fru and gu

These products just crack me up.  I was flipping through some old Living Etc. design magazines this past weekend in search of some interesting kitchen designs for my condo when I paused at an advert for fru and gu (both have two little dots over the u’s but I can’t do that on my keyboard, so use your imagination).  Just like me to divert to food when I was supposed to be concentrating on interior design!  A one track mind, I swear.

I think it was the packaging that stood out for Fru Puds, or maybe it was the product names (super witty), but these mini desserts aka “posh ramekin puds” aka “lively pots of gudness” aka “nibbles and naughties”  aka “chocs” as indicated on the corporate website, are hysterical and look delicious. 

The company based out of the UK, makes mousses, souffles, cheesecakes, tortes, brownie cakes and other items that are “strictly for adults.”   They even have a statistic that estimates that a gu pud is eaten somewhere in the world every two seconds.  Gu puds are one popular snack if that is the case.  From what I can see, their major distribution channels are in the UK and France although apparently you can find them elsewhere.  Anyone in Canada selling these?

via the lovely room

via frupuds.com

via frupuds.com

via daily mail

via frupuds.com

cool espresso bar design

Tinderbox Espresso Bar in Islington, London first seen on We Heart, a great UK based lifestyle website that reports on everything cool and hip from a culture and design perspective.  They were spot on with Tinderbox.  It looks pretty cool if you ask me.  Look at the interior of this place put together by London-based Jonathan Clark Architecture!  I would love a space like this in Toronto for coffee, for meetings, for work and for fun.  A nice alternative to ubiquitous Starbucks.  The blogger behind Designing Lives said it right about this place that even if I didn’t need coffee, and I never do because I don’t drink the stuff, that Tinderbox Espresso Bar is a  place that is inviting enough that you would want to stop in and grab something.  Enjoy the shots below and your week.

via we heart

via we heart

via hipster collective

lolly pop shoes: bloch

Super cute shoes for the summer by Sydney, Australia based company, Bloch.  They come in all the cool lolly pop flavours and are two toned and candy coloured.  Love them.  They also look very comfy for the office or a night out.

via bloch shoes

thing makers: The Official Manufacturing Company

Witty sells.  Witty attracts.  Witty makes you think.  The Official Manufacturing Company out of Portland has the best “about us” I have seen in a while.  They call themselves “thing makers” aka very talented graphic designers.  This phrase is befitting to their company as they provide a wide range of services, too long to list, but if it has to do with marketing collateral, brand identity or some combination of the two, it looks like these guys can more than handle the job.  I would like to see them apply their skills to a wedding invitation, their aesthetic is very natural looking.  An event project by them would be on a level, no doubt.  For more behind the method check out their blog here.  And of course a big thanks to design forward blogger behind the artist and his model, for writting about this great graphic design company!

via the official manufacturing company "frances may rebrand"

packaging for Stumptown coffee

Property of Hangtags

spring cookies

Check out these cute cookies from Clockwork Lemon.  They are perfect for a spring celebration. 

serious cake talent: nine cakes

It is not very often that some serious cake talent emerges. 

I first read about Nine Cakes in Brooklyn on blog, Inspired Bride.  I was so captivated by the cake shots that I saw, I had to do some digging to find out the story behind these super sophisticated, confectionary structures.  Two years ago, Betsy Thorleifson, baker and owner of Nine Cakes started out doing cupcakes at the Brooklyn Indie Market.  Their spot on the TODAY show gave Betsy and Nine Cakes the visibility it needed and was picked up by the taste makers of the online world a la Daily Candy, Wedded Bits and Martha Stewart Weddings. I think the rest is history when you have exposure like that. 

The other interesting fact that made me smile is that Nine Cakes is located in Red Hook, where my other favourite bakery is located, Baked Bakery (I blogged about Baked here.)  What is up with that?  A serious baking talent cluster is emerging in Red Hook.

Not only will you be in complete and utter awe of the designs coming from Betsy’s bakery, what is equally impressive is her innovative flavour combinations in the cakes that change seasonally.   For example for spring there are lemon lavender, chocolate raspberry rosewater, chocolate earl grey and chocolate caramel fleur du sel cake combinations.  I like her strategy, change the flavours everymonth and keep customers coming back for more.   I really think the pictures speak for themselves.  It’s too bad that her desserts are limited to the tri-state area.

via Nine Cakes Flickr

via Nine Cake on Flickr

via Nine Cakes on Flickr

via Nine Cakes on Flickr

via Nine Cakes on Flickr

via Nine Cakes on Flickr

via Nine Cakes on Flickr

nuevo estilo

There is a great interior design magazine called Nuevo Estilo out of Spain.  It has some fabulous pictures and ideas for interior design if you are looking for some European flavour and inspiration. 

It is fitting that I found Nuevo Estilo.  Why this find is fitting you ask?  My brother recently got accepted into a Master of Finance program in Madrid and will be calling Spain his home as of September.  I can’t wait to put in my request for this magazine! 

via nuevo estilo Rimadesio showroom Madrid

via nuevo estilo

via nuevo estilo

via nuevo estilo

via nuevo estilo

via nuevo estilo

kitchens

I am kitchen hunting.  Hunting for layouts, hunting for styles, hunting for colours, hunting for materials.  The kitchen, in my mind is the most important room in a house because of its importance when it comes to food, socializing, entertaining.  Here is a collection of photos that I am totally digging right now. 

Commune Design Via Plastolux

via bolig magazine

via Bolig

via nirmada

via designeriskane

via boligmagasinet