Editor's Blog

Got tips or suggestions? Send us an email to webeditor@trendsideas.com.

When you place the brand names 'Leica' and 'Hermes' anywhere near each other, you can safely assume the price tag is going to be relatively stratospheric, but that doesn't stop this limited edition of Leica's legendary Rangefinder 35mm camera from being one of the best looking cameras to ever grace the earth. With just 200 in the world, you'll probably need to move fast on this one and decide whether you want the orange or the etoupe calfskin.

Thankfully, you do get something for your investment beyond the camera body itself. Included is a LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. wide-angle lens, a complimenting classic round lens hood in silver and a colour-matched leather carrying strap. But with little to differentiate it from a regular Leica M7, it's really the look of the leather that will win you over. Available December through Leica Camera AG.

This year’s winner of the World Architecture Festival Awards comes with a message – architecture should be a practice in humility, cultural respect and community. The World Building of the Year was the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre, designed by South African architect Peter Rich (On the Festival website is a great video where Mr Rich talks about how he wants to serve and uphold the community through his work).

Considering the country’s past, isn’t it wonderful that a South African architect has gained international recognition for a project inspired by and intended to foster understanding of African culture? But besides the message, or the political comment, the centre is, as jury member Suha Ozkan noted, “the most architecturally and psychologically powerful project. It carries both weight and a message of complexity to the outside world.”

See more at www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.

Email me on Frederique.gulcher@trendsideas.com.

If you want to speed around the lake but wouldn't be seen dead on a jetski (and really, who would?) then there's thankfully an option for you to do it in absolute style.

images courtesy of Frauscher boats

At first glance, the new Facebook offices in Palo Alto tick all the expected hipster boxes right down to the fixed-gear bikes casually dotting the decor, but from private meeting rooms to communal spaces and open plan offices, this conversion of an old laboratory facility reflects the nature of it's inhabitants without getting completely lost in 'cool'. Designed by O+A, who have a long portfolio of interior projects for tech and start-up firms, The process involved interviews and collaboration with input from all 700 employees. Sounds like a headache, but the end result speaks for itself.

A fantastically simple and livable kitchen that caught my eye in our latest Kitchen Trends Book incorporates a number of features that would be at the top of my wish list. Functional and clean lined, it caters to the whole family, from the blackboard wall to the vast amounts of storage (I hoard!). The kitchen space opens out into the living area, allowing light to flow from all sides and ensures the kitchen remains an active part of the house. Click the link below to read the full article.

When putting together the latest Outdoor Living & Holiday Home Trends for the Southern Hemisphere, we were faced with a dilemma – finding the right cover. Yes, of course, this is every editor’s challenge, but when the subject is holiday homes that are built toward the views, it’s nigh on impossible to get the best side of the house and the view in the same frame. The mountain retreats in this issue are prime examples – in one case, the house is practically invisible, as it is tucked into a spur. The grass verge continues over the top of the garage, doubling as a helicopter pad. This was the project that made it to the cover and I’d love to hear what you think of it. Email me on Frederique.gulcher@trendsideas.com.

The instantly recognizable 214 (originally just 14) chair is turning 150 this year and to celebrate, German furniture design firm Thonet are calling for photos of this truly iconic chair from the public. The drawcard? A trip for two to New York and the chance for your photo to feature among the chosen 214 which will compiled into a book showcasing a chair that has sold over 50 million units, not to mention inspiring millions of knock-offs too. Since Michael Thonet first introduced the ‘Consumsessel Nr. 14’ in 1859, this bentwood icon has remained in constant production and can be found all over the world. A true design classic. Find out more... 

Furniture good enough to eat? It's not quite Willy Wonka made real, but this range of pieces from Netherlands-based company Spell certainly looks the part. the Sweet Collection ranges from chocolate slabs of couch, to old fashioned ice-creamy stools, as well as a scattering of confectionery-like cushions. If it's to your taste (you have to love pink!) it's unique and quirky stuff. View more... 

Access can often be a problem when it comes to repurposing space or converting commercial buildings into apartments, and the less space you can take up with purely functional items the better... But when it comes to stairs, there's always room for a touch of flair without sacrificing floor space. This amazingly simple staircase from eestairs takes up just 1 meter square, thanks to an angled center pivot. Smart! View more...

Flickr never ceases to amaze me as a source of design ideas and inspiration, and here's a couple of fantastic Flickr collections/pools that really stand out.

The Dieter Rams Pool - An influential designer for Braun, Dieter Rams has over 300 Flickr members contributing images of his finest work. It's a sure sign of quality if Apple nods in your direction these days, and the calculator below (right) might seem familiar if you've ever used the calculator on an iPhone. There are too many stand out examples to mention, but Dieter is responsible for such wonders as the SK 6 turntable unit below.  View more...

The US Library of Congress - Possessing a huge catalogue of historical industrial and social images from the past century (and into the previous), the Library of Congress has taken to loading their collections onto Flickr for general consumption. An absolute standout has to be the 30s and 40s images recently uploaded in color! Unusual and rare for the time, they seem almost staged. View more...

Constantly thinking six months ahead is one of the most disconcerting things about being an editor – or being in the publishing business in general. A few days ago we presented the storyboard for our last publication of the year – Kitchen Trends Volume 2510, which won’t be on sale until mid-December!

It’s odd to sit back and think “Well, that’s another year finished,” when it’s just the last week of July; and I do think my work calendar contributes to the growing realization that time whizzes by faster with each passing year.

Starting late in 2008, we increased our kitchen-centered publications from two issues a year to four. Plus, each issue of Home & Remodeling Trends features a kitchen section. That’s a grand total of 374 pages, featuring 92 individual kitchens. We’ve also had seven wine cellars (19 pages), three sculleries (12 pages) and three outdoor kitchens (also 12 pages).

Sometimes it feels like my working life is a cross between “Groundhog Day” and The Food Network!

There have been some especially memorable kitchens this past year – here are a few of my favorites:

	I like the monochromatic elegance of this kitchen, plus it’s a very efficient set-up for, you know – actually cooking! Oodles of space to spread out ingredients and chopping boards and all sorts of things. Friends – or my son - could sit at the counter and talk to me while I cook. I love the artwork and the light fixtures, too!  View article...
	Doesn’t this make you want to wrap up in an afghan your Grandma knitted and wait for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready? The fireplace, the ancient cookware (copper, though, so it lasts forever!), the hanging baskets… and the bookshelves. This is a kitchen I would love – but even better would be if someone else was cooking, while I read a book and wait for the results!   View article...
	It’s so pretty, and beautifully detailed without being fussy. The millwork is just extraordinary, and nothing has been left to chance. Notice that the numerous switch plates in the backsplash are of the same mirrored material. My obsession about non-integrated switch plates is a running joke in the editorial department. Trust me, in a future entry switch plates will be discussed in great detail… you’ve been warned!  View article...
	So happy and colorful. This is a real family kitchen. Good work triangle, so I could cook my heart out in this space. But see the window seat with the pillow and the bookshelves, and bottles of (dare I hope?) Pinot Noir, tantalizingly close at hand? You’d have a tough time getting me away from that gorgeous little spot.   View article...

And now, on to 2010… storyboard for the first issue of Home & Architectural Trends is in three weeks, and THAT won’t be on sale until February of next year. More great houses, bathrooms and, of course, KITCHENS!