A change in pace this week for our inspiring designers series, we’re looking at Ryo Matsui, of Ryo Matsui Architects Inc.
Matsui’s work is undeniably elegant, clean, and stylish, with a real architectural edge. His use of contrasting surface patterns and muted, natural colours means his design concepts remain at the forefront of contemporary trends.
What we find most inspiring about Matsui’s work is its ability to present complex design ideas in a simplistic, minimalist form. His use of lighting is also something to be marvelled at; these finishes are often delicate but make such a difference to creative spaces.
Recently, MoodyMonday underwent a re-branding so that the company’s ethos and values were better represented. To this end, the brand’s logo was also re-designed:
What does the new logo bring to mind?
For us, part of our ethos is about finding beauty in hidden or non-obvious places and bringing this secret treasure to light. The name ‘Moody Monday’ encapsulates this as we tend to think of Mondays as negative – it’s the start of the working week and everyone would sooner be at home relaxing. We aim to subvert this expectation, however, and demonstrate that there is joy to be found in even the most unlikely places.
Our new logo equally reflects this value. The design is based on an oyster – an object that, at first glance, is not particularly pleasing to the eye. However, when opened, oysters contain precious treasures that are beautiful, valuable, even sought-after.
Our designer, Eliza, aims to identify sources of hidden beauty and express this quality in her work to bring pleasure to our clients from a most unexpected place.
This week we feature the Mainport Hotel, Rotterdam as our design inspiration.
Mainport Hotel is presented as the epitome of modern luxury. Designer Feran Thomassenwas keen to produce interiors which showcase an international influence yet maintain notes of traditional Dutch styling.
Credited with a five star rating, Mainport combines stylish interiors with intricate prints and colourful accessories to create a space which is at once elegant and inviting.
As fans of patterns, we really enjoy the contrast between simplicity and outbursts of patterns and textures strategically placed around the space. The mixture of surface textures is also compelling: smooth and uneven, natural and artificial, polished and rugged finishes. This touch really highlights the designer’s focus on contrast, and brings opposing elements together in a pleasing way.
Our Inspiring Designers blog continues this week with French architect and designer, Emmanuelle Moureaux.
Moureaux resides in Tokyo, Japan, where she has been living and working since 1996. For Moureaux, colour is key. She prefers to use colours as a way of structuring rooms, rather than as a finishing touch or complement to the physical design. This concept, created by Moureaux, is called ‘Shikiri‘ which, literally translated, means ‘dividing space with colours’.
We find Moureaux’s work particularly inspiring for its fresh, contemporary vibrancy. If Pantone had gone down the architecture route, we feel, it would look something like this.
Moureaux’s designs are artistic and playful – a real aesthetic treat.
We continue with our selection of boutique hotels inspiration with the Qbic Hotel, London.
A sister hotel to Qbic Amsterdam, Qbic London’s interior flair is the work of Blacksheep design company. This eclectic space is intended as a kind of ‘urban oasis’ which provides its guests with a place of respite from the bustling surroundings of Brick Lane and trendy Shoreditch.
The design concept seeks to create a feeling of welcoming and comfort, in addition to delightfully quirky communal areas which invite guests to interact and socialise at ease.
Here, Blacksheep have managed to defy convention by creating an edgy yet warm interior that is bursting with imagination. Their use of colour alongside natural surfaces helps to achieve this unique blend, and the playful, vibrant atmosphere mirrors the creative community that surrounds the hotel. To us, the space feels like a hybrid of industrial design, postmodern design, and surrealism; contrasting elements which, in this case, come together to produce something very special. We especially like the use of accessories, such as the chair-lamp entangled in wire (pictured).
Here at Moody Monday we’re always keen to keep up to date with current design trends and show appreciation for other designers we admire. As such, this blog series will explore creative companies and individuals whom we find influential and inspiring.
To begin, we’re looking at Blacksheep design agency.
This London-based company always delivers fresh, cutting-edge design concepts throughout their respective projects which permeate creativity and innovation.
To this end, Blacksheep’s design solutions are always inventive, often incorporating technology into their creative concepts. Though their work is design-led, it remains accessible, approachable, and liveable – even playful – which is what makes this dynamic company so special.
We particularly admire their work on the PUROHotel in Poznan, Poland. The concept behind this compelling space aims to reflect the cultural and artistic sensibility of the city, therefore, Blacksheep produced a design-focused environment in which the hotel’s guests could feel at once inspired and welcomed.
The use of geometric surface patterns and bold colours is stimulating, and the furnishings make use of contemporary shapes which make the space feel fashionable though with a distinct absence of pretence.
Here at Moody Monday, we’re always on the lookout for inspirational ideas and design concepts. As our designs cater to luxury interiors, bespoke spaces such as boutique hotels offer a wealth of creative inspiration for our designer, Eliza, to draw on.
Over the next few weeks, our blog will feature particular spaces which we feel showcase the best of design imagination and innovation.
The first of this inspiring selection is the Mira Moon Hotel, Hong Kong.
This spectacular space is the product of a design collaboration between Dutch designer Marcel Wanders and hotel and residential design company Yoo. Inspired by Chinese mythology, the design aims to bring traditional ideas into a contemporary setting. Guest rooms are opulent yet welcoming, marrying sumptuous floral patterns with stylish, modern finishes to bestow a feel of creativity throughout the property.
We particularly admire the mixture of textures and bold graphic prints, which add an extra dimension to the shapes and surfaces they fill. Many of the patterns have a sculptural edge which help to emphasise the contemporary treatment of the traditional surface pattern design. Treating traditional shapes with modern processes certainly makes the Mira Moon seem like an innovative space as this approach echoes recent and emerging interior design trends (such as the use of 3D prototyping machines).