Design Debate

The sun seems to have abandoned us here today, no matter, I'll bring the warmth another way!  Creatives have spent lockdown in various ways, for Moscow-based architects Davit and Mary Jilavyan they decided to express themselves through miniature Mexican colour. After creating Sonora house the next logical step was to envisage a village community in that same vibrant style. It's a thing of beauty, missing community it seems perfectly logical to create just that. The model village looks stunning bathed in light. A perfect escapism for these strange and secluded times.  Originally found at Design Boom .   

Oh I love this, an Austrian castle has been transformed by the lovely Overgrow from Calico Wallpaper .   Schloss Hollenegg looks the perfect castle, all moody and filled with literally drama. The wallpaper spills from the ceiling down the walls adding an air of Great Expectations.  Part of an exhibition exploring the 'feral side of nature'. The design is peppered with butterflies and other insects with stylised cascading leaves, providing a perfect backdrop for some rather sober art and dark furniture.  See more at Remodelista . 

Morning, what a strange time we find ourselves in. I am now back at work part time, creating away. My lockdown experience was one of beautiful walks in the Cornish countryside, lots of cooking and movies with siblings. Thankfully I have managed to avoid catching the virus so my time has been much more pleasant than some.  I do love reading about how people have kept themselves occupied, especially the creatives. One of my brothers is recording an album from his room in Coventry and my sister has been painting canvases and knitting to pass the time.  This French artist, Nathalie Lete hasn't been idle either, spending lockdown in her country home an hour from Paris, she has been taking her art off-canvas and on to the walls. Nathalie is inspired by the folk tradition of art, with German and Chinese parents she has a wealth of cultural art to refer to. What started as a little flourish here and there has become a home alive with floral patterns spreading...

Love this, the fairground lights are so simple but paired with stunning late 1800s architecture it is rather special. Bosco Mishka Bar in Red Square, Moscow, was designed by twin sisters Irina and Olga Sundukovy.  A simple and restrained use of elements, not all shouting at once for attention, but each worthy of it. From those fabulous lights to the black metal benches to the mottled grey walls and theatre-stage-style lights.  Found at the Cool Hunter . 

    Stockholm-based designers Massproductions have designed a stackable seat made mainly from recycled aluminium. Named 'Roadie' the idea came from bicycle frames.  I also love the photography. There is great contrast between the uniform bricks so dark and foreboding with the bright metal seats. Helping the furniture to appear  almost   brave in the empty frames.  Nicely done, originally found at Leibal .  

      Bosc d’en Pep Ferrer  is a Spanish home on the island of Formentera. This piece of modern architecture sits comfortably within its surroundings, rough exposed rock juts-out of perfectly smooth white plaster. The house is made from three dwellings connected by glass corridors, allowing glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea bathed in bright light.  The interior is quite simple but I particularly love the outside of this home, wooden cladding, stone and glass combine to make a bold but site-appropriate statement. Living in this home would be akin to an adventure, so much to explore.   See more at Yellow Trace . 

We've been doing a lot of branding in the Pickle Design studio recently, so I thought I'd show you the latest. Pretty varied as usual! The logo above we created for Woody's Pizza , delicious wood-fired pizza served at the storage container street food hub that is Saltbox in Wadebridge, Cornwall. You can see how we carried on that retro vibe with their menu below, printed on brown paper.  These logos were designed for Camel Fish , wholesalers of fresh crab and lobster in Rock. There are three logos, one for their main business, one for the Camel Crab Shack and new business Pentire Fishing. Pentire is an area of the North Coast of Cornwall and the Camel is actually a river - not the animal! Confused me a lot when I moved down here. I hand illustrated the lobster and crab as well as the coastline and we used bright nautical colours. A long standing client of ours, Cornish Horizons holiday cottages, asked us design a little emblem to go alongside their proper...