bed light

I think I want a couple of Seed lamps by our bed. This is what Northern Lighting writes about the lamp and the designer in the catalogue:

Seed is a wall-mounted night lamp. Seed creates a unique reading environment through its filtered light source from a low watt energy saving LED. The focused yet soft beam emitted from the diodes makes it possible to read in bed while your partner sleeps. The ‘revolving arm of light’ can point in a variety of different directions and can be easily fixed to the wall in any desired position. The front-end light switch makes it easy to turn the light on and off and since the lamp does not emit heat Seed is safe to touch, even by children.

Seed is available with four different colours of fabric. The package also includes patterns, tips and suggestions of how to create your own personalised cover. The lamp is inspired by a seed - rising and growing into a plant.

Designer: Hedda H. Braathen
Hedda Heyerdahl Braathen is head designer in Accendo, an Oslo based industrial design office. She and her team have won several awards for their designs. Accendo works with a variety of design projects, mainly related to lighting, furniture design and consumer good packaging.

“With the Seed lamp I wanted to create an arm of light which lets your partner sleep while you read, nurse or knit. I also wanted to challenge users of the lamp to create their own design element by changing the cover according to their mood, the season, fashion trends or simply a change of the bed covers”.

You might remember that I have mentioned Northern Lighting before.

new dinner plates?

I think I want new dinner plates. I'm not sure. The ones we have now are from IKEA. I wonder if I want something more fancy (and more expensive?), yet I like dinnerware to be simple. White. Preferably round. That's it. The food plays the main role, not the plates. Oh, and I want it to be Norwegian design. Here are a few pieces I like from Porsgrund.

The top photo are designs by the very talented guys in Norway Says, mentioned here. The bottom photo are products designed by Tias Eckhoff, which I have also mentioned before, here. Click on the images to view them bigger.

The photos are from Porsgrund catalogues, that can be downloaded from the website.

Norwegian handicraft

I'm working on some texts for a firm that sells beautiful traditional Norwegian handicraft, including works from the brand called Oleana. It's not the kind of clothing I would wear myself (yet), but I still find it very beautiful. The Norwegian Design Council has awarded the brand with the Award for Design Excellence, mention here, and the graphic design is done by Haltenbanken mentioned in the same post.

Hope you have fun plans for the weekend. We are celebrating a friend's 30th birthday tomorrow. And tonight I plan to drink red wine while watching a movie. But first I need to finish these handicraft texts. Ciao!

skål

Yesterday the Norwegian Design Council handed out the annual Award for Design Excellence.

The Award for Design Excellence is the leading award for design in Norway. It's purpose is to stimulate the industry to use design as an important tool in product development and market communication. The Award for Design Excellence is a recognition for design quality and a visible proof that companies and designers jointly have developed a good product. Good products are distinguished by the consideration of it's functional, technical, economical and esthetical aspects, in addition to marketing and environmental considerations.

One of the magazines I write for, no, was given the Award for Design Excellence in the category visual communication. Read what the jury says (in Norwegian). Halvor Bodin and Claudia C. Sandor are the magazine's designers.

Another company that I work for as a copywriter, Haltenbanken (mentioned in this post), was also given the Award for Design Excellence in the same category, for the visual profile for the accountant firm Vassdal & Eriksen. Who would have thought an accountant firm could look this fresh and cool? It might explain something that the firm was established by a guy who loves skating, snowboarding and music, and that the firm's customers are mostly in the music, film, design and architecture business. Read what the jury says (in Norwegian).

Congratulations and cheers to no and Haltenbanken!

silence

Nothing is as silent as snowfall. Maybe that's the inspiration for the name of this rug - silence. So simple, so cool. I like it a lot. Norwegian designstudio Permafrost made it.

jb design

Great stuff from Norwegian designer Janne Bråthen. She has a blog and an etsy shop. Via Sweet Paul.

Northern Lighting

A couple of great looking lamps from Norwegian lamp manufacturer Northern Lighting. Snowball to the left and Oslo to the right.

dots

I like these cute coat hooks by the Bergen based Norwegian designers Tveit & Tornø. The Dots are manufactured by Muuto. You might remember Muuto from this post.

This is what the Muuto website says about Tveit & Tornø:

ON THEIR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY “We don’t have any strict rules regarding our designs - every product needs a different approach. There are always new things to learn and new ways to achieve high design quality. Inspiration can emerge from anywhere, but a good product needs a lot of work and a couple of designers loving their job.”

ON NEW NORDIC “New Nordic designers seem to be more playful than the older predecessors. You see them playing with abstractions and simplifications of everyday objects, often in a very humorous way. Maybe they feel less obligated to follow the traditions of Scandinavian design. However, you will in most cases find something Scandinavian in there…”

Tveit&Tornøe was established in September 2006, but has already received much recognition. In 2007 they received the Young Talent award of the Year in Norway.

And this is what the Muuto website writes about The Dots:

TVEIT&TORNØE ON THE DESIGN "This characterful little family of hooks is a friendly addition to any wall. The Dots are proud of their round edges and will treat your clothes with the greatest care. They will also let you arrange them on your wall in the pattern you like. Being a very social set of hooks, The Dots love to welcome other Dots to join them on the wall. The only thing The Dots demand from you is that you uncover them every now and then and admire their shape and material"

Moo

I just wanted to stop by and say hei. I'm having some busy work days, and not so much time for blogging.

Two moos today:

I guess by now most of you, especially Flickr users, know of moo.com. I use the mini cards as my business card, which I am really happy about, and I recently ordered the postcards too. I'm surprised how good they look. Recommended!

The second moo is Norwegian designed leather laptop bags called Moo. This is the story (as it reads on the company's website):

One day, a Norwegian designer told her friend of an idea she had: "What people need are funky bags for their laptops". The friend and a Swedish guy liked the idea and took it to Buenos Aires. They roamed Argentina for a few months and learned the tricks of the cow trade. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the designer started sketching. This adventure resulted in the creation of our Moo bags. All the members of our herd are hand-made from the finest quality Argentinean leather in order to protect both your hardware and software. The first collection was launched in Scandinavia in the autumn of 2005. The bags are now available in several countries, so check out our map page to see where we are.

The bag in the photo above is my favorite. The grey color is really nice. It reminds me a lot of my favorite Calvin Klein bag that I have used for ages (I don't have a good photo of it). It's not a laptop bag, and I need that. Check out the Moo website for more stylish laptop bags and to see where to buy them.

girly galoshes

Remember I told you about the Norwegian Swims galoshes?

Swims galoshes are now available for girls too! I like how they have made the galoshes look so sexy... Take a look on the website for more photos and to buy the galoshes.

Check out the website of the shop Pur Norsk. They are giving away a free subscription to one of the magazines I write for, no. You might need a Norwegian address to get it, but I'm not sure.

Blankets

It's cold today and I'm in the mood for blankets. I like the blankets from Røros-Tweed. They have nice traditional design (some of them are more modern) and they are 100 % pure wool. Take a look at their catalogue, it can be downloaded from the website. It says "Last ned vår katalog her" on the left hand side of the front page.

Sara Skotte

I like Sara Skotte's ceramics designs. You can buy it in Pur Norsk's web shop.

girly long johns

It's been some cold autumn days lately and I have woken up in the morning with an ice cold nose (I always sleep with the window open). I guess it's time to start wearing wool.

Speaking of wool. Looking for good looking, girly long johns? Take a look at this website: Kari Traa. Kari Traa is a Norwegian mogul skier from Voss, who has launched a sport clothing line. There's even a web shop!

Haltenbanken has done a lot of fabulous work for Kari Traa, including the shop interior (together with interior architect Ørjan Djønne). See more photos on their website.

I'm Boo

I simple love the shape and name of this carafe. I'm Boo. It's by the great Norwegian design group Norway Says for Danish Muuto.

On their website it says that Muuto is striving to expand the Scandinavian design tradition with fresh and original perspectives. The name Muuto is inspired by the Finish word "muutos", which means "fresh perspective".

Norway Says about I'm Boo: Boo is like the skin, or a balloon surrounding the water with openings that tell the simple story of fluid motion in and out of the glass. The carafe exudes a strong personality , as if it's saying: "I'm Boo, who are you?".

Wallpaper likes I'm Boo: "Norwegian triumvirate Torbjørn Anderssen, Andreas Engsvik and Espen Voll are preoccupied with things that speak. As a collaborative they call themselves "Norway Says", and now they've designed a carafe for the Danish design group Muuto called "I'm Boo". The carafe, which comes in blue-grey or purple glass, is a design classic with a twist; a side pourer lends the elegantly curved oblong a quirky irreverence."

Scandinavian Surface

Some of you might remember Scandinavian Surface from when I posted this on Flickr a while ago. Since then a lot has happened for the talented design group. The four designers in Scandinavian Surface will be present at 100%design in London September 20-23. If you happen to be at the event (lucky you!), say hei to them at stand K4. There you can take a closer look at the new collection of pillows (top photo) and ProPiece (bottom photo). Take a look at more great stuff on their new website. Btw, the beautiful chairs in the bottom photo is from fjordfiesta.

how about galoshes?

I'm a big fan of practical yet stylish stuff. So how about galoshes?

Swims are practical, stylish and Norwegian. On the website you can read the story behind the product, and also see more elegant photos and design. There's even a shop. It's a pity swims are only made for men.

Slettvoll

Norwegian furniture manufacturer Slettvoll has an elegant, classic style. A bit too "grown up" for me, but still it's beautiful and inspiring. Take a look at the website and see more wonderful photos of wonderful interiors. Click "bla i kataloger" to see the photos.

Scandia

The Scandia chair by Norwegian designer Hans Brattrud is one of my favorites. It was originally designed in 1957 and it was relaunched by fjordfiesta in 2001. Scandia comes in different versions, so take a look at the website and find your favorite (I love them all!).

Btw, I'm very curious if you will find no international on your newsstand. Drop me a line if you see it, will you?

Fashion!

Today I want to introduce you to some of my favorite Norwegian fashion designers.

The top photo is from Ida Gullhav's website. She is Norway's only specialized underwear designer, making highly sensual garments for him and her. The website is really cute and girly (lots of pink), and has lots of photos of her work.

The second photo is from So Hee's summer collection. I love the colors, the shapes, the textiles and the details of her clothes. See more photos on her website.

The third photo is from Arne & Carlos' (also pink) website. The couple lives in a disused railway station and some of their inspiration come from Dolly Parton and origami. I love their quirky, almost kitch style. Bonus: There is an online shop!

Now my Friday Flickr Favorites (I'm still digging in my favorites archive):

Figs in Bowl by MatthewA. This was the first of Matt's photos I faved, and I've been in love with his photos even since.

untitled by redskynight. This was one of the first Polaroid shots I faved, and it was the beginning of my love of these kind of photos. I still haven't taken a single Polaroid shot myself. I should do something about that!

skin I by jayjuice. I found her photo stream very early when I started Flickr, and I still very much enjoy coming back.

moving train by floresita. I love the fashion shot feeling and the grain works very well.

beds by my little sister Mari, aka Frosk. I'm so proud of my sister! She has such great style and she's a big inspiration for me. Her whole photo stream is a joy watching and I have so many faves there!

My favorite cup

Remember I told you about the arts and crafts market last week? This is the cup I mentioned. I simply love it! The combination of the flowers and the elephants is perfect! And I love the uneven shape. It's made by Sarah Reed. The website is in Norwegian, but there's lots of photos of her work there.

At the same market I also came across Snella & Petronella, who makes buttons in porcelain. The website is in Norwegian, and there's no photos there. I was told it's under construction. The buttons were really cute!