Light Dose

This sweetheart apartment by architect Eva Cotman in Raval at the District of Ciutat Vella in Barcelona, Spain has swept us off our feet with romantic touches of reclaimed barn wood. The interior walls sparkle white as a blank canvas for the young couple living here to play with colorful additions of their own. Like the inviting library which stores great heights of books taking on the shape of a staircase that also works as a passage into a guest loft. Its purity and humility suits the simple; still the design keeps those who hope for more in life well satisfied.

Come and relax in the original bamboo reclined chair Flow. Its name summarizes the whimsical and easy going design. Together designer Cheng-Tsung Feng and craft artist Kao-Min Chen produced the cloud like construction which makes it oh so lightweight and airy. Each piece takes up to 30 days to complete, handmade by a Taiwanese bamboo craft master of 25 years. The designer explains, “I would like to present the way of flying cloud, blowing wind and running water by bamboo material. The abstract of my concept represents a powerful action of nature turns into a weaker power gradually. I created lifeful, uncontrollable, perceptual and dynamic furniture, with vivid and lifelike strength.”

Wondering about your flat in sorrow? Wishing there was something more beautiful than a shower curtain rod wedged between the door frame as a pathetic solution to lack of closets? Sure the pre wars are charming, but this is not going to work. Try something like Jeroen van Leur’s Woodstock Wardrobe. It’s pure and simple, an aesthetic gift to the alternative. It’s openness proves vulnerability, suggests truth and honesty. Exposing your wardrobe is just the beginning, the unique frame of wooden sticks and copper plunges into a cocked position making it more so pleasing to the eye. Like a symbol of the natural, perfectly imperfect, welcoming earth tones into your space available in various colors.

Wearing a pair of LSTN Headphones feels like a walk through the woods. Insanely gorgeous polished grains in honey, espresso and mahogany on the ear pieces set the tone for a successful day. Responsibly made of reclaimed wood salvaged from flooring and furniture manufacturers. Most importantly is their mission to restore hearing for those less fortunate through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Each headset sold reacts in charity providing a hearing device for a person in need. Founders Joe Huff and Bridget Hilton are an inspiration, taking the hearing aids to developing nations themselves, being a part of the magical moment when the receiver hears for the first time.

Years ago when the Do-it-yourself platform first encouraged individuals to venture out and have a go at making things with their own two hands a few leaders made their way to center stage printing instructional books on the subject. Among them 1973/1974 handbook in Nomadic Furniture 1 and 2 by James Hannessey and Victor Papanek explored the historic movement of DIY. Likewise, “Do-it-yourself furniture. Exciting designs for your home” edited by Harry Butler gave us permission to try new things like this design for the unique “Space saving ironing board” by chmara.rosinke which inspired the Nomadic ironing board before us. Made for the “Nomadic furniture 3.0. New Liberated Living?” at MAK – Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst / Gegenwartskunst, the package flaunts a vanity that doubles as an ironing station. Included in the multifunctional piece is of course an ironing board, a mirror, light, storage drawer, small table top, and handy hooks.

The Minimal Backpack by Outlier offers nothing more than the bare minimum. A simple design in backpacker grade lightweight material it floats on water and rolls up tight as a soda can. Apparently the barely there characteristics are lost in the shadow of its mighty performance constructed of non-woven Dyneema fabric reportedly 10 times stronger than steel. Made in cooperation with Hyperlite Mountain Gear in Biddeford, Maine.

Photographer Dolly Faibyshev, a self-described “American born to Russian immigrants,” explores the American dream on both coasts, in New York City, Las Vegas, and now Palm Springs. Having captured dog shows, rodeos, and Occupy Wall Street on camera, she turns to architecture from the 1950s and 60s, looking at California just as an ordinary tourist might take in the view. Yet, Faibyshev’s Palm Springs is empty of people, uninterrupted but for the shadows of neighboring trees.

Rush into the Pump House whenever the need to be just as close to a pouring rain as your plush bed. It’s original intent was to shelter a few property items as a separate out building, soon after turned into something more. Now the fully self sufficient hideaway utilizing rain barrels for water, solar panels for energy, and wood burning stove for heat source. In beautiful craftsmanship it waits for visitors among the paddocks, up against a quiet damn. Made in collaboration with its carpenter owner and Branch Studio Architects.