Concept For Living

The Next Generation

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Atop a hill in the rolling South Yorkshire landscape with views reaching across the Peak District, Highfield is a self-built home with family connections. Jennie Musgrove paid a visit to find out more.

Standing on a hill overlooking the market town of Penistone, South Yorkshire, Highfield was created by three generations: Roger and Linda Brown who self-built it, Roger’s father who owned the bungalow which previously occupied the plot, and Roger’s architect son Andrew, who designed the contemporary home.

When Roger’s father died, Roger and Linda sold their successful business and took early retirement. Wanting a new challenge, they knocked down the bungalow and asked their son Andrew to design a new house to take its place.

“When my father died we decided to move back here and do something a bit different,” said Roger. The couple gave their son an open brief, asking simply that the new house made the most of the fantastic views over the Peak District. Said Linda: “We didn’t want a huge place, we only wanted three-bedrooms. And we wanted to have upside-down living to take advantage of the views. That’s virtually all we told him, and he came up with this design – which was a surprise!”

This feature can be read in Concept For Living issue 123

Treat your feet

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Winter is a time when a home should feel cosy and warm, an inviting place where friends and family can put their feet up and let the good times roll. Minimalist floorboards and hard stone floors can look and feel cold – so why not cover them up this February with an on-trend rug or plush carpet? There’s nothing better than the feeling of soft wool or silk underfoot, so take a look at our carpets, rugs and runners selected to give you a few ideas.

A welcoming entrance hall can create a lasting first impression – so make a style statement with one of these racy runners…

Luscious, colourful carpets are back in vogue and add instant chic to any room…

If carpets aren’t your thing, why not go for a funky rug for a bit of feel-good flooring?

A splash of colour and pattern can make a fantastic focal point and bring a room to life…

More top choices for treating your feet over winter can be found in issue 123 of Concept For Living

Lavish Living

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

In a desirable city centre apartment block overlooking the pulsating Leeds cityscape, award winning designer Ben Huckerby has transformed a dull, lifeless space into a vibrant, decadent dream pad. Rebecca Drake went along to find out more.

Ben Huckerby, owner of Ben Huckerby Design may be a familiar face to many Concept For Living readers. His project at Carr Hall Castle in West Yorkshire won the accolade ‘Britain’s Best Home’ in Channel 5’s series of the same name last year and was subsequently featured in our July 2008 issue.

A Derbyshire lad originally, Ben has based himself in Leeds city centre, where he runs a thriving interior design business focusing on residential and commercial projects, from concept to completion.

Six months ago Ben was unexpectedly forced to move, when his landlord sold the flat he was living in. Luckily he quickly found a penthouse apartment in a fashionable city centre development and was able to move in straight away.

Well positioned, the two-bedroom apartment has light rooms and a fantastic, large balcony, with awe-inspiring views of Leeds city centre.

The rest of this feature can be read in Concept For Living issue 123

On the Road

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Fine artist Joe Simpson has been working towards an ambitious exhibition since graduating in 2007 and this February, he’s almost there.

“I think paintings always work better when they’re together so that there’s some sort of continuity,” said artist Joe Simpson. “When I graduated I didn’t want to do lots of single paintings – I wanted to work towards a solo exhibition.”

Since graduating with a degree in Fine Art from Leeds University in 2007, Joe has been unstoppable in painting, networking and planning – all in preparation for a solo show in London this February which will move up to Manchester in April.

The project, entitled ‘Almost There’ encompasses 12 paintings which, individually, depict a moment of the subject’s life. When viewed together, they form a narrative inspired by the ‘road movie’ genre. Taking inspiration from films such as Broken Flowers and Lost In Translation, Joe designed 12 scenes which carry an ambiguous narrative.

The rest of this feature can be read in Concept For Living issue 123

A home with soul

Monday, January 19th, 2009

When Amanda and Jed Farrell made the move from their traditional Edwardian home to a modern, new build home, they knew their interior design style would have to change. Would they be able to transform their new house into the ambient, atmospheric family home they were hoping for? Rebecca Drake went along to Wakefield to find out.

“Previously we lived in an Edwardian house, so the move was a big change. It was nice to have carte blanche and start all over again.”

Amanda Farrell and her husband Jed bought their new build home off-plan in 2003. After living in a period property, the move to a modern home was a big change for the family.

Explained Amanda: “We were used to a smaller, older house, with lots of ambience and atmosphere. The main thing we were concerned about was the change in atmosphere.”

This feature can be read in Concept For Living issue 122

Japanese influence

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Photography: Eleri Griffiths

Tatton Park’s Japanese Garden was fully restored in 2000 and represents the Far Eastern ideals of balance and harmony with nature. Head gardener Sam Youd shares his insight into Japanese design and philosophy, his favourite parts of Tatton Park and what he thinks the changing climate means for UK gardens.

Our oriental inspired style shoot for this month was shot on location at Tatton Park’s Japanese Garden, which is often regarded as being one of the best of its kind in Europe. Head gardener at the estate, Sam Youd, has overseen the Garden’s evolution since he began working at Tatton Park almost 30 years ago.

Sitting in his modest office which is mercifully warm on a cold and wet English day, Sam sips a cup of tea while explaining the rock on his desk which has been tied, as if it were a late Christmas present, with black string. “If I were to put this stone in the doorway, it would mean ‘no entry’. I’ve been working with the Japanese for so long now that we always use them – people often think they’re dinosaur eggs or something. They’re tied with traditional Japanese knots. Wherever you go in Japan, you’ll always see paths that are blocked off just with the stone.”

Since its creation in 1910, Tatton Park’s Japanese Garden has changed and evolved, eventually becoming what it is today – a spectacular example of a ‘tea garden’ complete with bridges, stepping stones and a Shinto Shrine.

The rest of this article can be read in Concept For Living issue 123

A contemporary courtyard

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

A garden in West Manchester displays a beautiful blend of traditional and contemporary design.

Having an extension built at the back of the house can leave a garden looking a little worse for wear. So when Anna Khan and her husband Lindsay added a modernist extension to their detached Victorian house in Manchester, they decided to give their garden a much needed makeover.

“The extension meant that the garden, by virtue of having the building work done, became a building site itself and was heavily churned up,” said Anna. “We wanted to really change the space and have it completely revamped.” The couple wanted to transform the space into a low maintenance garden with a contemporary design to complement their new extension.

To help them realise their plans, Anna and Lindsay turned to landscape architect Elsa Silvestri. “We had an idea that we wanted some paving, but rather than just having half of it paved, we asked Elsa to come up with a few ideas to break it up a bit – which is what she did,” said Anna.

This feature can be read in Concept For Living issue 122

Visit Our Galleries

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

CLICK HERE to see our full gallery collection

Uplifting upholstery

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

From stylish sofas to classical chairs Concept For Living chooses the essential selection of inspiring upholstery.

Submerge into a elegant array of stylish sofas…

Relax in style, with our collection of chaise longues…

Or put your feet up on a chic stool after a hard days work…

Take a seat and choose from our range of stylish chairs…

The rest of this comforting essential selection can be found in Concept For Living issue 122

Design Oasis

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Fergus McShane discovers an Indian house holding three generations of the architect’s family, a design studio and a cultural hub, with an entire eco-system at its heart.

Building projects often seem to be that little bit more developed and personal when the ultimate client, visionary and designer is also the architect themselves. This is certainly the case with the Delhi N-85 residence by Morphogenesis, where architects Sonali and Manit Rastogi created a house to provide for their multi-generational family and much more besides.

The first aspect of N-85 that begs comment is the truly Indian-fashioned living situation. The design not only had to generate enough space for a large family spanning several generations, but also had to encourage a great deal of interaction in the close-knit nuclear family.

‘The very fact that N-85 had to house scores of people in the design studio and cater to three completely different generations of a conventional Indian family was a big factor in the way the house was planned and zoned,’ explains Sonali Rastogi. ‘Most spaces in the house are designed to format and re-format instantly to house varied programs and uses.’

This feature can be found in Spaces issue 31

Mirror Image

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Fergus McShane shares the sad story behind one of our favourite weekend retreats in upstate New York.

VilLA NM is a family getaway that was designed and built over a seven-year period, ultimately reaching completion in 2007. Built by Dutch architecture practice UN Studio, this looked like a home with a big future, but sadly following a fire a few months ago Spaces was told that we would have to make our feature on the project a retrospective one.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel with UN Studios and the client planning to rebuild VilLA NM in the near future. Good news indeed, and it may even lead to a few tweaks to the design, which could make this already high quality residence even more impressive.

Putting aside the current turmoil that surrounds the house, VilLA NM still represents a skilfully produced conceptual and natural piece of architectural design. The success of the project is reflected in UN Studio being commissioned to firstly remake VilLA NM, and secondly to team up with the client for another build.

The rest of this feature can be read n Spaces issue 31.

At home on the ranch

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Photos: Lincoln Barbour

A family who decided to ditch their old celebrity postcode in favour of a simpler life on a Portland ranch tell writer and stylist Rohini Wahi why it was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.

Looking at this bright and airy, beautifully conceived and gloriously furnished family home, it is hard to believe that it hasn’t always appeared this way. However, when Kelly (a former real estate agent) and Alexis Zahoudanis (a property developer) first took on this project their home was nothing more than a run-down split-level ranch with a grim battleship-grey exterior and an oddly narrow front door.

Kelly and Alexis moved from the infamous Los Angeles district of Pacific Palisades, a place littered with celebrity postcodes, in search of a change of lifestyle and a place with morals and values which matched their own in which to raise their children. So, abandoning the world of Aaron Spellings and Britney Spears, the hopeful pair flew north to Portland Oregon to set up shop.

The rest of this feature can be read in Spaces issue 31

Industrial Standard

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Creating a house for another designer is always going to be an interesting exercise. It inevitably means a high standard must be met and maintained for the building to be deemed a success. Koji Tsutsui’s Industrial Designer House in Tokyo certainly met and exceeded all standards as Fergus McShane discovered.

Industrial design is a form of applied art that can be described as a study of both function and form. It takes into account the connection between the products themselves and the end-user; therefore industrial designers could be described as resting somewhere between engineers and artists.

With this in mind, designing a house for a client whose chosen career is industrial design poses the tricky challenge of having to address both the functionality of a home as well as its aesthetic form. But what architecture project doesn’t have to meet this challenge?

The rest of this feature can be read in Spaces issue 31

Back in black

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Welcome to the Bishop Street residence, a former office building that’s been reinvigorated with a bold new design. Emma Hill decided to take a closer look.

Set on a narrow dead-end street in Yorkville, Toronto, the Bishop Street residence is a conversion of a small office building into a two-storey home.

Initially constructed in the 1940s as an ironmonger’s workshop, the building was substantially reconfigured in 1985 by Barton Myers to become a graphic design studio. In its latest incarnation, a conscious decision has been made to preserve the shell of the previous version while exposing the original steel structure.

Michael Tyler of Tyler Smyth architects explained: ‘By a strange coincidence as well as undertaking the latest Bishop Street residence project I also worked for the architect who undertook the original 1980s conversion (although I wasn’t personally involved with this). It was a great office, but after 20 years the building was starting to show its age a little.’

You can find this feature in issue 31 of Spaces

Cold as Ice

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Ice Hotel is one of the most unique and extravagant getaways conceivable. It may only stand for a few months each year, but its high-design quality makes each annual instalment an unforgettable experience.

There is something so romantic and personal about ice sculpture. Maybe it’s the limited lifespan, or the exclusivity of each individually hand-carved piece. But in the case of Ice Hotel, the aspect that really draws you in is that every year ten suites are created by handpicked internationally known artists, sculptors, designers and architects. This is certainly what enticed Spaces.

What really stands out about Ice Hotel (beyond the hotel itself) is that it allows viewers a glimpse into the world of some fantastic designers, one of whom is Ben Rousseau of Rousseau Design working alongside graffiti artist INSA. As the only UK artists taking part, they have had a lot to live up to, but have been more than successful with their high-heel inspired ice suite.

The rest of this article can be found in Spaces issue 31

Living in Luxury

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Opulent, luxurious and bespoke are words that just seem to roll off the tongue when talking about Mdesign, as Fergus McShane found out when looking at their recently completed Orchard Court apartment.

Mdesign is without doubt one of London’s fastest growing interior design companies. In the space of six years they have grown beyond recognition – from a pair of founding brothers, Stephen and Paul Sellar, with their small, mainly freelance staff, to a firm with seven in-house interior designers, architects, project managers, a construction team and their very own joinery shop.

In the always-challenging world of interior design, this growth speaks for itself. But when coupled with their recent award success for the Orchard Court project, it is clear these recent triumphs reflect the quality Mdesign instils. Speaking with Stephen Sellar it is easy to see his delight with receiving the World’s Best Apartment prize in the CNBC International Property Awards; however, he is resolute that they will always look to improve in the future.

This rest of this article can be found in Spaces issue 31

Early Riser

Friday, January 16th, 2009

At just 27 Laura McCafferty has already achieved what many artists can only dream of, rapidly gaining an international audience for her work and winning a host of prestigious awards along the way.

Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, McCafferty’s artistic career started after she gained a first class honours degree in Decorative Arts from Nottingham Trent University in 2003. Her illustrative style was lready apparent in her final year exhibition, forming the foundations for her later work.

‘From a young age I always knew I wanted to be an artist. At school my art homework was the first to be completed and I did more than expected. My first commission was at grammar school when Sisters of Mercy (the religious order, rather than the band!) commissioned me to design their logo for a banner, postcards and bookmarks for an annual festival’, explained the artist.

This article can be read in issue 31 of Spaces

Celebrating Conran

Friday, January 16th, 2009

At Spaces we’re dedicated to design and spend longer than we care to admit admiring the new collections. Little surprise then that when Hester Brodie was invited to pay a visit to the Conran Shop to hear about the company’s latest offerings she dashed out of our offices and into the store so fast we couldn’t see her for dust!

Enter the Conran Shop in South Kensington and it is immediately evident how it has become such an iconic brand. Situated in the beautiful Deco-style glass fronted building Michelin House, the store exudes design cool, with beautifully finished contemporary furniture filling every inch of space.

The Conran Shop first opened over 30 years ago at 77 Fulham Road and moved to its present location in 1987. Since then the design emporium has definitely made its mark, helping to draw our attention to an interesting mix of up-and-coming furniture designers and promoting modern furniture with longevity.

This article can be found in Spaces issue 31

South Yorkshire – Area Focus

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

A county of stunning views and industrial heritage, South Yorkshire encompasses the dizzying heights of the Pennines to the west and the lively towns of Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster to the east – not forgetting the wonderful city of Sheffield in the south. This month, we’ve sought out the best new homes in South Yorkshire.

Treeton Homes Selling Fast

Beaumont Park is a collection of detached family homes in Treeton, Rotherham by homebuilder Jones Homes. Only three two-storey homes remain for sale at the development, including the ‘Bramley’ and the ‘Shelbourne’.

The Bramley is a family home with four generously sized double bedrooms, a master with en-suite bathroom, three impressive reception rooms and an integral garage. The Shelbourne house type has four bedrooms, one with en-suite facilities and a dressing room. Its open-plan kitchen with adjoining family room forms the heart of the home while the luxurious lounge and dining room are ideal living spaces. The property also has a single garage.

Prices for the Bramley house types start from £244,995 and the Shelbourne is priced at £297,000. For more information contact the Jones Homes sales centre on 01142 889937.

A Home in the Hills

A development of family homes near Penistone offers quality design in a picturesque location.

The third phase in a collection of large family homes in the picturesque village of Millhouse Green, near Penistone, is now ready for viewing. Award-winning homebuilder Cala Homes (Yorkshire) has created the development, named Springfields, on the edge of the village, overlooking the nearby River Don and open countryside.

Comprising 87 four and five-bedroom detached houses and 18 four-bedroom townhouses, Springfields offers high specification finishes and excellent design in the heart of South Yorkshire.

One of the show homes at the development is the ‘Leathley’, a large traditional two and half storey, five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with an internal floor area of 1,948 sq ft. The ground floor has a large dining kitchen and utility and a lounge with French doors to the garden. On the first floor is a main guest bedroom with en-suite, family bathroom and three further bedrooms. The master suite is located on the top floor and features a six-foot bed and elegant day bed/chaise. A four-bedroom Kilnsey townhouse has also been professional decorated as a showhome. The Kilnsey and the other townhouses offer flxible living over three floors.

Prices at Springfields start from £229,950. Four show homes at the development on Manchester Road, Millhouse Green are open seven days a week from 10.30am to 5pm. Further details are available at: www.calahomes.co.uk or tel. 01226 379147.

Lincoln Barbour

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Photo by Lauren Brooks

Based in Portland, Oregon, Lincoln Barbour shoots lifestyle, architectural and product photography. He is a passionate, multi-faceted creative, who draws on his wide range of experiences – as graphic designer, web designer and creative director – to develop his career as a successful, commercial photographer. His design experience, coupled with a unique visual language, informs his fresh, bold style of photography.

Always affable, Lincoln keeps a relaxed and fun atmosphere on location or in the studio that puts his subjects and clients at ease. And no matter what the subject may be, he delivers a consistently strong visual aesthetic that brings punchy texture, shape and color to every picture.

As well as Spaces Lincoln’s work has been featured in other publications such as Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Domino, and Newsweek.

To look at Lincoln’s range of photography, you can go to his website: www.lincolnbarbour.com

Lincoln’s architectural photography can be found in Spaces issue 31

Rob Bennett – Designer Maker Profile

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Furniture Designer and owner of Brownlow Furniture Company Rob Bennett reveals the traditional inspirations behind his company’s success.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I studied at Manchester University, where I did a degree in Furniture Restoration. I did a lot of shop fitting work and also ran a workshop while I was there, to build up my experience. I first set up The Brownlow Furniture Company in my parents’ single garage. I was there for eight months, I then moved to Ellesmere Port as expansion meant I needed a larger space. I was there for a further eight months, but also outgrew this space and moved to Chester in June 2003.

The Chester workshop was discovered by my sister. It is a fantastic building, with wonderful long windows, allowing lots of natural light to flood in. The location is perfect as customers can walk in and look around. For the last two years we have attended the Concept For Living sponsored Home & Garden Show. In terms of getting our name out there, the shows have been the best thing that we have done for the company. The Chester Racecourse 

location is perfect and the shows attract the right quantity of people.

What does an average day entail for you?

There is never an average day here. I try and arrive at 7.15am so I can organise things for everyone else. The other employees tend to arrive around 8.15am. I am often involved in visiting clients and measuring up, but a lot of my work is very much office, rather than workshop, based. I love working on detailed drawings and new ideas. We often have work experience students on placements in the business, which is great.

Can you describe your work and the processes that you use?

Our work is truly bespoke. We take influences from everywhere. No two kitchens are the same design. We have a very traditional approach, and offer a free measuring-up service. We do hand drawn illustrations free of charge – just to make us that little bit different. Everyone who buys from us has to be a member of the showroom. We offer a free membership policy, and tend to find that once people sign up as members they return to make future purchases. Our prices are based simply upon the material that is used and the work that has taken place.

What inspires you?

I love early architecture and I am very traditional in my approach – which is why I choose to have people working here who have a more modern eye. I have a great love of medieval furniture; very early oak is a great passion of mine. I can appreciate contemporary designs and to a certain extent modern too. Furniture is a very subjective topic, so I enjoy working on contemporary pieces but they’re not what I would choose to live with. We get a good balance of style and skills from the variety of people that work here.

Who are your design heroes?

People who have developed woodwork techniques. Those early cabinetmakers who are the reason why we have beautiful panel doors. I much prefer rural furniture. At Brownlow we work on our own ideas rather than looking at what other companies are doing; if someone else is doing it, we don’t want to be!

What projects are you working on at the moment?

A lot of kitchens! We are planning to build a new kitchen show room, which is going to have a more contemporary feel. We’re also doing an interesting staircase in Abersoch and some curved cabinets too.

To find out more contact Rob Bennett at: The Brownlow Furniture Company

Tel: 01829 741 574 / 07989 593 763

Email: enquiries@inhouse-furniture.com

www.brownlowfurniture.com

Modern pads for the over 55s

Monday, January 12th, 2009

A new collection of 15 homes in the centre of Pickering, North Yorkshire, is aimed at homebuyers looking to downsize from larger family homes into a contemporary and green environment.

Pad 55 is a high quality, world class development which recently won a number of accolades, including ‘CNBC Best International Retirement Development 2008’ in Orlando, Florida and the Yorkshire Post’s award for ‘Most Innovative Development Plan, 2008’.

An occupancy restriction at the development dictates that one permanent occupier must be over the age of 55, the other over the age of 30 – making Pad 55 ideally suited to those looking to retire alongside like-minded people. Designed by award-winning architects Bremhall Blenkarn, Pad 55 holds everything necessary for a modern lifestyle.

Onsite communal facilities include an underground swimming pool covered by a grass roof, an orangery housing a platform lift in the centre of the scheme and a guest suite that owners can book – all looked after by a concierge. The contemporary design of the homes ensures they are not only stylish but also perfect for modern living, and tailored to 55+ requirements.

The homes have been designed with green living in mind, and maximise natural light, sun and air circulation. The scheme is powered using an economic, carbon saving technology called Micro Combined Heat Power, which uses natural gas to generate the majority of the homes’ power requirements onsite whilst using the by-product, heat, for hot water. Surplus electricity is exported into the National Grid.

Pad 55 is complete and on sale, with prices for homes starting at £275,000. The sales centre is open Monday to Saturday from 10am. Visit www.pad55.co.uk or call 0800 043 1055 for further information.

Quality Cheshire Homes

Monday, January 12th, 2009

A new development in south Cheshire offers high quality homes with excellent specifications.

Gerard’s Gate is a select development of nine four and five-bedroom detached homes situated close to the Cheshire countryside in the community of Wistaston. Homebuilder Antler Homes has created a collection of high specifi cation properties, each carefully designed to complement their surroundings.

The homes at Gerard’s Gate cater perfectly for modern living with exceptionally spacious downstairs accommodation including an ergonomic open-plan kitchen. The generous living space continues upstairs with either four or five bedrooms and no less than three bathrooms.

Antler Homes holds attention to detail paramount in its design ethos and all the homes feature excellent specifcations. The handsome elevations create instant kerb appeal and are a testimony to the development’s quality design. Kitchens feature custom built units, granite worktops and a range of Siemens integrated appliances. Bathrooms and en-suites are fitted with contemporary furniture and ceramic floor tiles.

The town of Wistaston is close to historic Nantwich, which has an abundance of chic bars, gastro-pubs and boutique shops. For those with families, a selection of well-regarded schools can also be found in the area. Gerard’s Gate is well-placed for commuters with the M6 motorway close at hand.

Prices at Gerard’s Gate start from £414,950. Part Exchange is also available where Antler may make an offer on the purchasers existing home if the independent valuation is acceptable, leaving the purchaser free to reserve a property at Gerard’s Gate (subject to terms and conditions). For further information, visit the show home and marketing suite which is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Alternatively, visit www.antlerhomes.co.uk or call 01270 665279.

Ski chalets popular in the UK

Monday, January 12th, 2009

A quarter of the homes at a new French Alps development have been sold off-plan to British buyers, bucking the trend of caution in the wake of the credit crunch.

As construction work gets underway at Le Telemark, a brand new residence de tourisme of 57 ski-in/ski-out leaseback apartments at Tignes Le Lac, French mountain and lakeside property specialist MGM Group has reported that 39 of the properties have been sold, with ten of them being snapped up by UK buyers.

Located close to the residence are ski lifts giving direct access to the 300 km of slopes within the Espace Killy skiing area. At an altitude of 2,100 metres, the resort is one of the highest in the French Alps – making it also one of the most snow-sure – Tignes is used by the national ski team of France to train for international competitions.

Within a 15 minute walk of Le Telemark is an 18-hole golf course around the Chevril Lake which has a sailing centre nearby. “Clearly the appeal of these properties to British buyers is that they meet three requirements – a high quality second home to enjoy winter sports in one of Europe’s top ski resorts, a great base for summer holidays and a guaranteed source of rental income,” said Nathalie Turchet, MGM’s London-based UK sales manager. Chambery Airport is less than two hours away from Tignes by car. The airports at Lyon and Grenoble are two-and-a-half hours by road. Properties at Le Telemark are available for leaseback purchase only. Prices range from 232,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to 795,000 for a four-bedroom duplex home. They exclude VAT waived under the leaseback scheme.

For more information visit the MGM website www.mgm-constructeur.com or call 0207 4940706.

City Chic Apartments

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Bellway North West has unveiled a brand new show apartment at a development in Salford, Manchester.

Set in a prime location only a short walk from the shops, restaurants and bars of Manchester city centre, Springfield Court comprises a mix of one and two-bedroom contemporary apartments.

All the apartments have been thoughtfully designed and well proportioned, ranging from 400 to 638 sq ft. Dressed and styled to a high standard with a clean finish, the show apartment offers visitors a taste of life at Springfield Court.

A spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living area features fantastic floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors. The neutral base in the lounge is offset with a rich brown leather couch covered in stylish beige cushions and a contemporary glass coffee table.

Prices at Springfield Court start from £114,950 for a one-bedroom apartment and £146,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information or to arrange a viewing of the show apartment, contact Bellway North West on 0151 486 2900.

Shimmering neon lights

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Up-and-coming artist Jessica Lloyd-Jones is one to watch out for. With a completed fellowship in New York already under her belt and an international exhibition in Chicago to look forward to, it looks like the cosmos is the limit for this recently graduated fine artist.

Jessica Lloyd-Jones lists her main sources of inspiration as science, technology and light. The sculptural artwork the young artist produces explores a convergence of these subjects – and is as diverse in form as the umbrella term ‘fine art’ allows, from a few glowing strands of glass seaweed to a neon-filled glass sculpture of a human heart.

A fascination with hidden phenomena in the natural world such as the aurora borealis the northern lights), biological electricity and bioluminescence (the process by which living things give off a natural light) is what fuels Jessica’s work. Her art explores these fantastical subjects and questions the boundary between science fiction and science fact.

Working part time in a science museum means that even when Jessica is not researching the natural environment, experimenting with materials and creating new artwork, the domains of science and technology still play a huge part in her ideas. The artist will have less time for a part time job this year, however, as a recent group exhibition in Stoke (Conjunction 08), an artist’sresidency at the new Ruthin Craft Centre and another visit to America to prepare for SOFA will be taking up a lot of her time.

The initiative at Ruthin Craft Centre aims to forge links between applied and public art, and until the end of February 2009 Jessica will be creating a public artwork from her investigation into materials light and space.

Call in at Ruthin Craft Centre to find out more about her work, or alternatively visit: www.jessicalloyd-jones.com, www.urbanglass.org or www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk

Sarah Malone – Designer maker profile

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Ceramicist Sarah Malone graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University only a year ago and recently won the accolade ‘Best Northern Maker’ at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. A rising star of the contemporary craft world, Sarah took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to Concept For Living.

Tell us about your background.

From a young age I was always creating and knew that when I grew up that was what I wanted to do. It’s taken me 30 years to finally achieve what I aspired to be as a young girl. I originally trained as a graphic designer before the internet and computer aided design had really taken off. The course I studied still taught traditional methods and techniques such as hand rendering typefaces, hand painting colour charts, traditional printing and photographic processes. The skills I learnt are still with me today and have been invaluable to my understanding of all forms of art and design. I learnt that the important factor about design, was its ability to communicate and I still do that today, even though I now use ceramics as my medium. I originally wanted to be an album cover designer, but life has its way of changing your path and instead I became a parent and took time out to bring up my son. After a few years of this I decided to return to college and I studied an Art Foundation at South Trafford College, then onto the 3D Design degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. I have studied design in some form for eight years, but I still feel like I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me!

What does your typical day entail?

I feel I have to split myself into three sometimes as I am not only a designer/maker but I also teach ceramics at Start in Salford (an arts well-being centre) and I have a family. I love meeting people and to be able to inspire and encourage others to explore and express themselves with clay is very rewarding. In contrast I love the quiet time I get to have in my studio whether it be making work for a show or developing new work. Balancing all this with family life is difficult but I do have a very understanding and supportive family and I couldn’t do it without them. When I first set up the studio I had this vision that I would be in every day making but there’s lots of other stuff that comes with the job that I had not expected; the general running of the business as well as promoting myself, applying for shows and exhibitions, delivering work, dealing with everyday emails and enquires, sourcing materials for and designing packaging, promotional material and display stands. It all makes for a diverse, interesting day.

What inspires you?

I suppose life inspires me and every aspect of it: music, art, poetry, history, philosophy, folklore and nature. I record all my ideas and influences in a sketchbook/ journal and then over time it eventually filters into my work. I have been very inspired by Japanese culture, ceremonies, traditions, poetry tales and rituals, the intimacy of the ceremony and objects used. My current body of work was inspired after a study trip to The Victoria and Albert Museum, where I came across artefacts from Japan. They were the most exquisitely hand-made and decorated objects. Functional everyday items, that were obviously very well used because areas of pattern were faded and worn away. Behind glass they take on a whole new meaning and are no longer functional objects, but become artefacts for us to admire and learn from. I found it ironic and sad that something that had once been held and loved was now so untouchable. Looking at these objects from the past, that were hand crafted using techniques that had been passed down from generation to generation, I realised how important it is to study them. In a world of throw-away products it is precious to fi nd something that stands the test of time. Something with a history, a passion and an energy. Objects like these hold the imprints of our ancestors, they evoke feelings within us and we have a connection with them. Using clay I try to capture this and illustrate these thoughts within the clay and communicate this intimacy to the audience.

Who are your design heroes?

The Arts and Crafts movement has greatly inspired me and my work. The movement embraced artisans from many disciplines. Writers, designers, architects, artists and crafts people, revived old skills and traditional making techniques, using natural materials. It was a direct backlash to the lower quality mass produced items of the industrial revolution. I think we are at a similar juncture in time now. The market is flushed with cheap fashionable, disposable items which I guess is what some people want but I believe in objects that are made to last and think that people are being more drawn to designed objects that have been well crafted, show the natural characteristics of the material and that are going to last. Maybe passed down from generation to generation. Two potters who were strongly infl uenced by this design philosophy and who have deeply inspired my work are Soetsu Yanagi and Bernard Leach. Both of these men, from two very different cultures, worked together to revive traditional folk crafts and handmade ceramics. They inspired each others beliefs in the importance of the survival of traditional craft forms.

Sarah Malone Ceramics

Tel: 07845 944 288

Email: sarah@sarahmalone.co.uk

www.sarahmalone.co.uk

Sarah works from Bankley Studios in Levenshulme: www.bankley.org.uk

Monochrome magic

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Darryl Cunningham Cityscapes

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Spaces is always on the lookout for up and coming artists and what better place to start our New Year search than through the emerging talent pool of cartoonists out there. One that caught our eye and enraptured our imagination is Darryl Cunningham with his imaginative cityscapes.

In his colourful cross-section of cartoon cities, Darryl shows off some of his graphic novel influences through the smaller details of pieces like ‘The Outernational Hotel’ with its miniature depiction of Superman and the City of Kandor, as well as some more everyday characters living in a world of Darryl’s creation.

This may not be the regular artistic style Spaces showcase, but a look through Darryl’s vision may just get you turning to the comic book and graphic novel for some future art influence. We certainly will be.

For a look at Darryl’s wider portfolio simply click here.

Radios – 10 of the Best

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Turn on and tune in this month to Concept For Livings top ten rundown of contemporary radios that’s sure to have you reaching for that dial…