bltd

If you’ve looked up what wine goes with what food, only to find that there’s a ton of sites to sift through, hold up your hand. Now, use that same hand to add this tea towel to your wishlist, because it’s a heck of a lot handier to check a tea towel when you’re in the middle of preparing dinner than finding a sommelier online that knows what they’re talking about*. Available in red and white wine versions, each covering 68 popular wines and 56 different food entries.
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Upon closer inspection of this rug you might find yourself thinking of teddy bears, and the uncomfortable thought of ‘how many teddy bears had to die to make this thing?’ Not to fear, though, as the rug was made from the extra material left over from plush animal production. This up-cycling means you can now lie down on a carpet of cuddly teddy bear arms; it would be a nice refuge after a cruddy day, wouldn’t it? More colors available.
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Need or want a stylus? This one seems to be a good choice. It has a smooth silicon rubber tip 7.0mm in diameter and a black loop cap that can be hooked onto a lanyard (if that’s what you want to do) or screwed onto the back to lengthen the stylus. There’s no screeching across the screen while writing, and the tip offers control and accuracy. For notes or drawings, it looks like it’d be a great companion to your device.
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These stacking vessels by Pia Wüstenberg are something else. It’s tempting to file them under ‘art’ instead of ‘vases’. Be prepared for a little sticker shock though, as piece is handmade and consists of three individual containers. See piadesign for more images showing how light filters through them; it’s simply lovely. One of these would make a very special gift.
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This type of thing seems unnecessary until you drop a cord behind your desk, only to spend five minutes retrieving it in the most unflattering position possible. It’s simple enough; the Sumo acts like a paperweight for your cables. It keeps them from slipping off the work surface with its weight and micro-suction pads. For $12, keep your dignity intact.
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I know I linked to this last Friday, but it’s too good not to get it’s own spot. Pernille Snedker Hansen of snedker°studio has used an old marbling technique to create this semi-psychedelic flooring. The growth rings play along with the hand applied colors, making an organic overlapping arch pattern. It’s an altogether different option than you’ll find at your local hardware store, isn’t it? Sure, it might not work in every home, but it would make one heck of a statement in the right space.
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Baskets aren’t normally something to fawn over, but the idea of a collapsible basket is certainly intriguing. When you need to corral anything from toys to towels, it’s a rather large (22″dia.x12″H) container, and when it’s empty it collapses to what seems to be an inch or two high. Just the size to store under the bed or sofa, or maybe even hang on the wall.

Handmade from iron with natural finish.
Indoor use only.

Chances are you’ve seen this very smart looking thermostat by now, and if I hadn’t been on vacation last week, this post would have been filled with an obscene amount of exclamation points. It’s a learning thermostat. Not just a programmable thermostat, as most of us currently have in our homes, but a learning one. In around a week, it’ll have created a personalized schedule based on your household’s habits and adjusted the temperature to save energy. Sounds good, doesn’t it? You can also program it away from home via the website/Wi-Fi. And, of course, it looks pretty freaking cool, which doesn’t hurt one bit. Watch the video below for more info, or visit the Nest website. Available for preorder/reserve, fyi.
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$299 for a rocking chair? Pretty good price, I’d say. Felted wool cushion (in clover or storm) keeps you comfortable while the frame is made from solid elm. It’s an extremely simple silhouette and has a Scandinavian vibe without looking too IKEA-ish. Anyone know how comfortable it is?
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Now, let’s not be hasty in calling each other dinnerware-obssessed nutcases (as referenced in the 24h Tuokio Tableware post). At times, it’s entirely appropriate to remember the name and pieces of certain collections, especially if they’re as graphic as this one. All pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe, so they’re appropriate for everyday use (thank goodness).
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While this screen might not be within everyone’s budget, it’s absolutely beautiful. Perhaps it could be added to your inspiration file? ‘Yuki’ means ‘snowflake’ in Japanese, hence the name of this screen from Japanese design firm Nendo. Composed of 36 snowflake-like pieces that stack on top of each other, the screens can be connected to create any size you wish.
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This calendar was first featured on our site back in ’08, and, as is often the case, needs its info updated. The Calendreco by Dessi Ivanova* is a great alternative to the somewhat ubiquitous Stendig Calendar, and as it is perpetual, you’ll be set year after year. Three headers give you options on weekday combinations, so a simple changeout each month is the only lifting-of-finger(s) you’ll need to do. If you should ever need to dispose of it (unlikely), it is 100% recyclable.

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Despite the trend of emailing/social networking/texting a ‘happy birthday’ or ‘get well’, nothing really beats an actual handwritten card. When did you last handwrite a note on a card? If it’s been sometime in the past 3 months, well done. If not, time to remedy the situation with a box of cards to fit every event. If you’ve got several cards on hand, you can quickly whip out the right one, jot down your message, stick it in an envelope and you’re done. No trips to the local stationery supplier necessary. I like the look of Pancake & Franks offerings, especially as they’ve three different sets from which to choose.
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Remember last week’s “A Tempo” Stool? Well, rarely is a laundry basket something worth featuring, but designer Pauline Deltour has made this one with metal wire, and, as was the case with the stool, it’s something to notice. Rarely would a laundry basket command such a price, but this one is infinitely better than your local big box store selection. There’s also an additional tray ($34) if you want to hide those not-clean clothes.
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It’s fair to say that there aren’t many clocks made of concrete. Though this particular hand made wall clock is striking in its choice of materials, I wonder just how heavy it is and what would be the means of securing it to the wall. The play of light and shadow would be interesting as it changes with time, for sure.
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