Coffee Table Camp Fires

More white charcoal from J.Period - this time in the living room. The porcelain-like Japanese carbon absorbs odours, but far more importantly, looks enigmatic and sculptural in the silver Malteser dispenser from Argentina. Like a metaphorical campfire in the middle of the room, perfect for toasting metaphorical marshmallows... or tangerines.

The Old New Masters - A Collector's Narrative

One of the first canvases I ever purchased, Stacked Bars from German gallery Artline in Erfurt adorned the walls of my student room at University. I liked how the architectural steel linkages between the canvasses invited the wall to become part of the artwork [that and it was easy to dismantle and transport home at the end of every term!]

While I wouldn't necessarily buy Stacked Bars now, and it does take up valuable 'wall estate' which could be used for work with more pedigree, establishing a narrative over time is as important for a collector as it is for an artist. As far as collections are concerned, it's easy to make new additions, but considerably less easy to make old additions.

Club Dining for Small Spaces

Unless you live in a duplex penthouse, it's unlikely that your city apartment will have a separate dining room. Even then, I remember being shocked by the $35,000 a night Penthouse at the Four Seasons New York, having a dining table in the living room for only 4-6 persons.

Where space is at a premium, dining chairs with arms [pictured from Dwell] create an ambiance of clubby comfort. Upholstered chairs with arms help diffuse the line between living and dining and are as suitable for coffee and cake as they are for a candlelit dinner. If seating more than four or going formal however, ditch the arms... or some diners.

Venetian Blinds Take Off - BA's First Class Cabin

Flying recently in British Airway's new First cabin, I was most impressed by the 'on the ground' approach to the cabin interior design. From the same team responsible for styling Aston Martin and Jaguar [it shows], the cabin features design touches more in line with an luxury apartment Conran showroom than a conventional airline seat.

Take for example the dusky illuminated electronic blinds that span several window profiles or Starck Archimoon style individual reading lights. If airline cabin components can find a home in residential interiors, then it stands to reason that venetian blinds and reading lights work just as well in the sky [and yes, evidently, as does Puss in Boots]

Bathtime Supplies for Men

Back in the bathroom with a selection of mancave friendly bathroom supplies. Pictured alongside the previously mentioned Cote Bastide Ambre 'bubble bath for blokes' are a selection of hair and body products from self-proclaimed 'official suppliers to men' American Crew, mandarin and peppermint salts from Japan Based apothecary Marks & Web and hakutan white charcoal chunks from Bal's J.Period concept stores [shown on C74 Marukei Melamineware from Comme De Garcon's Good Design Shop, Omotesando by D&Department Project]

Rules for Living by UnhappyHipsters.com

Another excellent find from Livraria Cultura in Sao Paulo, It's Lonely in the Modern World is the sort of book that anyone that enjoys reading DesignTrawler.com should run out and buy immediately. A manifesto for all Saab driving, house proud modernists [or those aspiring to be such], the book lays out in spectacular detail 'the rules'.

The rules of what exactly? Take for example the extract that advises, when hosting a dinner party "The number of kitchen appliances on display should be inversely proportionate to the number of guests" or for the bathroom "Choose a steel seat and use it to hold a single folded towel". Of course, it's all a bit of fun... apart from of course, when it's all absolutely true, which is all of the time...

"Most people have become attached to the idea of 'comfort' when sitting. With modern furniture, however, it is important to rethink your concept of what is comfortable. In a thickly cushioned chair, your body may be supported - but at what price to your design values? Your intellect? It is better to focus on the pure joy of being close to high design than to slump into an overstuffed chair for a nap" - UnhappyHipsters.com

Self Destructing Typography

Browsing through the shelves of designer-perfect stationary in the excellent Delfonics Marunouchi stationers in Tokyo, I spotted this typographic wall calendar. Designed by Ornella Noorda for Milan based design house Nava Design, it features tear-off sheets of meter-long months.

The simple colour combinations and clever use of language, typographic size, geometry and spacing make it more NYC Subway Map fine art print than international calendar. At first, the prospect of ripping to bits, month by month, this work of brilliance filled me with terror. It still does, but the prospect of destroying each beautiful leaf, revealing another combination of colours and numbers until nothing is left [sob] is instantly more thrilling.

Upgrade 2 : Kettle 3 - Matti Does it Again

Unlike toasters which, over time, gentrify from unbranded beige boxes to shiny steel Dualit's, there is no single culinary icon of design for the kitchen kettle. A surprising design peculiarity for an object that's found in every home.

Not to be confused with Ketel One [but none the less European] the brilliantly designed Kettle Three from Stadler Form is a bold attempt at future design classic. Stadler Form's third and most expensive tea maker, Kettle Three is also Matti walker's third contribution to contempoary Mancave living after the Lilly fan and Henry air purifier.

Masculine Storage for Used Threads

 

It was 1985 when a handsome American chap walked in to a laundrette wearing a pair of Blue denim jeans to the soundtrack of 'I heard it though the Grapevine'. Ever since, Levi's 501's and laundry in general have retained a masculine iconicity that defy domesticity.

Unless your wardrobe consists entirely of blue jeans and black t-shirt's, a rather more practical solution to laundry might be required. While laundry baskets are suitable only for French bicycles and strawberry picking; barrels, trunks and crates win the Mancave storage seal of approval. This vintage wooden crate found in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo fits the bill perfectly with a City-esque charm perfect for storing your used threads until laundry day.

How to Build a Container House

Browsing recently in the excellent Livraria Cultura bookstore in Sao Paulo, I came across Container Atlas. Billed as 'a practical guide to container architecture' the 250 page bible is a fantastic read. Published before Design Trawler's Isomodal Townhouse was conceived [and unfortunatley therefore an incomplete collection of container architecture]

In a curious turn of fortune however, publishers Gestalten will be responsible for publishing Arigato; a 240 page retrospective of Tokyo Designers Week; including the bowing Dom Arigato house by Design Traweler's designer duo. Available in March 2012, stay tuned for the inevitable book launch party at the Mancave. Signed copies on request.

Degrees of Separation - Black Interior Doors

The one thing that links a £10m London penthouse with a £10 a week London bedsit are interior doors. While the former may have gold handles, it's highly likely that both properties will have interior doors that are white in colour. 

The boutique hotel has long understood the bold effects of a wenge door; usually coupled with swathes of Malmaison style velvet in ghastly shades of plum. Satin black interior doors however, with chrome hardware and white frames dial things down; adding a smart degree of separation between the Mancave and those oh-so common penthouses.

Bus Blinds in the Bathroom

The vintage bus blind seems to be on trend at the moment. While the jury may still be out on it's appeal post the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' bubble [it will come], classic typography in moody hues is an easy win for masculine spaces. This vintage style pharmacy towel from H&M deliveres functionality and the same feel without sandwitching a fabric bus blind behind glass. Shown with steel vase from Sevens in Dusseldorf and silk branches from Habitat.

Praise for Meguro's Design Community

Design Trawling is often tricky in cities as vast as Tokyo. While similar types of stores will inevitably tend to co-locate, seeking out design gems can be hard work [not least because of the often independent nature of design and designers]. The Meguro Interior Shops Community, or MISC, is pulling together the 60 or so design retailers, workshops and galleries along the 5km throughfare with a comprehensive directory, website and maps.

There are plenty of stores serving up furniture and accessories in the masculine/utility style perfect for Mancaves. Best of the best are Lloyd's Antiques [pictured], ACME [who have two stores], Blackboard, and Geographica.

Catch me if you ADK Can

It's an inevitability that I've come to accept when visiting New York, Seoul or Tokyo - More often than not, I'll return with more luggage than I came with [owing largely to an over indulgence in design related acquisition]. My fifth trip to Japan introduced me to the excellent ACME Furniture company where I spotted this iconic valise.

Commissioned in 1938, the Zero Halliburton suitcase was originally made from aluminium aircraft engines. Alongside steamer trunks by Vuitton and Goyard, the Zero is the very definition of luggage. A trophy of the jet age traveller, this rare 'ADK' monogrammed case was the envy of every Tumi-wielding management consultant at Narita.

0 to Designer in 100 Articles

18 months ago I wrote an article about a chrome baloon dog, Jeff, that I picked up in Tokyo. It seems fitting then, that 100 articles later, I'm back in Japan. This time not as a casual shopper, but as an exhibited and soon to be published Designer.

It's been a great journey to the 100 article mark - BBC film crews, world famous penny floors and contact from Foster+Partners, LVMH and Hackett - not to mention 15,000 readers from dozens of countries.

There never was a 'grand plan' for DesignTrawler.com but I can't wait for the great designs, perspectives and opportunities to come in the next 100 articles.