campana designs

Just discovered these guys - brothers Humberto & Fernando Campana, who create amazing furniture from ordinary everyday materials & waste products

they use: 
cardboard
metal
rope
fabric
plastic
and wood scraps 

they have developed a bit of a reputation for fun, quirky and even controversial designs, and have even designed a range of shoes and home ware products

have a look at a selection of their designs

pallet furniture

Have you ever wondered what happens to all those old wooden pallets that you see lying around?

Some are returned to the company that supplied them, but most of them unfortunately, are thrown away or used as fire wood!

I've been thinking lately about how I could reuse and recycle the old wooden pallets into functional furniture pieces... and it has started me off on my latest research project..... to see if others were thinking like me..... 

......and they are - I am pleased to say!!

Some of the designs I have found are truly inspiring - there are some really talented people around who have successfully modified pallets into beautiful unique designs.....

vertical gardens

On my last post I discussed out door rooms and how they are a fantastic addition to any home to give quality to the experience out door living

Another new trend which will also enhance the out door room is the addition of a Vertical garden also known as "Green walls" or "Garden walls"

Vertical gardens are simply what most of us are used to seeing on the ground [horizontal plane] and placing it directly at eye level on a wall or vertical surface [vertical plane] 

Plants have now become works of art! - a living sculpture that softens all those hard surfaces and edges that we usually see in a typical wall

Vertical gardens are excellent for out door rooms and exterior designs, but they can be successfully incorporated into any interior design, with the added benefit of purifying the indoor air 


Below is a selection of images showing how vertical gardens can be used in a variety of settings from large scale offices, to small scale apartment living

                         Used here to soften the transition between interior
                                    & exterior & also makes a great feature wall for outdoor dining  

Green TV surround

Selective plantings and colours creates patterns

Very impressive interior feature wall!!

Public space artwork - a living sculpture

A nice relaxing spot to sit

Beautifully detailed recessed vertical garden with timber slats

A living canvas

Office building foyer

Complimentary combination of timber and plants

outdoor room

Most people love to entertain outdoors or just venture outside to relax especially here in Australia where the weather is kind

A growing trend that has been gaining in popularity is the emergence of the "outdoor room"

Gone are the days of placing a couple of fold up chairs, with a rickety table under a canvas umbrella or 'rustic' leaky timber pergola, today's outdoor room is a sophisticated refined space, which allows easy access from the inside of the house


The main design emphasis of today's outdoor room is the creation of a stylish, functional and flexible space which can accommodate a variety of uses from hosting a family BBQ, a large party, or just a relaxing retreat or cosy place to sit and read

A successful contemporary outdoor room will include some of the following items:

• kitchen
• counter
• bar
• feature lighting
• artwork
• t.v. / music system
• sofa, dinning table, chairs 
• water feature
• pizza oven/fireplace
• garden/potted plants

I believe there a some design principles to include if the outdoor space is to be a success, these are some of my tips:

• must be located close to the interior of the house to ensure easy access
• should be accessed from the living areas of the house
• must be highly visible from the living areas of the house
• should be surrounded by at least 2 walls to allow weather protection
• should have a roof over and also a ceiling if possible
• users of the space must feel connected to nature, e.g. close to a garden or have a garden or water feature within the space
• if possible the floor level should flow seamlessly from inside the house into this space

I have included the following images to show a variety of examples of outdoor room designs - enjoy!

design is fun

From time to time while researching the latest trends and designs I stumble across interesting and fun designs. I usually keep a copy of them for future reference, as they show that design does not always have to be serious and conform to the old saying - "form follows function" etc....

So the following images have been collected recently, and presented for your enjoyment

always in touch with nature

shoes with a tongue

nest bed

egg rug

sofa with a twist

spiral sink