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This isn’t the best quality picture, but it does serve to remind us that orange can be good… sometimes. Also, it’s worth noting that this under-the-stairs desk manages to pack a lot of work surface into an otherwise underused area.

While the price of this chair might scare you more than the fabric does, it’s an excellent example of how a rather normal chair can become completely crazy with the right (or wrong) choice of fabric. Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hubri of Bokja Design use all sorts of fabrics to revitalize vintage finds, and if you’re not familiar with their work, it’s worth a glance just to see the variety of textiles. All pieces are handmade by traditional craftsmen, and the vintage textiles used are from Uzbekistan, central Asia, and other countries along the Silk Road. Take a look at Bokja’s products and believe me, you’ll certainly find inspiration (and courage?) for reupholstering any of your current threadbare furniture.

dimensions: 31″w x 26″d x 28″h x 16″sh.
Designers: Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hubri of Bokja Design

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If San Francisco is near and dear to your heart, maybe you’ll like this plate set. Or, maybe you just like the geometry and web-like look of city maps. Interestingly enough, Cherry Chaicharn, the designer, is a former Bay Area city planner, so you know her heart (or her work) is behind the design of these subtle grey-on-white patterns. The set features maps of South of Market, North Beach, Glen Park/Noe Valley and Castro/Mission. And, get this, apparently there’s other cities (Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, etc..) to follow.

Set of four (one each of four designs).
Designed by Cherry Chaicharn, of August Table (more pics here)
7.5″ diameter each

It’s a shame to have a trash can spoil the look of a room, and really, there’s no reason why you should have to suffer the sight of an ugly bag hanging over the side. This inner-receptacle-plus-outer-cover trash can tidies up that whole dilemma lickety-split.

12 x 8 x 8 inches.
Made in Japan.

Donna Wilson love. Some of her furniture with SCP is pretty exciting, not to mention this little Wilma bench you see before you. First of all, let’s just get ‘rubberized coconut hair’ out of the way. It’s a sustainable material that “gives the seat a crisp and firm feel.” Okay. Next, the Mabel linen fabric is both playful and quaint, yet the color won’t clash with any of your other exuberant pieces. Splayed legs complete the picture. Yep, it’s a great option for a bench-slash-table.

Donna Wilson for SCP
linen upholstery and beech, rubberized coconut hair
w 33.5 x d 18 x h 15 ”

Yoga. Stretching…breathing…relaxing… and PILLS! And cobras! Aghh! Just the sort of thing to make your yoga practice… um, strange. If you want that. (I can see the cobra working, because there’s a yoga position called the cobra, but not sure how I feel about pills on a bathroom floor, you know?)

Pill Yoga Mat, $95.00
Cobra Yoga Mat, $95.00

I still like the first Plank mats: Wood Plank (with muffin!) and Shag.

Do you know what a katyusha is? Wikipedia says it’s a Russian wartime song, a rocket launcher (named after the song), and also a Russian pro cycling team. What wikipedia doesn’t say is that it’s also the frilly headband that maids wear, which makes a heck of a lot more sense as inspiration for these Hairglasses. Still confused? It’s a headband that looks like sunglasses. See more photos at Sam Hecht’s Industrial Facility website.

flexible polypropylene material
Designed by Sam Hecht (Industrial Facility) for iiii

I’ve had these two images in my inspiration folder for a while now. The mirrored stairs shown on the left is from photographer Polly Wrenford’s portfolio, but I didn’t have much luck with referencing the one on the right. If you have info, please let me know.

If you’re continually hopping about from one destination to another, maybe this rug is for you. Even if you’re not a jetsetter, the cursive white writing on the black background makes for an interesting focal point.

100% New Zealand wool
Designer: HZL by Henzel

$990.00-$4,285.00

For another handwritten (and uber-lovely) rug option, see Manuscrit Rug by Joaquim Ruiz Millet.

TV dinner trays aren’t exactly known for their elegance, of course, but this tray might change that. Coated in a non-slip finish, it helps keep your plate and glass from sliding around, and it’s easy to stack and store. Available in white, black, and willow wood, it also has a distinct elevated appearance from your regular plastic tray variety, which might just help your TV-watching dinner experience be a bit more… well, civilized.

Designer: Ontwerpbureau 3.11
Manufacturer: Royal VKB

Now, take a moment here. Given all the popularity of knitted poufs lately, namely the Flocks Pouf and other such delightful ottomans, this rope buoy ottoman is a steal of a deal. Sure, it’s ‘nautical’, and made out of jute rope, but I photoshopped the lifebuoy out of the picture just to help you see how it’s essentially a wonderful little textural piece. It could be a smart addition to a room that needs a little ‘oomph’ as far as character.

Coir filled, covered in jute.
14″D x 18″H

If you don’t know much about parquetry except in relation to flooring, well, you’re in for a treat. Parquetry is the technique of applying wood to make decorative or geometrical patterns on things, so while you might have seen it all over the place as far as floors, maybe seeing it applied to a modern cabinet deserves a second glance. This cabinet utilizes the traditional techniques of parquetry on furniture, and, as Leif.designpark states, “is an attempt at producing furniture using effectively materials and skills established in the Japanese culture.” Sounds good to me.

Available in solid American Black walnut, American Cherry and Chestnut.
Manufacturer: De La Espada
Designed by Leif.designpark
Dimensions: 72 5/6″ W x 17 5/7″ D x 29 1/2″ H

No need for those cardboard sleeves with these colorful handles. Of course, you’d have to carry it around with you, but hey, who said being eco-conscious was easy? And maybe having an actual handle will help you get a better grip to avoid mishaps/spillage.

This is pretty affordable compared to some of the other task lights out there. Two sizes are available (Compact or Standard) and you can mount it on a regular base or table clamp (panel, slatwall, or grommet mount also available).

Black or Silver.
Manufacturer: Knoll
Designer: Stephan Copeland

Some of Fatboy’s bean bags are on sale over at Gilt. Majority of it is kid-sized, but there’s a couple of adult sized bags (in a sand and camouflage color), and the ottoman sized ones could work anywhere. FYI, the sale is through Gilt Groupe’s invite-only site (items sell out pretty quick).

Point Bean Bag, $89.00 reg, $45.00 on sale
Original Bean Bag, $229.00 reg, $125.00 on sale
Avenue First Parc Bean Bag, $249.00 reg, $115.00 on sale
Junior Bean Bag, $149.00 reg, $80.00 sale
Island bean bag, $229.00 reg, $120.00 sale