Seen sprouting at Southbank

Loved these planter boxes to promote Brissy's regional food producers festival that fires up this weekend. Must admit to being a tad disappointed to discover the concept design was imported from Melbourne. Southbank's team of gardeners did the assembly and planting ... and haven't they done a fabulous job of restoring the parklands since the floods went through 6 months ago. From what I can see Brissy has bounced back brilliantly.

Sat & Sun, 30 & 31 July 2011. www.regionalflavours.com.au

And furthermore:

Since posting the story this morning I have received news from Southbank on the planter box designers. Sister's Michelle and Maddie are the creative force behind Sow N Sow. These talented gardening girls grew up in Brisbane so are definitely in the know about what seeds they should sow in this town. The good news is that this creative pair have bloomed internationally in recent years and now base themselves out of Melbourne. Well done to them I say!

Design Food Brisbane
28/07/2011

Tell tale tiles

Have the loo's on the cafe laneway level of Melbourne Central always looked like this? If so, I hate being the last one in the know! Love the dramatic B&W city scape story telling.

Design Melbourne Central Melbourne
28/07/2011

A bulb or two goes on in Beirut

When I converted from a newsletter to a blog format 18 months ago I didn't realise the upside would be that  I would find new on-line friends from all around the world. The downside being that, no matter whether it's a newsletter or a blog, it still takes a lot of time to find, finesse and file stories that are interesting and celebrate innovation (FYI I've actually stopped reading a lot of blogs to ensure I don't repeat stories - given the velocity of viral news - and waste time worrying that I'm telling you about something you already know about... lordy!). Benedicte Flouriot is a blog buddy in Beirut. PSLab is a bespoke lighting laboratory doing fabulous things with illumination.  Benedicte keeps me  in the loop with their latest lux projects. I love the look of their make over of, Isis, one of the cities oldest rooftop bars. Whilst I have never been to the Middle East because of the negative news we get here associated with bombings etc. I am increasingly intrigued... and just may get there yet!

Design pslab Beirut
27/07/2011

Think Tank

Bill Makris's new fish and chippery in Carlton is a stylish take on the traditional Aussie F&C shop (typically run by Greek families in the 70's and 80s). A modern Mykonos palette of white and Agean blue has become a bright beacon on the corner of Lygon St and Argyle Square. Some serious design thought has gone into Tank. Find it at 149 Lygon St Carlton.

Design Food Melbourne
04/07/2011

The case at hand … the verdict

I discovered James Plumb when I discovered the Hostem store in Shoreditch late last year. Here is one of JP's recent assemblages spotted at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi (another wonderful discovery). I think my only comment about the 'make do and mend' trend is that when you see it all over TopShop I think its time for a new one (trend that is) (although the way TS incorporated a large column into their found objects installation on their Oxford St store was quite impressive ... I will dig out those pics and post them for you).

Design London
29/06/2011

Wonder walls

I first ran my hand over one of Piet Hein Eek's supersmooth scrapwood table tops at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi in Milan a few years ago. Since then Piet's profile has gone seriously global. A new range of wallpaper was voted a winner at the ICFF in NYC last month (that really is a fab fair, I think BFF and I must go back again for a sneeky peek next year ... just checking he's awake and reading really!)

Design Netherlands
29/06/2011

They’re raven about it…

I was looking for a specific mosaic tile and got distracted by this instead. Ravensbourne College (Digital Media & Design School) is right next door to The O2 (a.k.a the dud ex-Millenium Dome) on the Greenwich peninsula, which is just a javelin throw from London's 2012 Olympic Park.  Foreign Office Architects picked up an RIBA gong 2011 for their dramatic design. Via Freshome.

Design London
26/06/2011

Wow in the West

I'm really looking forward to heading West in October for the Design Institute WA Chapter's Annual Forum, having a snoop around Perth and having dinner at Cantina 663 and The Greenhouse again!

Andrea Veccia-Scavalli from Matthews Architecture gave me the heads up a couple of months ago on a fabulous looking project they completed recently and sent me these professional pics. Formerly a hospital supplies showroom, this heritage space built in the early 1900's has undergone some serious surgery. Matthew's (also the design creative behind Zekka [King St] and Test Tube [Mt Lawley]) created a design within the existing shell and have produced a gorgeous looking mixed use facility incorporating studio spaces for 'artists in residence', stores in the existing basement, a retail space with rather sleek looking cabinet work design done by Geyer,  a café/bar and extension of the upper floor to create a gallery space (where the Artists eventually display their work). The ground floor was ‘dropped’ by over half a metre to allow direct access from street level, which also allows for glimpses into the studio spaces below the shop (a bespoke glazing system incorporating blackened steel and brass detailing frames the view).  I also love the attention to detail with the lighting.  The café area connects to a laneway which will eventually connect to a new major public space. From what I can see this looks like a seriously hip place to hang out.  VENN, 16 Queen Street, Perth WA.

Design Venn Perth
25/06/2011

Rose’s are red

Whilst I generally like to have 'been and seen' whatever I blog about I just had to share this story spotted on Elle Decor. What an absolutely striking installation (would love to know how they arrived at the display concept) ... and what a gorgeous husband Daniel Rose must be!

When Joanna Rose, a lifelong collector of American red-and-white quilts, turned 80 recently, she had no idea her husband Daniel was planning a show of her collection (I can almost hear the collective 'aww'). She also had no idea that her quilts would inspire an iPhone and iPad app offering a visual and audio tour of 650 of her quilts with commentary by the American Folk Art museum curators and Rose herself. On March 25, the largest quilt display in New York City history (also known as Rose’s birthday gift) opened at the Park Avenue Armory, with towers and spirals of unique red-and-white quilts suspended in the air.  Google suggests more than 20,000 attended the exhibit over the 6 days, Oh 'Appy Days (Download the app for free ... and have a think about how you might do something really special for the person you can't live without the most whilst you're at it ... go on, it won't hurt a bit).  Oh and BTW...Happy Birthday Joanna Rose.

Design New York
08/04/2011

Take a seat

Matali Crasset's Double Side Chair has a double function, with one easy movement it can be transformed into a small desk, that can hold your laptop, lunch or an object of loveliness (if that took your fancy). The chair will be launched at the Salone in Milan next week. Via Shoebox Dwelling.

Design MIlan
07/04/2011