Monday, March 24. 2008
Office Envy - Google's Zurich office
Years ago photos of one of Google's US offices circulated the internet and made many cube-dwellers green with envy, hell I was one of them. I've just come across photos of Google's Zurich office... and man, all I can say is I'm totally going to go to them, hand in cap, and ask if they need someone else to draw pretty Google logos every day of the year!!
"Oh, your 9am is downstairs"
"Super, I'll just TAKE THE SLIDE down to the foyer"
"Rightio then!"
For a while, the most fun thing we had in our lunch room at a former workplace was a ping pong table and a boiling water machine that sporadically dispensed "SURPRISE 3rd degree burns". Obviously, it was far superior to this lunch room. :(
"Let's go brainstorm... but I bags the boat."
One of my old workmates came up with business hammocks as a motivational tool...
WHAT?! They have them too?!!
Go to the Google Zurich Picassa album to view more!
"Oh, your 9am is downstairs"
"Super, I'll just TAKE THE SLIDE down to the foyer"
"Rightio then!"
For a while, the most fun thing we had in our lunch room at a former workplace was a ping pong table and a boiling water machine that sporadically dispensed "SURPRISE 3rd degree burns". Obviously, it was far superior to this lunch room. :(
"Let's go brainstorm... but I bags the boat."
One of my old workmates came up with business hammocks as a motivational tool...
WHAT?! They have them too?!!
Go to the Google Zurich Picassa album to view more!
Thursday, September 20. 2007
White Lighting Trend
All I'm hearing is that black and white are "it" for decor. It's a little too stark for my own personal tastes, but I've noticed a quirky little lighting trend harking all the way back to the 50s and 60s coming into vogue again. It makes sense, seeing that mid century furniture is all the rage (and dear as SIN!), but the stark white plastic almost demands blacks and greys to compliment - it shall have none of that fussy colour business thank you very much!
Left - Artichoke pendant light shade from Louis Poulson.
Right - Norm 69 light shade by Simon Karkov.
I think I like the modern interpretations of the white pendant light shade much better - for starters they're much more reminiscent of floral shapes, albeit highly stylised. They're also much more accessible. The Artichoke pendant lighting is around $4,000, but you can buy a Knappa pendant light shade for around $40! It's much softer and made from plastic too.
Even better, is Tord Boontje's light treatment - made from single sheets of cut paper that have that real handmade aesthetic. I'm in love, and I want one right now! These are even more floral, but still white so you can have your whole white trend as well as your cake (and eat it too!)
So, there are a few ways to soften the starkness of a white decor - but if you're like me you'll probably end up throwing a few cans of highly saturated colour at the walls just to feel comfortable!
Left - Artichoke pendant light shade from Louis Poulson.
Right - Norm 69 light shade by Simon Karkov.
I think I like the modern interpretations of the white pendant light shade much better - for starters they're much more reminiscent of floral shapes, albeit highly stylised. They're also much more accessible. The Artichoke pendant lighting is around $4,000, but you can buy a Knappa pendant light shade for around $40! It's much softer and made from plastic too.
Even better, is Tord Boontje's light treatment - made from single sheets of cut paper that have that real handmade aesthetic. I'm in love, and I want one right now! These are even more floral, but still white so you can have your whole white trend as well as your cake (and eat it too!)
So, there are a few ways to soften the starkness of a white decor - but if you're like me you'll probably end up throwing a few cans of highly saturated colour at the walls just to feel comfortable!
