Raw Edges Design Studio

Interior - Raw Edges Design Studio:

'via Blog this'

Working in the flooring industry means you become obsessed with what's out there and how designers push the boundaries. I found Raw Edges through the Elle Decoration awards and was keen to have a closer look at their work.

Raw Edges are Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay and have treated block flooring as if it were pixels on a screen. Each oak block is dyed a specific colour and then laid to make a design that has been carefully planned and mapped out.

I love it, I love the way that at first glance it looks like a random laying of coloured blocks, but when you take a closer look a pattern emerges. Bold and clever, subtle and contemporary fabulous!

For more images of these floors and more of Raw Edges work follow the link above.

Rediscovering an old love.....

A trip to Cragside last month has revived a passion for Chinoiserie and Japonisme. In 1st year at CCAD, we did a project based on these themes and I fell in love with it. I loved the woodblock prints especially and the patterns on kimonos. The inlaid work on tiny boxes and the porcelain were also inspiring. I've also been given two books by work with beautiful woodblock prints in with their soft tones and lovely detail. I could look at those for hours.

The wallpaper in the buttery at Cragside is beautiful and reminded me of the vases and tiles I'd researched at the V & A and also at the Oriental museum in Durham. The combination of white and soft cream soften this otherwise busy pattern. If you look carefully there is some lovely detail in this two colour print.

 I must get my pictures out from these trips and find that book I should have bought ages ago and buy it! Then try out some new chinoiserie patterns out.

Walking along the rock garden I spotted these beauties, I love the lollipop type flower and sadly I don't know what its called, but it has a Japanese feel to it as does the flower below it with its glorious purple/maroon tones.

So once I've got the house straight after decorating the sitting room, I'll be getting the pictures out and ordering that book and immerse myself in all things oriental.........lovely :-)