If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Gulassa & Co. : Industrial, Yet Elegant Furniture, Light Fixtures & More

Do you live in a loft? An arts and crafts bungalow? A japanese minimalist home or a modern cement abode? Want to find unusual furnishings, lights, custom hardware or fireplaces that have both an industrial but elegant feel? That combine organic materials with a stately style? Then you need to know Gulassa & Company.

They create everything from tables, seats and lights to hardware, sinks, gates and handrails that are beautifully crafted and originally designed since 1989.

Gulassa & Company are wood workers, metal workers, glass artists, upholsterers, architectural and graphic designers. By collaborating with clients, architects, contractors, and designers, Gulassa & Company is able to successfully resolve the most complex design issues.

They have two complete lines of metal and wood furniture, product design and development services, and consultation on small-scale high-end commercial and residential interiors.

here are some of their lights:

some of their tables and benches:

just a few of their accessories:

And a few of their stools:

They make stunning custom furniture and architectural elements as well, like the following pieces:

some custom hardware:

And custom buffet and table:

some amazing handrails:

They have so much more, you'll have to go check them out yourself.

contact info:
ph. 206.283.1810
Gulassa and Co., Inc. sells to the trade through their showrooms and can be contacted here.
info@gulassaco.com
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"My intention is to combine the simplicity of form with the unique physical properties of materials to create pieces that transform a space by adding character and harmony." --David Gulassa

David Gulassa
1960 - 2001
In memory of David Gulassa, artist, designer, fabricator, and community leader, this fund has been created to support projects which honor, develop or are inspired by David's works and vision.

Send your tax deductable donations to:
The Gulassa Fund c/o The Seattle Foundation
425 Pike Street, Suite 510
Seattle, WA 98101-2334
(206) 622-2294
www.seattlefoundation.org

Post Apocolyptic Couture: Designer Gas Masks By Diddo

above: High Fashion Protection as interpreted by Diddo Velema.

Contrary to what other blogs and sites are saying, these were not made for Gucci, LV, etc, but instead as art pieces.

As described by the artist:
We are in a state of perpetual war – with ourselves and with the eco-system that sustains us. Perpetual war breeds perpetual fear. In the present context, this fear stems from our extreme desire for authenticity and manifests itself in our collectively insatiable culture of consumption.

Deep down, we are afraid we may never be satisfied. An expanding archive of branded myths and icons feeds this fear. Designer Gas Masks is an attempt to visualize this state of mind. Because it is only by first acknowledging and then challenging fear that we will all be able to breathe a little easier.

The masks are currently made for gallery purposes only.

Louis Vuitton Gas Mask:

Gucci Gas Mask:

Swarovski Crystal Gas Mask:

See the artist's site here.

UPDATE:
Although slightly changed from their first showing, Diddo now sells art prints on high gloss Fuji Pro DP2 Pearl paper that measure 30”x30” (76x76 cm) of each of his fabulous haute couture masks:

Buy the art prints here.

I'm a big fan of Diddo's work. be sure to his drool-worthy wetsuits here.

Funky Find Of The Week: Real Gold Plated Keyboard

The ZIP-ANG keyboard features 86 gold-plated keys.
Hand made to order, it's only compatible with Windows operating systems up to Vista.

It is 19 mm thin QWERTY type, uses USB and PS/2 interfaces and costs $214.00 USD

Buy it here.

Lladro Does It Again: New ReDeco and ReCyclos Collections

Last year, I wrote about how Lladro hipped up their previously grandma-like porcelain figures with the introduction of Bodo Sperlein's Re:Cyclos Magical collection. A stunning nature inspired porcelain bisque collection from chandeliers to jewelry and wall hooks to votives.

As described by Lladro:

Re-Cyclos was a creative proposal of new and evocative works made from Lladró’s classic figurines. Lladró Re-Cyclos Magical by Bodo Sperlein came into being when the porcelain brand invited prestigious designers from all over the world to reinterpret its creations. Well acquainted with the workings of porcelain, Sperlein decided to focus on Nature using delicate elements of Lladró to create new and surprising jewelry accessories, and lighting and décor objects.

This year. they've done it again with British design team Committee.

Above: The British design team Committee is made up of Harry Richardson and Clare Page, born in Northampton and London respectively and trained at the Liverpool Art School. Both claim that they explore the everyday with “pragmatism and imagination”.

The following pieces were unveiled at this year's Maison Objet show.

Above: One of the themes chosen by this creative team is the love of a couple, whose evolution is depicted by a truly characteristic element in the creations of this porcelain brand: handmade flowers, made petal by petal. Therefore, the designers’ proposal consists of three couples made of white porcelain covered progressively by flowers, signifying the growth of their feelings. This trilogy comes to a close with a spectacular creation, covered with the greatest number of flowers ever created in the history of Lladró: over a thousand flowers covering the characters’ bodies.

Above: They also presented boxes designed from the original molds used to make Lladró porcelain figurines. This time, the designers pay tribute to the beauty concealed by these moulds and play with the reliefs of the concave shapes. The results are innovative objects capturing the creative spirit of Lladró works.

Also introduced this year at Paris' Maison et Objet were some new additions to the Re:cyclos line by Bodo Sperlein. The Ascot collection of tableware and accessories and the new Magic Forest chandelier.

The Ascot collection as described by Bodo Sperlein:

The Ascot collection is a versatile group of table top accessories, which bring a touch of originality and style to any table. Horses’ legs, heads and hoofs are used in a clever and inventive way to invite us to touch and admire each piece. Subtle and elegant natural grey horse fur tones and effects are hand painted on handles, lids and elements of each product. The collection is a celebration of the highly skilled Lladro porcelain craftsmen.

Lladró Re-Cyclos Magical also launches a new version of the Niagara chandelier,
a spectacular hanging lamp with hundreds of white porcelain butterflies hanging from optical fiber cables. This creation received an excellent response in both of its formats (1.10m and 2m), now available in a smaller size (60cm). The collection will grow with the incorporation of the chandelier Magic Forest with dozens of delicate porcelain leaves.

Above left is the new Magic Forest Chandelier and on the right, the original Niagara Chandelier.

These aren't the only efforts Lladro has made at reinvigorating their image and appealing to a much broader and trendier audience. As art director for the Re:deco collection, Spanish designer Jaime Hayon brought Lladro to the attention of design bloggers and magazines everywhere.

Above: Hayon at work

Some of Hayon's pieces for Lladro took their original molds and kept the reminder of the form as matte or glossy porcelain while adding platinum glazed touches (and in some cases gold or monochromatic) to them, transforming them from traditional even old-fashioned figurines to modern objects.

And others reinterpreted traditional pieces by turning them into lamps and mirrors.

Spanish designer Jaime Hayon is hot hot hot, with his blogged about latest designs for Camper, the beautiful AQHayon bathroom collection, his swarovski studded lamps and more can be seen on his site.

Top Social Networks- February 2008 Rankings

With all the talk out there about how important it is to use social networks (often referred to as web 2.o or social media) to promote not only yourself, but also products, companies, brand image and more...you may be wondering which ones will bring you the most potential traffic and audience.

Where to start?

Well, below are the most visited social networks as of february 2008, as calculated by Compete.

(click on the chart to enlarge)

UPDATED - 3/13

* Myspace was down slightly from February 2007 in terms of total US visits. However, the networking giant still holds a commanding traffic lead over all other Social sites.
* Facebook visits fell slightly from January 2008 to February 2008, but over the year the site has grown by over 75%. In terms of US visitors, it is now about one half the size of Myspace, but receives about 1/3rd as many visits.
* Niche markets are still attractive in terms of Social networking: Cafemom (a social network geared towards mothers), Linkedin (a networking site for professionals) and Fubar (“the first online bar”) all grew by 5X or more from February 2007 through February 2008. Fubar, in fact, exploded into the top 20 networks from relative obscurity one year ago.
* Innovative business models also had success in 2007: Communication platform Twitter, and white label social network Ning, both found a dramatically larger audience in the past year.

source

Marcel Wanders For Holland Electro: WOW

Holland Electro (HE) invited dutch designer Marcel Wanders to create a line of home appliances for them. And boy did he ever!

With the following stunning and functional products, he outdid himself.

Theatre
A wooden side table in which a dvd and speakers are built into the left side and the subwoofer is hidden in the right side. And it comes with four beautifully decorated satellite speakers. 5.1 stereo sound.

Pandora
A small wooden side table in which a woofer is integrated. Accompanied with two wireless speakers, it generates 2.1 stereo sound for music on your laptop or mp3 player.

Egg
The beautifully designed wireless speakers that accompany the Pandora and Theatre

Domino Speaker System
Two beautiful and very thin speakers that can be used with a wireless transmitter (as in the case of the Mathilda and the Merlin) or standard audio cables.

The Mathilda and the Merlin
two antennas that magically send music to your speakers. Merlin has a USB connector and Mathilda has 3.5 plug that uses 3 AAA batteries. Both can be used with the Domino speaker system

The Carrie
A 1 gig USB flash drive

And lastly, the Wave TV. A microwave oven that integrates a TFT screen in the door so you can watch tv while cooking. It even has a built in DVD player!