Bethan Gray at Great Western Studios

Brogue table by Bethan Gray for G&T

West London creative hub Great Western Studios is to host an exhibition of British designer Bethan Gray's work, including recent pieces such as the Brogue Table as well as previously unseen works. The show will also see the launch of a new series of home accessories made of stone.

Triitme! online store and magazine

Founded by Álvaro Portela in Madrid, Triitme! is a new European company specialised in design, whose aim is to emphasize the importance of Europe as a 'brand'. The online store stocks products and furniture by European designers, available within the EU-27 thanks to a unique logistics system and exclusive partnership with UPS.

Designing The Middle East: Part 1

Saj Tables by Noam Dover and Michal Cederbaum

A new exhibition showcasing the work of contemporary Israeli designers opens today at Soho gallery 19 Greek Street.

Under My Tree by Florian Brillet for Ligne Roset

Made of metal and wood, Under My Tree is a waterproof lamp that can be used indoors and out. Designer Florian Brillet was tasked by French brand Ligne Roset to create a light that can be suspended from branches, adapting easily to its surroundings.

MEATmission by Shed

All photography by James Medcraft

Interior architects Shed have completed the latest eatery in Yianni Papoutsis's meat series. Called MEATmission, the restaurant is housed in a former Victorian Mission located just behind east London's hip Hoxton Square, and specialises in meat, liquor, burgers, cocktails and beer.

Rose Li Collection by Albi for Aqua Creations

New lamp collection Rose Li, produced by Aqua Creations, is inspired by t'ai chi and uses natural polished copper to imitate the characteristics of a candle. The contemporary interpretation uses rechargeable LED bulbs that offer a warm coppery light similar to a flame.

The collection will be previewed during Milan Design Week, from 9th-14th April.

Good Vibrations by Ferruccio Laviani

This isn't an optical illusion; instead, the distorted shape of this cabinet is a preview of the new collection by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani for furniture brand Fratelli Boffi, which will be presented during the upcoming Salone del Mobile in Milan.

The Enchanting Tree by Tord Boontje

A new champagne experience by designer Tord Boontje was unveiled last week at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The Enchanting Tree celebrates the coming of spring by integrating Perrier-Jouët champagne into an intricate metal sculpture.

CUBO by Meritalia

Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni's classic CUBO chair will reappear at the Salone del Mobile in a few weeks. Italian furniture brand Meritalia is to re-release the piece, which was designed in 1957.

Enlightenment Collection by Gaia & Gino

Luxury design brand Gaia & Gino will launch its new collection during Milan Design Week 2013 - and will extend into table lamps for the first time.

Exhibiting in partnership with Wallpaper* Handmade, the brand will unveil products designed by Noe Duchafour Lawrence, Arik Levy, Karim Rashid, Juergen Mayer H, Brad Ascalon, Pearson Lloyd, Jaime Hayon and Annette Hinterwirth.

Pop up shop by Melanie Porter & Zoe Darlington

Last week saw the launch of Melanie Porter and Zoe Darlington's pop up shop in Covent Garden, London. The store houses the designers' colourful upcycled pieces, with items including coat hook accessories, knitted lampshades and retro cinema seats - all infused with a very British style.

Ki Ko Koi mirrors by Véronique Maire

Ki Ko Koi mirror by Véronique Maire

Véronique Maire's new collection of mirrors for Y'a pas le feu au lac are inspired by Kokeshi, Japanese charm dolls that are believed to bring good luck to their owner.

Designs of the Year 2013: Homebuildlife highlights

Child ViSion Glasses by Centre for Vision in the Developing World

London's Design Museum has today opened the doors to its annual Designs of the Year exhibition, which presents each of the 99 nominees for visitors to explore.

Our highlights from the engrossing showcase include glasses with flexible prescriptions, a $25 computer board that teaches kids how to code, and a corporate yearbook that communicates through colour.

The Institute of Making: grand opening

Cross-disciplinary material research club The Institute of Making held its first public open day last weekend to celebrate its grand opening.

The workshop space is hosted by UCL and membership is currently for students and staff of the university only, but it will be staging regular open days and special events where members of the public can explore its material archive and get involved in workshop sessions.

Listening Lights by Moment Factory

Listening Lights in Winnipeg - Teaser from City of Winnipeg on Vimeo

Montreal-based lighting designer Moment Factory has created a light sculpture that mimics the Aurora Borealis and responds to whistles. Installed on Market Avenue in Winnipeg, Canada, the piece is inspired by a legend that says when one whistles, the Northern Lights become more intense.

The artwork reacts to the public’s whistles and makes the sculpture’s LEDs turn on and off in a variety of sequences to create more visual drama. The lighting company used 68 LED lights to create the permanent artwork, which serves as a gateway to all of the nearby art venues in Winnipeg’s cultural district.

Boxed office space by h2o Architects

© Julien Attard

Hypernuit is a creative agency bringing together graphic designers, art directors and communication officers. For its new Parisian work space, the collective asked h2o Architects to create a calming and contemporary interiors that would reflect its innovative and dynamic ideas. It was due to accommodate five work stations and a meeting room. Another request was to fit as much storage as possible, and provide the possibility to hang photographs on the walls for potential exhibitions. 

Tree Houses: Fairy Tale Castles in the Sky

This book by architectural writer Philip Jodidio brings together photographs, illustrations and mini tours of the 50 best tree houses in the world, from traditional constructions to wildly inventive creations, made by architects and anonymous craftsmen alike.

Published by Taschen (2012), Tree Houses: Fairy Tale Castles in the Sky offers inventive cues for kids' lifestyle and even experience design. For more, see our microtrend, Mobile Environments.

Flora Tea at IFE 2013

This year's edition of influential food industry tradeshow IFE runs until tomorrow at London's ExCeL, and is packed full of trends and exciting new products for foodservice professionals to survey.

Leading the way in drinks innovation is Flora Tea, a green tea product which is supplied as a bud. When dropped into a glass and topped with boiling water, the tea heart opens up into a beautiful flower display, available in a range of different styles.

Marquises by Y A Pas Le Feu Au Lac

Marquises shelves by Y A Pas Le Feu Au Lac. © Studio Plastac

As part of Y A Pas Le Feu Au Lac's 2013 collection, French design studio Brichet Ziegler has created a series of narrow shelves, ideal for exhibiting precious possessions. In line with the trend for displaying everyday objects as works of art, the lacquered wooden ledges are as precious as the items they are designed to support, engraved with geometric patterns.

Homebuildlife subscribers can read our full report on shelving and display here.

Werner Aissingler for Moroso

Werner Aissingler has designed two new collections for Moroso: a modular new sofa system and an ombre wooden chair. Both will be launched during the Salone del Mobile 2013.

Marni 100 chairs: 2013 collection

Marni will be presenting an updated version of its very successful 100 chairs project at this year's Salone del Mobile. Again part of a rehabilitation programme for ex-prisoners, the collection is composed of chairs, chaise-longue, rocking chairs and tables with various new models, woven pattern combinations and a colour scheme linked to the idea of urban living.

Framed by Ted Noten

Seven Necessities: Chastity Belt by Atelier Ted Noten, 2012. Photography: Atelier Ted Noten

Dutch designer Ted Noten has curated the first exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Called Framed by Ted Noten, the show explores the artist-designer's inspirations alongside a display of his latest collection Seven Necessities, interactive installation Wanna Swap Your Ring, and Lady K Bag edition Prada, which features a gold pistol.

Pulsate by Lily Jencks & Nathanael Dorent

Capitol Designer Studio has commissioned architects Lily Jencks and Nathanael Dorent to create Pulsate, a unique installation using Marazzi's SistemN tiles. The shop in Primrose Hill has been completely taken over by the tiles, creating an Op Art-inspired perspective to draw people into the space.

Zaha Hadid for Citco

Zaha Hadid has designed a new collection for Citco, which will be showcased at the Salone del Mobile next month. The limited edition collection of three tables combines the grandeur of marble with contemporary, luxury craft.

Innovative door handle by PBA

Italian company PBA has received the Red Dot Design Award 2013 for its stainless steel Elica door handle, designed by Jérôme Brunet. Original, elegant and functional, it provides an excellent grip for people with reduced hand mobility. Its flat upper part with a generous surface area also makes vertical movements easier for people in wheelchairs.

WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can read more on door knobs and handles here.

RAYN by Philippe Starck for Dedon

Dedon is the latest brand to release a collection preview for this year's Salone del Mobile. Philippe Starck has designed RAYN, a "happy chic" modular outdoor system that is part of a collection that aims to remove the boundaries between indoor and out.

Easter Kaleidoscope at La Grand Epicerie

Chocolatier Daniel Mercier has teamed up with La Grand Epicerie in Paris to create a special Easter range called Pâques Kaléidoscope (Easter Kaleidoscope). Watch the video to see faceted bunnies, chickens and fish being 3D modelled, moulded out of chocolate, and finally dipped into colour.

Subscribers can see more craft-inspired Easter trends in our Kids' Easter trend report.

Live from Manila Fame March 2013

Azcor at Manila Fame, March 2013

The March edition of the Philippines' premier biannual design fair, Manila Fame, opened with a cheerful tropical vibe. Fresh and vibrant colours weave their way into handcrafted outdoor furniture, though this season’s hues were more washed-out and muted.

Prospective design at Saint Etienne International Biennale 2013

Aire Concept by João Lammoglia: a wearable mask that could create energy and charge small appliances when breathed into

With Empathy as the general theme for the 2013 edition of Saint Etienne International Design Biennale, designers across all exhibitions are contributing their own personal vision of how to improve our lives in the near or not so near future.

One exhibition in particular, Demain C'est Aujourd'hui (Tomorrow is Today), is showcasing prospective ideas to do so. While some projects are conceptual ideas that have no technical possibility of hitting the market soon, others could become our reality in a few short years.

Interwoven at Habitat Platform

The latest event at Habitat Platform is Interwoven, an exploration of weaving in interiors by five alumni of Central St Martins College of Art and Design. Each designer has mixed experimental ideas with traditional craft techniques to create a striking range of pieces. The exhibition centres around Philippa Thorne's collection of sculptural vessels, which use a vibrant combination of African-inspired colour and geometric pattern.

Wool House at Somerset House

Snug by Arabella McNie at Wool House

London's Somerset House is currently hosting Wool House, a showcase celebrating the wonder of wool across fashion, interiors and craft. Organised by the Campaign for Wool and curated by Arabella McNie, the exhibition includes exclusive room sets by Donna Wilson, Josephine Ryan, Anne Kyyro Quinn, Kit Kemp, Ashley Hicks, and Fox Linton Associates.

Copying China by Droog Lab

Teapot with handle by Richard Hutten

Droog Lab is currently presenting an exhibition of 26 works copying Chinese design in Guangzhou - the notorious epicentre of design's copycat culture. 

As China is working hard to shed its reputation, Droog shows copying as an opportunity to add something, upgrade, and in the end introduce novelty to a product. Each design proposal translates an essence of the original object.

Hood by Form Us With Love

Form Us With Love has designed a sheltering LED pendant light for Swedish lighting company Ateljé Lyktan. Called Hood, the cocooning lamp is shaped like a halved sphere and can be extended with extra sections so that it fits conference tables.

Goodhood Life Store: now open

London-based retail brand The Goodhood Store has launched a lifestyle collection. The Goodhood Life Store includes Japanese stationers Midori, Danish trendsetters Hay, Maison Martin Margiela Home, Muuto, Nomess, Monocle, Knight Mills, and an own-brand line called GOODS.

Salone del Mobile 2013: launch previews

Unica Chair by Donati

Collection previews have been released of the latest products due to be launched at this year's Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2013, including new pieces by Donati, Fabbian and Platek.

The best of Northern Irish craft in London

Clerkenwell gallery Craft Central is currently hosting an exhibition of contemporary craft from makers living and working in Northern Ireland. Called Perspective: Inspiration Unveiled, the inspiration brings together jewellery, furniture, glass, sculpture, ceramics and woven textiles.

Les Cloches restaurant by José Levy

Designer José Levy has combined French tradition and modern concepts in new Parisian brasserie Les Cloches. Designed to be eye-catching to passersby, its black exterior canopies are illuminated with neon lighting. Once inside, the ceiling is layered with gold, the flooring features optical patterning, mirrored arches line the walls, and transparent tableware decorates the oak tables.

Brillo Box Pouf at Fab

Online homewares store Fab has joined forces with The Andy Warhol Foundation and Quinze & Milan to produce the Brillo Box Pouf. The soft, multifunctional piece mirrors Warhol's 1964 iconic screen-printed artworks.

Bojka at Rossana Orlandi for Milan Design Week 2013

Beirut-based design studio Bojka, which creates furniture and artistic installations using a variety of vintage and contemporary fabrics, will be showing a new collection entitled Migration at Spazio Rossana Orlandi during the upcoming Milan Design Week.

Nemo at Salone del Mobile 2013

Gio' Terra by Angeletti Ruzza

Lighting brand Nemo will be showcasing its latest collection, Iclassici, at Salone del Mobile 2013; comprising renovated iconic pieces taken from the archives of Le Corbusier, Perriand and Albini.

Lighting and more: Albero by iGuzzini

Enzo Eusebi, Italian designer and director of architecture practice Nothing Studio has created a new lighting system for iGuzzini.

Serralunga at Milan Design Week 2013

Cup by Naoto Fukasawa

An all-star cast of designers including Naoto Fukasawa, Christophe Pillet and Raffaella Mangiarotti have designed Serralunga's new range of products. The Italian outdoor furniture brand will present two new collections during Milan Design Week, called 1825 (after the year it was founded) and Living Different.

Rolha side table by Gonçalo Campos

Designed by Gonçalo Campos, Rolha is a side table featuring detachable legs that screw into the base just like a corkscrew into a bottle of wine.

Guns can save lives by Fonderie 47

New-York based social entrepreneur Peter Thum set up Fonderie 47 in 2009, with the humanitarian ambition of reducing the number of assault rifles and other small arms around the world. In 2010 he began purchasing confiscated AK47s from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to make jewellery and objets d'art from the parts. The sale of each piece founds the destruction of assault rifles in Africa.

A Soft Frame by Normann Copenhagen

Normann Copenhagen uses one of this year's biggest trends - contrasted edges - in its new cushion collection, A Soft Frame. Designed by Britt Bonnesen, the cushion's edges make it appear framed due to their subtle tonal difference. A Soft Frame is available in two sizes and eleven colour combinations.

WGSN-homebuildlife has been tracking the trend for contrasted edges across this season's tradeshows. Subscribers can see it at IMM Cologne here and read our trend report here.

Pantone Pairings by David Schwen

David Schwen's Pantone Pairings is a collection of food combinations which show how people pair flavours. The Instagram project includes carrot and pea, macaroni and cheese, bacon and eggs, ham and cheese, and strawberries and chocolates.

Miles rug by Now Carpets

Spanish flooring brand Now Carpets has launched a new rug called Miles, which is designed by architects Moneo Brock and inspired by the jazz legend Mile Davis. The hand-knotted piece was showcased at Maison & Objet and is made of 80% wool and 20% bamboo silk.

Plugg: a DAB radio operated by cork

Plugg radio by Skrekkøgle

Design studio Skrekkøgle has developed a prototype DAB radio that uses the physical act of stopping a cork as its on/off mechanism. The project explores the idea of bringing tangible interaction back into the increasingly dematerialised appliance industry.

Plugg radio by Skrekkøgle

The studio used 3D printing, laser cutting and electronic hacking to develop the prototype. Its previous projects include a sculpture depicting the Solitaire win screen, and an alternative memorial process for pets.

Plugg radio by Skrekkøgle

Colourful plant bags by Bacsac

The Batyline collection by French company Bacsac represents the new generation of plant containers. Flexible, weightless and portable, the bags are made out of a double-walled permeable fabric, leaving the soil breathe and the water flow out. The outside is in Batyline, a UV, frost and sun resistant PVC fiber, and the inside in non-woven felt.

Marco Corti for NUBE

Italian furniture brand NUBE will launch a new armchair by designer Marco Corti at this year's Salone del Mobile. Called Carlton, the chair is made of solid wood with an upholstered back cushion and seat, and will be available in natural finish or colour lacquer.