Product Design Hub's got an interview up with concept artist Mikael Lugnegard, who has washed his hands of our profession (see quote below) but still designs his Swedish butt off.

Mikael Lugnegard is a Swedish industrial designer [who] graduated from the Umea Institute of Design, and worked as a lead designer for Duke Dynamics (BMW styling), as a concept designer for von Braun Sports Cars and as a sketch teacher at a number of Swedish design schools. He has also produced his own educational material and is now spending all his time in educating students about different ways to visualize ideas, design and just being creative and having fun.

"I would definitely not label myself as an industrial designer, that title is way to narrow for me and my creativity. I think it's very important to remain open to new challenges and new ways to expand and express our creativity. Even though I was trained as an ID, I found that it did not let me express my creativity in a way that suited my creative process and my goals. I'm a very visual designer, and I don't really care for the ID process with interviews, research and so on. I'm not really that problem oriented in my design. Guess I'm more of an artist in the traditional sense."

Click here for the full interview.

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These smart, contemporary room dividers are the Lightfacet dividers from Bloomming. The geometrical diamond shapes interlock, yet can rotate separately. The resulting pattern of the divider produces an intriguing effect, playing with light and shadow in the room. In today’s contemporary homes room dividers are an ideal way to break up an open space with an artistic accent. They also retain the natural light of the home, whilst offering an element of privacy. Lightfacet is simple to add to your home – it’s available in any size or shape due to the modular construction. Dutch designed, the Lightfacet room divider is available in stores. Contact Bloomming to make it yours.
Photo credits: Bart Roos

Another creative way to divide your room is with an indoor waterfall…

What’s not to love about fireworks? Bright bursts of color, awe-inspiring flashes of light… asthma??!!! More and more people have been voicing their concerns about the health risks (from particle-filled smoke and lung-clogging antimony to heart-toxic Barium and body-contaminating perchlorates) associated with our favorite nighttime spectacles, especially since we’ll be experiencing a ton of them tomorrow for 4th of July. Are there such things as eco-friendly fireworks? Scientists are busy working on them right now, but at the moment, they are too cost-prohibitive to make an appearance in displays this year.

Since we can’t purport to be green fireworks experts, here are the articles that we’ve found to be the most informative on the subject:

Eco-Friendly Fireworks Offer Safer Alternatives from Discovery News

Oh No Mommy, Will the Greenies Take Fireworks Away from Us? (haha) from Treehugger

Eco-Friendly Fireworks and Other Green Alternatives for July 4th from Greenopia

+ 5 Cheap and Easy Ways to Green Your 4th of July

Image credit: d4rr3ll and Mr. Magoo ICU

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Modern textured ceramic tiles from Refin – this is the Circus collection. The tactile 3D ‘circles in relief’ texture adds movement and brings this tile range to life! Circus ceramic tiles are easy to include in your interior decor – the cool, contemporary color scheme includes white, beige, purple and black options. For a splash of color, you can also add Circus textured border tiles with flamboyant baroque accents rendered in glass and pure gold glazes. Ceramiche Refin, an Italian company, keeps up-to-date with current trends through constant research. The company also has a commitment to ensure 100% of its products are made in Italy, so you can rest assured that Circus tiles are an ethical choice. Contact Refin to find out more about their splendid Circus ceramic tiles.

Textured tiles are all the rage. Have you seen the Hyperwave modern stone tiles from Testi Fratelli?

The terrorists "hate our freedom." If that's true, they're probably going to hate our folding bikes.

Montague's bad-ass Paratrooper Tactical Folding Mountain Bike is jump-ready and can be dropped on a static line or attached to a paratrooper. Accessories seem to include a camo wrap for jump time and a handlebar attachment that stores an assault rifle in a "travel" position.

Some deets on the bike's purpose:

Air Drop Ground Mobility The Paratrooper Tactical Mountain Bike was designed as ground mobility for airborne units. It is a sturdy, durable full size Mountain Bike, designed to fold so the bike can be dropped on a static line. Once on the ground the bike is unfolded and serves as effective, efficient and stealthy ground transportation, allowing easy evacuation upon completion of a mission.

LAV / Reconnaissance Scout Using the Paratrooper Tactical Mountain Bike in conjunction with LAV's or APC's, allows the company increased mobility and security. The Paratrooper Reconnaissance model folds so you can attach it to the side of vehicle and serves as back- up transportation. The Paratrooper is a stealthy recon/scout vehicle able to travel with little to no thermal and acoustic signatures.

Alternative to Foot Soldier The Paratrooper Tactical Mountain Bike offers the most efficient form of human powered transportation available. Men on mountain bikes have off-body load bearing capabilities, can traverse any terrain, move at high speeds without breakdown, and can refuel themselves with local water and food. It is also a great moral builder - the guys really enjoy traveling around on a bike rather than on foot.

The only thing that bugs me is they say it allows "easy evacuation upon completion of a mission." I hope that doesn't mean the soldiers are meant to abandon the bikes--you gonna leave these sweet rides behind for the terrorists? If you do, they win!

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It’s a widely known fact that leggy moviestar Cameron Diaz is a proponent of the green living, fashion, and transportation, but did you know that she is also a fan of sustainable design? We were delighted to see that the top pick on her Green List in pal Gwyneth Paltrow’s eco-newsletter GOOP was none other than… (drumroll please)

Inhabitat!

Read the rest of Cameron Diaz Endorses Inhabitat!

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Lumps of foamy coal make up the 20/30 rug by Belgian designer Raphaël Charles, and extra nuggets are scattered along the periphery. The name of the carpet is in reference to a standard calibre of coal, raising questions about energy and the future. In the here and now, however, the rug is a cosy spot that beckons bare feet. Arihiro Miyake has used recycled PET bottles to create Fort, a sound-absorbing room divider made up of individual "bricks" held together by magnets. The lightweight modules allow the partition to assume a variety of shapes and sizes. Vases do double duty as message centres, as the Pisarro range offers either a chalkboard or whiteboard surface for note-taking. Little Saigon is a mirror grouping by Studio Taschide that is pretty enough on its own, without any faces peering into it.

Here are all the sales across the country that are fit to print - painstakingly collected by our editorial team of over 70 bloggers across the country. This is only place on the web where they are all in one place. You can also get this delivered to you via email each Friday (see subscription box on upper left)...

>> New York Sales & Design Events

THIS WEEK • S. Julian 4th of July Sale • Simon Hardware & Bath Sale LAST DAY! • AlwaysMod Marimekko Sale • B. Moore Design Sample Sale • Conran Shop Summer Sale • MoMAStore Summer Sale • Gracious Home Sale • Emeco Sale • Alessi Sale • Hastens Mattress Sale • Fashioning Felt COMING UP • Sons + Daughters Closing Sale • Hampton Designer Showhouse • Ron Arad Retrospective

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>> Los Angeles Sales & Design Events

THIS WEEK • Visionary Boutique 50% Housewares Sale • Feeding Birds 4th of July Print Party • Plastica Indoor/Outdoor Rug Sale • Z Gallerie Outdoor Furniture Sale • Renoma Lighting Warehouse Sale • Denizen Gallery Floor Sample Sale • Richard Neutra, Architect: Sketches and Drawings • "Era" at the Oviatt Building • Arkitip + Shepard Fairey

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>> Chicago Sales & Design Events!

THIS WEEK • Jayson Home & Garden Tree Sale • Artists Frame Outlet • Ikea Summer Sale • The Container Store • Emeco • All Modern • Alessi • Advantage Kitchen & Bath Gallery • Zola Jones

>> Late Breaking Events: Orange Skin & Art Studio Sale in Chicago --- >> San Francisco Sales & Design Events

THIS WEEK • Room 4 Anniversary Sale & Fundraiser • Form Vintage Anniversay Sale • DZINE Sample Sale • High Cotton Living • Magic Gardens • Sunset Modern Cottage • Emeco • Alessi • Lisa Beerntsen & Tony Speirs • Ctrl+Alt+Design • Kartell Anniversary Sale

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>> Boston Sales & Design Events

THIS WEEK • AlwaysMod Marimekko Sale • SOWA Market • Todd Farm Antiques & Flea Market COMING UP • Boston Handmade Marketplace

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>> Washington, DC Sales & Design Events

THIS WEEK • Russell & Mackenna Sale • Great British Pine Mine Sale • AlwaysMod Marimekko Sale • Emeco Sale • Thos. Moser Annex Sale • The Community Forklift Free Fridays COMING SOON • Odegard Moving Sale

...with these combos of yellow & gold from kate spade. have a great holiday weekend everyone...

Building a home in the desert is certainly a test of green building innovation — because in a climate where resources are limited, how do you build to ensure comfort and longevity? Architect Lloyd Russell offers a beautiful solution with his Austin Residence near Palm Springs, California. Besides its construction out of recycled materials, Russell gave serious consideration to the mechanics of passive ventilation the home during the hot summer months. He was also sensitive to the culture of the surrounding California desert when developing the home’s look-and-feel, creating a contemporary home reminiscent of an old West outpost that captures the essence of desert living.

Read the rest of California Desert Home Uses Passive Ventilation Techniques

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its the final day of my ikea photo report (although i still have the student show to post next week). these gorgeous geometric folk type patterns were spotted on aprons in the household department. the patterns are bright and fun but still maintain their scandinavian cool. dont forget, if you have seen something this week that you wanted to buy, that the new ikea catalogue comes out in august -

...love these geometric rugs by Twinkle and Angela Adams...

During hot seasons around the world, it has long been a tradition that people would travel or decamp to whatever cooler places they could find, whether it was the mountains, the lakes or the sea. The types of homes they would devise for themselves were often of the simplest kinds, meant only for a those warm summer weeks or months that they could get away. In addition to the coolness this allowed, there was also the enjoyment of a simpler life in these temporary homes and it was often felt that the simplicity and closeness to nature was enriching in itself. This simpler life balanced the complicated, machine oriented life of the cities and was an opportunity to refresh family and community. Why do you escape?

i'm thinking about what i want to make in next week's carved wax jewelry class, with jennifer sarkilahti...

the heart charm in the top photo was my great grandmother's. she had a bracelet made with gold hearts for each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. the hearts were etched with our names, birthdays, and had our birth stones in the center (mine fell out), and we each got our own heart when she died. my two charm bracelets in the bottom photo came from my mom and my grandmother. the top one was my grandma's-- made with charms from my grandfather's fraternity. the bottom one is my mom's-- made with charms she collected when she was a kid. so, i'm thinking about either making a charm to add to one of my bracelets, or a simple pendant carved with initials. or maybe small shapes that can be strung on a cord. it's hard to decide!

more inspiration:
here (i love, love this jewelry!)
here
here

there are still a couple spots left in class, if you'd like to sign up!

When the co-owners of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch opened the doors to the public yesterday, The New York Times photographer Jim Wilson was there. Though the 13,000 square foot main house and the grounds were cleared out 5 years ago, the evidence of an opulent lifestyle is still in place (ferris wheel footings, gold-plated bathroom fixtures, gigantic home theater, the train station, etc)...

The French Chateau style main house is virtually unchanged in the 20+ years that Jackson has owned the property and it's interesting to see the bones of a home that was on the cutting edge in celebrity style at the time. See the related story: Neverland, Old Neighbors and New Visitors and the full slide show, Inside Neverland Ranch. (Images: ©2009 Jim WIlson/The New York Times) MICHAEL JACKSON ON APARTMENT THERAPY • Michael Jackson Furnishings, Artwork & Decor • Home Items from Neverland Ranch Up for Auction • Musical Bedrooms: A Playlist of Bedroom Moods • Musical House Tours: Apartment Therapy LA Salutes Michael Jackson Have a Michael Jackson image of artwork, home decor or memorabilia you'd like to share? Send it to us with THIS FORM

The fabulous Dwell on Design Show in LA last weekend showcased some amazing new products and home designs, like the organic ‘Solar Ivy‘, and the Mormal Radziner Skyline Prefab Series. Even more exciting though was the little prefab that could by Reclaimed Space, which sold on Ebay for $75,000, with a portion going to Habitat For Humanity. Reclaimed Space designed and built a 400 square foot prefab cabin, trucked it to LA for the event. The home has a contemporary mix of wood and metal in its exterior, and a beautiful interior decorated by our friends at Ecofabulous, with the help of Jeffers Design Group. We’re in love with the design, space and interior — so we weren’t surprised that it was a smash hit at the show.

Read the rest of Reclaimed Space Prefab Sold on Ebay for $75K

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It's that time again — Apartment Therapy is looking for a few bloggers to help us cover New York City and the metro area and bring their unique voice to our team. Do you love interior design, furniture and all things home-related? Would you like a place to share your ideas and inspirations with a large design-centric community? Think you would like to join the Apartment Therapy team? If this is you, jump below for the details:

This search is a little different than recent past searches — we're focusing in on New York City and are looking to dig deeper into the great design content, inspiration and access to products that our city has to offer. Specifically, we're looking for someone who has a passion for home design and can turn that into (at the least) a daily post. Candidates should also be able to provide a weekly column that follows a specific "beat". This is a part-time, paid, freelance position (1-2 posts per day) and it's great (but not required) if your other gigs plug you in to the design scene in some way. REQUIREMENTS • excellent camera skills and a good eye for stellar images • a strong style sense • blog-style writing skills • a reliable computer • a reliable high speed internet connection • a decent (if not amazing) digital camera • Photoshop or Photoshop Elements • knowledge of how to use all these things APPLICATION FORM DEADLINE Monday, July 13 (earlier is always appreciated!) The link to the application Form above will ask for the following information: • Your name and contact information • How long you have been reading Apartment Therapy • What you do full time The form will also ask for 3 specific sample posts with text and pictures: • House Call • Style Roundup • Column Idea We want to be WOWED with your unique voice and awesome pictures! Please submit posts written specifically for Apartment Therapy and not for another blog. Look to the Apartment Therapy city sites for the general style and format of posts for submission. For specific examples of the first two sample posts, check out these past examples: HOUSE CALLS • House Call: Jon's Contemporary Hybrid • House Call: Kimberly's Renovated Loft • House Call: Jillian's Modern & Elegant (on the cheap!) STYLE ROUNDUPS • Roundup: Updated Southwest & Western Style • Color Inspiration: Coastal Hues • Five More Plate Covers for Outdoor Dining POTENTIAL COLUMN SUBJECT MATTER • Tile Expert/Market Editor • Paint Expert/Market Editor • Urban Gardening /Flowers & Plants • Design/Interior Book Reviews • Kitchen Renovation • Bathroom Renovation • Before & After Project Expert • Textile/Upholstery Expert/Market Editor • wow us with your own idea! APPLICATION FORM DEADLINE Monday, July 13 (earlier is always appreciated!) We will confirm your submission, and then review your submissions.

more stylish geometrics - this time on cushions. rectangular in shape 'lusy blom' is just £3.59 for the cover and pad. also by the same designer, cilla ramnek, is the cute 'lusy knapp' set of two cushions featuring hand drawn images of buttons.

various cushions and upholstery prints spotted last week in ikea.

finally from ikea a quick look around the bedlinen section. i especially loved their take on the stem print featuring ever decreasing shapes inside the leaves.

Alex & Cocco have updated their Parkour series with aerial jumps, presented as shot, without any sort of post-production. These displays of sheer energy and power are awe-inspiring and almost unbelievable. See the rest of the week at Art MoCo after the jump.

Dutch designer Marieke Staps has figured out a way to grow time, instead of killing it. Her soil-powered bio-clock (is that like a biological clock?), showcased at Dutch Design Week in 2008 and most recently at Dwell on Design’s Kitchen Ecology Show last week, keeps time by plugging into mud!

Read the rest of Marieke Staps Soil Clock is powered by DIRT!

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This is innovation ladies & gentlemen!  The Delta Bed is a design by Nicola From Bern.  The fantastic thing about it is that you can use it at the size that you need, because is telescopic.  Yes! pull it from a side, and it will grow!.  I wish to have pictures of the product with pillows and everything, but anyway you can watch how this bed works here.  Delta bed is made up of fiberglass reinforced plastic tubes.

Great!   Very simple and modern... Let's forget about a big truck in our next home move.

Via Design-Milk.

In the states it’s time for the annual Independence Day (The Fourth of July) festivities and being such a patriotic country it’s quite a massive event here and nearly everyone takes off on Friday to prepare for the big day.

This is my last month living in America so I’m going to take in every last moment I can to spend with friends and family before I go so I have lots happening between now and Monday. Enjoy your weekend, holiday or not, and I’ll be back on Monday, July 6th!

xo,

Holly

(images: a fun DIY that Kathleen sent to me yesterday to post here, you can use this for the 4th or use the template to make these cute things for a basic summer party).

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E-zine: Utterly Engaged.

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Here’s what’s on my iPod this week because it’s been raining and cold every single day followed by T storms so my brain thinks we’re entering Autumn despite the fact that Summer just kicked off. I’ve been bundled up in a raincoat and scarf, sipping lattes to stay warm and listening to my usual Autumn tunes which tends to be a little mellow and folksy.

Laura Veirs, Saltbreakers, is such a great folksy CD. Singer-songwriter Laura is based in Seattle (such a great indie music scene in the pacific northwest, huh?) and her lyrics and voice are quite good.

Another artist that fits rainy weather with all my candles aglow in the window is British songstress Adele who is quite the songbird, isn’t she? Really good for the soul.

Right now though I’m feeling like dancing so I have Rihanna on, a little Breaking Dishes is a fun way to start the long weekend….

(photo: taken a few years ago by me, holly becker)

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Kids stuff: Our Children’s Gorilla.

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The moment I spotted this little red, white and blue cottage in Hus & Hem I was in love and thought it would be the ideal spot to escape to this weekend for the long holiday break.

Located near the coast just south of Copenhagen, Denmark this cozy cottage oozes with charm and spirit. I adore the eclectic aspect of it all but what I appreciate most is how happy and full of life and energy it is. Plus, the kitchen is adorable. I really like how well the recycled furniture, flea market finds, vibrant paint and a mix of explosive patterns has transformed this place, owned by Lan and Brian Frandsen and their 4-year-old daughter Frida Mei, from a dark den (before they moved in) to a bright retro paradise. I read that most of the furniture came with the house when they purchased it but since it was not their style they brought in a few cans of paint and went to work, mixing in their flea market finds and IKEA goodies of course.

I love the quilt in Lans and Brian’s bedroom and found out that it was made using a combination of retro fabrics and new ones from Liberty in London. To view more beautiful homes, make sure you visit Hus & Hem online.

(Photos: Tia Borgsmidt & Stylist: Sidsel Zachariassen)

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I felt so flattered when Margarita Lorenzo, a graphic & textile designer based in London from Chocolate Creative, wrote in asking if I’d like to share her views from a couple of London handmade design fairs she recently attended. Um… let me think about this. Right. YES! So Margarita has pulled together some of her opinions and rounded up a few of her favorite designers here for all of us to enjoy. I’m calling this the London Designers To Watch since I see some genuine talent here. Ready to view some beautiful handwork?

Take it away, Margarita!

I attended the Central St Martins textile degree show recently, and as usual was presented with an amazing variety of work. I am glad that they have this public events, where people can view and appreciate the gorgeous work of these talented future designers. On my visit to the show, I met Solenne Morigeaud, a graduate from the Masters in textile futures. She is a Paris-born surface designer, that having graduated in fashion and textile design at ESAA Duperré school in Paris, went on to do this masters. I love her work, it is very unique and dedicated. This antique door is the piece that she was exhibiting at the show, GORGEOUS! Smoke and Mirrors is a collection of mirrors, glass and wallpaper that blur and interact with our perception. The inspiration comes from ink stains, clouds, shadows and smoke trails – coincidental patterns that create an unforeseen imagery. Mirrors are etched, laser-cut and overlaid, creating unexpected illusion effects. Through her work, Solenne imagines the future of textiles as a way to encourage people to get into their imagination, too often forgotten.

I met Mijae at the Chelsea Textile Degree Show and she was very nice and took her time to explain her project. She makes garments with the fabrics that she designs to mimic brick work. I can see why she gets so inspired by bricks — not only they are everywhere is London, but the colors and textures that they can achieve over the years are extraordinary! I like the simplicity of her work, don’t you?

I saw Xiang Zeng’s movable wallpaper, Freerange Doodle, at the show too and thought it was a clever and very cute idea of telling a story. This time not through a book but via an interactive medium, where you get to make your own version of the tale and became the narrator of your unique wallpaper… very creative!

Another designer that caught my eye was textile designer Lilli Cowley-Wood. Birds, parrots, dogs, plants, etc…they all seem to live in this beautiful, imaginary world… I love her drawings!

More and more talent… next meet designer Aurelia Dupas (sorry no link). Her blankets were one of the first things I saw at the show. I fell in love with them from the distance and the closer I got the more I liked them, so much detail, the fabric textures… She uses natural fabrics and dyes, hand stitching and silk screen prints such beautiful patterns. Her collection is called Warmest Feelings comfort blankets for adults.

More work I love…

Betty Pepper, Textile design and jewelry artist: I don’t have words to describe Betty’s work, it is extraordinary! So delicate, unique, gorgeous… I remember seeing her work at Origin in London, and falling for her unique way of doing textiles and paper media together. Her work is very distinctive, the fabrics she choose, the old books, the vintage look of her work, everything is so beautifully put together.

Jennifer Collier: Textiles designer from Manchester Metropolitan University. Found papers, buttons and ribbon transformed into hats, pins, and artwork.

For addition London design inspiration and highlights from shows that I attend, please visit me over at the Chocolate Creative blog! - Margarita.

Thank you Margarita for this lovely round up. I see a definite theme in London when it comes to design and enjoy seeing this view through the eyes of a London local. Thanks again!

(images supplied by margarita lorenzo)

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The United Kingdom’s Hanham Hall Development is the largest eco-village aspiration to date. Designed by HTA and funded by Barratt Developments and the Homes & Communities Agency, there are a rumored 188-195 zero carbon homes in the overall housing scheme. The development will include an onsite biomass CHP plant, strategically placed reed beds, shops for farmers to sell their goods, bicycle storage throughout, and a carefully crafted drainage system. Hanham Hall is the first major eco city underway that is part of the government’s Carbon Challenge Programme. The government has set a goal for all new builds to be zero carbon by 2016. It looks as though they are six years ahead of the curve.

Read the rest of Largest Eco-Village in the UK Will Boast Zero Carbon Homes

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For this week's look into the House Beautiful archives results we've pulled a diverse collection of pics from a flipbook called "Rooms we Love." Each one above is from a slide show below the jump, and we've even pulled out a few good links that stand out in the pics....

• Designer Living Rooms: From modern and bold to traditional and cozy — we're bringing you more than 40 of our favorite designer living rooms. 1. Victoria Pearson gave a natural look to this living room, which makes the majestic eagle by Ojai artist Katie Van Horne look even more real..... 2. Designer Ken Fulk replaced one big coffee table with two African drum tables in front of the Ralph Lauren sofa.... 3. In this living room, designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, one side of a back-to-back sofa faces the room, and the other side looks out through folding glass doors toward the swimming pool.... 4. In a new 37th-floor Manhattan apartment, designers David Greer and Andrew Halliday mixed modern classics — a Karl Springer coffee table, a Jean-Michel Frank-style sofa, and Barcelona stools by Mies van der Rohe that the owner's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Emma, claims for her own..... 5. L.A. artist Jorge Rafael digitally manipulated a George Hurrell photo of Lauren Bacall, who presides over landscape designer Jay Griffith's living room..... 6. In this gracious, pared-down living room, designed by Kay Douglass, an unstained concrete fireplace surround highlights the golden patina of natural wood.... (Images: House Beautiful)

Woolly Pockets is bringing the Garden of Eden indoors with their incredible planters for your walls and floors. These breathable little pockets of green are composed of 60% recycled plastic bottles and are made entirely in the USA. With containers costing anywhere from $29 for the Wee Woolly all the way to $247 for an entire Woolly Meadow, these little pockets ensure everyone can have their own little piece of green within reach in a container that keeps plants healthier than your average pot.

Read the rest of Woolley Pockets: Build Your Own Garden of Eden

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A while back we wrote about Architect Franklin Azzi's Shelter House, "a sustainable design for a house in Normandy in Yport, where the structure is entirely made of wood, with water recuperation and solar panels for all domestic needs. The external skin will be made of a fabric, it's a convertible house.". The render is now built, here's what it looks like finished.

Bububluooopppp! That’s the sound a pool noodle makes when it sinks in the water, and it’s also what these zany seating arrangements constructed out of oodles of the buoyant toys on a Chelsea rooftop spell out when viewed from above. We guess LA-based firm INABA really, really likes words with “oo” in them (pool, noodle, rooftop) because they are the ones that designed this insanely colorful space which will be used to host film-screenings and outdoor events throughout the summer. The rooftop will also be open to the public at select times, so don’t miss your chance to test out one of the noodle chairs for yourself. If you really want to complete the picture, bring a poodle!

Read the rest of INABA’s Pool Noodle Rooftop Opens to the Public for the Summer!

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The New York Times looks into the New York City problem of dirty air and white apartments — and they talk to some designers and architects who have battled gritty soot-filled air with their clients AND their own homes...

• Interior designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz ditches his street clothes at the front door of his white apartment! He has special "around the house clothes" that help him keep his apartment clean. • Architect Marc Kushner designed this cool "wall of molding" in a recent project — but only because the windows don't open! • Designer Jayne Michaels likes to keep her windows open — so she pays $400 twice a year to have all her carpets and upholstery shampooed. While we agree that NYC air is dirty, it's nothing compared to Shanghai! Check out the story and the extremes some people go to for white furniture: Soil and the City. (Images: ©2009 Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)

FrameForum recently posted an excellent article about German carbon fiber framebuilder rafael (the brand name is intentionally not capitalized). Rafael Hoffleit, a 32-year-old architect and triathlete from Heidelberg, is the designer and builder of the world’s first custom carbon monocoque frames. Mr. Hoffleit recently unveiled his bikes at the first ever European Handmade Bicycle Exhibition, which took place May 8th through 10th in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. I encourage you to read the FrameForum article to learn more about Hoffleit’s revolutionary process for custom monocoque construction; it is quite interesting. You can see several really nice shots of the rafael bikes there as well. While you are at FrameForum, also be sure to check out the rest of their show coverage to see more bikes from EHBE ‘09.

It is the end of the week, so I have collected a few other interesting links that I want to pass along.

Jason pointed me toward Bike Arc, an interesting modular parking solution. Jason also mentioned Matthias Ries' Bottleclip design, presumably for bikes without water bottle mounts.

Murray let me know about the BMW Kidsbike, which coverts from a push-along toddler bike, to a bike with pedals. Seems like a pretty good idea; read more about it here. Also, see another convertible kid’s bike/scooter that was recently featured at gizmag.

Popular Mechanics recently tested 3 different folding bikes- the Dahon Mu SL, the Bike Friday Tikit, and the SwissBike TX. I think the Dahon is the best looking out of that bunch, but I have never ridden any of these. Interestingly, The PM reviewers seemed to like the SwissBike best out of the bunch, mainly due to the full sized wheels.

Speaking of full size folders, Australian design student Robert Dumaresq recently won a James Dyson award for his Switch folding bike design. According to the designer’s description:

“The design innovation is Switch's ability to fold in one smooth motion making it one of the fastest folding bikes available. Switch does not rely on any structural locking mechanism to fold as the weight of the rider keeps the frame open and rigid. There is a spring loaded ball bearing that stops the rear section of the frame from unfolding prematurely when maneuvering or handling the bike.”

Read more about the Switch commuter bike at Gizmodo. Thanks to James Lyon for the tip on that one.

Finally, I will mention that Cool Hunting is giving away a Timbuk2 Dolores Chiller messenger bag/ cooler. No word on whether or not the bag will come stocked with PBRs as shown in the picture. Though it is not really a cooler, I have used my Chrome bag to transport frosty beverages a few times this summer. I haven’t filled it with ice, but I have used those freezable blue ice blocks in it to keep my beer cold as I rode to the pool. With the long Independence Day weekend starting now, there is a good chance that my bag will be serving as a cooler again very soon. On that note, to all of you reading from the US, have a great 4th.

Images of the r-009 TT bike via FrameForum -copyright Rafael Hoffleit/Rafael 2009

Layovers and travel delays can be a drag unless you're "stuck" in a cool place. Imagine spending your layover sipping coffee under a domed atrium with a 4,000 square meter tropical garden with exotic plants and palm trees, or a station surrounded by water on three sides...

I thought we’d have a little fun today and discuss dream destinations and how you feel about this topic. I am hugely inspired by magazines, like all of you, and appreciate the beauty that they so effortlessly showcase on a monthly basis like French decor magazine Marie Claire Maison. It’s one of those glossy beauties that instantly transports me a thousand miles away whenever I pick it up. This is the allure of such magazines, the lifestyle they’re showing — it’s exciting to imagine that we can also live like this if we style things just so and experiment a little with our creativity. And while that is true in many cases, all the paint in the world isn’t going to give me that townhouse in London or the apartment with the soaring ceilings in Paris overlooking a gorgeous garden. That is where the dream lies. The fantasy of What If.

We may not live in the most amazing city or even the best apartment or home but it’s the dream that possibly we could that inspires some of us to keep dreaming or working towards it as a goal even. Others prefer to dream through the pages of magazines because while they’d love to have that Paris apartment circumstances in life just won’t allow for it and when it comes down to the wire many would not pack their bags leaving behind close friends, family and business relationships to live on another continent. Again though, it’s these dreams that keep us humming along and excited for the next day to unfold. And for those of us not running off to a new land, we can still enjoy this idea of running away to our dream spot by simply doing the best we can in our homes with what we have and showing appreciation for what we have and I’ll tell you why…

I think it’s important to consider that despite how glamorous a city may sound, once you arrive there you are faced with normal everyday life after the honeymoon phase has ended. Sure, you may still love your new city and do well there, but go to any expat forum online and you’ll see thousands of whining expats hemming and hawing over what they left behind after the new has worn off. “I miss Peanut Butter”, “I wish people here spoke English”, “Why are the locals so hard to get to know”, the posts are endless. In the end, we complain no matter how beautifully the gift before us is because it’s human nature. We find fault in even perfection, “Oh that is too perfect!”. Magazines like MCM give us the taste of the dream without leaving our home. We have the chance to explore new places without buying a ticket. And if you do get the travel bug you certainly can visit most of these locations and have the time of your life without necessarily taking up residence there.

I’ve always wanted to live in Paris for a year and coastal Australia (anywhere scenic with a nice city) for a few years, and while I still have time to do this, I often think about an expression I learned at a very young age and I may not have it exactly right but it goes something like this, “Never move to your dream destination”. It sounds funny to hear that, doesn’t it? But really it’s interesting to turn the idea over a few times in your head. I guess the point is that if you live where you’ve often dreamed of living then perhaps you could no longer have something to be excited about, look forward to, or a place that is your muse… Once you live there the new will wear off eventually and then real life sets in. Who knows, it may no longer be the same dream to you then. Some say you may just have to look for a new pot of gold, a new dream. That is exactly what I always say to this — it’s easy, if you get sick of something just change it! But I wonder if that really works… I wonder if perhaps the next dream of the perfect place is no longer as exciting because your original one didn’t pan out to be all that you’d hoped. And so now you go through life thinking all other places will be the same — you move to your dream destination, life sets in, and you move on.

This makes me think about the word home and what it really means. And community. And the fact that we have this online world to dive into that brings us all together without borders so really we can travel anywhere, anytime virtually speaking. It also makes me wonder about dream destinations and how this really works once you move there. I’ve never lived in a dream destination. I guess I never really thought about it because I enjoy visiting on vacation and that usually takes the “edge” off. I’ve moved many times in my life and from this I’ve learned that life is life no matter where you go — eventually you just have to be happy with yourself and those who live with you. And while I’ve imagined Paris, London, Sydney and some gorgeous California beach town in my dreams I talk to people already living there and they don’t seem to think anything special of it. They love where they live but they are sitting there dreaming of other places to live to. We’re always chasing after butterflies in the end, and that’s okay because it makes life more exciting and of course, this desire drives us to get off of our chairs and push for new goals. Dreams keep us going no matter if we reach some or all of them. Just having them feels good.

So when you look at these rooms from Marie Claire Maison, do you dream of living in some of them? Do you often try to recreate the things you see in magazines in your own home? What do you have to say on this topic?

(images: marie claire maison)

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Maybe you simply didn’t have enough time this year to think about it. Or maybe you’ve already gotten so many biodegradable plates, composting bins and other eco-hookups for your Fourth of July shindig that you feel you can’t possibly get any greener. Wait! Here are a few super simple and practically free ways to make your BBQ, beach bash or rooftop gathering more about celebrating and less about waste. Uncle Sam would be proud!

Read the rest of 5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your Fourth of July

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Early this year we featured Tova's Penny Tiled Powder Room on Apartment Therapy SF. Earlier this week, Jean of NotCot shares her preview of New York's new Standard Hotel restaurant, The Standard Grill and they've tiled the floor in pennies!

The The Standard Grill is located just below The Highline on Washington Street in the Meatpacking District. Via: Notcot.com. (Images: Jean Aw)

Good things really do come in small packages — as is the case with these mini modernist Bauhaus Models crafted by Auckland based painter and sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lockhart. The diminutive Bauhaus dwellings were created as a promotional showcase for New Zealand paint company, Renese, to demonstrate their Karen Walker Paint charts. The inspiration for the dollhouse models was derived from “the Bauhaus school of the 1920s whose concept was to create and combine colors from an emotional point of view rather than a technical one.” This artful nod to Bauhaus architecture blurs the lines between child’s play and grownup art appreciation, proving that great design spans the ages.

READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >

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Have you heard the news? Lonny (decorating/lifestyle mag) is soon to hit the web in September with a new online magazine rounding up the best of the best editors, designers, artists, bloggers and friends. Designer Michelle Adams of Rubie Green just announced it — you can read more about it over at Rubie Green. Yay!

Sounds pretty exciting, I can’t wait to see what inspiration they have in store for us! I’ll try to post the link as soon as they launch, so stay tuned..

Congrats Michelle and Patrick — go get ‘em!

(image: lonny magazine)

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Dear Apartment Therapy, I have four mirrored armoires that came with my apartment when I moved in. I'm not allowed to get rid of them, and I wouldn't want to since they provide a lot of closet space, but they're unsightly. My bedroom feels like an 80s dance studio. Each armoire opens from the middle, out (in the photos, they open where you see the metal latch in the center of each one). What can I do to make them look better? My sewing skills are limited, but I'm willing to try almost anything. Thank you! Alexandra

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Anyone?

I attended the Fancy Foods Show the other day and saw the debut of Vosges newest product, their Mo's Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix. Yes, folks...that's bacon + chocolate + pancake...need I say more?

...love these cups by Kanae Tsukamoto of +d...

{via Lisa}

Pre-built homemakers extraordinaire, Marmol Radziner Prefab were in the news this week once again introducing their newest custom prefab home. High up in the hills above Los Angeles sits the new Hollywood Hybrid, a 2576 sq. ft. sustainable, modern prefab home with killer views and a minimal carbon footprint. Inhabitat went up to the site where the home was being built for a peek.

Read the rest of Marmol Radziner Prefab’s Hollywood Hybrid Takes Shape in the Hills

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Berlin's new Michelberger Budget hotel is scheduled to open on September 9th, 2009 and the preview images show just what we like to see in a budget hotel — a space that is simplistic, modern and NOT boring. With interiors designed by Werner Aisslinger (he of LoftCube fame) and rates starting at &eur 59 per night, this hotel should be popular...

The 119-room Michelberger Hotel, has five different "types" of rooms with various layouts all designed by Werner Aisslinger and his team. Via: Contemporist. MORE WERNER AISSLINGER • Loftcube: Camping on the Rooftop • Plus Unit Modular Storage Drawers by Werner Aisslinger • Small Space Ideas from an Austrian Hotel

New lighting from Artemide this year includes the Altrove by Carlotta de Bevilacqua, a decorative wall or ceiling light that uses transparent wires to allow the light to flow. It's the type of lighting that begs the question, "Is it really there?" More substantial is Ross Lovegrove's Cosmic Leaf, available as a table, floor or ceiling lamp. Each version is made of textured methacrylate set in a chromed steel structure, with an inviting come-hither curve. Also shown from the ceiling is a variation, the Cosmic Angel. The Chilone in brushed steel is designed by Ernesto Gismondi. The outdoor luminaire uses low energy LEDs and can be grouped in a variety of installations, given the range of heights.

We’re excited to announce this great opportunity for Shelterrific readers from One Kings Lane: sign up now for access to exclusive, three-day online sales of designer home goods from One Kings Lane, and you’ll receive an instant $20 credit.

One Kings Lane has been creating some buzz, and for good reason. Because this isn’t a cut-rate outlet; these are amazing savings — we’re talking 50-70% off — on perfect firsts from designers like Adrienne Landau, John Robshaw, Dwell Studio, Vera Wang, and Serena & Lily. But the savings don’t last forever — each sale runs for just three days, and you have to be a member to access the savings!

So we’re making it easy — sign up now, receive an instant credit of $20 toward your first purchase, and shop the 4th of July weekend sale. This weekend’s sale features OKL Favorites, items that One Kings Lane members already love, like the blue and white Caddy Porcelain Lamp from Arteriors, bamboo frames from Atticus, a musicians tray from Laura & Corrado, plus luxurious homewares from Le Cherche Midi, Siena, and more. A three-day weekend and three-day savings? Sign us up! And look for more fabulous deals from One Kings Lane in the coming weeks.

A note that we’re taking off for the holiday on Friday and hope that you can, too. Happy shopping and we’ll see you Monday!

We spotted this image on Mrs. Blandings — it's taken from a 1991 issue of House and Garden. And honestly, we think it looks pretty awesome for a 18-year-old DIY idea, but we thought we'd put it to a vote. Usually these votes swing widely toward the not category, but don't you think it's a little bit hot?

(Image: Tim-Street-Porter from the San Francisco home of Brett Landenberger and Scott Watterman, House and Garden, February 1991)

Short week, slightly shortened blogwatch!

A sneak peek at a home revamp where no piece cost more than $100. Amazing! At Design*Sponge.

Swell new stuff from IKEA PS at MoCo Loco.

Buyer beware? A PayPal horror story from Luann Udell.

A kooky new site of home DIY disasters that’s been making the rounds: There, I Fixed It.

Tuft Love at Revival Home & Garden.

July Must-Haves from Casa Sugar.

Top ten IKEA mods at Lifehacker.

Here’s mine: Picture a traditional Fourth of July picnic complete with hot dogs, beer, and baseball. Now change the hot dogs to some kind of veggie dogs that are a very strange shade of orange, substitute a cricket bat for the baseball bat, and locate the whole thing in the yard of an ancient castle in County Clare, Ireland. That’s where I spent Fourth of July in 1999, along with my sister, a friend who was going to school in Ireland, and an assortment of displaced Americans and amused students from other countries. It was great fun, and made me appreciate even more the unique love that we all hold for our own countries. Have a favorite memory yourself? Please share. Let us know what you’re doing this year, too! (Lucky us — we get to watch some fireworks along with Paola!) –Mary T.

Photo by Kathryn McCallum

Item: 2 Michael Jackson Albums: Thriller & Off The Wall Value: Priceless As I continue to clean house and let go of my record collection (in true Cure fashion!), I had to dig into my MJ this week and part with these two legendary albums. Since they're just gathering dust, I want to give them to folks who will actually play them and dance. I'm giving a piece of the collection each week. If you're interested, jump below...

Congrats to Aysola, who won last week's Elvis Costello Giveaway! If you are interested in these albums, please register a comment below. ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON - or you'll be disqualified. We'll choose one person at random on Monday to get both, get in touch with you and send out the records forthwith! 2 Michael Jackson Albums - original US issues (gently used)

• Off The Wall - 1979
• Thriller - 1982

...juicy and fun by Lisbet Friis...

Solar Ivy (or SMIT Grow) is a spectacular system of thin, fluttering solar panels that generate energy by sparkling in the sunlight. The wind and solar power generating photovoltaic leaves can be easily integrated on the side of a building to produce energy. The concept, designed by Brooklyn based SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology), consists of a layer of thin-film material on top of polyethylene with a piezoelectric generator attached to each leaf. When the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, energy is being generated via Solar Ivy.

Read the rest of ‘Solar Ivy’ Photovoltaic Leaves Climb to New Heights

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This weekend will be a weekend for hunting for interesting pieces for my current project. If things go according to plan (no unexpected surprises) I'll have some photos for you on Monday. Have a fun-fun -fun summer weekend!

With a budget of $10,000, Christina Salway and John Moskowitz transformed an abandoned 700 square foot house in the Catskills into a weekend cottage with a touch of urban sophistication. The New York Times tells the story of the couple's first home purchase and their 8-month DIY renovation (they did hire a roofing contractor)...

Using salvaged materials to enclose what was once a garage and furnishing the home with the help of Craigslist, thrift stores and street finds, the 1920s cottage has emerged from the DIY process as a small and efficient weekend home. Be certain to check out the full story and ALL the great pictures from The New York Times: A Second Home, a Starter Budget and the slide show. (Images: Phil Mansfield for The New York Times)

Fredrik Färg has been designing steadily over the past few years, but really seemed to burst onto the global scene with Coat, an armchair that represented the idea of slow fashion that could be updated gradually, and RE:cover, a series of chairs that borrowed from the past. Lately Färg has turned to current fashion as inspiration for his Modus Cover cabinets that incorporate fashion magazines. And if you'd prefer to read them, well, then there's the newly released Skyscrape magazine rack. How could we resist asking Fredrik a few questions?

this second set of ikea 'tripp' tins use the same colours as the previous set but features a different pattern (this time designed by s edholm/l ullenius). £4.88 for the set of 3.