Art
Have a jewelry obsessed loved one in your life? Well, you don’t have to spend a fortune to give them a really great gift they’ll love to wear while they think of you. Yes, Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly but these pieces of jewelry are great gifts all year long. Take a look at these 8 great jewelry options that will inspire you to express your love!
>>> Buy >>> Béton Silver Hoop Necklace from Tom Pigeon
A minimalist necklace anyone would love for everyday wear with a simple hand-crafted, solid silver ring floating on a silver chain.
>>> Buy >>> Swoon Earrings from TOPODOM
3D printed earrings that will make your loved one swoon, featuring three semicircular shapes in three pops of color that make a statement.
>>> Buy >>> Machina Q Ring from LACE by Jenny Wu
With a size range from 5 – 13 and a mix of stainless steel and bronze, this universal, industrial-inspired ring can be adjusted thanks to the mechanistic hardware.
>>> Buy >>> Austin Gold Pendant Necklace from Rahya Jewelry Design
A classic golden bar that graduates to points on either end making it simple enough for daily wear, either solo or layered with other necklaces.
>>> Buy >>> Flow Ring from maison 203
A bold, 3d printed ring inspired by the Moebius band – a ring given a 180-degree twist – featuring two fluid loops that allow for adjustable sizing. The Flow Ring is available in eight colorways so you can select their favorite color for added delight.
>>> Buy >>> Geometric Gold Heart Cuff from tothemetal
If you want to say “I love you” but not in an overtly syrupy way, this cuff is perfect. It has two geometric hearts on either end giving it a modern aesthetic.
>>> Buy >>> Micro Concrete Cufflinks #7 from Material Immaterial studio
You might associate cufflinks with tuxedos or suits, but anyone can add a pair of cufflinks to their favorite shirt with buttons and this modern concrete design will definitely add intrigue.
>>> Buy >>> Rose Gold Stud Earrings from Simplicated Jewelry
Small but not too small, simple but not boring, these rose gold studs add a silver band around the center to make them stand out.
>>> Want more modern jewelry ideas for your jewelry-obsessed loved one? Head to the Design Milk Shop here! <<<
Art
Covalent, a new direct-to-consumer fashion brand is offering a palliative response to the silent, yet sizable impact fashion has upon the environment annually with a thirty-five piece collection. After a decade of research, the company has announced the utilization of a proprietary technology called AirCarbon – a biotechnological process created as the “world’s first regenerative, carbon-negative” manufacturing system applied across the company’s entire line of modern luxury accessories.
As the name implies, AirCarbon Leather was developed to offer a similar grain and smooth, matte tactile feel of genuine leather, but with reduced impact upon the environment, highly suitable for tech accessories like laptop and phone sleeves.
Covalent modeled AirCarbon after the natural energy process found occurring in the ocean where marine microorganisms use air and carbon extracted from greenhouse gas. Covalent uses the biomimetic technology to produce carbon-negative, regenerative materials with the appearance of leather and acetate, materials that can be melted into fiber, shapes and sheet products to create eyewear and fashion accessories where leather is traditionally used.
AirCarbon is used by Covalent to make laptop sleeves, wallets, sunglasses, totes and handbags offering similar texture and durability of its counterparts, with a clean minimalist aesthetic that pairs well with laptops and mobile devices or as stand alone wallets or handbags.
While greenwashing paired with vague proclamations of environmentally-friendly intent is par for the course, Covalent has made efforts to make their carbon impact as transparent and traceable as possible, disclosing each of their products exact carbon footprint, as verified through life cycle assessments created by third-party carbon accounting firms available for review. Most consumers are unlikely to follow the sourcing trail to this extent, but Covalent’s efforts are a laudable example of disclosure.
We think that to help empower change in the fashion industry, consumers should have actionable information about the carbon impact of the products they use.
-Newlight CEO Mark Herrema
Covalent’s AirCarbon acetate replacement (AirCarbon Resin) is lightweight and has a naturally matte texture ideal for eyewear.
Covalent AirCarbon Leather goods are produced locally in Southern California, while Covalent eyewear is manufactured in Italy, both using the same meticulous attention to detail as traditional luxury fashion houses. Covalent’s first collection is comprised of thirty-five essentials and are available at covalentfashion.com.
This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!
Art
Ashley Rumsey is founding partner, along with Stanley Sun, of Mason Studio. The Toronto-based interior design firm combines art, science and human experience to create a wide array of projects. From award-winning luxury hospitality, retail and multi-unit residential design projects all the way to experimental exhibitions, Rumsey’s practice spans the world. International experience and a unique perspective helps her create meaningful experiences to enrich her clients’ lives. She’s also a member of the Cosentino Design Alliance. Today Ashley Rumsey joins us for Friday Five!
Photo: Creative Commons
1. Habitat 67
Through our work as interior designers, we recognize the responsibility to improve social interaction within the spaces we design. Habitat 67, designed by Moshe Safdie, is a pioneering example of how this is achieved through architecture. The development reimagines multi-unit residential design expressing the importance of balancing residential density with quality of life.
Photo: Tom Arban
2. Public Art
Art plays an essential role in our work. This public art installation, Two Circles by Micah Lexier, is an excellent example of how art can impact a space. Stunning in its simplicity, the two black and white circles make a bold statement from afar, but up close you realize each circle is made up of hundreds of thousands of handmade ceramic tile sticks. This duality of simplicity and complexity based on perspective is a powerful message.
Photo: Garrett Rock
3. Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavilion
Travel is a great way to experience architecture and design. I traveled to Norway last year and got a chance to hike to the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavilion by Snohetta. The pavilion is an exquisite example of a structure that supports and respects the surroundings. The minimal form of the building encourages the experience of appreciating the landscape.
Photo: Jaime Hogge
4. Office Dogs
This is our office dog, Oak. He is a retired professional athlete, and while he officially belongs to Stanley, he is also our studio mascot and greeter. We find that having a dog in the studio contributes to an approachable and casual atmosphere.
Photo: Thom Fougere
5. Tyndall Stone
We discovered this stone on one of our first projects in Winnipeg as a newly formed studio. Quarried mostly in Manitoba, Canada, it’s an example of how a simple material can be imbued with significant meaning and sense of place. Its unique texture and pattern provide a striking visual impact and can often be found in public buildings. Tyndall Stone has also been used to great effect in objects, such as the vessels created by Thom Fougere Studio.
Art
Perhaps you’re still sheltering at home like many of us, and it feels so opposite of a vacation because you’re probably working from home, also. And staring at the same four walls and decor for months on end can get old real fast. That sent us looking for interior inspiration and since we fell in love with this snow cabin in Norway, we just had to search for products we could add to our own homes to give us that cozy Norwegian aesthetic.
In the living room they’ve included a modern grey sofa with a light rug and a few pieces of wooden furniture. Sofas are expensive and just not practical to replace on the regular but buying smaller pieces is more affordable and helps change up how a space functions. Minimal textiles on the sofa, a calm piece of art, a candle and a plant in the corner round out the modern space. Simple yet cozy and inviting.
Furniture
>>> Buy >>> Origin Lounge Chair by Form + Refine
>>> Buy >>> Turning Side Table by MENU
>>> Buy >>> Cutter Bench 48″ by Skagerak
>>> Buy >>> Single Bucket Stool by yvonne mouser
Textiles
>>> Buy >>> Stone Spaces Rug by Minna Goods
>>> Buy >>> Jaali Rug by Studio Variously
>>> Buy >>> Maze Jungle + Linen Throw by Happy Habitat
>>> Buy >>> Optical Cotton Throw by Studio Herron
>>> Buy >>> Barragan Spring Pillow by Minna Goods
>>> Buy >>> Geo V Pillow by Ssen
Accessories
>>> Buy >>> 18″ Wire Basket by Bend Goods
>>> Buy >>> Multi-Color Wide Bin by Closed Mondays
>>> Buy >>> Umanoff Planter by MENU
>>> Buy >>> Wick Brass Portable LED Candlelight by graypants
Art
>>> Buy >>> Into the Wild Print by Jennifer Chong
>>> Buy >>> Black Sun Print by Buhlaixe Studio
Bonus! Since the living room flows right into the dining area, here are a few ideas to help you get a similar feel:
>>> Buy >>> Georg Dining Table by Skagerak
>>> Buy >>> Hven Armchair by Skagerak
>>> Buy >>> Alki White Pendant Lamp by graypants
>>> Buy >>> Dimple Tray by Space Ctrl Design
>>> For more ideas to furnish your space, head to the Design Milk Shop here! <<<
Cabin photos by Alejandro Villanueva.
Art
If there’s one thing everyone learns quickly while working from home – especially anyone limited to the screen real estate of a laptop – is there’s never such thing as too much workspace. This year’s CES delivered more than a few display solutions aimed at design professionals looking for breathing room, most notably with Dell’s announcement of their expansive 5K2K UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor delivering 5,120 x 2,160 pixels of resolution.
Dell calls this the world’s first 40-inch ultrawide curved monitor, offering 33% more pixels when compared to a 16:9 32″ 4K monitor. The design is kept simple, with a plastic case finished with a simulated brushed metal finish.
In real world use, the UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD’s output delivers almost too much of a good thing. In our testing using both a Windows-powered Surface Pro X and the new M1-powered Apple MacBook Air, we found ourselves having to tail back the resolution to half using the Surface Pro X (no fault of the display itself; output was hampered by the device’s underpowered graphics output) or down to 4608 x 1944 scaled resolution in macOS to make the OS usable for everyday tasks while keeping a multitude of application and browser windows concurrently open. But even at a scaled resolution, the opportunity to work across one large display rather than two delivers an efficient/proficient desktop experience that is all too easy to get comfortable with.
In person the curve of the display is (thankfully) subtle over the expanse of its 40-inch screen, improving legibility of UI elements pushed to the outer edges.
One concern we came into testing with migrating from a 2014 5K iMac was whether the difference in brightness between the two displays would be noticeable. We’re relieved to report the UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD’s 300 nits of brightness is perfectly usable even from a desk set beside a window (for comparison, our 2014 5K iMac is rated 461 nits). Similarly the difference between pixel density while noticeable was not so pronounced to be distracting while switching between photo editing apps, reading and writing text.
While total screen size is the monitor’s immediate selling point, the Dell is rated for up to 1.07 billion colors for 100% of sRGB, 100% of Rec. 709, 98% DCI-P3 color accuracy, with a 5-millisecond response time at 60Hz refresh rate.
But what makes the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD a monitor to rule them all is the display’s parade of ports behind and underneath. Most users will not be found wanting for options, thanks to the monitor’s array of ports that essentially operate as its own hub. Connecting and powering our M1 MacBook Air is made simple thanks to the inclusion of a Thunderbolt 3 port supporting 90W power charging. Additionally, the monitor hosts another Thunderbolt 3/DisplayPort, two HDMI 2.0 ports (10-bit color at 30Hz), a DisplayPort (10 bit color at 60Hz), an audio line-out, four USB Type-A 10 GBps, a USB upstream port, USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, an RJ45 ethernet port, one USB Type-C 10Gbps port, and a USB-C downstream port. The plethora of ports should eliminate the need for an additional hub for the majority of users, in turn liberating desk space from clutter.
One important warning for anyone switching to an ultrawide display of this size for the first time is the possibility of eye fatigue. Dell includes ComfortView Plus, an always-on built-in low blue light screen that reduces harmful blue light emissions. Still, sufficient amount of distance between user and display is advisable to mitigate the effects of working behind such a large screen at high resolution.
There are a pair of quibbles. An inconsistent distance between the millimeter gap separating the monitor’s bevel and the display panel can be spotted along the edges, a detail most pronounced at the monitor’s bottom center. The gap is admittedly subtle and disappears in day to day use, but may bother those demanding a perfect fit and finish. The second issue is much more minor, and par for the course for almost all monitors of this size: the built-in 9-watt speakers are tinny at best and would be best replaced with external speakers. Still, for a $2,100 investment, the audio output leaves room for improvement.
Overall, Dell’s beautiful beast of a display delivers a convincing argument that bigger can be better, one that may convince users – whether they be Windows or macOS devotees – that working from a single large display can do the work of two screens more proficiently. While $2,100 isn’t a budget option by any measure, Dell’s UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor checks off nearly every mark we’d want working from a display while working from home.
The UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor is available starting today.
Art
It’s becoming easier and easier to see which brands use transparency in their manufacturing process – and which don’t. Renowned upholstery manufacturer Adrenalina is taking steps in the right direction with their furniture. Always looking for new eco-sustainable materials, their updated LEO sofa collection uses SEAQUAL materials.
Sofas and armchairs, brought to life by Russian designer Daria Zinovatnaya, are now upholstered with the new Oceanic material by Camira Fabrics, a 100% recycled polyester fabric made from plastic waste that pollutes beaches and oceans. It was developed as part of the SEAQUAL project, an initiative involving brands from all over the world that aim to keep seas and oceans clean. The high-tech material is wear-resistant and available in a palette of pastel colors.
The LEO sofa collection appears elegant and balanced, between a rigid metal frame and softly padded cushions. Zinovatnaya’s design style focuses on the relationship between color and geometry, finding inspiration in Russian avant-gardes of the early 1900s and postmodern design of the early 1980s. The postmodernist shapes of the LEO series will meet the needs of those looking for a corner to unwind and those who appreciate comfort in a waiting area.
Daria Zinovatnaya
To learn more about the LEO sofa collection, visit adrenalina.it.
