Pepper & Chocolate: February 2013

The Lasso shoes project.

We want to present you a cool little project hosted on Kickstarter. The idea behind Kickstarter is that creators and designers post their concepts on a web site. The project gets crowd-funded.

The project Gaspard Tiné-Berès and Ruben Valensi want to bring to production is called "Lasso".

These will be produced in Paris, France.

The best is probably to let them describe their idea:

"Lasso is a pair of flat-packed slippers. Made from one piece of wool-felt with a leather sole and laced in the color of your choice.

The flat pattern is shaped simply by sewing the provided lace through the corresponding pre-cut holes. They are delivered flat-packed with laces of your choice and only take a few minutes to assemble."

Today we want to share two brilliant designs by Onur Ozkaya. The concept of these is to combine high tech composite material, aluminum and smooth curves to create a monocoque furniture.

The first chair, the “venom chair II” is the smaller of the two, featuring a simple design and retains a somewhat traditional form factor.

The second chair adds armrests and outrageous racy lines.

These are not your regular gold or platinum pieces of jewelry. These one-of-a-kind earrings are made of concrete. The 4 in concrete sticks are decorated with black trees imprinted on their four faces.
The studs are nylon coated stainless steel.

Who hasn’t at least once built a paper plane and carefully decorated it with the best war paints ever? Every child has spent time trying to perfect the geometries of its last paper plane creation. Hours invested in ephemeral piece or aero engineering. So many concepts convinced us that we would eventually beat gravity…which ended up getting the upper hand.

It is not every day that barware is reinvented. The main obstacle in redesigning glasses is to shake up the conventions more than necessary. There is almost a social code around glasses. Long skinny glass for champagne, triangular for a classic martini etc.

Designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew created a new collection of barware that ingeniously presents a perfectly smooth surface, shaped like a truncated cone. The classic shape of the glass is to be found on the inner wall, revealed when the vessel is filled: new shape, no loss of references.

Not only do these glasses look great but because of their double wall, they will keep your drink cooler.

Wireless speakers are great but too often tech companies attempt to create an interesting object and fail. Yes, they sound good but have a sterile modern look that does not complement well most interiors.
Allroom Air One by Audio Pro brings an elegant high tech small enclosure to our traditional homes. Behind its stylish retro-modern appearance, this wireless speaker features all the latest in portable audio like Airplay, Directlink, DLNA and phone app.

In addition to wireless connection, the speaker also features USB, 3.5 mm jack and optical TOSL Link ports.

More info: www.audiopro.com

Happiness might be in simplicity and purity, but sometimes combining is even better. Your favorite cigar with a nice single malt is one combo that is hard to beat. Here comes a travel accessory that will elegantly and conveniently keep them handy, be it on a long journey or simply on the golf course. This stainless steel flask It will hold 2 cigars and 4 oz of the Islay or Speyside.
Interested? This way!

Related topics:
A whisky chiller that rocks.
Gentleman's guide to cocktail galaxy.
Tool mix.
The chemistry of style.

Moleskine - Evernote book.

In a beautiful combination of tradition and technology, Evernote and Moleskine just announced a new partnership in the form of a new smart notebook tied to a mobile app.

Moleskine is a legendary high quality notebook that started its life in the 19th century in France. It was the favorite notepad of many artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde or Henri Matisse. In 1986, the French company stopped manufacturing the little black notebook after the death of the owner.

Seize the day with this cool Carpe diem calendar. Put a little of Horace in your life and capture one good thing every day.
At just €16.5, this unusual calendar is an even sweeter deal.

Floating table.

This clever design by Christopher Duffy creates the illusion of flotation. The piece of glass is resting on 14 "balloons". This new addition to the summer 2012 collection will bring a touch of creativity and lightness to you living room. Just a limited number of this coffee table will be made, all hand crafted in the UK.

Branca Lisboa by Marco Sousa Santos introduced its 2012 product line. Characterized by adventurous aesthetic and innovative structure, these creations are carefully handcrafted for the best finish.
Today, we present the GT2000. This chair features a radical design that will leave no-one indifferent. Made of steel, foam and bright fabric, it will easily find a place in any modern setup.

We have seen a lot of toys for grown-ups but this one re-defines the scale of awesomeness. About scale, what you are looking at is a life-size 1:1 scale model of a Aston Martin. Not just your average day-to-day Aston. This is a replica of the 1959 DBR1 that Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori piloted to victory at Le Mans in 1959.

The kit comes complete with body shell, 16” wire wheels and upholstered seats
This beautiful piece of Art was produced by British company Evanta Motor Company. This unique example was be auctioned during the Goodwood Revival weekend 2012.

The light in the center.

Elagone is her name. This thin and elongated lamp was designed by French agency Elomax for Drugeot Labo. The LED nested in its center enhance the smooth natural texture of wood and give a cozy warmth to a technology often too cold. The body of the lamp is made of 100% oak.

Have you every realized right in the middle of a mix drink preparation that you were missing an essential tool? Yeah, me too. We have a solution just for you.
Put simply, BAR10DER is the Swiss Army knife of the mixed drink lover. It features all the essential accessories you might need to make you perfect gin fizz or daiquiri like a muddle, a shot measure or a strainer.

Alfred Tong personally selected 150 cocktail recipes for their coolness factor and retro quality. This is an unusual way to select recipes but it sounds quite appealing to me.
This hard cover book will travel through classics like the Bloody Mary, fizzes, fogmatics, and alcoholic teas. It features beautiful sophisticated retro illustrations by artist Jack Hughes.

It is minimalist, elegant and modern. Conceived by the creators of the Big Ass Fan, Haiku is an innovative fan that will brush up the style of your house and bring a contemporary touch to an appliance too often forgotten.

Checking if you have had too much to drink before driving is smart. Checking if you had too much to drink before having another drink is smarter.
This one of a kind shaker/eye chart lets you check whether or not it is wise to mix that second martini. In true Pepper and Chocolate fashion, this is done with great style.

Joshua Brasse created a seat that finally elegantly brings outdoor sports in your contemporary living. This tubular stool will accept all standard bicycle seat posts. Don’t fall asleep on “Quick Perch”, like on a bicycle, you will have to keep your balance but it is still more relaxing than standing up on your feet. This stylish active seating is perfect for short term hallway discussions, work in the kitchen or casual seating when you have friends over.

While its aesthetic is modern, the function of this rug is a contemporary interpretation of traditional use of rugs in some Middle Eastern cultures. Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance created a rug that fold and adapts its angular geometry to provide multiple ways to lie down.

The creator of this piece wants to transform horizontal surfaces is real living areas.
The rug features abstract shapes suggesting folding lines. It is made of hand-knotted wool.

Today we are getting back to the roots of what Pepper & Chocolate is about: design and food. Mahsa Haddad brings us this carefully designed tea set.
This minimalist ensemble is composed of a tea pot, cups and a main stainless steel tray that doubles as a warming plate. The base also hides accessories like sugar bowl, a tea strainer and a reserve of candles.
This calm and pure design nicely complements the relaxing minutes you are expecting out of each ounce of tea.

Design by Mauricio Affonso, this creation brings the tissue box from an otherwise dull world to a universe of simplicity and cuteness. It replaces the boring by a little bit of poetry.
The tissue sticking out of the box simulates smoke rising from the chimney, perpetually modifying the appearance of the object.
In addition to being cute, this creation is also very affordable. It can be yours for as little as $5 from umbra.com. It is currently available in white (our favorite), purple and green.

Today we are looking at a techno spin on an old classic: the nesting dolls. British designer Kyle Bean had the brilliant idea to transpose the concept of nesting dolls to the world of mobile communication.
As over time the cell phones are getting more and more compact, the idea of nesting them seems almost natural. The device selection goes from the legendary DynaTAC to the iphone via the most famous flip phone and Nokia’s candybars.

Today we would like to present “Hesus”, a classic toy revisited by Jkey Studio. As you can tell from the picture above, the style of this rocking horse has been substantially modernized using a stainless steel frame.

The saddle made of braided leather straps. This beautiful toy is as far as we know not yet on the market.

The German designers Franz Dietrich and Sebastion Voigt from Studio Voigt Dietrich created this lovely table that will make the life of those who enjoy a refreshment while reading a little bit easier.
The simplified lines offer a pleasing look and combine 3 essential functions: remembering your page, hold your glass and store a couple of books.

Simplicity is often the key to brilliant design. When it comes to watches, there is a fine balance to find between simplified aesthetic and readability. The Tangomat from German manufacturer Nomos is a nice example of wristwatch design well executed. The lines are clean and the dial is clear. Though free from any design artifact the hands are heat treated to give them a blue aspect.

In addition to its prestigious internals, the Tangomat features a sapphire front crystal and an optional sapphire crystal at the back so you can admire the movement beating.

Home sweet home: a house for your keys.

Keys and locks are few of the things in our life that technology has not replaced. Even if your car is equipped with key-less system, there is still some kind of key or card, a key or remote for the house, the mailbox etc.
Spending 5 minutes every morning is part of most of our mornings unless you have a designated place to hang them.
“A home for your keys” is a little creation that attempts to replace the old key box by something visually light, pleasing and that brings a touch of modernness to your home. This is the type of accessory we love. It is simple, answers a need and is well designed.

Perfectly in line with our post for stylish nerds comes this new accessory for trendy geeks and pixel art lovers.
This creation from Bigpixel is a homage from the hi-def age to the infancy of personal computing communication.
This 8-bit envelope is actually a sleeve for tablet, or laptop. It is made from premium synthetic leather with matte finishing. The interior is lined with a soft fiber fabric to protect your device from scratches.

This low-res sleeve backwards design is available in various sizes to perfectly match you retina display ipad, MacBook Air 11 or 13 in.

The chemistry of style.

Who said there was no such thing as a stylish nerd? With this new set of Alkaline Earth Metals periodic elements table coasters. You can now proudly show off your love for science.

The coasters, made of eco friendly cork represent the cells of beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and Radium (Ra) in Mendeleev periodic table.

Even with summer around the corner, nights can still be fresh. If you have been looking for a stylish way to bring a little bit of heat to your patio or your lounge, we might just have the perfect item for you.
Uni Flame is an elegant portable solution that will bring heat and elegance to your outdoor entertainment area. Created by designer Michael Rösing the unique look with a pure simple glass perimeter provides a 360 view of the flame.

The true essence of design is not to create beautiful objects for the sole purpose of their lovely aesthetic but to inject beauty in everyday items.
This first-aid box is a perfect example.

Homes and offices need and have them. The dull usual style was revisited and recreated. It is now functional, pleasant to the eye and displays proudly its purpose offering us a prime example of perfect industrial design.

Some objects have such a unmistakable design that you would not need any name on it. Jeep Wrangler, iPod or Louis Vuitton purses would be excellent examples.

In the wristwatch world, many brands have their own language and very recognizable creations but there is one that you could recognize from the other side of the room: Mondaine.

Mondaine is a Swiss watchmaker that offers a very unique line of product based on the classical Swiss railway station clock. You will not find any numbers on the face, just bold straight black lines and a red second hand wit h dot at its extremity.

This design was created in 1944 by the Swiss Railway Engineer Hans Hilfiker. Mondaine adapted the simple blueprint to wrist watches in 1986.
The model shown above is the “classic”. It features a medium size 36 mm polished stainless steel case and black leather strap. The design has been adapted to black faces as well as larger dials. Depending on the model you favor, price ranges from $175 to $600. For that price you get a unique watch with legendary design but no sapphire crystal nor automatic movement.

Once in a while a creation is so spot-on that it stays in people’s hearts and lives for decades, even more so if it’s affordable and fills specific needs. The automobile you are looking at is a perfect example: purpose designed, uncompromising and beautiful styling. It was the car of No 6 in "The Prisoner" and this is her story.
Colin Chapman is one of the greatest car designers of all times. We are not talking about sheet metal design only. He designed entire automobiles including shell, suspension, chassis etc. The genius pioneered technologies like monocoque or ground effect on formula one car.

Created by Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard, this object is at the crossroads of lamp and furniture. It serves as a display but acts like a lamp.

“Objet curiosité” is part of the project "{objet} trou noir". It is a partially shaded glass dome equipped with a light bulb set on a black wood base. The surrealist atmosphere created by the dome and the light will vary with the object displayed. The light bulb looks like a little sun, highlighting the structure of the material on display. It's almost like you created your own little world.

Today, no major design creation or magnificent architecture or breakthrough style. Today, we want to introduce you to a little something that will make your days a little nicer and sweeter: a nail.

“Flower nails” by designer Masaharu Ono bring a little bit of lightness and freshness to your life. This will not be a dramatic change in your interior but might put a smile on your face and make a day just a little bit better.

Simple complexity: Wood Casting.

Blending the purity of modern design and and the complex roughness of natural matter might be the one thing that characterizes Hilla Shamia, an Israel based designer.

It is not the first time that we present you a chair or a bench but there is something unique about this creation called “Wood casting”. What you are looking at is simply molten aluminium poured over a whole tree trunk.

Many people nourish various passions or interests. Some love reading and cooking while their brother will appreciate wine and music. For those, we have found an exclusive item. The musical wine glass.

This astonishing glassware combines wine and music in the purest way. Just fill the glass up to the desired note and you are ready to start composing. When you are done playing, you can just sit, rest and enjoy a nice glass of wine.

Complex home cinema, music streaming and mp3 have taken our attention away from simple things like the radio. The Tivoli Audio Model One is a simple stylish table-top FM radio that does one thing and does it very well. The sound comes out of a single full-range 3in speaker. The device isn’t by any means complicated: one speaker, three knobs and that is pretty much it. But don’t be fooled, behind this ultra simplistic allure lies one of the best FM tuners you will find on the market, a high precision tuning mechanism and a truly fantastic audio quality.

Perfect for casual garden parties or unplanned BBQs, Weltevree offers the Wheelbench. Designed by Rogier Martens, this bench on wheel is made of ecological preserved Accoya wood. It is the perfect visual combination of a traditional bench and a wheel-barrel.

Its creator explained: “The eye-catching wheel is an invitation to find the best spot. An invitation to be active, to create your world the way you want it, time and time again.”
This out-of-the-ordinary and yet traditional looking bench retails for $1200 before taxes.

Visit Weltevree

A stadium on a table: '11 football table

'11 is a new football table. But this is not your regular football table. It took designers a full year to develop this luxury game that is now produced in limited quantities.

The inspiration for this splendid design was the majesty of modern soccer stadiums. The creators wanted the table to reflect grandiose architecture of these magnificent buildings. The use of light to the pitch, goals and ball return was meant to echo the atmosphere of real arenas. This table, called ’11, received Red Dot and GIO design awards.

Bower & Wilkins was founded in 1966 by Peter Hayward in Worthing, on the South coast of England. Since then, B&W produces the highest quality of loudspeakers for home and professional studios.
In 2010, B&W introduced the 800 series diamond, the 6th incarnation of the English firm’s flagship loudspeaker range. For the very first time, every model in the range features diamond tweeters, making it the best sounding 800 Series so far.

These loudspeakers are also fitted with Nautilus™ tapering tube drive unit technology and Kevlar mid-range driver.

The first 3-way in the 800 series will set you back $3700 while the 2-way bookshelf model starts at $2500 apiece.

You will be amazed by the quality and purity of the sound and the elegant lines of these loudspeakers.

Bowers & Wilkins official website.

Sit on a block

Soft Block is a new pillow created by Japanese firm Torafu Architects part of DesignTide. The work was commissioned by AISIN using ‘Fine Revo’, a material used in AISIN’s bedding products. The idea was to use the well known shape of concrete block and turn this familiar geometry in a pillow. These pillows can be arranged in many configurations. Sofas or temporary beds can easily be build with these soft blocks.

At Pepper & chocolate, we love watches with a special affection for the mechanical ones. In 2010 Victorinox Swiss Army launched the Infantry Vintage Chrono Mechanical. This is not a high priced watch like an Omega or Zenith but will still offer a nice timepiece with noble movement at a reasonable price. This is a good choice if you want to get into the world of mechanical watches and a nice entry point into the land of luxury.

Today we want to introduce you to Costantini’s Pietro creations. Since 1922, this Italian company offers high quality handmade furniture. Their latest collection is characterized by elegant lines, pure aesthetic and a passion for thin structures.

The infinity table (photo above) gives a good idea of Costantini’s view of modern design. This magnificent piece of furniture is more than 86 in long and is available in a variety of finishes ranging from wenge to ebony. You will find it in specialized modern furniture stores for around $8000.

The lace in good taste.

In the world of cookies, complexity often reigns with structured layers of chocolate, cream or mousse without forgetting the juxtaposition of different textures to entertain your palate.
The lace cookie from Jules Destrooper ignores the rules and proudly screams quality over quantity. The delicately sweet lace cookie presents an extremely thin profile and offers a crunchy treat flavored with ground cashews.

All of Destrooper’s creations are completely free of any kind of artificial coloring, artificial flavoring or preservatives.

Winter seems to push creativity, at least if you are a lamp designer. If you have been following us, you know that we often present beautiful but expensive creations. Today, we are looking at the other end of the spectrum with a brand new product from Ikea.

The Swedish company just released a new pendant lamp called “Vaster”. This is a steel and polycarbonate body housing LED lighting elements.

While the design itself is very exciting and reminds us of shapes from the 60s and 70s, the most interesting part of the story might be the story itself. As Core77 mentioned in a recent article “VASTER started out as an [upright] lamp with an unbelievably small lamp head, made possible by LED technology. Sitting on a thin pole, which can be at a low, medium or high position”.

The team of designers loved the shape of this lamp so much they tried to make a pendant lamp with it but never succeeded. The results were just not good enough. The small size of the bulb was to blame. Integrating LED technology in new designs can create problems. Designers might be tempted to create smaller fixtures, which is not necessarily a good idea, or at least an appealing design.
So, someone at Ikea decided to increase its size by 500%...et voilà.

Designers create beautiful objects but too often, those make our homes look cold,serious or “museum like”. Kids and adults will love this light from Spanish company Estiluz. You will find pure lines and a spirit of fair ground packaged in a fine design.

Everyone has faced this situation. While hiking or backpacking on your favorite mountain you have the greatest idea ever or you want to write a little poem about a bird or maybe want to draw a sketch of this breath-taking scenery under the rain. There lies the problem. It rains. Your notebook is soaked and your pen doesn’t work.

Every person I know has his or her own way to organize books on a shelf. For some, it will be by author, for other by field or topic. I have even seen books organized by size or color.

Mebrure Oral offers a new type of shelf unlike anything else I have seen before. I thought of something that would achieve this but could never implement it in a satisfactory way: keep track of what has been read and what needs to be read. Of course you can try to remember but let’s be honest, after 6 months, we forget.