For many of us, taking our cars to the garage can be a daunting
experience. Feeling anxious and uncertain over the price and duration
over jobs, use of technical jargon and the like. This may soon be a
thing of the past, thanks to the launch of the major rebranding
programme for car care network HiQ, starting with their new concept
centre opening in Nottingham, UK.
The aim was to revolutionise the way fast fit car care is delivered and
to develop a fresh retail concept that would set new standards in this
sector. And it looks like they have come up with the goods.
Designed by the London team at Fitch, the brand has been repositioned
by using simple language, illustrations, and the centre itself has
clever features like glass walls that allow customers to see onto the
garage floor for themselves.
We have seen this uncomplicated, tell it like it is mentality popping
up all over the place, especially as banks try to re-align themselves
with their customers. It is now nice and refreshing to see this
evolving into other touch points of consumers' lives. I wonder if this
approach would make going to the dentist any better? By Brendan McKnight
When it comes to entertaining with style, we at TCH wouldn’t lead you
astray. Old school gaming is back in sleek stainless steel and is
certain to be the perfect accessory to any cool modern home, workspace,
studio or bar.
Loaded with PacMan, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Space
Invaders, Frogger and 44 other pre-installed timeless games, the 80's Gaming Table is
a modern take on an old classic. The new Gaming Table’s compact size
(800x760x700mm) (manufactured in Australia) and durable construction can double as a coffee table,
dining table, desk, bar, or even dance stage. It will complement
your home, entertain and stimulate your co-workers, impress your
friends, appease your kids and even bring out your own inner child on
occasion.
And now that we’ve got you hooked – how do you get one for
yourself? The 80's Gaming Table can be purchased
through us for £1500. For those of you looking
to make a profit, for an additional £140 you can add a fully
operational, jam-resistant coin mechanism. If mobility is a priority
for you, the table can either be fitted with heavy duty castors (£20)
or castors designed specifically for timber floors (£30). And while the
Table connects to Australian standard 240V outlets, power requirements
can be altered for international orders. Finally, for £100 the Gaming Table can be altered to your desired colour/finish.
Whether you’re looking to bring family, friends and other people in
your world together for collaboration or for competition the classic
video arcade game works every time - we say, Game on! By Andrew J Wiener
Don't you hate it when you see something and think 'why wasn't this around when I was a kid?'.
Tantrum
is the UK's first dedicated children's hairdressing company and has
just launched their first of many salons on the oh-so chic Kings Road
in London.
Catering from newborns to 15 years olds, this is a hairdressing haven
for everyone – especially parents who are pretty much guaranteed a
tear-free experience. And why would you cry, when you are the hippest
kid in hip-town.
The salon is separated into two sections. The first, 'Moon' is for
children up to the age of 7, and is set in an enchanted forest
complete with its own locomotive train that runs around the styling
stations. Children get their hair cut in a variety of vehicles from a
Mercedes to a plane and also have individual flat screen TV's to keep
them entertained.
The second zone, 'Vogue' is a bit funkier and is for 7-15 year olds.
Looking something like a mix between a pop stars' dressing room and
backstage at fashion week, this is sure to bring out the inner diva in
any older child. Coupled with a games room housing a huge TV with a
Wii/PS3 and their very own juice bar to sit at, your children may never
want to leave.
What we especially love about Tantrum though (and yes there is more to
love), is that to finish off the experience, children can have their
photo taken with their new 'do, which is emailed to the parent and
displayed on the celebrity wall at the salon ready for the child to
sign on their next visit. How cool is that! By Brendan McKnight (spottted by TCH reader -Ned Gammell)
We have found a candidate for the winner in the Coolest Home Theatre
category. Just short of being a drive-in, this outdoor home theatre
surpasses the stinky basement family “media room” by close to a light
year.
Glass walls, clean lines, uninterrupted space, uncluttered rooms,
expensive detailing — the hallmarks of a modern, upscale classic are
all present in this stylish residence. Why anyone in possession of such
an amazing home with such breathtaking views, would want to watch
movies at home, is beyond us, but let’s just say that we wouldn’t mind
being invited to a screening or two. The terraces, patios and the 65-foot infinity pool and spa will keep
cinematically uninterested guests entertained as well. And we’ll all
stay at the separate guest house, of course.
But we must admit we are still lacking an invite to the
5,800-square-foot Skyline residence overlooking Hollywood and downtown
LA. The visit is up to the owner of the home, architect Hagy Belzberg,
a Harvard graduate (1991) who interned in Frank Gehry’s office.
The opulent home was designed by the entire team of his Santa Monica-based, 13-member Belzberg Architects that the now 43-year-old Hagy Belzberg founded in 1997. By Tuija Seipell
When you tire of the endless sandy beaches and azure waters of warm
climates, but you are not quite ready for space travel, head to Lapland
for a dramatic, mystical getaway. The snow igloos that pop up each
winter to complement the 20 spectacular glass igloos and 31 luxury log
cabins at Kakslauttanen resort in Saariselkä, Finland, are definitely cool in all meanings of the word.
You can lie in your bed under the glass ceiling of your glass igloo,
cozily covered by thick down duvets, and watch the snow fall gently in
the light-blue air of the endless night. It is surreal and magical. You
actually do forget that it is cold and, in fact, you are not cold. The
duvets and clothing provided ensure that you are really feeling cozy.
There is also a snow chapel, the world’s largest snow restaurant for
150 people, a Finnish traditional smoke sauna, an eight-meter-tall
glass tepee (designed to resemble the typical Lapp tepee called kota)
for cocktail parties under the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights,
revontulet in Finnish), and a honeymoon suite or two. You guessed, it,
this place is hugely popular for fairytale winter weddings.
Snowmobile safaris, ice swimming and other frisky activities will keep
you and your guests entertained for days! You can start your Finnish
lessons with Hyvää päivää, which means hello, or literally, “have a
good day.” By Tuija Seipell
The much awaited, fabulous, 6,000 square-foot M.A.C Pro
space has just opened in New York. Occupying an entire floor at 7 West
22nd Street, the new facility is divided into two separate sections,
each with its own entrance: A retail/studio and a training area. Unlike
other M.A.C Pro stores around the world, this is a full-blown studio
and experimentation facility for make-up artists and beauty
professionals. With its dramatic open layout, the space is a true feast
for the eyes.
M.A.C Pro’s New York store is completely dedicated to serving the pros.
At the mixing station, they can hone their skills, test samples and
experiment with the product with all of the tools of the trade nearby.
The reference library is stocked with books, magazines and other
reference materials for those who want to learn more or do research. At
the photography studio, they can record their processes and their
results. A separate training area, a kitchenette and bathrooms with
showers make this an ideal space for some serious learning.
Makeup Art Cosmetics (M·A·C) launched in 1984 when two Canadians,
makeup artist and photographer Frank Toskan and beauty salon owner
Frank Angelo, opened a single counter in the basement of the
now-defunct Simpson’s department store in Toronto. Staffed by
professional make-up artists, determined to become the ultimate color
authority in make-up, and blessed with an outrageous sense of drama and
theatre, M.A.C gained huge popularity among professionals and
consumers. The Estee Lauder Companies bought 51 per cent of M.A.C in
1995 and the rest of the shares in 1998. Sleek stores, a vast array of
color options, and a sense of professionalism and artistry are still
the hallmarks of M.A.C that now has more than 750 stores in 50
countries. By Tuija Seipell.
The beds have been made, the concierge desk polished and the piano
in the lobby has been tuned. On its tour around America, the Stoli
Hotel has set up shop in Miami where it will host a variety of invite
only music, fashion and sport events over the next two and a half weeks.
Designed by creative architecture agency Pompei A.D, the 10,000 square foot hotel-themed space is inspired by the iconic Hotel Moskva which features on Stolichnaya's labels.
"Each facet of the hotel has been carefully selected to incorporate
Stolichnaya's authentic heritage, while drawing upon the modern day
qualities that top metropolitan hotels possess" says Adam Rosen, Senior
Brand Manager of Stolichnaya vodka.
Guests can browse (but not sleep in) rooms designed
around Stoli blends, enjoy Stoli cocktails and indulge in manicures,
facials,
scalp treatments and chair massages.
You are, however, going to need to be wearing some serious bling if you
want to enter the elit suite. Paying homage to Stoli's high-end range,
it is only open to celebrities and VIP's.
Heading over to New York next, the Stoli Hotel adds yet another
milestone to Stolichnaya's unique history of innovation and championing
all things Russian. By Brendan McKnight.
It's not easy these days to create a point-of-sale display that truly
stands out in the hectic visual environment of an average busy
department store, yet alone one for Selfridges in London.
Manchester based True North were given the task to create a 'can't miss
it' bespoke display system for Adidas Originals within the Offspring
concession at the Oxford Street store.
Taking inspiration from the product itself where an Adidas shoebox
becomes a table and the shoebox lid, a chair, they have created a
display and "trying on" area where customers can fully immerse
themselves in the brand. Launching this week, we suspect these will be
the hottest chairs in London. By Brendan McKnight
Many of the world’s automobile manufacturers use the North American
International Auto Show as a platform from which to unveil new design
and new concepts in car design. This year’s exhibition just came to
an end in Detroit, Michigan and we are happy to report there were at
least a few new designs that caught our eyes.
A series of concept cars comprise the Lexus LF, or “L-finesse” line –
and this year the Toyota Motor Corporation introduced the LF-A Roadster
– a topless version of the previously revealed LF-A coupe. The LF
series represents a new direction in design for Lexus – centred around
the philosophy of intriguing elegance, incisive simplicity and seamless
anticipation.
The high performance topless roadster will be set to compete with some
of the most desired vehicles on the roads today. At a glace, the
low-profile aerodynamic form is built from lightweight carbon fibre and
aluminium, and a rear wing ascends automatically as a trigger speed is
reached. While there is no official word yet about which type of top
the LF-A roadster will be fitted with, we’re expecting to see a fully
automatic retractable hardtop as Lexus will want to keep its
competitive edge. By Andrew J Wiener
According to an early 2007 interview with Fast Company Magazine, designer and native New Zealander Karen Walker declared, "I started my career at age 18 with $100 and a heap of naiveté."
Incredibly,
the fashion world didn't catch wind of the designing sensation until
1998, 8 years after starting her career, when Walker presented her
first eponymous runway line in Hong Kong.
Since then, Walker's
quirky fashions have rocketed the designer to success. She has shown
her clothing at Australia, London, and (in Fall of 2006) New York's
Fashion Weeks. There are also currently over 140 stockists of the Karen
Walker label worldwide.
Recently, Walker decided to extend her
brand beyond clothing to eyewear. In October 2005, she launched a line
of whimsical "sunnies" in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The line
sold out in two weeks, according to The Independent of London.
Walker's
most recent shades for the 2008/09 season are marketed with the tagline
"Master of Disguise." There are 32 different offerings, all fun,
funky, and the perfect
complement to Karen Walker's carefree, wearable clothing designs.
Regardless of one's own power
issues, all fashionistas will embrace Walker's unique take on an
otherwise monotonous parade of black, over-sized "Nicole Richie"
shades. L. HarperL. Harper
Ohm, the measured frequency of the elliptical orbit of the Earth as it
travels around the sun, as well as our musical centre of gravity. Ohm
is said to be the purest of sounds – the vibration and resonance
created first and foremost by our place in the universe. But how
many of us have actually heard the subtle tone created by our
planet? And what about the possibly millions of other undetected
sounds that surround us each day?
Duncan Wilson knows that sound resonates from every surface in our
environment – if even in the form of the must subtle whisper. Wilson wondered how many of these undetected sounds could be
identified, combined and amplified to create a new sonic experience in
the form of ambient music.
OTTO (meaning ‘ear’ in Greek), created by Wilson, along with Manolis
Kelaidis at the Royal College of the Art, is a device that uncovers
diminutive vibrations by placing magnets and suction mechanisms on
various surfaces and magnifies them through an integrated
speaker. By placing several units on your window, a glass of
melting ice water, a goldfish bowl, or any other unassuming item in
your surroundings, OTTO devises a multidirectional audio atmosphere. By Andrew J Wiener
Since 1991, San Francisco-native Jeanie Fuji has acted as the
traditional Japanese okami (land lady or female inn keeper) of the Fujiya
Ryokan (traditional wooden inn) in the Ginzan Onsen (hot springs) area.
That year, she married Fuji Atsushi, the son and heir of the
350-year-old inn and started her rigorous training under her
mother-in-law in the art of serving customers, true Japanese style.
This included preparing all meals, washing the dishes and cleaning all
rooms. The goal was to make sure every need of every customer was
anticipated and met following the age-old inn tradition of providing
the right amount of service at the right time.
Fuji describes the types of things she had to learn. “Sliding a fusuma
door open and shut, greeting guests, bringing them meals on small o-zen
tables... everything has to be done a certain way, following the old
traditions. And I had to learn how to talk with the guests using
polite, formal Japanese. I often wanted to give up and go home to the
United States. But now I love my work here,” she says in a Japanese
publication.
By the time she had a good decade of experience behind her, Fuji had
gained a celebrity okami status that she modestly and reluctantly
dismisses. By 2004, she and her husband hired Tokyo-based celebrity
architect Kengo Kuma to raise the personal service of the inn to even
higher level. Kuma overtook a complete remodelling of the inn that
reopened in July 2006. Kuma is behind many well-known buildings,
including the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey headquarters in Tokyo.
The capacity of the thoroughly wooden, three-story Fujiya Inn
was reduced to only eight rooms with full capacity at 16 persons.
Considering the location of the inn, right in the middle of a
relatively remote rural area known for its hot springs and natural
beauty, the level of luxury in the inn is astonishing.
Kuma has been able to combine traditional Japanese simplicity with
international tastes and needs, yet avoided the dumbed-down,
westernized version of Japanese style. In fact, Fuji has written an
autobiography on this subject Nipponjin ni wa, Nihon ga Tarinai
(Japanese people are not Japanese enough), in which she emphasizes that
it is important for modern Japanese to recognize and re-claim the value
of their own millennia-old customs and history.
At Fujiya Inn, you feel that you are part of an ancient, authentic and
almost organic history that seems to be seeping through every seam and
screen here. Many aspects contribute to this effect. One is Kuma’s
brilliant use of layers, screens as thin as veils, to both hide and
reveal space. The omnipresent samushiko bamboo screens by craft master
Hideo Nakata (no, he’s not the horror-movie director) and his son
required 1.2 million four-millimetre-wide strips of bamboo. Green
stained-glass panes by Masato Shida and the prolific use of the
handmade, richly textured Echizen Japanese paper add to the feeling of
lightness and transparency.
The organic, natural quotient of the inn is also boosted by the baths
and the hand-prepared, fresh food. The inn has five beautiful private
hot springs baths including an open-air bath on the top floor. The food
is based on a regular washoku (Japanese cuisine) menu and features many
edible plants and other local ingredients. Fuji’s favourites include
the sansai, mountain vegetables, including kogomi (ostrich fern
fiddleheads) and urui (plantain lily petioles.) The only exception to
this local-only rule is Cafe Wisteria (English for fuji), open only in
the summer months, and offering international coffees and cakes.
To get to the Fujiya Inn, take the 3.5-hour trip on the Yamagata Bullet
Train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo and then get a bus to the hot springs. Or
fly from Tokyo to the Yamagata airport and arrange for a pick up by the
inn. By Tuija Seipell
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