Art and furniture make real investment pieces

Monday, 4 April 2011 11:02 AM

Looking to invest in installation art? The Rough & Ready collection by up-and-coming artist Vanja Bazdulj is an experimental furniture collection that is perfect for a classy, cool urban pad with a flair for the artistic. All models can be adjusted to suit your colour and space requirements.

Ms Bazdulj studied at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2008 and then worked for a year and a half as an architect.

She then took an MA in furniture design at The Cass in 2009/2010. The philosophy behind the work, she says, has always been about exploring materials out of context and presenting alternative solutions to objects in form and structure.

Rough & Ready is a collection in which all material is prepared by hand, making each piece a unique version and thus an investment piece.

The process involves taking tailored cured sheets of wool felt are assembled and tightened into place with rope, forming seating elements. Choose from easy chairs and sidekick stools, price on application.

Check out the ArtHAUS exhibit.

Student art brings to life interior designs

Student art portal DegreeArt has joined with many up and coming artists to stage a design event called ArtHAUS. The exhibition space on Vyner Street, London has been transformed into five different rooms.

 Rent an art work for your home.

Rent a work of art

Do you sit and look at works of art longingly wishing you could have a piece in your home? A new website called Rise Art makes this possible with the launch of a rental art service.

Michele Grimson: 'Just Colours'

Contemporary art for under £500

Affordable art group Art Under a Monkey has signed up contemporary Irish artist Michele Grimson, offering a new range of colourful, abstract and surrealist artworks perfect for your urban pad's focal points. Grimson's work has a Mark Rothko feel.

 The Light Jockey has individual dimmers

Light installation blends art with lighting

When it comes to art, light installations are still a sought-after and impressive focal point in urban pads across Europe. Form Us With Love has made arguably the most outstanding structure yet, using 91 linked, 24-carat gold covered Work Lamps.

Invest in industrial designed furniture.

Industrial furniture in urban surrounds

Industrial furniture is a strong and eye-catching way to give character to a room design. Pieces vary and can often be difficult to source but we have done the hard work for you. We feature our favourite industrial pieces.

 Support students by buying artwork online

Affordable art from online student initiative

You can decorate your urban pad for less and help struggling students, too, with a new online initiative. Buystudentart.co.uk was set up by an enterprising creative, Kerri Lister, who wanted affordable art to brighten up her own walls.
Whale Silkscreen Print from Mengsel

Fun and affordable art from Mengsel

Silkscreen prints are an affordable way to boost your urban pad's artwork collection without spending a fortune. This bold, whimsical design from Mengsel is perfect for a clean, contemporary living room, bedroom or guest room.

 Enhance your bedroom with mahogany furniture

Use mahogany furniture to make your bedroom chic

After a hard day's work, most of us look forward to climbing into bed and having some well-earned rest and it is worth considering how your choice of furniture can help with this. By picking items made from solid mahogany, you can have a chic room that enables you to enjoy a peaceful sleep.

Antique music chairs for modern interiors

Geometric fabric makes this stool on-trend.

Music chairs and more specifically piano stools are a great antique item for the home. They have a unique style, often hidden storage and are a talking point when guests come over.

Go retro with an iPhone handset

Plug in your iPhone for an old-fashioned chat

We love new technology but sometimes, at home, wouldn't it be nice to ditch the touch-screen for a phone with a traditional handset? Now, you can plug in your Apple iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches and enjoy a good old gossip Lady Gaga style.