Designer of Sumo pouf, Simon Legald says: “I enjoy working with techniques which are necessary for the design and I like including – instead of hiding – them as part of the design"

A new product coming from design company Norman Copenhagen – “Sumo” pouf is a multifunctional piece of furniture and can be used as an extension to the sofa, a feature in the bedroom or a stool in the entrance hall. It comes in five classic colors: black, grey, beige, purple and turquoise.

The designer Simon Legald has combined several types of upholstery, wood, buttons and stitching for a most simple, yet charming effect.

See more at Norman Copenhagen design blog ”Spotted by”.

The home screen of The Noun Project site

If you are a design aficionado, like myself, you will surely appreciate the pioneer work of thehusband-and-wife team of Edward Boatman and Sofya Polyakov, who  started “The noun project”  along with designer Scott Thomas.

A nice, whole-harted text about he idea behind it all can be read at their post ” a fascination wit the ordinary“.

They have (cleverly) come up with the idea that common symbols  should be readily available to everyone via their site. The collection is daily enhanced by submissions from all over the world, one of the recent being a simple symbol for the Russian toy-icon “Cheburashka”.

Alexey Bondarenko from Russia submitted this great symbol for Cheburashka

some items from collections MAPLE AND ASHLEAF, GERANIUM, KUBONG

Swedish artist Emma Sjödin runs her design/artistic company  KD Konstig Design based on her raw talent. Inspired by nature which surrounds her, Emma makes exceptional pictures in various techniques. Once her pictures are done, she transfers them on various materials, crating useful objects mixed with art.

Frozen Arctic Agonist No1 Inspired by the frozen arctic icescapes this edition capsulates a fresh jewel of Parfum made of 100% natural ingredients. Top Notes: Brazilian Orange, White Freesia, Red Bilberry

These Agonist bottles are not meant to be thrown away after you extract the last drop of perfume – because every bottle is hand-made by the prestigious Kosta Boda Glasswork situated in the deep forest of Småland, Sweden. The traditional craft of glass blowing is challenged in collaboration with the award-winning glass artist Åsa Jungnelius. Each individual piece is unique and no bottle looks the same.

Each bottle is a sculpture and you can buy the refill of the perfume. The fragrances are concocted from 100% natural ingredients, with scents deriving from a multitude of sources, from Bulgarian rose to Atlas Cedarwood.

Agonist has set up a new niche market of their own, opening shop in Rome as a sign that good things come in even better packages.

Liquid Crystal Agonist No4 This fresh and oriental 100% natural fragrance is sharp and clean as a samurai sword. The unique and skillful composition is expressed in the sculpture using the finest cutting techniques in glass and draped in gold and silver. Top Notes: Bergamot, Artemisia Absinthium, Oriental Spices, Cloves, Sicilia Orange

Infidels Agonist No3 Sculpture Line Edition No 3 s is a deep and captivating fragrance inspired by the exact moment when the bud is about to burst. The heart of the rose with a deep and sensual ambience. Top Notes: Pink Pepper Jp, Sicilia Lemon, Cloves, Indian Davana And Elemi

link: www.z33.be/en/projects/alter-nature-we-can

Makoto Azuma - Frozen Pine

In Frozen Pine, a Z33 commission, a bonsai pine tree is ‘freeze-sprayed’ and presented in an especially designed refrigerator. The icicles slowly extract the colour from the bonsai tree – the bonsai dies, but its beauty is preserved in optimum conditions.

Makoto Azuma
Shiki 1
Courtesy Makoto Azuma

photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33

Reinier Lagendijk - Zonder titel 2009 Courtesy Reinier Lagendijk photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33

Reinier Lagendijk presents with this work a 140cm high yucca plant. Conscious of the techniques of plant manipulation and processes and capacities of plant growth, Lagendijk creates poetic images which often come across as humoristic in the almost human dimensions they have been given.

Reinier Lagendijk
Zonder titel 2009
Courtesy Reinier Lagendijk

photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33

Allison Kudla Growth Pattern 2009 Courtesy Allison Kudla Production support of UHasselt

Growth Pattern consists of a 2,5 x 2,5m grid in which 64 Petri dishes contain tobacco plant leaves cut in specific shapes. The work takes on the form of a pattern and shows a direct link with design and the history of nature as a motif and interior design element.

Allison Kudla
Growth Pattern 2009
Courtesy Allison Kudla
Production support of UHasselt

photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33

This is a spread from the new Frame publish – a book exploring retail design from around the globe, showing more than 170 shop interiors.

The book also has gilded page edges, which adds to the overall glamour aspect.

check out more at the website www.frameweb.com/books/powershop-3

Nordic Saga - a collection of elements for Scandinavian inspired rooms

Ceramic tea cups with bent-wood holders – “Warm” by Tonfisk
Marimekko produced textiles with tree branches laden with snow by Erja Hirvi
Hans J Wegner Style CH24 – blonde wood chair
Candle holders from Home autur de monde
Bed linnen from Lexington company
“Winterlove cushion” by FS HOME COLLECTIONS

Norhtern lights inspired theme for winter interior decoration

Egg chair by Tord Boontje, cushions from Home Autur de Monde, white cupboard seating by Kvanum

Charming autumn

From the ripe apples in the orchard to the chopping board, this autumn it`s all about added value. The stylish chopping board is by designer Stéphane Clivier for REINE MERE (photo by PH neutre Design). Leaf doorstoper is by Teerachai Suppameteekulwat for QUALY (photo by Oner). Birds on wire stickers are by Ferm Living, wood carrier is Canto by Artek and the hedgehog plate is by Klaus Haapaniemi for Iittala.