Week (can anyone tell us?) of 52

Excuses and Name Dropping As if trapped in some bizarre television world we seem to have been on fast forward recently and find ourselves ...

Excuses and Name Dropping

As if trapped in some bizarre television world we seem to have been on fast forward recently and find ourselves looking at a somewhat neglected blog. In our defence we've been super busy and have been away on a sourcing road trip.

When we last left you we'd been gathering ideas/concepts for the next portfolio project; rest assured that's very much in progress and as a kind of teaser and further proof, if proof were needed, that we're unhealthily (at least in financial terms) addicted to all good things in design we'll just mention that we've taken delivery of items from Tom Raffield, Moooi and Buster & Punch.

These are the pictures you're looking for

With a title acknowledging that this was written whilst Star Wars A New Hope was on we were taking a peek at a recently recommended site; Decorative Collectivewhen, as sometimes happen, the gods of interior design and luck had a get together and chose us.

A Little Light Reading? Wonderful images with a great muted palette

Art is very much the unspoken hero of interior design; it's typically not given that much attention with many designers preferring to discuss the latest F&B colour, the right shade of Designer's Guild nabucco or how much border between rug and wall. We believe, however, that it's a very important part of any scheme. It can be a very powerful "tool" when used correctly; not just in the palette or themes but the frames themselves, the order in which they're arranged and correct lighting - all punch way above their weight and can be a defining difference between an ok and a great scheme.

We've been looking for just the right image(s) to accompany our recently arrived super large canvas of one of Audubon's  famous Birds of America works when a 1940s Danish printmakers offered just the right solution:

Original 1940's lithographs - 70cm x 50cm - just the thing...

Salone del Mobile.Milano

Just in case you've somehow missed it this year's Italian feast of all that's great and good in design will be coming to a close today (this was written on Sunday 17th). We will go, one day, but freely admit we do struggle with some of the content.

And here we see how the designer has captured the fractured relationship between those that have and those who have not. Hewn from solid rock that is itself a metaphor for the aeon long tension between the positive and negative of those attributes through which we simultaneously define and experience our civilisation

It's hard not to draw the parallels between the world of high design as presented here with that of haute couture where the key is to view them as conceptually focused. Does anyone really spend 100k on a deconstructed centipede rendered as a 24th century sideboard in marble, titanium and gold composite?

No post processing applied here; It didn't need it! A moment in that designer's head to understand how you come up with an interior that combines plaster panels in distressed primary colours, cobalt blue floor and walls, 2 "Blackamoors" and a modern interpretation of the "comfy sofa"

Perhaps our relative "youth" in this circle is betrayed by our somewhat cynical approach and inability to forgive ugly and see beyond that to the deeper commentary on the meaning of life... Then again maybe we're just British and don't have the Italianate emotion gland.

Interior Evolution

We got involved in an interesting "virtual" discussion recently. A question had been posed by someone moving into a house that had been pretty much untouched since the late 60's, early 70's.

The question was whether any "features" should be retained on the basis that they may, in time, become deeply "cool" or if not that at lease considered the interior design ironic statement du-jour.

The overwhelming response was that there was nothing good with examples largely centering on orange swirl carpets, serving hatches and "me to" type housing estates. Is this really true though?

Every design age has made a contribution, good design is good design and has a habit of transcending the age in which it was initially created (the almost daily re-issue of design classics is testament to this fact).

Taking the good and putting it together - good interior design need not discriminate against certain ages...

What we do need to acknowledge is that good design, design that does have that ability to transcend is rare. To reduce the entire design output of two decades to bad carpet and a pre-cursor to open plan kitchen/diners is at best disingenuous.

Good interiors, even great interiors are frequently the result of taking the best in design, craftsmanship, technique and combining them to create a cohesive, functional space. If those "best ofs" come from today, tomorrow, yesterday, 30 years ago or 1000BC it doesn't matter.

Zaha Hadid October 31st 1950 - March 31st 2016

The sad passing of yet another creative, and one this time very close to our hearts, has highlighted the rather unfortunate toll that 2016 seems to be taking.

We've read some interesting opinion pieces on her work and her contribution to architecture in general and whilst the inevitable stereotype of the thick rimmed spectacle, turtle neck wearing architect community has been pretty much unanimous in their respect, understanding and grief for her passing the real news is what "the street" has to say.

Look at it, just look at it. It couldn't be anything other than a Zaha Hadid building

Whilst her approach to architecture may not have been for everybody it's hard to deny that her buildings are unique and that her signature is written as clearly in their organic forms as if written in red paint on their walls.

She demonstrated an obvious talent for statement architecture and combined form and function in a way that it's difficult to think of another architect with which to compare her.

A floating shelf that's the perfect antidote to those tiring of the waney edged board stereotype

It would also be remiss to not mention her foray's into other aspects of design - a particular favourite of ours being the Dune Shelf series - perhaps the purest evocation of the floating shelf?

Read more about Zaha here and at her official site here

The week's month's obsession - The Chair

More than merely a place to sit; the right chair is many things and we're guilty of spending entirely too long looking at them. With a challenge to find the "right" accompaniment for a couple of Timothy Oulton pieces both of which have a very strong identity we're being drawn to the clean simplicity of upholstered bentwood chairs from the "on trend" mid-century. There's a hope that by reducing the complexity of the form but introducing pattern, colour and texture in the upholstery we can get the right balance...

Simple Seating Solution

Week What of What? You What? I mean, pardon?

These posts give us a chance to recap on the last week at Bokoshoko and give you a glimpse of what's happening. Many of our projects take time to come to fruition or our customers would prefer we did not share so these posts also show we're not just sitting around!