Categories / Design and Interiors

Original BTC’s Verner Panton-inspired Doma lighting range

Doma

If the designs above look a little familiar, chances are that you're thinking about the Verner Panton Flowerpot light fittings, a classic of both ceiling and table lighting from 1969. But this is actually a different design – the Doma lighting range by Original BTC.

Designed by Peter Bowles of Original BTC, it certainly hints at the Flowerpot, but puts its own 1930s-style spin on things with a ceramic shade, chrome stand (for both table and floor version) and a enamel-style base or ceiling rose as a period finishing touch.

John Lewis is the best place to look for Original BTC on the high street, or check out the Original BTC site for more details. Prices range from £147 to £211.

Find out more at the Original BTC website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Astro Rocket by Cardboard Safari

Astro rocket

Cardboard Safari have thought of their own way of marking the anniversary of the Apollo Moon 11 landings. While they are best known for making those cardboard kits that fit together to make things like deer and rhino heads, here they've gone space age with their Astro Rocket.

The gently curving body of the rocket is made by slotting together from pieces of laser cut recycled cardboard. It comes in either earth brown or lunar white but, because it's cardboard, you could always decorate it with your own design. There are three sizes available ranging from 14 inches high and costing $14, up to the 31 inches and $56. As you can see, several rockets look good placed together and could form your own moon landing inspired tribute. 

Buy them online
Categories / Art and Photography, Bags

Acme Made Bowler retro-style camera bag now available in the UK

Bowler

Some months back, we featured the Acme Made Bowler, which was available in the US, but frustratingly not available in Europe as far as we could tell. Well, here's some good news for fans of the bag – it's now available in the UK, courtesy of Jessops.

If you missed it first time round, the Bowler (as the name suggests) is a vintage bowling-style bag, but one that's designed specifically to hold and protect your photography kit – digital SLRs in particular. Not only does it house your pro-style cam, it also has small pockets for all your extras, like storage cards for example.

But best of all, it just looks great – and doesn't necessarily have to be used for photography gear. Available now from Jessops, it sells for £32.

Find out more at the Jessops website

Categories / Food and Drink

Chantry Retro Knife Sharpener

Chantry retro

Knife sharpeners aren't the most obvious thing to get excited about, but the Chantry knife sharpener has a great heritage which includes the version pictured, known as the retro model. The art deco looking object replicates how the sharpener looked when it was introduced in 1940 by the Sheffield firm Harrison Fisher. It comes in chrome or white and to sharpen a knife, you would simply run it between the steels a couple of times. 

The Chantry has been through various incarnations since the Forties. The 1970s designed version, the Chantry Classic, has made to the collection of MoMA, New York, while in 2005 it was given a face lift by Sam Hecht to become the Chantry Modern. Slightly surprisingly, this means there's a style to fit every home. 

The Chantry retro model costs £25.86 from The Cooks Kitchen

Categories / Women's Fashion

Crème Caramel Coat from Mod Cloth

Creme caramel
White coats can be tricky territory, whatever the look you're trying to achieve, but when done right they're an absolute winner for mod inspired sixties dress. This Crème Caramel Coat from Mod Cloth.

With cute accents provided by the mustard double breasted buttons, this coat's inspired touch is in the slightly off-white shade. Giving a vintage look that eschews the tacky edge of pristine white, all the hallmarks of a classic coat are covered with the shape and composition.

Get it online from Mod Cloth $72.99.

Find out more from the website

Categories / Travel

Retro retreat: 1960s-inspired Hotel Sax vintage design hotel in Prague

Prague_hotel1

It might look like a fairly classic (and unassuming) update of a 14th century building from the outside, but once inside, you can lose yourself in the space age world of the 1960s-inspired Hotel Sax vintage design hotel in Prague.

Not just the lobby, every room in the hotel has an original appearance that uses predominantly 60s design, with a bit of 50s and 70s also thrown in for good measure. Or if you really want to go upmarket, check into the design suite, which offers both a bedroom and living room overlooking the old town, plenty of space for up to four people and of course, as much vintage design as your eyes can take in.

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