Highlights From The IMM Cologne 2015

Being a design blogger has its perks. One is that you are out and about when design fairs are taking place. Last week I spent in Cologne at the international furniture fair imm Cologne 2015. The design fair takes place on various places in Cologne: The majority is at the city's fairgrounds, but there are also interesting exhibitors in a showroom area called 'Design Post' and scattered all around town in various interiors shops and other showrooms. Consequently, I've seen lots of cool designs, I've spoken to fantastic designers and I brought back too many impressions as to squeeze them in one single blog post. So expect more to come!

Here are a few of my favorite observations during the imm Cologne 2015:

Jungle Fever!
Green is here to stay in 2015 - in two ways. I've seen lots of green as a colour in its various hues on home textiles, furniture and accessories. I have also seen many jungle prints on textiles and upholstery - one of my favorite was the jungle chair from Danish design label Gubi. I need not mention all the plants - again, many booths have been styled with plants abound. Particularly outstanding were the Vitra stand, the Belgian label Buzzi Space and the German furniture manufacturer Ewald Schillig.

Back To Nature!
Natural materials continue to convince in 2015. Lots of wood furniture was presented and the focus on natural materials is also interpreted in various material combinations like wood and leather. I particularly loved the new Danish label 'Woud'. Their collection features simple and refined furniture pieces created by various designers, mostly Scandinavian ones. I think they will be pretty interesting for all of you who love Scandi styled interiors!

Young Talents!
One of my favorite parts at design fairs is the young designers section. I like to see what the next designer generation is keeping in readiness for us. In Cologne I enjoyed the creative kitchen solutions presented by students from the interior design school of Stuttgart - among their solutions was a lighting idea with potted plants/herbs serving as fresh greens and light in one.

The shelf system 'Deep Forest' by Silvia Terhedebrügge is another cool solution inspired by nature - the shelves rise organically like leaves from branches.

The brass clothing rack 'Foldword' by Friederike Delius is another interesting piece. Its graphic appearance is inspired by German traditional half-timbered constructions and is foldable.

The concrete lamps 'Like Paper' by 'Dua' have a paper like appearance although they are cast in sturdy concrete.

The Berlin based design studio 'llot llov' presented playful solutions for urban homes. I loved the funky, macrame inspired hanging planters.

Neo/Craft is another brand new design label from Berlin. The designer Sebastian Scherer exhibited cool furniture and lighting pieces like the soap bubble looking pendant 'Iris' as well as the colourful 'Diamond' pendant.

The Austrian designer Martin Breuer Bono presented a very cool book shelf called 'Schlagseite' which literally means 'list' (nautical language for tipped over position) - pretty fancy for artsy interiors, isn't it? Read another round-up in German on Roombeez if you like!

Enough for today, I will share more highlights and designer talks with you over the next few days.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Young Italian Design At Formabilio

I like to think of design as a language. Similar to the linguistic equivalent, the design language tends to differ from country to country or region to region - think of Scandinavian design, Japanese design, German design. But yet the design language tends to remain an internationally comprehensible language of visual aesthetics. No idioms are necessary to decipher the meaning of design from various countries. Today I want to highlight two young Italian designs: The Antia Chair by the design  duo Alpestudio and the Tusciao Valet Stand by designer Andrea Brugnera. Both designs are produced and sold through the Italian design platform Formabilio.

The Antia Chair is a great example of the power of design - transforming a sturdy material like steel into an airy, graphic construction like this chair. The neat design seems so light as it could float, yet it is grounded by the repetitive structure of the rods of the back and seat. Another design highlight is the chair's base: the joint legs seem to counteract the chair's body and thus create a visual equilibrium that makes it so visually light. Designed by the siblings Luca and Alessia Perini of Alpestudio.

The Tusciao Valet Stand interprets a historical piece with a modern twist and Italian shapes. Forget times where you threw your clothes over a chair - with this valet stand you can combine form and function. Three elements in beech wood with metal rods are smartly conjoint with colourful leather junctions with snap buttons. The three wooden elements give a playful reference to Italian architecture - cubic houses of the Mezzogiorno, merlons of Italian fortresses and the pointed tips of typical Campanile bell towers - it is a little Italian voyage shaped into a wooden structure. Designed by Andrea Brugnera.

And now it's time for a Spritz. Have a great week!

Photography via Formabilio

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends: Frjor

If you think I made a mistake in the headline, no worries, the cryptic name 'frjor' is correct! It's the name of a new design label from Germany by Anna Becker that has launched just now a first range of porcelain bowls in black and white patterns. And since I love to feature young designers and artists in my Wednesday column, here we go with a fresh vision from Germany.

Anna's designs are pretty playful yet cool - the black and white patterns recall Scandinavian coolness and the almost floral shapes make me think of classics from Marimekko. But what I really loved about this label is the fun, unexpected presentation of the bowl. Turned around they serve as candleholders and stacked they looks like vases. As an Urban Jungle Blogger I could also see them lined up with plants on a windowsill. But then again that's me.

In our short conversation the designer told me that she is launching her label with a first set of porcelain bowls. Reading between the lines this means that we can expect more interesting designs from 'frjor'. I'll keep an eye on it. And maybe you should too. 

Happy hump day!

Photography via 'frjor'

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends: Swift Handcrafted Textiles

Discovering small design labels is probably the best part of design blogging. It is always so refreshing and motivating to see young designers realizing new ideas with enthusiasm and vigor. Admittedly, it is not easy to find those cool small design labels in the endless world wide web. But sometimes everything works out and you discover a wonderful textile design label with a few clicks - meet 'Swift Handcrafted Textiles' from Tel Aviv.

This independent design label is run by two textile designers, Michal and Roni, who have focused on the combination of modern design with traditional handcrafting textile techniques such as tie-dye, silkscreen prints, block prints and more. And hand work is a major principle at Swift - which makes their home and fashion products even more desirable. 

When I browsed their Etsy shop I was instantly charmed by the blue shades, the ombré designs, the handmade patterns. Everything I love in fact. Imagine those hand drawn tea towels, the colour soaked cushion covers, the summery tote bag - they seem to be shaped by the sea, washed by the sand and dried by the sun. Or maybe I am just being taken away with summer nostalgia? Whatever the reason, I think these designs deserve a second look of you and probably a little place in your home. 

Happy hump day my friends!

Photography via Swift Handcrafted Textiles

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Young Design From Chile: Minka Inhouse

What I love about the internet and being a blogger is the constant discovery of creative people and young design from around the world. Maybe you remember my story about a young design couple from Israel recently - I backed their project on Kickstarter and soon I will own one of their design lamps. Things you can't buy in high street stores, design that have a true story and passion behind them. And these days I've discovered yet another fabulous design project on Kickstarter - this time from the other end of the world, from Chile. Meet 'Minka Inhouse'.

'Minka Inhouse' is the label of the Chilean creative Fran Aldea and was born out of her desire to understand and get involved in each step that goes into developing handcrafted products. Her brave endeavor started with the search of talented local craftsmen that help and teach her to work her two favorite materials - ceramic and wool. So, 'Minka Inhouse' was born in Santiago de Chile. Minka is a native word that describes a collective work with a social purpose and benefit for the community.
Her story is so touching, brave and wonderful, after watching her little video on Kickstarter I was sold immediately. That is how I became one of her backers. And I truly hope that some of you, my dear readers, will support this young creative woman in her pursue of sustainable, handcrafted and good design with a soul.

Here's to many more wonderful design project that will touch our hearts and make us smile with happiness. Like 'Minka Inhouse' does.

Happy weekend, my friends!

Photography via 'Minka Inhouse'

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