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 July 18, 2008. Permalink
These pots allow you some versatility in placement. I like the idea of switching them around whenever the mood strikes.
A set of five ceramic pots, perfect for growing a range of herbs, plants or wheatgrass. Arrange them into an X as its name suggests… and if you get bored of the look, a quick rearrangement easily transforms your X Tray into an L or I Tray instead.
22″W (arranged in a line) x 4″H
$99.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 18, 2008. Permalink
This excellent sofa has light legs and a modern silhouette that ensures an airy feel to any room.
Good design isn’t just about beauty or form. Good design is also about making our lives a little easier, just a little more enjoyable. And if so, shouldn’t we celebrate the functional as well as the beautiful. That’s where Blu Dot comes in..An understated stitch traces the lean silhouette of Blu Dot’s finely tailored Swept Sofa. Gently flared arms hover over a barely-there stainless steel base. Available in contract-grade slate grey or white leather alternative upholstery.
87″W x 26.5″H x 31.5″D
$1,799.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
Goodness gracious, these mirrors are pretty impressive (and maybe the dog’s head one is a little scary). While they might be pricey, they’d sure make a statement in whatever room you them in.
designed by tord boontje and emma woffenden for artecnica, the tranSglass mirrors series are part of artecnica’s design with conscience series. inspired by guatemalan tribal masks, the mirrors are manufactured to order in guatemala and therefore have an extended delivery time. the mirrors have an MDF backing. shipping charges will apply.
dog’s head mosaic: 10.2″ x 10.2″; mirror: 16.0″ x 30.6″ x 7/8″, $2,200.00
star mosaic: 19″ x 19.7″; mirror: 37.6″ x 43.3″ x .88″, $3,400.00
Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
Similar in theory to the Bin Bin wastebasket, except it actually is crumpled paper.
“Made of synthetic paper, this wastebasket is washable and tear-resistant. Comes crumpled in a spherical ball.”
28 x 45cm.
$45.00 CAD,
Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
This looks like a weirdly huge hammock that would be perfect for a bigger backyard.
Add function and style to any patio, deck or poolside with this rocking hammock. Escape to the backyard into a full-size, comfortably designed hammock built for two. It’s low profile frame makes it easy to get in & out of so you won’t have to strain on your way up. As an added feature, the hammock has side pockets for magazines, towels, keys, phone and other miscellaneous items.
Color: Honey Champagne
67” x 13” x 78” (the dimensions on the website says 6.5″, but obviously they meant 6.5′)
$179.00, Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
I’m surprised I haven’t seen this around at other retailers; seems like a decent price for a distinctive design.
Shiny, sleek and original, the Origami chair combines the ancient art of japanese paper folding and modern high tech materials, merging tradition with innovation. With its multi-angle silhouette reproducing the many folds of an origami, this beautiful chair is highly decorative and is perfect both as a stand alone piece or around a table. Glossy and see-through, the Origami chair will add a modern, original touch to any room, leaving it light and spacious. Manufactured in Italy. Made of polycarbonate. Stackable.
Available in transparent dark grey or transparent red.
Size: 34.25″ Backrest height 17.71″, Sitting position height 18.50″D 21.65″W
$185.00,
Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
Two very luxe-looking pillows to add some sheen to your sofa, chair, or bed…
Mosaic Pillow:
Delicate tassels of gold are scattered on a mosaic of silver faux-leather tiles. This elegant pillow will highlight your sofa or bed, perfectly complementing either bold or neutral colours. Imported from France. Back lined in a light grey fabric.
Size: 16″ x 16″
$75.00, Buy it here.
Gold Brick Pillow:
Original, bold and flashy, the Gold Brick pillow will complement your decor with a spectacular effect, adding an ironic hint of Las Vegas or of the Fort Knox vaults to your room. Perfect alone, in pairs or mixed with other colorful pillows. Manufactured in Italy. Made of gold leaf technical fabric.
Size: 19.70″L 7.9″W 3.9″H
$110.00,
Buy it here.
Source: Via
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
More proof that today’s kids have cooler stuff than I did growing up.
From play blocks fashioned to look like a giant swiss cheese to a ‘smell tunnel’ designed to delight the senses, each item of furniture bursts with colour and vitality. Perfect for domestic, public and educational settings, PLAY+SOFT embodies one simple idea: children have a right to beauty.
Each piece is made from our patented ecosoftx® fabric – an eco-friendly material that contains no PVC or rubber latex. As well as being soft to the touch it is also fireproof, wipe-clean and extremely durable. PLAY+SOFT is a unique collaborative project, drawing on the experience of experts in education, textile development, product design and manufacturing.
Prices range from £25 ($50) to £1600 ($3200) excluding transport (and approximately £30/$60 to £2000/$4000 including transport),
Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 17, 2008. Permalink
These mirrors seem to be pretty special- take a look at the incredible texture and materials. Christian Astuguevieille (pronounced ah-stewg-v’YAY) designed them especially for CoutureLab and after googling him and glimpsing just a tiny peek at his abode and various art objects, I can understand the mystique and appeal surrounding the man behind the name. Also, check out his crazy rope chair, called Moisart…not for the timid decorator/designer/collector.
Mirave Mirror:
The bunched, synthetic lavender of this mirror is dipped in black acrylic paint creating a dense textured frame to the convex glass. The frame is backed in black wood and signed by the artist…Characteristics between individual pieces may vary as each mirror is handmade.
Size: Small 22 x 22 cm
$3,000 approx, Buy it here.
Mirol Mirror:
The domes and spheres which frame this mirror are constructed from braided cotton, the same material that is used to make synthetic flowers. The back of the mirror is lined with muslin and marked with the Christian Astuguevieille atelier stamp…Characteristics between individual pieces may vary as each mirror is handmade.
Rectangular mirror mounted with a saffron red braided cotton frame
Size: Small 29 x 24 cm
$1,251 (approx), Buy it here.
The NYtimes also has an article on Astuguevieille as well.
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
Pamela Bell invited her daughter’s class to decorate their muslin covered sofas with fabric markers (and maybe some paint by the looks of it). While it might not be for everyone, it’s a great way to personalize a piece of furniture and make your home a little bit edgier. Also, check out the super wide fridge with the magnetic chalkboard cover.
[via nytimes]
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
If you’re not so fond of telling the time military-style, this clock will do the math for you.
Tell it the way they do on the other side of the pond. Track time 00:00 to 24:00 in concentric black double digits squared on white. Black aluminum hands, white wood composite frame. Glass lens protects. One AA battery (not included).
19.75″ sq.
$59.95,
Buy it here.
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama has designed a beach house that’s fit to post on all the blogs today. Within the confines of a very tiny plot of land, the cabin takes advantage of the view and provides sleeping arrangements for a family of four. Nicely done.
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
If you’re planning any road trips this summer, you might consider checking to see if any of these beaches are on the way to your destination.
From wejetset magazine:
Dr. Stephen Leatherman, coastal expert with Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, has recently published his 18th Annual Top 10 American Beaches ranking. Click Read More to view the ranking and our tips for turning a beach visit into a healthy excursion.
top ten american beaches
1. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, FL
2. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, HI
3. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, FL
4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY
5. Coronado Beach, San Diego, CA
6. Main Beach, East Hampton, NY
7. Hamoa Beach, Maui, HI
8. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC
9. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, SCFifty criteria were used to evaluate the beaches, including water and sand quality, facilities and environmental management. The top spot went to Caladesi Island State Park. According to Dr. Leatherman, “Caladesi’s real attraction is its powder white sand, warm, crystal clear water and beautiful nature, all making it the number one beach to enjoy and decompress”. –wejetset magazine
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
It seems like Phaidon just can’t go wrong with their curated collections; this large volume of recent contemporary graphics seems to call for some serious sit-down-and-absorb-everything kind of time.
Area_2 is the second volume in the graphics version of Phaidon’s award-winning series of curated compendiums, which includes Cream, Fresh Cream, Blink, 10×10, 10x10_2, and Spoon. Covering all manifestations of printed graphics created by the world’s most visionary designers, Area_2 presents the posters, books, magazines, typography, packaging, and ephemera that has influenced visual culture over the past five years.
$90.00, Buy it here
or for $56.70, here.
Source: Via
Written by Katie on July 16, 2008. Permalink
This sushi set certainly evokes a lily pond; I like how the forms are handled simply and how they manage to be fun in an understated, elegant way.
It is important to remember that the objects presented here, just like the ones in the Chin Family, characters or flowers and fruits, each performing the roles of domestic household objects, are made partly in hand-decorated plastic and partly in fine bone china, also hand-decorated. The magic of Giovannoni’s design lies in the fact that these objects recall the grace of 18th century ceramic trinkets, while at the same time being utterly contemporary…
Sushi set composed of: plate and chopsticks in melamine, small plate for soy sauce and chopsticks holder in fine bone china. Hand-decorated.
$94.00,
Buy it here.