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Ah, yes, hospitality, remember that? When people were nice and appropriate and proper? No? Me neither. Maybe we can bring back a smidgeon of the old times by backing Le Guest Book, a memory-keeper, if you will, for you and your guests. Keep it out on the coffee table so your favorite people can leave you notes and drawings, or maybe they’ll answer the multiple choice questions if they’re not especially handy with a pen. Think of it as a housewarming gift for a friend’s new place, or just get one (or two, or three) for your own home to encourage guests to tell you that you’re an awesome amateur chef- or just plain wonderful in general.
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Maybe you’re lucky and this coat stand can be shipped to you, but I plugged in Texas as a destination and I was out of luck. It’s a simple, triangular-shaped coat stand, and that’s exactly what makes it special. Angled notches on the front and back allow for coat/clothes and bag storage, and it just leans against the wall, so it’s easy to move anywhere you need it most.
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Rugs that can live indoors or outside are what you should be thinking about, because what’s nicer than an outdoor seating area? An outdoor seating area with a rug, that’s what. Now, there are loads of outdoor area rugs that are available, and this one from Nani Marquina isn’t new, but it is still one of my favorites because it’s made from- you guessed it- recycled rubber bicycle tires. Each rug is made using 130 to 140 bicycle inner tubes, all collected and processed in India. Instead of ending up in a landfill, the hand-loomed inner tubes adds an interesting texture as well as a soft surface for your feet. It’s a win/win kind of product.

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Larger numbers and symbols with more whitespace- plus a few lightning bolts- make these playing cards a sight for sore eyes. The easy-to-see cards will be especially handy if you’re playing a game around a dimly lit table, as it never hurts to have an edge over your competitors.
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You’ll be able to find variations of this Plaza String Light, but just in case you’d rather get lighting for your patio or porch sooner rather than later, this string is a good option. It has the appropriate large-scale look that will add just the right ambience to your outdoor gathering. The total length is 48 feet, with 3 foot spacing between each socket.
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Ooo, this light is fun! You’re in charge of the final design pattern, so put your designer hat on and start brainstorming. Each lampshade is made of two sheets of paper with a fine pattern of laser stitches. Punch out the small triangle pieces to create whatever pattern you wish. Yes, you’d have to do a fair amount of punching, but it’d be worth it, right? After a little assembly, hang it up and then stand back and admire your hard work. (Note: free worldwide shipping, so don’t be dissuaded by the ‘€’ in the price.)
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And you thought sticky notes could not be improved. Just take a look at the geometric print on these sets and tell me they’re not terrific. I want all of them, but I will restrain myself and just get one set. Maybe. They’d be handy for notes or reminders that need to stand out amongst all the other papers on our desktops, wouldn’t they?

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Do you remember the Beautiful Insights Storage Boxes we posted last year? If you liked them, but didn’t like the international shipping fee, now you’re in luck as MoMA Store is carrying three sizes (hooray!). You now have a reason to organize, if only to make the Gallery, Hobbyist, or Storekeeper Box functional.
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The Trappestigen Stepladder has an integrated sidepiece that works as a railing, so you’ll not need to sacrifice your design aesthetic for the sake of safety. If you’ve ever lost your balance- or almost lost it- while on a step stool, chances are you’ll appreciate the extra security this one has… question is, can you afford to spend almost ten times as much (plus international shipping) as what you’d find at your local hardware store?
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All you Arne Jacobsen fans should be drinking out of these espresso cups, numbered 1-4 to accompany the regular letter cups, when you have your hit of caffeine. And you thought your kitchen cupboard could hold no more Bauhaus inspired typography, well, happy days, you were wrong. These cups are small enough to work as tealight holders too, fyi.

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Some of the new offerings from Forestier are interesting enough to mention, one of which is this Birdy T Table Lamp. A handful of materials (metal, marble, stone, and cloth cord) make for a simple, white T-shape lamp that would fit on a desk or side table quite well. LEDs give you energy efficiency without sacrificing the brightness you need to read by, and the 4 feet of red fabric cord adds a nice pop of color against the otherwise all-white body. Also be sure to check out the Deposit Table Lamp, which has a similar look but a more concentrated beam.

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Forgive me, but I’m a little in love with the Vintage Printed Trays from Robyn Glaser. How could I not be, when we’re talking about updating older wooden trays with a geometric pattern that’s sure to catch the eye as well as all manner of miscellany around the house? Suddenly I’m inspired to round up every wooden tray I find on ebay and try my own hand at adding triangle patterns, though I’m guessing my attempt won’t look near as nice as these.
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However will you teach your children (or nieces and nephews) your favorite typography? With these blocks, of course. A different typeface whose name begins with the letter is carved upon each block (“A” for Avant Garde), with a large upper and lowercase example along with the designer(s), date, and classification. These could also be a thoughtful gift, so keep them in mind the next time a graphic designer friend has a new offspring.
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When an ordinary hanger just won’t do, you can always spring for the very stylish and minimal Triangle Hanger. Designed by Christine Nogtev and Chul Cheong of Berlin based design studio Roomsafari, each hanger is made from silver aluminum or powder-coated black aluminum, and will hold your very fashionable coats and clothes without distraction.

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Gah! I know that Cristian Zuzunaga’s Digital Sunrise Blanket might have been a little too much color and pattern, but don’t let that dissuade you from considering some of the other knitted blankets in the collection. Tokyo 2 Bitmap Blanket is the one above, and New York 1 Bitmap Blanket the one below. Both are a little less crazy with their limited color palette, yet they’ll still prove that you can be brave when it comes to textiles. Perhaps one might fit the bill for a lightweight summer blanket for your bed? You may also purchase these blankets (amongst other items) directly from Zuzunaga’s Design Studio (€240 ex.VAT), but be advised you’ll need to pay for shipping/customs.
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