Patch of Sky: connected lights by Fabrica

Amun in sunny weather conditions

Design research lab Fabrica has created a series of three lamps that show the weather conditions in friends' locations around the world.

Design Reunion by Habitat

Simon Pengelly for Habitat

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Habitat will launch Design Reunion, a collection of six pieces created by acclaimed designers who have previously collaborated with the brand. Shin Azumi, Tord Boontje, Sarah Campbell, Claire Norcross, Simon Pengelly and Aaron Probyn worked closely with the brand's creative director Polly Dickens to develop a range of statement pieces.

Jacky Tsai for Shanghai Tang

Chinese luxury fashion and home brand Shanghai Tang has collaborated with contemporary artist Jacky Tsai to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Shanghai-born Tsai created a series of original artworks which were applied to a capsule collection of limited edition products, including tableware and candles.

Herman Miller launches two new office systems

Public Office Landscape by Yves Béhar for Herman Miller

As part of its Living Office concept, Herman Miller has launched two new office systems: Locale, designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Collin of Industrial Facility; and Public Office Landscape, designed by Yves Béhar and fuseproject.

Meet The Makers: behind-the-scenes at Selfridges' food halls

Selfridges has announced an eight-week summer campaign that will introduce customers to the artisans and producers behind the delicacies available in its Food Hall.

Launching on Monday, Meet The Makers will include special food tours and demonstrations as well as Meet the Michelin, a dinner series hosted by Michelin-starred chefs, and Make My Magnum, a dessert bar in which you'll be able to customise your own Magnum by dipping it into chocolate and applying a range of coatings such as chilli and rosebuds.

The Hero Light by Buster + Punch

British design brand Buster + Punch will launch its Hero light at Designjunction's show-within-a-show Lightjunction this September. Designed by Massimo Minale, the light is made of bronzed gun metal, brass, matte rubber and LED bulbs.

Find out more about what the London Design Festival has in store for attendees in our event preview.

Gaetano Pesce: the time of diversity

Montanara, 2009

Running June 26 to October 5, a comprehensive retrospective at the MAXXI Museum of Rome will stage the work of Gaetano Pesce, the avant-garde Italian architect, designer and world-renowned artist.

Nest announces developer programme

Smart thermostat brand Nest has announced a new developer programme and partnerships with industry leaders including Whirlpool, Jawbone and Mercedes-Benz. By connecting Nest with wearable technology, cars and home appliances, the company hopes to bring about a "conscious home" with appliances talking to each other to seamlessly respond to consumer needs.

Homebuildlife subscribers can read more about the possibilities of the connected home in our CES 2014: Home & Lifestyle report.

Hand-crafted parasols by Sunbeam Jackie

Ideal for the summer season, Sunbeam Jackie's luxury, hand-crafted parasols are made of a patchwork of antique, vintage and designer fabrics.

HEMA opens in London

Dutch interiors and lifestyle chain HEMA has opened its first shop in London near Victoria station, offering a range of affordable homewares, fashion, beauty and food products.

Desktop Fireworks by Tomomi Sayuda

Royal College of Art Design Products graduate Tomomi Sayuda has created a range of stationery that bursts into celebration when its user presses a button.

Moskva: Urban Space at Venice Architecture Biennale 2014

Moscow's installation at this year's Venice Architecture Biennale highlights elementary shifts in architecture throughout the city's past, and reveals new urban possibilities. The exhibition features inverted prisms that hang from the ceiling with photographs of familiar buildings attached to them.

Dark materials: Project Nox by Felicity Taylor

On show at Central Saint Martins' Material Futures graduation show this week, Felicity Taylor's Project Nox explores the experience of darkness through touch, fragrance, sound and surface.

Cath Kidston autumn/winter 14/15

For its autumn/winter 2014/15 home collection, British brand Cath Kidston has developed a range of products using the concept of time, literally and metaphorically.

The Geometry of Pasta by Here Design

Here Design has created a cookbook that guides readers through the perfect sauce and pasta shape combinations. In The Geometry of Pasta, shapes are illustrated in bold black and white alongside simple methods and instructions, creating a visual and easy to follow guide.

GROW: The contemporary garden fair

Opening to the public tomorrow on London's Hampstead Heath, new contemporary garden fair GROW will bring together 100 carefully selected exhibitors selling plants, furniture and gardening accessories.

Manhole covers and gratings win the 2014 Compasso d'Oro design award

Founded in 1954, the prestigious Compasso d'Oro design award has been awarded this year to the Sfera collection of manhole covers and gratings, designed by Giulio Iacchetti and Matteo Ragni.

Ekocycle Cube by Will.i.am & 3D Systems: 3D printing from Coke bottles

Musician and entrepreneur Will.i.am has collaborated with 3D Systems to launch a 3D printer that uses filament recycled from used Coca-Cola bottles.

Available later this year, the Ekocycle Cube will retail at $1,199 and will be supplied with 25 print designs selected by Will.i.am. The printer will be able to create objects up to 6 inches cubed, using filament made of 25% recycled plastic.

Mrs. Sizzle: art & animal awareness

New blog Mrs. Sizzle brings a curator's eye to the intersection of pets, art and fashion. Founded by Suzanne Donaldson - a photo editor who has worked at Robert Mapplethorpe Studio and numerous fashion magazines - the blog highlights chic accessories, beautifully composed lifestyle shots and animal-inspired fashion, as well as going behind the scenes to meet the dogs, cats and birds behind some of art and culture's biggest names.

Christmas 2014 collection by Biscuiteers

Biscuiteers' Christmas collection this year includes biscuit-filled advent calendars, edible cards and tree decorations, and personalised cakes.

CHRISCROSS by Marco Hemmerling

CHRISCROSS is a lighting installation created by Marco Hemmerling at Cologne's Luther Church. Comprising 500 dichroic cylinders, the installation changes its colour depending on the lighting effect and the viewer's angle.

A Scandinavian Midsummer by designjunction

Habitat's Platform Gallery in London is currently hosting A Scandinavian Midsummer, an exhibition and pop-up café created by designjunction and curated by Michael Sodeau Studio.

Cars That Feel by Soap Creative

VIVID Sydney "Cars That Feel" Time Lapse from Soap Creative on Vimeo.

For arts festival VIVID Sydney this year, digital agency Soap Creative used lights, sound and visuals to imbue a series of Toyota cars with human characteristics and personalities. Programmed to 'wake up' as the sun set, the cars invited affectionate interactions from passersby - such as hugs and tickling - and responded in different ways.

For more insight on how domestic objects are taking on emotion and personality, subscribers can read our technology report Animated Appliances.

Gato, New York by David Rockwell

David Rockwell has designed the interiors, lighting, furniture and fixtures for Gato, a new bar and restaurant in Manhattan by chef Bobby Flay.

Spring ceramics by Dahlhaus

Photograph by Byron Dauncey

Heather Dahl, founder of Vancouver-based Dahlhaus Studio, has launched her spring 2014 ceramic collection - a range of naturally speckled neutral stoneware with vibrant glazes that have a West Coast Modern feel.

Water Shapes: new ideas for the ice lolly

Staged by Vittorio Venezia and Fab Lab Palermo and hosted by Italian design academy ABADIR (Arts Between Architecture Design & Interdisciplinary Research), the Water Shapes design workshop presented inventive new ideas for the ice lolly, defined simply as a "form supported by a stick".

Trompe l'oeil ceramic carpets by Bisazza

Bisazza's new tile collection by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel is inspired by traditional carpets. Geometric patterns such as fringe, stripes and diamonds are imprinted into fine porcelain stoneware through laser micro-engraving, so that hard flooring becomes as delicately decorated as soft furnishings.

All of a Piece: innovative tableware

All of a Piece is a series of modular tabletop elements created through a collaboration between Netherland-based Earnest Studio and Dana Cannam Design. Various components in granite, marble, perspex and walnut wood are combined together with magnets to form different objects of various styles and sizes. Simple geometric shapes alternatively become trays, trivets, bowls or candleholders to adapt to every need as the elegant materials are juxtaposed into contemporary compositions. 

Fountain of Youth by the Michelberger

Fountain of Youth is a natural coconut drink made by Berlin's Michelberger Hotel. Made from 100% raw, natural coconut water, the drink is bottled and sealed right after the coconut is opened for maximum vitality and freshness.

The Perfectionist’s Café by Heston Blumenthal opens at Heathrow

Heston Blumenthal's new restaurant, The Perfectionist’s Café, has opened this week in Heathrow's redeveloped Terminal 2. Designed by AfroditiKrassa, the interior takes inspiration from the golden era of travel, chiming with the 1960s and 1970s influences of Blumenthal's menu.

Doshi Levien rugs for Nanimarquina

Doshi Levien have designed a collection of carpets for Nanimarquina made from 100% New Zealand wool. The three carpets are handmade in India, using hand knotting and hand weaving Sumak techniques. The contemporary graphics are inspired by Nipa Doshi's aunt's embroidery workshop in Ahmedabad and the different techniques of unfinished embroideries.

The Confetti Bar

Founded by Jessica Serra Huizenga, online boutique The Confetti Bar sells speciality confetti for craft projects and celebrations.

Luminaire by Rem Koolhas and Swarovski at Venice Architecture Biennale

Luminaire by Rem Koolhas in collaboration with Swarovski © Gilbert McCarragher

Dutch architect Rem Koolhas has collaborated with Swarovski to create Luminaire, a lighting installation that surrounds the entrance to Monditalia, one of the exhibitions that takes place at this year's edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Inception by Luca Nichetto for Seletti

Luca Nichetto has designed a dish rack inspired by a scene from Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film Inception, in which the city of New York seems to fold onto itself as if it were made of rubber.

The Perfume Society

New fragrance organisation The Perfume Society connects users with the history of perfumery and key ingredients as well as updates on perfume houses, fragrance experts, fragrance families and product launches. Later this month, the brand's website will launch FR.eD, an online fragrance advisory service based on the preferences of the user.

Homebuildlife subscribers can read our full report on The Perfume Society here, and see our report on the retail experience of personalised fragrance here.

FR\AME: America's West Coast in Paris

A new brasserie in Paris combines fresh Californian flavours with a subtle French twist, a view of the Eiffel Tower and interiors designed by Christophe Pillet, who has drawn on natural and tactile materials including wood, marble and leather.