Two unrelated but equally fantastic objects of desire caught my eye today: Timber Serving Platters by Treehorn Design (love the colour trim and hole interiors) and Geo Rings by A Merry Mishap (love the handcrafted geometric shapes). Perhaps the two can mingle in a rather chic cooking session?

(photographs via the design files and a merry mishap)

With the rise of big box stores and discount e-commerce, brick and mortar shops feel more important than ever. Their design details and community building potential are vital to the uniqueness of cities. To me, the soul of a place is found walking down its streets but what happens if every street looks exactly the same? Even if chain stores are an inevitable addition to a neighbourhood, there is no excuse for cookie cutter design. Just look at that great Starbucks above! Any shop can be engaging and full of great design. In my latest post for Rena Tom, I dissect some great brick and mortar shops that have caught my eye lately and serve as inspiration for physical storefronts, unique online spaces and temporary retail. Pop over here to have a look…

(photographs via love camden, michael penney style, blank inside, nico alary, weekday carnival, dezeen and the design files)

HOT+TEA, also known as Eric Rieger, is an American street artist who uses vibrant yarn as his medium of choice. I love so many of his installations including this marvelous piece called Lost+Found. HOT+TEA spotted a vacant Minneapolis tennis court with no net for the locals to use (a lost space). He decided to create a net using nothing but neon yarn so the court could be returned to its original purpose (found). I love how it mixes vibrant art with something that enhances a community and brings people together…

(photographs via / screencaps created from a video on unurth )  

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada, a holiday saturated in warm autumnal hues. I have always loved this photograph by Chris Glass featuring maple leaves gathered from the same tree, arranged in spectrum order and matched with Pantone swatches. The changing leaves of autumn are one of the best palettes in nature…

(photograph via chris glass)   

I love this typographic chess set by hat-trick design‘s Jim Sutherland based on characters from the Hoefler & Frere-Jones typeface Champion. Laser-cut acrylic letters and a greyboard foiled in black – what a handsome piece of design. I can only hope there will be a new trend of interpreting board games in beautiful, modern ways…

(spotted on creative review; set purchase info here)   

I love a pop of colour among neutrals and bright laces are a surefire way to inject vibrant detail into fashion. I love these Stolen Riches laces and their gold/silver aglets. The Canadian company has been making high quality laces for four generations and showcase how 100 years of craftmanship can mix with high fashion. Menswear could particularly benefit from a jolt in the colour department and I would love to see a suit with a colourful pocket square/shoelace combo. A pop of colour can truly make an outfit…

(photographs via stolen riches, union, pinstripe mag & union)    

Created by South African artist Marco Cianfanelli, “Release” is a gorgeous monument to a true icon of peace: Nelson Mandela. To mark the 50th anniversary of Mandela’s capture by apartheid police in 1962, Cianfanelli created 50 columns of painted laser-cut steel in the South African town of Howick. Intriguing shapes up close, the pieces create a striking profile of Nelson from afar. Cianfanelli says, “the 50 columns represent the 50 years since his capture, but they also suggest the idea of many making the whole; of solidarity. It points to an irony as the political act of Mandela’s incarceration cemented his status as an icon of struggle, which helped ferment the groundswell of resistance, solidarity and uprising, bringing about political change and democracy.” Such a powerful and beautiful piece of work…

(photographs via designboom)  

To me, styling has two roles: it supports and enhances how a product is viewed and it presents a larger sense of the maker or brand’s soul. It’s a huge topic but in my latest post for Rena Tom, I explored areas of styling including unique backgrounds, detail stacks, showcasing colour palettes, monochromatic styling, vignettes and artful approaches. Your product or collection may be fantastic but if it is not presented well, potential customers will never know. Plus, styling is a pretty inspiring facet of photography and design. Take a peek here if you fancy a read…

(photographs via maria grossmann, natalie shriver, herriott grace, scandinavian deko, falconwright, dezeen, daniel carlsten, yatzer and michelle armas)

Two handsome home objects caught my eye today and both feature streamlined white with pops of colour. The first is the Excel Perch by Rich Brilliant Willing, an unconventional five-leg piece on which to hang your coat or perch upon. The second, Sugarchain Light by Kirstin Overbeck, whimsically nods at candy necklaces with a pendant cord of painted wooden beads. Both would be welcome additions to a joyful studio space or home…

(photographs via rich brilliant willing & kirstin overbeck)  

Stunning autumnal hues with a dash of pink is how I would describe these gorgeous spices for sale in the Souks of Marrakech captured by British photographer Shoreham Boy. I am mesmerized by how full of life neutrals become when mixed with a couple vibrant hues. From Holi powder to piles of spice, exotic markets always seem to have the best colour palettes…

(photograph via shoreham boy)  

Gold, both as a colour and material, elicits strong opinions in people. Some love it, some hate it and some get 80′s lamé flashbacks. My opinion about gold has changed quite a bit over the last year or so. Why? I think it’s the new, more silver hue of gold that has emerged. I love its vintage, less yellow look and how designers have used this metallic in fabulous patterns, with unique materials like concrete and in matte finishes. I’ve dubbed it “modern gold” and ponder it in my latest post for Rena Tom and yes, as usual, went a little nuts with the example photos! Below is a great chart showcasing how the colour of gold shifts according to how much copper and silver is added. Have you re-thought your position on gold? Take a peek at my post here…

(photographs via anthropologie, dezeen, ferm living, bench.li, a daily something, houzz, mowielicious, konfetti blog, martha stewart and best awards; chart via wikipedia)

It’s no secret that I love perforated surfaces (particularly when light pours through the tiny holes in rather dreamy ways). In her photography series Daré alla Lucé, Canadian artist Amy Friend allows new light to pass through found vintage images by altering the surface with tiny pinholes. I am in love with the ethereal results and how a real sense of magic seems to infuse these images of years gone by…

(photographs via amy friend)

I posted about brilliant modern embroidery talent Karen Barbé last year and after yet another visit to her inspiring site, spied this image of embroidery thread spools. I fell in love with the palette created and decided they felt like colours of the 1960′s made fresh. I can almost see some fabulous Mad Men scene starting…

(photograph via karen barbe)   

I seem to be finding more uses lately for trays and these Kaleido Trays by Hay are pitch perfect. Powder coated steel crafted into hexagonal-shaped handsomeness, I love the fresh yet unexpected colour palette. Available in many size and hue options, the tray shapes were created to fit into each other for easy storage and unique tangram arrangements. I think I can find a use for one or seven of them…

(photographs via nordicthink and tas-ka)   

Last year, I posted about designer Konstantin Datz’s gorgeous braille rubik’s cube and it remains one of my favourite pieces of thought-provoking design. I came across Konstantin’s folded paper typeface this morning and fell in love with the sharp angles. Featured on the cover of Web Designer magazine, there is a real modern paper craft meets origami feel…

(images via konstantin datz)  

I’ve always found open and closed signs are ignored elements of retail design. But why? Even on a wee sign, there is so much potential to create brand beacons, points of design interest and small but mighty information centres. In my latest post for Rena Tom, I showcased some inspiring examples (it took a ridiculous image hunt!) and explored ideas such as 3D materials, modern type and unique surfaces. Let’s hope this is the next big retail design trend! Take a look at my post here…

(photographs via snap713, the design files, emma carlow, sunshine to you, elle decoration, portland garment factory, rebecca plotnick and bonjour johanna)