The Plywood Nest

So I've decided that in my next life I want to come back as a Japanese architect. Seriously, are they not the coolest people on the planet? In 2010 I travelled to Japan for the first time and completely fell in love with everything about it - the food (green tea ice cream, don't even get me started), the people (the sweetest you will ever meet), the game shows (OMG - amazing!), but mostly, the design. So simple and beautiful, yet so incredibly unique. Ichiro-iro is the perfect example of this.

Ichiro-iro is a series of furniture designed by Torafu Architects, for the decorative plywood maker Ichiro. Ichiro creates
in-house blends for the paints used in its polyester plywood, demonstrating a consistent dedication to supplying the right colour that involves a willingness to custom-tint even single sheets.



The concept for the Ichiro-iro series is that of 'tools for the real you' – 'iro' being the Esperanto word for 'tool'. The first items in the series are the koloro-desk and koloro-stool. 'Koloro' is also an Esperanto word, meaning colour, and the koloro pieces have been designed to make optimum use of the vibrant polyester decorative plywood at which Ichiro excels.

First launched as prototypes in yellow and sky blue, new colours including white, pink, khaki, and navy have been added to make a total of six colours available. The stool now comes in 4 colours including grey, dark grey, light-blue and green. The magnets allow for smooth opening and closing of the windows, and the small doors on both the left and right have been adjusted to be used as shelves. 

Torafu Architects describe the koloro-desk as a "place to 'nest' at ease".  It has windows at various locations, opening to give a more open, accessible feel and when closed creates a small private room, free from disturbance. Lighting and potted plants can be added, and there are windows for displaying the occasional ornament, hooks for bags, and a cord manager allowing computer use. 

The koloro-stool comes complete with storage capacity. Designed to complement the koloro-desk, the stool is shaped like a vaulting horse, and under the soft cushioned seat is a box for storing toys and other small miscellaneous items.



All the above Ichiro-iro photographs were taken by Akihiro Ito & styled by Fumiko Sakuhara. Images via Torafu Architects

I am already dreaming up a wish list of items that I would like to place in my Koloro desk (when I finally have the chance to buy one). I'm not sure that it's quite enough room for a work desk, so instead I thought it might make a nice telephone desk.  A beautiful little nook to sit at and chat with friends, while scribbling away in notebooks or flicking through the latest design magazines. Here are a few objects that I think would work quite nicely...

My Wish List:

1. The Koloro desk - with so many great colours to choose from I had to go with my favourite colour, yellow.
2. The Mod Collective's stunning ceramics.
3. A collection of design magazines.
4. A vintage Ericofon - seriously the coolest phone ever invented.
5. A Float Light by Benjamin Hubert, from Great Dane Furniture.
6. A framed hand woven artwork by Significant Others.
7. Wooli bespoke yarn and knitting needles by Nikki Gabriel. I like to think I can knit and speak on the phone at the same time...perhaps that's a little too ambitious.
8. A leather bound notebook for drawing quirky little characters and keeping track of ideas.

What would you fill your Koloro Desk with?

Ordinary Accidents

So last week I had a little mishap. In my usual mad morning rush I clumsily slipped on a wet step and flew through the air landing firmly on my wrist. The instant my wrist hit the ground I knew it was broken, and a trip to the emergency room quickly confirmed that. A few hours later I had a plaster cast on my arm and was told that I’d need to wear it for the next 6 weeks. What joy! Luckily it’s my left arm so typing and writing is still quite easy...using a knife and fork at the dinner table, tying my shoe laces and getting dressed on the other hand, hilariously difficult. I feel like a kid again.

I came across this editorial from Grey Magazine # 6 and felt it was quite fitting for this post. Fainting spells, trips and spills have never looked so stylish! If only there was a part 2, accessorising your plaster cast. Now that might come in handy.

Hannah Noble, Anna Millonig & Agne petkute photographed by Alessio Bolzoni & styled by Moreno Galata for Grey Magazine # 6, Spring/Summer 2012. Via Real life is Everywhere.

Russell & George

There are a few things you should know about Ryan Russell and Byron George, the creative duo behind Melbourne's award winning design studio Russell & George.

1. They are responsible for some of Australia's most breathtaking retail and hospitality interiors. This includes an award winning series of Aesop and Crumpler stores, as well as Melbourne restaurants Huxtable, St Jude's Cellars, Boire 

& Earl Canteen.

Aesop Doncaster. Photographs by Dianna Snape via Russell & George.

Aesop Perth. Photographs by Diana Snape via Russell & George.

2. After working for the bigwigs (Cox, DCM, Woods Baggot & Hassell, to name a few) Byron and Ryan began independent practises using a common studio space. Naturally they began collaborating on projects and on April Fools Day 2010 formally establish their multidisciplinary design studio, Russell & George. Their goal has been to create design solutions that extend thresholds and blur the line between different fields of design practises, as a result their projects have varied from branding and industrial design to set design, architecture and interiors.

Earl Canteen. Photographs by Dianna Snape via Russell & George.

3. They don't believe in trends. While this philosophy has resulted in criticism at times, I feel it's the reason why Russell and George spaces are so intriguing. Each environment tells a unique story and has a distinct personality based on the product it offers. Materials, communication design and colour each playing a vital role in creating these dynamic design solutions.

Huxtable. Photographs by Dianna Snape via Russell & George