Displaying posts labeled "Sponsored"

On December 29th, the WDR (World Design Rankings) announced the updated design rankings of countries based on the number of design awards won at international juried design competitions and awards. Wonder where your country is ranked? Canada is making waves in the design world holding the 16th spot! United States ranked as number 1 among the 83 represented countries, followed by Italy, England, Japan, Brazil, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong and Turkey which took the top positions in 2014. Here are the top 30 countries:

The ultimate aim of the world design rankings is to contribute to global design culture through advocating and highlighting good design. The rankings aim to provide a snapshot of the state-of-art and design potentials of countries worldwide by highlighting their creative strengths, design weaknesses and available opportunities. The “Design Business Insights” section provides a ranking of countries based on their success in diverse design fields and creative categories. Using the “Design Business Insights” section, media members and design lovers could discover leading countries for specific design sectors and get answers to their questions such as “Which country is best in industrial design”, “Which country is best in interior design?”,  “Which country is the best in fashion design?” etc.

Jo mentioned here some details about the A’ Design Award and Competition and their call for submissions. As the world’s largest design competition this is huge and offers so many benefits and notoriety for being a part of it. If you’d like to register you can do so here. I have been going through the list of past winners and am totally blown away by the creativity and craftsmanship of each project. Jo shared some winners in her post and I thought I would share some of my favourites.  

Paper Teller Cuckoo Clock by Benjamin Ben Kemoun (based in Geneva)

Planet without the “E” Mini Planter Set by Yu Hiraoka Design (based in Milan)

Stretch Bench by Tulin Atamer Karaagac (based in Istanbul)

Vonk Fuse Picnicktable (based in Belgium)

Stratum Folding Chair by Ammar Kalo (based in the U.S.)

Phantom Phantom Coat Rack by Yu Hiraoka Design

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This post is brought to you in collaboration with A’ Design Award and Competition

The A’ Design Award and Competition is calling for entries with the deadline fast approaching. With over 100 categories the A’ Design Award and Competition is the worlds’ largest design competition. But it is not just an award. It is an indicator of quality and perfection in design, recognized worldwide, your design front and centre before design companies and professionals. From the Good Industrial Design Award to the Good Architecture Design Award. The Good Product Design Award to the Good Communication Design Award. The Good Service Design Award to the Good Fashion Design Award and so many more. Entries will be judged by an international jury panel of scholars, professionals and media members and the benefits to the winners are inspiring. The trophy, of course, an invitation to the gala night, a certificate of quality, inclusion in the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition exhibition and the yearly ResultBook but even more importantly press, PR, introduction to industry professionals and companies and international exposure.

You can find out more about the A’ Design Award and Competition here and register here. But hurry as entries close February 28. Results will be announced to the public on April 15.

Here are some previous award winners to get your creative juices running.

Screen House by Hannan Khair

Trish House Yalding by Matthew Heywood

Gamsei by Buero Wagner

Halle A by Designliga Büro Für Visuelle Kommunikation Und Innenarchitektur

Baan by Mr. Paitoon Keatkeereerut Mr.chawin Hanjing

Ane Stool by Troy Backhouse

Couples by Ekaterina Elizarova

Axteroid Lamp by 201 Design Studio

Brise House Residential House by Gisele Taranto Arquitetura

Humble House Hotel by Tao Wang

Pivot Apartment by Architecture Workshop PC

This post brought to us in collaboration with A’ Design Award and Competition

I love having rugs scattered throughout my house. They are such an easy way to make a space extra cozy, and a bonus is they keep your toesies warm in the winter and as I discovered last week while emptying out my main floor, are AMAZING at keeping the noise levels down by absorbing sound. I have a few in my living room (one is under my desk so my chair doesn’t ruin the floor), one by the kitchen sink to make dish washing a little less annoying, and I want to put one on my side of the bed so when I wake up my feet don’t freeze. Main Street Oriental Rugs is a great source for oriental rugs. With a storefront in Ellicott City, Maryland, they also have an online shop, an Etsy store and you can find them on Twitter and Instagram. They carry over 3,000 rugs – high quality, hand-knotted, 100% wool and/or silk, Persian, Oriental, and contemporary style. And depending on your preference they stock both vintage and new rugs. (They even offer cleaning, repair, and restoration services if you’re in the area). Here is just a small sample of what you’ll find at Main Street Oriental Rugs…

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This post is in partnership with Main Street Oriental Rugs. All opinions are my own. 

Last Thursday was an exciting day. Iconic home furnishings brands Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm opened under one enormous roof in Brisbane. “Ho-hum” yawn those of you who have lived with the Williams-Sonoma group for many years. But not for me. The new kids on the block were bringing their heady mix of unique design, exceptional customer service and their renowned in-store experiences to Bris-Vegas and I wasn’t going to miss out on the media preview.

You know what? I was surprised. Not by the quality or the price point or that sales assistants are called associates but by the fact that even though I call myself Midcenturyjo it wasn’t just West Elm’s mid-mod urban vibe that appealed. No I was seduced by Pottery Barn too! I could move right in!

These are a few of the photos I snapped on the day including the handmade tile installation on the West Elm counter by local ceramist Kylie Johnson of Paperboat Press.

I’ll let you into a secret. I’m scheming on a way to move into the new stores permanently. I could so easily live in all of them.

This post was bought to you in collaboration with Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm.

Luxury construction projects abound in Florida, real estate developers are bringing the best of architecture to the sunshine state. Take a look to these 5 amazing condos by renowned designers and architects.

L’Atelier Miami Beach

Architect: Luis Revuelta from Revuelta Architecture International, which have partnered with top local and national developers in the design and creation of many South Florida’s leading landmark residential, commercial, hospitality, automobile dealerships and mixed use projects.

Developers: SMG Management in partnership with W Capital Group. This firm led by Yair Wolff, has been focusing on the South Florida market since 2008.

Interior designer: Holly Hunt, this brand has become the premier design and distribution entity for high-end interior furnishings in the country.

Landscape Architect: Enzo Enea, who has a background that includes industrial design, landscape architecture and a design perspective drawn from global inspiration in London, Brazil, Hawaii, and beyond, the award-winning design of Enea is treasured for its refinement and visual appeal.

Interior Features: Expansive balconies with panoramic Ocean and city views, outdoor whirlpool spa in each residence, poliform kitchens, world leading Gaggenau appliances. Residences from 3 to 6 bedrooms.

Amenities: Concierge, 24 hour valet, private beach area, Oceanfront infinity edge swimming pool, upper deck 78 Ft lap pool, poolside cabanas, pool bar and BBQ area, whirlpool spa and hammock garden, spa facility and treatment room, sauna and steam room, beauty salon, gym, library and meeting room.

Price range: Residences from US$4.7M to US$33M.

One Thousand Museum Miami

Architect: Zaha Hadid, a pritzker prize-winning architect who has become internationally renowned for her designs of sensuous, soaring buildings that push the limits of innovation and blur the lines between art and architecture. Hadid is one of the history’s most celebrated architects and the first woman to have achieved such recognition in the field.

Developer: Zaha Hadid Architects, their portfolio of iconic buildings includes the London Olympic Aquatic Center in The United Kingdom, the Dubai Opera House in the United Arab Emirates, the BMW Central building in Germany, the Guangzhou Opera House in China, and the CMA Tower in France.

Landscape Design: Enzo Enea, the renowned Swiss landscape architect.

Interior Features: Breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean from every residence, extensive balconies, custom European kitchens, elegant European baths, finely crafted closets and interior doors, custom illuminated interiors, home automation by Crestron, the world-leader in lifestyle technology. Residences from 4 to 6 bedrooms.

Amenities: This condo boast of having the Miami’s first private helipad on a residential tower. It’s also the most secure as it’s equipped with a functionally integrated 24/7 security program focused not just on residents, but also on their guests and their personal property.

The entrance to this building is spectacular, it has a dramatic porte cochère that offers privacy from the street and a grand sense of arrival in tune with the prestige of the tower. Private residences are accessed from the lobby via secure, high-speed elevators that feature destination-entry smart technology.

All interior amenity spaces are lightly perfumed with signature scents designed by 12.29 olfactory consultants. The building also offers a sky lounge for private events, infinity-edge indoor pool, sunbathing terrace, spa, sunbathing deck and spacious fitness center.

Price range: Residences from $7M to $17M.

Jade Signature Sunny Isles

Architects: Herzog & de Meuron, a world renowned Swiss company which received in 2001 the coveted Pritzker Architecture Prize, and since then have been honored with other major architectural awards. Their portfolio includes the National Stadium Beijing, the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games and Tate Modern in London, the world’s most popular modern art gallery.

Developers: Fortune International Group which boasts of 30 years of experience in South Florida real estate. With a focus on exceptional waterfront properties that have helped to change the Miami skyline, this company continues to be one of the driving forces behind Miami’s exciting real-estate story.

Interior designer: PYR led by the French ‘master of grande luxe’, Pierre-Yves Rochon. For over 30 years, this interior design company has created award-winning interiors for private houses, offices, restaurants and renowned hospitality brands such as Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts and Peninsula Hotels.

Landscape Designer: Raymond Jungles, Inc. An inspiring, creative and ecologically aware landscape architecture firm which has maintained both a South Florida and international presence since 1981. Led by Raymond Jungles, RJI has created gardens in 11 countries including Antigua, Anguilla, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, China and Mexico.

Interior Features: Flow-through floor plans boasting ocean, city and Intracoastal Waterway views, floor to ceiling windows, expansive terraces with seamless glass railings, exquisite European designer cabinetry by Snaidero, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances by Gaggenau and Sub-Zero, private elevator vestibule, walk-in closets, smart technology. Residences from 2 to 7 bedrooms.

Amenities: Beach Bar and Grill, gym, water therapy terrace, library, business center, club room, juice bar, pavilion terrace, teen’s tech lounge.

Price range: Residences from US$4.8M.

Muse Residences Sunny Isles

Architects: Sieger Suarez Architects are leaders of luxury high-rise residential design and development. The firm has received a multitude of awards and community recognition for its outstanding work along four decades.

Developers: Joint venture between Property Markets Group and S2 Development. PMG has distinguished itself over the last decade for its development of new construction condominium developments in New York City, Miami, and Chicago. While S2 boast of almost two decades of condominium development experience and more than 600 luxury waterfront residences delivered in South Florida.

Interior designers: Antrobus+ Ramírez, a leading team known for their unique interiors in the luxury residential market.

Conceptual Design: Carlos Ott, who has more than 40 years of design and architectural experience, he has been hailed as one of the best conceptual minds of his generation.

Interior Features: Panoramic Ocean and intracoastal views, each residence is delivered fully finished. Private elevators to each unit, Italian entry doors, marble and wood flooring, custom Italian cabinetry and personalized art from Helidon Xhixha.

Expansive master bathrooms featuring fabulous Dornbracht and Duravit plumbing fixtures, while the master bedroom boasts a midnight bar and ample walk-in closets. Kitchen with marble countertops, sheet of counter-to-ceiling glass, concealed pocket door that allows to seclude it from the rest of the house. Residences from 2 to 4 bedrooms.

Amenities: Breakfast Room with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, sky garden, infinity pool, spa, gym, beach club exclusive for residents and pool cabanas.

Price range: Residences from $4.6M to $5.6M.

Armani Residences Sunny Isles

Architect: Cesar Pelli and his firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Pelli is a world-renowned architect, known for the design of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami and the Petronas Twin Towers.

Interior Designer: Giorgio Armani, an icon of the fashion industry with more than three decades in the business, he has expanded his empire to include restaurants and hotels.

Interior Features: Private high-speed elevator access to all residences, breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive balconies, spacious interiors with elegant smooth ceilings rising to 10 feet, luxury kitchen. Residences from 2 to 4 bedrooms.

Amenities: Private oceanfront restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, pool, fitness center, exclusive spa including a Turkish Hamman, entertainment rooms furnished by Armani/Casa.

Price range: Residences from $2.2M to $4.9M