Interior Design Sense

With a name like “Leaf” you expect a look that’s simple, natural and organic, and that’s exactly what you get with this minimalist wood furniture collection. Designed for ilio by Mehtap Obuz of Demirden Design, this minimalist chair is both aesthetically and functionally flexible, featuring organic curves and a nesting design which offers the versatility to double as a seat and a table. Put your creativity to work and maximize your style potential with these interesting furniture designs. Made of oak and walnut with a natural finish, these wood seats will blend with your existing decor while standing out for their unusual shape and function. The Leaf chairs measure 45x50x36cm and 55x50x50cm, making them an ideal addition to small and large spaces alike. Check out this modern wood furniture at ilio.

Talk about illuminating design innovations! The Asami Light LED lighted sofa by Italian company Calico is transforming furniture from a fixed decor element to a versatile style feature that changes to suit your mood. Blending modern technology with fashion-forward design, this hot-seat features a classic couch shape adorned in contemporary graphics and highlighted by LED accent lighting. With the simple click of the remote control, you can change the color of the LEDs to take your living room, lounge or home theater from subtle to splashy, essentially letting your furniture do the decorating for you. Whether the LEDs are turned on or off, this sleek sofa is sure to turn you on! Adding another level of versatility to this cool couch, the Asami Light sofa features a modular design that lets you go as big or as shapely as you need to. For more information on this modern LED lighted sofa, visit Colico.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects was recently announced as the winner to design ‘Urban Mediaspace’, the largest public library in Scandinavia. The 228 million euro project is located in Aarhus, Denmark and is only the latest in the studio’s history of library designs. Other finalist in the competition included Mecanoo, GPP architects and A-team, a collaboration between two danish studios, Aart and Arkitema.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s deisgn aims to re-examine the traditional concept of library design. Rather than focusing on books, the building is envisioned as a hub for social interaction that includes indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, as well as studying, socialising and relaxing areas. Measuring 30,000 square metres, ‘Urban Mediaspace’ is located in Aarhus’s old cargo docks area. The building is heptagonal in shape and features a glazed-facade.

Seen at designboom. More images after the break.

Presented at Milan Furniture Fair 2009, Green Pockets is an innovative idea designed by Maruja Fuentes a designer from Puerto Rico. Green pockets are ceramic tiles which fuse nature with the interior space, improving both air quality and health. They attach to the wall to create the illusion as if they were actually growing from them. The tiles, made from recycled materials, serve as planters and their unique shape allows them to interlock, thereby creating different patterns depending on the vegetation planted. The pockets bring a soul-soothing dose of greenery and nature to an interior space, improving a room’s aesthetic and air quality. – Via – Thedesignblog

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Planter Wall Tiles by Maruja Fuentes

Taking their Faraway bathroom range to a whole new level, Kos presents the Faraway interior pool. This incredible mini-pool is the brainchild of Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, presented in 2009. A sunken pool, level with the floor, the Faraway Pool is a concept spa piece. As you descend the steps into the pool you’ll feel the tension wash out of your body. Contemplate the pool’s asymmetrical outline… the fissure flush with the floor defines the shape and outline. Gentle ripples are created in the Faraway pool by the blower, cleverly placed under the steps. Increase your pleasure at home – make the Kos Faraway Pool part of your life.

The Macau Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010 will take the shape of a jade rabbit lantern. Designed by Chinese firm Carlos Marreiros Architects the pavilion will be wrapped with a double-layer glass membrane and feature fluorescent screens on its outer walls. Balloons will serve as the head and tail of the ‘rabbit’, which can be moved up and down to attract visitors.

The building will be constructed with recyclable materials and consists of solar power panels and rain collection systems. The design was inspired by rabbit lanterns popular during the mid-autumn festival in south China in ancient times.

Seen at designboom. More images after the break.

Waking up and stepping on hot sand in the morning has to be an amazing feeling. But what if you have the sun but don’t have the sand? Then you’ll have to give architect Luis Pereira Miguel of Lisbon-based Pereira Miguel Arquitectos a call. He recently built two crescent-shaped sand dunes on top of the Casa Monte na Comporta. Surounded by trees and located in Grandola, Portugal, the cave-like modern home is configured in a skewed X shape, with a wooden exterior, a small pool on one side and a minimalist theme on the inside. Party-perfect, we can already imagine a lot of tequillas, Pina Coladas, great music and bikinis.

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Custom Sand Job: Casa Monte na Comporta in Portugal

Singapore-based WOW Architects designed this hotel in Tanzania. It has two buildings, and the overall design was inspired by geological processes that shape rock formations in nature.

Flowing gardens spill out of the building’s windows and the orientation was planned so that the sunlight enters the interior courtyard in the center, providing  the hotel guests a warm and inviting space to mingle.

For more information, click here. More images after the break.

Encase yourself in a lovely reclining Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen, from Fritz Hansen. This iconic chair has got to be one of the cosiest and most adorable chairs we’ve ever known, and is now more popular than ever before. The adjustable tilt fitting can be adjusted to the individual weight of the user so that it suits you perfectly. With its ergonomically designed shape, it’s ideal to nestle into, and will be a smashing hit with your family and guests alike. It sits perched atop a 4 pronged star-shaped satin-chromed base. The Egg Chair is now available in more wonderful patterns and materials than ever before… try a cluster of clashing or matching fabrics to make a cosy corner. A modern classic: the Egg Chair by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen available from Fritz Hansen will never go out of style.

The Plain kitchen faucets from Valpra are an antidote to design overload. If you yearn for something refined, easy-on-the-eye and unfussy, then the Plain faucet is for you. The counter-mounted tap stands tall before curving into a perfect ‘U’ shape. There is a tubular, cylindrical version, as well as a faceted version with flattened sides. The user-friendly joystick handle mirrors the shape of the spout itself. These kitchen faucets are by Marco Piva, transforming a complex function into the essence of simplicity. A company whose motto is ‘Less is more’, Valpra represent all that is good about Italian designed faucets.