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

Introducing Diamond Chocolates From The Man Behind Black Diamond Jewels & Nail Polish.

Last week the blogosphere was buzzing about Couture Jeweler Azature's Black Diamond Nail Polish, now the world's most expensive at $250,000 for the one bottle. But real diamonds are not the only luxury Azature is creating.

ROCKMAN & ROCKMAN of London creates traditionally crafted furniture with an op-art look. Side tables, end tables and coffee tables use natural woods and colored acrylic parquetry in geometric patterns that give them the illusion of dimensionality.

American art dealer Kenny Schachter commissioned this limited edition Z Boat from Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, with whom he has worked several times, for his ROVE projects.

above: some of the projects that Zaha Hadid has created for ROVE

Current plans are to produce the boat in a range of colors, including white, gray, and blue (though the black prototype model designed for Schachter himself will likely be the most popular).

The eight-meter vessel is fabricated of fiberglass and carbon fiber and is being built by French manufacturer Shoreteam in a very limited edition of 12, slated for availability in early 2013.

computer renderings by INKWORKSHOP LLC

Hadid’s design statement reads as follows: “The asymmetrical design is sculptural in appearance while practically affording more seating accommodations. In a sense, the bespoke boat is as much a work of art as a Cisitalia sports car in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The idea is to think of vessels and vehicles as highly individualistic expressions of art, architecture and design reflecting the edge of what is possible using the most advanced means, including materials, software systems and methods of fabrication.”

Only 12 of these are being made and the price is $464,511.33 USD or €375,000.
Pre-order yours right here.

Airstream's Mod New Sterling International Trailer Comes In Two Color Schemes (and Two Sizes).

above: The new 2013 Airstream Sterling International shown with interiors in Obsidian Violet and Arctic Dijon

You may have heard about the newest travel trailer from Airstream when it was first written about as a concept in the NY Times and unveiled at Palm Springs Modernism Week earlier this year. Since then 2013 model has been produced in two sizes (the 25' and the 27' shown below) and with two available color schemes.

The Airstream International Sterling Trailer was designed by Christopher C. Deam, who was responsible for the design of the Bambi Airstream Trailer in 2000. A few readers who saw the concept on the design blog Design Milk and on the Airstream Facebook page balked about the color of the interior carpet (a mustard-like tone called Arctic Dijon).

above: Christopher C. Deam, designer of the Airstream Sterling International Trailer (image courtesy of NY Times)

Well, if you're not a fan of Arctic Dijon, may I interest you in Obsidian Violet?
Now although the only two differences in the color schemes are the woven carpet, the Marimekko throw pillows and bedding, and the ultra leather banquette cushions (white in the Arctic Dijon and black in the Obsidian Violet), because the interior is so loaded with shiny aluminum, the colors are reflected casting a glow over the entire interior. The Obsidian Violet gives off a bit of a disco feel, while the Arctic Dijon has more of a 60's modern aura.

Two floor plans are also available for the 2013 Sterling International ; 25' and 27'. The banquettes open to become beds, allowing the trailer to sleep five.

The Aistream Sterling International Trailer in Obsidian Violet:

With a typical sleek aluminum interior, the 2013 Sterling International is outfitted with a queen-size bed, a streamlined bathroom (complete with a shower), rounded cabinets for the sink, capsule-shaped accent windows, an LED HDTV, blu-ray player and is Wi-Fi ready. (Some dealers include a microwave and two HDTVs)

In Arctic Dijon:

There are some smart space-saving devices: cutouts in the rounded sink area, rolling vertical doors. It also incorporates use LED lighting, which uses less power, which is very critical when you are out on the road. The split bathroom (a toilet and sink on one side of the hall and the shower on the other side) has thin accordion doors on either side that you can use if you want to create one larger bathroom.

The floor plans for the 25 and 27:

Both the Obsidian Violet and Arctic Dijon Airstream Sterling International Trailers are available at several RV dealers around the country.

Colors: Obsidian Violet or Arctic Dijon
Floorplans: 27FB or 25FB
MSRP $84,192 plus freight and options for the 25FB
MSRP $86,718 plus freight and options for the 27FB