Design Debate

In Cincinnati, USA you can find Sartre , the new restaurant attached to the Rhinegiest brewery. The interior has been designed by Lauren Geremia and its beautiful. The perfect balance of old and new. From the curved olive green upholstered benches to the exposed brick and polished brass. The reclaimed bar was a real find and Lauren has cleverly lowered the ceiling in places softening the noise.  So many textures add to the feeling the restaurant is established, though it was an empty room when they started. Its the details that reinforce the feeling of quality, right down to the leather coasters!    

Watercolours can often be thought of as subtle, perhaps lacking impact in some cases - not so with the artworks of Ben Norris . The American brought a depth and vitality to his paintings which I really enjoy. Living from 1910 to 2006, Norris mainly stayed and taught in Hawaii, and was quite influential amongst his peers.  I adore how Norris brings out the pattern in his chosen landscapes. They feel all up close and personal, I can loose myself in those vivid greens! 

A new metro line in Amsterdam provided a perfect opportunity for archaeologists to uncover decades of social history. For about 9 years the banks of the river Amstel have been excavated for a new urban waterway. Having to pump out so much water revealed layers and layers of objects and everyday life.  In my little local river, the River Fowey in Lostwithiel, we often find little bits of broken pottery, but I am truly amazed about the wealth of artefacts found. The Department of Archaeology have created an interactive website where you can delve a little deeper into what each object represents. Beautifully and orderly laid out, these collections are a revealing snapshot of this busy waterway's past.  The website allows us to access 19,000 of the 700,000 findings from the site. Named ' Below the Surface ', you can see everything from buttons, tickets, pottery and books. Included are a 19th-century pipe cover decorated by a portrait of the Dutch navel l...

You may have seen the playful French artist and his clever repurposings across the net. From cement mixers turned giant disco balls to pop up tennis courts in the most surreal of locations. Recently I came across the caravan that is now a transportable pool! Marvellous whimsey to brighten your day. I love how he is happy to play with perspective, and perception. The giant picnic table can make you feel like The Incredible Shrinking Man. We Brits love a pun, but a truly mobile phone? Brilliant! You can see more of Benedetto Bufalino 's work here. Keep your eyes peeled for what he comes up with next! Originally seen at Design Boom .

Derrick Lin brings his office desk to life everyday as he creates magical moments with his miniatures. Just using his desk lamp and iPhone, and an expansive collection of little people, Lin expertly creates scenes from everyday life. He uses it as a kind of therapy, to vent the frustrations of working at a hectic advertising firm. Each image comes with a little caption and Ling pops them up on his Instagram account. Now there is even a book! Brilliant moments of whimsy to get you through the day. Originally spotted at The Mind Circle .

Today is such a peaceful and beautiful May morning I wanted to bring something equally serene to inspire us. I came across on my internet adventures contemporary artist Benoît Trimborn . The French architect brings to his huge oil paintings a detailed perspective, very calm and considered. He sees himself as not having a message to convey but instead presenting nature accurately so we might pause, appreciate, think.  Trimborn categorises his work as 'contemporary impressionism', perhaps that is because of the relatively ordinary scenes he picks and the quality of light he manages to convey.  Living within the landscape as you can't fail to do in Cornwall, makes you effected by the seasons. The light at different times of day comes with the realisation that you can never really see the same view twice. Nature is always moving, growing, highlighted at different times in different ways. Trimborn's work provides a moment of calm for a busy week...

Designer Michael Anastassiades presented at FuoriSalone 2018 this beautiful installation of delicate links alight. The London-based artist is interested in the relationship between jewellery and lighting. His new collection Arrangements hangs elegantly with glowing geometric forms. Jewels after Jewels after Jewels is the title for the piece and I think he has successfully created that sense of balance and delicacy you find in jewellery but with the scale needed for an impactful installation.  Arrangements is a modular system of glowing LEDs that can be combined in many ways. The suspended forms feel quite calming and sculptural, a lovely way to re-imagine the chandelier. Originally found at MoCo Loco .  Some photographs are by Germano Borelli.