New Rug Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for nanimarquina

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec created a new rug collection called Losanges for Spanish brand nanimarquina that is awesome. I love me some geometrics. I’ve really been feeling the harlequin pattern these days. The designers explain that they “have always been captivated by the traditional Persian rug, especially by the very old kilim savoir-faire which we see as a delicate mix of rusticity and fineness.”

This new collection was handmade by the craftsmen of Northern Pakistan who have skillfully combined thirteen colors into the geometrical rhombus shape. The Afghan wool is also spun by hand, allowing for some beautiful and unique color variations, so that each section and each rug is a unique piece.

The Losanges collection will be presented at the nanimarquina booth during the Maison et Objet, which starts next week.

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Melissa Shoes Customizable Fontessa Boot

Melissa Shoes’ latest collaboration is with renowned Italian architect Gaetano Pesce. The Fontessa boot is one of a kind, and completely customizable to each individuals style. You start with the bootie, which is made from a series of interconnected circles, each circle able to be cut off with scissors so you can customize the pair to your liking. Create sling backs, peep toes, sandals, or just wear them as is. You can use Melissa’s special Fontessa software to map out your cuts before you go scissor-crazy.

Melissa sent me a pair to play around with. I downloaded the software and had a blast coming up with a variety of configurations, finally settling on Mary Janes:

The shoes smell like candy, are comfortable (remember Jellies? they’re kinda like that except a million times better quality), and I’m wishing I could make more!

The Fontessa is available in six colors: black, red, off-white, transparent, pearl blue and translucent orange. Buy them at epaulet or Karmaloop.

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Azure Office by Sergey Makhno and Butenko Vasiliy

Sergey Makhno and Butenko Vasiliy designed this office for a client whose company produces design accessories. Therefore, the client wanted the office space to directly reflect his business.

The walls are covered in wood and Corian. The space consists of a meeting space, presentation area, terrace, restrooms and storage. I think working in a space such as this would definitely spark my creativity.

Location: Ukraine, Kyiv
Total area: 126 square meters
Project name: Ukraine Design Factory, “Azure”
Main material: Wood, concrete, Corian
Design team: Sergey Makhno and Butenko Vasiliy

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Skim Milk: FNS Apartments in Germany by Reinhardt Jung

Every so often I come across a stunning work that completely hits me by surprise. This time around, the work is by an architecture firm called Reinhardt Jung, based in Frankfurt, Germany. FNS Apartments is a renovated residential space that focuses on architecture based on function.

Take a quick look at the interior and you will immediately notice a few unique characteristics, such as moving walls, and built-in storage. While the stark white interior may be excessive to some, it accentuates the openness and clean, geometric lines formed from the cabinets and drawers.

I personally appreciate the concepts upon which this residence was formed. Influenced by “The Little Prince,” there is a depiction of an outline of a snake, and a second picture of what is enclosed within it; in relation to the architecture, it symbolizes the form’s dependency on the content of the interior — instead of form over function, it becomes form surrounding function.

Photography by Lumen Photography.

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A Swinging Dining Experience

Feel like a kid again in Duffy London’s fun Swing Table!

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Theo Altenberg

Theo Altenberg is a German artist and singer whose oil on cardboard paintings are dreamy.

[via Design for Mankind and The Audacity of Color]

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Sjotime Industries

Sjotime Industries (pronounced “Showtime”) is a design and fabrication studio based in Denver, Colorado whose work ranges from large scale custom design/build projects to furniture, bowls and bud vases, and even decorative panels.

The studio is headed by Dan Sjogren, whose main goal is to create fresh contemporary design in the real world, not just the computer screen. Most of their work is produced using a CNC machine, but they also create the old-fashioned way, too. One of my favorite pieces is the Coral sideboard (below), which was essentially an experiment in layering and randomness. The two perforated layers create an organic filigree stretched around a long low box. I love the two-toned version.

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