Design Folder: Your Online Design and Decorating Resource

fashion meets design: from shirt art to wall graphics

Late last year, Lilli introduced me to Threadless, a Chicago-based online shirt store which is known for their fun and witty graphic tees and hoodies. What’s interesting about Threadless is that they never run out of new designs! Thanks to their “open call” strategy wherein everyone is invited to submit a design which will be put to a public vote. Designs with the highest scores get printed, while the artists behind them receive a cash prize and store credit.  During their amazing sale last December ($5 per tee on selected designs), I got Green Guide and myself some tees including the one above entitled “Pillow Fight”.

Yesterday, while browsing through their shirts, I learned that some of their popular designs also have wall decal and art print versions! Threadless produce the designs as art prints and stretched canvases, while the wall decals are available through Blik.

Who knew these shirts will look great in a room?!

Take advantage of their ongoing sale ($10 per tee on all designs!)  which runs until August 30. You can check their tees HERE. Their art prints and canvases are available HERE while the Threadless wall decals by Blik are HERE.

Happy long (for us here in the Philippines) weekend! -ardel

space matters: mau’s eco-elegant design

“Design to inspire” is the prevailing theme of Maureen Grace De Jesus’s winning entry for MADE 2010, Interior Design category. Entitled “Eco-elegant Sustainable Future”, Mau tapped on the recent Ondoy catastrophe to create an interior space that could motivate people to rethink their lifestyle towards becoming more environment-friendly.

One thing noticeable is the recurring use of trees as the inspiration for her design elements. “One reason why we suffer from the adverse effects of global warming is the continuous depletion of our rainforests. My design intends to inspire people to take action against global warming by protecting our trees and our forests,” Mau explains.

The caption “Only God can make a tree” from a poem by Joyce Kilmer and the painted silhouette of a tree by the living area are two strong images that one would see upon entering the space. Apart from tree-related symbols, Mau also integrated the use of recycled wood in her design as a greener alternative. The wall behind the statement is clad in old wood that were salvaged from a junk shop. The tracery panels partially covering the lighting fixtures at the ceiling are discarded old callado panels from Mau’s home. To decorate the interiors, Mau made paintings that feature trees as the subject. Bringing everything together is the use of the color green for the walls to further emphasize the idea.

Apart from taking home the grand prize, Mau says that she also learned more about environmental design through her participation in the contest. “MADE gave me an opportunity to reflect on the issue and translate it into an elegant and comfortable interior space,” Mau shares. This resulting space is her expression of how it is to design and live with nature. {Thanks Mau!}

*photos courtesy of Federal Land

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space matters: heidrun MADE it

As I’ve mentioned yesterday, another good friend made it as a winner of this year’s Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE). Heidrun Milan, our classmate during our review classes for the board exam, got the Special Prize for MADE’s Interior Design category.

Heidrun’s “Ecolectic Reflections” focused on three things: 1) natural ventilation and lighting, 2) use of handmade and indigenous materials and 3) creative use of scrap and recycled materials to minimize waste.

Because the windows are set on one side of the space, he made an effort to create cross ventilation through the door. A narrow louvered panel was hinged on the side of the opening which can hold the door partially open while maintaining the privacy inside. To maximize the natural light coming in, Heidrun painted most of the walls and the ceiling in white. The white surfaces also assisted in maximizing artificial lighting at night.

Apart from using indigenous and handmade materials like bamboo mosaic tiles on the living room wall, jusi fabric (made from abaca or banana fibers) for the curtains, hand-woven tinalak fabric at the bedroom wall, stacked terracotta pots by the kitchen, and recycled metal furnishings and décor, Heidrun also considered using fabric scraps for his soft furnishings. Black and white scrap fabrics were put together in a patchwork style to re-upholster a damaged sofa. Scrap fabrics were also put together through ruching to make the pillowcases.

Because the design was supposed to be for a young, well-traveled couple, Heidrun opted for a warm, bright palette. While giving the interiors a youthful vibe, the orange, red, and blue colors paired well with Heidrun’s choices of indigenous materials. Altogether, the design elements created a composition that’s high in culture and style but low in embodied energy. (see the rest of the images in the gallery below) {Thanks again Heidrun!}

*images courtesy of Federal Land and Heidrun Milan

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space matters: made to be green

Now on its 26^th year, Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE), an annual competition of Metrobank Foundation Inc., has been giving recognition to up and coming Filipinos in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture and interior design.

For the past years, MADE highlighted environmental design as the theme for both the architecture and interior design categories to inspire and raise awareness on how environmental issues could be addressed in design. I am proud to say that two of the past winners in the interior design category are our friends from college—April Frigillana (2008 Grand Prize) and Pauline Cuevas (2009 Special Prize).

April’s design entitled “Nature’s Links” (top and above) integrated creative recycling, reusing, and repurposing in her design. Read more about her design here.

On the other hand, Pauline’s “Cool Chic” concept took a fresh approach on sustainable design. Apart from featuring green design strategies, she also made an effort to make her design (below) look and feel young, hip and current to make it more relevant and appealing to the younger generation. “I want to bestow a fresh and young feel to the [interiors], hence the use of lively colors. Sustainable design doesn’t have to be boring,” she explains. More on here design here.

Apparently, one of this year’s winners in the ID category also happens to be a good friend! Will be sharing his winning design tomorrow. -ardel

*images via metrobank foundation inc.

design trail: island paradise

Tinago Falls in Cagayan de Oro

Coron in Palawan

Calauit Island in Palawan

Snake Island in Honda Bay, Puerto Princessa

One of the many rice terraces in Sagada.

Really, it’s not so bad here…

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i saw design: blooming windows + balconies

I’m a fan of flower boxes over windowsills and balconies. They instantly freshen up a potentially boring facade. But these “blooming” balconies and windows are not just great on a building’s exterior. They also look equally pretty inside  a room. Check this wall decal from etsy together with wall-mounted flower boxes on a couple of window images:

Just sharing with you something nice and pretty to  jump start your week.

*balconies and windows via blessingway; paris window wall decals via artconductor.

objects of design: x-ray art

I really admire British photographer Nick Veasey’s works. There are a few other artists who also excel in X-ray photography but no one brings out the inner beauty of the familiar like he does. In his own words, at his official site, he explains how he counters our society’s obsession with superficiality by “highlighting the, often surprising, inner beauty.” I especially like his X-ray photos of plants and flowers which we’re sharing with you here. But he has more wonderful projects like X-ray images of people, animals, toys, machines and even Jimmy Choo shoes at www.nickveasey.com.

Watch out for our exciting posts next week on this year’s winners of Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE), interior design category. Have a great weekend!

diy: curtains in an instant

Tired of having the same curtains?  These clip rings are just the thing you need for easy, flexible window treatments. All you need to do is hem a fabric, clip on the rings, and hang them on the rod. No need to sew tabs or insert grommets!These are available in any curtain supply store even in Divisoria.

For those who do not know how to sew, here’s a no-sew idea from home stylist Lynda Quintero Davids of Focal Point:

TABLE CLOTHS/BED SHEETS + CLIP RINGS = INSTANT DRAPES!

See also her new-black-door project which she made together with these drapes HERE. {Thanks Lynda!}

sale alert!: mandaue foam

Take advantage of their nationwide anniversary sale! Here in Manila (or NCR), I prefer the Cainta branch because it’s bigger and has more items on display.

Their mattresses are amazingly affordable. Their sofas are also sulit. Just opt for custom order so you can adjust the dimensions of the sofa (great for condo dwellers) and choose the fabric that will fit the design and decor of your space.

objects of design: art in children’s books

After learning about Pepper Roxas and CANVAS, I now look at children’s books from a different perspective. I used to see them as beautifully illustrated books. It was only recently, when I learned about the artists behind those illustrations, that I came to appreciate them as forms of art. In fact, if you’re thinking about wall decorations for your kids room, framed pages from illustrated books of CANVAS and Adarna are an inexpensive option.

Through a link from Dan Matutina, I stumbled upon another beautifully illustrated children’s book: Bengal Lonely by British artist, Chris Madden. Although the story is quite sad (it’s about a tiger with no friends ), the illustrations are cute and interesting.

Framed versions of these drawings will go well in a boy’s bedroom. Besides, if you don’t know the book’s story, the drawings don’t appear to be very sad (except for the toxic sign on the tiger’s coat which you can censor by pasting another heart on it, hehe).

To learn more bout Chris Madden and his works, visit his blog HERE. -ardel