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It must be difficult to move forward when you are known for a really iconic design as Tord Boontje is known for the Garland light. As an update on this classic, he has now produced for Artecnica the Tangle Globe pendant light.  The design which effectively combines the etched metal of the Garland light with a clear glass globe and can be used with any Garland light or on its own. While not as striking, it is an interesting riff on the original with just enough variation to keep it from becoming stale.
Breathtaking! Can you imagine staying here? I think it would blow my mind... This is the Alila Villas Uluwatu Resort in Bali. I think the boxes suspended over the cliffs affording views over the ocean look a little like birds' nests. See more pictures of the hotel after the jump.


These beautiful ceramic stools as featured in Anthropologie's August 2011 catalogue are like a three-dimensional Rothko painting.  The Honami stool is available here.

I adore this children's boxed set which is available through Heath Ceramics.  The set includes a plate in apple red, a bowl in zesty yellow, a cup in blueberry and a co-ordinated cutlery set for ages 2-10 including a child-size fork, knife and spoon from flatware designer David Mellor.


Image: via Refinery29
I love this bag by Alexander Wang almost as much as I love this shot which was styled by the guys at Edon Manor, with the angles of the bag mirrored in the watch, jewellery and more.
Image: Ash
I didn't realise until recently that the shoe brand Ash 1- wasn't American (they're French) and 2- has a "cult" following.  I have always bought their shoes because I liked the styles and price.  Ash recently opened its first American retail location in New York's Soho district, following boutiques already in existence in London, Paris, Barcelona and Korea.  Ash plans to expand its retail empire by opening two stores this month in Athens and Copenhagen.
Image: island*atelier
I came across these beautiful, handmade necklaces by Terry Lyn Thompson recently.  They are made from cross-sections of the heart of a palm seed which are then dyed and polished.
Images: Zara
From Zara available here.
Nervous System, is a design studio that works at the intersection of science, art and technology sing. Using a novel process that employs computer simulation to mimic the growth processes and patterns found in nature, they have designed the Hyphae line of jewellery and accessories.

Hyphae is a collection constructed of rhizome-like networks inspired by the vein structures that carry fluids through organisms. The computer simulation uses physical growth principles to build sculptural, organic structures. Starting from an initial seed and a surface, a hierarchical network is grown. The densely interconnected structure is both delicate in appearance and strong.

See more of Nervous System's Hyphae line after the jump.

I see a lot of things I like and quite often post about them here, but only once in a while do I get really fired up over an idea like I did when I learnt about JoJo, an altruistic Belgian shoe brand.  While they resemble Keds, JoJo shoes are designed to look like a bandaged foot (though somehow they still manage to look stylish).  For every pair of shoes purchased, the company plants either one tree in Niger or provides one person in Sierra Leone with a year of clean drinking water.  Customers can decide which project to support and can follow the progress of their donation by logging onto the company's website here.

Image: island*atelier
I had hoped to spend some time at Alice Yard last month, but timing and other issues didn't allow me to do more than snap this photo one rain-soaked afternoon.  You can have a look at what goes on behind the walls here.
I love the snubbed toe on these Lanvin booties. From their Fall 2011 collection available for pre-order now.

It's that time of year again. Although we are technically in the middle of summer, thoughts of the next school year loom large.  In terms of bags, in the past I have tended towards the typical school fare.  Pottery Barn Kids and Garnett Hill make attractive, good quality ones, but I resolved a few months ago (and after wavering only briefly over this sparkly number from the Gap) to get a classic Fjällräven backpack this time around.

The KÃ¥nken was introduced by the Swedish company in the 1970s. The bag is made from a tough fabric which, it is claimed, will withstand everything from rough children's play to tough climate conditions. The material is waterproof and does not require additional treatment. It comes in a number of gorgeous colours (including a new line of dual colours) and sizes. I really like the style and can see why the bags have developed such a loyal following.

See more of the KÃ¥nken after the jump.

You must think me iPad-obssessed, but there seems to be an extraordinary number of accessories being produced for it and other tablet devices at the moment. This project by French designer Eva Rielland has a complicated treatise which I won't copy here; I think it's sleek and beautiful to look at.


The chairs from New Caribbean Design which was featured here received a shout out on Canadian daytime show Steven and Chris yesterday.


Guerilla gardening is pretty mainstream now.  When you can buy a packet of seeds pre-rolled for you in a pretty drawstring bag from Anthropologie, you know a trend has reached its zenith and the only way is down.  Regardless of that fact, I like this Flower Grenade which is Suck UK's very literal contribution to the guerilla gardening movement. They can be thrown into an abandoned lot and left to disintegrate as the clay case will crumble when it becomes wet.  The Flower Grenade comes loaded with buttercups, poppies and ryegrass.
Image: Matthias Vriens-McGrath
It's hard to do something different with the plain white tee, but I've got to hand it to the guys at bl33n because that's exactly what they've certainly managed to do. Their line of unisex "monster" tees feature a picture on the inside which, when flipped over the head reveals the image as a mask.  I love the fact that the image is indistinct when the tee is worn in the usual manner - like a secret between the wearer and whomever they decide to let in on it.

See the full line to monster tees here.

As I've written before, I have loved and admired Kelly Wearstler's eclectic fashion sense from the first time she appeared on my screen and would watch "Top Design" more with an eye to seeing what she would come out wearing each week than to find out what the contestants were getting up to.  I am therefore thrilled to discover that she has launched her own clothing line starting with a resort 2012 collection which will go on sale this month.

It's not a bad first collection, but I was surprised that someone so into maximalism and regency glamour would produce what is, in my opinion, such a subdued line.  Many of the pieces, especially the jewellery, do have a definite Wearstler vibe to them.  Subdued or not, that won't stop me from coveting everything here.

See more of Kelly Wearstler's resort 2012 collection after the jump.

Image: Nine West

Continuing with "Mash Up Saturday", the capsule collection Giles Deacon has designed for Nine West hit stores and online last week. The collection features a highly covetable platform wedge sandal, pointy-toed flats and booties, all with just the right amount of interest to make them unique but wearable, as well as some forgettable bags and jewellery.

Check out the footwear after the jump and have a look at the complete Giles Deacon x Nine West line here.

They've been hitting the interwebs with a vengeance and while we gave you a preview of the papped shots here, the first legitimate images of Missoni's line for Target were released this week.  The first set of photographs released (exclusively via a blogger) were underwhelming to say the least, however images of the entire collection have now popped up on their Facebook page and look slightly more promising.

The massive 400-piece range for Target will cover clothing for men, women and children, as well as home accessories, footwear and luggage.  The one look I really love is the black and white swimsuit (pictured after the jump) but perhaps the images are not as effective as they could be as items are piled on.  Individual pieces mixed in with an existing wardrobe may carry more weight stylistically.

Missoni's range for Target hits stores and online September 13.
Image: Ralph Lauren
Just as it's announced that Ralph Lauren will be dropping the "Polo" from their name, images from their new line Denim & Supply, which hit stores today, have been released.  Looks like the brand is moving from its elitist roots and taking up with the proletariat.
I hate branded things, but must admit to having a soft spot for the Hello Kitty franchise for some inexplicable reason.  The brand probably realises it has a lot of sentimental capital - and not just with children and tweens - as they have branched into the adult clothing market with a surprisingly wearable line of shoes called Hello Kitty by Twenty10 Footwear.  The shoes subtly reference their muse and prove to be surprisingly wearable.

See more of Hello Kitty by Twenty10 Footwear's holiday 2011 and spring 2012 collection after the jump.


Check out these gorgeous hyper-minimalist illustrations of some classic children’s stories by Christian Jackson.  More after the jump.

Loving the ombre effect on this bench from Anthropologie.  More views after the jump.

I stumbled across these unusual pieces by Trinidadian designer Akilah Jaramogi last month and was immediately drawn by her use of unconventional and indigenous materials such as seeds, pods, grass, bone and shells.  Made of seeds and knotted grasses, the bracelet shown above is formed on wire and wraps comfortably around the wrist.  Seeds and pods are also used to great effect in a more conventional manner to make the necklaces and bracelets pictured after the jump.

Image: island*atelier
A few years ago, I wrote here about my design ADD and the need to have a change of scene every few years or so.  At the time we were moving from a stunning almost 200 year old historic property to more modern digs.  Almost two years later to the date, we have moved again, this time to a most unique and modernist property, a rarity on the island.

We moved from the 200 year old house largely due to problems associated with a building of that age and so chose a modern home.  While comfortable and convenient, I often found myself lamenting the fact that the house was unremarkable - many similar homes had been built here in cookie-cutter style over the last ten or so years.  That home was also situated in a densely populated area which made me feel claustrophobic.  While hedges and trees afforded some measure of privacy, the shutters which had been added to the house for additional privacy had the unfortunate effect of making the house, particularly the downstairs, dark.

With my design ADD flaring up again, we started house hunting again late last year.  The house we have eventually settled in has been a real revelation.  I had seen a photograph of it online and will be the first to admit that it doesn't have much curb appeal, at least not until you reach the entryway.  The house is completely lacking in any of the traditional features found in homes here.  It is a pure example of modernist living with minimal lines and linear forms.  It is effectively a rectangle but has been cleverly sub-divided. The public spaces are open plan and outward-oriented while the private spaces are more inwardly-focused creating a sense of intimacy and retreat.

Due to the fact that the property's garden abuts a nature reserve there is a fantastic sense of space.  Large picture windows and sliding doors, typical of modernist design, ensure that the home is flooded with light and help to blur the distinction between the indoors and out.  Some renovations had been undertaken shortly before we moved in, but thankfully certain original touches like the teak-panelled entryway and feature walls in the living and dining rooms and the Mondrian-inspired room divider (pictured above) were spared from destruction.

Perhaps at last I've found a cure.

How sweet are these building blocks from Muji, each representing a different major city.  See New York and Paris after the jump.  

A taste of Bali meets the Riviera can be found at Laluna in Grenada, a beautiful resort situated on its own private beach just a short drive from the capital St Georges.  It's an unusual mix as it is Balinese in feel but it was run by Italians when we stayed there (the on-site restaurant tended heavily towards pasta and other Italian dishes), so arguably it did not have a very Caribbean feel.

That being so, our stay was very enjoyable.  Each room was basically a private cabana and came with its own plunge pool.  The boundary between the indoors and the outdoors was blurred to stunning effect with views over lush tropical gardens to the sea.  The resort faces west, thereby ensuring spectacular sunsets every night of our short stay.

Image: Soludos
I have been looking for the perfect pair of espadrilles all summer without much success.  As we are already in August, I fear I may have to pass on the trend this year.  I want a red striped pair, but Soludos' collaboration with Opening Ceremony which features ikat and Liberty prints has me re-thinking my ways.

Details after the jump.
In addition to Orla Kiely, I discovered Muji when I was living in London and recently stumbled across their online sites.     

I have always loved the simple, unfussy, practical items that are synonymous with  Muji.  You just can't beat it for utilitarian chic: the cardboard notebooks, plain pencils and clothes in greys and brown.  I still have and use the folding metal table I carried home on the tube all those years ago.  Their storage solutions are fantastic but considering the size of homes in Japan, it makes sense that they would have to be quite innovative.  I was just browsing the online store and note that several designs I bought a decade ago are still being offered for sale such as this alarm clock (how's that for constancy).  As a nod to the future however, the worldwide site features apps for the iPad and iPhone.  The portfolio app looks very well done and could be a useful tool for free-thinkers or designers who get inspiration on the go.    

Image: The Land of Nod
Suzy Ultman has designed some adorable bedding, including these shaped windmill and owl pillows, for The Land of Nod.
Check out these paper sculptures by the paper-cut project which were created for display at Kate Spade stores in New York this month to coincide with their Lillian Bassman-inspired collection of bags and wallets.

See more of the paper wigs after the jump.