Journal Archives - Page 4 of 13

Posted on January 26, 2016January 26, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

See Different: Discovering the Power of Pattern

Today, we introduce you to Patternity. For something a little bit different, we’re looking at patterns. This is one of the first things you learn as a textile designer. A constant source of inspiration is key for your creations. You’re taught to look at things differently and develop a knack for looking beyond the obvious.

Musical instruments with tremendous detail. Sea creatures in sublime splendour. The galaxy with its hypnotic qualities. Look long enough and distinct patterns start to emerge, colours take a different turn and beauty awakens. The unexpected has a way of fuelling our inspiration.

Stumbling on Patternity was like a child finding a treasure box of sweets. Their photo archive is a fantastic source of inspiration. From water, hair to soap bubbles, they show you just how ubiquitous patterns are.

Patternity was founded on the belief that “a shared awareness of pattern has the power to positively shape our world”. Originally known for their extensive online pattern archive, they’ve expanded into research and consultancy and also have a creative studio.

At Moody Monday, one of our core values is seeing hidden beauty and expressing it. We seek out hidden beauty and take out inspiration from unlikely places. So Patternity is a company after our own heart, they align well with our thinking.

Our Secret Music collection was inspired by the internal parts of an abandoned organ. A trip to the beach birthed our ‘Gems on the beach’ silk cushion. Wait till you see our next collection.

Take some time over the next couple of days to look around you for inspiration. You might not want to become a designer but you’ll appreciate your environment just a little better.

All images were sourced from Patternity

Posted on January 21, 2016January 21, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

New year, new look: Accessorize with style

Taking on a renovation project to achieve your dream home may not be feasible right now. But going for a simple makeover may be the perfect practical alternative. If you’re looking for some ideas, here are fool-proof ways to instantly update your home.

Let the photos do the talking

Still have the same old photos on the wall? Unframed or framed, curated photos will instantly create a personalised area you’ll be proud of. Create a gallery wall to display new memories, maybe even those from the Christmas season.

Amp up your furnishings

By all means, inject some colour and texture into your living room with new cushions. Go with interesting designs and patterns to create visual impact.

Add some surprise elements

We often fall into the trap of making our decor too harmonious, there’s no interest. Pick out new unique bar stools or a provocative piece of art that will impress. An unexpected colour on a piece of furniture or vase can also make such a big difference.

Breathe life into furniture

Give your treasured dresser or bedside cabinet a new lease of life. Don’t be afraid to change its colour or fittings. Swapping those wardrobe handles or cabinet knobs for some new shiny ones can be a big game-changer. Good thing is they’re very easy to replace.

These ideas are simple and easy to achieve. What will you do this week to accessorize your home with style?

Image source: Arkpad

Posted on January 19, 2016January 19, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

Snowy mountainside inspires colourful retail store design

Grey skies all around, craving some colourful inspiration is expected at this time of year. The colourful design of this frozen yoghurt store is quite refreshing even for the most neutral design advocate.

The design is clean with its simple white backdrop allowing the colours to shine through. The attention to detail is commendable. Notice the cone-shaped pendant lamps, white swings and seating. Everything about this store design screams playful and delightful.

It’s like taking a mental trip to a “Skittles” version of the mountainside if it existed. The use of beautiful secondary colours creates a high contrast scheme. The abstract trees smartly placed around the store also break up the space into distinct areas. A perfect combination of aesthetic and functional roles.

We’ve had our colour dose for the day. Now what colourful addition will you make to your space this week?

For more colourful inspiration, also check out these luxury hotels with some serious colour.

Story via Contemporist

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

4 Ways to Create a Healthier Kitchen

When it comes to developing a healthier lifestyle, the kitchen is a great place to start. All it takes is a few simple changes to make healthy living a reality. Use these ideas to make 2016 a healthier one at home.

Keep things organised

You’ve decided on the healthy foods worth stocking up. You’ve made a couple of trips to your local grocer or supermarket. Why not give yourself a better chance of including these foods into your cooking schedule? Rescue them from the dark cupboards they’ve been hiding in and bring them to the forefront.

Out of sight is out of mind, they say. Put an end to storage woes and make organisation your priority this year. Invest in great shelving for your food items, dinnerware and even appliances. Open shelves provide a great way to keep them within easy reach. The arrangement also forces you to be organised. That way, you’ll be motivated to eat healthy.

Bring the herbs in

Indoor plants continue to be a trend in 2016. Fresh herbs are a definite must have. Give your favourite herbs and spices a home in your kitchen so you can add them easily to your meals. You can even create your very own sunken counter garden like this one.

Go for a natural clean

First things first, deal with unwanted clutter in your kitchen. Get rid of those expired food containers, unsightly items and unused appliances taking up unnecessary space.

Now give everything a good clean. Kick those unpleasant chemical cleaners and disinfectants out and get some natural products in. A cup of white vinegar in some water is fantastic for a natural, non-toxic clean for kitchen surfaces. Lemon juice, baking soda are also perfect natural cleaning agents.

A simple makeover

Make the kitchen the heart of your home and you’re on the way to healthier living. The happier you are about your kitchen space, the better your eating and cooking choices are likely to be.

Some simple changes can make all the difference. Maybe all your kitchen units are solid but they just need a little TLC. Why not give them a new lick of paint? A new back splash, counter top or wall colour might be all you need to elevate your kitchen’s look. Check out these ideas for great kitchen colour palettes.

What new changes will you make to create a healthier kitchen at home?

Image sources 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Posted on January 13, 2016January 13, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

Inspiring Designer – Marcel Wanders

Marcel Wanders is a product and interior designer known for his bold and stylistic signature style. Some fondly call him the “peacock-like prince of Dutch design”.

We discovered his recent work at The Kameha Grand Zurich and couldn’t wait to share it.

His style has mesmerised the architecture and design community worldwide since he became popular for his Knotted Chair Design in 1996. He is the Art director at one of our favourite design brands, Moooi which he co-founded.

Marcel Wanders has made it his mission to “create an environment of love, live with passion and make our most exciting dreams come true”.

Who are the designers you think have a unique style? Share with us.

Story and images via Dezeen

Posted on January 6, 2016March 1, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

Luxury Watch Store Designed by Patricia Urquoila

Patricia Urquoila’s recent luxury retail store design is a perfect combination of creativity and sophistication. Panerai, the luxury Italian watch brand commissioned her to design its first US flagship store in Miami. Designers really do make the world tick, no pun intended.

The leading Spanish designer and architect has challenged the status quo. By creating an ultra-modern environment with class, she translates the brand’s ethos beautifully. We like the way fashion and design come together.

The luxury store complete with luxurious finishes like gold, marble and bronze has design elements. They cleverly pay an ode to the inner workings of watches. A large wall clock resembles one of the brand’s watch faces. An open stair also mimics the teeth of a gear.

According to Donna Karan, “Design is a constant challenge to balance comfort with luxe, the practical with the desirable”.

We’re inspired by Patricia’s ability to exhibit this approach effortlessly time and time again. Last year, she designed her SHIMMER glass furniture collection which we shared in a previous blog post.

Story and images via Dezeen

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

Christmas Around the World

It’s two sleeps before Christmas Day and we’re all gearing up for the festivities to come. Hopefully, last minute shopping is done, meals have been planned, homes are being prepared, and we’re almost there.

For the last blog post in our Christmas series, we take a look at some Christmas traditions outside the UK. Most cultures have similar traditions but we noticed quite a few differences too. If you’re like us at Moody Monday, you’ll appreciate beauty in diversity. Here they are.

Germany

Christmas starts early with the awaited arrival of Santa Claus, Nikolaus and his assistant Knecht Ruprecht on the night of the 5th of December. Excited children eagerly expect to be surprised with gifts if they’ve been good or bundles of twigs if otherwise.

Although not adhered to by all families, the Christmas tree, German Tannenbaum is traditionally decorated on Christmas Eve. They also hide a pickle in the Christmas tree on that day. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a small gift.

The traditional German Christmas meal usually has goose, or duck, rabbit or perhaps a roast with side dishes like apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage, and potato dumplings.

Estonia

Like most countries, food plays a vital role in Christmas celebrations. The common meals you’ll find round the dinner table include pork, potatoes, blood sausage, sauerkraut and beer. A popular dessert is gingerbread which is usually made together by the family.

Another Christmas tradition is for the President of Estonia to declare Christmas Peace on Christmas Eve and take part in a ceremonial service. Families prepare their homes for the festivities and then head to the sauna for a bath together before leaving for Mass. This is probably one of the most well-known customs.

Venezuela

It has become tradition for the roads to be shut to cars in the capital city, Caracas to allow people to roller skate to Morning Mass from the 16^th to 24^th of December.

Christmas trees are popular but traditionally, nativity scenes are more common. Firework shows are also quite popular at this time of year.

The main Christmas celebration takes place on Christmas Eve when families come together to celebrate with food and music. The traditional Venezuelan Christmas meal consists of delicious dishes like Hallacas (made of flour, beef, or chicken), cornmeal dumplings stuffed with meat.

Santa Claus doesn’t come bearing gifts according to Venezuelan tradition, the child Jesus does.

For more interesting facts, have a look at this detailed infographic by HuffingtonPost

Image source: Joidraper

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Inspiring Designers Part III : Alvin Tjitrowirjo

This week in our inspiring designer series, we pitch our tent in the world of product design. It is unmistakably fundamental to interior design after all.

We recently discovered this gifted product designer, Alvin Tjitrowirjo. He is well known for his mastery of design. Our appreciation for innovative design instantly drew us to his work.

blog1_alvint_coffeetable — Photo: Round Table Bench, © AlvinT 2015

Passionate about preserving and protecting Indonesian culture at its core, his furniture brand AlvinT and design studio, AlvinT Studio skilfully blend cultural elements with contemporary design. We like design which is honest and unexpected and are particularly intrigued by the considered use of natural and industrial materials to create beautiful, high quality furniture pieces which can stand the test of time.

blog2_alvint_table — Photo: Kawong (Coffee Table), © AlvinT 2015

With beautiful ranges of lighting, sofas, chairs and more, spanning three delightful collections, the designs bring a taste of innovation and a real sense of craftsmanship to many a design enthusiast.

blog3_alvint_kawong — Photo: Kawong (Shelves), © AlvinT 2015

Why not visit their website www.alvin-t.com? There’s more brilliant design to see.

blog4_alvint_interior1 — Photo: Colette & Lola Grand Indonesia Shopping Town © AlvinT 2015

For previous blog posts you might have missed on the series, here are part I and part II.

All images sourced from and reproduced with permission from AlvinT.

Posted on December 9, 2015December 10, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Last minute Interior presents for Christmas

We’ve all had our fair share of last minute moments especially with Christmas gifts. It usually starts with us thinking carefully about what our loved ones would like and then spending some time hunting down that perfect present. But with many plans, they don’t always go as smoothly, we might second-guess our decisions or get the feeling that we haven’t quite found ‘the one’.

Many interior gifts offer great design, do not usually follow specific trends and are therefore timeless. So today on the blog, we bring you our favourite Christmas present choices which you can pick up at the last minute and will be sure to be a winner with your loved ones.

Ideal for someone who likes an elegant touch in their home

– Pinched vase, Kelly Hoppen, £120

For the design enthusiast in the family, add some fresh urban style to their sofa

Chinese paper silk cushion, Moody Monday, £132

Know someone with a glam home? they’ll love you for brightening up their space

– Zoffany Cicero table lamp, Amara, £431

Perfect for the friend who doesn’t need an excuse to have a stand out piece

– Wall sculpture, LuxDeco, £240

In stylish vessels, these candles will appeal to anyone who values cosy nights in

– Scent candles, gift set of 3, Heals, £80

This is the perfect present for framing this year’s Christmas memories

– Photograph bookend, Linley, £250

A keen hostess will appreciate some earthy designs in her living room

– Enamel bowl, BoConcept, £109

Hope you’ve been inspired. Let us know about some of your purchases.

Category: Journal