For the love of…Post-It Notes.

Post-It notes. They trigger your memory. They are bright and colourful. They are a vehicle to deliver passive-agressive ‘anonymous’ messages.

They are awesome & could possibly be my favourite item of stationary.

I love their smell. I love their unique stickiness. I love the way they look when they are clustered together.

Whats even better is that their function is not limited to the mere pen. CHeck out some of these inspirational projects below…

(Images via Modernmet)

Post-It Structures is a new project by Yo Shimada of Tato Architects with the cooperation of students from Kyoto University of Art and Design. The installation is on show at the Artzone Gallery in Kyoto City, Japan. It is made up of 30,000 post-it notes in bright fluorescent colors that were glued together to form building components, creating a wall-like structure running throughout the gallery.

(Image via Design Swan)

Next prank on your boss? So cool.

(Image via Design Milk)

Ingenius. Who needs to tell the time – when you can wear a post it note around your wrist. No more scribbling on your hands.

(Image via Web Urbanist)

Rebecca Murtaugh really, really loves post-it notes – she covered her bedroom and various other furniture objects in them! Don’t think I love them that much!

(Image via Holiday Matinee)

Love, love, love this wall – it makes me so happy.

(Image via youdresswierd)

Why wear clothes?…when you can wear post-it notes!! Amazing!!

With that final image…Go forth and embrace the post-it note! What can you do with it?!

Render Bender.

I had a bender last night.

I was rendering for 5 hours straight.

It was when I started hallucinating and seeing everything in black and white…that I knew it was time to put down my copic markers and go to bed….

I definitely need a lot more practice, but I  really enjoyed it. It is all about understanding light & perspective and how that affects colour and form. In this unit, I have learnt it is very important to draw what you actually see not, what you think you see!

After a day at work, I found it to be quite meditative. I have always found colouring in very therapeutic. There is something so satisfying about transforming white into colour that I absolutely love.

This sandwich takes the cake…literally. Check it out.

Our world is defined by design – good or bad…It doesn’t matter – We all wouldn’t be here today (reading this blog) without design.

Something which I believe commonly gets onverlooked is the design of sandwich. I’ve been eating a lot of toasted sandwiches lately…and by a lot…I mean A LOT. (The joys of moving out and not having mum around…)

At my previous job at Tip Top, I immediately realised the importance of a well-design sandwich. Fillings must stay in the sandwich. The sandwich must be easy to hold (preferable with one hand). It must be colourful.

Subsequently, like all good design – a sandwich must be aesthetically appealing yet functional.

Through my experimentation of toasties led me to peruse the internet for some sandwich inspiration…I came across this…Introducing the Smorgastarta…A swedish stable – known as a ‘sandwich cake’

Admittedly, it is kind of freaky looking & I am a little disappointed that it is not chocolate and cream (seems to go against all preconceived notions of a cake!). But it is  basically an enormous savoury sandwich filling (smoked fish, eggs, veggies, mayo, cheese) held together with soft baked bread, which you cut and eat like a cake. AMAZING!!!

Move over toasties…I know what I am trying next..

(Image via TheKtchn)

Ok, its Friday night and I am dying for a glass of wine (maybe with a my own version of a Smorgasta)

Happy Friday!!

Not so Boring: Concrete.

I just spent hours and hours researching concrete. You think it would be mind-numbingly boring…and yes, it was for the first hour – but then (to my suprise) got really involved in it.

Concrete. Not the most aesthetically appealing man-made material. It is grey. It is bland.  It is cold. It is purely functional. Or is it….

After researching concrete in general, I then focused on look at Terrazzo – guaranteed everyone has walked on it, sat on it, touched it….yet, it often goes unnoticed – subtly merging into the space.

FYI:

Terrazzo is created by exposing marble chips and other fine aggregates (such as marble, quartz, granite, glass, mother of pearl, various synthetic materials and other stones) on the surface of finished concrete or epoxy-resin (majority of terrazzo installed is epoxy terrazzo).

Doing this assignment forced me to review my pre-conceived notions of concrete.

It is beautiful…in its own way.

This is from the Case do Conto (House of Tales) in Portugal. Loving the typography details in the concrete walls and ceiling.

(Image via Idea of Steel)

This is from an architectural concrete dream house on the cliff of Southern Sri Lanka. It is completed to perfection by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Just goes to show, just how appealing concrete can be.

(Image via Idea of Steel)

(Image via Costa Lanta)

A concrete bath…

(Image via Freshome)

Example of how concrete can be furnished to feel warm…

(Image via Grant K.Gibson)

Concrete + Wood = Love.

This is from the Pio Pio restaurant in NYC. Contrast of natural and man-made material has been beautifully integrated and presented.

(Images via Omakahu)

Save the best till last…Baled Out: A cow- created concrete home…

Ensamble Studio created this bizarre cow-eaten concrete enclosure, by pouring concrete over hay bales and then allowing Pauline, the cow, to eat through the hay….leaving the concrete shell of a liveable space!

(Images via Doorknob)

Whilst concrete can offer some amazing interior design possibilities, I still believe it is a little ‘cold’ and distant. Not convinced that I would use it in my own personal interior space…would you?

Who thinks of concepts like this? AMAZING…A great conversation starter – use it tonight!

 

Optimal Power Nap = 22 minutes

Power naps. I have a love-hate relationship. I love entering them…but hate when I awake. I suffer from nap-rage. When I get up from a power nap..I immediately need sugar (probably signs of some sort of pre-diabetes or something) and I am always cranky. They never last long enough.

Power naps are best when they are not in your bed – the couch, a sun bed, a neighbours reclining chair.

Signs of a good powernap – a small puddle of dribble & crease marks (preferably on your face). I believe the optimal time for power naps is 22 minutes. Also, power naps somehow always are better in summer – when its hot outside and you have a fan on your face…

Look what I found below – would love to have a power nap on some of the pillows below….

Pillows don’t have to be boring soft, rectangles…

Ostrich pillow – seriously you can sleep anywhere…

(Image via Design Swan)

Alarm clock pillow – so innovative. genius.

(Image via Design Swan)

The pillow wig – I want one…

(Image via Trend Hunter)

The ultimate break-up pillow.

(Image via Design Swan)

This one is a little creepy…haha

(image via  Centro Architecure)

(image via  Centro Architecure)

‘Study’…yeah right.

Image via Design Swan)

It’s a saturday night – I’m sipping on a wine…this post  is making me kind of drowzy…..better go put on some ‘beats’ to regain some energy!

Egg-Shaped.

No, the title is not referring to the shape of my bf’s shaved head. Yes, the title is referring to the moulded shape of the copius amount of chocolate I have consumed this long weekend.

NB:- Serving Tip:- Pour warm milk into the Cadbury medium sized chocolate eggs, then drink/eat/slurp the milk out of the egg. You will find is that the milk goes all chocolatley and the chocolate goes all melty…pure goodness.

The egg-shape. It is a curious shape. Neither an oval nor a circle. Symbolic of fertility. MIrroring the football.

Check out some of the egg-cellent (sorry, could not resist) ways in which the egg-shape has evolved in the design world…

Mention ‘design’ and ‘egg-shape’ & you immediately associate the two words with the modern classic Arne Jacobsen egg chair. It’s a timeless piece  which was designed by Jacobsen in 1958 for the interior design of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Germany. It’s usage is very flexible – with its steel frame, high curved back and rounded bottom gives it great volume and works well in open modern spaces with high ceilings, like a loft or a library.

(Image via Design Classics)

Example of how Jacobsen’s egg-chair can be used in a modern, sleek interior. Loving the black leather finish, against the white wooden floorboards.

(Image via  umakem.tumblr.com)

This is the creation of Belgian architectural firm dmvA , named the ‘blob VB3’, this egg-shaped mobile was created as an extension to the house. The space consist of a  bathroom,
kitchen, lighting, a bed and several niches for storage. the nose can be opened automatically
and functions as a kind of porch. it easily transportable and can also be used as an office,
guestroom or garden house.

(Image via DesignBoom)

Teal duck egg chairs. Immediately, the teal colour combined with the egg-shape creates a retro feel. This definitely feels like a scene out of MIke Brady’s den (ie. from the Brady Bunch)

(Image via Manolohome)

A vintage hanging rattan egg chair — an iconic piece of the 60s/70s. I love the rawness of the material teamed with a simple design. Yes, only half an egg…but definitely a signature piece on any porch.

Like it? You can buy it here on Etsy.

(Image via Etsy)

Did you know? ! The hanging egg chair was designed by Danish Nanna Ditzel in 1959. It was finally considered a classic over 50 years later!

 (Image via nanna-ditzel-design.dk)

Mali egg chair – perfect place to sit on a hot summer day.

(Image via Rattan)

Whilst soem might remember these chairs from the movie Men In Black – the above chairs based on the egg chair by Henrik Thor-Larsen have been ‘modernised’ – they are fully integrated with high-tech speakers….total surround sound!!!

(Image via Apartment Therapy)

Happy Easter. Get Egg-cited!

A fond farewell to – Bread &….Muff-nuts

This week is quite significant. I am officially leaving the world of bread.

For the last  two and a half years , I have worked (in marketing) for Tip Top, Australia’s largest bread company. Whilst I will be continuing my marketing career, I am leaving the world of crumbs, carbs and crusts for the design industry.  In 10 days, I will start working at Indesign (http://www.indesignlive.com)….I can’t wait.

For the last two years I have immersed myself into the world of bread, muffins, crumpets, pikelets, wraps, pizza bases. Upon saying goodbye, I will simultaneously be shedding tears…and with no more taste testing sessions…probs a kilo or two!

Things I will miss

* I will miss the taste testing (complete with the inevitable 3pm carb-coma).

* I will miss the brainstorming sessions for new innovations; notably our new idea of ‘muff-nuts’ (Get your mind out of the gutter – I’m talking about, half muffin, half donuts…ofcourse!)

* I will miss having bread always at hand – never have I once been hungry in this place.

Things I will NOT miss

* I will not miss the 3pm ‘bread rampage’ – When the ‘bread room’ opens….(See for picture). You would think that room stores Gold Bullions. People go crazy. People go nuts.

* My face nearly got stepped on last week…don’t worry I came out with the last pack of Pikelets. Mission accomplished.

* I will not miss bread lingo – mouthfeel, crumb structure and worst of all ‘m_i_st” (my worst word ever)

In memory of all the good times here, I’ve rounded up some cool toaster designs.

I should have copyrighted my idea! I promise you – I always wondered why toasters aren’t transparent.

I also always wonder, why there is a ‘Dark’ option. Who actually likes burnt toast?

(Image via Oddee)

Gorgeous Mint Green toaster. Although…don’t know whether I can justify paying $319 for it.

(Image via Dualit)

This toaster incorporates a little message board where one can write quick notes. You can scribe notes on the message board over the toaster, and the message gets “toasted” onto the toast itself. Its created by designer Sasha Tseng.

(Image via Yanko Design)

Like to eat toast whilst listening to the morning news  – look no further…the radio alarm clock.

(Image via Oddee)

How cool (or should I say ‘toasty’) is this project? A massive mural created out of 3500 pieces of toast. Total work of art.

(Image via likecool.com)

(Image via Pinterest)

For all the Doctors & Grey’s anatomy fans out there – A toaster that is a defibrillator.

I’ve got 1 week off before I start my new job…I think I will just ‘loaf’ around at home. Who know’s where the future of my career lies – I am just going to ‘roll’ with it! D’ough! I promised myself NO Bread Puns.

Hope I haven’t ‘spelt’ anything wrong.

Ok, I’m done.

Apologies for my lameness.

Not so boring: Clipboards

Clipboards are not tied to filling out worksheets on a school excursion at the zoo . Instead, clipboards possess a hidden potential within the interior space.

Clipboards are a great way to showcase bits & pieces- and the best part…nothing is permanent, when you get sick of something, just pin something else up! It can be constantly evolving to suit your mood &  style.

The first 2 images  below are from my own effort to try and ‘reuse’ clipboards in a creative way….I think I still need to integrate some more colour into the pieces I have attached…

Here are some inspirational ideas on how to use clipboards…

Using different wallpaper off-cuts on the clipboards, gives it an extra dimension.

(Image via Wren)

Great to ‘funk’ up a workspace (and very functional too). I really like this one – the wooden clipboards against the white wall, creates a clean modern feel.

(image via Decor8)

Random numbers – what a great (and beautiful way) to learn how to count. Clipboards even transcend into interiors created for children!

(Image via Decor Pad)

Give it a go…unlock the potential of the clipboard. Not so boring now, hey?!

Ride the bicycle… inside.

At 2 years old I cut my head open….trying to ride a bicycle down the stairs.

At 25 years old I was centimetres from being wiped out by a double decker bus….trying to ride a bicycle down the Champs Elysee.

Lesson learnt. I am not supposed to ride bicycles. That however, does not mean I can not appreciate their form & design. I love the shape of the bicycle. Radial focus paired with definitive lines -design perfection.

I’ve noticed the increasing trend regarding the ‘coolness’ of bicycles. They are becoming symbolic of a certain minimalist/creative/indie lifestyle. Bicycles are egalitarian vehicles. The adoption of  ‘communal bike’ schemes (replicating that in European countries) is becoming prevalent within some Australian cities (namely Melbourne). This reinforces the community & social nature of bicycles.

Bicycles are not limited to the road.

Check out some of these amazing ideas to upcycle your bicycle once it retires from the road.

(Image via Bicycle basecamp)

Truly obsessed with the contrast of the hot pink tiling with the bright yellow bike. Absolutley stunning.

(Image via Tumblr ‘Yes!)

Bike against white. Classic.

(Image via Amanda Joy)

Bike as a room divider – A too bit quirky for me, but definitely adds another dimension to the room!

(Image via UrbanOutfitters)

Think before selling your old bicycle on gumtree or at a garage sale – you never know…with a little styling, it could be your next feature piece!

 

Not so Boring: Repurposed Crates.

Working in the marketing department of a bread company, I know a neglected bread crate when I see one.

Whether it be on a leisurely walk or during a night out in the town- I am always distracted by bread crates. And milk crates. And yes, wooden pallets. Some may find this a little odd….but I love the way their functionality extends beyond the means of carrying products.

Don’t diss these crates that are normally kicked to the curbside or neglected in a dark alley in Kings Cross.

There is more to them than meets the eye – see below for some truly inspirational repurposing of crates & pallets:

So cleaver. Bread Crates have never looked prettier!

(Image via Dwell)

‘Pop’ of fuschia – gorgeous.

(Image via Design*Sponge)

Personally, don’t find this aesthetically great – but I think the design concept is fantastic. Such an interesting and innovative way to re-use old milk crates. The bold colours combined with the reflection of the light adds a sense of intense energy.

(Image via Apartment Therapy)

I want to make this – This re-used milk crate would be the perfect height to ‘milk’ a cow. From cow to chair – A full circle.

(Image via Curbly)

A great DIY project for a rainy day.

(Image via bluevelvet)

I am in love with this coffee table – so functional too (stores magazines/books). The rawness of the wood injects a sense of modern organic & nature into the interior. Works perfectly with that amazing floor lamp.

(Image via Poppytalk)

Next time you see a neglected crate or pallet ….don’t see it as junk, instead think about its endless potential to become something amazing!