Meade, who’s best known for painting directly onto the human body, chose to splash her panels with textural brushstrokes in a gorgeous shade of cobalt blue.

Vittoria, an artist and a poet whose pieces are often inspired by femininity and the female form, created a graphic work of art in which voluptuous curves cascade across the panels.

Illustrator and designer Brown wanted her panels to bring the relaxed feeling of being on vacation into the kitchen. Her colorful design is complete with a sunset, a rowboat, and turquoise water.

The panels can be mixed and matched with Samsung Bespoke’s portfolio of panel colors and finishes so you can truly design the fridge of your dreams. Pair Meade’s blue brushstrokes with dark blue and white for a more subdued effect, or contrast it with an unexpected pop of bright contrasting color. Vittoria’s design pulls right from Samsung’s available colors, so it’s easy to get a beautifully complementary effect. You can punch up Brown’s bright scene with clementine orange, yellow sunrise, or emerald green, or make it moodier with navy, charcoal, and morning blue.

“Lowe’s is the No. 1 home appliance retailer, and our customers know they can trust us to deliver on quality and innovation. But we also know they’re looking for the total home style package, with products that don’t just offer performance, but style and personal expression, too,” says Jen Wilson, Lowe’s Senior Vice President of Enterprise Brand and Marketing. “Through this collaboration with Samsung, a trusted leader in innovation, we’re thrilled to be bringing these one-of-a-kind panels to customers who are not only looking to upgrade their appliances, but are also craving a unique way to express their personal style through art.”

“Samsung’s Bespoke appliances embrace emerging home customization trends that express personality and style using bold colors, new materials, and artful designs,” adds Gary So, Vice President or Marketing and Digital Appliances at Samsung Electronics America. “Lowe’s limited-edition Bespoke refrigerator panels inspire more ways for consumers to personalize their living spaces and show off their style like never before.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ISwK9Y2pXk&feature=youtu.be

The Lowes x Samsung Bespoke Artists Series can be seen on display at select Lowe’s stores, and the entire line can be ordered and customized online as part of Lowe’s House of Style. Each panel is sold separately and can be switched with the other Bespoke panels. These artist panels will only be available for a limited time, but you can shop the whole Samsung Bespoke series as part of Lowe’s regular selection.

The post Samsung Partners with Lowe’s to Offer Exclusive Artist-Designed Custom Refrigerators first appeared on Dornob.

Speaking of his brand philosophy, Minale says: “We always start a home or space from the small touch points and metal fittings first and then work outwards, which is more in tune with how an industrial designer would tackle the subject of interior design — in short, it’s reversed.”

The company now has storefront locations in London and Stockholm, offering fittings and furniture for kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Hip light switch and electrical plate alternatives remain their bread and butter, but pieces like the burnt steel “Forked” pendant are also natural favorites.

Minale’s aesthetic takes its cues from his after-hours hobby of the past few years. “I was working as an architect by day and making custom motorbikes by night,” he explains. “In a garage in …East London, I taught myself how to transform stock vintage motorbikes into one-off customs. I made all the parts from scratch and started selling my motorbikes to London’s most notorious. Being an architect, requests soon turned from motorbikes to home fittings, and I set about making everything from door handles to toilet roll holders. The seed was planted and my love child between architecture and motorbikes was born, his name — Buster + Punch.”

After finding success in his career with architecture firms Foster + Partners and Richard Rogers, Minale launched his home fashion line in 2013, immediately striking a chord with London’s celebrity and sub-culture scenes with knurled knobs in the style of speaker switches and pendant lights that mimicked hand-held microphones.

Buster + Punch’s glam industrial aesthetic has led to numerous collaborations over the years, including the creation of the Rockstar Bar with Harrod’s, a liquor console made of solid American walnut with a quilted silk backing, a black-caged light, and 24-karat gold hardware. Another partnership with Rolls-Royce resulted in a bespoke version of the Buster Bulb, an LED lamp with a Royce-patented B22-fitting and a gold-plated bayonet cap. The one-off was available for just one night.

The firm’s Skull collection is the product of its most recent collaboration — this time with LA producer and Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Inserting the tattoo and skate culture icon into home decor, the anthology is made up of lights, candle holders, door stops, cabinet knobs, and even necklaces. The Skull Table lamp, for example, comes in all polished brass or solid steel with a distinguishing cranial fob on the end of the pull chain.

Attention to details like these is what Buster + Punch is all about. As Minale says on the company website, “In a nutshell, my mission is to reinvent forgotten home fittings into the unforgettable.”

The post Buster + Punch Brings Bold Motorcycle Vibes to Home Decor first appeared on Dornob.

Permanent or Portable?

Image via Pottery Barn

If you own your home and you’re ready to invest some cash into an outdoor entertaining area, you have a lot of options for installing permanent features, including a patio or deck surface, overhead protection, counters, and utilities. If you’re renting (or otherwise need your outdoor kitchen setup to be temporary), don’t despair. A gas or charcoal grill, a few weatherproof portable carts, an outdoor dining set, and an umbrella or two can serve you well, and most of the tips on this list will still apply.

Pick the Best Spot

Consider where you’d like people to gather in your yard, perhaps in a spot pointed toward the nicest view. You’ll also want to make sure you’ll have plenty of space for every outdoor kitchen element you desire. Choose a location that’s not too windy or fully exposed to the sun (unless you plan to cover it). It should also be close to the house, both for convenience while carrying food and other items back and forth, and for ease of running utility lines for electricity, water, and gas, if applicable.

Build Your Kitchen Around Your Grill

Image via Aquaterra

The grill is the center of attention, whether you go with a simple and inexpensive charcoal grill or an all-in-one outdoor kitchen setup complete with extra burners, a smoker, and a pizza oven. Just make sure its location is at least ten feet from combustible materials like wood siding, deck rails, and trees.

Set Up Four Main Zones: Cooking, Prep, Serving, and Entertainment

Your cooking zone, of course, is the area around your grill and other cooking appliances. The prep zone should include plenty of counter space for chopping and other tasks. The serving area is the spot where you’ll have plates, serving dishes, and other tableware waiting to be filled. Finally, your entertainment zone is where guests hang out while you cook. You can arrange these zones as an island with a separate dining table, an L-shape with a bar for guest seating, or a U-shape. However it’s laid out, make sure it’s clear where guests should sit or stand and where the cook can have a space free of obstacles to move around and handle hot objects.

Make It Weatherproof

Image via Mom’s Design Build

Choose tough materials that can withstand changes in temperatures and exposure to sun, rain, and wind. If you’re designing a built-in outdoor kitchen, you’ll start with either a metal, wood, or cement block frame, cover it in cement board backing, and add a cladding material like stucco, tile, stone, or brick.

Make Sure It’s Easy to Clean

You want your work surface to be smooth and non-porous so it doesn’t stain easily; experts recommend natural stone, cultured granite with UV stabilizers, or durable composite materials. Tile is cheap, but it can crack in climates with harsh winter weather, and cleaning the grout can get annoying. Quartz looks nice, but can yellow in the sun, and stainless steel gets very hot. If you choose concrete, it should be polished smooth on top and/or sealed.

Light It for Tasks and Ambiance

Image via Artistic Landscapes

Choose bright overhead lighting for work areas like above the grill and countertops, and softer, warmer lighting in gathering spaces. String lights, path lights, and perhaps even a chandelier can add a nice touch.

Design Your Outdoor Kitchen for Comfort

Cover cooking and seating areas to protect them from the rain and sun. A pavilion-style roof or lean-to roof off the side of your house offer the best coverage along with the ability to add gutters so you can enjoy the space in virtually all weather. Awnings and umbrellas are lightweight, affordable, and easy to move out of the way if you prefer to enjoy the sun. A pergola can also be a nice decorative choice, especially if it’s made of wood and serves as a sturdy structure for climbing greenery like grapevines, wisteria, or clematis. And of course, an outdoor fireplace or portable patio heater will give people something to gravitate toward in cooler temperatures.

Make It Fun

Image via Azuro Concepts

Before you finalize your design, think about whether you want to work a television or a sound system into the mix. You may also want to include custom niches or shelving to support them.

Don’t Forget Storage

Cabinets under your work surfaces are a great place to stash items like grilling tools, pots, pans, and outdoor tableware. You can also use storage benches, carts, or other detached, temporary storage furniture. Make sure there’s a pest-proof spot for your trash and recycling, too.

The post Design Your Own Customized Outdoor Kitchen with These 10 Tips first appeared on Dornob.

This particular apartment, called Gambetta after the street it’s on, features a layout running at an angle to the street-facing facade and rounded walls in the two main rooms, the kitchen/dining area, and the living room. So how exactly does one take an iconic Parisian apartment with this kind of unusual shape and modernize it for the 21st century — without losing its historic charm? Jean Benoît Vétillard Architecture decided to emphasize its curves, creating custom built-in furniture to amplify the preexisting theatrical character.

“The original plan is enlarged, and the lines of force are extended,” explain the architects. “The new composition is made of depths of field. So many backstage and stage spaces, more than serving spaces/served spaces. This new organization of domestic spaces is constructed by the punctual positioning of multifunctional furniture in oiled okoume wood and brushed aluminum.”

“The front of the kitchen table hides the access to the child’s bedroom, the bow window gives its shape to a modular tatami, the living room houses a large library, but also the parental bedroom, round by geometric mirror…the advantage of this design is that it does not alter the original structure, which remains unchanged. In their original material, the light of the Boulevard Gambetta, the white stucco, and the oak parquet floors have reappeared.”

The beauty of this renovation is that the architects have chosen to play up the apartment’s quirks and historic details rather than permanently eliminate or modify them. The brushed aluminum built-in bookcase that curves around the back wall of the living room contrasts with the all-white original trim around it, highlighting the geometries of the space. This material is seen again on the kitchen wall, where it’s joined by warm wooden tones that brighten up the room and complement the flooring.

The child’s bedroom, though small, is made functional thanks to a new built-in lofted bed above a series of built-in cabinets. The primary bedroom faces the back of the living room’s curved wall, now clad in the same wood as the kitchen cabinets. Most fun of all might just be the round modular seating in the living room, upholstered in a rich blue matching the adjacent curtains. It fits perfectly into the rounded nook beside the fireplace, its modern simplicity accented by the rusticity of the old wood floors. Overall, the design feels both mature and playful, contemporary and rooted in old Paris.

The post Curvy Paris Apartment Creatively Reimagined by Jean Benoît Vétillard Architecture first appeared on Dornob.

“I grew up in a ghetto. I grew up with hip hop. I watched legendary hip hop artists rap about Mercedes, so it was always a dream to own a Mercedes. For a lot of inner-city kids, owning a Mercedes is a symbol of progress and advancing out of struggle,” the artist said. “Now I’ve reached my goal and pushed even higher by re-imagining and creating my own vision of an AMG model.”

The charitable project called “The Flip” produced the unique “WILL.I.AMG” four-wheeler, a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S base mashed up with the Mercedes-AMG SLS and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the celebrity’s two other favorite models. The Black Eyed Peas-founder enlisted the help of West Coast Customs to make the modifications, which included giving it a G-Wagen’s boxy front end, replacing the four doors with two massive suicide doors, and converting to monoblock wheels with a collaboration logo in the center.

Will.i.am left the original interior and engine alone. “I didn’t touch the engine, because AMG really does make the best engines,” he shared. “The story of the founders of AMG truly inspires me and it is energizing to collaborate with like-minded people who also seek continuous improvement.”

The new logo, dubbed “BEAR WITNESS,” is a bear head with the Mercedes three-pointed star as a mouth. It’s also the major design focus of a limited-edition apparel and accessories line available on the company website.

In addition to an initial unveiling at the Formula Grand Prix in Miami, the WILL.I.AMG was also highlighted at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, along with a premiere of its own six-part documentary made by the entrepreneurial musician himself.

The original plan for the custom one-off was to auction it off, with the hopes of being able to fund “between 50 and 100 robotics programs, with 10 to 20 kids in each” in impoverished communities. Mercedes offered to buy the car instead, allowing all the money to go “The Flip” program, one of the many STEAM educational initiatives the artist supports through his i.am/Angel Foundation. Over the past decade, the organization has raised millions of dollars for the inclusion of courses on robotics, computer coding, information systems, computer-aided design, and art in underserved neighborhoods like will.i.am’s home town of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles

Mercedes is placing the WILL.I.AMG in its brand museum in Stuttgart, Germany. “The Flip” is just one of several joint efforts between the automaker and the singer-songwriter-rapper-record producer over the past year.

“Since mid-2021, will.i.am has partnered with Mercedes-AMG on a series of creative projects including the GT 4-Door Hybrid campaign and AMG Uncovered, but this new direction is much more than a partnership; it is a meeting of creative minds,” the company explains on its website. “will.i.am doesn’t only contribute his genius to our content and campaigns but is partnering with Mercedes-AMG as a company, collaborating on many forward-thinking and innovative projects.”

The post Will.i.am and Mercedes Join Forces on AMG One-Off for Charity first appeared on Dornob.

After seeing the listing, Steven Dimopoulos, a lawyer out of Las Vegas, contacted the auto brokerage on March 3rd to purchase the customized white-on-white French sports car. With an offer of $3.5 million, he verbally negotiated a contract with Josh Ayers, the owner of Die Trying Auto, after which Ayers allegedly promised to email Dimopoulos a copy to sign.

Instead, Ayers called the lawyer back, saying another buyer had outbid him but if the new buyer did not send in a deposit within a specific amount of time, Dimopoulos could still buy it. The two allegedly signed a contract to that effect.

When the time was up, however, Dimopoulos says he reached out about starting his buying process, but Ayers was hesitant. When Dimopoulos threatened to sue for breach of contract, he says Ayers hung up on him and refused to return his calls. That led to a March 9th lawsuit filed against Die Trying Auto, the Montana Company, and Excalibur, in which Dimopoulos is seeking $75,000 and the right to buy the celebrity ride.

Those unfamiliar with the car may be wondering why it’s causing all this fuss – but all it takes is a quick look at the specs and style to solve that mystery. First of all, the French brand will only be making 500 of its Chiron model, with just 300 on the road currently. Add to its rare nature the fact that Post Malone put in an additional $150,000 in upgrades, and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind vehicle.

Instead of the offered two-tone exterior, the celebrity opted for an entire finish in Glacier White (not surprising, since every car in Malone’s extraordinary auto fleet is the same achromatic shade). The inside coloring is also white with discreet touches of silver, red, and black. To further make it his own, the rapper with an affinity for face tattoos had a silver mesh front grill worth $38,200 installed, silver Caractere Wheels for another $64,000, and black brake calipers for $6,800. The interior got customized aluminum trim on the center console inlay for $10,900, and comfort seats with contrast-stitching cost him $32,000. With the upgrades alone adding up to the price of five new Mustang convertibles, potential buyers immediately knew this model was special.

The Chiron is equally impressive under the hood. Its quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16 engine provides 1,180 pounds of torque and a whopping 1,479 horsepower. The result is an acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.5 seconds. It also has a top speed of 261 mph, easily placing it within the fastest production models ever.

While Post Malone’s Chiron sale is legally tied up for now, those with a couple million dollars to drop on an exotic supercar can still go through the DuPont Registry for a quote.

The post Post Malone’s Sale of Tricked-Out Bugatti Chiron Sparks Lawsuit first appeared on Dornob.

Without a doubt, a trip to the Danish capital reveals a veritable splendor of design dynamism, from more famous buildings like The Playhouse, Portland Towers, and the Royal Danish Opera House to even the most commonplace spots.The new Connie-Connie café is one such place. Hip, colorful, and fashionably austere, this up-and-coming spot in Copenhagen Contemporary exudes a stylish modernism that’s distinctly Danish.

An international art center and bastion for creatives both locally and worldwide, Copenhagen Contemporary’s HQ itself is a work of art. Occupying the former site of the B&W Welding Hall, the eclectic space is the perfect blend of industrial vibes and immersive, contemporary spaces for artists and creators to display their work.

It comes as no surprise that its latest addition, dubbed the Connie-Connie Café, is similarly pushing the envelope when it comes to its creative design. Conceived by the imaginative firm Tableau in collaboration with Australian designer Ari Prasetya, the space is painted a vivid seafoam green from top to bottom. This bright hue dominates the room’s palette and sets the stage for the café’s real centerpiece: its 25 unique and distinctly designed chairs.

Dotted throughout the café and exhibited like fully functional works of art, it’s hard not to notice these chairs. Curated by Studio Tableau from 25 different artists, the café’s chairs and benches were all made using Douglas fir off-cuts provided by Danish wood flooring company Dinesen — the same group that inspired the café’s distinctive green color palette. The bar, desk, tables, and three additional chairs were created by Prasetya and perfectly complement the eclectic parade of stylish seating.

The chairs’ creators, consisting of 25 artists hailing from Denmark and around the world, were each asked to design a wooden chair or bench to showcase furniture’s creative capabilities. And design they did, seeing as how no chair in the collection is alike. From blocky benches to shapely seats, chunky, industrial benches to delicate wooden wonders, each one is a work of art, highlighting the ability of furniture to go beyond its essential functionality and enter the sphere of artistic possibility.

All of these chairs and tables are available for purchase at Tableau’s online shop — the perfect opportunity for guests to adorn their own spaces with the café’s creatively curated furnishings.

So much more than just a spot to grab a cup of coffee, Copenhagen Contemporary’s Connie-Connie Café is also a stage for an exhibition of its own, featuring one-of-a-kind chairs that perfectly showcase the Danish capital’s penchant for dynamic, forward-thinking design.

The post Take a Seat on a Work of Art at Copenhagen’s Connie-Connie Café first appeared on Dornob.

If you’ve seen The Great, Hulu’s comedic re-imagination of Catherine’s life starring Elle Fanning, you already know about the horse. By all accounts, Catherine was bold, fearless, and sexually liberated, qualities that many people found (and still find) intimidating. Though she died in her own bed of a stroke at the age of 67, an undisputed historical fact, people were so scandalized by her sexuality and vigor during her life that they started whispering that her death actually occurred while copulating with a horse, a rumor that has persisted ever since. It probably didn’t help that she was kind of a horse girl, frequently seen hanging out in the stables. In the series, horse-related rumors start to dog the Empress long before her death.

But one rumor that does appear to be true is the existence of two pieces of truly jaw-dropping X-rated furniture. You’re going to want to check out this Buzzfeed piece examining the table and chair in all their pornographic glory, because it’s absolutely hilarious. The furniture was discovered by Wehrmacht soldiers in 1941, who were invading the palaces as part of Operation Barbarossa, an attempt by Hitler to overthrow the Soviet regime. They supposedly took these two photographs of the custom-made furniture before the palaces were bombed, and their contents destroyed in the ensuing fires.

Though their existence was only officially documented some 150 years after her death, historians are pretty confident these pieces were Catherine’s. People had long talked about Catherine’s legendary erotic furniture, which was likely hidden away in private rooms after her son Paul I succeeded her on the throne. In fact, they said it was part of an entire “sex room” Catherine had crafted for her proclivities. There’s still some question, however, as to whether the accounts of the Nazis who photographed the pieces can really be trusted. In any case, the photographed pieces were recreated by a French furniture maker in lurid color to preserve their memory.

While the lewdest rumors about Catherine the Great were most likely invented by her political enemies, there’s no denying her sexual voraciousness. During her three decades of rule, which began when she was forced into an arranged marriage at the age of 16 to Peter, her second cousin, she’s estimated to have had affairs with as many as 22 different men. Peter was said to be a childlike alcoholic who spent most of his time playing with toy soldiers while Catherine took comfort elsewhere. Among her paramours was Russian military officer Sergei Saltykov, thought to be the father of one or more of her children. Stanslauv Poniatowski fathered another one of her daughters, and Russian lieutenant Grigory Orlov, who helped her overthrow Peter, may have fathered one of her sons.

A recent dramatization of Catherine’s rule starring Helen Mirren, HBO’s Catherine the Great, captures some of the affairs that occurred in the ruler’s later years. Among them was one of her favorites, army commander Grigory Potempki (she is said to have cast his “elephantine sexual equipment” in porcelain so she could “console herself” when he was away). The series also brings to life reports that Catherine had potential lovers road-tested by her best friend, lady-in-waiting Countess Praskovya Bruce.

Some may be eager to demonize Catherine for her liberal sexuality, but the historical timeline shows that she embarked on each of these affairs one at a time, and truly loved many of her partners. For, as the real Catherine once wrote, “I cannot live for a single hour without love.”

The post Russian Empress Catherine the Great Collected Wild X-Rated Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

The result is the ASB Nautilus, which the company calls “the world’s first whirlpool made entirely out of glass.” The design is as simple as can be: just four sides made of transparent glass and a solid floor. That allows it to virtually disappear during the day, so you barely even notice it’s there. But at night, it “becomes the protagonist at the touch of a button,” as built-in lighting turns it into a visual focal point even when it’s not in use.

That means instead of tucking it away in a corner or sinking it into the ground so it’s less of an eyesore, you can put it on full display. Measuring about six by six feet wide and three feet tall, it offers a minimalist silhouette framed with stainless steel and features an array of lighting schemes that start simple in the MK I model and get more complex with the MK II and MK III versions. The MK I has an RGB LED strip running around the perimeter of the tub, the MK II can be illuminated across the whole surface of the floor, and the MK III has a full LED screen with video content to offer “an incredibly immersive spa experience.”

All three models can be programmed to light up in your preferred colors, but the MK III gives you the most options. You can even livestream to the screen if you want, watching programming through the water. The company imagines this feature being particularly valuable for logos and other brand content. It’s kind of weird to imagine trying to watch anything more than some ambient visuals, but it could be cool to project custom creations for parties and events, too.

The Nautilus hot tub also comes with a heating system that can be placed as far as 15 feet away from the tub and three easy-fix pipes that supply water and air. The connections are hidden beneath steps providing access to the tub on all sides. The standard tub heats up by one to two degrees Celsius per hour, taking up to eight hours to be ready to enjoy, while the premium version heats up in half the time. The premium versions also include a high-end UV cleaning system, and every tub comes with an insulated cover in your choice of color.

Some users might miss the molded plastic seating that makes standard hot tubs comfortable to sit in. The Nautilus doesn’t have jets, either. “We believe that the concept of limiting the user to present seating configurations takes away from the experience the Nautilus is designed to provide,” the company explains. “An experience much closer to the Japanese Onsen culture where one floats in hot water admiring the view or relaxing the weary body along the way. It is a ritual of indulgence and immersive-ness. For this reason we believe the lighting aspects of the Nautilus are of superior nature over the gimmicky massage jets and plastic benches.”

The ASB Nautilus is currently custom-made to order, so you have to contact the company if you want to purchase one.

The post ASB Nautilus: The World’s First All-Glass Hot Tub first appeared on Dornob.

Among Japan’s most beautiful vernacular architecture, Shinto shrines are considered the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto gods. While the full-sized shrines draw visitors to marvel at their beauty, pay respects to the kami, and pray for good fortune, miniature versions called kamidana offer a way for individuals to invite the kami into their homes. Translating literally to “god/spirit-shelf” in English, kamidana are usually placed high up on a wall and used to display items related to Shinto-style ceremonies, like shintai, which are objects that house a chosen kami, giving it a physical representation to worship.

While traditional kamidana vary from small and simple shapes to more ornate shrine reproductions, architect Naohiko Shimoda has created a pair that are a bit more contemporary in style. For the latest one, Shimoda used incredibly narrow lengths of miniature lumber to construct a minimalist structure with a complex framework underneath it, almost as if a Shinto shrine were elevated on stilts to take advantage of a beautiful view.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKfv_oOjwq3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKVefAcDwqb/

Presented on Instagram, the bespoke miniature shrine is just as fascinating in tightly-framed detail views as it is taken in as a whole. In some of Shimoda’s older Instagram posts, he shows off architectural models he’s built for his full-scale projects, and you can see a similarly complex structure underpinning his boxy modern designs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BttFzKPj7vW/

This is the second such miniature Shimoda has custom-designed for a client. In 2018, he created “Kamidana in the corner,” a shrine that fits an outer corner rather than an inner one. Both designs take on more of a symbolic and decorative role than the shelf-like type of traditional kamidana that’s capable of supporting objects, but there’s still something powerful about the delicacy of their construction. The almost toothpick-thin supports give them an appearance of transience, as if they might pick up and leave in the night of their own volition.

“In general, architecture is too large, so we design using the concept of ‘scale.’ However, there is no scale on the kamidana,” Shimoda says. “Although the figure looks like a miniature, it always appears at a scale of one-third. The purpose of the kamidana is to build a company in the house, and there is a practical aspect that it must be a small company for that purpose. However, because it is a small company and a company that humans cannot enter, there is a sense of scale that is a method (maniella) peculiar to kamidana that has escaped from the human scale.”

“As a result, the driving force that determines the design is purely the details that create the beauty and corporateness of the proportions. This time, the proportions of each part are based on the aspect ratio (1:10) at which the architecture reveals its commemoration, and the details incorporate elements of temples and shrines nationwide. This is because a certain sense of déjà vu is important for the kamidana (= company). When a person prays for something, he or she needs a yorishiro to accept that thought. At that time, yorishiro needs some kind of production that makes it easy for people to think about it. The déjà vu effect used this time is a receptor that accepts the thoughts of those who pray.”

The post Miniature Shinto Shrine by Architect Naohiko Shimoda Offers a New Take on Tradition first appeared on Dornob.

The tricked-out “Land Rover Defender” was converted by the Polish shipyard for exclusive use by the Massai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) to help in its efforts to protect the ecosystems of east Africa.

Sunreef’s founder took a special interest in helping to customize the rugged car. “The company’s leading position in sustainable yachting motivates us to share our knowledge and know-how with inspiring partners,” explains President Francis Lapp on the company website, adding that “the MWCT brings a fantastic vision to life: working with the proud Maasai community to protect Kenya’s unique natural heritage and wildlife. The definition of responsible travel that the trust promotes is one-of-a-kind and I feel Sunreef Yachts shares the same philosophy.”

Lapp’s firm got started in 2002, when his luxury sailing tour business was unable to secure enough suitable vessels for the clientele. He subsequently founded Sunreef Yachts to provide state-of-the-art sailing and power catamarans for the growing global demand. Mixing his “fascination with cutting-edge technology, safety, efficiency, and care for the environment,” the president and company unveiled their eco-yachts in 2019: boats that feature silent, zero-emission, electric propulsion engines and hundreds of roof and wall-mounted solar panels.

The new safari roadster is a product of Lapp’s love for the Earth, as well as his personal experience with converting off-road vehicles for his numerous 4×4 races (in fact, it was a motor race that first brought him to Poland and gave him the idea to start his business there). Getting his hands dirty for this worthy cause, Lapp worked with his team to cut out the enclosed back of the UK-purchased Land Rover, giving it a still-recognizable yet much more airy profile.

The company then attached solar panels to the roof, using the same revolutionary tech only found on Sunreef’s sleek eco-catamarans. The engine was also given an electric upgrade, with a commanding battery reservoir built to handle all the demands of the African landscape. The team notes that “the mechanical and electrical systems were specifically calibrated to respond to the needs of the eco-luxury lodges” based on the requests of the MWCT.

For the past 20 years, the conservation group has run high-end “responsible tourism” operations that focus on being green. Its Campi Ya Kanzi in southern Kenya is a boutique eco-lodge that makes use of rain cropping for water, photovoltaic panels for electricity, and earth-friendly charcoal stoves. The MWCT also runs the Chyulu Wilderness Camp, a program that gives international students a chance to both experience the beauty of east Africa and get involved in preservation undertakings like reforestation, working alongside the Massai people.

With the donation of this unique Defender, MWCT can now chauffeur the people on their safari tours around in sustainable style, more consistent with their core values.

And this cool Land Rover overhaul may not be the last crossover scheme to come out of the shipyard. “The Sunreef Yachts Eco technology designed for yachts is now applied to an electric car,” Lapp adds. “I am happy to witness this evolution and am confident it will lead to more exciting projects.”

The post Sunreef Yachts Uses Eco-Tech to Trick Out an African Safari Vehicle first appeared on Dornob.

From thousands of entries, “The Etsies” selected 100 finalists across ten categories, including category winners, Grand Prize winners, and the first-ever People’s Choice Award winner. You can check out the full list selected by judges Drew Barrymore and Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson (whom you may know from NBC’s Making It) on the site, though we’ve taken the liberty of narrowing it down to a few personal favorites here:

Grand Prize Winner: Stackton Credenza by AdrianMartinus

“The Stackton Credenza is so beautiful, and at first glance, one would never know that it is actually made out of recycled skateboards…how cool is that?!” says Barrymore of this Grand Prize Winner, which earned creator AdrianMartinus $15,000 in prize money. The rainbow stripes give this sleek piece of furniture ($4,370) a modern, playful, and unique look.

People’s Choice Award Winner: Ombre Gemstone Ring by Dani Barbe

The public chose this lovely ombre stacking ring ($126) by Dani Barbe as its favorite offering, featuring green gemstones set in a hand-hammered gold-plated band made of recycled metal. “With hiddenite, prasiolite, peridot, green tourmaline, emerald, and green garnet (yes, garnet does come in green!), your finger will sparkle in stunning shades of green,” says the seller.

Weddings Category Winner: Estelle Celestial Wedding Dress by Wardrobe by Dulcinea

It’s easy to see why this was a standout entry. After all, Etsy is a great place to find custom wedding gowns you won’t see anywhere else, and Wardrobe by Dulcinea hit a home run with the “Estelle Celestial Wedding Dress” ($888). Made to the buyer’s exact measurements for a perfect fit, the two-piece gown features a bodysuit with cape sleeves and an A-line skirt, all covered in sparkling silver and gold sequin stars.

“My hope is that my separates get worn after the wedding as well, to a festive New Year’s Eve celebration, for example, or an extra-special anniversary dinner,” says designer Inge Stalyte.

Pets Category Winner: Wall Shelf Cat Bed by Cosy and Dozy

Pet furniture is no longer as ugly and utilitarian as it used to be. In fact, some of it is downright cool-looking, adding some flair to the home in its own right. Cosy and Dozy’s Wall Shelf Cat Bed ($207) gives cats the high vantage point they love and features a comfortable and stylish curved design topped with a cushion.

“For us, animals are family members, so we wanted to make sure our two adopted kitties had a place where they’d feel safe and at home,” says Poland-based design duo Magdalena and Wojtek Zajdel.

Art Category Winner: Macrame Plant Hanger by Demi Macrame Designs

We’ve all seen macrame plant hangers galore, but this one is different. Demi Macrame Designs integrated a small planter pocket into the center of a woven wall-hanging art piece ($1,300), recommending vining plants like pothos that will trail down the front in dramatic fashion. “The color story is made possible by the hand-dyed cotton string that accompanies the natural cotton and raffia fibers.”

Finalist: Face Trays by Madriguera Workshop

Embodying hip, pared-down Millennial style, these ceramic Face Trays ($93.90) by Madriguera Workshop look cool as display pieces propped up on a shelf or in practical use as serving plates for parties, and they’re 100-percent handmade.

Entry: Fluted Club Chair by Wren and Cooper

It may not have been a winner, but the Fluted Club Chair by Wren and Cooper definitely still deserves a moment to shine. Solid wood, deeply fluted panels supported by a lacquered steel base with handmade solid brass-brushed feet form its body, which itself is topped with a couple of super comfy-looking cushions. To top it all off, the semi-circle arm rests made of saddle leather give the chair a graphic edge.

The post Shop Our Favorites from the Second Annual Etsy Design Awards first appeared on Dornob.

It seems too strange to be real – a home emerging from a set of giant stones, seemingly cut out of the rock itself. Yet there it stands in rural Portgual with the pictures and video to prove it. No, it is not an optical illusion nor a fancy photo-editing job … this is the real deal.

As the television interview illustrates, the home is truly bordered by two boulders that inform the interior spaces – but it is also filled in with smaller stones to finish the effect. Crooked windows complete the curious picture on the outside while rough-cut log furniture, stairs and railings add to the organic feel of the interior spaces. Of course, this design is naturally eco-friendly as it incorporates local materials and more natural elements requiring less energy to turn into structural supports, finishes or cladding.

Inspired by none other than the Flintstones, this is not a work of installation art nor a themed hotel – it is simply the private residence of one person who saw a unique design opportunity and creatively integrated the natural environment while constructing his custom home on hill with a view (images via Jsome).

The post Rock the House: Bizarre Rural Boulder and Stone Home Design first appeared on Dornob.

Even at first glance, you can tell that this home is one of a kind. The dream retreat features an angular silhouette with a cantilevered upper level clad in dramatic black cedar, the roof extending down on one side to form a protective carport suggestive of a raven’s wing. The glazed lower level is partially enveloped by the rocky landscape, offering sweeping views in some rooms and gazing directly into the cutaway terrain in others.

Naturally, one of the house’s biggest selling points is a glass gallery-style room where luxury cars can be displayed, visible from the adjacent glass-walled wine lounge to maximize opportunities for admiration. Here, the latticed wooden wine rack makes visual reference to Aston Martin’s logo while creating just a little bit of separation between the two spaces.

While S3 Architecture handled much of the design process, Aston Martin had a heavy hand in the interior design and furnishings, outfitting the spaces with parquet flooring, leather details, marble-topped tables, and leather-trimmed seating.

If you’re a fan of contemporary horror films, the Sylvan Rock treehouse is sure to give you a thrill. Its design, coupled with the remote surroundings, is highly reminiscent of the setting for Ari Aster’s nightmarish 2018 film Hereditary. If you don’t have that association in your head, of course, it’s just a lovely addition to the retreat, set on bark-clad log supports and complete with suspended hammocks.

“When designing, we always let the land speak first and respond to it,” says S3 Architecture partner and Registered Architect Christopher Dierig. “The roofline mimics the jagged edges of the rock ledge reaching down into the earth, as if the home is born of and launching from the landscape. The resulting design blends our modernist aesthetic with the privacy and context of the rural location to create a unique luxury experience.”

The estate is “a strong marriage of design sensibilities,” says Cathal Loughnane, head of Aston Martin partnerships. He adds that “creating a luxury residence with warm textures, bold forms, and exceptional privacy is very aligned with Aston Martin’s own vision. We wanted the owner and their guests to experience the three-dimensional feel of the house in an organic way, just like you experience one of our cars — there is no single facade that dominates. Fully integrated into its surroundings and the community, Sylvan Rock is rare example of a complete residential work of art.”

Boasting 8,430 square feet of floor space, the home is accessed by a long driveway leading up to a lower entrance that just happens to pass by the automotive gallery. It will also have multiple outbuildings, including a series of pods that can adapt to multiple uses, like extended guest stays, remote offices, business retreats, and home schools.

Unsurprisingly, Aston Martin has a car recommendation to go along with the home, as if pairing a wine with a fine meal. The DBX, also designed with S3 Architecture, features an onyx black exterior, while the interior includes Oxford Tan leather, black Q brogue stitching, and hardwood inlay.

The post Aston Martin Designs Sleek New “Sylvan Rock” Home in New York first appeared on Dornob.

A new company called “Maskalike” makes it possible to do exactly that by printing photos onto reusable, non-medical-grade face masks. Created by San Francisco-based designer, inventor, and artist Danielle Baskin, the project lets you protect yourself while remaining recognizable and, theoretically at least, unlocking your phone using Face ID. You just upload your face using their web app, preview and tweak the image, and they’ll print the mask, even matching the elastic band to your skin tone. “Our masks are sure to make people around you do double-takes and have a brighter day,” reads the site.

Modeling her own mask, Baskin demonstrates that you can hardly tell she’s wearing it until you see her pull it down. The effect is slightly creepy, though the ability to see each other’s faces might be comforting for some people. However, the service also opens up the possibility of wearing other people’s faces.

Maskalike has already printed a run of masks featuring “Hide the Pain Harold” of popular meme fame, which has completely sold out, and nobody’s going to stop you from printing up pretty much any other face you like. Wish you had the lips of Angelina Jolie or the chiseled jawline of Henry Cavill? Go for it. Baskin also offers a “Getty Images” face mask, so if anyone takes a photo of you in public, they won’t be able to post it anywhere — an interesting security tactic for protestors.

If you need a little extra protection, Baskin also plans to sell custom-printed N95 “Face ID Masks.”

The Maskalike team explains that “after uploading your face, we use computational mapping to convert your facial features into an image made into a mask. Our printer uses inks made of natural dyes. It’s non-toxic and doesn’t affect breathability. You can use your mask for everyday life as a barrier for airborne particle droplets. Why? If you’re sick, wearing a mask makes it hard to use your biometric data to access your phone.”

“While some companies have been funded to work on technology that identifies medical mask-wearers, we created a less complicated version: printing your face on the mask itself. After research and tests, we developed a contoured version of our masks that’s compatible with depth sensors. You just need to set it as an additional face.”

The site says the idea “started as a joke,” but is now in active development. The masks are not quite ready to ship yet, but you can add yourself to the wait list to be notified when they are. If you know of a company that can either help with sewing or fulfillment “to meet the crazy high demand,” check out the site and send Baskin an email.

If you prefer to make your own masks, here are three methods for sewing CDC-approved designs and free print files for 3D-printable versions.

The post Cool or Creepy? Custom Face Masks Printed to Look Like Actual Faces first appeared on Dornob.

A new job offer from Olivia’s, a luxury furniture and homeware brand based in London, is seeking virtual interior design consultants for the game, paying upwards of £40 per hour. To get the gig, you must have a working knowledge of the game, but you don’t even necessarily have to have previous job experience in interior design. What’s most important is simply how good you are at creating these virtual interiors.

Obviously, the gig is remote, so you can do it from anywhere and get paid to play. Those hired will evaluate their clients’ current setups, provide creative feedback, suggest new ideas that stay within their budgets, and create multiple designs for each client that can be switched up in the future.

“The release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons couldn’t have come at a better time,” says Olivia’s founder Nick Moutter. “With everyone social distancing… this game allows them to stay connected while immersing themselves in a virtual world away from the stresses and restrictions of current life.”

It’s a pretty unusual job, but it’s already possible for people to make money selling digital items in games like Second Life and Minecraft, so it only makes sense that more official employment like this might become more common in the future. What starts as a way to earn a little bit of extra money playing with digital home furnishings could very well spark a career in the emerging field of augmented/virtual reality design.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers players lots of opportunities to get creative. When setting up your spaces, you’re faced with all kind of decisions, like architectural styles, wall colors, textiles, patterns, surfaces, and furniture. With low stakes and practically anything you can think of at your fingertips, you can play around with things that are harder to experiment with in real life, like large expanses of bold wallpaper. Trying out different combinations and layouts could help many people hone their skills, even if they’ve never been particularly interested in real-world interior design before.

If you’re looking for some tips, many of the same concepts apply to both. Avoid placing furniture along the walls, and create individual zones of ‘floating’ furniture for an effect that’s both welcoming and functional. For instance, you might dedicate one corner of the living room to a reading area with an armchair, lamp, side table, houseplant and room divider screen. Make sure the furniture and rugs are proportionate to the scale of the room, and add some details that are uniquely you.

You can apply to be an official Olivia’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons virtual interior design consultant at the brand’s website. If you’re a player hoping to jazz up your own home in the game, the page offers a link to request the service, too. In the meantime, check out a guide to customizing furniture within the game, and find inspiration in the Reddit sub r/HorizonDesigns.

Images courtesy of Reddit users u/tilapiasenpai, u/Phantomdragon78, and u/MayorOfOHimark

The post Animal Crossing Players Are Now Getting Paid for Interior Design Services first appeared on Dornob.