Penguin Books Great Food Series

I am loving the Penguin Books Great Food Series, a collection of cookbooks with writing and recipes from the past 400 years.  Can you imagine trying a recipe that was created 200 years ago?

These books are more like artwork thanks to the stunning cover designs by Coralie Bickford Smith.  I think Penguin is on to something by trying to engage and connect with its design oriented consumers who would appreciate this type of product from a design perspective, different than your typical reader.  Why not make reading more fun, by jazzing up the covers and turning them into mini works of art that any cook, cookbook collector, or design enthusiast would proudly display (and read) in their homes?  There is even a blog that shows what the food looks like from some of the recipes in this collection of old cookbooks here.

via dustry burrito

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Åhléns: move over Ikea

Throughout the history of this blog, I have intimated several times that I am a fan of Scandinavian design.  If you share my predilection for the minimalist, simple, look imbued in all things Scandinavia.  This post, my friends, will be particularly exciting- it was for me!

This morning, while skimming the Freshly Pressed posts on WordPress, I decided to click on one post that caught my eye by Another House Blog. There was a segment on Another House related to the blogger’s travel in Trondheim, Norway and, wait for it, a post about Åhléns, the most magical, wonderful, exciting, interior design department store I have ever seen (Heal’s, in London, is a close second, followed by Muji!).  Hailing from Toronto, I have never heard of Åhléns before but now that I have discovered it, it is one more reason why I have to get myself to Sweden + Norway.

The Åhléns low-down is as follows for those of you who to know a bit about the history of this design shopping mecca:  This is a full department store, that got its start in Sweden in 1899 as a mail-order company which eventually evolved to a brick and mortar operation.  They carry everything from fashion and beauty to home furnishings and their stores in Norway are interiors only.  Åhléns states on its website that the company’s goal is “to be a woman’s favourite and first on her shopping list.”  Talk about a clear brand position and identity.  I love this company’s home line.  It has such cute, colourful, simple stuff that would look amazing in any home and what I have shown below is only scratching the surface.  Happy Wednesday.

via nancy and i

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Billy Lloyd

Billy Lloyd is a master when it comes to creating simple, paired down, everyday ceramics for the home.  He graduated from Camberwell College of Arts in 2006 and just set up his own studio this year.  I love his pieces, especially the ones below.  Billy is currently exhibiting his work at Origin: the Contemporary Craft Fair, located at Old Spitafields Market in London until the 28th of September.  As the tagline of the show states “Made: Not Manufactured.”  It reminds me of Toronto’s One of a Kind show that takes place twice a year.  Best of luck to Billy in his career.  I’m sure his products will fly, globally.

via craftform.com

via home build life

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via ceramics photography

oclock: my new watch

I started getting into rubber/non-metal watches a couple years ago with the purchase of my Nooka watch (my first love).  Nooka had a good run and is now starting to disintegrate and look a bit tired, so I replaced Nooka with Oclock, from an Italian company named Full Spot. I purchased the hot looking red watch (bottom watch of first picture) and absolutely love it! I wear it casually and with suits.  It is super light and fun because when you get tired of one band, you can pop out the face and switch up the look with a new band.  The other fun thing about this watch is its packaging; it comes in a tuna-esque can 🙂  Hours of fun, right there.

via oclock-usa

via imtheitgirl.com

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Cos (Collection of Style)

Keeping up with my impromptu series on my discoveries in Madrid, here is another gem that is taking the European fashion world by storm.  Cos, which stands for Collection of Style, is a chain of high fashion retail stores owned by Swedish, H&M which offers the best in minimalist, good quality, fashion at affordable (almost H&M) prices.  Currently you can find Cos stores in Spain, Sweden, Germany, UK, France, Ireland, Denmark, and Belgium.

When I first walked by Cos, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at, and didn’t seem to pay much attention as it looked like “just another retail store.”  However, upon entering this mecca of minimalist fashion, I was hooked!  If H&M is your go-to destination for the bohemian, trendy, hipster, party look, then Cos is for the sophisticated, stylish, business person on a budget.  The store concept was launched back in March of 2007 and currently has (approx) 35 stores across Europe selling clothes for both men and women. If you find yourself in Europe anytime soon, in a city that has a Cos, and you are looking for “grownup” work clothes, fashionable going out clothes, I would 100% recommend this brand.

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fun & basics

Let me take this opportunity to give you the low-down on a terrific accessory store in Madrid that I found (one of MANY!!), called Fun & Basics.  A team of four started designing functional fun and basic accessories back in 1994 that proved to be quite popular among family and friends.  They opened their first store in 1997 and haven’t looked back since.

Fun & Basics now has stores in most major cities in Spain and several in Italy as well, as distribution in other retailers.  When I was in Madrid, I visited their store on Fuencarral in the Chuecca district as well as their store in Salamanca.  I think I returned three times to check out their purses and shoes as I was inspired by their designs.  The stores in general are minimalist in their decor and are well stocked with purses, shoes, bags, and jewelry that are bursting with colour.  I think the appeal of Fun & Basics is the simplicity of their style and the diversity of the materials and styles produced.  By the way, Fun & Basics also has a blog here if you want to keep up to date on who is wearing their items and which fashion magazine they are being featured in next!

via fashionfromspain.com

photo via Rizi Mendes

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