IDS finds

Well, it's one week later and I'm finally editing down my faves from the IDS. There was so much to see except, errr, I was kind of busy, so I literally begged off an hour on the last day of the show to run around and catch what I could. So, here's a few designs that really caught my eye, and yes, before anyone says anything, I totally realize I have a bit of a thing for lamps...

From the top: Mahabali welcome mats in natural coir by Cristina Covello. Intensely coloured turned wood lamps and mortar and pestles by Tahir Mahmood. Handmade silver on brass Egyptian pendant lights available at Snob. The Clown light, part of Jaime Hayon's hook up with Lladro (lawdy it's a stunner).

Dark and disconnected

Our hi-speed internet was down for a couple of days this week, and let me tell you dial-up just wasn't doing it for me. So yep, I was feeling a little disconnected, though no less crazy busy - Over the last couple of days I returned all the last bits of pieces from the IDS (had to drive a truck, blergh), worked on a couple of Trendwatches for House & Home, and shot a webinar for a fun upcoming project with Erica Ehm of YummyMummyClub and author Kathy Buckworth. I am so in need of a bit of rest and relaxation...

On the dark side of things, as in colour, I wanted to share a few snaps of my 700 sq ft IDS space - the Ultimate his and her's bathroom - shot by Stefano Barbera. I was asked "Why black?" a fair bit about my colour choices and well, don't you think we've seen enough white bathrooms? The first two shots show the more feminine side of things (yep, that's one of the vintage dressers I'd scored at the Sally Ann and had re-finished), then there's the black wood panelled men's side, and finally that standout polished steel chest from Kravet in the chillout space that connected the two bathrooms.

Having a flutter

Okay, I've been slightly awol due to the IDS 10 and the mega workload involved, let alone spending every day in the space too. One of the massive hits of my Ultimate space was definitely Bev Hisey's wool felt Butterfly Chairs. In fact, if I was giving out awards, her ultra-comfortable two-seaters (plus that cute wee ottoman) would definitely win 'Most Sat Upon' at the show. They were irresistible and quite a few people refused to move, lol. Check out the lovely shots below by Donna Griffith and imagine yourself sinking into them... And, because Bev is a creative genius/workaholic, she also contributed a carpet to Radiant Dark, the fab show organized by the cool folks at Made. Since I was kind of stuck at the IDS I didn't make it down, so to get more info - and to check out pics - head over and read what Kitka Design had to say about it.

5 quick questions: Jason MacIsaac

Stepping into Jason MacIsaac’s store Ministry of the Interior honestly gives me the urge to start shoplifting, mainly because I want just about everything. Though really, how do you hide a dining table under your coat? Apart from filling his shop with brilliant stuff, his design of Soft Citizen’s workspace recently popped up in v. cool Frame magazine. Oh, and did I mention, he’s also in on the IDS with possibly the most unusual of all of the Ultimate spaces (which involves lots of wood and some very precise calculations).

Here are Jason’s 5 quick questions, along with a few snaps that show the interior of MOTI, papier-mâché pieces by Debbie Wijskamp, the Oscar sofa by Matthew Hilton at SCP and one of the Raphael Garnier wallpaper’s from Tres Tintas (available at MOTI).

Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?

Jason MacIsaac: I'm always on the lookout for new stuff for MInistry of the Interior, so I constantly see new stuff I'm inspired by.... Nos Das blankets from SCP, Vivenne Westwood wallpaper from Cole & Son, Michael Johansson's artwork, Debbie Wijskamp's paper mache series of furniture.

AW: Is there anything that can drive you crazy when you walk into a space?

JM: Dated wood tones and obvious knock-off furniture.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eyes on for your own house?

JM: We desperately need a new sofa so I've placed an order for the Oscar sofa from SCP.  We also need a new stereo so I'm getting the walnut stereo system from Geneva, and I've promised my wife to wallpaper our bedroom for a while now, so I'm planning on using a new wallpaper from the collection by Raphael Garnier for Tres Tintas.

AW: How would you describe your style, and has it changed over the years?

JM: Freshness, colour, conceptual - I think my look is constantly changing and hopefully evolving.

AW: What's next on the horizon?

JM: I'm repurposing parts of my IDS Ultimate space for a film production company's offices in New York and have a few great residential projects.

IDS10: The storm before the storm

Nope, that title isn't a typo. While that single snap below doesn't give too much away (and makes it all look rather calm), things have been a little on the crazy side as the clock ticks down to the IDS10 Gala opening. Today all the Graham & Brown wallpaper made it up (after a slight meltdown on my part since we were trying to avoid mudding the seams between the plywood wall panels - and yes, of course we couldn't avoid it), all the Kohler fixtures were set in place and all the furniture and accessories were loaded in (thanks for the hand Meg!) and everything was covered in drop cloths to avoid a mammoth dust job early tomorrow. Ah yes, and talking of tomorrow there is still a ton of spit and polish before the space is done. Maybe cloning actually works? I'll have to look into it...