I think I just found a new sculpture to add to the top of my “art I would kill to have” list. Created by Canadian designer Miya Kondo, ‘Composition Light‘ is a light sculpture comprised of five different shapes of light with five different frames of colour. Each piece can stand alone as well as be grouped together in an infinite number of combinations. In addition to the beautiful use of light and colour frames, I love the use of bright cords and wiring. Rather than simply make those technical elements white or hidden, they are pops of colour that add to the entire piece and remind the viewer of what is powering the sculpture as a whole. I’m hoping there will be a home version of Composition Light one day. The only other thing needed is a big loft with industrial beams to showcase it in….

(photographs via miya kondo; spotted on via designboom)

I love the way Crown Paint displayed their colour trends for 2011. The combination of still life objects and interior images is inspiring but it’s the groupings of swatches that I really love. The palettes are beautiful and they feel more tangible than paper chips photographed together. It makes all the difference to have swatches in different sizes and depths as the resulting shadows and shapes reflect how colour is used in a home – in different weights and ratios via pieces of furniture, wall colour and decor objects. Overall, a fantastic example of styling and colour theory. I wouldn’t mind having that top purple palette as a piece of wall art…

(spotted on trendland)

Mouta is a natural object and furniture collection by Bordeaux designer Caroline Gomez. The wood she uses to craft her work is a dreamy hue and a perfect neutral for punchy pastels and sherbet hues. In addition to beautiful wood work, Caroline’s sense of styling is fantastic. I love the pops of colour she stacks on that handsome table. How about those beautiful lamp cords? Or the illustrations with perfectly selected tape hues? Caroline’s images have created a distinct brand palette of natural cool-toned wood, muted neons and traditional pastels. An inspiring combination. There is so much to love but that cutting board with the holes for fruit steadying is making my day…

On a very rainy Monday here in Vancouver, this photograph by Sërch is making everything seem brighter. The world needs more rustic hot pink staircases, don’t you think? Love how the light is bouncing from the pink wall to the white one resulting in a beautiful shade of light pink. I don’t know where that staircase ends but I imagine it is something pretty magical…

(image via sërch and spotted on buddha interiors)

Pantone Hotel is a boutique hotel in Brussels devoted to colour and designed around the famous Pantone Matching System. Although it opened last year, my obsession with visiting has not dimmed one bit so I decided I had to post about it. Designed by architect Olivier Hannaert and interior designer Michel Penneman, the building feels very similar to Pantone swatches with bright white features creating a canvas for saturated bursts of colour. Each of the seven floors is focused on a different hue so you can decide if you want to stay in a passionate red room or a tranquil blue one. I like how the room numbers are three Pantone swatch numbers. The hotel lobby is the cheerful heart of the colour drenched building and houses the biggest selection of Pantone licensed products worldwide. From the coloured glass on the exterior to the rugs of small vivid squares, I love how every detail has been thought of and that they all embrace Pantone swatches with wit and style. Maybe one day, we will have a conference in this embassy of colour and discuss the world of hue with a Pantone mug in hand?

(photographs © sven laurent – let me shoot for you except 5th from top by serge anton; all via pantone hotel)

I don’t know why I have always had a fascination for step ladders. Maybe it is all the potential for fabulous design in the ladder and chair mix. With that in mind, I’m going to go ahead and crown Step by Iacoli & McAllister the most gorgeous step ladder I have ever seen. Fashioned after a 1920′s style step ladder, the mix of matte black, brass and pink washed oak is a sublime fusion of Art Deco and modern design. Hmmm… Maybe I need a step ladder focused blog?

It always amazes me what a little spray paint can do. I saw the above storage jars on House to Home this morning and was instantly smitten. Glue a small animal or figurine to an old jar top, spray paint the whole piece and ta da! You have a chic, colourful and unique storage container. Don’t they look like they would be crazy expensive? Fantastic for kids but I think the idea could be used in any studio and space needing unique storage. Sugar, pasta, flour, nuts – just think of what could be done with this idea and kitchen storage containers.

Castle is an Australian homeware and design company at the top of my current obsession list. The mastermind of colour-loving designer Rachel Castle, the line is just bursting with creativity and vibrant hues. From bedlinens and cushions to fabric garlands and one-of-a-kind art pieces, Castle seamlessly fuses exquisite handcraft detail with a geometric design soul. I just love Castle’s handstitched embroideries with their bright colours and blend of fabrics including vintage French linen, flax Belgian linen, Australian wool, moleskin and velvet. Oh and the styling of their product photographs is ridiculously stylish. I wouldn’t mind living in those set designs. Yes, I think I would be quite happy to wake up in some colourful sheets with a handmade fabric garland draped across my chic art pieces. What more can I say other than I am utterly in love with Castle!

I came across this beautiful terrace located in the Vasastan district of Stockholm, Sweden and decided it would be the perfect place to be spend Monday morning. What a joyfully colourful nook with an almost magical view of warm-hued rooftops. It also goes to show what life you can bring to a tiny patio with some colourful details. Pop over to 1 Kind Design to see the rest of this stylish space. Oh and guess what? The apartment is for sale! If anyone out there buys it, can I come visit? You will find me on the terrace….

(photographs via 1 kind design)

These images are from a couple of years ago but they had such jaw-dropping effects on me yesterday when I saw them for the first time, I knew I had to share! Tham & Videgård Arkitekter re-imagined this traditional Art Nouveau apartment in Stockholm in the most striking of ways. The entire space features dramatic oversized and multicoloured parquet flooring inspired by the seasonally changing colours of adjacent Humlegården Park “from winter grey and black to summertime bright and deep green, to orange, red and yellow in autumn”. I don’t think it would be humanly possible to have a bad day in this apartment. Colour therapy meets architecture? It is definitely a feat of colour mixing and pattern. My personal favourite are the rooms with a neon orange, hot pink and black hues. Do you think you could live in a space this uniquely dazzling? At the very least, this apartment has inspired me to paint some doorways in vibrant colours!

(photographs by Åke E:son Lindman; spotted on yatzer and fine little home)

Architect Armin Blasbichler’s home in Northern Italy has a magnificent door that features little transparent colour swatches for every hue seen in the nature surrounding the house. I love the handwritten names of flowers, trees and other natural Italian colour sources. As the light changes throughout the day, this door must create one stunning light show after another. How do you get anything done when your home has something so full of wonder? See the rest of Armin’s home here.

Thanks for the inspiration thirdpearl!

(photography by ingrid heiss via design*sponge)

I love these textile cables by danish designer and artist Rie Elise Larsen. The many bright colour options would look fabulous with a white or black pendant light or in contrast with a heavily patterned hanging light. The textile/fabric look of the cord gives a nice tactile feeling that would look great paired with an industrial piece. Come to think of it, one of these cables would look great with those plumen light bulbs I am similarly obsessed with…

(photographs via rie elise larsen)

How beautiful are these slip-cast earthenware tiles by industrial designer Kristina Gerig? It appears they are an exploration project at the moment but I am really hoping they are sold to the general public one day. The chevron shape tiles tessellate in three different ways, creating striking texture and indefinite patterns of white and bright colour. What a gorgeous, one of a kind bathroom or kitchen you could create!

(photographs via kristina gerig; spotted on yellow trace’s pinterest)

Designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have collaborated with Danish textile company Kvadrat to create ‘Textile Field’ – an installation of vibrant blue and green foam rectangles. Part of the London Design Festival, the fascinating structure will stretch 30 meters long and 8 meters wide in Victoria and Albert Museum’s Raphael Gallery. The field of textiles is truly interactive and is meant to be walked on, sat on or laid on. The Raphael Gallery houses some of the oldest and most important pieces of Renaissance art in the world so this modern installation will create a striking juxtaposition. Oh and the colour! What a feast for the eyes. The piece will debut on September 15, 2011 as the festival opens. Hoping to post some photos of the real thing when it appears. Anyone fancy a trip to London to see a room of spectacular colour?

(via designboom; photographs via kvadrat)

I love seeing how companies advertise their paint hues. In addition to traditional (and still awesome) paint chip cards, there are so many creative directions to go in. Simple yet inspiring, these photographs from Serena and Lily showcase the available paint colours with plenty of glossy dimension and clean little captions. Hoping one of these days, I can get my hands on a paint company colour project!

(photographs via serena and lily summer 2011 catalog which was spotted on the goods design)

Yet another clever idea dreamed up by Martha Stewart Living. After finishing a paint job in your home, take the wooden stirrer used to mix the paint, leave it to dry and then write the paint name and number on the end. Bundle the sticks with some twine and there you have it – your home’s palette! While definitely functional for future trips to the paint store, I also love this idea from a more design perspective. It creates a personal palette of your home or space – perfect for hanging on a wall as art or keeping as a reminder of your interior design prowess and home memories should you move. I would love to see these bundles of swatches over a lifetime. Imagine the colours selections of different eras! Oh Martha, you really do think of “good things“.

(image via martha stewart living, may 2011)