Showing posts with label architettura. Show all posts
Showing posts with label architettura. Show all posts

12 June 2016

Light up my breakfast table

Over the past few weeks I have been designing a kitchen for a couple who specifically requested an island to use as a breakfast table, work surface and storage.


If you are thinking of redesigning your kitchen so that it includes an island where you can have a snack here are my three top tips:

1. Make sure the island is the right depth and height. You want to be able to use the surface to work standing up, as well as eat sitting on a stool. Also think about the size of the cabinets and/or shelving.

image via Pinterest

image via Pinterest


2. Choose nice stools, simple wood ones or colourful to match a detail in the tiles or lighting. Make sure you try them out to see if they are comfortable before you buy.

Svelto bar stool, Ercol

Sinnerling stool, Ikea

3. Pay attention to the lighting. Eating in the dark or in dim lighting is not pleasant. Plus you will often use your breakfast table to sit and read the newspaper or a magazine. So make sure you plan the lighting so it is directly above the island. Small pendant lights (25 to 35 cm diameter) are ideal and can add a touch of colour and style to your kitchen.

Browsing around the web I found these simple but elegant lamps by Muuto.

Ambit by TAF architects for Muuto

Unfold, by From us with Love for Muuto

There. This is my first three tips post. It's going to be a monthly feature in my blog so let me know if there is any Interior design topic you'd like me to cover!

Have a great week!
lx

12 April 2015

Top places to visit at the Salone del Mobile

If you are planning on visiting the Salone del Mobile in Milan this week, you should probably be warned that there will be lots of walking envolved!

First of all there is the Salone del Mobile in Rho: here you will find Euroluce, Eurocucina, Workplace3.0, the Salone Satellite (a special exhibition for designers under 35) and many other installations.

If you manage to spend two or three days in Milan, once you've been to the Fiera in Rho, you'll want to visit the Fuori Salone, the part of the Salone that happens all over the city, in many different venues.

There are six main quartieri (districts) to visit:


If  you only have two days, you could go to the Salone first, especially if you've never been before, then spend a day visiting two or three of the areas of the Fuori Salone. Use a map and keep your eyes open wide!

If you are returning to Milan after several visits to the Salone, you may want to concentrate on the Fuori Salone. In which case, pick a handful of events, plan an itinerary and have fun!

Unfotunately I don't think it's possible to see everything at the Salone or at the Fuori Salone, so I'm going to have to pick my route now and make sure I savour the places I do visit! Although a part of me would like to see it all!

My personal favourites so far are:

The Salone Satellite (full of suprises and fresh ideas)
Superstudio Più in Tortona

But I must admit, at heart I am a traveller, so I like to meander around and see where streets take me. I like to allow time and space for suprises... So hopefully my canon and I will see unexpected things...


I'll keep you posted and look forward to reading other poeple's accounts too.
Ciao!

the Fiera di Milano in Rho

A scene from the Fuori Salone




5 April 2015

Aspettando il Salone del Mobile

Or..

7 reasons to visit the Salone.

These are some pictures I took last year at the fair. I have been wanting to share them for some time and now, with the fair starting in just over a week, seems like a good moment!

This is the building where the main part of the fair takes place, where designers and producers exhibit their work.

The 'Fiera di Milano', in the town of Rho in the outskirts of Milan, was designed by Italian Architect Massimiliano Fuksas and his team, in 2004. 

Here is what it looked like on a beautiful sunny day last April. 

the pavillions are joined together by a long open air sheltered street.


spot the supermum with the baby in the sling!

some pavillions are two stories high. there are restaurants and cafés


Visit the Eurocucina pavillion if you love designer kitchens


Water and light are the main elements in this building


I hope you enjoyed this selection of photos. Have a wonderful Easter day!

If you would like to read about my first visit to the Salone del Mobile here is the link to my posts:


Ciao!


24 December 2014

Lunch break with Elisa - English version

This month's interview is the first one I didn't use Skype for! I managed to book my friend Elisa Muterle for a Christmassy coffee and a chat. Elisa works as an Architect for a team of local Architects and occasionally designs houses and furniture with her husband, who is also an Architect (they sign their work ViVrA studio). Elisa is creative and full of original ideas. She loves making stuff out of recycled materials, dress making, knitting. Recently she has made some beautiful bags out of recycled newspapers and advertising posters. A wooden table produced and exhibited locally. And a seating sistem for the parish choir, where Elisa will be singing Christmas songs with her friends.

I asked Elisa for some tips on how to add a designer touch to the festive season! And a few ideas from her family Christmas!

Me|a table
Choir seating sistem
A trip for the festive season? New Year in Turin! There are the Luci d’Artista, ideal for all art lovers. The museo del Cinema, and many exhibitions... My dream destination. New year in a city in Northern Europe. 

Ideal Christmas Menu? My family tradition is to have tortellini in brodo or pasticcio di lasagne and cured meat. For dessert we have my mum's tiramisù and panettone!

How do you wrap your presets? I like to use brown wrapping paper, possibly in two tones, so I can fold the edge. To tie the present I use kitchen thread and make a nice bow. For something extra? Make a bow out of strips of paper and staple together. 

How do you decorate the table? A neutral tone for the table cloth and colourful decorations. For example I make water lilies with paper and then make a center piece by adding fruit and a candle. 

How do you add a touch of style to a room? My husband and I have recently bought a stencil online. We placed the silouette of a little girl holding balloons at the top of the step ladder we have in a bedroom. So it looks like she has climbed up the steps to catch the balloons. It's not Christmassy. You can use them all year round! 

Your nativity scene? A wooden musical box with all the figurines attatched.

Your Christmas tree? This year my husband and I made it out of paper. He made the tree out of cardboard and I made the baubles using they are origami patterns. Next year I'll work on a version with lights! 

Your Christmas outfit? Something comfortable and pretty. Thick tights or leggins and a wool or knitted dress. This year I'm using a brwon dress I made especially for Christmas day!

To find out more about Elisa visit:

ViVra Facebook page


For her creations we have to wait next year! (I will add photos when I get hold of them!)

I hope you are enjoying my series of interviews. The New Year will bring new interviews with more creative ladies and lots of inspiration and ideas for us all! Merry Christmas!

Copyright: All photos used in this post belong to Elisa Muterle.

Lunch break interview with Elisa

Questo mese ho fatto la prima intervista dal vivo, ovvero non su Skype! Ho avuto il piacere di prendere un caffè e cioccolatino Natalizio con la mia amica Elisa Muterle. Anche quando non è impegnata a collaborare come Architetto per uno studio di Vicenza o a qualche progetto insieme a suo marito (si firmano ViVrA studio), Elisa è una creativa piena di idee originali. Ama lavorare con materiali di riciclo, confezionare abiti, fare a maglia. In particolare ha creato delle bellissime borse con carta da giornale plastificata e vecchi cartelloni pubblicitari. Inoltre ha disegnato e prodotto un tavolino di legno, che si può trovare in mostra in un negozio del centro. E la pedana per il coro parrocchiale di cui fa parte, dove canterà insieme ai suoi amici questo Natale. 

Ho chiesto ad Elisa qualche consiglio per arricchire con un tocco di design le feste e anche qualche curiosità sulle sue tradizioni di Natale! 
Tavolo Me|a
Pedana del coro
La destinazione per un viaggio durante le feste? Capodanno a Torino! Ci sono le Luci d’Artista, l’ideale per gli appassionati di Arte. Il museo del Cinema, la Mole e molte mostre alternative. C’è anche una convenzione con la quale se ti fai la tessera puoi visitare tutti i musei...E un mio sogno sarebbe fare il capodanno in una città del Nord Europa.

Il Menù di Natale ideale? Per la mia famiglia il menù tradizionale è tortellini in brodo o pasticcio. Per antipasto adoro l’affettato di lingua. E per finire il tiramisù di mia mamma e un buon panettone artigianale!

Un'idea per impacchettare i regali? Mi piace usare la carta da pacco, magari bicolore, così faccio il risvolto che dà un bordo al pacchetto. Poi lego con spago da cucina e faccio un bel fiocco. Un idea in più? Fare un fiocco con delle strisce di carta e poi unire con una graffetta.

E per decorare la tavola? Tovaglia su toni neutri e delle decorazioni colorate. Ad esempio faccio delle ninfee di carta e poi creo un centro tavola aggiungendo frutta e candele.

Come dare un tocco originale ad una camera? Recentemente abbiamo usato uno stencil, ordinato online, per fare una composizione. Abbiamo attaccato la silhouette di una bambina con i palloncini sul muro sopra alla scaletta a pioli. Non è Natalizio, può andare bene tutto l'anno!

Il tuo presepe? Un carillon di legno con tutte le statuine già integrate.

Il tuo albero? Quest’anno l’ho fatto con mio marito. La struttura di carta l’ha fatta lui. Io ho preparato le palline. Sono degli origami. L’anno prossimo lavorerò alla versione con le luci!


L’outfit per il giorno di Natale? Qualcosa di comodo ed elegante. Leggins e un vestito di lana o di maglia. Quest’anno io uso questo vestito marrone che ho confezionato per l’occasione!

Per sapere di più se Elisa potete visitare il sito:

Studio ViVra, pagina Facebook


Per le sue creazioni bisognerà aspettare l'anno nuovo! (aggiungo le foto appena posso!)

Spero che vi stiate godendo queste interviste. Per l'anno nuovo ne sto preparando di nuove con altre donne creative che vi daranno la carica e vi riempiranno di inspirazione e idee! Buone Feste!


11 June 2014

Architects and their homes

Dove vivono gli Architetti - Where architects live
Salone del Mobile 2014

On my way out of the Salone del Mobile I managed to fit in a gem of a show. My Interior Designer friends had decided to wait for the coach at a café, so I was able to take a quick look round the pavillion dedicated to Bathrooms. Within it there was an exhibition which I had seen advertised all over Milan. The exhibition, curated by Francesca Molteni, was dedicated to eight great architects of our time and their homes. Eight stands for eight architects: Shigeru Ban, Massimiliano Fuksas, Zaha Hadid, Marcio Kogan, Mario Bellini, David Chipperfield, Bijoy Jain/Studio Mumbai, Daniel Libeskind. Withing each space a different experience made of shapes, sounds and a video, showing each architect being interviewed and telling the story of his or her houses and homes.