Design blogs that rock

You know those websites and blogs you fall in love with at first sight, and then keep going back to for inspiration? Well I have quite a few. I often get carried away browsing the net and admiring all the great photos and posts I find.

So here are some of my favourites:

design sponge: an amazing blog beautiful and inspiring

la tazzina blu: even if you don't read Italian, this blogger posts lovely home tours, wishlists and styling ideas

la volpe rossa: an Italian blog about Interior design by a young Student of design. This blog is super new and is really worth a visit!

Theydrawandcook: the website founded by a brother and sister illustrating duo, publishing illustrated recipes and now illustrated food as well.

Theydrawandtravel: their sister website that gathers illustrated maps by illustrators worldwide.

And my latest favourite:

Koosje Koene illustration - a blog written by a Dutch illustrator, who share her tips and pages of her sketchbook. If you like drawing you'll love her draw tip tuesday posts!


Plus I have recently started using my tumblelog (ladybirdskecthes.tumblr.com is my online sketchbook on tumblr) more regularly and keep dicovering really inspiring blogs by artist and designers!

There are so many beautiful blogs and websites on the internet, I am in awe of all the people running them and sharing their work. It's so inspiring and I feel priviledged to be able to see all these photos and images...

Do you have a favourite blog?

New blog new home

Dear readers,

As you may have noticed my blog has had a little revolution!

It is now called: laura's blog...
And the address is laurastratta.blogspot.com

It is still going to focus on Interior design, design and my drawings.

Over the next few weeks I hope to give it a design revamp. I hope you will like the changes!

Ciao for now!!
Laura

Round-up from the Salone Satellite

Just over a month ago I visited the Milan Furniture Fair. The Fair is really big, and ideally you need to spend three days there to see everything... I only had half a day, (I spent the morning at the Fuori Salone, which you can read about here, if you like), so I decided to focus on a select few pavillions and areas. My first stop was the Salone Satellite.

The Salone Satellite is a part of the main Fairgrounds dedicated to young desingers, most of them just starting out, all under 35. It's a fascinating area of the fair, where very fresh ideas and prototypes are displayed in wooden four-by-four stands, each designer standing next to his work, unless he's on a coffee break or visiting the fair. Unlike the rest of the Salone, which requires a ticket, it can be visited for free.

After spending a few hours there, taking pictures and asking questions about the products, I had plenty of business cards and leaflets in my handbag, and I had seen many noteworthy designs.

Here are some of my personal top 10 designs, the designers and the links to their websites:

Furniture by Studio Pousti, Iran.

Myriam Pousti and her Furniture, which requires no screws or glue

Andusa and Terrasse by SCMP design, Switzerland

Andusa, outdoor-indoor vases

Terrasse, a carpet inspired by patios and gardens

photos SCMP design

Mood Cups by Frederique Ficherouille, Belgium.

Ceramic 'Mood cups'

Fugu bag and Samurai Chair by Benwu Studio

Fugu bag has inflatable shock proof padding

Samurai chair and Sumo chair upholstery

As if from Nowhere by Orla Reynolds, Ireland.

'Rings' lamp by Garay Studio, Spain.

Rings by Garay Studio

Photo by Garay Studio

Concrete by Anna Badur, Germany

'Concrete', photo from Anna Badur's website

Photo Anna Badur

Zlata Light by Kimxgensapa

Plug in baby and Edu Wardrobe Daniel Wehrli Industrial design, Switzerland

A new way to take your shoes off

A wardrobe made using minimum material

Wooden Aquerel by Maike Harde, Germany

Wooden Aquerel

There were lots of other interesting designs so if you would like to see other round-ups of the Salone Satellite here are the posts from two of my favourite blogs:

- La Tazzina blu's personal top 10 of the Padiglione Satellite

- Design Sponge: Dipatches from the Salone Satellite

Photos by Laura Stratta, unless otherwise stated. (credits under each photo)

Fun at the Fuori Salone - part three, Università degli Studi

Fuori Salone in Milan...

Here is the third and last part of my tour of the Fuori Salone.
After visiting the main furniture stores in via Durini, our Milanese friends took us to see part of the exhibition by Interni - Energy for Creativity at the Università degli Studi di Milano.

'Il Rossetto', the lipstic, was slowly spinning round

In a separate courtyard there was an installation by Daniel Liebeskind for Oikos, an Italian brand that produces sustainable paint and varnish. The sculpture called 'Future Flowers' was part of the launch of a new range of colours. Even the lizards liked it!

a lizard sunbathing..

Photos by Laura Stratta

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Next up is my round up of the Salone Satellite!

If you'd like to read more about the Fuori Salone you can read my previous two posts:

Fuori Salone part one -

Fuori Salone part two - Brera district

Fun at the Fuori Salone - Part two, Brera District

Fuori Salone Part two, Via Durini, Brera District

After visiting San Babila we walked to via Durini where the stores of historic Italian Furnire manifacturers are based.
Here are my highlights from Via Durini:

1. Meritalia presenting the new sofa Minah, by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas

The shop window of Meritalia

Minah in red and orange

Minah as chaise longue, sofa and armchair, in black and grey

2. Cassina celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The shop window had a display using the iconic pieces of furniture to recreate the atmosphere of a fun fair, with chairs spinning round and a ferris wheel made with the chaise longue by LeCorbusier, LC4.