Poised to Move: March 2010

April Newsletter

Welcome to the April Poised to Move newsletter/blog and I hope as you read this you're enjoying some good spring weather. To start on a celebratory note, I was pleased to hear from Amy Cook who writes a really informative blog for Graphic Designers who has put together a list of the Top 100 Interior Design Blogs and I'm thrilled to say she's included Poised to Move's newsletter/blog at Number 30. Check out all the other great Interior Design blogs that she lists at:

http://graphicdesigndegrees.org/top-100-interior-design-blogs/

Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Milan

April is a bumper month in the design world with the jewel in the crown being the Salone Internazionale del Mobile where the city is quite literally taken over by design: it's where the very best of the world designers launch new design pieces along with some wacky prototypes. Check out these pictures of a few of the amazing exhibits

Sony Bravia showed a prototype of their Monolithic TV and media centre.

I love this magnificent Baboom light from lighting genius Ingo Maurer

Can you believe this side table called Balancing Boxes?

Swarovski Crystal Palace 2010

As you may have seen from my past blogs I love lighting and a highlight is always the annual Swarovski Crystal Palace. Launched at the Salone here are the magical beauties on offer this year.

Enchanted Palace, Kensington Palace, London

A couple of London-based exhibitions have caught my eye this month. The first is the Enchanted Palace exhibition at Kensington Palace, formally the home of no less than seven Princesses.

At the heart of the Enchanted Palace journey the lives of the seven princesses who once lived at the Palace have been re-imagined and visitors are guided by an enchanted map to find clues that reveal the identity of the elusive royal residents. Contemporary fashion sits alongside the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection with installations created by Vivienne Westwood, William Tempest, Stephen Jones, Boudicca, Aminaka Wilmont and Echo Morgan.

Grace Kelly, Victoria and Albert Museum

The other must-see exhibition for me is the Grace Kelly exhibition at the V & A.

It runs from this month until September and if you're a fan of the glorious Grace (as I am) you'll be excited to see over 50 of her outfits together with hats, jewellery and the original Hermes Kelly bag.

Grand Designs Live

An exhibition coming up next month is Grand Designs Live. I have to admit that I'm sometimes disappointed by the calibre of exhibitors at some of the interiors and home shows but Grand Designs does seem to go from strength to strength year on year.

As well as top exhibitors there are live demonstrations, high quality seminars and chances to consult experts of all types. If you visit the Grand Designs Live website and click to subscribe to their newsletters you'll receive a newsletter that gives a promotional code that gives a discount on the ticket price. Here's the url: http://www.granddesignslive.com/

R.I.M Tiles

http://www.rimdesign.co.uk

On a recent visit to the Design Centre Chelsea I went into R.I.M., a supplier of exclusive tiles. Their tiles are far more Haut Couture than High Street and I thought you'd enjoy a few images of some of their gorgeous tiles. For starters just look at the showroom!

Chocolate and Leather-look tiles!

And how about this Fornasetti portrait or a mixed mosaic?

I predict we'll be seeing more of these individual styles in our bathrooms but due to some of their price tags maybe just as decorative panels!

Hot Tip for Bargain Tiles

If you love Bisazza's brilliantly coloured glass mosaics but are put off by their high price per metre here's an insider tip. Search out tiles from an Italian company called Trend. Apparently Trend has been set up by a Bisazza brother and are made in the same way, same factory conditions but are about two thirds of the price of Bisazza. In the UK you can find both marques at http://www.giant.co.uk where you'll find a square metre of black glass Bisazza tiles

for £170 yet the identical tile from Trend is only £120 per square metre. Worth noting and passing onto anyone you know who's contemplating a new look for their bathroom.

Carpet Furniture

To end this month's blog here's this month different design. Madly brilliant it's Carpet Furniture.

Created by Shin Yamashita a student at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Land Peel is a foam floor covering which also has panels that flip up and fold, to become any sort of furniture you might need: From a table, to a backrest, to a drink tray, to a footrest, to a pillow:In addition, there's a plug for a custom-fitted lamp, which also serves as a table leg, when extended.