I really like her idea to decoupage old book covers. Perfectly selected by color they make a nice piece of art right into her kitchen

Left, Cool vintage: you can easily do this by yourself, all you need is paper, scissors, glue and a lot of patience. Right, In case you're wondering what to do with any old piece of furniture, here's an idea how to bring it back to life.

It’s quite interesting that this technique walked a long way to come into our houses. Basically it has a lot in common with the collage technique which is well known in modern art, design and advertising.  In the begging of the 20th century decoupage became less realistic and more abstract style. Among the artist who produced such kind of works were Picasso and Henri Matisse, who is well known for his series Blue Nudes. In the forties Matisse was diagnosed with cancer and during the last years of his life he was in bad health and “chained” to a wheelchair. Therefore it was quite hard for him to continue drawing and he started “drawing with scissors”.

some of the famous series Blue Nudes (Gouache-painted paper cut-outs stuck to paper mounted on canvas)

Another good example and a my personal favourite  is the German artist Marcel Odenbach’s work You Can’t See the Forest for the Trees (2203). Listen to the artist talking about his painting here.

Detail: Trees are made from music sheets and leaces are people's faces

Most likely the origins of decoupage are in East Siberian funerary art. Nomadic tribes used cut out felts to decorate theri tombs. Then it came to China and by the 12th century the technique was being used to decorate laterns, windows, boxes and other objects. In the 17th century Italy, and especially Venice, had close trade relations with the Far East, so that is how it is supposed the decoupage became well-known in Europe as well.

The dinning "room" which is also the entrance of the studio

The kitchen smartly illuminated by two pieces of Nomad Linestra by Modular and separated from the bedroom by a glass-wall

If a little privicy is needed in the bedroom, you can just pull down the blinds

Fireplace is simple but still very cozy, accompanied by the two lounge chairs with a Nordic look. Behind is the desk with a tiny bookcase using the whole vertical height.

And last but not least, the home spa

Looking at the floor plan, you can tell it's really small, but when thinking about what people living there need, choosing the right lighting and functional furniture, you'll see small doesn't nessecerally mean narrow

Images via Marie Claire Maison

Немското списание  Arhitektur&Wohnen обяви дизайнерът на годината за 2012. Няма изненади – това е Патрисиа Уркиола. Всяка година списанието награждава и един млад дизайнер с Audi Mentor Award by A&W.  Тази година това е британецът Бенджамин Хюбърт. Някои от предишните й носители са Константин Гричич (1997), Токуджин Йошиока (2001), Стефан Диез (2005) и Доши Левиен (2008).

Patricia Urquiola was born Spanish, but adopted Italian, as she herself says. Her hometown is Oviedo and now she lives and works in Milan. She attended the faculty of architecture of Madrid Polytechnic where she graduated in 1989 having done a thesis with Achille Castiglioni. From 1990 to 1992 she was assistant lecturer on the courses held by Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli both at Milan Polytechnic and E.N.S.C.I. in Paris. Between 1990 and 1996 she worked for the new product development office of De Padova and with Vico Magistretti signed the products: “Flower”, “Loom sofa”, “Chaise” and “Chaise Longue”. From 1993 to 1996 she had an associate practice with architects de Renzio and Ramerino and was engaged in architectural design, showrooms, restaurants and franchising (Maska/Italy, Tomorrowland Stores/Japan, Des Pres/France). In 1996 she became head of the Lissoni Associati design group, working for Alessi, Antares-Flos, Artelano, Boffi, Cappellini, Cassina, Kartell, and others. At the same time, on her own, she designed for B&B, Bosa, De Vecchi too, Fasem, Kartell, Liv’it, MDF Italia, Molteni & C., Moroso and Tronconi and designed stands and showroom for Knoll, Moroso, Sag 80, and Somma. Her products were selected for the Italian Design 2001 exhibition and for Intenational Design Yearbook 1999 and 2001. In 2001 she was chair of the jury for the 19th CDIM Design Award and was lecturer in the Domus Academy. She is currently conducting her professional activity in her own studio in Milan in the field of design, exhibitions, art direction, and architecture.

Патрисиа е родена испанка, но осиновена италианка, както тя сама се шегува. Родният й град е Овиедо, но от доста време живее и работи в Милано. Завършва Архитектура в Политехническия университе на Мадрид през 1989 година, а дипломната й работа е посветена на Акиле Кастилиони. От 1990 до 1992 е асистент лектор в курсовете на Кастилиони и Еухенио Бетинели в Миланския Политехнически Университет и E.N.S.C.I. в Париж.  Между 1990 и 1996 година работи върху новите продукти на De Padova и подписва заедно с Виго Магистрети “Flower”, “Loom sofa”, “Chaise” и “Chaise Longue”. От 1993 до 1996 има архитектурна практика заедно с де Ренцио и Рамерино

As much as I am kind of overwhelmed with Patricia, in the gallery bellow I picked up some of her designs that I like a lot. Enjoy!

A highly innovative collection, not only for the patterns and textures, but also for the production system. Thanks to the CONTINUA technology, large slabs of the latest generation unglazed homogeneous porcelain stoneware are produced. Press-finished with 12 mm thickness, the tiles are perfectly rectified, single-work size and modular. The colours and decorations, based on rich and pleasing ceramic effects, are simply obtained by the distribution of quality porcelain stoneware mixtures.

Katrin Olina presents “Miklimeir the Magician” – a mesmerizing collection of drawings, printed on rugs. Katrin developed the artworks while she was writing the story of Miklimeir herself. The custom prints on the rugs were made by ege. The motives combine nature scenes with imaginary creations- a true fairy tale!

The supermodel trinity of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turllington at the Costume Institute Gala back in 1989. Below another picture from the same party, dancing can-can with legendary fashion editor and stylist Polly Mellen.

Above. The Trinity captured by celebrity photographer Roxanne Lowit – the 90s’ were so much fun, damn!

Designer Susan Jaques and photographer Matthew Rolston made an unexpected crossover of a classical cigar lounge old Hollywood glamour and a modern bacchanalian discotheque. The atmosphere of their new project – LOLA, a hotel in the heart of Manhattan, is absolutely fantastic! The property, originally built in 1903, carried a unique history – a respectable women’s residence, formerly known as the Martha Washington and Thirty Thirty Hotel previously “played host to screen starlets Louise Brooks and Veronica Lake among other fashion forward women ahead of their time, each eager to take Manhattan by storm”, Susan Jaques explains. Now that’s an inspiration for a make over. I just love how eclectic this renovation is, starting with the Bauhaus icons – the Mies Van der Rohe bench and Eileen Gray’s small tables, going through the dramatic purple curtains on which the famous Atollo by Vico Magistretti is projected, the David Hicks’ inspired 60′s patterns on the bar, the coldness of concrete and warmness of copper, the welcoming textures of  leather and velvet’s smoky charcoal hues, and finally the amazing chandelier installation of over 80 single Tom Dixon’s Mirror Ball fixtures in the lobby. It gives a perfect blend of old and new. Lola, you are so elegant and stylish!

Speaking of  Tom Dixon – yesterday they announced the launch of Eclectic on the upcoming Maison Et Object. This is going to be their first collection of everyday home accessories, giftware and design objects.  They are not presenting any pictures yet, but they claim that the materials would be the traditional for the brand: copper, marble, cast iron and wood.

Photos: Courtesy of Lola Hotel

A beautiful glass collection called Organs, by Icelandic Labland/Sigga Heimis

http://www.siggaheimis.com/