Tag Archives: Lifestyle

Interior Design Trends for 2014

Bring the Outdoors Indoors
More and more designers and manufacturers are creating outdoor designs for indoor spaces, partly due to the recent trend in sustainable and eco design, and when done well really has that ‘wow’ factor.

Brass
The trend in brass has been growing over the last year and, when done properly can look elegant, timeless and very cool.

Brass

Corduroy
Especially when paired with the ‘Outside Inside’ look, this years trend for corduroy upholstery manages to feel casual and elegant at the same time.

Corduroy

Fiber-art & Macramé
A lot of designers at the moment are talking about fiber-art and macramé being a big trend this year. Relatively inexpensive it can be used instead of fine art, wall paper and expensive design pieces, and definitely add edge to a space.

Macrame

Glamour
Use soft colours, striking design pieces and metal accessories to update your glamour look.

Glamour

Accents of Colour
A big hit at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan – monochrome or soft undertones with accents of vibrant colour.

Accents of Colour_fromdoc

The Blues
Blue is a massive trend this year, from the catwalks to design exhibitions. Don’t be afraid of mixing different shades either – it’ll add interest and depth.

Blue

Colour
Last but not least is a general movement towards using more colour in interiors. Definitely a theme at Maison et Objet in Paris in February, have a look a Missoni’s display there for some inspiration.

Colour - Missoni

Roundup: Salone Internazionale del Mobile Milan 2014

With another amazing showcase of what’s trending in the design world, it wasn’t easy to choose our favourites from last weeks Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan. We noticed a distinct trend and emphasis toward natural woods, marble and stainless-steel pieces with clean, modern lines and geometric forms. There was a touch of luxury to most of the displays and, as we saw at Maison et Object in Paris in February, lots of colour – specifically monochrome with pops of bright yellow. 

Here are our edited highlights;

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Bring the Passion Back into your Ikea Bedroom

At the tender age of 21, I left my mother’s home and went off into the world, moving 250 miles away. As a graduate moving from temporary job to temporary job, the budget for kitting out my new pad was limited. I heard Ikea was affordable and stylish so off I went to have a look. I wasn’t planning on buying, but it’s simple, contemporary Swedish good looks and affordable price tag was too much for me to resist. I spent hours roaming around the showrooms. Knowing I could only look and not touch increased the excitement. I still remember the first time I worked up a sweat in the warehouse section, grunting and panting as I lifted the flat packs off the shelves, placing them gently on the trolley. I remember handing over my credit card without a care in the world. I remember the hours of assembling, and the proud feeling of knowing ‘I did that’. Me and Ikea, no one could touch us.

As the years went by my love for Ikea started to diminish. Walking around the showrooms became frustrating and dull, the furniture was boring and repetitive with no individuality and the price tags were cheap like the quality. I had a pair of bedside cabinets and chest of drawers that followed me around for years. They had stayed with me through my break up with my long term boyfriend and were the only pieces of furniture I left my first apartment with.  They stayed with my through the bad times so I couldn’t possibly part with them once I had found my own apartment two years later.

On moving day, I unpacked them from the back of a van and placed them in my new bedroom with my new white, fresh looking furniture. My apartment was clean and free from arguments about the dishes and whose turn it was to buy toilet rolls. They looked tired, worn out and had no passion or zest for life. I couldn’t bear to buy a new set (mostly because my bank balance wouldn’t allow me) so I decided to get the spark between us back.

I painted them white to give them a brighter, fresher look but they still looked like generic pieces of Ikea furniture. They sat there for months being used only as storage. I was fed up but couldn’t give up on them. Then, I had an idea. I could wallpaper them! Surely, this would make them fun again and bring some passion back into the bedroom.

Just follow these simple steps and you to can revamp your relationship with your old Ikea furniture without breaking the bank:

If you want to change the colour of your furniture you need to sand and sand and then sand again. Getting your hands on an electric sander really helps, but you can do it using regular sand paper too.

  • Prime the furniture using a spray primer. It’s much easier and quicker than painting. Let it dry for about 45 minutes before adding the paint.
  • Pick a good quality paint especially for furniture. I used Dulux satin finish brilliant white. With the primer, I only had to apply two coats of paint.
  • Let the paint dry over night before you wallpaper.
  • As you would with wallpapering a wall, you need to make sure the patterns match up so get out your tape measure and scissors. Cut out all your bits first and make sure they line up before you stick anything down.
  • Stick the wallpaper with a strong adhesive spray. You have a few seconds to move and line up the wallpaper before it dries so don’t panic.
  • Leave it to dry for as long as possible. I put the drawers back together after a few hours but it’s probably best to leave it overnight.
  • Buy handles or knobs to really add your own style. I bought a set of faux crystal and gold knobs from ebay at a really affordable price.
  • Enjoy your new and improved furniture.

 

The process wasn’t easy, and at times I felt like giving up, but now I am happier than ever.  I have been asked whether the paint chips or the wallpaper starts to come away at the sides. The answer is ‘I don’t know, but at the moment I am happy with them’. I am still in the honeymoon phase and love walking into my bedroom and seeing my beautiful, unique pieces of furniture. I hope they stand the test of time, I really do. One thing is for sure, I won’t give up on Ikea that easily.

Get some inspiration from these beautiful pieces by British artisan Bryonie Porter.

Byronie Porter

 

Super Human Style: How The Alternative Limb Project Challenges Fashion

Written by Leyla Keskin

I remember when my mother decided to become a foster carer. I remember the visits from social workers and the endless forms she had to complete, and the time it took for her to be approved. I remember very clearly when she received her first placement – a 4-year-old boy was coming to live with us for a while. I also remember vividly how I felt when I was told that he had one leg. I instantly felt uneasy as I imagined a Charles Dickens Tiny Tim type character. I imagined him having a sad look in his eyes, being quiet and withdrawn and struggling to walk on his crutches.

As I walked home from school the next day I was reluctant to go home because this poor child would be waiting, probably crying and saying “please sir, may I have some more” after each meal. Except I walked in through the door to laughter, finding a little blonde boy rolling around the living room floor, playing with our big gentle dog. He saw me, smiled, and shouted “hiya”!

For the three years he lived with us he was always laughing, running, playing, chatting. He was interested in, and enthusiastic about, everything and not once do I remember him having a tantrum or complaining.

A boy with one leg became normal for us. In the evening he would take off his leg and hop happily around the house. It didn’t bother or disturb us to see him like that. Why would it? He wasn’t bothered.

But it did bother other people. I quickly realised that his disability upset others and made them feel awkward. Once, on a shopping trip, he was sat in the shopping trolley’s child seat. My mother asked me to help him out of the chair while she paid. As I pulled him out, his leg fell off. He found it funny and I found funnier, and eventually we were laughing so hard that I struggled to get it back on. Passers-by looked on in horror as a teenage girl laughed uncontrollably at this poor boy with no leg.

I also remember a day we spent at the beach when he decided to use his leg, instead of a spade, to build a sandcastle. Onlookers were shocked, mortified, didn’t know where to look. It was as though they expected him to act like a character from a victorian novel, just like I had not so long ago.

My past experiences are probably the reason I was so in awe when I heard about The Alternative Limb Project. Every morning, on my 6:38am commute, I join other commuters in reading the metro while sipping a much needed latte and rubbing my sleepy eyes. Last week, an article woke me up from my usual dazed journey like an injected shot of caffeine. The topic? Bespoke limbs. The designer? Sophie de Oliveria Barata.

 

Viktoria Modesta Alternative Limb Project

Sophie de Oliveria Barata, a London based designer and director of Alternative Limbs, creates beautiful bespoke limbs for amputees.

The image which accompanied the article was of Viktoria Modesta, who had a custom made leg with an in built stereo. The image was stunning, striking and unique.

I wanted to find out more about The Alterative Limb project and more about the stories behind the people involved. Viktoria Modesta, a leg amputee, provides an empowering account of her journey and what losing her leg ‘added’ to her life.

Viktoria Modesta Alternative Limb Project

Viktoria, born in Soviet Lativa, had her leg damaged at birth due to the negligence of a doctor. Her leg was set in a caste but left too long resulting in nerve damage. By the age of 6 she was left with one leg 7cm shorter than the other and considerably thinner.

She underwent several operations to correct the mistake but each made the injury worse. In 2007, Viktoria took the decision to have a below the knee amputation – something society typically deems tragic, traumatic and devastating. However, Viktoria describes her decision as empowering and exciting – her leg was unhealthy and her choice gave her the power to take ownership and control over the situation. She felt she had to hide her disfigured leg, unable to wear heels and short skirts in the summer. Her new leg however, is so obviously bionic and challenges society’s perception of amputees and disabilities, it pushes the boundaries of fashion and altered beauty.

Viktoria Modesta Alternative Limb Project

But despite the fact that society has, in the past, been challenged about it’s perception of beauty and disabilities, it’s only recently that this message has started to sink in.

Way back in 1998, Alexander McQueen used double leg amputee, Aimee Mullins, to open his London show, wearing a pair of hand-carved wooden prosthetic legs made from solid ash. Not a surprising move by McQueen who was always able to find beauty where others cannot, however this was the only disabled model to be used in a high fashion campaign, ever. But, despite McQueen’s status in the fashion world, it unfortunately did not break down any barriers for disabled models.

 

Alexander McQueen Amiee Mullins

Alexander McQueen Amiee Mullins

10 years later in 2008, Britain’s Missing Top Model was aired which once again aimed to break down the misconceptions about disabilities and challenge the fashions world’s mindset. It was interesting, different and certainly raised some vital questions about the fashion world, but again nothing seemed to change and, apart from McQueen who could always be counted on to mix things up, most previous attempts have tried to hide a disability rather than embrace it. Comments such as ‘you can hardly notice it’ are seen as a compliment.

This is what is so remarkable about The Alternative Limb project. Rather than trying to camouflage a disability, it puts it out there for everyone to see. Does this show that perceptions are changing? Is society beginning not only to accept difference and alternative beauty, but actually embrace it?

“A prosthetic limb doesn’t represent the need to replace loss anymore. It can stand as a symbol that the wearer has the power to create whatever it is they want to create.” Aimee Mullins

Fashion is, and always will be, inspired by social issues. The last decade has been marked by economic deprivation, terrorism and the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have sent our service men and women off to war and some have returned with serious, life changing injuries. We have watched devastating bombings on the London Underground which have touched us all in some way. From all these events we have heard horrendous, gut retching stories that would make only the coldest heart feel nothing.

But from these events we have also heard awe inspiring stories that would make anyone question why they complained about the bus being late this morning. The London Paralympics further challenged our ideas about disabilities with Channel 4’s notion of The Superhuman, rather than the disabled. The Paralympics encouraged us to see disabilities in a different light. Martine Wright lost both legs in the London Underground bombings in 2005. She was running late for work and jumped on the tube. She sat next to the suicide bomber. Wright now sees what happened as part of her journey rather than angrily reliving the events of 7/7 and states that she loves sitting volleyball because it gives her a sense of freedom. She fully embraces her disability.

 

Alternative Limb Project

That boy that came to live with us all those years ago is still as enthusiastic and upbeat as he was when he was 4 years old. Despite the problems he has faced as a child in care, he has embraced his disability by competing in various kickboxing tournaments and representing the Welsh wheelchair basketball team. I think it’s time that society got over its awkwardness towards disabilities and started to accept it as a normal part of the world we live in because really, these misconceptions and preconceived ideas are just our own insecurities being forced upon others, something I managed to get over when I was fourteen thanks to an inspiring little blonde boy with one leg.

Picture credit: The Alternative Limb Project

Visit The Alternative Limb Project for more information.

Follow Leyla Keskin on twitter @LeylaKeskin

Downtown Design 2013: Focus on Local Design

Organised by the team behind Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai, the inaugural Downtown Design, the former’s more commercially oriented counterpart, offered seminars, special events and a place for design professionals to enhance their business.

Throughout the 4 day exhibition there was a definite focus on local manufacturing and the growth of regionally based designers. The consensus however, seemed to be that the region still has a long way to go if it is to become a world class design hub due mainly to the lack of manufacturing options available.

In a keynote seminar on The Role of Craftsmanship in Contemporary Design, Dorian Pauwels, Executive Director of ikonhouse, explained that to compete in the world of design, products need to be finished properly and to a high standard – it is as much about the facets of the product that you cannot see as it is their outward appearance. A shinny finish does not necessarily imply high quality. Unfortunately, there appears to be a general unwillingness by manufacturers in the region to employ sufficient levels of quality control in order to reach this standard.

Despite this, there are designers manufacturing locally. Khalid Shafar’s new collection, Deco Haus, has been manufactured entirely within the UAE using traditional products such as camel leather. When questioned about where to show work as a local designer Shafar’s advice was that although “it is important to show internationally, we must not forget the local market”.

There are also international brands who are committed to growing the design industry here. In one of their talks, Fritz Hansen discussed the fact that although the brand’s ethos is to maintain the design classics, they still need to work with up and coming designers and, although they don’t currently work with any local designers, that doesn’t mean they won’t in the future.

In addition to local manufacturing issues, the question was often asked, how can we incorporate classic design into the local aesthetic?

PF Emirates, whose vision is to bring the best of Italian design to the region, are heavily invested in the UAE. Cassina, known for its fusion of tradition and contemporary and using modern technology combined with traditional craftsmanship, is “listening more to what the very cosmopolitan market in the UAE wants” and, as Cassina looks more towards collaborating with non-Italian designers, it also understands that the local consumer market is impatient and won’t wait for long delivery times. This leads back to a need to educate the local market to understand that quality has a certain price, and that is time.

GAJ, an award winning architectural and interior design practice and also the largest and most established UK architectural and design company based within the UAE, are also dedicated to incorporating traditional Islamic themes into modern architecture. In a seminar, Designing in the Middle East – A Contextual Approach, they discussed current design trends and concluded that the “best designers in the world understand history”. “Now that the Dubai bubble has burst there is much more room for good design” said Simon Chambers, Partner at GAJ. “Architecture needs to be aware of the environment, if you’re not careful, especially at the pace Dubai is growing, a city will lose it’s identity. We need to understand places like Bastikiya, why they exist, not to be copied but to be incorporated into modern design”.

Another trend that is slowly but surely being understood in the Middle East is sustainable design. This is something that designers will have to push in order for it to be incorporated into the mainstream.

With the exciting plans for the Dubai Design District well underway, there is a definite focus, not just Dubai but the region as a whole, towards looking at what the industry will need in order to flourish, enabling Dubai to become an international hub for the design, fashion and art industries.

 Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Downtown Design Dubai 2013
 
Images via: Downtown Design

Take Me To River Island

My 18 year old, pink haired, nose ring and ripped jeans wearing self would probably disown me for writing this. I remember the rare occasions I would wonder into River Island and shudder at the glitter covered jackets, white jeans and tacky heavily bejewelled bags. I would leave shaking my head, glaring at innocent shoppers in disgust. For many years I simply avoided River Island completely, until fairly recently that is.

While on my way to Zara, I walked past River Island and a beautiful Kimono jacket caught my eye. Obviously, I thought, as I entered the shop, this must be a one off. I picked up the Kimono and started browsing the rails. To my disbelief I found myself picking up more and more items to try on, so many items that the shop assistant had to hand me two tags as I entered the changing rooms. Since that day I have found myself checking the ‘Just Arrived’ section on the River Island website regularly and even downloading the app. The store that I once found trashy has either changed its image or I have become what River Island once was!

Now, a few days ago when I was searching for my weekly fix of Grazia Magazine I spotted something that appeared far too good to be true – a 25% discount voucher with a copy of Elle. I stood for a while and tried to work this out…….so I could buy a copy of Elle and get a 25% discount voucher for River Island?  The two didn’t seem to add up. Elle, with it’s pages full of Dior, Chanel and Valentino, were offering 25% off at River Island? Now, I would expect 10% off with a copy of LOOK or even 5% off with a copy of Grazia, but 25% with a copy of Elle? My 18 year old socialist self told me to walk away magazine-less because there must be some sort of catch but the fastionista within told me to buy it NOW! And after ripping off the cellophane it became apparent that there was no catch and I walked happily away with my River Island voucher.

So it appears that River Island have evolved into a white denim free zone but never fear, if you want a little trashy number in your wardrobe you will still be able to find it at River Island. After all, we all need to realise our inner ghetto princess from time to time.

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