This house is called simply “House in Iporanga” and it was made by Arthur Casas, and is a beautiful example of minimalistic design. “I always wanted a house in the middle of the forest, in a place where I could relax and recharge my energy”, says Arthur. In the form of two large symmetrical cubes embracing an open space, this house was idealised as his dream house. Arthur’s aim was interiors in total synergy with exteriors. Bringing the outside in are 11 meter floor to ceiling glass windows, on both ends of the open central space. Cumaru wood paneling runs from top to bottom in an attempt to match and blend in with is beautiful surroundings. - Via

Designed by Aykut Erol the Line Furniture System is a metal wire system made with a single stroke or line. This system has everything from a lamp, to coat hook, to shelving, to TV set, to even a wine and CD racks! The most important characteristic of “Line” is it being a no-break line. Theoretically, the system extends infinitely with a single line regenerating itself. As a final word, the design is simple, and very creative, but the whole concept is not to practical unfortunately. - Via - 1, 2

Ouch. With oil selling at record prices, filling up our cars at the pump really hurts our wallets these days. Global demand, especially from rapidly growing economies like China and India, is far outstripping our capacity to produce enough oil. So it makes more and more sense to curb our dependence on crude. Perhaps a good way to remind us to change our oil guzzling lifestyle is this gold tone oil can tea set made by Designcommando (Germany). The designers called their creation Beautifuel Life because “We all have a beautiful life that is given to us by oil and fuel.”

The coffee service is porcelain. For the exclusive series, the oil can is covered with real gold. It is painted gold for the normal series. The gold colour serves as a daily reminder that the cost of oil may as well be in the same category as the precious metal itself. So each morning you pour your favourite beverage from the oil can pot, you will be conscious of draining supplies.

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Mosaics are great additions to home decor, not just for floors and walls but tables. Mosaic tiling on tables is not new but many of those you come across would not suit a contemporary style. So it is delightful to see the work of designer Brad Teasdale, co-founder of Brooklyn Glassworks, NY. He is ” the pioneer of exclusive techniques that blend contemporary concrete and glass design with classical mosaic craftsmanship.” His nested tables are an example of that skill. It is made of concrete, kiln formed glass and stainless steel and demonstrates his artistry with contrast and placements.

For those who prefer the warmer tones of wood, his custom designed Colourshapes table shows his versatility with mosaics on organic material. Overall this is one designer who is able to combine art with utilitarian function. Teasdale does custom installations of a wide variety of tile applications including furniture, architectural features and fine art. He could be called a modern mosaic master. - Via

Sculptural furniture with its shapely forms can become voluptuous additions to your decor. The full-bodied approach to such furniture can best be seen by the work of John-Paul Melia and Lucy Tatam, who are the designers behind MeliaDesignUK. They work primarily from man-made boards and a range of real wood veneers, some of which are new and exotic. Each handmade design is finished with either a luxurious high-gloss polished lacquer or with a semi-matte laminate. The i.drawers sideboard or chest of drawers suits contemporary living spaces. Its three runnerless drawers glide out with the help of chromed air vents at the back of each drawer which release the vacuum. Colour choices are offered for this $5,995 sideboard.

The award winning Macassar Ebony real wood veneer coffee table is a bentwood luxury for $5,995. This handmade curvaceous beauty was meticulously finished with 10 coats of tough lacquer with sanding between coats - much the same way prestige cars are pimped. Fine sanding with five grades of sandpaper followed the last coat and then the final polish for a glass like sheen. The same finishing technique was also applied for the funky and cool looking luna drawers available in either dark wood or pale colours. This two drawer piece retails for $4,895. - Via