra, Discipline, Bosa and Magis.

Toledo metro station, Naples

Photos by Andrea Resmini

Catalan architect Oscar Tusquets Blanca has designed a new metro station in Naples that is clad with shades of blue and white Bisazza mosaics, so that it appears to open up to the sky above.

Flooring Deluxe Concept Rooms: live from Domotex 2013



The keynote theme at this year’s edition of flooring fair Domotex is Flooring Deluxe, which celebrates outstanding original design and the very best in traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation. A series of concept rooms featuring collaborations between global flooring brands and leading designers explore this theme by placing new products at the heart of imaginative and theatrical set designs.

Popup Paris: candles and diamonds



French design company Popup Paris has released a fragranced concept candle that may reveal a 0.15-0.25 carat diamond when the wax burns - as one is hidden within every 50 candles. Using innovative, origami-inspired packaging, the eco-friendly box transforms into an open geometric shape, giving the candle its 'pop up' title.

Ready Made Curtain by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Kvadrat


Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have collaborated with Kvadrat to create a ready-made curtain. The product is easy to install and supplied complete with wall fixings, pegs, a hanging cord and a selection of Kvadrat textiles.

Heimtextil 2013 Trend Forum

Friday 11 January 2013

The Eccentric: Heimtextil 2013 Trend Forum

Addressing the growing trend for our living spaces to reflect our identity and individual lifestyles, textile trade fair Heimtextil’s Trend Forum presented four different personalities to illustrate the trends for 2013/2014: The Geologist, The Historian, The Eccentric, and The Inventor.

Pollen From Hazelnut by Wolfgang Laib

Thursday 10 January 2013

Wolfgang Laib sifting hazelnut pollen, 1992. Courtesy Sperone Westwater Gallery, New York


German artist Wolfgang Laib will install his largest ever pollen field in MoMA's Marron Atrium this month. Measuring 18 by 21 feet, the field will be made up of the equivalent of 18 jars of hazelnut pollen, which Laib harvests every year from the meadows near to his home in southern Germany.

3D Printing at CES 2013

Wednesday 9 January 2013



3D printing is making a strong appearance at prestigious annual tech show CES, which runs until this Friday in Las Vegas. Artist Cosmo Wenman's distinctive approach, shown here, is to photograph marble or bronze busts in the British Museum, then use a Makerbot home printer to create fine art reproductions made of plastic.

For more show coverage, subscribers can read our report on CES 2013 technology trends; for more 3D printing trends, see our report from the 3D Print Show 2012, and our macro trend Industrial Evolution.

Petite Friture at Maison & Objet

Market by Noé Duchafour-Lawrance

Petite Friture's 2013 collection will include new pieces by Noé Duchafour-Lawrance, Arnaud Lapierre, Luca Nichetto and Constance Guisset. Comprising pieces first seen during Milan Design Week 2012 as well as all-new objects, it will be showcased at Maison & Objet later this month.

Isa Genzken at Hauser & Wirth

Left: Untitled 2012. MDF, metal, plastic, glass, mirror foil, perspex, globe, plastic figure, casters; 256 x 101 x 55 cm. Right: Untitled 2012. MDF, plastic, glass, perspex, plastic, glass and metal figures, string, acrylic paint, casters; 225 x 103 x 62 cm. © Isa Genzken. Courtesy the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Galerie Buchholz, Cologne


A materials mishmash of MDF, perspex, plastic and glass is used in sculptor Isa Genzken's totemic series, which is on display at London's Hauser & Wirth until 12 January.

Kingston launches 1tb 3.0 flashdrive

Technology brand Kingston has released the first 1TB USB memory stick. Called The DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0, it is the equivalent of a 512GB memory stick with a read/write speed of 240MB/s and 160MB/s. The price of this first release is $1,750, but the brand is also set to release cheaper and smaller versions of the flashdrive.

Marianne Ratier: meals as pattern

Tuesday 8 January 2013

English Breakfast by Marianne Ratier


Paris-based illustrator Marianne Ratier created these detailed repeats of everyday items such as breakfast foods, nuts and seeds, bottles of branded water and kitchen knives, for Paris restaurant Barbershop.

The collection of ten prints was inspired by items on the restaurant's menu, such as Caesar Salad, English Breakfast, and Tartare au Couteau.

The Maple Collection by Louise Wilkinson





Designer and illustrator Louise Wilkinson has launched her new collection of fine bone china at Liberty. Since being discovered at the famous department store's last Best of British Open Call, Louise has created a decorative collection playing on traditional designs from East and West.

Lilly Loray: handmade in the UK

Monday 7 January 2013

London-based designer Lilly Loray specialises in retro patterned homewares, and each design in her textile range - from aprons and oven mitts to tea towels and pot holders - is handmade in the UK.

Linen House launches in Hong Kong

Australian homewares brand Linen House has now launched in Hong Kong. Designed in Melbourne, the brand's 120 collections include bed linens, towels and household accessories.

Double cushions: the new collection by JoeVelluto for Coincasa


Italian design and communications studio JoeVelluto (also called JVLT) has designed a collection of cushions with two functions for Coincasa's spring/summer 2013 collection.