petit h

Last Friday I got to visit the petit h studio in Paris and the Hermes ateliers (yes, as in Hermes) thanks to my very good friend Mathieu Forestier from White Sky.
The most inspiring visit ever.

petit h is the "atelier de re-creation" (re-creation studio) of Hermes. The idea is that Hermes having probably the highest quality control in the world, there's a gold mine of rejected materials that are absolutely perfect around the one tiny fault that made it get out of line. Well, petit h gives these "rejected" or "left over" pieces another chance to get in the spotlight. They might not become the Birkin bag they always dreamed they would be, but they might become the ear of this giant bunny designed by Marjolijn Mandersloot for the year of the Rabbit (see last image), or part of another one of a kind poetic objects created in the studio with the savoir faire of the Hermes artisans.
The movie on the Hermes website and a few of the objects below, will explain it better than words...

Directing the magic are Pascale Mussard, from the Hermes family as the art director and Cyril Feb, managing director (with me and the rabbit above) that I had the privilege to meet - exquisite people for sure!!
There's no limits to what's possible, you should see the studio, the ultimate dream. Believe me, if I lived in Paris, I would have volunteered myself to make coffee, sharpen pencils or anything that would allow me to stand around and absorb...

pretty light bulb

Please meet the Plumen 001 designed by Hulger and Sam Wilkinson (UK) - discovered on ahalife where you can buy them for $30. Do I really need to say why I love them??
Some numbers: it uses 80% less energy than a regular bulb and lasts 8 times longer.


also see the dezeen article showing the bulb in glass vessels for DECODE, London.

wasara paper tableware

I discovered WASARA at MERCI (see post on my favorite store in Paris here).
These are one time use paper tableware made out of a mix of reed pulp, bamboo, and bagasse (sugarcane waste) which is usually discarded in the sugar making process.
It's super-eco friendly, and the soft feel and Japanese aesthetic are irresistible. the website's images to explain the concept are great

check it out here

a few products I love

all images above from the wasara website

merci, merci!

I just discovered my new favorite store in Paris, created early June by the former owners of French kids top brand Bonpoint, Marie-France & Bernard Cohen, this store is 200% pure pleasure. You can literaly spend the whole afternoon there.
You'll find there a Christian Tortu flower shop, a perfume lab by Annick Goutal, fashion (YSL, APC, Isabel Marrant, Stella Mc Cartney, Marni, Paul & Joe) for women, men and kids, a "mercerie" (fabrics, zippers, buttons), amazing bedings, super great furniture vintage/roots to ultramodern, and great great home decor + accessories, an ice cream cart, a cafeteria with home baked goods, and a library/cafe where you can sit and sip something - you can also leave with the second hand books as they're all for sale. All of this in an amazing space.
The best part is that part of the profit margin goes to charities in Madagascar.

From the outside + the perfume lab

the 2nd floor - mostly home decor and the kid's section
+ the cool changing rooms from the 1st floor (fashion)

The rez-de-jardin (downstairs) with the cafeteria,
the small home accessories and lighting.
My favorite item on that floor? Probably the black and white
woven electric cords they sell by the yard...
My sister got me 2 yards for my birthday,
I can't wait to find the use for it.

The cafe/library

The books are sorted by subjects, you can just read
or buy them for 5, 10 or 20 euros depending on the color
of the sticker on its back.


I'll probably blog separately about specific finds from there. A real gold mine!!
MERCI - 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais - 75011 Paris

neo-paris

The new Parisian attitude: twisted classics, a pinch of modernity, a bit of humour noir... and still very Paris [vé-ree pah-ree]!
1- who else than Chanel?
2- "Je t'aime" lamp - Fleux (275 euros)
3- chimpanzee chandelier - Fleux (175 euros)
4- baccarat Black Angel tall glass, designed by Philippe Starck - Neiman Marcus ($510) {found on Toast and Tables}
5- riedel black crystal blind tasting wine glass - Tiffany ($60) {found on Toast and Tables}
6- poplin cotton necklace with a silvered brass chain - Arty Dandy ( 69 Euros)
7- hand made broche by Marianne Batlle - Arty Dandy (125 euros)
8- trompe l'oeil cardboard stool - Fleux (39 euros)
9- showtime double poltrona sofa - the future perfect ($9,920)
10- greatest find of the day: biblioteca shelving by Matt Car, mahogani and lacquer- the future perfect ($550)
11- smoke collection from Maarteen Baas - moss this piece has sold but there are others still available (price upon request), I just had to place it here.
12- deluxe plastic cutlery set - rose and radish ($27)
13- who can escape the oxfords this year? these are Rag&bone (the most comfy on the market) - eluxury ($237 on sale!)
14- zeppelin S1 suspension light by Marcel Wanders - moss ($3,512)
15- front design table pig - Fleux ( 1,495 euros) or Unica Home ($2,277)
16- still life serie from Klein and Reid - kleinreid.com

get a character

I love these salvaged characters from this brilliant company in Finland: characters. They were once part of a store front, and were re-cycled with led lights.
I want one!! (between 120 and 400 euros, all one of a kind)

discovered on Toxel.com.

white with a splash

Could a bathroom be more chic?
LOVE the "tambo" sink, in synthetic resin designed by Sergio Rochas ADORE the white version of the "pan" faucets by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba or "tara" by Dornbracht (amazing in black as well, but that didn't match the title of the post!)

euro condoms

I just learnt about the new rule to ban the light bulbs in the EU, starting with the frosted ones in Sept 2009. Find out more in this article of LEDs magazine.
Well, this Ingo Maurer's answer to it: the euro condom! He revealed it during design week in Milan. I found it on designboom.
What do you think?

baby black

Black is the new baby blue!
It's getting easier to find cool design for babies.
1 - bloombaby black fresco loft high chair - modern nursery $499, yoyamart $500
2 - bloom coco lounger - yoyamart $350
3 - cat cat cat - yoyamart $23
4 - alphabet zoo re-stik - blik $35
5 - stokke classic tripp trapp high chair - modern nursery $250
6 - baby top havaianas - havaianas $19
7 - yoyamart chalkboard-magnetic paint - yoyamart $35 a quart (12.5 sqf)
8 - vitra panton junior - inhabit $153
9 - monte design ninna nanna bassinet - yoyamart $395

worksite inspired

Maybe I spent too much time in my father's workshop, but I LOVE the industrial look, especially mixed with clean and polished...
I love #1 for how simple it is, and I always had a crush on worksite lamps like #2 (cleaned up version). #3 is the most brilliant radiator I've ever seen: you can leave it hung like that or drag part of it where you're hanging out for extra heat!! love love love.
Most of these could be cool DIY projects, especially if you have the same thrill as me walking down the plumbing isle of Home Depot!

1 - tap hanger from junktion starting at 100 euros
2 - work lamp from Form us with love - ScandinavianDesignCenter ($132.98)
3 - Ciussai radiator from Ad Hoc - world style design (1,520 euros)
4 - Seen in the April issue ELLE decoration - supermarket cart painted glossy white (DIY)
5 - light plumbing from Claus Bjerre, ed. Danish Crafts (75 euros at Home autour du monde in Paris)
6 - towel hanger from junktion
7 - Medito wall lamp - made in design (68 euros)
8 - chanukah lamp from junktion

1, 3, 4, 5 seen in the april 09 issue of Elle Decoration
Home autour du monde 8 rue des francs bourgeois, Paris 3eme 01 42 77 06 08

spring palette

I'm usually not a big fan of the color green, especially in home decor, but this palette in the French Elle Decoration stopped me, and so did this kitchen in the Elle Deco UK (both april 09 issues).

If you like it, here's a little selection of kitchen stuff to get you started!

1- Imperial treillis wall covering from Schumacher
2- E27 pendant lamp - Scandinavian center ($63.30)
3- Picco Lucci - Conrad shop ($16)
4- Unison Larch Moss table linen - Design Public ($40-$98)
5- Jensen bowl set - ScandinavianDesignCenter ($36)
6- Deluxe - moss ($120 for 16 pces)
7- Aval Aalto dual color vase - moss ($215)
8- Marc Newson's Dom Perignon champagne cooler - moss
9- Carribean Blue Le Creuset French ovens - sur la table ($184.95-$269.95)
10- Pantone mugs - Heliotrope ($11.95 ea)
11- Hook up wall Hook - Conrad Shop ($4.50)
12- Lizz Chair - Conrad Shop ($285)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This post reminds me of these shots I did for Tozai Home, a few years back:
click on the image to see more of my work!

just scandinavian

I was strolling around Tribecca today, and I discovered this store on Hudson street: Just Scandinavian. A great selection of scandinavian design, around 20 different fabric designs you can be made into pillows, sofas, trays, lamps, etc. Also cool cabinets and drawer chests. Go visit them if you're around!

All images from justscandinavian.com

Just Scandinavian 161 Hudson st, NYC NY 10013 (212) 334 2556

a new life for your old china

WOW, this is great!! At last someone did it... and who else than BLIK?
They (actually Jansen+co) created transfers for our china or pretty much anything with a smooth surface (works on porcelain, glass, ceramic, plastic...) and best of all it's dishwasher safe. Think of all the things that need some spicing up in your kitchen cabinet, or anywhere else for that matter. The cheesier, the better actually, and don't hesitate to overlap existing patterns!


here's the page from the Jansen+co catalog


Here are a few cool patterns it comes in:

Thank you BLIK for this great find!

choosing red! (shopping)

You want the same look as choosing red! (post from Feb3) without the Bisazza or Cappellini bill?
Here's a little selection to start you off, you'll see it's easy and the result is great.
The secret for the look: not to compromise. Some silver, or grey are OK, some black maybe but that's it.

1- TARGET - saddle seat stool $54.99 - $59.99
2- IKEA - bar stool MALTE $39.99
3- IKEA - wall cabinet ATRAN $24.99
4- IKEA - wall shelf ASPUDDEN $29.99
5- CB2 - eco-friendly bamboo bath towels $3.95-$24.95
6- IKEA - bathmat SANNI $9.99
7- TARGET - white stone resine waste basket $24.99
8- IKEA - basket with handle MALLEN $3.99
9- CB2 - resin bath accessories $7.95-$14.95
10- IKEA - bathmat NACKTEN $2.99
11- TARGET - blu dot real good chair $90.30
12- CB2 - ladder rack $79.95
13- TARGET - scooter stool $74.99
14- BENJAMIN MOORE
15- TARGET - analog scale TAYLOR $14.95
16- TARGET - arrow coat hook $9.99


If you do it, please send me pictures! I'd love to see.

choosing red!

I'm so lucky my boyfriend has great taste. He made the Bisazza bathroom before we were together. When I moved in, we were debating what else to put in there... We tried wood to bring some nature in the bathroom, but it didn't do it. Last month, we decided to go with RED. We love it, it's adopted. Super dynamic.
We even had this little Chinese vase and little French Dunny to match the look. I wish I had taken the shot when we had the big white Hydrangea in the vase.
We're already planning on adding wall art and other goodies. I promise I'll post!

pharmacy cabinet - cappellini
red stool from Francois Azambourg - cappellini
turquoise vase - tozai home
Dunny - kidrobot

If you'd like the same look for less: check out the shopping page