Murakami at Versailles

Finally got chance to see the Murakami exhibition at the Château of Versailles this weekend and thought I'd share a couple of his palace furnishings : happy happy lamps and a carpet that would have the French kings spinning!

Japanese tea

So often in design the simple things are the most appealing and I think this is true of the ceramics of Takemoto . Drawing from nature and incorporating many of the plants and flowers indigenous to her native Japan, Takemoto produces bright, vibrant kitchenwares that have a sturdy, homely look. I find the solidity of the look and its' straightforward cheerfulness really charming!

Yukari Sweeney

I totally love these wallpapers and lampshades by Yukari Sweeney. There's a kind of nostalgia for the drawing room chintz that is nonetheless contemporary in colour scheme and execution. I think they're really beautiful and love the warm, soft tones that she prefers.A new favourite to add to my ever-lengthening list of wallpaper designers!

Never felt so good!

So, the Poppy Club Club has been up and running for several months now - enough time to observe that there is one material increasingly used in all areas of interior design : felt. From tea-cosies to fake plants - passing through wall dividers, cushions and carpets - designers love the stuff and are hugely inventive in its use.
Made from matting and compressing woollen fibres, felt has traditionally been used in Central Asia in the making of tents, slippers and rugs but today it can be found in almost any place in almost any form! Below is a selection of a few pieces that celebrate the versatility and beauty of this fine man-made fabric :

Featured a few months back on the The Poppy Club, (see blog post of May : "Stars of the Silver Screen")Selina Rose has to be my heroine when it comes to felt. Cutting away delicate patterns that let the light through, her cushions, wall panels, throws and rugs are all refined and elegant - exquisite to look at and sure to be the focal point of any room. Divine.

In Finland,  Sirkka Kannusmaki makes a whole range of plants and flowers totally out of felt. They are great for those of us with decidely un-green fingers or for those with allergies. I actually think they are a lovely item in their own right and love the craftsmanship involved in their creation.

Mixko is a design studio set up by Alex Garnett and Nahoko Koyama

who design a variety of accessories and homewares including these gorgeous felt lampshades which come in a whole host of tantalising colours!

In Canada, Felt Studio describes itself as a "laboratory" led by Kathryn Walter, who works exclusively in felt, producing both large-scale artworks as well as smaller functional pieces such as this "Pearl" lampshade.

And above an Etsy find by atelierpompadour in Italy. Several cute designs for cushions can be found here including the "Swallows on a line" and "Rush Hour" pieces  featured above.

This one's also an Etsy find, this time from Regansbrain in Minneapolis, USA. There are heaps of fun combinations on offer and all are made to order. The felt used is in fact "eco-fi" made from 100% re-cycled plastic bottles and is appliqued onto a background fabric. I love the use of a garish backdrop against a monotone felt silhouette!

Devoted to "sustainable living", branch sell several felt items manufactured to a high degree from factory excess wool. I have a soft spot for the "Rosebud" bowl above...

Karen Hilton Designs in England, use felt to celebrate "Britannia", producing cushions that sport some of the best known emblems of "Britishness" : the Queen's Head, the Crown and the Union Jack. Favouring a Pop-Art type style that relies heavily on sihouette and striking colours, she also tips her hat at the USA, paying tribute to that emblem of all emblems, the Stars and Stripes.




And to finish, Canada's Argyle St,  who are amongst the master tea-cosy makers of the bloggosphere.

Glassmic Vase

This item, selected by Spoon and Tamago caught my eye a few weeks back, a "Glassmic Vase" by Norihiko Terayama of Studionote.

It's incredible to look at - the combination of glass and ceramic making for a very dramatic effect. I also love these "Twotoo" cups - created by using a traditional method devised to repair broken ceramic dishes. You can even see the silver and gold lines where the original pieces have been stuck together. I love the frailty of the idea. For more detailed information follow the the Spoon and Tamago link.

A Fairytale Tea Time

With the release in France last week of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" it's a good time to post about the cups and plates of Japan'sShinzi Katoh . From what I remember of Peter Rabbit Wedgewood china, fairy tale characters have long been recruited in the drive to make tea time fun and these designs keep that tradition alive. Whether portraying the girlish antics of Alice or the more boyish adventures of Pinocchio, the designs are sure to catch the hearts and minds of junior cinema-goers the world over!

From French Industry to American friezes with a nod to Japanese glass - decals with a difference

Amongst the millions of decals and wall stickers out there, there are a couple of distinct trends that I'm quite fond of.
Elly Nelly sold via Supermarket and Etsy produces a number of frieze style decals, which I think can look great above radiators, ledges or work surfaces:

The French company Harmonie-interieure have a line of text-based stickers drawn from industrial warnings, labels and posters. I like their urban tone and suspect that often an attractive font can be just as pleasing to the eye as an image!





And from Japan, this little find courtesy of Spoon and Tamago by Noto Fusai - a window sticker with a speech bubble saying "Why don't you look at me for once instead of the outdoors?" I'm not sure that everyone will get the humour of it (especially if you don't speak Japanese) but love the idea of window stickers! To be explored further...