Nocturne Workshop | London (UK)

One man and his workshop; handcrafted in a small London workshop, Nocturne design modernist bespoke lighting and furniture. Founded by Simon Day, equipped with 15 years of experience working in and managing bespoke making and restoration workshops in London has pursued his admiration for materials and making by going it alone.

Since establishing Nocturne in 2011, Simon has set out to create unique lighting, inspired by 1940’s and 1950’s design, Simon’s ethos is utile yet elegant while keeping a honest integrity in every construction and build. The use of only high quality, responsibly sourced materials including wood, brass and aluminum are used to construct Nocturne lamps which are handmade to order. Simon’s East London workshop also offers a full restoration, design and bespoke commission service. Designing one-of-a-kind objects including lighting, mirrors, furniture and other collaborative projects with like-minded workshops and craftspeople keeps Simon at bay.

Top Left: Fela Lamp | Top Right: Otis Lamp | Lower Left: Dorsey Lamp | Lower Right: Otis Lamp
Photography by Rita Platt (London, UK)

Flash Vest by Western Mountaineering | San Jose (USA)

Founded in 1970 by Gary Schaezlein, Western Mountaineering was inspired by outings with his father and grandfather, wilderness pioneers, whose passions for the mountains left a lasting connection with the outdoors. With a vision of uncompromised excellence, a simple, meticulous design approach cohered with high quality workmanship and fine raw materials has remained constant at Western Mountaineering. Having started with the highest quality sleeping bags, Western Mountaineering added high performance down garments to their arsenal. The Fash Vest is crafted from a lightweight shell fabric, filled with 850 plus fill power goose down and only weighs 5 oz. An ideal mid layer for the colder months, made in North America.

Available from Albam Clothing online and at their London (UK) stores.

'Empire State of Pen' by Patrick Vale | London (UK)

Our appreciation for capturing a location from a unique viewpoint is the drive for our exploration and is fundamental in our design approach of ‘mapping out a city’. Our sense of spatial awareness and approach to highlight a community of independents is the conveyance of better living. A city can and will always be viewed from a differing perspective, one person to the next, from ground zero to a roof top. The city drawings by Hackney based artist and illustrator Patrick Vale are a demonstration to how we view a city, be it as a local or a visitor.

Patrick whose idiosyncratic sketches of major cities are incredibly complex, built up by a multitude of layers has lead him to international acclaim, large and highly detailed, Patrick’s freehand drawings render a sense of history and character, making us intrigued; we peer deeper into the makeup of a city. Each drawing shows the intricate structures of fire escapes and rooftops as much as it does the famous landmarks that makes a city iconic and instantly recognised. Often choosing a very high vantage point, Patrick creates work that represents vast swathes of a city, which invite us to investigate and relate to.

Patrick is best known for his work based on New York City, where his freehand drawing ‘Empire State of Pen’, a view of Manhattan from the Empire State Building was documented in a time-lapsed film captured from five days of intensive drawing. View Patrick’s portfolio to find out more about his work past and future.

'Materials Matter' 2014 Calendar by Labour & Wait | London (UK)

To complement their fondness for timeless, functional products for everyday life, East London design shop Labour & Wait has recently released their new calendar for 2014 aptly titled ‘Material Matters’. In cohesion with their shop, which since 2000 has dedicated its focus on sourcing the best possible traditionally crafted products for home and life, the self-published calendar celebrates the unique characteristics of twelve of Labour & Wait’s favourite materials: Wood, Ceramic, Glass, Cardboard and so on.

Appearing in a well-considered series of still life, the calendar features a selection of simple, utilitarian objects that are often overlooked but deserve further scrutiny in their design, function and form in daily life. The calendar, which includes the wooden clipboard, is a great office or home addition, be it to save a date or merely to keep ahead of each month as it passes. Available from Labour & Wait online or at their bricks and mortar shop on Redchurch Street.

Teaball by Freud | London (UK)

We champion working hard however we also appreciate taking a break are often undervalued, it’s important to balance work and rest. Taking a break doesn’t always mean to stop working, it’s often an opportunity to think aloud, gather thoughts and to nurture ideas. We find regular and spontaneous caffeine fixes maintain our daily motivation, which is why taking the time to brew a nice cup of tea makes complete sense. It makes us ponder, where would a builder be without his tea breaks?

Ask any tea aficionados they’ll join in unity to praise there aren’t many things in life that are more pleasurable than a good brew. Which allows us to highlight the Teaball (V: 1Litre, H: 14.7cm) by Freud, a smart and contemporary interpretation of the traditional teapot. Designed in England and crafted from stainless steel, this beautiful teapot’s construction includes a comfortable wooden handle and drip-proof spout. Available from Makers and Brothers (Dublin, UK).