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Oh, what to wear when you’re making a brilliant meal indoors or grilling outside with your Italian Barbecue Tool Set? You can’t risk ruining your clothes, dressed to perfection (as you always are). Not to worry, don one of these denim aprons by Hedley & Bennett and then carry on with your culinary prowess.
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These sound handy enough, don’t they? Reusable zip ties could be used to manage unruly cords, seal up snack bags, and all those other things your imagination can think of. Made of rubber, they’re easy to release for reuse. Get a pack of 25 ties for $7 and divide them between your kitchen, office, and garage.
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All right, what did you think this was at first glance? A strange hair decoration? A fireplace accessory? Nope, it’s a sturdy support for your leggy plants to climb and grow upon. The 3-D box design keeps things modern while contrasting nicely with the curvy lines of vines and foliage. Use them indoors or outside, as they’re made of powder-coated steel.
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I know next to nothing about birds, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting a birdhouse. And, hey, there’s no way I’m going to settle for just any birdhouse, because there are standards to uphold, aren’t there? This Arbor House is made from recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE)- that translates into 24 recycled milk jugs- and thermally modified maple. That means no maintenance whatsoever, except for cleaning it out each season, of course. There’s also the Pitch, Rapson, and Cube birdhouses to consider, all in various colors from Loll Designs.
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Geez, another modern beach towel? We’re up to our eyeballs here with all the choices, and this one is very tempting price-wise. I guess it doesn’t hurt to have a stack of them ready to go whenever the mood strikes- it is summer, after all. Take note of this tidbit so you can sound smart when you get compliments: this towel is designed by Dee Clements- she was inspired by architectural stained glass from the Arts and Crafts movement.
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Is it time for a picnic? I think so, especially if you had this basket from Danish brand Menu. It’s a sort of hybrid between a basket and tray, with two air-tight containers with bamboo lids, two cooling pads, and a felt liner. Stick the cooling pads in the freezer before you head out to keep your food cool. It’s like a bento-box-basket, isn’t it? You could, of course, also use it off-duty around the house (as shown in last image) to corral all manner of odds and ends; there’s no need to keep it just for outdoor activities.
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– “The Floating Piers,” by Christo

– Sriracha Ninja

– Building Great Architecture Models

– Vanessa Friedman: “Driving Force of Fashion is Planned Obsolescence”

– Artist whittles wood into (what looks like) food

– Haha: The fashionable peacocks of Pitti Uomo

– RE:FIND rubber dipped paperclips

– AT: DIY fabric Clay Planters

– Fireflies are disappearing. Here’s why — and what you can do to help.

– It’s summer, so…Stay Cool Ice Cream Truck Pin and Watermelon Buddy Enamel Pin

Enjoy your weekend.

Stripes! It evokes a certain Memphis Group flavor, don’t you think? And, yes, you could probably make something similar if you had the tools (so, go ahead, make one). If you know you’re too lazy, then this little lamp by Brendan Timmins will set you back $160. A small price to pay for a cheery, striped light with a pink cord, don’t you think? More designs and colors are on Brendan Timmins’ site; contact him directly for those options.
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Do you remember the harmless Pon Push Pin? The same folks have a new version (aptly named Pon+) that’s a bit bigger and has a smart pull tab. Pull the tab and slide your pictures/artwork underneath for easy display and no puncture wounds. The bigger size means it can hold larger loads as well.
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“What’s through there?” That’s what your friends will be saying until they smack their foreheads against this mirror (they’re not too bright, those friends of yours, poor things). Just think, your place will look like it gained another room at first glance, thanks to the elegant optical illusion of the arched design. Look closely and you’ll see several varying tints create a shaded effect; a small detail, yes, but quite effective. There’s the floor sized version (shown) as well as a smaller 32″ height that would work well on a console or credenza. And, if you want to go crazy, take a look at the Dune Mirror.
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Running low on notebooks? Don’t let those ideas float away- jot them down in one of these notebooks by Metaphys. The Blanc Notebook’s pages are rounded to avoid snagging and bent corners while the semi-rigid cover protects the high-quality Japanese paper. Pages take ink beautifully and tear out easily. Did you notice the subtle gray dotted lines? They give you a graph if you need it; they’re light enough to ignore if you don’t.
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Why, yes, these pedestals are Sottsass-inspired, as you can tell by their circular, contrasting layers. Aren’t they just the thing to elevate certain things around your home? Perhaps you’ll place your hors d’oeuvres, your prized possessions, or, as suggested, your potted plants upon them, so that those items might shine slightly brighter for being seen.
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Keep time with the Dotty Clock, designed by Abi Alice. You can probably see where sticky dots had something to do with the design, as the ends of the hands are clear to spot from across the room. If you’re a fan of Charles and Ray Eames, you may even see a little Dot Pattern fabric flavor when the hands cross just so… or even planetary orbit paths… or is that just me?
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– Wolfgang Buttress’ beehive-inspired Expo pavillion moves to Kew Gardens

– Smart! Sebastian Bergne’s Ring Soap

– See When the World’s Biggest Cities Were Born

– The Science of Internal Time, Social Jet Lag, and Why You’re So Tired

– Animade’s Party Pooper Game (via itsnicethat)

Have a great weekend.

All right, now, we’re in outdoor furniture shopping mode, thanks to the summer heat. If the Hot Mesh Lounge featured yesterday didn’t quite hit the spot, maybe you’ll like the Palissade Lounge Chair by Ronan + Erwan Bouroullec. Why? It’d be easier to ask why not, because then we could agree on your ignorance or lack of design sense* and then our conversation would be over.
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