Design Awards 2013 - the winner!

The results are in! Congratulations to Simon James and Scott Bridgens, whose 'Hex' pendant light takes top honours in our furniture and lighting Design Awards 2013. 

The 'Hex' pendant is a sleek, minimal beauty designed for Resident Studio that combines cutting-edge LED lighting technology with an elegant aluminium frame suspended from three slim wires (two of which, rather miraculously, also supply electricity for the light). It was launched at Milan Design Week in April and is already attracting serious international attention - deservedly so.

See this and our stellar lineup of Design Awards finalists in our new issue, on newsstands from Monday June 3. The photo is by Toaki Okano, and was styled by Sarah Conder and Juliette Wanty. Thanks also to Blum, our Design Awards partner, for their support. 

Chic countryside part I

 Jenni Kayne home

We are driving to the country side this weekend with some friends to breath in fresh air and be eaten up by mosquitoes.  But everything for la naturaleza.  I'm one hundred percent an urban girl but sometimes I like to escape to the countryside and enjoy the simple life although I'm not quite sure why they call it the simple life, I don't think there is anything simple about milking a cow, trying to grab an egg away from a mami chicken and waking up at 5 AM by a rooster.  All my admiration!  Of course all that would be a pleasure if I happen to wake up in either one of these places.  Have a great weekend!

 Daniel Romualdez via Vogue

 via Riding Pretty

Vintage looking travel backpack available at Amazon

Can I have a summer home with a Wisteria filled veranda like this one?

 Jessica Sailer via The Couveteur

Just amazing, this iron French doors are intoxicatingly beautiful.

Beautiful texture of plates and plaster shelf via Pinterest

Swan Lounge chair by Munder Skiles

Our new cover

Here's the cover of our special Design Issue, featuring a group of our stunning furniture and lighting Design Awards finalists. The photo is by Toaki Okano, and the shoot was conceptualised and styled by Sarah Conder and Juliette Wanty. 

We don't like to brag, but we think this issue's an absolute peach. It focuses on the homes of product designers like IMO's Sam Haughton and Hannah Brodie and their enviable inner-city Auckland pad, or industrial designer Ross Stevens, who worked for Philippe Starck in Europe and is building an amazing Wairarapa home out of recycled coolstore panels. 

In this issue, we also travel to Canada's icy Fogo Island to visit artist Kate Newby, who's on a residency in an incredible studio there. And we go to Antarctica to see the restoration job on Robert Falcon Scott's rudimentary huts.

Also! We check out typographer Len Cheesman's lovely Greytown garden, our correspondents report back from Milan Design Week, we inspect a delightful dessert restaurant in Auckland by Cheshire Architects, and much more....

We hope you enjoy it. The issue's on newsstands from Monday June 3.

A cozy home by Concha Rodriguez

The exposed wood columns in this beautiful home designed by Concha Rodriguez has an inviting and cozy feeling that invites one to come in, sit down and possibly ever go back out. 

The days are getting colder here in Sao Paulo where this weekend is a long Holiday.  I can't help but wish to be in a place like this, get swallowed up by that puffy daybed and only get up to eat.  Although I don't see a fireplace it is encouraging to imagine one.  Enjoy!

The power of mirror,  right?

Safari style chairs are paired with vintage side tables and a Moroccan rug in a seating area off the bedroom.

A miniature kitchen that is charmingly modern.

images via Nuevo Estilo

Baby it's sunny outside

"A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition."

William Arthur Ward

A well rounded point of view

As I have mentioned before I love sunglasses not only because they take good care of our eyes but because they also help cover up our worst days.  You know those days when we haven't had much sleep; moms can you hear me?  Lately I'm loving the comeback of round sunglasses or how many people refer to them as John Lennon sunglasses.  Here is a small round up for those coming up sunny days.  Enjoy!

1- Wildfox Bel Air Sunglasses, 2- NYE Sunglasses, 3- Nude round keyhole sunglasses, 4- Lennon sunglasses, 5-  Empire shape, 6- Dee shades, 7- wild soul, 8- Metal top, 9- carrington in khaki

Every home should have: A modern vintage piece

S. Russell Groves home via Elle Decor.  Etagere by Paul McCobb

I can only see benefits when thinking of Vintage modern furniture, especially when paired with basically all kinds of antiques.  Besides being investment pieces, when original, they help lighten up an atmosphere that tends to look rigid or rigorous.  And last but not least there is no better way than recycling when it comes to contributing to the safety of our planet.  Enjoy!

Sela Ward home

Design by Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts

via Iiiinspired

Mathias Kiss

A few lovely pieces.  Yes expensive, but great inspiration to go out to fleet market and hunt for similar vintage pieces.
Chandelier, Stephane Ducatteau bookcase, floor lamp, 60's Italian leather sofa, lucite cocktail table, 1950's large Italian pottery, Mies Van Der Rohe chaise lounge,  Pierre Pauline chair in yellow,

Memorial Day you're so pale

Design by Studio Guilherme Torres

It's a very thin line from the sublime to the ridiculous when decorating with pastel colors.  It's easier to end up with an adult-size shabby doll house; ouch! than an elegant and refined one.  Since I believe or hope, that nobody wants to end up down that road I would only suggest to stay away from whimsically looking furniture or anything too-Victorian.  And, please don't paint them white unless it’s a distressed white.  One thing to keep in mind is Pastel colors are those pale tones on the color wheel so pale is not only pink but any color in its lightest degradation.  Enjoy!

Design by Kelee Katillac via House Beautiful

via Elle Decor

Design by Hecker Guthrie Studio

Design by Baroness Bruno De Pampelonne

via