Having the luckiest privilege and chance to travel around the world has been the utmost, maybe undeserving gift to myself. Not that I'm any travel expert (yet?) but I don't mind giving myself a bit of pride, having spent countless nights in different accommodations—from luxury 5 star hotels to shared co-ed 12 person hostel apartment—I could say I know a thing or two about them. Without doubt, as soon as Design You Trust posted an article about "9 Hours: Capsule Hotel" my eyes widened with intrigue and excitement, not solely for the concept but very much so for the graphic design of the concept as well. Beautiful inside and out, the place is another Japanese nurtured idea of minimalism for confined spaces. I enjoy a good hotel—who doesn't? Hostels, however, with its underrated reputation, have more layers than its lack of bed sheets; character to dissect and unravel; there is more to experience, plus who needs a 300 sq feet hotel room when 95% of the time is spent outdoor exploring the city. Space has become a luxury, like water and gold. To live in standard North American spaces seem self-fish or astonishing lucky as most of the world population probably live one-eight of the average living space of North Americans. Now that the trend of owning smaller housing is on rise, perhaps our mind will change the way we see shelter in a different light.



For original article and pictures, click here.
For 9 Hours: Capsule hotel, click here.

----- House Stalker -----

After seeing these pictures, I may just go hunt it down and loom around the trees and corner to stare at it all day long. It's in Montreal.

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----- The Windows of New York City -----

New York based graphic designer Jose Guizar created a series of illustrations, paying tribute to the idiosyncrasies of New York architecture in a form of their windows. I'm glad to know I am not the only weird child for loving windows. I really love windows. When I see a great one, I really get lost in their beauty especially the Parisian ones and large loft ones. Aside from the window styles, the colour combinations make a great partner-in-crime.

Check the rest of his work, Jose Guizar

 

Dreams can feel so far away. 

----- Asians Understand Small -----

Amazing design. I'm fascinated by small interior spaces and dream of owning a place where I can transform it to be used efficiently. Traveling to densely populated cities truly challenges your mentality, learning how spoiled we are. I've said, if I win a lottery, I won't be purchasing a massive mansion with unnecessary number of bedrooms, maybe at least two toilets.

------ Muv Box -----

Our cities are regularly filled with so many new and undiscovered gems that we don't either have time or motivation to visit all of them and Muv Box's Resto Lobster Box was one of them in mine. Located slightly off the heart of the Old Montreal district serves lobster—obviously— from the unique, innovating design inspired by using cargo shipment boxes since 2009. It possesses environmentally friendly objectives: solar panels, recyclable and biodegradable materials, local produce.  The idea spawn during a visit to the Venice Biennale when founder, Daniel Noiseaux, saw the Push Button House sponsored by Illy Cafe (definitely check it out).

Imagine the limitless possibilities? Pop-up stores selling retail items, farmer's markets in the metropolitan, coffee shops, tourist information center, better looking port-a-potties—see it's infinite! I'd like one in my backyard as my studio; I would order the 20 feet one which gives 512 sqf of space!

I have a passion for design ideas that reuses obsolete objects and giving them a second life because there are so much more of them sitting on earth's soil, not even rotting away. 

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----- Transparent Beauties -----

I'm pretty clear to what my fantasy home will look like. And that includes a lot of windows. I'm a person who loves natural lighting during the day, more the merrier. Instant solution to many problematic life situations (mine at least): brightens moods, saves effort and energy to turn on lights, executes great food photography, inspirational tool to designing, tracing work against the window.

Using Pinterest, another social sharing app that I sold my soul to, helps me organize my interior likes and I realized overall, it is very evident my style includes a lot of white, greys and black. My life is bland! http://pinterest.com/vivianyu/live-in-it/

----- Sigh -----

This is not a sigh of worry or stress, it's a sigh of admiration. I think my top favourite combo in material is wood, bricks and concrete. I love the three combined, something about them that compliments each other very well. It's probably the rawness and natural beauty. I especially want a place with white brick walls, concrete beams, ceilings and columns, infused with wood flooring, furniture and all, especially that wooden table buffet in the image. I had my eyes on similar retro vintage table since forever. Most I've come across is about average $1500 at thrift stores and vintage furiture stores, refurbished. A girl can dream.

----- The Cases of Stair + Book -----

A second posting for bookcases is a must. May I add staircases too? Next time ladders. I'm obsessed with these elements since childhood; I don't know why. I really love staircases, call me crazy, I don't care. But when I see a very pretty ones, especially wooden ones like the ones in the pictures, I die.

*sorry, i'm quite a turtle lately with updating my blog. I've been busy and stressing. Hoping for the phase to pass and I'll be back typing away and researching my next goodies to show and tell!*