Kola & Trippla by Inno

Kola rocking chair by Mikko Laakkonen for Inno

Finnish design brand Inno has launched a new collection of products, including the Kola rocking chair, designed by Mikko Laakkonen, and the Trippla coatstand by Harri Korhonen.

HBL Events: photos from Urban Fog

Urban Fog

Having blogged about the impending opening of pop-up architectural installation/tea house Urban Fog two weeks ago (read our original post here), WGSN-homebuildlife visited the event this weekend to experience it for ourselves.

HBL Retail: Picnicware

Pedlars

With Britain basking in a heatwave for much of April and good weather due to set in all over the northern hemisphere next month, WGSN-homebuildlife takes the opportunity to explore current trends in picnicware - from boxes and hampers to tumblers, plates and cutlery.

HBL Tradeshows: Live from Proposte

B&T Textilia at Proposte 2011

WGSN-homebuildlife reports live from Proposte in Como, Italy, presenting three of the most prominent trends from the show.

HBL Analysis: Lightbulbs

Frederic Gooris for AlessiLux

Designers are going back to basics, re-examining the beauty of the lightbulb and, in some cases, elevating it to iconic status. One such project is AlessiLux, a new collection of lightbulbs created by Italian design brand Alessi in collaboration with Foreverlamp.

The South London Art Guide

Peckham Space, London

Tipped as being the new alternative to the well-trodden art trail around east London, south London's art scene is brimming with fresh creative talent and bursting with new gallery openings.

HBL Analysis: Mined materials

The César Manrique Foundation, Lanzarote

WGSN-homebuildlife explores how traditional mined materials are being reinvented with the application of new processes and techniques, taking a look at some of the most exciting examples of this new approach - from traditional crafts to high technology.

HBL Exhibitions: Equilibres by Piergil Fourquié

Big Boss desk by Piergil Fourquié at Galerie Gosserz

A new collection of work by French designer Piergil Fourquie is currently on show at Paris venue Galerie Gosserz, having been created specifically for the space. Equilibres explores the idea of balance, whether it be applied to systems, ecosystems, visual experiences or, more personally, our own minds and bodies.

HBL Book of the Week: Etcetera by Sibella Court

Etcetera by Sibella Court

'Etcetera: Creating beautiful interiors with the things you love' (Murdoch books, April 2010) is written by celebrated interiors stylist Sibella Court, currently the Interiors Editor of Australian Grazia and known for her work with the likes of US Vogue, Real Simple and House & Garden. Court splits the book into five colour themes, each explored through a series of mood shots, still life details and written tips for those aspiring to create their own covetable interiors.

HBL loves: the still life photography, which is lovingly styled and arranged throughout to resemble a beautifully-composed scrapbook of ideas. Read more about the publication here.

HBL Analysis: Cordula Kehrer

Cordula Kehrer

German product designer Cordula Kehrer has designed a collection of pared-back household objects for those with limited space. Consisting of a clothes stand, ironing board and clothes basket, each piece in the series folds flat when not in use and serves as a strong representation of WGSN-homebuildlife's A/W 12/13 macrotrend Radical Neutrality.

HBL Tradeshows: Live from New York Autoshow 2011

Mercedez A-class concept at the New York International Autoshow 2011

WGSN-homebuildlife reports live from the 2011 New York International Autoshow, detailing three emerging trends from the influential event:

Liquid silver: fluid, smooth, molten silver exterior body paint was seen across several manufacturers; most stunning was the new Mercedes A-Class concept where its slick lines carried the paint beautifully

Small car, big storage: as small car models slowly and steadily infiltrate the American market they are all keen to demonstrate how they too can accommodate large equipment

Satin lacquer: satin finish materials were seen across interiors and exteriors. The Audi R8 GT was a strong demonstration, with satin lacquered carbon fibre and satin finish ice white body paint

HBL Blog of the Week: Luxirare

Luxirare

Luxirare is a weekly webzine that mixes luxury with rarity within the confines of food and fashion. Rather than be restricted by menus and fashion seasons, Luxirare works in a free-flowing manner, publishing interchanging image-heavy posts of cuisine presentation, food, original pieces of clothing and food/fashion combinations.  

HBL loves: the rich, oversized imagery and its new definition of luxury that concentrates on the quality, time and craftsmanship spent on all products- including food.