Industrial Age: Re-Vive Table Legs

"How creatively green can everyone be?" That's the question Richard Liddle from Cohda Design UK asked himself and is now asking others as of today with the launch of Re-vive Table Legs. These unique products, with both a sustainable and innovative story, can be used to give an industrial feeling to just about any furniture design.

From Cohda:

"With the costs of transporting furniture around the globe, the energy used in manufacturing and the associated carbon footprint, Cohda have developed the Re-vive table legs as an alternative. Manufactured in the UK the patented legs aim to offer a unique yet simple furniture solution that can assist in reducing these problems. The legs are manufactured in the UK from previously redundant production equipment that has now been revived by Cohda."

Story via: MocoLoco

Industrial Age - Anna Hadwick

Last week was Return to Authenticity week here on the LIMElight blog and as we sifted through all of that great, authentic information, we collected some interesting design tid-bits that are reminiscent of the industrial age. This week we will be highlighting innovative product design that has a flair for the industrial, handmade and authentic.

Anna Hadwick's Studio Mini lamp, created for the Nottingham Trent University graduate show, is made of oak, the product has three adjustable legs and and a head that pivots through 180 degrees. The raw, rugged materials, unique angles and exposed cord is a simplistic and industrial approach to modern design. A removable porcelain shade houses three LED lights that make a green design statement.

More photos @ Dezeen

Return to Authenticity - Color Reform

Color Reform, ABC Carpet & Home’s new line of modern rugs, is actually a collection of vintage Turkish carpets salvaged from the “rug graveyard” and re-colored in vibrant, stylish hues. According to Graham Head, the vice-chairman of the company's carpet division, first, the rugs are stripped of their original colors; then they are dyed colors like hot pink, red, purple or green. A 6-by-9-foot rug (shown in blue), is about $2,600; a 6-by-2 1/2-foot (shown as the yellow runner), is about $800. These authentic rugs start out as traditional design element for your home, but end up a conversation piece on your floor!

Story via: The New York Times

Return to Authenticity - Pestos With Panache

We have a friend who is passionate about food, committed to flavor and dedicated to her craft. She makes pesto. But, not just any pesto. Pesto with Panache by Lauren is a unique story that is perfect for our Return to Authenticity week here on the LIMElight blog.

Lauren creates natural, authentic and unique flavor profiles that spark the imagination and put a new spin on an old classic. Have you ever tried Pumpkin Chilpotle Pesto? What about Bangin' Blueberry Pesto? Maybe you haven't ever heard of Fabulous Fig and Gorgonzola Pesto, but I am guessing you might be hungry by now...

Pestos With Panache is a great entrepreneurial story of someone dedicated to creating wholesome, natural foods that are honest and flavorful that just might change your perspective of pesto. You might spread it on bruschetta or toss it with pasta, but no matter how you serve it, this pesto is a taste of a true authentic spirit! If you're curious about these pestos, want to buy some of your very own or are looking for a couple of great recipes, swing on over to her website!

Return to Authenticity - Tiny (and we mean tiny!) Home Design

If you ever thought you might want to get back to your roots, to live with less or just plain old downsize to rid your self of excess space or excess stuff... Read this for inspiration!

April and Keith (and their dogs) needed to make a change. Some daunting economic news and their desire to lead a simpler, semi-retired lifestyle inspired them to build a 220 square foot home in picturesque Idaho. Separating spaces into zoned areas by using half walls from reclaimed materials, such as windows, leaves the space open, yet clearly defined. An artistic approach to using dimensional materials, such as tin on the walls, adds personality and doubles as protection from heat from the wood stove. April and Keith made every effort to build sustainably, from materials sourced from salvage, bartered or purchased from local mills. While the home is a continuing work in progress, the happy homeowners are enjoying a peaceful lifestyle. You can track their progress on their blog, where they will be detailing plans for their garden, storage dilemmas, green roof, kitchen and more.

Story via: Tiny House Blog

Return to Authenticity: 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea

What is Fifteenth Avenue Coffee & Tea? It's Starbucks, making a drastic return to their roots, looking to the past to reinvent what originally made this retailer a stellar marketplace standout - The hipster, neighborhood coffeehouse concept.

Smaller batches of brewed coffee, espresso - handmade from a manual machine, live entertainment, poetry readings, inventive food choices and even wine and beer selections in the evening will be features of this new concept store in Seattle. Starbucks dusted off the idea for this new format, a concept that dates back 15 years, because they couldn't stop thinking about the "good old days" when they could roast coffee in the morning and have it in a local store by that afternoon. To keep true to that concept, the first three stores will be in Seattle, near one of its roasting plants, so they'll be able to offer smaller-batch coffees from far-flung locales such as Thailand, and loose-leaf Tazo teas from places such as India and Japan.

News story via: The Seattle Times

Stay with us here on the LIMElight blog all week as we feature brands, companies, retailers and independent designers taking a step back, looking to return to authenticity to reinvent their product and services.

Innovative Retail: Window Shopping

Sometimes, the best place to find unique signage, cool displays and interesting product is by doing a little window shopping. We enjoy reading A Design Affair's blog because her "Window Wednesdays" always turn up something inventive and intriguing. This week the Starbucks signage made a statement with creative graphics and typography, but we felt that overall the windows of Coffee Heaven from earlier this month had a great artistic vibe. For more window shopping, make sure to swing by A Design Affair every Wednesday!

Starbucks:
Coffee Heaven:

Innovative Retail: No Longer Empty

We've all seen them... The empty windows, the vacant storefronts, the closed sign hanging on the door. Businesses that have disappeared, companies that have moved out. It's not great to look at, but someone is doing something about it.

" No Longer Empty is an experiment in embracing an opportunity of the current Great Recession – the vacated storefronts of New York City ". The art project seeks to reclaim empty business spaces and fill them with artistic enterprise. The organization has two storefronts currently being used to house art installations and openings and two more spaces are in the pipeline to be completed very soon. For more information and details visit their blog or website.

Innovative Retail: The Make Lounge

We love cool, hip and innovative retail and consumer spaces, so when we read about The Make Lounge over on Decor8, we were intrigued...

The space is a a stylish, welcoming space featuring short-term, project-oriented craft workshops for the busy individual that would like to create handmade things, but fit around their busy schedule. Classes range from basics such as survival sewing and zipper clinics, to the light hearted and fun, including crochet animals and embroidery workshops. You can also plan your next party, children's event or girl's night out in The Make Lounge's modern, inviting space.

Tendence 2009 - Spang

Lovely shades of lavender, plum, amethyst and aubergine made a key color statement at Spang. Gradient colors, subtle sheen and a touch of distressed techniques to tabletop and home decor pieces were a stunning combination.

Tendence 2009 - Color at Baobob

Dusty, intense hues of vivid teal, crisp celery, mocha brown, sweet plum and berry brights were a key story at Baobob at this year's Tendence. The mixing of patterns complimented the wide range of material and application choices. Quilted, tufted and ruffled effects added dimension to the range of dusted color choices. Cozy, comfortable and chic!

Tendence 2009 - Lifestyle Trend Hall

Here is a collection of some of our fresh favorites we enjoyed at the Lifestyle Trend Hall at this year's Tendence show. We love the mixing of natural materials, the organic shapes rendered in bright white and the vivid pops of color. Enjoy!