I was recently contacted by Terapia Urbana who are committed to developing urban greening tools and solutions to ease the effects of global warming, inefficient energy consumption and excessive CO2 emissions that many of our cities now face. The one particular product I am very interested in is the slimgreenwall which is a hassle free living Interior wall.

How does it work? Well it purifies the air by recycling excessive Co2 in the atmosphere, creates a barrier for sound pollution, and with the excess carbon dioxide out of the office air, it increases productivity and happiness.

What I like about this product is that it isn't just some conceptual idea, a pipe dream created by some idealistic designers, it is fully functioning, operational and available to purchase in the UK through Scotscape. The image above is the product at the Ayesa Advanced Technologies Office in Seville, Spain. How great does it look fixed onto that neutral wall!

That's all well and good I hear you say, but it must take ages to clean and maintain? Well in fact no, it is self sufficient, self cleaning and has automatic irrigation all included. Just install and reap the benefits of cleaner air in your home, office or any space you deem imaginable. 

In a world where the word 'eco' has become a gimmick and nonchalantly used in everyday speak, it is great to see a product which is feasible, believable and beneficial to everyday people in everyday Interiors. 

Carbon Footprint, recycling, clean air, hybrid, eco, green and sustainable are all words that are frighteningly over used in today's society. Corporations have made us believe that we live in a green world, with clean oxygenated air and packets that biodegrade instantly in one of the many bins the local council now provides. I want to sift through the marketing and PR bulls*** that we are subjected to on a daily basis and focus on products that are truly making a difference to the world we live in. Open your mind and your lungs and breath in that slightly less polluted city air.

In Melbourne Australia lives a slatted dream. Baker D. Chirico is an undulating cacophony of veneered ply, shadow-play and worn down surfaces. Put simply, I really admire this Interior.

The possibilities are endless with a beautifully detailed cross jointed timber monolith. You can undulate and stagger the spans to create definition with parallel lines which equally act not only for aesthetic purposes, but as guides to a point of interest within that space.  

From the street view the large glazed window acts like a frame and subtly encases the luxurious and intriguing art of the Interior. The clever use of back-lit lighting not only creates shadow effects but also an angelic glow that enhances the fine detail of the wood grain. What a way to end a month dedicated to bakeries!

Dutch Design Studio Tjep have created a series of innovative stores for Terminal 3 at Schipol Airport. 
A Flower Shop that 'lifts up' a Cheese shop and a very on topic Bread shop. Bread! Brings the artisan bakery to the masses within one of Europe's busiest airports. 

According to Tjep, the Design was inspired by the Interiors of the iconic Dutch Windmills. You can see that definitely in the slatted timber battens that create display units for the freshly baked bread. 

As well as a eye catching servery area, there is a rather large dining area where this simple and contemporary style is further rolled out. The white unassuming side chairs that resemble a modern take on the chairs seen in the Shaker movement, match elegantly with the Ash finish of the bench seating and the grey quilted seat pads. 

Put simply this is a beautiful Interior that pays homage to Design. It is detailed beautifully for an area of mass footfall and the consideration of material finish, style and colour is superb. However I expect nothing less of Dutch Design, they just get it, understand it completely and aren't afraid of taking a risk with going ahead with an achievable concept. In one of the worlds most finest cities (Amsterdam) this is just one tiny granule of a whole plethora of fine Design examples.

For more information on the work of the Tjep Team that please have a look at their website...
http://www.tjep.com

Get ready for a hum along song brought to you from the master of Gangsta Rock, Hugo. It is an infectious song which will undoubtedly get your feet gently tapping and your head bopping back and forth. 

The build up in the verse is slow paced which is enhanced by the repetitive humming and clapping matched with the soulful husky country voice of Hugo. Then the chorus comes in and blasts into a shout out loud sing along which makes you feel you are cruising through the streets in a beefed up muscle car with the twinkle of $99 stores sparkling all of the way towards the horizon. 

Evidently that is pretty much what the video is about, a drive through the sleazy and seductive underworld of his native Thailand. Really like this song it is a definite download must!

If you travel on the N2 towards Riviersonderend, in Cape Town you will come across the Ou Meul Bakery. In Afrikaans this translates to 'old mill'. The reviews of the place for its produce are gleaming, with rave reviews about their pies and perfect pastries.

The interior is a homage to the industrial style which is currently very popular. With rugged and rustic plank facades to the counters, ceramic tiles behind the servery and worn down enamel coated pendants that compliment the scheme very well.

The features are simple yet effective. Wall display units made from reclaimed piping fixed to horizontally placed pieces of timber which allow ample storage for take away jams and chutneys.

Again in my opinion what makes a bakery like this successful is the attention to detail in the application of the branding. Each of the tables are laser etched with the bakery logo leaving that inherent scorch mark which I personally adore because of the added addition of depth and contrast it 'brings to the table'.

If it's cake pops you like, bread, danish pastries or their notorious pies the old mill is definitely worth popping in to if you are out and about in Cape Town.

Images and Information: Lana Lou Style Click Here
Ou Meul Bakery Website: http://www.oumeul.co.za/

Beverley Hills is known as being the place to be if you have a six figure salary. But What happens when the dough runs out? Well Sprinkles has an ATM that vends out cupcakes. 

The process is exactly the same as you would use a cash machine. Card in, make selection, payment processed and fill your face with cream filled treats (see video below). The surroundings for the ATM are divided into four different coloured stripes of powder coated perforated metal sheets. The stripes run vertically and horizontally all of the way up to the top of the stores fascia. 

By day the building adjacent to the ATM is a regular cupcake store that has a chocolate brown render on the exterior and therefore makes the brightly coloured stripes of the ATM stand out because that gimmick is the show stealer! What I like about the exterior of the store is that it is generally made to look run down and grungy. It has modern wire framed chairs on the sidewalk that are made to look rusted, and louvered shutters on the glazing that look irregular and worn down. Even the kerb has remnants of pealed off paint still left on it.

As you would expect at a bakery for the stars, the attention to detail with every aspect of the business is superb. I am very much a believer of Design enhancing a business. Now this doesn't stop with the shop front and Interior, you need to get that brand message across in napkins, cutlery, packaging and the display of the product within the packaging. The cakes simply look too good to eat and worthy of an exhibition at the Tate Modern. This is down to the fact that they are packaged in cardboard which is printed onto, and has a hint of green on the logo to make the packaging stand out. Simply beautiful branding.

It has it all, looks, character and an on demand cupcake service. What more could you want? Well a cake maybe!!!
If you find yourselves near Beverley Hills in the near future go check it out!

Images found at: weheart.co.uk

We start off East for the first of our stories in this bakery month. In a small store in Kyoto lies a treat for the mouth and eyes as petit boulangerie minimalism is really adopted and executed within this Interior.

God is definitely in the detail here, with much attention being focused on the material textures which posses a rugged quality that you can only get from reclaimed aged timber. The gaping cracks in the base of the table (shown above) and the uneven way it has been cut, gives the space real character.

What all of these rugged textures provide is the perfect display for the produce which really stands out among the worn and battered materials. A hint of colour is added to a feature wall where a single brass sheet is fixed to. Being a similar tone to the baked goods it compliments the space very well adding a bit of reflection and shimmer to the neutral matte white walls.

These industrial materials mixed in with the neutral calm and peace of minimalism, makes for a very pleasant Interior. The large span of fenestration across the front of the store brings in an abundance of natural light and shines upon the delectable baked breads. 

If you would like to see more of Ninkipen's! Designs please visit their website at... ninkipen.jp

Apologies if you have found yourself here under the false impression that this title said 'Breaking Bad'. Unfortunately if this is the case then this month is about bakeries and not a multi-award winning TV show about Crystal Meth. Sorry.

We have a tasty new logo to celebrate the wonderful typefaces and graphical styles associated with bakeries and we shall be searching the deepest depths of the world for the best of these designer stores. Baking is becoming 'cool' again with the success of such shows as the Great British Bake Off, and as we are going back to our more artisanal roots, we need Interiors to match this aesthetic to lure the customers in.

Bakeries conjure up images of small cobbled streets in a pretty French town, with the smell of freshly baked bread and slow brewed coffee wafting through the fresh country air. However I want to explore beyond these typical bakeries and see what modern interpretations are being used for this new era of baking. I can provide the imagery and an opinion but unfortunately can't provide the smells...
#Icantworkmiracles

Considering this month's home accessories theme, it seemed only appropriate to focus on some more fantastic wallpapers. More specifically luxury Independent wallpapers sourced by the founder of Monument Interiors, Kate Garthwaite.

Kate sources Independent designers from all corners of the world and makes these beautiful prints available for order via her website www.monumentinteriors.com

The versatile range is archived on the website and you can search by colour, brand and style. What I like about the website is the attention to detail on the imagery showcasing the wallpapers Typically other wallpaper sites may just give you a 'zoomed' in view of the design, but Monument Interiors show it in context. A vintage Rococo chair and distressed timber floor planks really give you a feel of how it fits into the Interior. 

As we speak new wallpapers are being added. Just today a new brand has been introduced to the already eclectic mix of wallpapers on offer. Mitas and Co are the newest introduction and they have skulls and goldfish for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to www.monumentinteriors.com now and get the paste ready!