Apologies and Updates

We apologize for the silence of the blog for the past few weeks. Everyone has been juggling roles at home and work that posting (specially when one has a very slow connection) has become more tedious than it used to be.

We thank those who continue to visit the site. In return, we promise to post at least once a week.

Last 20 July 2009, we attended a cocktail party sponsored by B van Zuiden (BVZ) Philippines, an authorized distributor of Sunbrella fabrics for  key people from Glen Raven, Inc., the manufacturers of the Sunbrella brand. This formally announced the presence of BVZ in the Philippines and was a good venue for design professionals and those in the contracts business to network. Architects, interior designers and landscape architects came to Dusit Thani for the event. Thanks guys for the nice evening!

We also received several product updates during the time of our “silence” like this one:

You can find more information on these outdoor sofas here.

CFIP in Pampanga

We just got an email from Liza Samia of CFIP that the Pampanga Outlet is now officially open!

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. By appointment during Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

For inquiries and appointment call CFIP – Pampanga office at (045) 893-0092-93; 0917-9834825 or email cfip_pampanga@yahoo.com. You may also visit their website for more products: www.furniturephilippines.org

Congratulations, CFIP and thank you for letting us know.

The Problem of Being Green

Being a couch potato has its benefits, you get exposed to very relevant information. And by relevant information, we don’t mean the newest development in your favorite teleserye but we do mean things that can help save the planet.

One of the more interesting shows in cable is Living with Ed. For those who have been living under a rock, and has no idea what the show is about, Living with Ed is the hit reality TV series with actor Ed Begley Junior and wife, Rachelle.

Don’t dismiss it as your run-of-the-mill reality show, Living with Ed is about the home life of the couple and their efforts to go green. And we’re telling you, “efforts” is such an understatement, and obsession may be a more fitting word to describe Ed.

Last week’s episode featured several products that piqued my interest: lawn turf and insulation. Why on earth, you may ask would I be interested with turf or insulation? Here’s why: the turf completely requires no watering and the insulation is completely soy-based.

The turf is synthetic but looks so real, and as mentioned earlier requires no watering and only minimal maintenance. So not only do you save on

image from artificialturfsupply.com

your water bills but you save up on what could be gallons and gallons of precious water.

The soy-based insulation on the other hand was featured as a solution to noise pollution in the home of actress Beverly D’Angelo. It works with the same efficacy and effectiveness as plastic foam insulation, but the fact that it is plant-based makes for something biodegradable. And as with any insulation, it helps modulate interior temperature, keeping the cool or the heat in, therefore doing away with excessive use of airconditioning, or heating and lowering your energy bills. It may look like taho, or look good enough to be eaten, its benefit as noise pollution reducer simply dandy in keeping at bay noise from all our neighbor’s belting out videoke songs, all while being green.

There’s one simple catch though. While any green advocate would go gaga on the prospect of getting their hands on these products, you may be hard pressed in finding a supplier here in the shores. This is the great dilemma, so many good and green products out there, and it still remains to be just that—out there. If only someone would take the first step to bringing them all here…is there anyone?
On a related note, we are happy to report that the recently concluded Earth Hour last Saturday was a success, and the Philippines ranked as the highest in participation with 647 towns and cities turning off their lights for the event.Now, ain’t that grand?

Getting the Hang of It

No matter how cheery we think we are, let’s admit it, we all have our morbid fascinations. It’s like looking at gory accident scenes, that even if it makes us sick, we just need to take a peek. But how about having that sense of morbid right in your living room? Wouldn’t that be something?

And that something are in fact lighting fixtures that are made to resemble a hangman’s noose. The fixtures, which are aptly called Noose Lights are the from the fanciful mind of designer by Ana-Maria Pasescu Stewart. Made of tough ropes with the power cable woven in the middle, with the height easily manipulated by a metal pulley for that touch of realness.

For sure, these noose lights would be the conversation piece for many dinner parties to come, and who knows it just might come handy one of these days. But we’re not giving you any ideas…

photo from dezeen.com

Earth friends

Terra Furnishing's new spa collection

In this day and age, when commercialism is the name of the game and money is king, it’s sometimes way too easy to forget about the things that matter. The design world is not exempt from this. Although, heaven bless those kind-hearted souls that actually still care about things beyond the glitz and glamour that is entices everyone to the profession.

No, we’re not preaching. Just commending those who make a real effort to try to change the way people live and for the better of course. One such group is Terra Furnishing, a Michigan-based furniture E-retailer, who has recently joined the eco-friendly bandwagon by launching a website geared to eco-friendly handmade furniture and accessories. In a PR, released by the company, Terra Furnishings, has also incorporated in this website “an active blog where customers can find environmental news, links and quarterly product giveaways.”

Terra Furnishing offer products that are all 100% natural and made from organic resources, particularly sustainable woods such as monkey pod (acacia), farmed and/or reclaimed teak and mango are used for the hand-carved products.

Apart from a full range of products—from furniture, accessories, to pottery, glass and even jewelry items—the company has also linked up with 1% For the Planet as a member company in its recognition for the importance of environmental stewardship.
The company will soon be launching its new collection of teak spa items and that is certainly something worth looking forward. At least now you can go all out green and definitely be as stylish as you want to be.

For more information on Terra Furnishing, visit their website at www.terrafurnishings.com

Twist stools by Terra Furnishings

AIFF Picks (Part 2 of 2)

DOD <3 The Metal Lamp!

 

(Red, fiery and fun, this makes a great valentine’s present for lovers of design and whatnot. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. )

 

METAL PETAL Table Lamp

Winner, THE EDGE 2009 Commercial Award for Best New Release by Kristian Aus

Autumn Products

NSW Sydney

Phone: 02 9566 4380

Mobile: 0407 952 643

Email: contact@autumnproducts.com.au

URL: www.autumnproducts.com.au

 

An important category (read: commercially viable!) the winning Metal Petal Table Lamp can be oriented in several ways to allow the user greater control over the level of light. Made with powder-coated steel, it is designed for easy moving and repositioning. It is designed by Kris Aus of Autumn Products, a small, Sydney based design consultancy that aims to produce work that is fun and provokes a smile.

Kris makes pieces that bring a fresh take on traditional objects to the marketplace. Another entry from Kris is the Anemone (shown below),  a stool that doubles as an ice bucket, umbrella stand or as general storage. The works appeal to the design minded and to the everyday person. In general, the products are friendly, approachable and curious in terms of style, texture and materials.

AIFF Picks (Part 1 of 2)

THE EDGE at the Australian International Furntiure Fair was truly an inspiring experience. As promised, here are some of the winners of the Awards (Thanks Uli Hasel!):

 

STACK-IT Stool

Winner THE EDGE 2009 Concept Award for Best New Prototype by Luke Leenders

Bach Industrial Design

NSW Glebe

Mobile: 0401 249 196

Email: luke_leenders@yahoo.com.au

 

Since his graduation in 2003, Luke Leenders has been working for a Sydney based joinery company. In his spare time, he designs and constructs furniture prototypes, including chairs, stools and light fittings. Recently, Luke has been using computer aided manufacturing techniques such as CNC routing to develop design prototypes.

 

Stack-It Stool, (one of DOD’s faves!) requires minimal components, no screws or glue. The design is said to be compatible with any sheet material, e.g. recycled plastic, eco-ply. A flat-pack- design that nests efficiently. Made Down Under by designer and is available from the designer.

 

TABLE AND SEATS

Winner, THE EDGE 2009 Student Award for Best New Work by a Student, Jacob Wong

Lidcombe TAFE

NSW Sydney

Mobile: 0416 724 888

Email: Jacobi.designs@yahoo.com

 

Jacob Wong is a Furniture Design student at Lidcombe TAFE. These pieces are made from GVA White Birch Plywood, foam, and fabric. (Actual photos of the prototypes will be available next week. But since we wanted this out, we show you the rendition. It is the concept that counts!)

ZEOPOD.01 Pouf

Winner THE EDGE 2009 Green Award for the Most Sustainable Product by Wilma van Boxtel

Deseos Design

WA Swanbourne

Phone: 08 9384 6610

Mobile: 0431 919 632

Email: Wilma@deseosdesign.com

URL: www.deseosdesign.com

 

ZEOPOD.01 is a low seat made of biodegradable plastic. The shape is inspired by natural seedpods. There are two sizes, medium 620Ø and large 720Ø. Zeoform (Zelfo), eco-foam, eco-wool. Made in Australia by Zeoform and is available from www.deseosdesign.com.

 

Wilma van Boxtel is a Dutch industrial designer who has made Australia her home. Deseos Design, Wilma’s business, specializes in developing attractive and functional products for commercial success while using sustainable practices.

Traditional Textiles Fest

2nd ASEAN Traditional Textiles Syposium and Bazaar
February 1 – 3 2009
Hosted by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines
 
With Sustaining Traditional Textiles of the ASEAN as its theme, the second symposium (the first held in Indonesia in 2005) offers a series of talks and demonstrations on traditional Southeast Asian textiles. Specialists, practitioners, and collectors from four continents will speak on the successes and changes that face the manufacture, use, and distribution of natural fabrics.
 
The 2009 symposium showcases 21 sessions on new research and workshops that demonstrate new weaving techniques. Papers by outstanding academic specialists and demonstrations by expert weavers from three continents will present on the art, aesthetics, manufacture, and sustainability of Southeast Asian traditional textiles.
 
Also part of the event are:
T/ISSUE: Cloth and Its Complications in Southeast Asia, an exhibit of the complex problems that complex materials pose in the Philippines and Indonesia at the National Museum of the Filipino People
Market Counter, a bazaar of traditional and contemporary woven fabrics, clothings, and goods from across the Philippines, as well as selected pieces from Southeast Asia
Cocktails and Habi: Weaving the Fabric of Life fashion show
Post-symposium textile tour of Kalibo, Aklan with a firsthand view of its fabric weaving industry
Symposium fee is P5,000 for local residents. To register or for more details, call the Secretariat at 404-2685 or visit the symposium website at aseantextiles09.museumfoundationph.org

It’s that time of the year once again…

Nope, we’re not talking about the Chinese New Year, but something that’s maybe equally exciting. We’re talking about the imm cologne fair. Every year, people from across the globe trot to Cologne, Germany to attend one design world’s biggest furniture show. The show, which ran through 19 January to 25 January, was attended by some 100,000 design professionals! Imagine that!

The show is segmented into seven exhibitions–imm pure, basic, comfort, sleep, solid, smart and prime.The imm pure exhibition puts out select pieces by renowned designers, while others range from an all upholstered collection (comfort), to an all-wood collection in imm pure. We snagged a few photos of the event, and we’re sharing it right here.

Ligne Roset's quirky sofa that doubles as a conversation piece

one-of-a-kind wall hangings: winter trees by artisan house

(photos by sofa-blog@flickr.com)

Pinoy-Style Flatware

Specially designed flatware from Unica

Not many know that we have a local designer brand for flatware called Unica. Made from a selection of all natural or mixed media materials combined with stainless materials, these pieces are fun, functional and very pinoy.

Check out their website www.unicaflatware.com.