Creative Suite pillow collection

They're hand-made and $15 each at mysuitestuff.com--or $80 for the "premium package," so to speak.

Tsarist Russia's wooden clockwork

This beautiful watch was made by Bronnikovs of the pre-revolutionary era, according to English Russia, but not many survive. Examples now allegedly fetch about $20,000.

Spanish art installation features recycled shopping bags

You don't need to spend a lot of money to make cool illuminating installation art. The Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain recently featured these cloud-like lamps made of 80 recycled shopping bags.

Number 62 by Bob Foundation

I think that some of the most creative work in Japan right now is being done by Bob Foundation. I blogged about there awesomer than awesome coat hanger a while ago. Now they’ve launched their own brand of paper products, “Number 62.” They just concluded their launch show at the National Art Center in Tokyo and the images look great!!

Images courtesy of Bob Foundation

Children’s Gift Guide

In all aspects of Japanese culture (art, cuisine, etc.) there is a special emphasis on the material that is used. That is why many of the pictures I’m about to post consist of products made from durable, child-friendly materials, and is one of the reasons that I absolutly LOVE these products from Japan.

Wood Artisan Set available at Rakuten
For all those future handymen!

“Maze” Bookshlef available from Rakuten
I would have loved to have such a fun bookshelf!

Carota furniture available at boo-hoo-woo
What can I say…. so so so cute!

Cob Stool available at Kagiroi
Set of wooden stools that can be arranged according to your needs. Toddlers can use them as a chair and desk or they can even be arranged as a display.

Take Furniture series available at Rakuten
Adorable chairs and desks made from bamboo!

HIDA

HIDA

These are a collection of works actually designed by the Italian designer Enzo Mari, and crafted by Japanese production company HIDA.

HIDA actually refers to an ancient Japanese society of wood-working artisans who were commissioned by the government to construct various temples and other architectural buildings. In other words, a 1300-year old art of wood-working that has been passed down through the ages…that is pretty awesome.

Seiko drum machine watch of the 1980s

Spiegel's history of digital watches has some delights in store: this model, from Seiko, has a built in drum machine.

Historic Digital Watches (Machtrans) [Spiegel via Ffffound]

Jorine Oosterhoff

I'm digging Jorine Oosterhoff's Hotel Dinnerware series, designed in collaboration with Egbert-Jan Lam of buroJET. I'm a huge fan of Jorine's playful Tea Time tableware collection, and this series is designed in the same playful vein.

"All pieces are different characters and turn dinner, breakfast and lunch into a playful yet chic feast meal. The set consist of a dinner set, breakfast set, tea set, coffee set, asian set an a liqueur set. Also the cutlery is specially designed and fits into this dinnerware."

The "Tea Time" collection is a very playful set of tableware. I love the smooth lines and the irregular shapes. Inspired in part by Alice in Wonderland and other fantastical characters, "Tea Time" would be a fun addition to your tableware collection. Available at Rose and Radish.

Mannequin lamps

Publish Post

I love these new mannequin-lamps by product designer Daniel Loves Objects!--they're made of gold-plated cast metal, come in two sizes, and are bendable and adjustable so you can have them sit in various positions in your living room. You can't buy them yet, but the Singaporean designer hopes they'll hit consumer space soon. [via Cool Hunting]

'traditional series' by naoto fukasawa for maruni

'traditional series: dining chair with arms' by naoto fukasawa

for the 2008 maruni collection, naoto fukasawa has created two new collections of wood furnishings.
'hiroshima' is a collection of dining chairs and tables which is made from naturally finished beech and oak.
the other collection is the 'traditional series' which is inspired by maruni's previous mediterranean and versaille
collections. this collection merges european decorativeness with the craftsmanship of japanese woodworkers.

all images by yoneo kawabe, courtesy of maruni wood industry inc.

'traditional series: dining chair and dining table' by naoto fukasawa


'traditional series: dining chair with arms' by naoto fukasawa


'traditional series: two seater sofa' by naoto fukasawa


'traditional series: single seat sofa' by naoto fukasawa

Naoto Fukasawa: lighting system for panasonic electric works

'sphere' by naoto fukasawa

japanese designer naoto fukasawa will exhibit his 'sphere', 'bucket' and dome lights
that he designed for panasonic electric works at milan design week 09.


'dome'


'bucket'

Architect Café

Looking for an architect in Japan? Head over to Architect Café, a new concept café that facilitates meetings between individuals and architects. It’s basically like speed-dating for home-builders. They have an extensive database of architects that you can sweep through by name or by portfolio, and decide on a style you like that way! And don’t worry…they offer a bunch of spaces where you can sit down and explore the possibilities with you architect without committing to a relationship!

Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP architects: lotus beauty salon

photo hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects

hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects created a seamless yet dived space for the lotus beauty salon in
kuwana city, japan to give each customer a private and relaxed experience. the beauty salon is located
in the city’s mie prefecture in a long and low structure that sits on a slight incline. the interior was the
main concern for the architects who wanted to create a private and relaxed environment for each client
that didn’t create discontinuity. there solution was to divide the space like an ant hill using one continuous
low wall to create small niches. the wall fluctuates in height as the level of the floor changes. throughout
the salon the wall is used for a variety of functions from waiting chairs to reception desk. the joints from
wall to floor were rounded to makes the space ‘ambiguous and depthless.’ this subtlety is also seen on
the wall, which is painting is a slow and even gradient changing between a range of pale hues.

http://www.nakam.info


photo hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects


photo makoto yoshida


photo hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects


photo makoto yoshida


photo makoto yoshida

Nowhere But Hayama

Japanese architect Yasutaka Yoshimura recently completed Nowhere But Hayama, one out of 3 locations of a new seaside resort known as Nowhere Resort, situated on the Western coastline of the Izu Peninsula. Nowhere But Hayama opened earlier this year following Nowhere But Zushi. The last location, Nowhere But Sajima is slated to open later this year. The pictures look great! And this is right by the ocean?? Sign me up!

Nice to see projects like this developing an English interface as well.

Superkul inc | architect: shift cottage

photo: tom arban photography

superkül inc | architect designed the contemporary shift cottage on ontario, canada’s georgian bay.
the 2000-square-foot residence was completed last summer and sits on an island of rugged granite and
wind-sculpted trees. the structure was situated to take advantage of the wide views and be integrated
into the landscape. the space is divided into two volumes which are linked with a glass walkway.
there is also a sizable deck which provides plenty of outdoor living space complete with kid’s play
area and outdoor shower. the shore facing volume houses the living spaces, while the rear space holds
the sleeping and washing areas. windows were strategically placed to frame viewpoints and all the
materials were chosen to highlight the structure’s form and natural setting.

http://superkul.ca


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography


photo: tom arban photography