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

FURNITURE FETISH \\ The Sculptural Wall Piece

Statement Wall Structures...

Collection “Cirkel” Wall lights 01/02 by Daphna Laurens  Photography Mike Roelofs

This FURNITURE FEATURE post focuses on statement wall pieces which channel a functional piece of artwork \\ 

I mentioned in last FURNITURE FETISH post that another Daphna Laurens piece was coming up - well this is it. I just had to do a four image feature on this one to capture the beauty of its transition from day to night. I spoke in the last post about their industrial design blurring the boundaries between furniture and artwork and this piece is the epitome of just that, " They wanted to create a lamp that during the day was an art-piece more than a wall light and at night is a lamp" \\  

Bauhaus is distinctly their main inspiration source and more specifically the works of Laszlo Moholy Nagy \ Jewish-Hungarian-American, July 20, 1895 – November 24, 1946 \ Walter Gropius and the Bauhaus successors would smile in their graves at this piece of work. 

Some of my favorite works by Laszlo Moholy Nagy, left to right \\  Composition A XXI. 1925 \\   Construction. 1923 litograph © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn \\  A II, 1924. Oil on canvas, 45 5/8 x 53 5/8 inches (115.8 x 136.5 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York © 2009 Artist's Rights Society (ARS), New York/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn \\  Images courtesy of http://it-is-snowing-in-nakonxipan.blogspot.dk/ 

Left to right \\  "T28_v1" Shelf by J1Studio made from MDF triangles and zipties \\  Limited Addition \of 10\ Copper Mirror by Michael Anastassiades    

Concept...

FEATURED Collection “Cirkel” Wall lights 01/02 by Daphna Laurens  Photography Mike Roelofs 

Clockwise from left  \\  "Concrete Orchid" by Christian Flindt  \\  FEATURED Collection “Cirkel” Wall lights 01/02 by Daphna Laurens  Photography Mike Roelofs  \\  "JH 803 sofa" by Hans.J.Wegner, Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst  \\  Vintage Morroccan Rug, The Apartment 

FURNITURE FETISH \\ The Foot Stool

Foot Fetish...

Clockwise from top left \\ Vintage Danish designed foot stools, dark stained wood and leather, available  Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst   \\  Daphna Laurens worked with Wittmann as part of the Passionswege program at Vienna design week, See Daphna Laurens - post courtesy of  Dezeen  \\  Vintage Danish designed stools, Steel and black plastic, available Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst \\ Danish design duo from Space Architecture and Interior Design for Mater, dark stained hard wood with black leather, available Mater \\ 

Put your feet up. Make sure you have a cute little footstool to accompany your favorite easy chair. Foot stools don't always have to match the chair like the famous Eames Chair and ottoman by Hermin Miller, in fact I think they sometimes look more interesting if they don't. I love this quirky little duckish stool by Daphna Laurens and Wittman; multifunctional as a seat and side table and would still blend effortlessly with classics; their furniture really blurs boundaries between industrial design and art - another one of their pieces coming up in the next FURNITURE FETISH post.  

Concept...

FEATURED \\  Vintage Danish designed foot stools, dark stained wood and leather, available  Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst 

Clockwise from top left  \\  "P.A. Chandelier" from Park Avenue collection by Soren Rose Studio, De La Espada  \\  Artwork "Untitled" 1985 by Cy Twombly (April 25, 1928 – July 5, 2011)  \\  Easy Chair by Illum Wikkelso and C.F Christensen, Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst  \\  FEATURED Vintage Danish designed foot stools, dark stained wood and leather, available  Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst 

FURNITURE FETISH \\ The Drinks Trolley

     Something Sophisticated ...

Clockwise from top left  \\ "JZ" tea trolley by Jorge Zalszupin, 1950 available in a variety of FSC-certified woods and steel, Produced by Etel, in Brazil, avaliable Espasso \\  "Chariot" by Danish / Italian couple GamFratesi for  Casamania available in Black, White and Red, painted metal; trays and wheels lacquered MDF or solid oak natural, avaliable via Casamania  \\  "Drinks Trolley 901" by Alvar Aalto, 1936 natural birch with black linoleum Made in Finland by Artek, Avaliable Artek  \\  "Trolley" Herbert Hirche, 1910-2002 black steel with glass, avaliable Klassik Moderne Mobelkunst 

Drinks Trollies are my furniture fetish at the moment and they have definitely had a revival...maybe it's the pending release of The Great Gatsby; the 1920's was approximately the time they came into vogue. When I picture the drinks trolley I always used to imagine brass detailing, the finest cut crystal decanters, whiskey as old as the hills and smoking cigars in grandpas library on an old leather Chesterfield. But the drinks trolley these days is not a decadence but a practical necessity (in my mind). Whether your style is classic, eclectic or minimal the drinks trolley adds a sophisticated element of character to your social space. Who needs a built in bar in their residence when you can have a portable one for the living room, kitchen and bedroom. They are also a nice touch in a transitional/ meeting space in the commercial/office environment - perfect for client meetings. 

Concept ...
FEATURED "JZ" tea trolley by Jorge Zalszupin, 1950, avaliable Espasso 

Clockwise from left \\  "Luna Side Table" with brass leg caps by Space Architecture and Interior Design for Stellar Works \\  "Corona" light by Frank, Frama Agency \\  1950's Danish Sofa, Apartment  \\  Antique glass and brass pendants, Roxy Klassik  \\  FEATURED "JZ" tea trolley by Jorge Zalszupin, 1950 available in a variety of FSC-certified woods and steel, Produced by Etel, in Brazil, avaliable Espasso 

It would be ideal in this dreamy composition by Gubi featuring their "Grossman Grashopper" floorlamp  \\  FEATURED "JZ" tea trolley by Jorge Zalszupin, 1950 available in a variety of FSC-certified woods and steel, Produced by Etel, in Brazil, avaliable Espasso