in the Click

Another quick post whilst on my overseas jaunt:

As I posted a while back, I’ve been in Milan for a few days visiting my housemate from back home, and whilst we were there we visited the Milano Design Museum, the Triennale.
This space is a must-see for anyone interested in the slightest in design, from electronics to furniture, architecture and movements that have been associated with both these categories and Italian design in general.

Part of Parco Sempione in the city’s eastern fringe, the Triennale is tucked away in an unassuming building on one side of the park. At the rear is a magnificent sculpture garden (which I unfortunately couldn’t get any photos of) and inside is where the magic happens. Here you’ll find examples of all your favourite designs that we stock at Clickon, and many many more. The best thing about them here is that it’s an interactive exhibit, meaning you can touch, sit, and play with the pieces. And there’s a myriad of information about the designers and movements they’re involved in at the times of conception, great dinner party fodder!
Here are some happy snaps from my phone - thanks Hipstamatic!

Above: The Arco Lamp, by Achille Castiglioni. Casually hanging next to a Fiat. As you do

^ Something wild by Ettore Sottsass

^ A view of some of the collection

^ Amazing wire lights arranged in formation

^ The ever stylish Le Corb Chaise

^ Some more cute lamps en masse

^ More Ettore Sottsass - gotta love that guy!

^ Some of the more ‘normal’ looking designers - what a crazy bunch!

^ I love this great reappropriation of the humble woven chair. Meant to look woven but actually moulded plastic. Great!

^ Zaha Hadid couch - blurring the lines between architecture and furnishing

^ The Tizio, one of our favourites at Clickon

^ The little Componibilis!

^ This one is by Konstantin Grcic - so so so so so so in love with this chair!

^ The Ghost - missing sitting on this at my desk

^ The Taraxacum, so many lights, so many possibilities

^ And a quick one of me, paying homage to Steve Jobs.
Ciao for now!

Following a quick sojourn to Milan to visit a friend and soak up the glorious weather, I felt like I had to let you all know about this amazing design for the fashion and design aficionados of you out there!

10 Corso Como, founded in 1990 and celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, by gallerist and publisher Carla Sozzani, this multifuctional space houses an art gallery, a upscale restaurant/cafe, a boutique, a bookshop, more gallery spaces, some neat vertical gardening and a whole heap of other amazing stuff that will send your olfactory nerves into a spin. Fashioned as a lifestyle emporium concept store, the fashionistas will find world class labels like Prada, Gucci, Alaia, Louboutin, Comme des Garcons, as well as a slew of collaborations with major fashion players like Celine, Chloe and Versace.

Featuring mens wear and womens wear, the mens wear was like a dream of amazing Burberry trenches, those coveted Prada creepers that I will one day get my hands on (any benefactors willing to fund my cause - get in touch!) and amazing collaboration polos by Lacoste, whilst the womens wear features delicate furs of every possible colour and origin, leather goods galore and a shoe department populated by the Milanese elite.

Outside, there’s an amazing cafe with small goods and divine coffee and cakes, again populated by the most stylish people you’ll find in this little area tucked away near Stazione Garibaldi north of the Milan central business district. Away from the hustle and bustle of the outside shopping plaza, this serene and peaceful environment in the internal courtyard of an original apartment block, this vegetated oasis of calm is the perfect place to enjoy an espresso after a hard day strutting your stuff on the streets of Milan.

Upstairs, there’s a temporary gallery space hosting an exhibition on the past shoe designs by Salvatore Ferragamo for leading ladies like Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, and Audrey Hepburn which is worth a look, and the main gallery, the Carla Sozzani Gallery, is host to an interesting exhibition entitled ‘Lumen’ by Carlo Valsecchi. Adjacent to this is the wonderful books store and shop, fully of the most amazing books you could ever think of in every possible category, art, architecture, design, fashion, graphics, you name it and they’ve probably got in. In addition to this, there’s even a mini-DJ booth, replete with iMac and mixing desks, and our favourite at Clickon, the Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen, finished in cool wool colours on trend this season with a cityscape printed design and leather backs. Stunning.

Finally, this powerhouse also features a boutique hotel, called 3Rooms quite simply as the name states, because it has three rooms. Filled with design statement furniture and classics of every kind, this sanctuary has 3 reasonably priced suites with furniture from designers like Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi and Arne Jacobsen.

And in addition to this amazing flagship in Milan, there are some new kids on the block, with the recent opening of Corso Como Tokyo, a collaboration between Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, and a Kris Ruhs, Samsung-sponsonred space that opened in Seoul in 2008 too.

Wow has it been a while! Whilst some of us have been schlepping it at the daily grind, some of us have been out enjoying the sights and sounds of the world. Such is life! A trend that has infiltrated its way into the daily style pages, fashion, art, culture and interiors is that of patriotism. From the American stars and stripes to Zimbabwean tribal prints, the inherent culture of a country is here to stay. And a big trend this season and continuing into the future is that of Anglomania. Piloted by dear old Viv Westwood, her emblematic collections feature embellished Union Jacks and what better way to brighten up your interior with a bit of a style injection of from Ye Olde Britannia. To begin with, here’s a shoot my good friends Olivia McDonald and Jess Shoppee did for an art direction piece for their Interior Design courses at Whitehouse Institute of Design. We see here the simple usage of a Union Jack as a backdrop, teamed with some outdoor Marias stools in fiery red and a simple pallet table. Stunning, and so easy to replicate!

Secondly, the theme of Anglomania works well in both traditional and modern interiors, as well as country style and period homes, as you can see below.

(Wallpaper available from Digitex

Alternatively, why not try some cool DIY with these stylish pieces, simple to do with some fabric paint and a steady hand!

(more cool tips at Mustard Seed Interiors)

Or finally, for a bit of plush Blighty underfoot - head over to The Rug Company for some stunning styles of traditional and modern lineage, like the one below.

See here some alternatives to the run of the mill - style it anyway you like. This look is perfect for a flag draped over your sofa as a throw, a painted finish on a cabinet or even curtains and drapery. Go wild, embrace your inner Anglomaniac!