Go Dutch or go home...

Today is officially my last day at work. It's quite bitter sweet because I kind of love my job, and the people here are pretty cool too. Regardless, this is the end of one chapter and merely the beginning of another. It's starting to set in that I'm leaving for The Netherlands in just under a month so excitement is at an all time high...

It's overcast and I love it...

It's cold outside but I have this to keep my spirits up. Not that this kind of weather dampens my mood, (excuse the pun). A semi mash up between Radiohead and David Brubeck lies below. Its quite incredible how well the two go together. As is they were written for one another. I think I can hear a bit of Portishead calling me next...

Cheese Heaven...

I think its safe to say that The Netherlands is exactly the right place for me, because of my love for cheese obviously And I am just itching to go to The Amsterdam Cheese Store. Rows and rows of wheels of cheese, wedges of cheese and squares of cheese, Cheese heaven I tell you. 

The interior of the store was designed by Studiomfd who wanted to retain and bring through the authenticity of the brand and 'the pure experience of this distinctive cheese' into elements of the store.

'Upon entering the store, the gorgeously aged materials of the interior form an invitation to visitors to enjoy the pleasures of the classic Old Amsterdam cheese. Pure materials with lots of personality, such as a wooden floor distressed with a saw blade texture, stairs and wall covered in white classic marble and a countertop of genuine Belgian granite. Foreign visitors can enjoy images of Amsterdam in a vintage-poster-style mural showing the landmarks of the city. Everything conspires to embellish the Cheese Experience.

At the half way mark of the shop, the floor changes into a black and white tile pattern and the materials become lighter. The lighter furnishings offer a framework for other cheeses, displayed on refrigerated table tops. The interior has been built in modular elements so that the entire retail interior can be moved easily to a new location. The result is a store that presents a dynamic staging platform of the history, the city and the character of the cheese'- Taken off  Retail Design Blog

It can't be Thursday already playlist...

A little bit to your right..

And so you should do as the title says.

The full story on VISI Online . A full post to be featured on The December Diaries soon!

Present in the post...

It's not very often that I receive something in the mail, let alone a large package, so this just made my day. Sent by Chapel- Quality Handmade Goods, a beautifull light grey Rider backpack presented itself in this unassuming brown paper bag. Oh how beautifull it is. I am just itching to try it out on my bike, really putting its name 'Rider' to good use.

The detail in the Rider backpack really sets this bag apart to purchasing something at just another store.The Chapel label is beautifully printed on brown card, with product details sewn on another. I fished through the inside of the bag when another surprise caught me off guard, a personal handwritten note on gold card with  their logo so humbly placed in the top right corner. I most certainly will enjoy the bag, thank you Chapel!

They really put a whole new meaning to making their products special and personal for their clientele', something i could most definitely live by. Now I want one in every colour...

Vic + Gab...

Today is a particularly good day, and Vic + Gab's sounds of discography and pop in a way resonate that. Its not the kind of stuff you would go completely happily bonkers to, but its humbly beautifull. How appropriate, since why today is a good day hasnt been shared with alot of people.

Here's to half day Fridays...

Mr Madiba...

I know for most of us working people, its a bit hard to fit in 67 minutes of changing the world into our lunch hour, or 30 minutes in my case. But as the Nelson Mandela Day's tag line goes "Make everyday a Mandela day", I hope to fit something of good into my weekend...or possibly every other day...

Stage 2 of Tomorrow Society...

So this is stage 2 of the project, where all the media get let in on what exactly it is that we are doing. Fortunately for me (sarcasm is present) the conference is in Cape Town. Nevertheless, the clothing bins unveil tomorrow at the Vida e' at 24 Central in Sandton and the other in Greenside for all of you have been wondering what these 'clothing bins' are all about...

What an exciting opportunity this has been and I look forward to future projects with Heidi and Trevor.

Plastic not so fantastic...

With a freelance project I recently took part in, in association with Capsule Projects, a small budget resulted in me having to look at using waste materials as my medium. Plastic coke bottles being the item of choice. Everyday after work I went and collected hundreds of bottles from Enviroserv, a waste management company that sorts rubbish into its respective recycling category. Each new day I went, there were more plastic bottles than the last. Sometimes I wonder where all the waste goes, well now we know. Kim Preston's photographic series 'Plastic Pacific' makes one have to take a second look and realise its plastic items floating around in the sea, with a lot of Photoshop too I suppose.

'Plastic Pacific by Kim Preston is a series of photographs meant to make us more aware of the ever growing pollution of our oceans with trash.
Inspired to educate viewers, she addresses the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a mass of plastic waste currently floating in the North Pacific. Alluding to the threats this problem brings, Preston cleverly transforms everyday household objects into the sea creatures likely to be affected'- off Dejoost's website

All images © Kim Preston – Website

The great...

Here's to remembering the Dutch painter and etcher Rembrandt van Rijn. For those of you who are wondering, yes I have been on Google today...

A bit of Mexico for your Monday...

I believe I don't have a single negative thing to say about the branding, interiors and photography of El Montero by Anagrama. There is a common design language that is followed throughout all of the different elements, and not any of them seems out of place. All in all, a contemporary restaurant that embraces the Mexican culture and surroundings . I most certainly wouldn't mind having the zig zag chandelier in my house...
 

'El Montero, is a restaurant located in Saltillo Coahuila, a city very close to the Mexican northern border. Its kitchen represents the restaurant's surroundings as it is located on one of Mexico's deserts. El Montero's menu is inspired on regional food, integrating elements from contemporary kitchens.
The project was developed inside an edification from the colonial period considered national patrimony. The development was executed with respect and care toward its elements' - taken off Anagrama's website