IN TODAY’S ISSUE: PROVING THAT KINK IS FOR *YOUR* EVERYDAY in part thanks to Correspondent Caz Facey; three principles of KINK IN INTERIORS
*COMING* ON WEDNESDAY: Kink to buy from IYKYK-SUBTLE-NOD to “CHAINS AND WHIPS EXCITE ME”, scare-the-in-laws style
*COMING* 9 JANUARY: FOR SCALE RUN DOWN THE BEST AND WORST THINGS EVER.
Dear Snoops,
It has recently come to my attention that the old FOR SCALE apartment in London (currently occupied by tenants) is being used as the backdrop for X-rated ONLYFANS content, incl. supporting roles by some ex-furniture.
Hence, we are today exploring KINK AT HOME. WHAT COULD IT MEAN TO LET DIRTY THOUGHTS BREATHE IN THE DOMESTIC ARENA? And is a detente possible with the other furniture and objects, selected for Dinner Party Politeness?
Please see last week’s Newsletter on “UGLY” because there’s a through-line here, where we just want you to break free a bit.
BASICALLY: PART OF HAVING FUN WITH INTERIORS SHOULD NECESSARY INCLUDE THE “NAUGHTY”.
As ever, inspiration *comes* from EXCEPTIONAL and COMPELLING DOMESTIC IMAGERY. In this instance it is two-fold.
INSPIRATION #1: THIS BATHROOM
We would ASSUME (HOW WRONG WE WOULD BE) that it would be BEDROOM — and, in particular, the bed itself — that would serve as the KINKIEST square footage of the home. But no. KINK ENJOYS RESTRICTED SPACES. AND KINK, as we shall soon learn, AVOIDS UPHOLSTERY.
Further BATHROOM EVIDENCE, before moving on:
The 100% SPLASH-PROOF, “AESTHETIC PRISON” bathroom of architect CALVIN TSAO (pictured 1995)
INSPIRATION #2: MESHY GERMAN KITCHEN TOOL
AS PER, OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS: context is everything. In this case, we snoop the dishcloth in the midst of an IKEA SHOWROOM-, AMERICAN PSYCHO-esque clinical interior. It exists in with naughty-vibe singularity in a sea of white, and that makes it noteworthy.
It bends expectation, giving it that kinky “FRISSON” - that sudden thrill.
Here, Mono uses one of Kink Interiors’ primary modes of communication: METAL MESH.
Before we proceed, as ever, a little THOUGHT as a first course.
A MANIFESTO ON KINK
Interiors are totally fetishized already (i.e. people really get off on them), and we only request somewhere between 5%-10% KINK REVEAL by the masses, in order to reflect that homes are sexy, and alleviate some pressure on a society totally obsessed with sex but also so terrified of owning up to it.
End of Manifesto.
THE QUESTION ASKED BY ALL: “WHAT MAKES KINK IN INTERIORS?”
A few principles:
Explorations of control and discomfort/danger
Elements of voyeurism/exhibitionism; think GLASS, MESS (i.e. transparency)
Unbridled PRIVATE PARTS STUFF.
And now, in reverse order:
#3. PRIVATE PARTS
THE SHIVA VASE
Possibly this is not your first introduction to the Shiva Vase, but if it is YOU ARE WELCOME. Pink. Phallic. 1973. By ab-so-loot legend of DESIGN CRAZY (a.k.a. search up “MEPHIS+DESIGN”, the now 90-year-old Italian master ETTORE SOTTSASS.
The vase is NOT named after the Jewish period of mourning, but instead a Hindu god. Shiva has a Wikipedia page.
ONE WAS RECENTLY BEING SOLD by For Scale favorites, FORMAS, here:
FOUR GREAT TANGENTS:
a) Ettore Sottsass was responsible for a number of wild and CANON interiors for 1980s Brand Du Jour, ESPRIT
b) A moment for the YONIC design, via the artworks of the JUDY CHICAGO and the vaginal place settings of THE DINNER PARTY. (A decidedly, perfectly NOT “POLITE” dinner party)
c) Back to FORMAS, who recently also put up for sale this FEVER DREAM, FANTASIA NIGHTMARE BIRD of a lamp by Sottsass.
d) In the SHIVA VASE family is hand sculpture by fellow Italian ab-so-loot master GIO PONTI. (IYKYK, re: its Kink Credentials.) Haven’t ever seen one IRL, but FOR SCALE FRIENDS Andy and Alex have something basically THE SAME. The vibe is:
#2 THE EXHIBITIONIST: MESH AND GLASS
THE MOST PALATABLE CLASS OF KINK
As humans, we are excited, historically, by the “KINDA THERE” - a partial view that excites us about what the whole damn thing could be. KING of KINK illustator-philosopher Tom of Finland once said that a fully dressed man could always be sexier than a totally nude one. Furniture that shows JUST ENOUGH is delightful RAMPANT.
Find, for example, some delight in the surface-level-tame, subtext-naughty TRANSPARENT DESK:
Yes, this may look tame – even setting aside the fact that it was designed by someone with the surname LECOQ – it has some critical characteristics:
A strong sense of control, to the point of harshness
Easily facilitated viewing
But, “exhibitionism” needn’t just mean SEE-THROUGH.
If you’re a LEG PERSON, then this little tablecloth snooped via KINKY FAVES Concorde might strike your fancy (again: see last week’s newsletter):
#1 DISCOMFORT
May I present, the Kinky Chair:
This IS NOT the kind of chair that invites you to sit down. This is the skeleton of an old-world mattress. But it’s arguable ATTRACTIVE. Why? Because it is a chair you SUBMIT TO when sitting, and relieves us of any sense of agency. There is only one what to be in this chair, and it’s with the posture the chair demands you take.
TANGENTS:
a) Very adjacent to some René Herbst chairs you should check out HERE.
b) Props to very Kink L.A. curator Alexander May (of SIZED) who is a CONDUCTOR OF NEW TALENT, incl. THIS CHAIR of very AESTHETIC PRISON style.
c) METAL MESH (aka “GRID”) is a very common thing. HERE, for example, sold by M. Kardana in London, or any fucking BERTOIA.
THOUGH THE SURFACE IS JUST BEING SCRATCHED…
… and we believe there is obviously a KINKIER deep dive to take, we also wanted to slightly hold back (ALSO quite a kinky move), and frankly we’re running out of room for this to be corset-squeeze into an email.
WE’RE BACK IN 48 HOURS WITH KINK TO PURCHASE.