Emergent Patterns: Game Wallpapers Beat Dull Wall Decor Repeating patterns are at the heart of most wallpapers, as they are part of the core of many simple, old-school, paper-and-pen games. While elementary in design (and execution), these basic black-and-white wallpaper designs feature an element of creative, unique and ultimately unpredictable emergent design that makes them grow more complex with tiime. The first layer – the original printed design – is as simple as it gets: a series of mazes, tic-tac-toe boards and crossword puzzles that naturally lend themselves to virtually infinite extension in any direction. Created by CinqCinq, these have been placed as the backdrops of art installations and waiting room interiors- perfect places to encourage spontaneous interaction. By setting out specific colors of pencil, pen, crayon or marker, the designer (or space owner) gets to exert another level of control but ultimately leaves the finished product in the hands of people who pass through a given space.
‘Hook Wall’ System: Multi-Use, Wall-Mounted Metal Storage Inspired by a combination of rhythmic regularity of computer punch cards and decorative whimsy of musical note scores, this modular system of wall hooks is designed to be more than just a minimalist storage surface – it is also an idea for animated a home or office wall in a new and interesting way. Known for taking anything from large-scale contemporary architecture to small-space modern interior/furniture design and then adding his own unique twists, Jean Nouvel made this custom corrugated metal ‘wallpaper’ to perform a number of basic functional tasks: supporting works of art, filing cabinets, decorative shelves and so forth in a home or office setting.
C and H Reader requests - bathrooms with colour This request comes from Becky: "I need some help revamping my bathroom. Right now its a soft gray and I'm kind of tired of it, kind of blah. So I'm wondering if you have any inspiration for color in a bathroom? Todd Alexander Romano Elle Decor Lucy Berridge Living Etc. Living Etc. Best places in the U.S. to survive the apocalypse: Greenbrier Interested in uplifting stories on the natural world, sustainable communities, simple food, and new thinking on how to live well? Please enter a valid email address and try again! No thanks Reactive Paint (by @baekdal) #design Shi Yuan has created a way to turn normally passive things into something with a life of its own. Like this wallpaper that reacts to heat, the painting that react when you touch it, or the daily calendar that fades away during the day. It is made using heat sensitive paint - and it is incredible. Heat Sensitive Wallpaper Turn up the heat and your wallpaper starts to blossom. ...and now on. A painting with feelings Show people how you feel by touching the painting. The day that simply faded away... Watch how the day slowly fades away with this calendar (Via Shi Yuan) Follow: 42Concepts
Change It! by Amirko aka Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov & Yanko Design Everchanging Wallnado That’s another name for this product that I just made up! I mean the name, that is, this concept was designed by the incomparable Amirko, and it’s real name is “Change It!” Ohh scoop it! It’s one big wall of turn-triangles. Each of these triangles has different colors on them – white – black – and a slightly unique rainbow shade. What combination of madness can be made? For now it’s the colors as explained above. Designer: Amirko aka Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov
Pipe Lights by MESH Architectures Eric Liftin, principal of MESH Architectures handcrafts pipe lights in a variety of configurations including custom insalls. The fixtures are made from iron plumbing pipe and almost have the appearance of tree branches. The fixtures cast a low, soft light akin to candlelight, but unlike candles these lamps can be switched or dimmed with a simple touch. Vessel Series 01-03 by Samuel Wilkinson for Decode London designer Samuel Wilkinson created these mouth-blown glass lamps specifically to house the Plumen 001 low-energy light bulbs released by Hulger last month (see our earlier story). Called Vessel Series 01-03, the designs produced by British brand Decode feature three different cuts, allowing them to be suspended or laid on a table. The product was launched at The Tramshed and 100% Design during the London Design Festival last month. See all our stories about the London Design Festival » The text that follows is from Wilkinson: Vessel Series 01-03 by Samuel Wilkinson for Decode Samuel Wilkinson presents his new Vessel series under Decode’s ‘Exclusive’ label. When illuminated the glass tint mutes the light without hiding the form and produces an unexpected irregular reflection that appears holographic. The outer wall of the Vessels is pierced by a fluid machined aluminium form which holds the bulb in the centre of the volumes. The series was previewed at 100% design and the Tramshed 2010.
DIY Solar Lamp: Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Sun Jars The principle is simple and seductively clever: solar lights that store energy during the day and release light at night. These can be purchased ready-made in a variety of colors (yellow, blue and red) but they can also be built at home. A simple, less-technical approach involves buying a conventional solar-powered yard lamp and then essentially harvesting it for key pieces to put in a jar. This is simply a way of taking an existing solar lamp design and appropriating its parts to make something more attractive for display around a house or home. A more electronically-savvy individual can take the more complex route and built a solar lamp from the ground up using small solar panels – though the aesthetic result may not be as impressive. Whatever route you choose to go, these are fun and sustainable gadgets that make it easy to go green, automate the process of turning on lights at night and can add some color to your porch, patio, garden or windowsill.
Make Room! Cool Color-Changing Walls for Your Home This may be the best room-changing design idea since interior house paint: forget your white living room walls, green bedroom or brown kitchen and bring your favorite rooms to life with these incredible, changeable and colorful do-it-yourself pixelated wall displays. Feeling dark? Switch from colorful rainbow patterns to a pitch black surface in seconds. Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov (better known as Amirko) has come up with this simple but dynamic wall decor idea for transforming an ordinary surface into a do-it-yourself design canvas that lets you set the tone (or tones) depending on your mood.