Design Hunter loves...

...this copper PH pendant light from Louis Poulsen.

The distinctive profiles of the pendant lights in Poul Henningsen's PH range are well known and loved Scandi design classics. Now, to mark the 120th anniversary of the designer's birth, Louis Poulsen have issued a limited edition version of the PH 3½ -3 in on trend copper, based on Poul Henningsen's original 1920s drawings.

It's only available until 30 May so you'll need to be quick if you want to snap one up.

Images: Louis Poulsen

Trendwatch: The Memphis Revival

Led by Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano was a 1980s design movement that centred around a Milan based collective of young furniture and product designers who set out to challenge the concepts of modern design that were prevalent at that time.

In the words of Dennis Zanone, who has a vast personal collection of Memphis Milano design, and who I interviewed for Obsessionistas back in 2011, it was "a reaction to the 'form follows function' design thinking of the banal late 70s beige and black and chrome glass that was considered modern at the time."

It's been attracting a revived interest over the past few years. First there was the postmodernism show at the V&A in London, then last year trend forecaster Li Edelkoort curated an exhibition for Design Indaba exploring the parallels between the Memphis movement of the 1980s and contemporary South African design. Darkroom, one of my favourite London independent stores, also recently hosted an exhibition called So Sottsass celebrating bright tribal graphic prints inspired by the Memphis era. The Memphis colour palette - bold primary colours clashing with pastels or black and white - somehow feels really contemporary right now.

Here are a few Memphis inspired designs that have caught my eye recently.

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Mama Shelter - the Parisian hotel with an air of rebellion

On the outskirts of Paris, far away from the beaten tourist track, Mama Shelter is a hidden gem in an otherwise ordinary suburb.  Formerly a multi-storey car park, Philippe Starck and ex-Club Med owner Serge Trigano converted the unlikely site into an urban residence that is arguably one of the coolest hotels in Paris.

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5 minutes with... designer & seamstress Ulrika Vallance

With a fashion career spanning more than 20 years behind her, Swedish born designer and seamstress Ulrika Vallance has just launched a new loungewear brand. Inspired by her love of vintage fabrics and 1920s era silhouettes she's created a collection of beautifully tailored, buttery soft silk cotton slips, robes, camisoles and shorts in antique hues and classic shapes. 

After leaving home aged 19, with a dream of learning French and becoming a designer, Ulrika headed to Provence to study fashion at the International School in Marseille. From there she went on to apprentice in Karl Lagerfeld's studio in Paris and design womenswear in Florence before relocating to London where she created bespoke flower girl dresses for her first label Ulrika Bogö. She currently lives in New York with her two young sons and musician/travel writer husband, where she designs from a small studio in a revamped can factory near her Brooklyn home.

Designed with comfort and luxury in mind, the debut collection focuses on cut, detail and texture. The Le Marais robe (above) with its low slung belt and wide pleats takes its inspiration from flapper dresses of the 1920s, while the Brooklyn (below) is a classic kimono style gown that has been reworked with modern elbow length sleeve.

We think they are pretty gorgeous so we asked Ulrika to share a few of her style inspirations.

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Sunday Edition

This week's links for a lazy Sunday.

Enjoy. x

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- Red carpet fashion - every Oscar dress worn by the 'Best Actress' winner since 1929.

- Sir Terence Conran shares his design favourites with Design Milk.

- The end of brand loyalty? Is consumer power in the digital information age killing eroding the value of well known brands?

- I'm coveting this dress for my Spring wardrobe.

- The ex council tower block where almost half the new residents are architects.

- Joy Cho of Oh Joy Studios shares her thoughts on blogging and the future of online content.

Image: Mikkel Adsbøl via Femina

A woodland home in wood, white and concrete

Montreal based architects La Shed placed openness, lighting and alignment at the core of their design for this woodland home which is perched on a steep incline in Morin-Heights, Québec.

Using durable, affordable and classic materials throughout, they've created a comfortable, light and relaxed living space with a functional contemporary layout.

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Bath time

For this month's payday treats I've decided to focus on my picks for the bathroom. I don't know about you but for me the bathroom is somewhere I neglect in the style stakes so I decided that it's time to give it some much needed attention.

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The Copenhagen portable wireless & speaker by Vifa

Audiophiles will ridicule me for making this assertion I know, but when it comes to creating audio equipment that's designed to appeal to a female customer base there is a lot to be said for making your product look like a handbag.

Vifa have done just that with their soon to be released Copenhagen portable wireless and speaker

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