The Opera Hostel Designed By Ktura Architekci

The Opera Hostel is a simple accommodation in Poznán, Poland that’s inspired by the Opera House situated just around the corner. Architecture company Ktura Architekci designed the Opera Hostel to have a similar thespian atmosphere by installing theatrical lighting, curtains, posters and graphics from theatre shows around the hostel’s interiors. As with most hostels, the amenities are modest but enough to get you comfortable for your stay. Unlike a seat at the opera, this budget-friendly hostel won’t cost you an arm and a leg but similarly, you’ll be glad you booked a reservation here.

What: Opera Hostel
Where: Zygmunta Noskowskiego 2/5, Stare Miasto District, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
How much? Rooms start at approximately $12 per night.
Highlights: This budget-friendly option has been getting rave reviews for its cleanliness and friendliness of the hostel staff. Like most hostels, the Opera Hostel is modest but provides everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Design draw: The interiors of the hostel is inspired by the interiors of the theatre, so Ktura Architekci installed theatrical lighting, curtains and decor to mimic a similar atmosphere.
Book it: Visit the Opera Hostel

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/opera-hostel-designed-ktura-architekci/

Native Union Drops Into the Wireless Charger Game

Outfitted in fabric and aluminum, Los Angeles/Hong Kong luxe tech accessorizer Native Union arrives fashionably late to the wireless Qi charger party with a handsomely outfitted Qi wireless charger, the Native Union Drop.

Coming off the heels of CES and the recent Maison & Objet in Paris, the LA+HK based Native Union reinforces their reputation as a brand placing design on equal footing with technology, presenting a hard-wearing home textile top integrated with a non-slip silicone tread above an aircraft grade aluminum base – each an aesthetic and functional treatment designed to keep devices in place while also prevent overheating. 

Underneath the fabric and silicone patterned top, a thermal protection sensor and foreign object detection keeps devices safe while inching back toward 100%.

iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and any other Qi enabled devices, the Drop’s 10W charging base ships with a matching USB-C to USB-A 6.5 foot braided charging cable, complete with an integrated leather strap for wrapping up the cable to adjust the length or for tidy storage (the all-black ensemble could be customized further with one of the company’s other existing USB-C to USB-A belted cables).

Note, the Drop is a 10W charger and thus doesn’t rate for fast charging; impatient iPhone X users should look elsewhere for fast charging options (it’s still double the 5W charger shipping with the iPhone X).

For those looking to get the…ahem…drop on the $60 Native Union Drop Wireless Charger, mark your calendars for March when the charging pad becomes available via NativeUnion.com.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/native-union-drop-wireless-charger/

SelgasCano Designs New Creative Workspace for Second Home

Second Home launched in 2014 offering unique workspaces for entrepreneurs and innovators. The company continues to expand and just recently opened Second Home Holland Park, their second spot in London which was designed by Spanish architects SelgasCano. Second Home Holland Park marks the fifth collaboration between the two companies with a continued study in environmentally sustainable design along with a focus on natural materials, natural light, and greenery.

The offices span 12,000 square feet within a mid-century building with a storied past. Throughout, the interior boasts bright colors, natural light, and a menagerie of plants, some of which grow right up through the floor. While the interior is outfitted with modern essentials, historic details were also restored.

From Second Home co-founder Sam Aldenton:

When it comes to design, we’ll never do the same thing twice – that’s just boring. I love the way SelgasCano responded to the rich cultural heritage of the building, and created something totally unique – and yet recognisably Second Home.

35 trees were planted inside the offices and benefit from new roof surfaces that allow more light in.

Photos by Iwan Baan.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/selgascano-designs-new-creative-workspace-for-second-home/

A Lunch Box Roundup for Adults That Will Make You Want to Take Your Lunch Everyday

January is always a time for fresh starts. Whether you are big on resolutions or not, sometimes you don’t have a choice. This month my twin toddlers started daycare… thus I started making lunches! Here at Pinch, we are spoiled with delicious family-meals daily. So let’s just say my lunch making skills were a little rusty. To get my groove back, I decided to first hunt for the PERFECT bento box.

Now, as you might imagine, most of the findings were not designed for 2 year olds. But lucky for us, we had a post to write. So voila!

Here is our lunch box round up…

Mita by Bruno Marques

Photos by Morley Von Sternberg

Now And Then by Linnie Mclarty and Natascha Madeiski

Bento Colors by Bento&Co

Steel Lunch Box from HAY

Takenaka Bento Box

Magewappa Bento Box Round

Aluminum Lunch Box from MUJI

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/a-lunch-box-roundup-for-adults/

WritersBlok Keyboard Notebook from Kikkerland

Purveyors of quirk, New York based Kikkerland just released a new notebook that’s perfectly sized to sit right in front of your keyboard. The WritersBlok Keyboard Notebook holds 72 gridded pages that are ready to be drawn or written on for note taking, list making, project planning, sketching, or journaling.

The elongated notebooks can rest within reach for spur of the moment ideas without taking up valuable real estate on your desk. Each notebook is $12.50 and it comes in Black or Kraft.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/writersblok-keyboard-notebook-from-kikkerland/

Bee Hospital Investigates the Decline of the Bee Population

Research has shown that the bee population has been on the decline which has the potential to cause major issues with global agriculture. Shau Heng Li, of Shau Design, set out to investigate the issue, specifically Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) where most of the worker bees leave the hive for good, through a concept that takes place in 2030. The Bee Hospital is a series of objects designed to help bees survive the deteriorating planet by implementing them into urban environments.

The collection includes a mite guard dispenser, a bee-detecting device, and a supplement center that offer probiotics, nutrients, and chemicals that help with bee survival in areas where traditionally bees are not kept.

The supplement center provides essential nutrients and probiotics that allow the bees to digest harmful pesticides that seep into the soil during farming. The mite guard dispenser entices bees through the use of syrup and when the bees enter, they’re brushed with a chemical that kills mites. The year 2030 is expected to be rough as far as the environment goes, therefore, scientists will need to observe bees via a bee-detecting device.

Whether or not the Bee Hospital comes to fruition, it’s definitely a thought-provoking concept that should get us all imaging what we can do now to help the bee population before it’s too late.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/bee-hospital-investigates-the-decline-of-the-bee-population/

Modern Laundry Rooms That Will Make Laundry More Fun

It’s probably the last room in the house to get any love yet it usually gets used more than its fair share. Which room, you ask? The laundry room. While many don’t have the luxury of laundry in-house, those who do would probably appreciate some ideas to spruce up the often dreary space. That led us on a quest to find some modern laundry rooms that any of us would be happy to hang out in while slaving away load after load.

Part of her own project renovating an A-frame cabin in Palm Springs, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel took on the laundry room which began with some sad “before” photos. The “after” images are quite stunning, especially the custom wallpaper she designed and had printed for the space.

Photos by Tessa Neustadt

Located in Lafayette, California, this house was designed by Amber Interiors for a family that has lost their previous home in a fire. They worked with architect Barbara Chambers of Chambers & Chambers on the classically modern design, including this no frills laundry room with the washer and dryer tucked away in what easily could have been a closet.

Photo by Stephani Buchman, via House of Turquoise

Soda Pop Design created this laundry room with turquoise cabinets that feel so fresh and clean. The cabinets were paired with modern brass hardware and a black and white patterned tile floor. Plus, can we talk about the cubbies for the dogs?!

This Minneapolis mid-century rambler was renovated by Marsden Building & Remodeling, who carved out a light-filled space to house the laundry room. The white cabinets and appliances are built into a wood enclosed nook set off by the shiny blue floor.

Photo by Valerie Wilcox

Cadieux Design created this laundry room for clients that were up for anything. Small white hexagon tiles make the bold blue cabinets pop, while black, white, and grey wallpaper on the far end adds another geometric element and brass accents finish the space off.

Photo courtesy of Jenna Cooper

A house in Los Angeles was restored by a local Hancock Park designer and includes this minimal laundry white and wood room. The new space fits in perfectly in the modern farmhouse with rustic wood floors, simple white tile, and a butcher block countertop. A single wooden shelf holds necessities within reach.

Photo courtesy of Superior Wood Products

The interior of this jaw-dropping house in Palm Beach, Florida, was designed by Marc-Michaels and includes custom cabinetry by Superior Wood Products. The hand buffed, high gloss white cabinets are combined with solid walnut accents and floating shelves for storage hang above without blocking light coming in through the windows.

This mighty laundry room is housed within the master bedroom closet which has to make laundry incredibly easy, right? Studio McGee took down two walls to enlarge the space and installed a large island for folding clothes.

By Bruno renovated a space to house a bathroom, closet, and laundry room all in one. The entire space is outfitted with white Italian porcelain tiles with cobalt blue aggregate mixed in to look like terrazzo. Oversized white subway tiles cover the walls and rich wood cabinets with a beautiful grain surround the appliances.

The Lilypad Cottage shared their own revamped laundry room, which features blue and white wallpaper, soft grey cabinets, and blue/grey slate flooring, that all can be disguised behind a hidden sliding door.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/modern-laundry-rooms-that-will-make-laundry-more-fun/

5 Steps To Improve Your SEO

The following post is brought to you by Squarespace, the all-in-one website platform. Our partners are handpicked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design. And when you use coupon code DESIGNMILK at checkout you’ll get 10% off your first purchase.

The cold, hard truth of the Internet is that you can have the prettiest photos, best portfolio and most engaging website layout, but if you’re not coming up in search results, then only your mother is finding her way to your site. Before you bemoan the dollars spent in making things pretty, know that all is not lost! We’ve partnered with Squarespace to offer you some tips to climb out of the Internet black hole and rank in relevant search results.

We are talking about SEO—Search Engine Optimization. In other words, making sure your site ranks and appears on major search engines like Google or Bing. This is not Search Engine Marketing (SEM), which is the paid side of Internet search. SEO is the unpaid side of things—the organic search. It can also be a little more work, but because Google gives more value to organic results, the payoff can be substantial (and long lasting).

When you build a site using Squarespace, the technical side of SEO is covered. They handle the site map, SSL certificates, and clean HTML markup: all things you don’t want to worry about. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. There’s a lot you can do on the content side here. Ready? Here we go!

#1: Develop Your Keyword List
The goal of SEO is to be sure that targeted end users (the customers and clients you want) can find their way to you when they do a web search. Which means, that we need to have a sense of what they are typing into that search box. There’s a good chance that you already have a sense of this. What products or services do you offer and what might be people be searching to get there?

When you’re brainstorming, remember to be specific. While “interior designer” might be a high volume search term, it’s probably too broad to be helpful. You could add a location keyword to help narrow it down and target a more appropriate audience, but also try to think about your client. If you just bought a mid-century home in Los Angeles, you’d likely be searching for “Mid-Century Modern Los Angeles designer”, the same for a Cape Cod in Maine or a newly constructed condo in New York City. Aim for a list of about 30 or so keywords that you’d like to rank highly on. (Hint: most of these are likely to be your service plus specific key terms like your location or your client’s business).

#2: Research
Once you have your brainstorm keyword list, you’ll want to further refine your list and try one of the many keyword tools sites out there to see how your words stack up against what people are searching for and how much competition you’re facing from other sites. KWFinder offers a good free tool for analyzing keywords. MOZ also has a good keyword explorer tool. Another suggestion would be to check out Answer the Public or SEMRush. SEMRush will give you information on the queries that are currently sending traffic to your site, corresponding pages, and where they rank.

#3: Know Your Baseline
OK, so you got your amazingly refined keyword list. Before you head off to populate your content with your chosen words, you need to take stock of where you’re at. After all, the first step in any improvement program is knowing your starting point. When it comes to weight loss, this means stepping on the scale. For SEO, the scale is your Google ranking. But because Google tries to personalize results, it’s not enough to Google your company and see which page you appear on. While you can try a search using an incognito or private browser, even those results can be skewed by your location (based on your IP address). The best solution is to use free rank checker, like SERPs or SEMRush to see where you land.

#4: Use Those Keywords
OK, it’s finally time to put that list to work. The days of keyword stuffing (think the old days of the Internet and blog posts with a bunch of keywords at the bottom) are long gone. In fact, Google penalizes sites that try to stuff keywords in a post. Instead you want to be strategic. Search engines typically prioritize site titles, page titles, blog post titles, and headings. These titles also appear in browser tabs and search results, so it’s important to write them so they’re friendly to both search bots and human readers. (Meaning they should contain your keywords but also be written conversationally). The current max character length for these snippets is 320 characters.

Here are a few great way to include keywords into your website without overtly spamming each page:

• If you sell products, create a description for each product that contains keywords.
• Start a blog!
• Make sure each page of your website has a unique headline, title, and content. Using Squarespace, you can change both your title formats and browsers tabs to optimize.
• Use Squarespace blog excerpts, which show up in your Google search results.
• Structure content with headings—just like titles, search engines typically give headings a higher priority. Clear headings that describe the content that follows make it easier for search engines to detect the major themes of your site.
• If you have a physical location, use Map Blocks and Business Information Settings to add your location.
• Optimize your images (see #5 below)

#5: Images – The Low-Hanging Fruit of SEO
Now that you have your keyword game on-point, it’s time to turn your SEO magic on to images. Search engine bots can only read text, so if your image name is IMG_3434 (or some other default), you’re missing any searches for the content of the images.

And this is a huge miss. Searches in Google images counts for a sizable share of all web search traffic. But because it requires an extra step on the part of the content creator, most people don’t take the time to do it. So, simply by adding a little text to your images you’ll be scooping up the hits that most people miss.

• Image file name. The file name is important. Rename your images so that the file name is a basic description of the image.
• Alt tags. Alt tags are HTML attributes used to describe your image and are used in place of the image when it doesn’t render or isn’t displayed.
• Captions. Captions are typically the title or description that is displayed with the image.
• Descriptions. This is the field that allows for a fuller explanation of the image (and can even include links). Descriptions are displayed when an image within a post or on a site is clicked on and opened in a separate window.

Improving the SEO of your site is a lot like going to the gym, you have to do a little bit every day to get where you want to be. It can feel like a slow haul, but eventually you will see results.

And if you’d like to let team at Squarespace take over the technical side of your SEO lifting, then make your next website using Squarespace. Use coupon code DESIGNMILK at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/5-steps-improve-seo-squarespace/

One to One Geometric Mirror Collection by Armando Bruno

After a successful, limited edition run, designer Armando Bruno has gone back to the drawing board for his One to One collection of mirrors which are set to launch in April at Milan Design Week. This new round of geometric mirrors have been given a fresh spin with unique patterns of digitally printed marble details.

The collection includes circles, hexagons, triangles, and rectangles with unrepeatable marble patterns thanks to a production process that combines technology and craftsmanship. Each mirror is a glass plate with a thin layer of silver that’s attached to the glass by electrolysis. Parts of the silver are removed manually so those areas can be reprinted with the marble patterns, or etched and then reprinted with patterns. The process can be repeated multiple times for various effects.

Photography Art Direction: Alessandro Bonavita
Photography: Umberto Barone

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/one-to-one-geometric-mirror-collection-by-armando-bruno/

5th Column’s Ciro Wooden Stool Mixes Modern and Traditional Processes

Named after the sun for its circular form, Ciro is a stool that merges both modern and traditional production processes following a series of experimentations with various materials. Ciro was designed by 5th Column, a design firm based in Vadodara, Indian, with the final outcome being made of mostly wood, combined with an aluminum frame and natural cane.

While mass production rules in our tech-obsessed society, 5th Column hopes to resurrect traditional handcrafted goods seeing them as relevant in today’s times, especially with the personal attention to detail and the stories woven into each design by the makers. While the stool’s frame is cast aluminum and the seat is machine manufactured wood, those parts are connected by hand woven cane giving the seat a little bounce. That detail is added not only for functionality (the bounce), but for the overall aesthetics as well. Four wooden legs complete the lightweight and durable stool.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/the-ciro-wooden-stool-mixes-modern-and-traditional-processes/

Modern Door Hardware with a Twist

You may have never thought that a door handle would rate high on your must-have list, but once you get a look at the stunning handles and plates created by Bonnemazou-Cambus, you’ll understand the meaning of the adage “good design in the details.”

The road to our door handle lust began in 2014, when Parisian design partners Agnès Cambus and Manuel Bonnemazou designed just a single door handle. They already had their own creative studio, Elements-S, and had been working as a design team for fourteen years. Their unique take on the utilitarian door handle wowed design critics at shows like Maison & Objet in Paris and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.

PL-PS. N°01, white mat lacquered handle paired with a satin brush brass plate. (Brass plate, 90,00€; white handle, 160,00 €)

Both designers received solid design mentorship from two designing greats: Manuel began his career by working with Habitat, the household retail icon, and then later for British designer Tom Dixon. Agnès spent many years working with French architect Christian Biecher both on his building projects and on his furniture. Manuel and Agnès still credit Christian with their appreciation for color and the combination of simple geometric shapes.

GL-LM. N°01, powdered-coated metal knob paired with a red lacquered metal plate (door plate, 140,00 €; handle, 160,00 €)

To meet the demand, the paired formed a new company, Bonnemazou-Cambus, to produce what they call “door jewelry”. Not only are the handles spectacular in their own right, but they also can be paired with different door plate options to create dazzling combinations.

Many of the handles utilize brass, and the finish is intentionally left unvarnished and natural, allowing it to age naturally and develop a unique patina. This idea is that eventually, this will create a near perfect juxtaposition with the lacquered pieces, whose powdered coat will remain pristine and unchanged.

PL-NM. N°03, white matte lacquered knob paired with a white matte lacquered plate (door plate (two shown here) 110,00 €; door handle 160,00 €)

Their innovative attention to detail and creative way of elevating the mundane is something all their own. It’s the result of a shared personal passion for design. Which makes sense: Manuel and Agnès are more than just business partners. They’ve also designed a life: fourteen-year-old Hector and ten-year-old Iris are the products of their twenty years together. If the best design comes from loving what you do, maybe it follows that the best work must stem from love. We are certainly feeling lots of love for these beauties.

GL-CM. N°01 satin brushed brass knob paired with satin brushed brass plate (plate, 150,00 € and knob, 140,00 €)

Currently, the pieces need to be purchased directly from the Bonnemazou-Cambus website, but here’s to hoping that they find a US retailer soon. (Note: Prices listed are approximate as each piece can be completely customized.)

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/modern-door-hardware-with-a-twist/