52 BY SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE

I first noticed this image on Pinterest a few months ago.  What a beautiful space-  I immediately thought - and at a glance I wasn't too sure if this was someone's very modern home or perhaps a retail space.  After a bit of investigating I found the Architecture Practice:  Suppose Design Office from Tokyo, who is behind the design of this retail space for a fashion house.  I also found a subsequent article on the Dezeen website.

Suppose Design Office was established in 2000 by Makoto Tanijiri, in Tokyo, Japan.  He is currently a Professor at the Anabuki Design College.

Makoto says it is important to keep looking for something new as an architect.  He defined his work as a chance to realize fresh ideas about buildings and relationships of all interactive elements.  With the aspiration to enhance the human environment, Makoto Tanijiri is contributing "new architecture" in seeking its answers to ordinary life....

A zig-zagging metal wall divides the floorspace of the shop separating outerwear from undergarments.  A recessed skylight on one side of the 52 shop in in Shizuoka, Japan, illuminates a gallery of hanging coats, shirts and trousers.

Small trees are planted in the floor below the skylight.

There are no windows on the other side of the wall, where dangling light bulbs are suspended over undergarments, jerseys and accessories.  A staircase in one corner leads to a first-floor mezzanine overlooking the shop floor.

Photography is by Toshiyuki Yano.

The Architects said that in the west there are many galleries that do not use spots lights but rather uses natural light to light up the space. The reasoning for the use of natural lighting is that as most paintings were painted under natural lighting it is only when the painting is viewed under the same light, the true beauty of the painting will show.

I love the trees growing into the space from the ground - life, and a source of life.  The narrow skylight at a slight angle allows for lots of natural sunlight to brighten up the interior and the angled zigzagging arches creates a sense of diversity - allowing an open plan space to function in different ways but still collectively as a whole.

High on my list of favorite and insightful architects - Suppose Design Office is most certainly creating interesting and thoughtful spaces for its inhabitants. 

WHITE INTERIOR INSPIRATION FOR A GREY SUNDAY

Today all I'd like to share are these wonderful white interiors.  I just love white, so clean, so fresh, so crisp, so stark - it so inspires me...

via convoy tumblr
via still inspiration

PICTURE PERFECT PICNIC

Wish I was spending my day here tomorrow.

It will be my 36th birthday..... feels like life is on fast forward at the moment.  Need to slow down the pace a notch or two, take a breather, take a moment to reflect.  This will be the ideal spot to celebrate, to contemplate, to reflect and to ponder what life might hold in store next.

This tranquil moment was found on line klein's blog

OLIVE AND JOY

 What a delightful find!  Totally adoring this white and wood mid century modern style chair in the second image -  I can think of the perfect spot for this beautiful piece of design excellence. Also the Peacock Feather Ottoman available from Olive and Joy    

According to Julie Palmer, Interior Designer and founder of Olive and Joy, the chairs are vintage 70′s chairs which she refurbished with the help of an upholsterer and a ton of danish oil. The top armchair was made by FLER an Australian furniture company from the 1970′s. The second chair is by Danish Quality Furniture in Brisbane, Australia – although it is very much like a Finn Juhl chair.

Which cushion or ottoman is your favorite? 

via simply grove

CHARLES EAMES SAID..

Just beautifully said

via pinterest

VEDBAEK HOUSE BY NORM ARCHITECTS

Image Line Klein

"The first thing we did was to tear down all the walls, only leaving the chimney, making the downstairs one big room. This gave space to the beautiful old stairs leading to the first floor. We then built some walls around the old chimney, making room for a hidden fridge and partly hiding the work area of the kitchen from the living area. In that way there is a connection between the kitchen and the other living areas, but you can still be a little messy without anybody noticing. The worktop in Corian is stretched from one side of the room to the other. This visually makes the space seem larger than it is. The line is enhanced by the old wooden beam above the kitchen table, where we have placed a long continuous line of small light bulbs that provide the ideal working light. The spotlights in the ceiling, providing the additional light, are white and discrete on the outside and golden inside, giving a warm and luxurious light.

When entering the original house via the Japanese stepping stone you find yourself standing on a glass floor over the more than hundred year old wine cellar. This was made to create a sense of vertical space in this house with low ceilings and for Peter to showcase his wine bottles. We have kept the cellar old and rustic and at night it sometimes reminds you of an archaeological site. The light coming from the cellar also works as a recessed lamp in the floor. The glass is fitted in a black iron frame with hydraulic pumps that make the very heavy door easy to use.

All the floors, walls and ceilings in the whole house are painted white to connect them visually regardless of their differences and to reflect the light and give the feel of a larger space."
via Archiportale
one image via Line Klein

EXCUISITE GLASSWARE BY NORM.DESIGN COPENHAGEN

Today I'm in love with these beautiful and elegant glass designs by Norm Architects for Menu 
The glass water bottle especially has perfectly balanced dimensions, a wide neck and subtle lightness. I love all of these items... dream dream dream

FUN FISHBOWLS

 

Fishscape Fishbowl is designed by Aruliden, and made in Turkey of hand-blown glass, consisting of a rising landscape of miniature mountains formed out of the glass base, turning the flat bottom into a rough-textured feature. The fishbowl is supposed to evoke the feeling of a mountain range. 
via Dornob

 

This Bubble Tank made by Psalt Design, uses a counter-weighted design to maintain the bowl’s appearance of standing on the verge of falling off the edge. Inspired by the shape of a bead of water as just before it flows over an edge, the molten shape is designed to make the tank itself the focus of a room, rather than its finned residents.

The so-called Bubble Tank is one of their first projects, and they insist its instability is only an illusion – it is meant to grab your attention and perhaps make you worry without actually putting your fishy little friends in real-life danger.  Richard Bell is part of PSalt (short for: A Pinch of Salt), a design studio in Sheffield collective aiming for the unusual when it comes to furniture, objects and accessories.

via Dornob

This is perhaps my favorite - different fun and just quite fabulous!  From Skitsch.com
 

NORTH ZEALAND, DENMARK ARCHITECT HOME

Looking at these images, taken by Line Klein, and styled beautifully by Helen Wiggers - I get the slight feeling that this might be a Norm Architects designed home.  I could be wrong....

Yet again Nordic design, with clean lines and beautiful contrasts - crisp white, stark black and warm wood all blend together in a gorgeous and light space.  I love the desk with the paint-dipped legs.

The boxed in shelves are great and very effective to display some designer homeware, bowls and plates.  And eventhough I'm a big fan of alcoves and recessed shelves, this is a slightly more daring approach.

 

via style-files

NORMAN COPENHAGEN CRYSTAL CARAFE

                        

Beautiful Crystal Carafe by Norman Copenhagen - complete with a set of colorful cups