HBL Retail: Room Service, San Francisco

Room Service, San Francisco

San Francisco’s independent interiors boutiques are clustered around Hayes Valley and the Mission, and stock a wide variety of printed and patterned homewares, modern furniture and gift accessories. Here, we profile Room Service, a colourful and decidedly retro-themed interiors store run by a husband-and-wife team.

Political Objects by Oscar Diaz and Federal Office

Hand made Geiger Counter by Yuri Suzuki

One of our favourite exhibitions from Clerkenwell Design Week was Political Objects by London based designer Oscar Diaz and his studio Federal Office. The exhibition looked at what was referred to as 'design activism' and featured projects by young designers who are using their work to make cultural statements or bring about political change.

HBL Profile: Matrioskas

Thom chaise by Matrioskas

Founded in 2007 by industrial designer Filipe Faria and interior designer Alexandra Sotto Maior, Portuguese furniture brand Matrioskas launched their first collection at Tent London in 2009. They've since expanded and developed the range - which includes seating, dining tables and armoires.

HBL Inspiration: Amsterdam in May

Amsterdam at dawn

Here are some photo highlights from HBL's recent trip to Amsterdam, from the city's iconic symbols - such as the tulips, historical facades and hundreds of canals - to the details that really caught our eye.

HBL Exhibitions: Industrious Artefacts

'Industrious Artefacts: the evolution of crafts' at Zuiderzeemuseum, Netherlands. Photo by Rufus de Vries

'Industrious Artefacts: the evolution of crafts', an exhibition curated by designers Jurgen Bey and Rianne Makkink, opened at Zuiderzeemuseum in the Netherlands last week. Running until 12 February 2012, the show presents the work of a number of designers working today who apply traditional industrial processes to modern design scenarios and methods of manufacture.

HBL Blog of the Week: Yiuco

Yiuco

Upcycling marketplace Yiuco's blog is dedicated to showcasing the most ingenious new products which use recycled or reused materials to create a new object of greater value than the material itself (upcycling). Categories covered range from art and fashion to design, technology and energy.

HBL loves: the quality filter. While upcycling as a design method can often result in products of questionable merit, Yiuco will usually only publish the best projects.

Omelette by Andrey Bondarenko

Omelette by Andrey Bondarenko

Ukrainian designer Andrey Bondarenko has created Omelette, an alternative supermarket display system for hen and quail eggs.

HBL Technology: PrintBrush

Swedish print solutions company PrintDreams have developed technology which allows you to photograph a scene and print it directly onto a page. The portable device, called PrintBrush, can also be used to print image files, and can be used on almost any flat surface, from packing boxes to wood to fabric. While still a prototype at this stage, PrintDreams hopes to bring the product to market by the end of 2011.

[via designboom ]

Sarah Eberle at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011

Sarah Eberle at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011

Landscape designer Sarah Eberle has won a 9th gold medal at this week's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for the Monaco roof garden. The design features a swimming pool, living wall, bursts of lavender, and faux-leather Cloe loungers by Canning & Sheridan. The show runs until Sunday, and WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can expect a full report early next week.

CDW 2011: Creative Clerkenwell Pop-up Shop

Every design event worth its salt has a pop-up shop these days, and Clerkenwell Design Week is no exception. The Creative Clerkenwell Pop-up Shop took up residence in the Corner Shop, 21 Clerkenwell Green, for the duration of this week's festivities, selling a range of small-scale handcrafted goods including jewellery, soft accessories, vases, storage objects and original prints.

Nendo for Ruinart

Nendo for Ruinart

Japanese designer Nendo has created an urban picnic set for champagne brand Ruinart, based on the premise of "a new perspective on urban living that celebrates all the city has to offer through picnicking".

Lee Broom designs Topman personal shopping suite

A new personal shopping suite designed and curated by Lee Broom was unveiled last night at the Topman Oxford Street flagship in London. The British designer has designed several statement pieces for the space. Lee's One Light Only collection of pendant lights hang overhead and the Cathode Console, lit from below by neon lights, will function as the concierge desk. The area boasts half-moon booths, parquetry tables and walls with classic herringbone patterns.