bltd

Ah, let’s talk about the loo (toilet) brush. I recently moved, and the past week I’ve been running around getting all the home necessities for our house, and when I say all, I mean all (our stuff is in transit via sea freight, not to arrive for another two or three weeks, so it’s a start-from-scratch situation). Which brings me to the subject of bathroom accessories. There’s a sad selection on the local suppliers’ shelves. I want more natural materials, not shiny-80s-bachelor-pad crap and definitely not plasticky crud. If it’s on view and not in the cupboard, I want something pleasant to look at. Hell, even if it’s in the cupboard, I want something pleasant to look at.

So, check out this toilet brush. Made from birchwood and soft concrete, it’s a nice little thing to do a rather dirty job, which makes that job just a tiny bit better. While semi-expensive at £35, it’s certainly not crazy expensive like the Vipp Toilet Brush ($200). I certainly regret not buying a couple of these before leaving the UK. Also, I found two other completely decent ones (via Remodelista), but they’re also from the UK. Blargh. See below for links.
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If you’ve ever needed to express your mood without saying a word, this door sign is for you. Whether you’re down in the dumps or high on life, a little warning to your friends and family might be appreciated. Amanda Keely made these signs as a play on the ‘do not disturb’ signs found in hotels.
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For this Thursday’s design classic we have Frank Gehry’s Easy Edges Low Table Set. You’ll probably recognize these, as Gehry is well known for using cardboard to make several pieces (Wiggle Chair, Wiggle Stool) of the Easy Edges Collection. Of course, most the world recognizes Gehry for his architecture rather than his use of a rather humble material in surprisingly sturdy furniture.
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A huge whiteboard to sketch out ideas? Yes, please. Rust-Oleum carries Dry Erase Paint, but IdeaPaint seems to focus more on larger areas, offering kits to cover 50 square feet. As the pictures on their site show, you can go completely crazy and cover whole rooms, columns, etc.

50 square feet kits start at $175.00.
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We featured Bend Seating’s Farmhouse, Lucy, and Ethel Chairs a while ago, and we certainly can’t pass up featuring the Bunny Lounge as well. The whole collection is indoor/outdoor friendly, so you’ve got versatility that’s most welcome during those fine weather days where you choose to spend some time outside.
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If you have Aurélien Barbry’s cork wine stoppers from Normann Copenhagen, you might want to add these other accoutrements to your bar area. Similarly matched to the stoppers, the pieces are made from cork, which give a natural warmth to an otherwise bland sea of stainless steel options.

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If you have a need for coasters, at least make them decent to look at, for goodness sake. After all, we’re not barbarians, are we? You can leave them clustered together or break them apart for separate drinks. They, of course, can be rearranged like a puzzle for a trivet type of arrangement.

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With all the money poured into the razor market, you’d have thought an idea like this would have surfaced back when double blades were the big thing. Made from PP plastic (polypropylene), this handy hanging razor can be recycled once the head is removed. The Hooking Razor can be purchased in a 4-pack at goodjoy’s shop (or if you’re in Europe, denicheuse.com). There’s also a hooking toothbrush, if you’re interested.
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This table has the nice detail of asymmetric legs to set it apart from other clean lined dining options. Plantation grown solid mango wood makes for a warm wood grain, and the price of $499 means there’s some room in your budget for chairs too.

Seats six.
63″Wx36″Dx29.5″H

These Build Your Block Pillows by Patrick Chirico were inspired by the various buildings found in Brooklyn. Pick the buildings and colors that you like most and you have your own little bit of New York City on your bed or sofa. The Mini Stuff is pretty cute too. (Should be noted that this would be great for kids and adults alike.)

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This notepad has the IBM values message imprinted inside, which is nice in an old-school familiar sort of way. Black with white THINK imprint on cover. Only drawback it seems is you might have to order them in bulk. (Does any retailer have them for sale individually?)

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If you and yours obsess over getting your ingredients exactly right, this cutting board is right up your alley. Though it’s worth noting that even if you’re nowhere near being OCD, this cutting board could possibly push you to be more obsessive than normal. It looks like it’s not available right away, but you can sign up to receive an email notice once it’s available for purchase.

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Ah, now wouldn’t this be handy when you’ve got both your phone and iPod (or iPad) to charge and sync? Apparently it works ‘beautifully’ with iTunes, so you’ve no worries when it comes to getting your music synced. Available from CableJive.

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I’d like to say this console would be easy to build, but I think that’s being more than a little optimistic. The leaning design cuts down on visual clutter, seeing as there are two legs instead of the usual four, which would help a small space appear to be just a little larger. There’s also a Leaning Man Side Table (£175.00) if you need a smaller sized occasional table. Designed by Frank Flavell for &then design.

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Don’t think for a minute anyone is too old for balancing blocks. It would do many of us some good to spend a little time concentrating on something other than regular work, even if it is only for just a few moments (and even if it does just use a tiny portion of your brain). Of course, they’d make an excellent kid’s gift as well.

Hand made in Red Hook Brooklyn from repurposed hardwood scrap collected from local furniture shops.
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