"The furniture should create its own environment."

Paolo Lucidi and Luca Pevere are going their own way. The two designers from Udine do not need loud words to make themselves heard. They shake cleverly designed products out of their sleeves that come across as simple and natural, as if they had always existed. A conversation about transformative spaces, invisible technology and the benefits of tiny airports.

Paolo Lucidi and Luca Pevere, at the 2020 Cologne Furniture Fair you presented the secretary Stendhal for Ligne Roset. What's the design all about? Luca Pevere: We wanted to design something for small spaces, which are becoming increasingly important today. Of course it's nice to live in a large studio. But especially in cities, space is becoming increasingly scarce. The idea for this desk was to keep it as compact as possible. It is a transformative piece of furniture: closed, it looks like an abstract painting on the wall. When the two hinged doors are opened and the table top is folded down, a private space is created, separated from its surroundings.

Paolo Lucidi: The furniture is designed to create its own environment: a space within a space where it is easier to concentrate and spend a section of the day: whether it is used for reading, writing or working on the computer. If it is placed in the living room and a guest spontaneously comes to visit, you simply close the doors and everything is out of sight.

The furniture should hide? Paolo Lucidi: Exactly. Normally, design is about giving function an appropriate form and eventually simplifying it more and more. Here we went the opposite way. We wanted something that recedes to the point where it loses its form.

Luca Pevere: Secretaries are often very compact. But here we are using very high doors. In our first sketches, we designed them to be much smaller. But then we noticed that when you expand its geometry further, the furniture really dissolves into the wall, and suddenly a large surface appears in front of an even much larger surface, the wall. The result is abstract because you don't understand whether it is a piece of furniture, a work of art or a decorative element.

Stendhal for Ligne Roset, 2020. photo: Ligne Roset The doors are covered with fabric: A materiality associated mainly with upholstered furniture, but not with storage furniture. Luca Pevere: The hinged doors are framed by a metal frame, completely covered with fabric to create a continuous image and make the furniture interact better with the armchairs and sofas in the room. Ligne Roset offers its own selection of fabrics. But customers can also bring their own fabrics, so the furniture can be personalized. The fabric is also good for acoustics because it can absorb sound.

Paolo Lucidi: The interior is made of wood, which brings in an almost traditional touch. We paid particular attention to the choice of mechanical elements because they are prominently visible when the doors are open. The hinges are reduced and tidy in their design. You wouldn't normally use them in a cabinet. The USB and normal power cable connections are also placed so that they are not visible.

In what context will the furniture be used? Paolo Lucidi: The furniture is very transversal and corresponds to today's way of working. It can be used at home in your own apartment, but also in the contract sector. There are two versions: One has the back wall with different shelves. The second version is designed specifically for hotel rooms, where it is necessary to accommodate not only a desk, but also a TV. Here, too, the idea is to hide the functions. When the doors are closed, the technology is suddenly invisible.

Why did you name the furniture after the French writer Marie-Henri Beyle (1793-1842) - better known by his pseudonym Stendhal? Paolo Lucidi: He is still very popular in Italy today. Everybody knows his books. He made many trips to Italy during his lifetime and lived in Milan.

Luca Pevere: But the name also stands for a psychosomatic syndrome in which the inundation of cultural stimuli can lead to panic attacks. In this respect, the name fits this furniture quite well, with which one can isolate oneself and find peace again.

You have your studio in Udine, where you were also born and raised. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the location? Paolo Lucidi: In the first years it was not so easy to live in Udine, because most of the furniture companies are located in the outskirts of Milan. Now we work abroad more often, so we don't feel the distance as much as in the early years. Traveling gives us cultural stimulation, which we need in such a small city. In Udine we enjoy the tranquility and relaxation that transfers from everyday life to work as well.

Luca Pevere: We benefit from the proximity to Venice, both on a cultural level and in terms of the international airport. Even much closer to Udine is Klagenfurt. The airport is so small that you almost get the impression of getting on a bus. Such a small airport is enormously efficient. It makes traveling much more pleasant.

Ligne Roset

Ligne Roset manufacturing sites with approximately 800 employees. 95% of seating, box, small furniture and accessories are manufactured here. The family business, which has been in existence since 1860, exports to 70 countries worldwide in its 5th generation and inspires people everywhere with high-quality French furniture. Sophisticated and timeless aesthetics characterize the brand, as well as a high level of innovation and creativity. Furniture from Ligne Roset is sold in upscale brick-and-mortar stores, in exclusive stores and through its own online store. In addition, hotels, star restaurants, cruise ships and luxury boutiques are an important business segment.

The customized chair can be made according to personal ideas immediately

Wouldn't it be nice if you could have your individual furniture ideas visualized on the computer and still witness the production of your own unique piece on the spot?

Based on this idea, the Berlin design studio has developed the "Sinterchair", which can be individually produced as a digital and three-dimensional object in collaboration with customers.

The chair is manufactured using sintering machines from the company 3d-Systems. In the process, nylon powder is applied in fine layers. A laser draws a two-dimensional segment of a shape in the powder and hardens the drawn plane layer by layer. The end result is a three-dimensional object in a block of dense white powder that can then be released from the mold.

The chair design is based on a honeycomb structure that provides secure statics and can only be realized in this form using sintering technology.

The design is based on the idea of imitating static structures from nature and, above all, applying them in their many manifestations, such as imitating the surface architecture of a coral.

Of neon lettering and glassblowing

Living in Venice: What's important to a true Venetian

With a thoughtful renovation, an architect brought Venice's ancient splendor back to a Gothic city palace - and also revived the lagoon city's historic love affair with the Orient.

Since her studies Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe lives in Venice, where she founded her studio Vivere Venezia. Ramona Balaban

Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe has been enjoying life in Venice to the fullest since her student days and has designed a Venetian-style home for her son.

Vivere Venezia, the name of her architectural practice that Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe opened years ago, was to prove prophetic. She had come to Venice as a student and had fallen so in love with the city that she decided to stay. For her, living here means letting the quiet rhythm, the uncomplicated sociability (you walk, you meet people all the time without having to make an appointment) and the immense cultural and aesthetic heritage of Venice become part of her everyday life. A heritage that must be preserved, nurtured and appreciated.

In the living room, an umbrella converted into a chandelier hangs above Piero Lissoni's "Extrasoft" sofa for Living Divani. Like the coffee table, the owner of the house, Marc Regnault de la Mothe, brought it back from trips to Burma. RAMONA BALABAN

In the dining area, an "Arco" lamp by Flos leans over an antique table with matching chairs.

Living in Venice means nurturing the city's cultural and aesthetic heritage.

The lengthy restoration of a Gothic city palace on the edge of the ghetto, near Sant'Alvise in Cannaregio, fits well into this philosophy. "The structure is typical of buildings of the time: one floor plus attic," says the architect. "It was probably once inhabited by only one family. However, it was in poor condition and its architectural statement blurred by dozens of later interventions that subdivided the spaces to create more living units and more rooms. Even the curved window arches had been covered up. We have tried to restore the original grace, at least as far as the apartment is concerned, where my son Marc, who works for the UN, always returns when he wants to feel 'at home'."

"We have tried to restore the original grace."

Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe

The four-poster bed in the bedroom is from China; it is held together by connectors alone. The ceiling beams were exposed by Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe.

Hidden things come to light

During the conservative restoration, the terrazzo floors were saved and the ceilings, lowered by plasterboard, regained their height and entablature. In the process, a piece of charcoal drawing came to light that was initially hoped to be by Dürer, who had lived in the neighborhood in the 16th century. A fireplace, of which only the chimney was visible, was found inside a wall and reconstructed in Venetian style on the basis of the preserved soot-blackened stones. Venetian is also the plaster on the walls - burgundy like velvet of Bevilacqua, Rubelli or Fortuny - whose shimmering surface gives the illusion of depth and texture.

True Venetians are those who choose to be Venetians.

Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe

The art nouveau desk and lamp are French.

Oriental touched

And finally, Venetian is the fascination with the Orient, which the owner of the house transferred to the apartment through a series of objects acquired during his long stays abroad: a Chinese four-poster bed, a vase in the shape of a pagoda for ritual offerings (Hsun-ok) decorated with black bamboo, traditional umbrellas converted into lamps, or a coffee table in the living room, all from Burma. Influences from all over the world come together in the apartment. "I myself was born in Tunisia," says Elisabeth Regnault de la Mothe - the tiles on the walls of the kitchen and bathroom bear witness to this. Contemporary furnishings such as an "Extrasoft" sofa by Living Divani, an "Arco" arc lamp by Flos and the minimalist kitchen also blend harmoniously into this deeply Venetian interior and become part of it. Because, "True Venetians are those who choose to be Venetians."

These books will take you on a tour of the world's best bars and restaurants, the hidden entrance halls of Milan, or the most beautiful gardens in New Zealand.

Nicola Resta is an architect, but also an impresario - in his distinctive apartment, he engages objects in cultured chit-chat.

Crazy & Colorful - The most beautiful colorful rings

The "Memphis Chevron Band" ring stands out with graphic lacquer enamel and a glowing wreath of rubies, at 4880 euros via alicecicolini.com.

"Memphis Chevron Band" by Alice Cicolini.

Clear the ring for the "Circus et Panem Lilor Ring" in yellow gold and enamel in a checkerboard pattern, at 1035 euros via lilorjewels.com.

"Circus et Panem Lilor Ring" by Lilor Jewels.

Get your groove on! "Floral Disco Signet Ring" from the "Flower Funk Collection" with a topaz and enamel, at 1871 euros via beabongiasca.com.

"Floral Disco Signet Ring" by Bea Bongiasca.

Colorful rings for summer

This fiery jewel combines a zircon with colorful ceramic and rose gold, around $25,000 via taffin.com.

Ring by Taffin.

"Tri-Di" is a unique piece from the "Poptails" collection: white gold, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and neon lacquer, price on request via solange.co.uk.

Single piece "Tri-Di" by Solange.

The details make the "Ready 2 Release" ring from the "Grab n Go" collection an eye-catcher: gold, enamel and turquoise, at 5156 euros via nevernot.co.uk.

"Ready 2 Release" ring by NeverNot.

A beautiful ring is a timeless piece of jewelry. We show the most beautiful models.

The magic of the unique - in her art chamber, Dr. Simone Herrmann looks at a work from the international art trade every week. Episode 25: "La Fleur Éternelle" by Boucheron, 2018.

Posts Tagged "thorough and effective cleaning"

This iRobot Roomba i3+ robot vacuum cleaner review is about a automatic robot vacuum cleaner with a automatic suction station (Clean Base) for even more relief in the household. The iRobot Roomba i3+ vacuum robot empties its collection bin automatically in its base station, features smart navigation and offers a wide range of personalized cleaning functions using the iRobot Genius Home Intelligence App. Just the other day, I wrote a review of a mopping vacuum for spring cleaning that I was very impressed with. But if you want to save yourself even more time, you should not do without a vacuum robot. There are many models, so it's hard to choose. You can find an iRobot Roomba 974 review here.

Tineco Floor One S3 review: mopping vacuum cleaner

This Tineco Floor One S3 review is about the cordless wet-dry vacuum for sealed tile, laminate, marble and hardwood floors. For my spring cleaning, I have been looking for practical household appliances to help me with the housework. Above all, easy operation and as much time-saving as possible are important to me when it comes to household appliances, which is why I'm a big fan of robot vacuums or all-in-one products. However, when things have to be done quickly, robot vacuums are not recommended. For this reason, I tested the Tineco Floor One S3 cordless wet-dry vacuum, which vacuums and wet-mops the floor in one step. Since I just recently had my hair transplant and had to quarantine myself first, I used the time to do some housekeeping.

Here you can buy the Tineco Floor One S3 at Amazon.

iRobot Roomba 974 review: Household helper

• Helena , Interior Blog, Lifestyle Blog, Lifestyle Diary

Today there is an iRobot Roomba 974 review. On Instagram, I have already introduced you to the little household helper. Now I would like to write a field report with advantages and disadvantages to facilitate your purchase decision. That I would like to get such a household helper, was already determined for a long time. Which one it should be was unclear for a long time. The selection is large and grows from year to year. There are many beautiful and effective models. Since I like to read through experience reports before such a technical purchase and thus get a better picture, I would also like to share my experience with the iRobot Roomba 974.

Everything we like.

The first week of school in Berlin is over and tomorrow is the first day of first graders ! We have picked out a few of our favorite products for this lifechanging moment.

1. For the first weeks a light transitional jacket is needed, because early in the morning HALF EIGHT it is not uncommonly cold outside and what fits better than a jacket in college style. This great model from Lacoste is available for 70 euros at the Tiny Store.

2. time to transform the nursery something, off with the zoo animal wall tattoo now come Marvelposter. Howkeye for 6.90 euros.

3. Yes, unfortunately, homework must also be done and what is more important than a good chair. This pretty model is from Normann Copenhagen and costs 220 euros.

4. We are not fans of square satchels, which are actually empty, because the kids have lockers in 2015. And a Herschel always goes, which then also mom likes to wear. For 100 euros via the Human Empire Shop.

5 Every morning the same thing, make a sandwich and make sure you have enough drinks. Vöslauer has come up with something good: a Junior Water in perfect size with a click cap and stickers to collect. We like!

6. shoes without laces still remain the best and especially when they look so chic. From Kavat for 110 euros.

7. the world-best pens in the school time remain the Fineliner of Stabilo, after two weeks are the first disappeared.

8. with the selection of the pencil cases, whether double fold-out, triple or whether nevertheless a beautiful junk bag, there one can spend already some hours with. Pencil case from Herschel for 20 euros via Tiny Store.

9. More storage space in the room is needed, so that everything has its place. This cool shelving system can always be expanded and thus grows with the child and the tasks. Very practical. MAXX 2x2 shelving system for 129 euros via Regalraum.com.