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If a kitchen utensil set can be described as lovely, then this one is.

…his design for his 5-piece Kitchen Utensil Set culminates with different thickness along the laminated handle and has a modern catering feel. Beautiful and highly functional, the set comprises ladle, spoon,fork,spatula and skimmer, in a choice of satin or polished stainless steel.

[via Remodelista]

This little device looks slightly insane, but perhaps that’s appropriate considering the amount of other devices and peripherals we have to attach to our computers/ipods/bodies/lives.

Famed designer Ora-Ito designed this hub to work with Mac or PC. Its globe shape, glossy white polycarbonate finish, and flexible cables give it a distinctive, out-of-this-world look. This new model simplifies the formula, ditching the firewire ports, fan and light to provide you with seven USB ports. Each port is linked to a colorful LED that illuminates through the casing when plugged in. The Hub is also great for charging your iPod, camera, cell phone and other devices that charge from a USB port. Bundled with 8 flexible cables, an external power supply, a USB extension cable, and a flower petals kit, the LaCie USB 2.0 Hub comes fully equipped for making all of your connections.

[posted by kris]

Patricia Urquiola is a master at taking any material and making it look soft and delicate.

The inspiration for the Bague table lamp was drawn from the shape of a ring. It was first presented with material never before used to make a lamp. The result was a stretched metal mesh painted white or light grey, whose surface was covered in transparent silicone resin, to diffuse a soft filtered light. A thick plexiglass ‘stopper’ was used to cut glare and increase the propagation of light upwards.

[posted by kris]

The Rug Company recently joined RugMark, the foundation dedicated to ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry. If you’re not familiar with either you can follow a few links and find out that this is a very good thing, because a major player in the rug industry jumping on this particular boat signals a shift in industry standards of child-labor-free carpets.

The prices are a little higher, but the particular peace of mind of knowing that a rug is child-labor-free seems well worth saving up for…Plus, there’s some pretty intriguing designs by some kind-of-quirky designers that The Rug Company has up their sleeve…I’m kind of in love with some of the stranger ones, too many to show them all, but here’s a handful:

(shown left to right)
Swirl by Paul Smith
Carmelina by
The Rug Company
Overleaf by Marni
Love Heart by Vivienne Westwood
Palette by Fiona Curran

$32.50- $230.00 per square foot, from a 3’x5′ to a 18’x12′ (this means anywhere between $485.00 to $49,680.00(!))

To learn more, visit RugMark Foundation

These planters would certainly set you back a fair amount, but their substantial sizes and über modern design is surprisingly hard to find among most outdoor décor suppliers.

Made entirely of fiberglass, these planters are not only extremely light weight but will also withstand the elements and resist dents better than any other material on the market. Also, since fiberglass is non-porous, the bowls are completely waterproof, making them a perfect choice for indoor and outdoor applications.

Minimalist Bowl: 30″ x 24″H, $1,395.00, Buy it here.

Ideas: Use a minimalist bowl as a bold stand alone accent piece, purchase a pair to frame a dramatic entryway, or use as a recurring element to unify your habitat.

Shallow Bowl: 48″ x 14″ H, $1,695.00, Buy it here.

Ideas: Fill a shallow bowl with eye-catching succulents or create a self contained water garden by filling with river rock, aquatic plants, and goldfish or koi.

Oooo. These are strange and kind of beautiful.

Includes white 6′ cord and uses a max 60w bulb.

Fantasize about digitizing your life?

Turn all those dusty LPs into digital gold with this USB-ready turntable, or get started on that career as a DJ. Both MAC and PC compatible, it’s easy as pie with a plug-and-play guarantee and easy-to-use software that’ll have your hot tracks jockeying on the decks and on your MP3 player. The belt-drive turntable has two convenient start-stop buttons for multiple setup options, as well as anti-skating, 33 1/3 and 45 speeds (plus a 45 adapter), RCA and USB lines out, a 1/8″ stereo input, a built-in pre-amplifier, a cartridge and stylus, and rubber feet that won’t slip. The turntable also comes with all the software and cords you’ll need to get set up in a jiffy.

[posted by kris]

Here’s a perfect little weekly planner for the analog set. I like that it allows you to keep track of movies you’ve seen.

Besides our great weekly pages, we built in other sections to organize aspects of your life that don’t happen on a daily basis. There are easy reference pages for personal information, your important dates (like appointments, events, travel), special occasions, gifts, and entertainment interests (books, movies, music). We’ve also included mini reference calendars for 2007-2009, address book entries, and notes pages. We’ve even made a bookmark that doubles as a list of dates to remember so that your important days are always at hand. The (approximately) 5.5\” x 4.25\” book is perfect-bound and printed locally by a family-owned press with vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

Thanks Vicente for the link!

A concrete clock to keep your time…

“Using concrete as the canvas, designer Marit Meisler created this angular, stark wall clock with imprint design. A welcome accent and timekeeper for cool modern interior settings.”

Notes: Requires one AA battery (not included).
Material(s): Cement

H 10″ W 10″ D 1.5″

I really like the stark nature of these porcelain figures.

Canadian souvenirs often reflect nature in a gimmicky way, with overtones of cuteness. This series of porcelain figurines tells the story differently. Familiar souvenirs from Blue Mountain Pottery and Huronia are stripped of colour and their forms altered, casting light on a more realistic and often depressing narrative of place: Eskimos are seen to melt and disappear into a puddle as the Canadian artic is warming, and Polar Bears are sinking into oblivion.

Despite the serious overtones, these pieces have a humor and beauty, which makes them highly desirable.

[posted by kris]

These simple little bookends are on sale. Perfect if you’re across the pond.

[posted by kris]

These Still Lifes (yes, the plural is ‘Lifes’) by John Murphy remind me a little of Harry Allen’s My Brother’s Frame, except they’re a fraction of the cost and you get the art as well. Go figure.

Archival Pigment Print, Open edition
10 x 12 inches framed (image size 5×7).

Still Life from the series Seeing is Believing, $150.00,
Buy it here.
Hand finished frame in Antique Blue. High Luster finish.

Still Life from the series That Way the Feeling Never Ends, $150.00,
Buy it here.
Hand finished frame in Chinese Red. Luster finish.

Still Life 2 from the series Seeing is Believing, $150.00, Buy it here.
Hand finished frame in Graphite. Satin finish.

Whether you might make use of one for groceries or miscellany, goodness knows a trolley is more efficient than making multiple trips back and forth, or up and down, if stairs are involved…this one is not only foldable (as all trolleys should be) but also exceedingly presentable (which should not be surprising, considering the price).

“The Garçon is a stylish and modern folding shopping trolley constructed of sturdy anodized aluminum with a waterproof nylon bag to store your goods. Rain or shine, shop or launder your clothes in style with your Garçon!”

Material: Frame is made of anodized aluminum, Bag is made of black waterproof nylon fabric

Dimensions unfolded: 38.6″ H x 15.4″ W x 14.6″ L
Dimensions folded: 22.8″ H x 15.4″ W x 9.1″ L

The etched floral pattern in these short tumbler glasses create a lovely effect.

by Jakub Berdych for Qubus design studio (2007)
3″ dia. x 3.75″

Hand-drawn octopuses, houses, and bicycles adorn these delightful vases by Dovetail.

Octopus Vase, $40.00, Buy it here.
“Whether filled with flowers, lemonade or standing alone, this octopus is sure to draw attention. Deep, rich black, it wraps its tentacles all the way around the vessel. Use as a vase or pitcher. 8″ tall with a 3.5″ square base.”

Neighborhood Vase, $30.00, Buy it here.
“Squared at the base with a rounded lip and graphics visible on all sides, a Dovetail vase is an elegant addition to any table. Stands 6.5″ tall.”

Bicycle Vase, $26.00,
Buy it here.
“This small pitcher is a great detail piece: perfect as a creamer, bud vase or just a fun addition to your table.
Vase stands 5″ tall with a 2.75″ square base.”