Camping Style:Raindrop Shaped Treetents by Dré Wapenaar

Sylvan housing has just come out with these wonderful dewdrop shaped Treetents by Dutch sculptor and designer Dré Wapenaar. Originally designed to ease the lives of tree-hugging activists, they also make excellent treetop retreats for campers, kids, and anyone soothed by an evening spent softly swaying among the branches. Each beautifully formed droplet attaches directly to a tree trunk and is roomy enough to sleep a family of four. I would love to go gamping in one of these!

Desiree Dolron: Cuba Captured

DOLRON’S THIRD PROJECT,TE DI TODOS MIS SUENOS MEANING ‘I GAVE YOU ALL MY DREAMS’, TITLED FROM CASTRO’S LINE FROM HIS SPEECHES, WAS EXECUTED DURING TWO TRIPS TO HAVANA IN 2002-2003. ALTHOUGH GOING WITH THE INTENTION TO PHOTOGRAPH FIDEL CASTRO, ONCE THERE, DOLRON REALISED THAT, AS WELL AS THIS GREAT COMMUNIST LEADER, THE ESSENCE OF CUBA THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO HER LAY WITHIN ITS PEOPLE. WITH THIS VISION SHE CREATED A BODY OF WORK WHICH FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITY WHERE SHE WAS LIVING. THE HOMES, KITCHENS, LOCAL SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, BEDROOMS AND STREETS; SOMETIMES INCLUDING A FIGURATIVE ELEMENT, SOMETIMES ABSENT. UNLIKE HER ACCLAIMED PROJECT, XTERRIORS (EXECUTED AFTER HER RETURN FROM CUBA) ALTHOUGH HAVING A DIALOGUE, EACH PORTRAIT OR SCENE STANDS ALONE WITHIN THIS PROJECT. SHE PRESENTS US WITH JOSE MARTI, THE FREEDOM FIGHTER AND POET, STANDING CROSS ARMED ABOVE THE LIBRARY; TALL, DEFIANT AND PROUD OF THE SHABBY, OLD, DOG EARED BOOKS WHICH LIE BENEATH HIM.

 

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I HAD ANOTHER AUNT ARRIVE FROM CUBA JUST LAST WEEK. THE SITUATION ON THE ISLAND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND DAILY LIFE IS BECOMING MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BECOME THE REAL VICTIMS OF THIS IDEOLOGICAL struggle. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN SOON BRING CUBA INTO THE FOLD OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE THE PEOPLE AND THEIR GOVERNMENT IS TALKS THAT WILL PRODUCE REAL CHANGES.

 

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK DOLRON REALLY CAPTURES THE SENSE OF GLOOM THAT HANGS OVER HAVANA IN THESE AMAZING PICTURES THAT WILL BE UP FOR AUCTION AT PHILIPS DE PURY IN LONDON NEXT WEEK. SADLY, THESE PICTURES ARE ESTIMATED TO GO FOR 15,000- 20,000 POUNDS EACH AND I DOUBT ANY OF THE MONEY WILL SEE ITSELF BACK TO HAVANA. 

P.S. SORRY FOR THE CAPS. SOMETHING IS OFF WITH THIS DAMN BLOGGER!

Dexter Decor: Blood Splatter Dining Room by Amy Lau

Amy Lau was one of 11 designers who transformed a Gramercy Park townhouse as part of Showtime’s Design House project. Their inspiration came from the six original hit series. However, it is Amy Lau’s dramatic dining room makeover which stands out. Her macabre decor was inspired by Showtime’s Dexter series. Of course I’m totally in love with Michael C. Hall. The result is a dining room fit for a serial killer.

The dining room is largely done in white - better to see the fake blood splatters everywhere - on walls and even embroidered on chair upholstery. Candlesticks shaped like human vertebrae carry blood red candles.  The glasses on the table have “blood” filled stems and tell-tale fingerprints. The ceramic tableware was handmade and incorporated blood splatter, veins and capillaries patterns. Dismembered flatware completed the ghoulish atmosphere.  Many of the Dexter inspired designs are now for sale on Showtime’s website. 

In the Garden

The Louvre Museum is so insanely big, that it would require an immense staff to simply watch all of the security cameras alone. Therefore, half of the security cameras in the Louvre are actually fake. What if you installed fake security cameras in your garden? But on top of that, what if they were actually birdhouses! FANTASTIC! 

The Wolfgang S. birdhouse seeks to defy: It gives ordinary citizens the ability to arm themselves. In addition it will create more habitats for singing bird species. Absolute added value for security and enviromentalism - everybody wins! 

Designer: Dennis Nino Clasen (Germany)  

Manufacturer: Friesland (Germany, leave it to the Germans!)

Decorative Desire: Ceramic Computer

Bored of that tired old white Mac computer that everyone and their great aunt has? Pure* Art Line has come out with a line of  computers that are minimalist towers made in ceramic. That alone was enough to make me giddy...but now they came out with one in GOLD.  Move aside Apple. They have also commisioned artists to create their own designs on the ceramic casing. You can take a look at them all here.  Pictured below are the computer (left) and amplifier (right).

Cutlery Craving: Cutt

Cutt is the name of this amazing set of cutlery pictured above. The set is made of sterling silver. I love how geometric they are and look as if they have been cut from diamonds. They are neither highly functional nor very ergonomically friendly, but that has never stood in my way before. Beauty above all else! (At least in theory) The design of Cutt focuses on the cultural development of european tableware in form and context. Cutt is produced in Vienna by the traditional Wiener Silberschmiede Werkstaette company. Just wait until I invite you over for a dinner party and force you to eat with these! 

Barcart Redux

I have been consumed with the idea and inherent romance of barcarts...I need one ASAP. Until then, I've found some other ones that I like. The last one is a vintage French barcart from the 60s. J'adore. 

The Glamour of a Barcart

Oh..I dream of the day when I am entertaining my dear friends in my fabulous apartment and I roll out my glamorous barcart, filled with gorgeous bottles and every sort of glass and mixer. I really think these should be more common. How do you like this simple, classic and stylish cart from Restoration Hardware?

Decorative Desire: Head of Lenin

Designer Maxim  Velcovsky has created a series called Ornament and Crime, in where he explores the history of socialism and communism through decorative bourgeois creations.  Velcovsky  made busts of Lenin and other communist and socialist figure heads (pun intended). He decided to cover their faces with a traditional onion pattern. Onion pattern, originally named bulb pattern, is a white ware decorated with cobalt blue or pink. The pattern was a popular decorative pattern for the china of the Czech middle class in the 18th and 19th centuries. GENIUS. I want them all. 

Pillow Talk

Look at these sexy pillow cases for your sexy bed. What a fun way to spice up the bedroom. I'm not a fan of even having a television in the bedroom. I really do believe that the bedroom should be strictly reserved for sleep and sex and I really think these pillow cases get that message across. Third Drawer Down has oodles and oodles of wonderfully unique textiles for the home. Check them out here. 

Bookshelves

Bookshelves have been on my mind recently. My roommate got his back from an apartment he was subletting and so we now have a really big bookcase in the apartment. At first, it seemed so overpowering to me, but after an evening of re-arranging furniture and making our downstairs neighbors hate us, we found a spot we could both agree on. Now I think it looks great and is helping the main living area look more finished. Expect pictures soon, but in the meantime, look at this cool bookshelf below.