Rattan Radio

Don’t you just love a contradiction of materials? Take the Hybrid Radio designed by Mathieu Lehanneur for Lexon for example, who would have ever thought that rattan could look so modern, sleek and sexy?!

Launched at Maison&Objet trade fair 2014 in late january, this radio is the unusual combination of plastic and woven rattan, a detail used by the designer to reference ancient crafts and the latest technology. Can the two coexist in this modern world? If this is the result, I think the answer is a resounding YES!!!

The radio is available in two versions, AM / FM Radio or DAB+/FM radio and also features bluetooth connectivity which allows you to play your music wirelessly. The radio can be powered by AA batteries making it portable and is available in your colour choice of white or graphite.

Light + Ladder

Ahh Farrah Sit, she has done it again!

You might already be familiar with her original Spora Hanging Porcelain Planters which we featured a while back, they are still one of the most popular items we have ever featured! Well here is a little something new from Farrah, the Hex Spora Planters. LOVE THEM!

In characteristic style they are a beautiful minimal design which combines a miniature ceramic cup with a hexagonal wooden base. The set works best in multiples which allows you to join, move and constantly change the configuration of this feature. And the design is not just for plants, use it as a orgainser to store paper clips and pins in the office, salt, pepper and spices on the dinner table or jewellery in the bed room!

Each set of ceramic bowl and maple wood base retails for $32.00 and is available through Farrah’s new online store Light + Ladder.

Elevated Vase

The Elevated Vase is an elegant, minimal design by Thomas Benzen for Muuto. It is example of how graceful modern Nordic design is, and why I am so blissfully in love with it!

Aren’t these vases just so gorgeous? This two-part vase is a combination of a wooden base made from solid Ash, topped with blown glass in your choice of grey, rose or green. This design is so beautiful that I think even without the addition of flowers, it has a gem like quality which allows it to hold its own as an object.

Find your local stockist through the Muuto website.

THOMAS BENZEN ON THE DESIGN “The Elevated vase is about doing something exceptional for flowers. The wooden bowl holding the glass vase elevates the flowers, almost ritually, and frames them in a new Nordic poetic way. The materials are inspired by the flowers and branches I would put in the vase. The wood represent the roots in the soil and the glass the airy treetop, as it stands in nature. All together, creating a vase that combines a solid and rooted base with a light and divine top.”

The Dharma Door

The final company we would love to put a spotlight on from Life Instyle is the fabulous The Dharma Door.

They are wholesalers of an impressive range of fair trade and sustainable homewares from many developing countries. The range includes jute baskets and cushions through to bamboo bowls and bone in-lay mirrors. All items are hand-made by artisans to the highest quality and The Dharma Door’s practices to ensure better trading conditions for their producers, has earned them the Ethical Award at the Gift and Lifeinstyle Awards – GALA Awards.

I am completely smitten with the new woven tapestries that you can see in these pics from the trade fair, DIVINE!

Love them as much as me? Check out their Stockist list for your closest retail store.

Bright Aura

It is easy to find awesome single bed linen for toddlers…even tweens, but finding something for a more mature teen can be a bit of a challenge.

This is why I love, love, love that Aura by Tracie Ellis has released a single bed version of their amazing quilts. Chevron, stripes, dots, triangles and crosses in the hottest colour combos of the moment. Made from pure cotton sateen with a 360 thread count this range of bed linen is pure quality at an affordable price.

My personal fave from the collection is the charcoal cross quilt with the orange piping, what a hot colour combination that is! You can also purchase matching pillows, throws and rugs so check out the Aura website to see more of this great range.

Bamboo design

Continuing the Life Instyle assault on cuteness is The Macaron Family by The Bamboo Design.

How could you not love these guys?! The Macaron Family is a set of three bright, cheery characters that are also very useful.

Ted is a small square design perfect for holding toilet rolls or small tissue boxes, the paper feeds out of his mouth as required. Aroma is similar to Ted, but is designed to hold an air diffuser and has a hole at the top to allow the reeds to stick out like a spikey hair do (Um, ADORABLE!!) and Joy, the largest of the family, is built to hold a standard tissue box or paper towel. HOW CUTE ARE THEY!!!

Each design is created from MDF wood which is sealed with a high quality paint finish in your choice of 5 colour combinations. Prices range from only $49.95 – $59.95 each! Bargain!