Happy Christmas & a Happy New Year

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2010.

Christmas present idea

Following on from last week's blog, here's another picture from the triplex at Quartermile we furnished. It shows an Alceo dining table, Vol au vent chairs and a Flat C storage unit all from B&B Italia. However, the Christmas present idea is the Tom Dixon Spin table candlabra, it's funky, fun and imaginative. Maybe just what you're looking for for that person who has everything.

Quartermile Triplex

Quartermile’s Triplex Penthouses are in a class of their own, with 360 degree views of Edinburgh and immaculate interiors spread over three floors. They represent some of most distinctive living spaces Edinburgh has ever seen and once more Tangram has had the pleasure of furnishing such a beautiful space. It's not difficult to imagine admiring this view whilst relaxing on the B&B Italia Charles sofa or on the Montis Loge armchair.



Similarily, if it's a goods night sleep you need, you can snuggle in the B&B Italia Charles bed waking up to a similar view which would change everyday according to the season and weather. A delightful comtemporary flat which cannot help but take your breath away.

Rimadesio

Julian has just returned from Italy and Rimadesio, a company designing and manufacturing doors, sliding panels, shelving units and walk-in wardrobes.

He was hugely impressed with the technology involved in producing products that are made predominantly from glass in lots of colours and finishes; extremely practical, with a unique aesthetic quality.

All manufacturing is in-house and the application of technology extends to the 1664 solar panels on the factory roof – Rimadesio is self-sufficient in power for its production processes!

Further information at www.rimadesio.it or call 0131 556 6551.

Bla Station Presentation

Last week we invited a group of architects and designers to join us in the showroom for a presentation on Bla Station from Ruth Simpson the UK agent. Ruth spoke about the history of the company and explained the thinking behind many of the products. We also learnt how passionate the company is with regards sustainability; many of the products within the range have environmental awards and all Bla Station products are manufactured in Scandinavia.

We had lots of pieces of Bla Station furniture for everyone to try and enjoy such as the Innovation C designed by Fredrik Mattson and the new Oppo chairs, designed by Stefan Borselius and launched in Milan earlier this year. This is the first time they have been displayed in Scotland! There was much discussion about the sense of happiness the products gave everyone and indeed the Oppo chairs were compared to the Teletubbies! All our visitors felt the Innovation C was a great product and had lots of ideas of projects where it could be used.
Once all furniture had been put through its paces we went next door to La Garrigue for an early supper – always a treat!

100% Design

Julian was down south last week to get a taste of 100% Design at Earls Court and London Design Week. 100% Design had its usual mix of new designers, young companies producing everything from wallpaper to concrete lights, building products and a few furniture companies. The focus is shifting and much of the design interest is now centred on showrooms and ‘fringe’ design events around London. Highlights included Tom Dixon’s new showroom at Portobello Dock; a great space which for one week was at the centre of a design event that included products from Swedese, Artifort and Thorsten van Elten.

Elsewhere, B&B Italia’s front window highlighted the products launched at Milan in April. The fantastic Papillo chair had been ‘dressed’ by prominent designers for an auction event and the Jean sofa was shown in various forms (look out for the launch of Jean in Tangram’s showroom at our Open Weekend on 10/11 Oct).

Walter Knoll has opened its new showroom in Charterhouse Square, a lovely light space in which to show off their fantastic range of seating products. Finally, Viaduct held its regular exhibition of the latest products; from Montis (Domino sofa system and variants of the Lotus chair), storage from Pastoe, the Houdini chair form E15 and fabulous steel tables from Zeus.

Staff Festival Night Out

As part of our annual summer team bonding day out, the staff of Tangram went to see the fabulous acoustic guitarist, Antonio Forcione at the Festival Hall, Edinburgh. Hailed as the 'Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar', award-winning Forcione is considered one of the most charismatic and inventive performers to come out of Europe in recent years. After the performance we walked to Amore Dogs in Hanover Street soaking in the Festival atmosphere (or fighting our way through the crowds, depending on your view of Edinburgh in August). The food was so good at Amore Dogs, we just spent the rest of the evening eating and drinking until it was time to go home.

Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society

It was a busy day for our boys yesterday moving and unloading 124 boxes for our latest installation at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society. This was one time the cooler Scottish weather worked in their favour. The new bar furniture of Coco and Zara chairs together with Octava tables, all from Sancal,will allow the members to rest their weary legs after a game of golf whilst taking in the fabulous views of their course.

Quartermile Showflat

It's been an excellent week for Tangram as we've furnished another showflat in Quartermile's illustrious development. The living room picture shows an Air sofa from Sancal and a Zero table and Globus chairs from Stua. The lights are from Foscarini and Luceplan. These photos only show a small snapshot of the furniture so why not go along on a wet afternoon to see the showflat in it's full glory.

B&B Italia

Last week Sarah visited B&B Italia with a group of Interior designers. They travelled to the north of Milan and spend two days visiting factories, viewing showrooms and eating copious amounts of fabulous food including champagne risotto and homemade apple sorbet!

At the B&B Italia factory and headquarters they we were given a really inspiring talk from Federico Busnelli the Centre of Research Director of B&B Italia. He stressed the importance of risk and innovation to B&B in their quest to always be ahead of the pack with product design and production methods. It is very important that B&B Italia is not seen as a ‘fashion’ but rather that it is on trend and has longevity and appeal for all markets.

A tour of the factory was fascinating, from the mouldings process used for upholstery products to the laser cutting of fabrics. Lunch at the Carimetto Golf Club was stunning: special risotto, followed by freshly made pasta followed by meat or fish! Then off to the Maxalto factory (the sister company of B&B who manufacture predominantly timber products). This factory is less automated and does involve far more skill and craftsmanship resulting in beautifully simple products.

The showroom is beautifully laid out and was really inspiring; it was also another opportunity to see the new products which were launched at the Salone in April. Then dinner with lots of lovely food (far too much!) and the opportunity to sit outside and soak up the warmth and atmosphere while discussing contemporary furniture – wonderful!

All in all it was a really super trip. We left Italy with a far greater knowledge of the investment and production methods of one of the best contemporary furniture manufacturers in the world. And they call this work!!!

Stua Wins Award

The Spanish National Design Prize, the country's most prestigious design award has been won by Stua. Tangram have promoted Stua products for 15 years and we are delighted by this news. Stua was praised for its vision and passion and its attention to detail. The company was founded in 1983 and is still very much a family concern. Stua design and manufacture a great range of seating and tables ideal for both the home and a wide range of contract applications.

Montis Evening

Earlier this week we hosted a group of architects and designers in the Tangram showroom. Melvin Herbschleb, the Export Manager of Montis, gave a presentation on the design background and manufacturing methods of this exciting Dutch furniture producer. Our guests had the opportunity to experience the fantastic comfort offered by chairs such as Lotus and Windy and the Axel and Juliet sofas. After the presentation we moved next door and enjoyed a fabulous dinner at La Garrigue, one of the finest restaurants in Edinburgh.

Images are of new products launched at Milan

Liquid Imagination

This week we have been getting very excited about the new Liquid Imagination paint range by Valtti. They have a beautiful range of colours and an amazing website - you must try the 'Paint A Room' function, it is very clever and had us all trying out the different colours.

Hotel Missoni

It's been a busy few days for Matthew, two huge lorries arrived at Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh with boxes and boxes of B&B Italia furniture which he and his team had to unload in preparation for the opening of the new hotel. We were delivering Fat-sofas and armchairs to name but a few products.

The following day another lorry arrived from Cappellini & Carl Hansen with more chairs and armchairs. The hotel is going to be marvellous when completed. Definitely worth a visit, if only to see the furniture we've supplied.

MILAN 2009

We're back and over the course of 2 days the Tangram team spent 28 hours walking, visited and had meetings with 34 different manufacturers and viewed hundreds of new products. Julian did manage to take the weight off his feet for five minutes and here's the proof.

Milan was as bustling and full of people as ever which created a great atmosphere. However restaurant tables were in short supply! There were some notable highlights and having thought long and hard we have come up with a list of our ‘top five’ - read on to find out more!

Top Five Products
Archibald Chair from Poltrona Frau - extreme comfort and beautiful detailing.
Eclipse Tables from Stua - simple, practical and starting at £70!

Jean Sofa System from B&B Italia - Elegant clean lines with coloured lacquered frames and amazingly comfortable. Luxurious armchair to match. Hans Table from B&B Italia - the best mechanism on an extending table we have ever seen along with unusual frame colour and detailing.

MassimoSistema Sofa System by Poltrona Frau - a very simple, well proportioned piece with the high level of comfort you would expect with a price tag considerably lower. Approx. £ 4995 for a 3 seat sofa in leather.

Milan Furniture Fair

It’s that time of year again when we’re off to Milan for the 2009 Milan Furniture Fair (Salone Internazionale del Mobile, probably the largest and busiest furniture fair there is). We spend our days walking forever to meet with most of our manufacturers who introduce us to new and exciting products, existing classic pieces and wild new prototypes. We’ll be able to tell you all about it on our return next week. Until then Ciao!

Happy Easter!

At Tangram we're all looking forward to our Easter break and enjoying a long weekend. We hope the the sun will shine so we can roll our Easter eggs. If you're not keen on eating eggs then here are a couple that you can sit on!

The Tato stool by Baleri Italia and the iconic Egg chair by Fritz Hansen

If you would like further information on either of these items please contact us or drop into our showroom.

Apex Hotel, Waterloo Place

Tangram are delighted to have supplied furniture to the newly opened Apex Hotel on Waterloo Place in Edinburgh. The building dates from 1819 and was the first purpose-built large scale hotel in the city but it has been 120 years since it last traded as a hotel.

The designers at Ian Springford Architects selected the Doss sofa and Greco Cama sofabeds for the bedrooms, the Air sofa, Lineal chairs and Vela Dora table for the suites, the Stripey sideboard for the meeting rooms and the Twiggy floor light in the reception area.

If you’re considering a city break in Edinburgh then you should definitely take a look at the Apex Hotel - it is in a great location with fantastic views over the city and, obviously, it has some very comfortable and stylish furniture!

Wintergarden Food Court

If you enjoy a bit of retail therapy and stopping for a spot of lunch then The Centre in Livingston is the place to go. This brand new extension to the existing Almondvale Shopping Centre has a wide range of high street names and a fantastic food court with furniture supplied by Tangram.

The interior designers at Keppie Design were keen to add colour and form to the Wintergarden food court selecting the Happy armchair, Hoop dining chair, Lagos sofa, Edge coffee table and Fusioni dining tables. The result is a bright, tranquil space – sitting amongst the trees on the terrace, hovering above the busy shops I felt like I was enjoying my coffee alfresco!