Editor's Blog

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

Open air living, California style

There's something eternal about the summer sun in California, and this property featured in our latest US Home & Architectural Trends exemplifies everything I love about building to that environment.

From the glassed in formal lounge, to the simple yet effective pivoting doors, this house gives a nod to the classic 50s and 60s era housing of the area. The Flintstones-esque paving across the lawn only adds to the character of this stunning property.

Read the full article here, or view the eBook edition of this Trends book here.

Costa Rican Dream- The Iseami House

With a vast body of research behind it, every element of this isolated home is a considered part of the overall environmental equation.

Nestled on Costa Rica's Peninsula de Osa, this truly tranquil property embraces nature in every direction, while minimising it's impact on the fragile ecosystem surrounding it.

Photography courtesy of Juan Robles. Via ArchDaily.

The modernist's dream catalogue.

Mid century furnishings have always had a place in the hearts of design enthusiasts the world over, but the return of TV's obsessively detailed Mad Men has seen that enthusiasm burst forth again.

Fancy knowing a bit more about Don Draper's Desk Lamp? Mid Century Modernist have taken the pain out of the research for you, with a great run-down on the show, the people who work to get the sets looking perfect, and a great Mid Century Furniture Gallery inspired by Mad Men.

See MidCenturyModernist.com for more.

A Series of Stunning Houses.

This week we've gathered a selection of homes that have been 'doing the rounds' of blogs the world over. From Brazil to Japan to Singapore, these are three stunning and inspired examples of architectural design!

First up, the Grid House in Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil. Designed by Forte, Gimenes & Marcondes Ferraz Architects. This house lives and breathes it's own structure:

And thirdly, this outer-space inspired home in Osaka, Japan by Eastern Design Office. Clean and unassuming from the street, it's long low window hints at the treasure of it's outlook on the far side of the house.

Optical illuminations.

This simple and playful light fixture goes by the name of 'Definitely', but the illusion it creates is far more open to interpretation than it's title might have you believe.

Based on a sculpture by French artist Jean D'Imbleval and bought to life by Lahumière Design, the Aluminium and LED light presents a M.C. Escher-esque cube, both flat and 3D, simultaneously indented and raised from the wall but when viewed side-on tells a very different story.

Via muuuz.com, For more info visit Lahumière Design.

The perfect club? - Brussels does it again.

The good folk over at Yatzer.com alerted us to this fantastic reinvention of a church as an absolutely stunning high end bar and venue.

Spirito - Martini is housed in what was very obviously a church in its previous life, but with the vision of it's owner and Puresang Design Studio's efforts, what was once a very restrained and somber space is now a stylish and very slick club environment. Situated in Rue de Stassart, Brussels, Belgium, Spirito - Martini is spread over three bar spaces, with private rooms and five different lounges and promises visitors a particularly glamorous locale.

For anyone passing through Brussels, pack your finest attire, as this is one night-time destination well worth the effort.

Via Yatzer.com - photos (c) Mark Groeneveld

The Pantone Hotel - Brussels

Given Pantone's ubiquitous presence in the design world, it's no wonder that the blogosphere is awash with coverage of Pantone's latest foray beyond the colour charts it's traditionally known for.

Situated in Brussels, Belguim and standing 7 stories high, the boutique-sized hotel features individual colour palettes on each floor and guarantees a colourful stay, regardless of your room choice. All part of the ever expanding Pantone Universe which has seen the brand move from simple accessories such as paper pads, to kitchen mugs and more recently furniture such as the folding metal chairs, and eyewear emblazoned with Pantone's distinct colour blocks and codes.

Thankfully the efforts of interior designer Michel Penneman and architect Olivier Hannaert, go far beyond merely adding the pantone label to their efforts, and the playful use of colour throughout does justice to Pantone's desire to colour the world. View more at pantonehotel.com

Minimalism

Minimalism is still very much the trend in Europe, according to 2009 Australian Bathroom Designer of the year, Paul Hutchison. He recently attended I Saloni 2010 in Milan, the trade fair that includes the International Bathroom Exhibition and Eurocucina International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition.

“Designers are continuing to shed the stereotype of the kitchen as a static space, creating increasingly interactive areas,” Hutchison says. “But while these spaces are multi-purpose, products and appliances are smooth and designed to be concealed below surfaces, creating a clean and minimalist look.”

Hutchison, director of Kitchen Bathroom Design Studios in Melbourne, attended the annual fair with more than 300,000 other international designers, after winning the Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute of Australia award. Other design trends Hutchison noted in Milan show a tendency toward softer curves and ambient lighting, to give kitchen cabinetry and bathroomware a floating effect. Not surprisingly, light colours are ideal to achieve this aesthetic, so in the kitchen, there is a return to white. The design and material emphasis is on islands. “One stand I saw featured a kitchen island made entirely of marble – including the drawer-fronts. The design was extremely clever and the effect was quite dramatic,” Hutchison says.

Mixes of mid-tone horizontal veneers were also prevalent at the show. Similarly in the bathroom, tubs, hand basins and particularly showerhead designs are emphasised. Unusual, sculptural and innovative styles create an interesting, sometimes abstract, focal point for the space.

“Although I saw a lot of new trends in Europe, the Australasian market is certainly catching up,” says Hutchison.

“The extent to which the technology is introduced in our market will depend on whether manufacturers decide to import these types of products. Where I do think we will see an immediate response is in lighting, with designers in this region likely to become even more creative.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Trends in kitchens and bathrooms. Email me your comments at Lydia.brewer@trendsideas.com.

White kitchens and islands are becoming increasingly popular. Kitchen by Paul Hutchison.

Kitchen by Anna Welsh Design (Auckland).

The Hill End Ecohouse - Brisbane, Australia

Modular housing is increasingly popular amongst design enthusiasts and more often than not these days, they're moving past proof of concept and heading straight into production.

The Fincube is the latest in a long line of simple but elegant small dwellings, utilising natural materials and a small footprint to create a living space that is able to appear both private and airy. The interior fit-out is entirely flexible, but focuses on retaining simple lines and the same light timber that surrounds the structure.

Atop a small central support, the Fincube provides a 360 degree wrap of glass, with a unique timber slat skin, letting in light and breaking down the barrier to the outside world, and with the option of rooftop photo-voltaic panels, the Fincube provides a low-impact dwelling with the added bonus of being able to pick it up, and relocate.

New York Architecture: Soaring towers and sprawling streets.

Google Earth is already impressively immersive and street view has long become a default first look for property hunting, directions and simply getting your bearings, but this video of their latest efforts in 3D-ifying New York City takes the cake. It's only a matter of time before this rolls out to more cities, more countries and eventually the world. Right now it's a great way to explore some of the architecture of this great city, but thankfully it's a long way from beating the real thing! (can't see the video below? Click here to open the video link)

Storage space is always an issue, especially if you live in an apartment or smaller house, and ultimately it's not much better when you have all the space in the world, because the only thing that brings any kind of order to the art of possessing and hoarding is some means of functional storage.

Luckily, hiding everything away doesn't mean you're stuck with walls covered in boring flat door panels, especially with designs like this one from neuland-id.de , which breaks up the monotony of shelving with varying depths and panel sizes. Line up a bunch of them and you have a veritable sculpture! Entitled 'Reef', the units are available via interlubke.de .

Via www.mocoloco.com

The Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany already contains a number of architecturally outstanding buildings, so any newcomer was always going to be challenged by the high standards set by it's neighbours. Luckily, the new VitraHaus not only looks at home amongst it's peers, but it stands out as a strikingly simple idea that becomes much greater than the sum of its parts.

Giving the appearance of a stack of wooden blocks, or simply rendered house shapes, the five story building was built to house the Vitra Home Collection of furniture, and the interior and exterior play on the idea of rooms, and private houses, while still allowing showroom sized presentations and communal space. And despite the scale of the building and it's engaging design, the interior still allows the furniture to remain the feature, and gives a sense of how it works beyond the showroom. A stunning design, inside and out.
For more about the architecture, click here .

Urban renewal can seem like little more than a catch-cry these days, but when you see the positive impact it can have on a city like Seoul in South Korea, the legitimacy of considered redevelopment is inarguable.

Previously dividing the north and south of the city, the Cheonggyecheon stream was ultimately covered over by raised roading, and it's return to glory in the last few years is nothing short of stunning. The graceful line of parkland and public spaces meanders for 5.8 kilometres through the heart of the city, offering a peaceful alternative to the bustle that surrounds it. Although an artificial waterway itself, the construction reused over 75% of the construction waste and scrap that was torn down from the previous road-way, and as part of a wider city plan has resulted in improved traffic flow, and greater adoption of public transport systems. The benefits to citizens are apparent in the adoption of the space by locals, and the sense of an oasis in a city like Seoul is without a doubt invaluable.

Via www.treehugger.com

Municipal buildings are always a challenge, and it's almost guaranteed that opinions will be divided once the end result is unveiled. Thankfully, architects are often a fearless enough bunch, and when they create something as majestic and striking as Ron Arad's Design Museum in Holon, Israel, it's hard to imagine anything else in it's place. Four years in construction, the Design Museum project has been followed closely by design enthusiasts worldwide and it's opening at the end of January promises to be a landmark occasion for Holon.

Without overwhelming it's own purpose, it incorporates communal areas with exhibition space and ties it all together effortlessly beneath the ribbon-like steel beams that serve as structural elements as well as elemental flourishes. See Ron Arad's website (link below) for more images, and video fly-throughs.

See more at www.ronarad.com

Here are two stunning examples of external cladding breathing new life into old buildings, without the need for major structural rebuilding.

The first, a dance/performance space in Beijing, China, creates it's own sense of movement thanks to clever angles and trapezoid-like shapes. The second, an art space in Berlin proves itself to be almost as worthy of the title 'art', as the works displayed within.

More than simply disguising the structure within, these buildings are able to extend their visual impact without undertaking major rebuilding. Not only does this decrease the cost of demolition and construction, but also greatly reduces the amount of non-recyclable materials finding their way into land-fills.

Via Yatzer.com . See more at www.ar-chiasmus.com/ (Beijing) and www.pottarchitects.com (Berlin)

Dutch firm Oooms have come up with another gem from their long line of offbeat and often usable designs. The aptly named Rebellious Cabinet is exactly the sort of furniture that i couldn't live with (i'm someone who closes a 'slightly' open drawer whenever i see one), yet the idea behind it makes this a lively piece of furniture that will engage everyone who comes anywhere near it. The simple/infuriating design means that closing one drawer simply causes the neighboring drawer to open slightly... at which point you'd naturally try to close that drawer. To open a closed drawer, just push the other one closed!

images courtesy of Oooms.nl

See more at www.oooms.nl

As living spaces get smaller, and storage requirements get greater, shelving becomes more and more integral to living comfortably. Of course not all shelving is designed with maximum capacity in mind, and if you have the space, these modular (and not so modular) units offer a great alternative to straight horizontal and vertical designs, simply by tilting everything 45 degrees.

See more at www.svpply.com

Showing a keen eye for form and impressive structural engineering, Heatherwick Studio of Kings Cross, London has created a bridge that goes further than a lot of their installation style pieces. This one actually performs a true function and does so with both flair and restraint!

Their site is a showcase of their impressive design ideas, from the small but smart Longchamp collaborative zip-bag up to massive sculptures and their beautiful fit out for the Longchamp flagship store in New York.

See more at www.heatherwick.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.

View more... 

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!