This unusually shaped (and situated!) building in New Zealand will someday function as a treehouse restaurant. While it's still under construction, and halfway across the world, I'd love to check out this place in person, wouldn't you? The design for the restaurant was inspired by something in nature that shares a similar shape.
Anyone who has ever heard of a gift registry knows that people get picky when it comes to which gifts they'll accept into their homes. This is particularly true with bride-zillas, first-time pregnant ladies, and design fiends. So, if you're planning to pick up a gift for the son or daughter of a design fiend friend or family member, you better restrain yourself before you head to Toys 'R Us.
Does Interior Design Matter at Your Coffee Shop? According to the Herald Tribune, Starbucks is undergoing a design overhaul of its interiors. I'm curious whether a coffee shop's design influences whether or not you'll order a latte. Does design influence your preferences out of the home?
When most of us look back at the '80s, we see it as a eyesore: big hair, leggings, puffy sleeves, the Bangles. We certainly don't celebrate 1980s fashion design unless sarcastically — with Jacko and Madonna playing in the background. But when you're talking about '80s interior design, there are plenty of things to rave about.
I enjoy
incorporating a love of animals into my decor and these cute pups can be added to my household with nary a scratchmark. The sweet decals can find a happy home on walls, windows, floors (any surface really) and won't
make your actual pets jealous. Each set supplies a varying number of decals based on the breed – and comes with its own story.
It sounds like everyone is universally excited about the new
pricing and specs for the new MacBooks, but one area where I'm hearing different things is in the design. The new MacBooks look like the new Pros, with black glass corner-to-corner around the screen, and black keyboards like the Air has always had. This is obviously different than the old version (still currently available as the $999
entry-level MacBook) that's all white plastic.
Brazilian designers Humberto and Fernando Campana (known as the Campana Brothers and
one of our Designer Spotlights) will receive the prestigious Designer of the Year Award at this year's
Design Miami in December, one of the most influential global design forums,
according to Dexigner. The pair will also create an exclusive installation for the show, called Diamantina. The show will feature a "rattan-like fiber woven around ready-made plastic garden chairs and other plastic objects, such as discarded toys, dolls, flip-flops and tires."
T magazine's
Design Fall 2008 issue is now online! Among other things, the issue takes a look at
provocative new design trends, profiles British editor turned designer
Ilse Crawford, tours the design scene
in Philly, visits
Mario Bellini's Milan palazzo, looks at some inventive
coat trees and umbrella stands, and sneaks a peek at a
monochromatic loft and an
Upstate New York steel-framed guest house. The cover, shown here, which features a chest of drawers that slide in opposite directions, is an allusion to the different directions design is taking today.
Considering cat trees and towers sit out in the same room as your
Cherner Armchair and
flat screen TV, these purchases can be considered furniture, right? While I've shared
both expensive and affordable versions, I began to wonder if you felt these items warranted the same price point as other home furnishings.
Take this handcrafted tower for example – the materials are very high-end (bamboo and microsuede) .
It may be meant for kids, but I think HoweePup is pretty cute . . .
