Design Trawler for the BBC

For the past 18 months, Design Trawler has been filming with the BBC for a brand new prime time television series. The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that Design Trawler isn't 18 months old - This website was a product of the journey toward the multi million pound series and the 3 year production schedule that accompanies it.

Stay tuned next month for further updates and insight into the main product of the Design Trawler journey.

£140m Penthouse - Comes with £16.50 Dachshund

I'll try not to be smug about this one, because I do admire Nick & Christian Candy. The design and development empire created by the two brothers is responsible for the world's most expensive penthouse (the £200m La Belle Epoque in Monaco), and more recently, London's most expensive pad, the £140m penthouse at One Hyde Park.

Flicking through the marketing materials from One Hyde Park, I noticed a cheeky yet familiar silver dachshund perched on a side table (pictured). Familiar because the same one lives on a bookshelf in the Mancave. Cheeky because 'Daki' isn't a solid silver Asprey prop, but a £16.50 thrill from Chelsea retailer India Jane. Busted.

Nendo Kotoli for Ruinart - It's all in the Box

Designed by Japanese design house Nendo, this gift box for champagne Ruinart is a secret trunk of design treasures. Kotoli means 'little birds' in Japanese and the two stemless crystal glasses are designed to perch on the telegraph-pole handles and chrome branch stopper that accompanies the bottle from champagne's oldest Maison.

Such is the conceptual excellence of the Kotoli gift box, that the highly prized paulownia wood drawers reflect the delicate nature of the Blanc de Blancs, and are designed to slide apart in the style of traditional Japanese screens. Masterfully assembled and remarkable value, the 'litte birds' are sure to 'fly off' the very few shelves that'll host them.

Blomus Copo Teapot - Design Failure

Unlike the original Blomus steel 'soap' at MoMa (pictured right), the Blomus Copo teapot fails dramatically in both form and function. Official photos present a well scaled, streamline design balancing clean ceramics and modern steel. In reality the Copo is poorly scaled and bulky; suffering from a footprint that is too large and too flat, poor visual balance of materials and a disastrous spout that sends sencha dribbling down the side after every serving. Fail.

Best of the Best - Masterpiece 2011

"From Bugatti to bronzes, Cartier to Cognac" - That's what the organisers of Masterpiece 2011 promised guests of the luxe collector's fair. DesignTrawler.com was invited to a special pre-preview this week before it opened to the public.

Here's what we found. After navigating through huddles of people air kissing, thier children playing hide and seek in between gleaming vintage Aston's and of course ninja waiters intent on keeping the Ruinart flowing as freely as the number of cheques being written... there were one or two gems.

Simon Khachadourian's Pullman Gallery was the clear knock-out featuring his vast collection of rare bar and smoking accessories, automobile bronzes, trophies, motorboat models and original 1920's transport posters. Pullman's new 6,000 square foot by appointment gallery space in Chelsea (pictured) has already been hailed by the international press as the ultimate Man Cave. Expect a full investigation from DesignTrawler very soon!

Henry the Air Purifier

Another gem from Stadler Form's Matti Walker, the Henry Air Purifier is an ultra-modern machine for making sure that the air in the Mancave is nothing but perfect. Packed with manly sounding filtration methods like a titanium filter, plasma generator and ultra violet lamp, Henry sits quietly in the corner of the bedroom and does his thing.

The strangest thing about sleeping living with Henry is that the quiet, but audible, 'HVAC hum' places my mind in the environment of an aircraft cabin or hotel, effortlessly ready to drift off. As a frequent traveller, I can think of few other places that give me this sense of well-being, safety and reassurance.

The [Big] Kid's Got Style

Far be it from the Mancave to start entertaining thoughts of adding a second children's bedroom, I recently spotted this interior at Restoration Hardware. Clearly Jack's a lucky boy. Even as adults however, we're big kids at times and can certainly take a number of design cues from the 'all American' style. In particular I like the classic panelling, 'utility' nickel drawer handles and sporting references throughout.

Glencairn's Ultimate Whiskey Tumbler

'The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection' - That's the enigmatic motto for Japanese luxury car maker Lexus. Just like the Japanese who also appreciate a fine whiskey, I've been searching for the perfect lowball tumbler for some years now. The ultimate whiskey tumbler needs to be heavy and exhibit ice-cube coolness with the right balance of angles and curves. A few month's ago I found it. The monogrammed Walker & Son crystal tumbler from Glencairn in Scotland.

Upon enquiring I was told that the glasses were used for Blue Label tastings and were not for sale. After pouring on the charm and pulling a vulgar stunt with a Brown Amex, the Harrods Wine & Spirits Manager deemed the glasses to be worth £20 each if purchased with the accompanying Blue Label limited edition gift set. *wince*

The equivalent of buying a Lexus because you want a coupe of monogrammed wheel nuts. Anyone need a ride?

Birthday Wishes for DesignTrawler.com

Whilst trawling in Brazil this month, DesignTrawler.com turned one year old. Like a fine cheese, whiskey the mancave is known to get better with age. Depth, complexity and richness all take time to develop, and the patina of time has benefited one design feature more than most.

A spontaneous autograph from a visiting Tokyo Trawler left a lasting impression. The bistro blackboard transformed in to an oversize guest book; charting the comings and goings of an eclectic mix of international guests over the year. Here's to you guys; until next time!

You Know it's Time for a Bigger Cave...

This month, Design Trawler hit Rio De Janeiro to seek out the best in moden Brazilian art, design and architecture [sun, sea and samba had nothing to do with it honest]. Alongside the fantastic buildings by Oscar Neimeyer and iconic Romero Britto artworks, was this mamoth modernist beauty.

Almost two meters long, this painting exhibits a cool South American sombreness; perfect to sit above anything by Corbusier or in a Grand Design with polished concrete floors. Sadly, the current cave isn't large enough to display it. Several Brazilain Real later and I'm now looking for a larger cave... or gallery space.

President Obama is DesignTrawler.com Fan!

That's right, DesignTrawler.com has been appointed as special mancave envoy to the White House. The Røros Tweed blanket previously featured on the site has been snapped up by President Obama as a fitting addition to the Washington mancave [the Museum of Modern Art in New York swiftly followed suit]

While around 1,500 Design Trawler readers hail from across the pond, it appears that the big man himself is also one of them. What else could explain Obama's decision to specifically opt for the monochrome design pictured? Pope Benedict probably has a cheeky Argentinian cowhide tucked away somewhere too...

Damien Hirst | 松久 信幸 for Nobu / Japan

My first Hirst. This week Nobu Matsuhisa closed his London restaurants to the public to host a charity dinner for the victims of the Japan Earthquake. Young British Artist and enfant terrible of contemporary art, Damien Hirst designed a special edition of the Nobu West cookbook for the event.  The edition of 400 is triple signed by Hirst, Nobu Matsuhisa and head chef Mark Edwards.

Like a signature dish from the top notch eatery, the composition is masterful. Hirst is Britain's richest living artist and Nobu is one of the world's most successful culinary business people. Both have been subject to their fair share of controversy, have a penchant for seafood, and both both blur the lines between art and enterprise. Whatever your views, the stylised cookbook contributed to raising over half a million pounds for the Japan Earthquake Appeal.

Tread Softly. You Tread on my Dreams.

Months in the planning and a weekend in the making. 7,500 hand placed one penny coins create a monumental kitchen floor; the flagship of all Mancave renovations to date. In celebration of the Royal Wedding, boosting the UK economy by holding currency out of circulation, and a tribute to W.B. Yeats

"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; 

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

The Multi Storey Mantle - For High Life Living

As fireplaces become increasingly less common in modern design, shelves and window sills have stepped in to replace the traditional mantelpiece. When one mantelpiece just isn't enough, a second sub-mantle creates extra display space and makes a natural distinction between anything on the 'top shelf'.

Pictured alongside Jeff the Dog, a Concept GT sketch from Bentley exterior designer Dom Najafi.

Armchair Golf - Par 5.1 from Sony

In keeping with my belief that AV technology should be heard and not seen, these ultra compact format 5.1 surround sound speakers from Sony measure in at just 4cm tall; the same size as a [square] golf ball.

And like golf balls in the rough, they can practically disappear from sight, allowing the magnificence of a well designed championship course mancave to take centre stage, and the roar of a crowd of hundreds to fill the atmosphere. Hiding the clubhouse sized amplifier [not pictured] is however another matter.