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)
Written by Katie on February 24, 2009. Permalink
Whoa, look, you can be reminded how old you are every day with this mirror…and I’m talking about seeing the cassette tapes, not anything related to your face.
“Mirror lined with 35 discarded, chrome plated cassette tapes. 30″ diameter. Numbered, limited edition.”
$450.00, at Barneys.
Purchase Information:
No longer available.
Written by Katie on February 24, 2009. Permalink
This is quite possibly the coolest birdhouse ever.
Inspired by the geodesic dome popularized by architect Buckminster Fuller. Its rounded shape makes an ideal nesting place for wrens, finches, swallows, warblers, and other small birds. An easy access door allows for simple cleaning so you can freshen the house at the start of each season.
Designer: Kelly Lamb
Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 8 inches
$95.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on February 23, 2009. Permalink
While this looks more like Batman’s style than the Joker’s, it has a strong modern presence that looks excellent over a dining table.
The Joker was created by Christian Ræder in 1970 where it won 1st prize at the Scandinavian Lighting fair. This light pendant simply assembled by hand, provides a beautiful light and acts as an exciting sculpture in the room, even when it is off. The Joker is available in either white on white or black on white.
Dimensions: 50cm x 50cm, height 25cm
Colors: White/White, Black/White
$285.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on February 23, 2009. Permalink
I love the design souvenirs series from Design Boom. It’s a great way to get an interesting piece for relatively inexpensively.
Available in high polish silver plated finish and yellowish gold-color finish.
One size only!
Handmade finish, internal diameter slightly different for each ring:
it varies from 16,5 to 17,5 mm
[posted by katie]
Written by Katie on February 23, 2009. Permalink
Not sure how this would stand up to years of use, but if you’re on a budget, it looks like it would be an acceptable work surface.
Simple lines and clean construction give this functional desk a modern appeal. Perfect for a home office, it offers plenty of options for storage with its four side shelves and ample desk top. Desk with solid wood construction is easy to assemble.
White or Black.
Measures 29″ H x 64″ W x 30″ D.
$239.99, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
This hotel has a different sort of concept: rooms will be spread all over the world. The very first room (Room nr 1) has opened its doors in Helsinki’s bohemian district Kallio. It looks like it’s worth checking out if you’re the type to venture off the beaten path, and personally, I’m looking forward to seeing rooms nr 2 & 3.
Room nr 1 is anything but. It´s a 30m2 fully furnished flat with complete
kitchen and funky interior to make you feel that strange but alluring
Finnish vibe. It´s located on the main boulevard of Kallio (Helsinginkatu 12),
surrounded by the most vivid bar scene, alternative shops and ethnic
restaurants in Helsinki. The tram stops at the hotel, and runs
directly to the city and back. Room nr 1 is perfect if you are looking for something different to those
seen-one-seen-all downtown hotels, or if you wish to live like a local in
a home-like environment with the freedom and space.
120 € per night, Book it here.
(The longer you stay, the more discount you´ll get.)
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
If you’re on a budget, one of these desks might do the trick of getting your home office in tip top shape.
Functional modular office essentials with a contemporary slant. Cantilevered desktops sit atop angled legs. Two drawers. Wood construction. Simple assembly. Oak veneer.
large, 52.5″w x 26″d x 30″h, $399.00, Buy it here.
small, 36.5″w x 26″d x 30″h, $299.00, Buy it here.
More information:
View Bond Desk here
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Okay, so I read a lot of books (as in several books a week) and I hate bookmarks. But I love these bookmarks. They’re a perfect size, with perfectly round edges with a perfect paper thickness. No ads, no labels, no cute kitten or frilly tassel or anything. Perfect.
…I feel our simple human lives have become quite suffocated and fatigued under the overwhelming pressure from modern-day media. Good design is design that is invisible and should be free of the designer’s ego. Who designed the plastic bag? the ash tray? the bicycle? the salt shaker? Most of us have never considered these things because they just work, albeit anonymously…normal bookmark is a simple, plain bookmark made from quality paper with a natural texture and color. When you slot a normal bookmark into a book, it begins to do its job quietly. It has just the right thickness and bends a little with the flipping of pages. Its natural shade blends humbly into the book. The slightly textured surface keeps it from falling. –the designer Aen Tan
pack of 5, $7.00
pack of 10, $12.00
pack of 20, $18.00
Buy it here.
Purchase Information:
No longer available.
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Something about the sound of ‘clip-on’ when describing this plexiglass headboard seems a little odd, yet there’s no argument that the translucent material would add a modern edge to any bedroom.
This clip-on Headboard (2008) is designed to fit the Min Bed…The translucent plexiglass was specifically chosen to coordinate with any color bed, and maintains the light, unobtrusive character of the Min Bed Collection. The single-piece construction spans the bed’s entire width, extending just slightly beyond each side, and the slightly curved shape of the Min Headboard provides a comfortable backrest for reading or watching TV.
$700.00-$900.00, Buy it here.
(Min Bed: $900.00-$1,100.00, Buy it here.)
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Similar to the Case Dining and Coffee Table, this little guy is foldable, freeing up your living space whenever you don’t need a work surface.
folded: 15″w x 27″h x 2.5″d
open: 15″w x 27″d x 27″h
$129.00, at tinyliving.com
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Whoa, this is one heck of a statement piece. Skram’s collection is worth checking out if you haven’t already done so.
Created by Jacob Marks for Skram, Lineground is a collection of solid wood furniture that merges unparalleled workmanship with spare but approachable modern design. The furniture is practical, keeping function in the forefront while maintaining a dramatic visual and tactile presence. Lineground is well-suited for a variety of spaces, from hospitality to commercial and residential applications.
Material: Rift Sawn White Oak Ebonized, Black Walnut, or Cherry. Skram’s 7 coat oil-varnish custom recipe, hand-polished.
39w x 32d x 46h (inches)
$3,500.00 – $3,900.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Call me crazy, but I love the fabric on this coffee table/ottoman. I want it.
An antique and decorative tribal textile made in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian countries, suzani-or needlework-is synonymous with that region’s glorious embroideries. Traditionally used as wall hangings and prayer mats, they were a treasured addition to a bride’s dowry. In keeping with our values, we created a thoroughly eco suzani collection made from 100% organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and sustainable sheesham wood.
51″W x 31″D x 15″H.
$895.00, now $625.00, Buy it here.
also available (shown bottom right): Red Suzani Bench, $395.00,
Buy it here.)
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Anything having to do with large self-sticking paper pads has me hooked, and this little station for kids is no exception. If you don’t need the kid station part of it, you can always just get the Easel or Cubicle Pads (around $17 and up) that are usually available at office supply stores.
Little Genius is an art and design storage station for all young budding Geniuses out there. Used either standing up – helping those young legs get strong. If it gets tiring the lid can be put on the ground as a great floor based hub for them to keep going sitting down. The beautiful birch plywood box designed by us is hand made in the UK by the Workhaus co-operative and provides ample storage for all those pens, colour pencils, crayons, paints and of course the Genius Pad itself when it’s time to clear up and go to bed.
£135, Buy it here.
150 Sheets Genius Pad, £13 (includes V.A.T), Buy it here.
More information:
View Little Genius Station here
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
How’s this for some off-the-beaten-path-with-a-dash-of-Dan Flavin-feel lighting?
shown left to right top to bottom:
lamp shade lamp: 22″ dia. 11″ height, $1750.00
rg, rb, bg: 55″h x 12″w at base and top, $1200.00
open tower: 4″w x 4″d x 28″h (1:7 ratio), $725.00
open cube: 8″w, 8″d, 8″h (1:1 ratio), $600.00
lamp post: 49″h x 19″w, $850.00
Some pieces can be made to order with a different ratio/size or color.
All handmade from start to finish.
Buy it here.
More information:
View Roger Borg Lighting here
Written by Katie on February 16, 2009. Permalink
Technically, I’m breaking our own rules by posting something that’s not available for purchase online, but this is from IKEA so it doesn’t count. It’s kind of strange (in a good way) with all the spindly legs, sort of like a cloned Victorian piece that came out with too many limbs at birth.
Removable tray. The tray has an extra wide edge and high sides; prevents spills and makes it easy to carry. Easy to fold up, easy to move.
Diameter: 22 1/2 “, Height: 17 3/4 ”
$99.99, Buy it here.