I Love It When They Tell You How It Is...

Image via I Believe In Advertising

By Saatchi & Saatchi

Impressive Decorating Skills #2

Nice house. Beautiful French doors, high ceiling and herringbone floors.

But WHAT IS UP with that wallpaper? And that nasty chandelier in corner?

And why is the room in the background fluorescent PINK?

Sigh.
People never learn.

Image via That's Just My Bag

The Bookcase That Reaches Higher Levels

I think I might need this.

It is about the same size as my studio apartment, but when I manage to up my living space, I should seriousely consider the option of this ginormous bookcase.

I am one of those people who obsessively buys books, and sometimes magazines, and would never even THINK of throwing them away because I simply like the look of them and, basically, am sure to need them sometime in the future.

I would paint or treat the wood, or instead create it out of some kind of black coated steel. Better yet, make it brass with a few art deco details here and there. Now that would be a lush environment that sure fits my books.

Image via Apartment Therapy

A Very Autumn Afternoon

Images via Apartment Therapy, more Apartment Therapy, MaxAlto, David Collins via Habitually Chic and Decoding Decor

Who Are You? #1

The mind wanders whilst at work, and I stumbled upon d-raw, a very very cool architecture and interior design company, specialising in architectural services, interior design, branding commercial environments and property developments.

Their work is impressive. They have developed the Reiss brand all over the world, and I do like me some Reiss (especially during the sales...) But more than anything, I love their visuals. Their 3D visuals are compelling and they're not afraid of sketching. Which I find too many design studios stirring away from these days, scared that hand drawing is somehow less accurate than computer generated imagery.

I find this so unfortunate, as sketching allows the designer to create much more atmosphere and feeling. It's a much better tool when showing clients concepts and is a great reminder of why they hired you in the first place. I would take any opportunity to work at a studio that allowed me to sketch again... it was, after all, the main reason I graduated with a distinction.

Super Hero Tales #1

David Collins is my Super Hero.

And he might be my one and only, because I have yet to find anyone that surpasses his sophisticated genius.

I once dragged a friend along to an afternoon tea at The Wolseley, where we spent hours sipping a 4 pound coffee. Before we left, I almost fainted in the bathrooms. They were pretty. And I mean pretty. The way bathrooms in restaurants should always look, but never do. It was probably cleaner than my kitchen. Shinier, if anything.

If I lived in Bangkok, I would be looking forward to the build and opening of the Maha Nakhon. And if I was rich, I would be sure to get one of the Ritz-Carlton Residences that occupy the building, along other retail, office and hotel space.

The Office for Metropolitan Architecture designed the building, that kind of looks like its crumbling from within, but I sort of like it. David Collins Studio custom designed the furniture and the residences and it's pretty lush.

Images via Maha Nakhon Bangkok, The Ritz-Carlton Residences Bangkok and David Collins Studio

Furniture Love

I NEED this sofa.

From Room and Board, apparently. The rest of the house is cute, but whatever. That sofa is shit hot.

House tour via Apartment Therapy

Unexpected Adventures On The Wrong Side Of The River

Once upon a time there was a doorman, who worked for an exclusive members club (that looked like a grotto) and who appreciated fine vintage furniture. He was in the process of redoing his house, somewhere on the wrong side of the river, and took much pleasure in spending too much money on mid century sofas (and consequently selling them again.)

One day, he opened up his heart and allowed me to join him on an adventurous Sunday afternoon on his side of the river to enjoy a sunny day in Crystal Palace.

Apparently, there is a vintage warehouse that is quite amazing. And after the palpitations of being on the other side had subsided, I quite managed to enjoy it. In fact, it was pretty amazing. Four floors of vintage deliciousness at prices that were, although not cheap, not really all that expensive either.

We even managed to fight over an art deco mirror and a painting, that neither of us actually ended up buying.

Best Job Ad In A Very Long Time

Product and interior designer
Paris, France

If you have two hands and a brain,
If your brain controls your hands,
If, in a single day, you can switch from a one-off object to a mass market product, to an interior design project,
If you can lead a conf call in french and english,
If your ideal bookcase doesn’t only contain design books,
If you can understand and start to work from a bad sketch sent from an Iphone,
If you can transform it into a great and smart 3D rendering,
If you can switch off you computer during the day to make a more efficient paper mock-up,
If you can hear « This is not good, we have to change everything », without crying,
If you are happy to be here and if it is visible in your eyes,
If you want to join the team,
If you are available from next october to ….
You’re welcome my friend

Please send applications to pierre@mathieulehanneur.com

Mathieu Lehanneur


I guess it makes sense since they are a little bit weird