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Articles Written by Katie

Katie

About Katie: Katie has been a product and textile designer, an art restoration specialist, and an interior designer/merchandiser. Her interests are focused on finding well designed items that improve daily life as well as reading fiction and making stuff. (View Profile)

 
 

Stool 7 from STANDSEVEN

Two legs balanced with a looped sort of kickstand creates this visual trick of a barstool from STANDSEVEN and architect/designer David Adjaye OBE. It’s made from sustainable, recycled metals and, if you need further temptation, there’s an ethical intention thrown in as well. Each stool pays for one Ebola response kit for a family unit in Sierra Leone. You read that right, you can own this marvelous barstool and brag about helping end Ebola. That’s a win/win situation right there. (You can also donate directly to Doctors Without Borders or UNICEF.)
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Purchase Information:

Price: £920.00
Available from: STANDSEVEN

United States Blocks

Okay, quick, which states have these abbreviations? MD? IA? MT? NE? VT? It may seem easy, but some people don’t have the same memory as you, and might need these United States Blocks to learn them all. Obviously, kids could learn from these, but I’m talking about some of your co-workers. Fifty wood blocks by House Industries show state images, names, capitals, mottos, birds, flowers, and trees. Everyone could probably stand a refresher, as it doesn’t hurt to keep the mind sharp with civics data, right?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $109.99
Available from: AMNH

Wrist Ruler

There’d be no more wondering about exact measurements if you had this ruler around your wrist. Sure, a leather wristband is not for everyone, but for those of us that continually carry around a measuring tape, it could be a smart alternative. Inch and centimeter measurements are engraved on the outer surface with a stud closure, so it’d be easy to take it on and off to get a quick read on smaller dimensions. Notice that I said ‘smaller’ there- it wouldn’t be ideal for measuring a long sofa or a room’s dimensions*, for example.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $19.95
Available from: iLoveHandles

Friday Links

  • NYTimes: Tom Sachs Boomboxes (image above- Ben Sklar for The New York Times)
  • If You Want Healthy Cows, Feed Them Magnets
  • WSJ: 5 Tips for Passing a Personal-Finance Stress Test
  • Ha ha. The Kinspiracy
  • For your walls: Elevations
  • Meet Casey Legler – the world’s first female male model
  • LEGO: The women of the US Supreme Court
  • We’ve all felt this way before: 9.5° Chair
  • “A little boy said I look ugly.”
  • one couple’s $22,000, 350-square-feet dream home
  •  
    Have a good weekend.

    No Line No Wave Scarf Collection

    If you happen to have a loved one that likes scarves and other strange, artistic things, then the No Line No Wave Scarf Collection should be on your list of birthday/anniversary/special event gift ideas. Glasgow-based studio Briggs & Cole invited twelve Scottish creatives to contribute designs, and the result is an odd-yet-wonderous array of silky squares. Be forewarned, though, as each scarf is produced as a limited edition of ten each, sold only in sets of two.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $600.00
    Available from: L'ArcoBaleno

    Craft Collection by Normann Copenhagen

    Solid oak and marble make a perfect pair when it comes to these functional kitchen tools by Danish designer Simon Legald. Both materials are durable and fit for everyday use while the rounded edges and curves ensure that each piece is comfortable to handle and hold.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $95.00 +
    Available from: Normann Copenhagen

    Library Card Tote Bag

    Do you recognize the card image on this tote bag? Congratulations, you are officially old and wise. If you don’t immediately recognize it, then I’ll do the patronizing thing and explain it to you as if you were an idiot a child.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $20.00
    Available from: Uncommon Goods

    Parsonal: Custom Furniture, On-Demand

    Custom furniture? For $200-$650? Yes, please. Simply choose a product from Arrister’s catalog, customize the dimensions, and checkout. Their line is based on the Parsons table design, so there’s nothing fancy, just the tried-and-true basic lines of the familiar T-square design. What can you customize? All sorts of things: End Table, Coffee Table, Short Bookcase, Tall Bookcase, Sitting Desk, Standing Desk and Dining Table, for starters. You can finally get exactly the right dimensions without emptying your bank account. High five!
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $200.00+
    Available from: Kickstarter

    TR-001W Trays

    Why should you care about these aluminum, powder coated trays from LIXHT? Well, they’d be good for organizing stacks of odds and ends, or for transporting things from one place to another. They’re also lightweight and have a very thin profile. On a personal note, I ordered both the small and large size after LIXHT emailed us, and now a previously messy stack of material samples suddenly looks purposeful and organized*.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $58.00 - 68.00
    Available from: LIXHT

    Gather, Observe, Ponder Banner

    Not a bad slogan to live by, is it? Handmade by Winter Cabin Collection, this banner is belongs to a collection of goods brought about by the partnership of the American Museum of Natural History and Etsy. There’s several things to catch the eye and tempt the wallet, but this banner is probably the most altruistic purchase, as it will most likely inspire others (we can hope).
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $55.00
    Available from: American Museum of Natural History

    Rok Hand-powered Espresso Machine

    The perfect cup of espresso is hard to replicate at home unless you want to plonk down several hundred (or thousand) dollars. And that’s exactly why some of our tastebuds will perk up when seeing the Rok Espresso Maker. It’s completely hand-powered. It’s also portable, which opens up the options for just where you’ll enjoy a cup of caffeinated loveliness. You’ll need a good espresso grind, some hot water, and your muscles. And maybe some practice. That’s it. Sounds encouraging for the non-expert, doesn’t it? See the video below for more.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $190.00
    Available from: Gessato

    Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1

    Whoa. The Artiphon Instrument 1 lets you play any instrument you want with a single device. Huh? You’d best watch their Kickstarter video, as that’s the quickest way to understand the full scope of what the Artiphon offers. The digital interface works with any MIDI-compatible software and the ergonomic design allows you to hold it in various positions- guitar, violin, piano, bass, drum machine, etc.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $299.00
    Available from: Kickstarter

    Moiré Side Tables

    Before you hyperventilate over the price, do realize that these are two side tables, and not just one. Okay? Okay, let’s proceed. This pair of Moiré Side Tables nest together to create an interesting interplay of line patterns. The molded wood bases in white and gold complement the striped walnut tops and together the set would easily provide a versatile option for a seating area. Expand or separate the tops for more surface area or nest them tightly together for a more compact footprint.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $1,950.00
    Available from: Leibal

    Friday Links

  • NYTimes will be discontinuing their Home Section. It was my favorite. Sad face. (Image from The Anti-McMansion article- via Remodelista)
  • Thank you Design Good for including us! 9 Digital Design Magazines That Will Inspire You. Awesome.
  • Why Our Brains Love High Ceilings
  • Live now: Listen to a briefing about the 1st orbiting of a dwarf planet by @NASA_Dawn
  • Laser Cut Seaweed for Sushi
  • Cool! A Flag for Every Family by Amateurs
  • The world’s priciest cats: Cat Fancy
  • How much of this week’s news do you remember? Take Fast Company’s News Quiz (and earn an emoji).
  • Hydrophobic spray on the walls? Why? Public Urinators, that’s why.
  • How Hackers Could Use A Nest Thermostat As An Entry Point Into Your Home
  • Keep your overhead low
  • Uh, whaaaat? Grow Your Own DIY Leather Jacket in A Petri Dish
  •  

    Enjoy the weekend.

    Mater Space Stool

    More lovely furniture on sale? Yes, please. With ever-so-thin legs, these handcrafted stools are sort of stunning. We first posted these stools back in 2010, and, of course, they need some updating in the pricing field. However, do keep in mind they’re currently on sale, so you will save a tiny bit should you choose to splurge for your bar or countertop area. The Space Stools are crafted from premium oak (FSC certified) with sustainable and socially responsible methods. Be sure to check out the Aluminum version too, as it has more of a futuristic feel ($950 $760).
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $650.00 and up
    Available from: YLiving