HBL Book of the Week: The Art Museum

The Art Museum (Phaidon, 2011)

At last week's If Conference, art publisher Phaidon's editorial director Amanda Renshaw personally introduced delegates to The Art Museum - a new, curated guide to the history of art captured in 2700 works and 992 pages. The book is organised like a physical museum, containing a 'permanent collection' as well as rooms dedicated to especially important artists or art movements.

HBL Retail: MFI relaunches online

Laken bathroom collection by MFI

British furniture brand MFI relaunched as an online-only venture this morning, three years after its collapse. The new website hosts a 3000-piece collection of living, bedroom and bathroom furniture, and customers are being enticed back to the once-market leading brand with a 60% discount, in place until 12 December.

New lighting designs by Triode

Frame by Arnaud Lapierre

Previewed at Paris Design Week 2011, French lighting brand Triode Design has released three new lighting solutions by Arnaud Lapierre, Simon Naouri, and Pierre Gonalons. Frame by Arnaud Lapierre is a desk light with a functional tray underneath. The shade hangs over the frame like a curtain, creating interesting angles of diffused light.

HBL Blog of the Week: Objects & Use

Objects & Use is the offshoot of Copenhagen-based designer Gitte Christensen's online shop of the same name. Just three months old, but worth keeping an eye on, the blog contains a mix of recipes, Instagram-shot lifestyle posts and design coverage.

Top Picks at Design Miami/ 2011

Apache Table by Konstantin Grcic as presented by Galerie kreo

Design Miami/ has compiled a list of top picks of Design Miami/ 2011 selected by curators, collectors and academics. The design show runs along with Art Basel Miami Beach from November 30 – December 4.

A Memphis collector in Memphis

Previous HBL blog of the week Obsessionistas today features a collector of Memphis furniture. Photographer Dennis Zanone lives in Memphis, Tennessee and owns over 120 different Memphis pieces - as evidenced by his living room, shown above.

HBL News: New Tribal Labyrinth by Atelier van Lieshout at Giò Marconi gallery in Milan

For its New Tribal Labyrinth exhibition, Atelier Van Lieshout presents 14 new works which will be on display in the ground floor spaces and in the courtyard of Giò Marconi gallery (via Tadino 15, Milan). From November 30 until January 14, the gallery will host the Atelier van Lieshout’s fifth solo show in these spaces.

HBL Retail: Selfridges' Christmas sales update

Dr Dre Beats Studio headphones, £269 at Selfridges

With less than five weeks to go, Selfridges reveals the Christmas winners so far from stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester and online - including headphones, British-themed decorations, a children's tablet and the Kindle. Click through to read the sales trends across technology, the home, and Selfridges' world famous Christmas shop.

HBL Analysis: Designing for an aging population

Ruth, who is 100-years-old, doing pilates in New York City, as seen at advancedstyle.blogspot.com

Last month the UNFPA reported that the world's population had reached 7 billion. Of this number, 893 million people are aged over 60 and the figure is likely to nearly triple to 2.4 billion by the middle of the century (CNN). This week WGSN-homebuildlife published a report that investigates the needs of the new 21st century, 60+ consumer and how architecture and design is responding to their needs. Subscribers can see the full report online here. Below are some of the product highlights from the report.

Rugs inspired by the city of Hong Kong

Image Copyright: TREE

Hong Kong-based sustainable furniture company TREE launches limited edition rugs that pay homage to the city and to the colder Autumn/Winter season.

Repetto Christmas tree for The Grand Hotel de Bordeaux

The Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa have embraced the festive season and collaborated with ballet company Repetto to produce a ballet-themed Christmas tree centrepiece for the grand lobby of the hotel.

Crystal Matrix II by Erwin Redl

LED artist Erwin Redl has created a multisensory installation at Design Miami, Miami Beach in collaboration with Swarovski Crystal Palace. The project, entitled Crystal Matrix II, combines light, sound and Swarovski crystals, which are placed on 16 rotating disks suspended from the ceiling. The disks are lit by floating multi-coloured LEDs, which work in conjunction with a meditative sound sequence.

The Standard Ice Rink Opens in New York

The Standard in New York City has opened this year's installment of The Standard Ice Rink, open all winter long. The rink is located in the front plaza of the New York property next to the High Line, overlooking the Hudson river.

HBL Exhibitions: Dutch design past and present at the Oranienbaum Palace

From left to right: Ice by Sebastiaan Straatsma, photo by Carmen Kemmink;  Bowl with Fawn from Animal Bowls by Hella Jongerius, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg; Detail of tiling in Oranienbaum Palace

The Oranienbaum Palace has announced plans for its 2012 Grand Summer Exhibition, which will relive the palace's unique heritage by mixing the best in contemporary Dutch design with historical artefacts from the Dutch Royal archives. Fifty rooms in the Baroque palace will showcase contemporary craft - from furniture and ceramics to fashion - alongside historic paintings, china and decorative arts from the palace's collection.

Demain est un Autre Jour by Mathieu Lehanneur

Demain est un Autre Jour by Mathieu Lehanneur; photo by Felipe Ribon

French designer Mathieu Lehanneur has created a weather station video which broadcasts an image of the next day's weather each day. Originally created for use in a hospital, the limited-edition piece is to be previewed at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris.

HBL News: The Monocle Christmas Market

Monocle have announced a Christmas market, to be held at their London offices on Friday 2nd December. The brand's winter collection will be available for browsing, accompanied by mince pies and mulled wine. Click through for the full invitation.

HBL Blog of the Week: Miss Moss

Written by South African graphic designer Diana Moss, Miss Moss spans fashion, design, vintage, photography, art, and music among other subjects. The homepage is a great source of colour inspiration; head to the design section to find hand-printed graphics, classic lifestyle shots and striking contemporary pieces.

HBL loves: The blog post on artist Quentin Trollip's Origami animals.

HBL Retail: Design Den at the Barbican

Design Den at the Barbican, with Herb by Nick Fraser in the foreground

The Barbican in London is hosting a new pop up shop, called Design Den, until 23 December. The product offer is aimed firmly at Christmas shoppers, with a variety of wares on offer from stocking filler gifts to limited edition prints and furniture from up-and-coming designers.

Too beautiful to hide, by Wendy Legro for Droog

Droog has launched a new hot water bottle by Wendy Legro, called Too beautiful to hide, which aims to change the humble water bottle from something that is hidden away under duvets and blankets into something worthy of being displayed and decorative: beautiful in both its function and its form.

HBL News: Skitsch design in the Italian Big Brother House

Woodtable Lamp by Fernando and Humberto Campana

Founded in 2009, Italian design company Skitsch has become well known for its unconventional and sophisticated style. In its comic book-style catalogue, interesting and unusual designer names sit alongside objects of refined taste.

HBL Analysis: Ombré

Chevron wallpaper as seen at Design Shuffle

Designers across the creative industries are using the fade-out colour technique ombré in their work this season. WGSN-homebuildlife's latest colour analysis report explores the use of this decorative effect in architecture, homeware and fabrics.

The Sensorium by Sephora and Firmenich

Beauty retailer Sephora and fragrance and flavours company Firmenich have partnered to create The Sensorium – a multi-sensory, interactive fragrance exhibition. The Sensorium is a dynamic experience that explores the emotion and instinct of scent through interactive experiences, compelling film, story-telling and three-dimensional art.

Sol LeWitt installation at Mondrian SoHo

Sol LeWitt photo installation at Mondrian SoHo Hotel

This week, a permanent installation of photography by the late artist Sol LeWitt was unveiled at the Mondrian SoHo Hotel in New York City. Displayed on an exterior wall of the hotel, the installation consists of 120 photographs of New York’s Lower East Side taken by LeWitt in 1979. 

HBL Book of the WeekBrilliant: White in Design

Brilliant: White in Design by Linda O'Keeffe; image via core77

Written by the former creative director of Metropolitan Home magazine, Linda O'Keeffe, new coffee table book Brilliant: White in Design (Monacelli Press, 2011) aims to explore the power of the colour using examples from across interiors, art, architecture and nature.

Patrick Norguet designs French McDonald's interiors

French designer Patrick Norguet has developed a new concept for the interiors of the McDonald's restaurants in France. The new identity combines the company's motto - family fast food - with contemporary elements, such as the Still chair (designed by Norguet for La Palma) and Lines and Waves ceramic floor.

Hotel Éclat, Taipei

Image Source: Sassy Hong Kong

Located in Taipei, the design philosophy of Hotel Éclat is stylish and off-the-wall wackiness. Leading hospitality designer, Thomas Schoos, does exactly that with the styling of the hotel’s restaurant, Ming Yuen. It is a stylish jumble of mismatched chairs and tables, grand chandeliers, animal print rugs and supersized sculptures, where Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol are among the artists represented.

HBL Blog of the Week: Japanistic

US-based entrepreneurs Sydne & John use their shop, Japanistic, to sell their favourite products by Japanese-American designers, and the Japanistic blog to write about others that they come across - as well as for more widely recognising the impact Japan and its distinctive aesthetic has had around the world. A great resource for print, pattern and product inspiration.

HBL loves: the recently-showcased furniture and homewares by Oji & Design.

HBL Exhibitions: Mischer’Traxler at Novalis Fine Arts gallery, Turin

Until December 6th, Novalis Fine Arts gallery in Turin will host some of the most significant products and installations of the two young Austrian designers Mischer’Traxler. This first Italian retrospective, curated by Maria Cristina Didero, is focused on the creative philosophy of the Viennese design studio, which is often concerned with research into, and the discovery of, interactions between humanity and machines.

HBL Events: iq2 If Conference

Debating forum Intelligence² will open the doors to its inaugural If Conference at the end of this month. Running 25 - 26 November in London, the event will bring together more than 30 speakers to discuss issues that will affect our age; from scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs to architects, thinkers and futurologists.

Ballpoint by Minimalux

Ballpoint by Minimalux; photo by Peer Lindgreen

British design brand Minimalux has launched Ballpoint, a ballpoint pen made of solid brass.

HBL Events: RCA Secret 2011

The Royal College of Art has announced that its charity postcard auction, RCA Secret, has received 2900 artistic contributions this year - a record for the annual event.

HBL Retail: New products by David Mellor

British Standard Mugs by Corin Mellor for David Mellor

Prestigious British kitchenware and tableware brand David Mellor has launched new pieces for its 2011/12 catalogue, including a cutlery line designed by Corin Mellor.

HBL Book of the Week: 10x10 by Emiliano Ponzi

10x10 (Corraini, 2011) shows the work of Italian illustrator Emiliano Ponzi from the last ten years - all of which (both work and thoughts) happened in a room 10 x 10 metres big in Milan, in which the illustrator works.

Artcurial to host Cassina design auction

Dalila chairs (1980) by Gaetano Pesce

Signalling the increasing investment value of contemporary design, French auction house Artcurial Briest-Poulain-F.Tajan is to host an auction of iconic pieces from the archives of Cassina.

The Pixel Building

Pixel Building by Studio 505

Featuring a distinctive pixelated façade, the Pixel Building - designed by studio505 - is Australia’s first prototype carbon neutral office building.

C.Wonder opens in New York City

C.Wonder is a new women's lifestyle shop on Spring Street in SoHo, New York City. Founded by Chris Burch, co-founder of women's apparel brand Tory Burch, C. Wonder shares stylistic similarities to the contemporary brand, but includes housewares and retails at lower prices, from $10 - $200.

The Dog House at The Marvel Room

Mungo & Maud Rope Collar

Taking residence on the first floor of the Brown Thomas flagship store in Dublin, The Marvel Room is showcasing The Dog House: a boutique collection of dog accessories, coats, leads and collars.

To officially launch the opening of The Dog House at The Marvel Room, a dogwalk was held at the store - where pampered canines modelled the new collection down a dog-friendly runway.

HBL Blog of the Week: How To Be A Retronaut

How To Be A Retronaut

Vintage style blog How To Be A Retronaut comes with the tagline, "The past is a foreign country. This is your passport." You can browse by time period (from 0-1800, through the world wars up to the 2010s), by cluster (including Victorian, miniature and steampunk) or simply by browsing through new posts. Each is dated as precisely as possible, with recent gems including a 1993 Apple catalogue and a Rolls-Royce Phantom III Cabriolet from 1939.

HBL loves: the atmospheric interiors shots from an Abandoned Russian School.

HBL News: Design for 97.5% by Ford

Ford have announced that they are changing the proportions of their cars - as research shows that humans are growing significantly larger and taller. Ford engineers are now using 3D body data to design the new Focus to fit 97.5 percent of the global population behind its wheel.

HBL Tradeshows: Live from Design Tide Tokyo, Japan

Yard Design at Design Tide Tokyo 2011

WGSN-homebuildlife reports live from Design Tide Tokyo, presenting three emerging trends from the fair:

Fondant pastel shades: These saccharine sweet shades range from chalky through to mid-tones, and are seen across a range of interior products.

Slotted & stacked: Designers are creative and resourceful in their approach to construction, using slot, stack and fold techniques to assemble products.

Transforming furniture: Designers make furniture that is compact, multifunctional and more durable, giving cutomers better value for money.

Subscribers can read the full live report here, and access our full report from the fair next week.

WE MAKE CARPETS for Dutch Design Week 2011

Photography by Amy Kouwenhoven

During Dutch Design Week 2011, Dutch design collective WE MAKE CARPETS presented an exhibition of small-scale carpets crafted from unique materials such as staples, matchsticks and confetti. The carpets were made to fit into a miniature model home, put together using the combined skills of twelve designers and the WE MAKE CARPETS team.

Chaos Sunline Hotel

Chaos Sunline Hotel

Dedicated to anime fans is Chaos Sunline Hotel – also known as Chaos Lounge – in Kamata, Japan. Created by Japanese architect Shogo Kawada, each room has been restyled by a famous manga artist with murals, quirky soft toys and manga paraphernalia.

HBL Book of the Week: Artists' Handmade Houses

The home of Michael Kahn and Leda Livant in Arizona, in Artists' Handmade Houses. Image via The New York Times

Artists' Handmade Houses by Michael Gotkin and Don Freeman (Abrams, 2011) presents 13 artists' homes, photographed by Freeman and each accompanied by a house history written by Gotkin. Freeman is a regular photographer for World of Interiors and the book has been praised for the detail of its content, with the homes within it spanning 75 years from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.

HBL loves: The spectacular, unique interiors that have been created by some of America's most renowned artists and craftsmen.

Condiment Junkie technologies for Selfridges' Christmas windows

Using breakthrough technology by sound design company Condiment Junkie, London's Selfridges is turning its windows into oversized carol-singing music boxes for Christmas 2011, with the glass of the windows acting as a loudspeaker.

HBL Blog of the Week: Rua 2

Written by Brazilian journalist Fernanda Peruzzo, Rua 2 documents "everyday inspiration from the streets" - of Paris (where Peruzzo lives) and beyond. Coffee shops, public spaces and cultural institutions are favourite locations.

HBL loves: Peruzzo's eye for detail, and straight-forward naming system. For example, a whole post is devoting to exposed tubing, and is named accordingly: Paris, in a café... a tubing to see and appreciate.