I love it when people come up with quirky ways to use otherwise useless things… such as these fine and quirky pictures by UK graphic designer and artist Brigitte Herrod.  The designs reflect ability to look twice at everyday objects and come up with a different perspective – that “why did I not think of that moment” springs to mind, using typography, quirky sayings….. and …. well…. JUNK! Most of her work is available to order through UK site Rocket St George.  Well they make

Typography on Limestone For those who love to give the gift of words, then you may like to sample a little of the lighthearted and whitty work of UK based Mark Coulson and his team of local artisans. With a strong emphasis on using reclaimed materials such as wood, metal, stone, fabric and recycled papers, they design pictures which incorporate a play with words which is fun and quirky.  For those who prefer pictures you are not forgotten either. Even the inks are “green”! Ma

Ok, this is probably something for the proud lover of all things Britannia, and as an English born gal I have to say I do love the Union Jack flag ( possibly not to the extent of Geri from the Spice Girls) but in a classical, bunting and afternoon tea kind of way. Which coupled with the news of a new royal baby in July, is probably what drew me in to the world of UK based company “Lost and Found”. Becky Oldfield, source aluncallenderblog.com Textile designer Becky Oldfield gr

Taking the, normally discarded, scientific “borosilicate” glassware created by students from the glassblowing department of the Lycée Dorian in Paris, Elise Fouin has reworked the glassware with the trusty blow torch to create something which moves from a science lab to delicate everyday home ware pieces, such as lamps or vases. “Élise Fouin here breathes new life into objects slated for the scrap heap despite their great technical complexity. The artist’s intervention refine

Inspired by the fantastic Japanese cherry blossom (which admittedly is not quite in season yet!) I have put together a couple of images for some fun ways to add a little taste of the orient in your home, whether it be wallpaper, murals, furniture or something a little less permanent there is are a few ideas to cover all bases. Based in Surrey Hills here in Sydney, Rock’oco Australia are an interiors company who have incorporated the Japanese influence into a couple of their f

If you have ever wondered what to do with broken crockery, Chinese artist Li Xiaofeng may just have the answer for you.  Li began life as a muralist, moving into sculpture.  Unlike many sculptors who use wood, stone or metal he decided to use something which was more unique to the Chinese culture, being porcelain shards from archeological sites. Li uses the broken porcelain shards to create unique wearable costumes, albeit that they are probably the weight of armour! He refer

Chris Ruhe trained as a furniture maker in Amsterdam and opened his atelier in 2005, where he now makes furniture to order….  From spring inspired stools and pickle jar lighting to bespoke recycled door cabinets and fully bespoke kitchens…. A little bit of fun in a sometimes too serious world………Let me know your thoughts…. Cupboards and Shelves The combination of crooked doors and virtually no (functional) handles makes the kitchen and the cupboards appear to be a little bit o

One Aston Martin, shaken not stirred…. minus 007 himself and Miss Money Penny.  Although I am sure if you asked Italian based, UK born cardboard sculptor Chris Gilmore nicely enough he may be able to sort you out with the characters to go with the car! I am going to cheat a little today as I found a really great interview on Chris’s website and I thought I would share as it gives a great insight into his work……. Your work ranges from objects from daily life, to small models o

I recently posted on Dutch artist Anne Ten Donkelaar and her amazing floral collages and broken butterfly works…. but I just had to share some more of her work called “Travels” from which “iIllustrations of travel have been translated into an atlas and jewels”.  This is not a new collection (2007) but I just wanted to have it tucked away in my inspiration file.  I hope you enjoy too. Let me know what you think… on with the colourful journey…. BTW if you missed my previous art

UK based artist Alexander Korzer Robinson creates these intricate and incredible works of art by carving up old and discarded encyclopaedia’s.  He exposes some of the illustrations and removes others to create the desired effect. When I initially looked at them I had thought that Alexander had suspended the illustrations in layers to achieve his desired result, however the artist actually leaves the images in their original place – as they were in the original book…. Undoubte

One thing everyone seems to complain about is that they never have enough storage. Possibly because we hate to throw out things – as you never know when the safari suit will come back in to fashion, or we will need to look at that December 1984 issue of Homes and Gardens magazine. Pack your cases Inspired by a little clip about  Ki Nassauer,  a “junk entrepreneur”, and her suitcase shelving below, I thought I would look at some fun ways to create storage using my favourite wo

Think back to the days of high wooden benches, bunsen burners, test tubes, anatomical charts and petra dishes…. for those looking for a little vintage style… going back to school and experimenting in the science lab may just be the way to add a little vintage charm…. hopefully without the smell of sulphur and the boys at the back of the lab trying to set fire to some poor girls ponytail on the Bunsen Burner. Here are some ideas for the scrap book. A is for Anatomy A simple wa

Manoteca, based in Bologna, Italy, takes discarded materials and up cycles them to create unique pieces of  functional furniture, which in them selves are sure to set themselves as a talking piece.. The designer, Elisa Cavani, likes for her creations to keep the furniture and discarded finds as close to their original state as possible. Elisa has made tables, chairs, mirrors and light stands which all have a magical quirkiness that sets them apart from other things I have see

“Body” Chair Yesterday I posted about a hotel which show cases (as part of it’s luxury element), through the concept of it’s interior designer Rabi Hagh, new and old designers along side each other.  Many of the designers showcased in the hotel are also part of the exhibitions in the Rabih Hagh Gallery in the UK. One of the designers exhibited is Karen Ryan  who graduated in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in 2001. Karen considers herself a “design agitator” wit

There is something very rustic about warm bread fresh from the bakery served in a paper bag, but alas that paper bag ends up in the bin as it never holds out for the journey. Tuscan company Le Sorelle  have come up with the perfect solution, made up of four sisters (below), La Sorelle entrusted their idea to local artisans and have created the Uash Mama (Pronounced Wash Mama) paper bag. Created originally as a paper bread bag, they feel like leather and yet wash like fabric m

Ever wondered what to do with all of the loose change that you find down the back of the sofa?  Well you could make a new sofa… I rather suspect that would take a long time, and would certainly bring a new meaning to saving up for your furniture… but for those of you guys who hate loose change dragging down your trousers… this could be the solution. Although a bit of welding experience might be required. Vermont based Johnny Swing is a trained sculptor and licensed welder, wh

As you have probably noticed I could write a million posts on upcycling.  With my “why did I not think of that??” mentality calmed down with the, “OK so really would I be willing to create a new book-case out of several egg cartons and washing up liquid bottles and sell it on etsy?” reality check, I constantly marvel at those who do look at a bath tub, shopping trolly or milk crate and create a masterpiece that would not look out-of-place in a high-end home.   Upcycled (whose

When finding material for my blog it is amazing what you stumble on, through my search for talent to star in my “Plate Up” post last week I happened upon the folk from Little Owl, who have also collaborated with Leslie Oschmann who I posted on yesterday. Little Owl is the creation of the creative forces of Bruce Wayland and Marcello De Simone.  As with Leslie they have a common love for the flea markets which they have intertwined with their backgrounds in Art History, Fine A

Swarm is the Amsterdam based design studio of Leslie Oschmann.  Previously working as a visual director for Anthropologie, watching it grow from ten stores to eighty stores, Leslie is no stranger to beautiful objects. The influence of such a background can be seen in her design work. Using reclaimed objects found through scouring Dutch flea markets, a French home or a Belgian Antiques store, Leslie creates something which purveys a new purpose, yet preserves the natural charm

I would not exactly describe myself as a leopard skin kind of girl….Perhaps it was growing up with Bett Lynch on the British Soap “Coronation Street” that swayed my opinion…. so when it comes to the idea of safari style I am probably more “Ernest Hemmingway” than “Tarzan of the Jungle”. Whilst it is not the purpose of this post to give you a lesson on making your home look like a safari camp decked with Blunderbuss’, and trophy skins… nor to produce a barrage of Ralph Lauren