Astana, Kazakhstan: the space station in the steppes

The futuristic city in Kazakhstan is just the latest in the growing phenomenon of a capital from zero.

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WELCOME TO...

SNOOPERS  PARADISE

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From this lovely Brighton Flea Market I have purchased plenty of amazing items, and right now I got my eye on some special things...

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LESJöFORS MUSEUM

(tack mor)

It’s situated in a rural and industrial town, Lesjofors in Varmland. It’s definitely NOT the most recognized place in the world –on the contrary. The town itself feels rather abandoned as you enter. The only sign of life when I last visited was a small Thai food stall, placed in the centre of the town and on the side of the main street. One person was queuing up, at 12:30pm on a Friday afternoon. The buildings look untouched since about 1952 and the only car I saw moving was an old (pink) Chevrolet from around the same year.

The actual museum is in an old factory, and outside there are large bronze ‘sculptures’ randomly positioned. The ‘sculptures’ are different parts from the machines in the factory, too large to put inside of the museum. The feeling you get is the same as when you walk in to ‘Trash City’ at Glastonbury or when you watch the film ‘The Warriors’.

And this fascinating ‘opening’ makes the rest of the venture so very special.

The actual inside of the museum successfully reflects the history of Lesjofors and in most aspects Sweden in general.

Have a look below.

EXTERIOR:

IINTERIOR:



SEE MORE HERE

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LA MODERNISM SHOW 2010

The LA Modernism Show took place in May this year. I didn’t go, although I would have if I lived in Los Angeles. I get enormously inspired by all the various objects and set-ups at this event. It features plenty of classic designs, by artists such as Paul Tuttle and Charles Pollock.

My favourite though, must be this...

A late-1960s spiral stair designed by an aeronautical engineer to lead passengers to the bar inside a 747.

A selection of photos from the show including; Maria Pergay, Renzo Minotti and Sam Kaufman

LOVE THIS

Piero Fornasetti Plates

(60's fabric design)

What a beauty. The 'Papa Bear Chair' by Hans Wegner.

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MILO RAY BAUGHMAN, JR

(1923-2003)

Milo Ray Baughman, Jr., was one of the leading modern furniture designers of the second-half of the 20th century. His uniquely American designs were forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious and affordable. His prolific and highly influential work continues to be copied, reinvented and revived in the new and secondary decorative arts markets by contemporary furniture designers and dealers alike. Baughman designed for a number of furniture companies starting in the mid-1940s until his death, including Calif-Asia, Mode Furniture, Glenn of California, The Inco Company, Pacific Iron, Murray Furniture of Winchendon, Arch Gordon, Design Institute America, Woodard, George Kovacs, Directional, Henredon and Drexel, among others. He is most famous, however, for his longtime association with Thayer Coggin Inc., of High Point, NC, which began in 1953, and lasted until his death in 2003. He also lectured broadly on the state of modern design, extolling the positive benefits of good design on the lives of human beings, and helping to define and shape the discussion for years to come.

Born in Goodland, Kansas on October 7, 1923, Baughman moved with his family in his infancy to Long Beach, California. At the age of thirteen, his family built their house and young Milo was handed the task of designing both the interior and exterior. Following high school he served for four years in the Army Air Forces during World War II, during which time he was active in designing officer's clubs. After the war he returned to Southern California to study product and architectural design at the Art Center School of Los Angeles and at Chouinard, which later became the California Institute of the Arts.

Upon completing his studies, he was hired to work at the Frank Brothers furniture store as an interior and custom furniture designer. The store had the distinction of being the first west coast all-modern specialty store, and proved to be a good launch pad for his career. While there he established "Furniture Forum" with Georgia Christensen, an important early publication on modern design complete with photos, dimensions, pricing, as well as designer photos and biographies. He left Frank Brothers in 1947 to establish "Milo Baughman Design Inc.," and quickly did commissions for Glenn of California and Pacific Iron, helping to place these companies at the forefront of a new California modernist design movement. The "California Modern" collection created for Glenn of California in 1948, along with Greta Magnusson Grossman, using mainly walnut, iron and formica, and put forth a distinctive Los Angeles style.   

Next, the large furniture manufacturer Drexel invited him to their North Carolina headquarters to create a major collection. Following this, Murray Furniture of Winchendon Massachusetts introduced "The Milo Baughman Collection" in 1952. An earlier desk design from 1948 for Winchendon was later included in the Whitney Museum exhibition "High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design," in 1985. During this time,

Milo found time to run his own custom design shop with Olga Lee in Los Angeles from 1951-1953. Lee contributed hand printed fabrics, wallpaper, lamps and accessories to go alongside Baughman's furniture designs; both offered their services as interior consultants.

In 1953 his 50 year association with Thayer Coggin Inc. began, and by the 1960s and 1970s, his new collection was eagerly awaited at the High Point Market every year. Some of his most famous and iconic designs come from this period, including the "951-103" chair, circa 1962, "820-400" chaise (1954), "989-103" Lounge Chair, and "955-304" Sofa. He was highly regarded among his peers, and his quick wit and clear reflection were always in demand as he spoke about modern design.

In 1965, Baughman converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or the "Mormon Church"), and was active and passionate about his newfound Christian faith until his death. In 1969, he was invited by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah to establish the Department of Environmental Design, where he continued as chairman and adjunct professor for six years while he continued his professional design business. He then moved to Virginia for twelve years, and then back to Utah, where he was a senior lecturer at BYU for another nine years. Baughman has also lectured at Rhode Island School of Design, the University of Tennessee, the University of Wisconsin–Madison and North Carolina State, among others. He remained in Utah where he maintained a professional design studio until his death on July 23, 2003.

In addition to the "High Styles" show at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, Baughman's furniture has been exhibited in museums and shows throughout the United States, including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, NC; the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Milo Baughman was inducted into the Furniture Designer's Hall of Fame in 1987.

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USE IT OR LOSE IT

The most offensive item in my home (after the kitchen lights)

This one though, is a BIG YES

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THANKS ED

(for some reason) I sometimes avoid things overly pretentious, but I guess it all depends.

This is pretty striking. They combine things I love and generate something new and exciting. I was always intrigued by lighting effects and this has reminded me how dramatic it can be and how essential it is. This truly reflects the importance of lighting, and that’s really my point here.

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WHAT A LADY!
Janelle Monae - Cold War / Tightrope (09-08-10 KOKO)

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CARL HANSEN
FINE DANISH FURNITURE SINCE 1908.

‘The Smiling Chair’ (designed by Hans J. Wegner 1963)


This chair I love. Why? I instantly loved it when I first saw it. I don’t really know why. Perhaps because it’s so very Scandinavian. It’s stylish and it’s contemporary, but still classic. The shape is slick and the curvy lines are sexy. It's light and simple. It would work so well in my living room and since I discovered the chair, every living room I’ve ever had has felt empty and naked. Until I get enough money to purchase this gorgeous piece, my home will NOT be complete.

Here's a selection, for your pleasure only.

http://www.carlhansen.com/

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‘WOW’..

..i thought. flats designed in a ‘Mad Men’ style, how exciting.

and then i looked a little bit closer...

a TERRIBLE attempt to be retro and it’s just another tacky 'box'.

DD says thumbs DOWN.

LULU BRIGHT
Pop Up store from 31.08.2010, Clerkenwell

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THIS is where I'd ideally like to live, IF it had an express/direct train to home...get my point.

     St Ives

please give IT to meee.

I'd like to ride this beast please.

Yes of course, I’ve always wanted to ride an iron horse. This horse is ‘life size’, so it’s easier to imagine how it would be. I see it everyday, when I walk to work and I think; ‘what a beauty’. And; 'how strong HE must be'.

Maybe one day.

But until then (30th Sep) 'Trojan Horse' is based here.

oh YES, me want

M.C. Excher's (the worlds most famous graphic artist) 'CYCLE'

"Hey Good Lookin'"

I watched a documentary on BBC the other night.

"My wife's been sick - the young'ns, too
And I'm durn near - down with the flu
The cow's gone dry - and them hens won't lay
But - we're still a-livin' - so EVER'-THING'S Okay.

                           

                             RIP - HANK

GANGSTER HOUSE (Arkhangelsk, Russia)

"This would have been a great room for making love," he said, balancing on a plank he has just thrown over a chasm in the floor. "This one would have been even better," he said, two floors higher. "Look at that view."

My 'new' 50 year old baby

I love to discover new hidden gems, (my list is getting long) and I’ve done just that with this furniture shop across the road from my house. It’s a second hand place who clearly receives most of their stuff from ‘death houses’ (or whatever you Brits call them). I really don’t mind that fact, it’s just that the items are rarely in good nick. They’re generally old, unattractive and hold the aroma of death.

BUT, sometimes luck strikes.

My bus stop is right outside, so every single day I’ve looked through the window of this place, just in case. And so, one day this beauty was standing there, only waiting for someone to come and adopt her lonely and abandoned soul.

So now I have a new baby. And guess what, she was ONLY 40 pounds! See, that’s the charm with these not so appreciated shops. A desk like this would have easily gone for at least £200 at Criterion.
 
 

Unfortunately I don’t know the story behind it. But it’s quite clearly a 50’s desk and in a ‘Scandinavian Contemporary’ style. The mirror is massive and the whole design of the desk seems to consider comfort. It’s a simple layout with soft curved lines. I have looked for a similar desk for a century, so about time I guess (I even drew one once, not so different from this one).

It’s in our bedroom at the moment, replacing my old dressing table which I have for the moment placed in the hallway.

It works, but it’s all only for now.


To be continued...

Feeling Kosta Boda today...

Look at this. I'd say it's something that is just plain fuckin awesome, it's da best of da best.

The first 2 glass designs are by Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda. I am a huge fan of his dark and affecting creations. I can stare at them forever, analyzing the many feelings behind them.




This 3rd picture shows a few examples of the collection ‘Catwalk’ by Kjell Engman, also for Kosta Boda. It’s clearly inspired by the world of fashion. I love how he somehow creates a rough but interesting surface. And I adore the sort of Picasso-like bizarre bodies of the sculptures.

See more here