INTERIORS \\ Host Restaurant by Norm Architects

Scandinavian Country Gone Copenhagen Contemporary....

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

The new Copenhagen restaurant "Host" by Norm Architects combines traditional rustic Scandinavian interiors with contemporary minimalism, incorporating recycled materials such as weathered boards, antique lamps and old pallets into a simple, fresh white environment. Embodying the same concept as the undercurrent of this blog, the restaurant seamlessly integrates old and new to form a contemporary environment with the comfort, beauty and rawness of aged goods. 

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

The dominant Copenhagen restaurant label Cofoco collaborated with Norm architects and Danish product designers Menu to establish a concept that went much deeper than aesthetics. “We tried to see if we could find a balance where the interior, the dinnerware and the food told the same story, without it being too old-fashioned or too much of a theatrical backdrop,” said Bjerre-Poulsen. The final composition executes this concept clearly and tastefully, integrating the various aspects of the restaurant effortlessly. 

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

Menu created a collection of tableware especially for the restaurant, which includes basic white plates and dishes, alongside blue and grey pieces and slabs of granite (pictured above). The shapes are naturally organic inspired by rustic countryside ceramics. My favorite are the slate plates, and those wine decanters are perfect Christmas presents for the boys.

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

Some details of the materials; I know I have gone all out with the imagery here but you have to take in all the details to appreciate the depth of unity between the interiors, the tableware collection, the food .... and therefore the atmosphere. The windows (above, centre) lining the conservatory were salvaged from an old hospital. 

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

The basement provides a more intimate and private dining experience. The theme, "to transform the feeling of eating outside on a Scandinavian farmyard in rural settings to an urban and more minimalist indoor context,” is continued using vintage cutting boards to line the walls and heavy rustic tables contrasted with simple light coloured chairs in the whitewashed space. 

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

Had to put the food in there.... Left to right //  slate plate  //  small white bowl and jug  //   slate plate by Menu 

To read more about the restaurant, visit New Norm 

FURNITURE FETISH \\ Candle Holders

More Candle Candy...

"Crowd Candle Sticks" by Stockholm Designer David Taylor 

I know I have only just posted on candle holders, but then I remembered these super quirky little guys and just had to do an extra feature on them. Spied on Dezeen in September, the Crowd Candlesticks, at any one time include 25-30 individually named candlesticks, including Angela, Sid and Kevin (top image, left to right). Taylor explains,"Pieces are replaced with new as they leave the group in a process of continual rejuvenation and reinvention". Such a cool concept; I so want one under my name, they remind me of little Bauhaus cupcakes, luckily they look to good to eat. Regarding materials he is, "using a full material pallet ... allowing each candlestick to have it’s own integrity, enabling it to stand alone or work together with any number of “colleagues". They all have so much personality, together or apart, they are always going to stand out in the 'crowd'.

MOST ADMIRED RESIDENCE \\ Artist Dale Frank

Kookie...

Photos scanned from Vogue Living Australia May/June 06

Dale Frank is a well known Australian artist recognized for his psychedelic, abstract paint splattered canvases. Frank worked in Europe and America during the 1980s before returning to Australia to eventually end up in this house of eclectic collectors furniture as bright and colorful as his paintings. Each room is painted a slightly different shade of green which meets the traditional patterned early 1900's carpet (which his "Grandma had in her good rooms") providing a bold pallet for the fascinating collection of collectors antiques alongside minimal contemporary furniture. 

Bottom right: The "storm room" opened up onto the verandah. In the corner is the voluptuous form of Gaetano Pesce's 1969 classic for B&B Italia, the "Up 5" chair and ottoman. Next to it is an 1800's french brass sitting room lamp. On the steal "Dip" bench by B&B Italia sits an early Hannah Barlow lamp. 

Photos scanned from Vogue Living Australia May/June 06

This is definitely my favorite room. Firstly the egg shell green sets off the carpet so nicely and the room has amazing light; helped obviously by the ceiling to floor mirror wall to the left. Then the combination of the minimalist pieces; the orange Spaghetti chair at the back there, the transparent perspex M Chair and Konstantin Grcic's "Chair One" just visible to the left with the array of colorful velvet antique Baroque; its just exciting. He is an exquisite curator of his own home.

A recent work of Dale Frank \\  "Body Odor expands your personal space" 2012 retrieved Anna Schwartz Gallery

Photos scanned from Vogue Living Australia May/June 06 The kitchen (top left) is the only room that is not green and instead fresh white. The feature of the room is the collection of wall mounted porcelain plates complimented nicely with the high gloss black table top and the "Louis Ghost" chairs by Kartell. The antique walnut bed heads are given an edge by the golden yellow contemporary Kartell bedside lamp which draws out the subtle spatters of yellow in the artists own painting behind.  "Im not sure if I am minimalist that likes collecting or a collector that likes minimalism"           Dale Frank, 2006

FURNITURE FETTISH \\ The Candle Holder

Candle Candy...

Clockwise from top left  \\  " Wall of Flame" by Frederik Roije  \\  Multi Tired Brass Tubular Candle Holders by Gio Ponti, sourced Showplace Antique and Design Centre New York  \\  "Istanbul Twilight" Felt  candle holders by Siba Sahabi  \\  "Lup" by Shane Schneck for Hay  \\

Here in Copenhagen, the days are getting darker so the candles are getting lit earlier. Check out my picks of cool candle candy for your "hygge" candle collection. Dutch designer Frederik Roijé presents this streamline, ultra modern take on the candle holder that looks like a bent pipe poking through a wall. I'm usually a fan of anything made from used piping so maybe thats why these little powder coated steal tubes appeal to me for a more clean cut representation. You can't go past the old brass candle holders, I was going to put in one of the more traditional style late 1800's brass candle holders but am also a huge fan of this slightly more contemporary beauty by Gio Ponti. 
The stunning felt creations by Amsterdam designer Siba Sahabi were presented by MINT at London Design Festival earlier this year. They are so different and have an old worldly, rustic feeling about them. Having been in Istanbul earlier this year I can see where the inspiration is beautifully expressed through the many layers of felt. And last - little LUP, of course in my material crush "copper" but looks great in black as well. Very simple lines with a practical little loop for carrying it through the house to find a midnight snack. 

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE \\ The Design Republic Commune by Neri&Hu

Photography is by Pedro Pegenaute.

Featured this week is The Design Republic Commune opened by Architecture studio Neri&Hu. The design gallery, shop and event space is a beautifully refurbished former colonial police station in Shanghai’s Jingan district. Sighting this on my daily design stalk on Deezeen; I was struck by both the aesthetics and the concept of this building. 

Photography is by Pedro Pegenaute.

Lyndon Neri told Dezeen, "The concept for the Design Commune is to bring designers from around the city to hopefully have a place where they can have a discourse in architecture, in product design, in interior design,” 

 “To have a place where they could shop, a place where they could rest, a place where they could meander and wander and see different shops and different stores, different products, and at the same time be a part of an exhibition, or be part of a gallery, or be part of a talk.” What a luxury for the local design community to have access to such a space. This is how designers grow and push boundaries; with these innovative forms of interaction. Spaces like this should exist in every city. 

Photography is by Pedro Pegenaute.

The renovated brick building houses a series of design stores and showrooms, including the new flagship for Neri&Hu‘s own furniture brand, Design Republic. The simple material palette of white plaster, metal sheeting and glass leaves the raw, beautifully restored brickwork of the building as the feature of the interlocking spaces.

Photography is by Pedro Pegenaute.

Elsewhere in the building, the architects have created a restaurant, a cafe, a lecture hall and a one-room hotel. I love the idea of the one room hotel; like taking things back to university days when you work till all hours and sleep over because you will be back in three hours anyway - and leaving would disturb the mind-flow. I'd love to buy the one room hotel and just live here.

FURNITURE FETISH \\ Copper Pendants

Copping It...

Clockwise from top left  \\  Antique Pendant, copper and painted steel, available Roxy Klassik \\  Copper Pendents by David Derksen, faceted copper, available David Derksen Design  \\  Diamond Light by Frama, textile chord and refined copper fixing, available Frama  \\  "Corona" by FRANK, Material / Ceramic shade, opal blown glass inner shade with polished stainless steel reflector, powder-coated steel ceiling fixing, matt powder-coated steel fixings, steel suspension cable, available Frama Agency \\

I'm drooling over everything copper at the moment but especially copper pendants. Copper details in a space add a warmth and elegance. Copper can look so sleek in a contemporary environment and yet can have a rustic touch when integrated with classic pieces or a rougher interior. It's hands down my favorite metal colour - drop these pendants over a restaurant table, reception desk or in the corner of your living room over your favorite reading chair....the space will immediately have a new edge. 

Concept...

 FEATURED  Copper Pendents by David Derksen, faceted copper, available David Derksen Design

Hospitality Environment \\  clockwise from far left  \\  Set of 6 "Wishbone Chairs" by Hans.J.Wegner, Roxy Klassik  \\  FEATURED  Copper Pendents by David Derksen, faceted copper, available David Derksen Design  \\  Paintitng 'Untitled' (detail) by Gert and Uwe Tobias, 2007; courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London  \\  "T1" table by Frama from Frama Collection

MOST ADMIRED RESIDENCE \\ Interior Designer Seyhan Ozdemir

Perfection...

Photography by Richard Powers 

I had to start this series of posts with probably my number one favorite apartment of all time (big call). It is the Istanbul apartment of Interior Designer Seyhan Ozdemir, one half of Turkish design duo Autoban. The apartment boasts an exquisite fusion of classic, iconic and contemporary furniture. It is modern and quirky while remaining timeless and elegant which is not a skill that comes with ease. The ever elegant pallet of greys are given an edge with subtle pops of colour and the integration of metallic gold throughout.

Photography by Richard Powers 

Some lovely details. That aged wall is incredible, you cant buy this kind of character - if you ever come across a surface like this in an old space which you are refurbishing don't dare plaster over something like this, the character is invaluable. And the metallic gold heaters and exposed piping are clever feature.

Photography by Richard Powers 

People are often scared to paint up a ceiling and make it a bold feature of a room. This is a beautiful example of feature ceiling success. And the metallic gold puts great emphasis of the pendant lamp designed by Seyhan Ozdemir herself along with the other half of Autoban, Sefer Çağlar.

Photography by Richard Powers 

Im not usually a big fan of bed heads but this is stunning. 

From left \\  Design duo Autoban, Seyhan Ozdemir and Sefer Çağlar pictured in their "Nest" chair  \\  I first saw this apartment in one of my favorite books in my library, "Interiors Now", first edition, by Taschen . I have the second edition as well - well worth getting  \\  "The Octopus Light" featured in Ozdemir's apartment, designed by Seyhan Ozdemir and Sefer Çağlar, available Bonluxat