Design: Grand Designs Live

Grand Designs Live returns to London next week showcasing cutting-edge design products and innovation for the home.

This year’s show includes the 'GRAND Village’ where visitors will be able to experience first hand the very latest sustainable build techniques and technology through a series of conceptual, eco-friendly and sustainable structures.

Celebrity speakers such as Kevin McCloud, George Clarke and Oliver Heath are on hand to give advice to home owners in the seminar theatre, and free expert advice is available from architects, planners and engineers to help with your own Grand Design project.

Grand Designs Live takes place 1^st-9^th May 2010 at Excel, London. Book your tickets here!

Carly Gordon

Design: Leblas Eco Jewellery

Leblas' full collection of jewellery, no matter how delicate the design, are destined to be statement pieces because they showcase such impeccable artistry.With inspiration deeply set in designer, Arabel Lebrusan's Spanish heritage, Leblas offers time-tested, beautifully constructed pieces that showcase Filigree (delicate twisted threads of silver and/or gold), Damascene (interlacing gold on steel or other metals- a trademark design of Toledo, Spain for centuries), and handmade Gold Sequin Chains.  Each piece is crafted with sustainable practices, that are culturally, socially and environmentally responsible.

Lebla's collection of engagement and wedding rings are the perfect way to share your love with that special someone in your life. Constructed ethically and socially conscious, these rings are made with love in mind from the start. The beautiful conflict-free diamonds, and recycled platinum, and precious white and yellow golds are the ideal way to start a beautiful new life together.

Starting this April 2010, Leblas is teaming up with Urth. Urth, also committed to ethical practices and sustainability, will bring in more delicate patterns of the Leblas signature filigree, adorned with enameled candyfloss pastels for this Spring season. The soft colours added to the metal craftsmanship will range from spearmint to soft lilac. If you are in London, visit Leblas on 149 Sloan Street to support ethical jewellery and an inspiring sustainable business, or shop online: HERE.

Tyler January

Design: Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studios’ new ‘Organic’ Jewellery collection

Inspired by the organic forms found in nature, the new ‘Organic’ jewellery collection by Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studios’ sees vintage biscuit tins, reclaimed brass and beaten aluminium transformed into stylish necklaces and earrings.  All take on natural shapes and earthy colours inspired by flowers, leaves, pods, seeds and feathers; the perfect finishing touch to a bohemian summer dress.

Kate’s innovative use of materials does not stop at the jewellery, all the pieces are beautifully packaged using recycled materials, making them an ideal gift for a friend, or a delightful treat for yourself!

To find your nearest stockist and to discover the full range, check out the website here.

Carly Gordon

Art & Culture: Creatives in Residence at The Hospital Club

Nestled in the heart of London, amidst the bustling Covent Garden, stands The Hospital Club. Comprising five floors, complete with stunning bar, elegant restaurant and spacious screening room, here is the ideal surrounding to get the creative juices flowing. At the beginning of this month the club hosted its The Creatives in Residence programme which announced their shortlist of newcomers, as well as welcoming artists from all corners of the artistic spectrum.

This particular evening made use of two full floors which enabled each contender to demonstrate their talent within their own unique space. Now in its second year, The Creatives in Residence offers the opportunity of guidance for young, upcoming artists to get a name for themselves and a chance to showcase their work. Amongst those involved are film makers, musicians and singers, visual artists, performers and some stunning fashion designers.

Amongst the nights shortlisted that stood out was fashion designer Dean Quinn, whose futuristic dresses won the judges approval. The small selection on show to the public featured three carefully executed form fitting, body-con dresses embellished with bejewelled shoulders. Already having achieved the prestigious Woman’s Wear Designer of the Year Award and having also been featured in the V&A Fashion in Motion exhibition, he is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Another fellow designer in the running was Ada Zanditon who makes use of organic and sustainably sourced fabrics . Ada also runs her company to a strict eco friendly aesthetic, from the relationships she builds up with workers and suppliers down to the light bulbs that she uses. Using environmentally friendly, non-carcinogenic dyes she creates bright and youthful looks for a fashion forward market.

A comprehensive list of all of this years residents as well as more information on those shortlisted can be found on The Hospital Club website.

Poppy Sakulku

Design: Nendo’s interior design project ‘MD.net Clinic AKASAKA’, a new mental health clinic

Japanese design team Nendo have completed the interior design for a mental health clinic in Akasaka, Tokyo. Rather ironically the design elements of the interior are not what they seem…

Nendo explains the design intentions behind the project:

"The clinic specializes in total mental health care: in addition to standard consultations with a psychiatrist, it offers such services as corporate consulting and support for patients returning to the workplace. Rather than getting patients back to a 'zero', a neutral starting place, the traditional model for mental health care, the clinic aims to provide patients with something extra: a further richness in their daily lives that they did not have before starting treatment.

The interior design is an attempt to express this philosophy in space.

The 'doors' that line the walls of the clinic do not open, and 'ordinary' parts of the walls open up into new spaces. The consultation rooms are entered by sliding the bookshelves sideways. The door at the end of the hallway opens onto a window; the amount of light in the hallway is controlled by opening and closing the door.

By providing alternate perspectives for viewing the world, and avoiding being trapped by pre-existing perceptions, the interior allows visitors--and staff members--to experience opening new doors in their hearts, one after the other."

Neil Batho

Design: The Surface Design Show

The Surface Design Show is an opportunity for interior designers, architects and design enthusiasts to discover the latest innovations in interior and exterior surface design. An abundance of exhibitors showcase creative and inspiring solutions for your home, including flooring, roofing, paints and wall coverings.

This year’s show also holds a series of informative seminars based on sustainability, covering the environmental performance of materials and the latest trends in eco technology.

The show runs from the 16^th-18^th February @ the Business Design Centre, London. Register now for free entry here!

Carly Gordon

Design: Hiho Eco Packaging

The UK produces around 10 million tonnes of packaging waste every year, most of which is disposed of in landfill sites across the country. It has never been more important for companies to rethink the strategies they adopt to reduce their impact on the environment.

Hiho, a jewellery and home wares company have taken this next step by redesigning their packaging.  All gift bags and jewellery boxes are now entirely biodegradable, even the bag handles are made from untreated cotton. The packaging designs are funky and bold, coming in a range of striking purples, pinks and turquoises all decorated with quirky illustrations.

Andrew Randsford, Managing Director at Hiho says, “We’re delighted with the new packaging and as far as we know we are the only multiple jeweller in the country with fully recyclable packaging. I think it provides the perfect solution for keeping both our customers and the planet happy.”

Hiho prove that eco packaging doesn’t have to be boring with their bright and stylish designs. Let's hope other companies take their lead and follow suit!

Carly Gordon