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What's going on with House of Thol

Getting ready to HAKA

31/1/2019

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One week till Object Rotterdam!

Only 1 (ONE) week to go before our presentation at Object Rotterdam should be ready to roll.
We're about to be starting prep on lighting and stands in just a minute.
Still quite a few final decisions to be made, i'm afraid.
But i'm sure we'll  make it work.
Before we head to our workshop however, i wanted to celebrate the Object PR-department for getting the expo out there.
We're super happy with our designs being part of some of the online press-coverage of Object Rotterdam.

OBJECT 2019 on architectuur.nl

architectuur.nl

Architectuur.nl wrote a lovely piece about Object and used a photograph of our reCabinet in their article.

Read the whole piece here (in Dutch)

Studio Perspective lists sustainable designers of OBJECT 2019

Studio Perspective

Studio Perspective zoomed in on all sustainable designers at Object. 
We're ever so happy to be part of this list.

Check out their selection here (also: in Dutch)
​
(ps. added bonus: you can win two tickets for the fair!)

read all about OBJECT Rotterdam here

​Alright now, time to get ourselves in the workshop and get things ready for Object.
Will we see you there?
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The start of the Gardening Season: TuinIdee 2019

25/1/2019

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Tuinidee 2019 in Den Bosch February 21st-24th

After moving to our rural home in Overasselt two years ago, we (or i) immediately started fantasizing about our garden. 

I actually bought a permaculture book (bible) months before moving and started with big plans to turn our land into a lush and fertile eating forest.  
​With no prior gardening experience to speak of, you can guess how that went down the first year...
You guessed correctly: although we did have a decent strawberry and pumpkin harvest, our garden is not so much a fruit and veggie heaven yet.

However i have hopes that with a lot of time, practice and soily hands, we will get there eventually.
We made great strides last fall planting 16 fruit trees in the meadow. It will take them a couple of years to bear fruit, and i guess so do my gardening skills.  
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However, gardening did become a new love of mine. 
And i'm definitely planning on freeing up more time this season to tend to my greenery. 

The TuinIdee ('garden Idea') fair in Den Bosch in late February is a brilliant place to start the season. 
And we'll actually be at the TuinIdee with our designs!

​Participating in the fair is 
kind of an experiment, and we have no idea how this will turn out. 
But even if our designs aren't a match with the visitors and we don't sell a thing, at least i'll be getting my fair share of gardening inspiration.

We'd love to see you there!

Tuin Idee 2019

21-24 February
10:00-18:00 daily
Brabanthallen Den Bosch
free shuttle-service from the train station

<Get your tickets online with a discount>
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"Arrange your birthflowers" - Flower Constellations in Buitenleven

25/1/2019

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We almost missed this publication

We always try to keep track of whenever a design is mentioned in a magazine, so we can get our hands on a copy and be proud about it at the time the issue is actually in the stores.
But sometimes we miss the memo, and a magazine is already out the stores before we can catch on and get our hands on a copy.

We were a little late to the news the Flower Constellations were featured in 2018' last issue of magazine Buitenleven.
Although we don't actually have a hard copy in our possession, luckily we did receive a pdf of the piece (which you can find below).

Super happy with the spotlight. Thank you Buitenleven! 
Click for more publications
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In with the spring! the new wrapping paper question

24/1/2019

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Help us decide which masterpiece should  be our new wrapping paper

Last fall we wanted to do something special for the Holiday season and designed custom Flower Constellations wrapping paper based on Dutch floral still lifes.
Remember? (click)
​You helped us out by letting us know which masterpiece you liked best, and we ended up with lovely rich colored Rachel Ruijsch wrapping paper that turns your Flower Constellation in a super chique present fitting for the Holidays.
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fresh spring

We're still in love with the beautiful still life of seventeenth century Dutch master Rachel Ruijsch.
​Yet the dark and saturated colors in the painting might be more of a winter thing
With the Holiday period a sweet memory and months of grey looming ahead, let's bring in something fresh to wrap the Flower Constellations! 
Something that reminds us of spring... 

Will you help us choose again?

We literally spent hours in the public domain (thank you World of Driftwood) to find bright colored paintings that would make good wrapping paper.
This time we looked though the extensive archive of Dutch painters and, with spring colors and brightness in mind, narrowed it down to these two options:
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​1. Ambrosius Bosschaert | 1573-1621

Bouquet of flowers on a ledge
This Dutch painter was one of the first to specialize in still life floral paintings and started a trend that went on for centuries.

Although his work is highly sought after, Ambrosius Boschaert the elder does not have a large portfolio. His time was mostly spent working as an art-dealer.
Even more reason to make sure his trend-setting work is not forgotten.
Vincent van Gogh - Vase with irises against a yellow background

2. Vincent van Gogh | 1853-1890

Vase with irises against a yellow background
Van Gogh is one of the most (in)famous artists of our country, and made quite a few floral paintings. 
​
Although happily colored, the timing of this painting of irises in a vase (May 1890), is rather gloomy: Vincent would die from complications after a self-inflicted gun-shot wound two months later. 
Maybe not so happy-go-lucky, but an important piece of Dutch art history.

What's your favorite?

So, what do you think?
Should we go for the important Dutch staple Van Gogh, or choose the painting from the master who may have started it all: Ambrosius Bosschaert?

Let us know by January 30th

That way we'll have the new wrapping paper ready to go for Object Rotterdam

    I think you should go for...

    which painting should we turn into wrapping paper?
    Not required, but might help make your case.
    Not required, but it would be fun to know who's voting.
    Not required, but might be fun!
Let us know
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A trip to toast - a few M&O snapshots

23/1/2019

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Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol

A flying visit to make a toast

This past weekend (18-22 January) Ay Illuminate launched our Wren and Kiwi lamps at Paris tradefair Maison & Objet.
Although it wasn't desperately necessary for us to be there, we definitely didn't want to miss seeing our lamps shining in the Ay Illuminate booth!
Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
It took some organizational skill and a lot of family help to schedule ourselves kid-free and in the south of the country on Saturday and be able to take a day-trip to Paris.

​That's making it sound a lot more romantic than it was: What it came down to, was us spending 9 hours in the car for 5 hours at Parc Expositions Villepinte (+ a short joyful stop at a hypermarché).

It was all worth it.

We brought Champagne and cheese to officially celebrate the Wren and Kiwi launch and shared a festive toast with Ay Lin, Casper and the Ay Illuminate crew.

​Seeing our designs displayed in the Ay Illuminate booth and how well they fit in with the rest of the Ay Illuminate collection made it all come together, and it was wonderful to experience the response of the M&O public.

After enjoying the company at the booth for a while, we did a quick (three hour) round of the fair that was way too short to see anything yet left us both with sore feet (11.000+ steps according to my phone).

All in all this flying visit took us 14 hours, and i'm so happy we went.
​Below you'll find a few more snapshots of the booth and our trip. 

​Have you been to M&O?
​What did you like best?
A toast with Ay Lin of Ay Illuminate during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
Launch Wren & Kiwi during M&O jan '19 | photograph by House of Thol
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New New New! Wren & Kiwi for Ay Illuminate

17/1/2019

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Brand New | WREN & KIWI | sustainable design made in the Netherlands | House of Thol for Ay Illuminate

Finally lifting the veil

We had to bite our tongues for sooo long and keep this project under wraps...
But the day has come: We can finally proudly present to you the Wren and Kiwi lightshades we designed for Dutch lighting brand Ay Illuminate.

Over the past two Years, we've been working together with the lovely people from eco- and socially conscious label Ay Illuminate to design a lightshade that would not only be sustainable and reparable, but would also be suitable for production at a social workplace in the Netherlands.
Our workshop is filled with the models and prototypes we made during the different stages of the design and product development proces.

Our brief was simple, yet challenging: design a lamp that is made of sustainable, preferably recycled materials and take into account it has to be produced in the Netherlands by people working at a sheltered work environment.
And of course it has to fit in with the Ay Illuminate collection, best known for its tropical natural feel and artisan craft production methods.
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol
models and material research | photograph by House of Thol

98% recycled aluminum slats

After exploring several material options we came across Luxaflex: the horizontal aluminum window slats are often discarded from office buildings and can be found in many thriftstores.

we quickly figured out that to set up a continuous production of lamps, it's impossible to rely on discarded window dressings.
​When we studied into the aluminum slats a bit more, we discovered they are in fact made of 98% recycled aluminum. A great material to put to use in a new product. ​
Unfortunately it turned out to be quite an adventure to get the aluminum slats we needed on a lengthy roll. 

By stubbornly e-mailing, calling, e-mailing again, calling again for many months by Thomas, we finally got through to the right people and received the right material to produce our prototypes with.

(Unfortunately we pretty much had to go through the same ordeal to get the material for production.)
Wren + Kiwi prototypes | photograph by House of Thol
Wren + Kiwi prototypes | photograph by House of Thol
Wren + Kiwi prototypes | photograph by House of Thol
Wren + Kiwi prototypes | photograph by House of Thol

the puzzle

And thus began the final puzzle: we designed frames in different shapes, with the slats running over them, through them, under them. We let the slats travel back up for a nice finish and layered look, used our Solidworks skills to pretty much draw out every silhouette we could think of. 

We tried all kinds of different metal thingies (by lack of a better word) to secure the aluminum bands without glue or fasteners and went through lengths getting the right size delivered. 
We designed the frame as a flat pack kit, clicking into eachother as a puzzle. Happy to be working together with the lovely people from Samosa Nijmegen for excellent and fast lasercutting.

We used 6 mm poplar multiplex, tried 5 mm and went back to 6 mm Ecoplex when the final 5 mm testpiece came out wobbly.

So many little things were adjusted and tweaked before the Wren and Kiwi were finally deemed fit for production.
Final details | photograph by House of Thol
Final details | photograph by House of Thol
Final details | photograph by House of Thol
Final details | photograph by House of Thol
Final details | photograph by House of Thol

At the social workplace

Thomas spent quite a few days at the Tomin Group deliberating and explaning the way the lamps should be finished and assembled.
Luckily the lovely mentors of the sheltered employment workshop were quick to recognize what needed to be done and turn it into a workable step by step assembly process.  
Production at Tomin Group | photograph by House of Thol
Production at Tomin Group | photograph by House of Thol
Production at Tomin Group | photograph by House of Thol
Production at Tomin Group | photograph by House of Thol
Production at Tomin Group | photograph by House of Thol
Kiwi by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Kiwi by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol

Paris Paris

These next few days the Wren and Kiwi lamps will be on display during Maison & Objet in Paris. 
For this special occasion they will be joined by their larger sibling, the Wren XL.
We installed the XL in our living room a few weeks ago to test te effect, and its impressive size dwarfed quite a few of our pieces of furniture.
After all our hard work, we're excited about the launch of the lamps in Paris and will be at the fair to see them with our own eyes this Saturday.

Come say hi if you're at Maison et Objet this weekend, we'd love to see you!
Ay Illuminate can be found in Hall 5A, R54/S53
Wren XL by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren XL by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren XL by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren XL by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren XL by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol
Wren by House of Thol for Ay Illuminate | photograph by House of Thol

Get them now!

Want to know more about the wren en Kiwi lamps?
Practical information and a link to Ay Illuminate can be found in the product description:
More about Wren + Kiwi
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"Turn off the water": Fleur Magazine about our designs

15/1/2019

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The professional florists journal

Fleur Magazine is the Belgian professional florists journal and is packed with great advice for anyone running a florist shop as well as pages filled with inspiration, new designs and background information about plants and flowers.
Personally i was pretty impressed with the overall look of the magazine and the articles, that are fun and interesting to read, even for non-florist me.
​
I love how the magazine provides the floral entrepreneurs with hooks and stories that can help sell more flowers and plants.
We are over the moon to be featured in this lovely publication with not only one, but two products. Check it out!
When clicked, the images should enlarge in a lightbox so you can read the actual (Dutch) text. 
overview of all publications
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'What's in it for you' @ Yksi expo now!

10/1/2019

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Driving Dutch Design expo at Yksi Eindhoven | January 10th - March 31st

Last year in January we were high on anticipation about starting the Driving Dutch Design masterclasses.
​
Fast forward 12 months, and we're proud DDD graduates.
It has been a super intense yet super fun experience during which we met so many wonderful people.
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And it aint over yet!
The Driving Dutch Design 'graduation exhibition' from Dutch Design Week 2018 is now travelling and will be on display in Eindhoven at Yksi expo from now until March 31st.

So go check that out if you're in the neighbourhood. No entrance fee, the best coffee and designer gifts to be shopped!​

Yksi Expo
1/10/2019 - 3/31/2019

Torenallee 22-04 (Strijp S)
5617 BD Eindhoven

​Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 - 17:30
Click here for our calendar
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Wishing you a blooming and green New Year

8/1/2019

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House of Thol wishing you a blooming New Year with growing paper postcards / Design & photograph by House of Thol

2019: in with the new!

A week into the New Year and i'm so happy to be back in normal mode.
Don't get me wrong, i love the Holidays, and had been looking forward to the festive season since summer ended.
Yet after months of anticipation followed with weeks of joyfilled familytime, social calls and everything being so very special, getting back into the routines of the day-to-day feels so very refreshing.
Getting back to it, also means 'getting on with it'.
And i love what we'll be doing the coming months.

We already told you about our participation in Object Rotterdam in February.
We'll also be at the Tuin Idee gardening themed expo later that month in Den Bosch.
And to top it up the Driving Dutch Design DDW expo has traveled to Yksi Expo for the coming months.
House of Thol wishing you a blooming New Year with growing paper postcards / Design & photograph by House of Thol

Wren & Kiwi

But what we're most excited about this month, is the launch of the Wren & Kiwi lamps that we designed for socially conscious lighting label Ay Illuminate.

10 Days to go before the sustainable lamps will premier at Maison & Objet in Paris, and we cant wait to show you what we've been working so hard on the past year.

We didn't just take on the design, but the complete product development, including coordination with and many trips to the social workplace in the Netherlands where the lamps are produced by people with a distance to the job market.

The design is still under embargo for a few more days, but we'll be back with sneak peaks as soon as we can.

Let's make this the best year yet!

ps. These are the New Years' cards we sent to our friends and relations, completely in style: printed on growing paper.
We're in love with the idea of not just sending somebody a message, but sending them wildflowers to grow. That's why we stocked up on the paper, and will be adding a line of growing paper gift-tags to the House of Thol collection! :-D
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