Indigo goes tropical

Indigo Living, which has outlets in Hong Kong, Shanghai (China) and Dubai (UAE), has unveiled its new collection called Tropics for the Spring season, featuring lime greens, statement fabrics and colourful and bright accessories.

From the Tropics for the Spring season collection.

“Botanical prints and vibrant colours are the fastest way to inject relaxed opulence and a touch of easy humour into your living space for Spring,” advises John McLennan, Indigo Living’s CEO.

The collection enables customers to go totally tropical by mixing blocks of bright colour with bold materials or experiment with a couple of pieces in bold print, keeping other furnishings neutral and pared back.

“Alternatively, choose subdued palm prints and island-inspired furniture in bamboo or rattan for a relaxed colonial vibe. There are so many ways to work the trend this season,” he says.

The choice of products range from an exclusively designed, hand-painted jungle cabinet to palm tree-embossed crockery, and cockatoo-printed cushions from Australian brand Bonnie and Neil. Everything is set against fresh white sofas and a range of funky glass tables with a vibrant yellow twist of colour.
Mixed metals are another key Spring trend: “Copper, bronze, gold and brass are everywhere this Spring, but combining different metals to produce an artfully mixed look is one of the defining trends of the season,” says McLennan. “A matched look is not as striking as a mixed one, so experiment with melding different metal accents throughout a room.”

There are also glass and metallic tables and bookshelves which will be complemented by a range of shimmering accessories: lustrous decorative bowls and platters in beaten brass, and cushions in sheeny, soft fabrics. Mixed metals work well in tandem with a third trend, the perennially cool Parisian ‘Left-Bank’ Chic.

Zumtobel’s Linetik is spot on

Linetik ... maximises visual comfort.

When developing the new Linetik free-standing LED (light-emitting diode) luminaire, designers and engineers set about challenging every aspect of office lighting.

The result is a pioneering product that uses minimal resources to provide maximum visual comfort for every workplace, says a spokesman for Zumtobel, a leading supplier of integral solutions for professional indoor and outdoor lighting.

Design elements have been carefully crafted to focus on the core essentials to deliver an elegant appearance, free from superfluous details, he adds.

“Linetik stands out from the office lighting crowd with a delicate design language. Despite its distinctive look, this free-standing luminaire can be integrated effortlessly into any office environment. Even more amazing is the fact that the slim body, at 24 by 24 mm cross-section, and compact base conceals a revolutionary lighting concept: light exactly where the user needs it,” the spokesman says.

Commenting on the concept behind the innovative LED luminaire, Zumtobel’s project manager for future lighting solutions Sebastian Schubnell says: “The requirements for Linetik were clear: to ensure the best lighting technology in the smallest space, delivering light that can be individually controlled by the user.”
Zumtobel found the right partners for this project in three designers – Simon Fisher and Matt Free from F Mark and Luke Smith-Wightman.

No stone was left unturned in the development of a new optical system, which despite its compact physical dimensions, had to use minimal energy to deliver a precise lighting distribution – light that is directed exactly where the individual requires it, without the inconvenience of glare and anything less than complete uniformity.

Its newly developed reflector significantly contributes to the drastic reduction in the material footprint of the product.

V&B brings south of France to table

V&B’s Artesano Provencal Lavender collection.

Germany-based Villeroy & Boch (V&B), a leading ceramics manufacturer, has introduced new collections in tableware, including the Artesano Provencal Lavender collection. Created by the Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, the design is a revival of the Artesano Original.

V&B’s latest collection is a modern interpretation of floral motifs in natural colours. The delightful set features scattered sprigs of delicate lavender in strong shades of violet and dark red buds, which gives the tableware a new but familiar look and profoundly captures the visual essence of the south of France. Featuring unique designs, the Artesano Provencal Lavender collection is presented in premium quality porcelain.

Another new collection is Amazonia Anmut, which is a vibrant extension of the fascinating and successful Amazonia décor. Ever since Villeroy & Boch presented the elegant collection in 2011, inspired by the colourful plant and animal life of the Amazon River, this premium bone porcelain tableware has helped to write a rather unique success story.