Blu-Line Design Divine

When searching to achieve elegance, prestige and sophistication in your living space; one company comes to mind...blu-line. The company specialises in offering locally designed and manufactured kitchen, bedroom and component cablinetry for a niche clintele.

Source: blu-line

Source: blu-line

The company was formed in 2002 with the intention of producing custom designed products that would meet the functional demands of modern living, while at the same time creating an experience that would be born and maintained through consistent communication and professional interaction.



Source: blu-line



By achieving this, it has allowed blu-line to establish itself as the leader of high end, modern functional cabinetry, thus affording clients the confidence that their designs will not only boast aesthetic appeal but that ergonomics, relational interaction and overall functionality comes standard.

Source: blu-line

blu-line systematic approach is from the briefing and design phase right through to the installation phase which ensures customised, relational and ultimately functional solutions. Product and workmanship guarantees combined service call programs that ensure a return on investment and an overall hassle-free experience.

blu-line has a number of achievements such as the KSA best kitchen stand award, but also Best Overall Stand at the recent Decorex SA Expo.

Source: blu-line

The design process:

• The brief
• The design
• The presentation

Designs are supported by and made possible through the blu_line reputation for personalised service, professional project management and precision installations.

PLASCON 2013 FORECAST

At the offical launch of the Decorex SA which ended this past week, the 12th of August 2012, Plascon Trends is proud to have been the first to showcase the Plascon 2013 Colour Forecast. From my point of view, I was more impressed with Plascon's concept of anticipating total bliss at its best, by just merely adding colour in our lives.

 

Plascon believes that; "colour trends are influenced by the mood of society; we drawn to colours that reflect how we feel".

 

"When we stressed, we are drawn to gentle blues, greens and neutral colours and when we need a bit of motivation and energy; we crave more energetic reds and oranges. Our uncertain and changing environment has us seeking some balance and harmony in our lives", this inspired to the forecast theme "Balance".

 

The "Balance" forecast is categorized with the following four beautiful palettes, which were designed to introduce harmony, tranquility and "Balance" within the daily spaces we embrace:

• Pause
• Dare
• Simplicity
• Contrast

 





Dare Palette” Stand at Decorex 2012, by Egg Design

 



“Dare Palette” Stand at Decorex 2012, by Ink Designs





Pause Palette” Stand at Plascon Decorex 2012 by Yvonne O’Brian



Passive Design

Passive design is a concept that has interested me on green housing which does not need to be heated in winter; all it needs is the sun to shine on it. In constructing such a house a number of factors need to be considered such as:

Taken fom : MrGreen

·         Efficient ventilation

·         Sun angles

·         Excellent thermal insulation

·         Efficient energy appliances

In South Africa, aesthetics and costs are in most cases the determining factor when choosing residential appliances. Therefore, houses end up being built with no insulation, and then retrofitted with piping and cabling appliances which are usually preferred only when occupying and furnishing the house.

In order for us (humans) to survive, we need necessary shelter. The big concern is the impact of building on the environment and the need to live in a healthier environment are the active motivations to change of new materials; such as:

·         Cordwood

·         Adobe

·         Straw bale

·         Rammed Earth

·         Cob



Taken fom : MrGreen



The above mentioned materials are a few that have been used successfully across the world in building passive design housing. These innovative approaches are an introduction of a new way of thinking in reducing the ecological footprint of the building process.

Other routes one could undertake in lowering the carbon footprint would be:

·         The use of natural plaster as a finishing touch

·         Recycling of building material currently on the site

Taken fom : MrGreen

NOTE: The end result of building with the traditional materials such as Portland cement will negatively impact the environment. For instance; for every one ton of Portland cement produced, one ton of CO2 is released.

Green Building By alive2green

http://alive2green.com/about-us/

One of the innovative media organisation that has introduced the culture of sustainability in our environment is alive2green. The company has a number of programmes that aims to inform, educate and with end result of persuading leading industry stakeholders with government and designers. 

http://alive2green.com/about-us/

alive2green surfaces these issues through the following:



· conferences

· exhibitions

· handbooks

http://alive2green.com/about-us/

· ejournals

· websites 



· magazines

The conference and exhibition that has personally caught my attention was the Sustainability Week that was held on the 25-29 July 2012 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Based on the positive media response (traditional and digital), the event was a great success.

What I have noticed about alive2green is their unique manner of conducting their conferences:

· High Calibre Speakers: Credible speakers to share information on the latest and most cutting edge trends.

· Conference Structure: Gathering of feedback information from delegates and exhibitors and make every effort to fulfil the needs of all the clients involved.

· Balanced Content: Provide a neutral platform on which experts can express their views, solutions and insights into the issues at hand.

http://alive2green.com/about-us/

Design Future...

Taken from: www.sabs.co.za

As I was surffing through the internet, I came across the SABS website and discovered that not only do they test and accredit final product design, but they participate in building the future of proudly made South African designs and designers. Design leadership, promoting design as a career and most importantly nurturing it, is the main focus of the SABS Design Institute. This is just an initiative that creates opportunities for young designers in order to take part in the pivotal moments of shaping the future and showcasing that South Africa is a greatly talented nation with limitless potential. I for one believe in such programs like the Design Achievers Awards scheme through which the future designers are exposed to the different design fields.



Taken from: www.biodx.co.za



There is some truth in a meaning, “Design is an intellectually demanding activity and is the meeting point between technology and the arts “.

 Well I say “Design is 10% talent and 90% hard work”. There are of self-taught designers (Andrew Footit, Catherine Christie, etc.) whom they did not get where they are by having a piece of paper that took them 3-4 years to add another line on their CV’s! Granted that education is a starting point where training can prepare one with relevant skills/techniques and latest trends, but one has to take initiative and be proactive for their future. The ability to initiate, adapt and modify are a few of endlessly important aspects of design that will assist in solving agendas such as unemployment, underdevelopment, environmental issues and poverty. In all essence, a Design Culture must just be as relevant to a country’s socio-economic problems.  



Eco-Friendly Material

“Green” or should I say “Sustainable” design, is a common term that is being raised within the past, present and will definitely be raised within the next few years. Designers are now faced with the main objective of designing products that will not be a danger to our environment and create green corporate and residential spaces. The scarcity of natural resources is a problem therefore; the needs of the present must not compromise the future generation’s ability to meet their needs (www.econlib.org results). In other words, what we utilise in the present, must be still available for future generations.  

In designing a new building or redesigning an older building, the suitable method is being sustainable and green, so where to start? With the materials that are used in these new green buildings. One such material would be Eva-tech wood plastic composite (WPC), which makes aspects of outdoor living a breeze and most importantly environmental friendly.

http://www.besthousedesign.com/

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/

 Eva-tech became a great hit at the WoodEx exhibition this year March 20, 2012.  It is one of the very few eco-friendly materials that interior designers incorporate in their designs, as it is used for nearly any outdoor application traditionally made from wood, e.g: Cladding, decking, furniture, etc.   

 

www.homeexteriorinterior.com/interior-pictures



http://www.besthousedesign.com/



One can enjoy a book and feel like a million bucks on a garden bench under your Eva-tech pergola, as the decision we make today can benefit the future generation and the environment.









Kholwa on the Lookout

A young, up and coming dynamic interior decorating company that aims to dazzle the interior decorating industry by specialising in indoor renovations ranging from residential spaces, hotels, guesthouses and extend its expertise to office space renovations. Kholwa De'cor & Design is a definate must be on the lookout for. 



Taken from mood board



Kholwa, which means "believe" in Xhosa or Zulu, epitomises the vision of a young, visionary and creative lady, Lerato Sekoboto. It stems from a journey of buried talents where she decided to pick up the spade that she used to bury her dreams to dig them up again.

Taken from mood board

Kholwa understands that each client’s personal preference differs and takes pride in ensuring that each client’s uniqueness is conveyed and displayed into his or her living space by also integrating comfort and functionality.

Taken from mood board

Influenced by movements in art, architecture and interior design including the elegance of modernism, to the uncertainty and unpredictable nature of post modernism; embracing the outrageous “no rules apply” uniqueness of deconstructivism; and the supreme perfection of photorealism. All creative inspiration is drawn from centuries of artists, painters and creators of lifestyles in order to acquaint the designer with the diverse nature of trends existing that can influence and be tailored to meet each client’s needs, personality, look and at the same time achieving comfort and functionality.

 Book your experience by e-mail:Lerato Sekoboto lsekoboto@hotmail.com