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Feeling a little hazy? That’s understandable if you’re gazing into this Fading Mirror by Amsterdam designer Thomas Eurlings, as it has a printed gradient under the glass to give a soft reflection. The smoke-like edging will give you a dreamy, floating image whenever you should happen to pass by… and, good news, it won’t break the bank.
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If you’re planning on digging in the dirt to plant new flowers and such, you’d better have the right tools to minimize any aching backs. Longer handles will help with that, just like you see with this set available from Kaufmann Mercantile. Fabricated from airplane-quality steel for strength, each tool is handmade one at a time in the same factory since 1964 in New Jersey.
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Yes, the large tag on this Fatboy Picnic Lounge is a little obnoxious, but it’s also a little pouch for your keys, phone, etc. so you don’t lose them at the beach or park (or backyard?). Maybe we’ll just tuck it under the lounge rug so it doesn’t distract us and/or others from all the fun we’ll be having. Four giant pins, a hole in the middle for a sunshade, and an included brush make this Picnic Lounge perfect for a sunny day outdoors. And, when the day is done, roll it up and carry it home with its specially designed strap.
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Ouch. It physically pains me to see blatant rip-offs*. On the left, you have Modfire’s Urbanfire; on the right, Target’s recent Threshold™ Chiminea. Notice that trademark symbol? Not cool. For more information, visit Modfire’s facebook page.
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The Flos 15% off Sale ends tomorrow (March 20), so now’s the time to pick up a Tab T Table Lamp, as it slides in at just under the $300 price point. Designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the Tab T has an adjustable head that gives you direct lighting that’s ideal for a desktop or side table. Choose between shiny black or white.
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You’ve got guests coming over for dinner, but your dining table is looking oh-so-sad and very unadorned, and you’ve not much money to dress it up with a fancy tablecloth. Tablecloths are a bother, anyway, as they need to be laundered and pressed after each use. So, what to do? How about adding some ‘flourish’ with a paper table runner? An ornate black scroll will dress up your tabletop while the kraft paper says ‘Hey, I’m not trying too hard.’ It’s long enough for around 4 separate lengths of an average sized table.
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Hooray! Sugru is now available at MoMA, and that means more people can fix and modify all sorts of things with this magic stuff. Sugru, if you’re not familiar with it already (Simon wrote about it back in 2010), is a self-setting rubber that you can mold like play-dough. It bonds to almost everything and sets into a flexible, water-proof silicone rubber overnight. Use it to make tools easier to grip, mend broken wires, put bumpers on your phone, and more. You may also buy the kit directly from Sugru ($22), fyi.
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How minimal can you get? Turns out you can go super minimal even when it comes to your playing cards. The Minim Playing Cards by Joe Doucet are regulation playing cards that reduce hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades to their simplest geometric forms. A diagonal line marks the back.
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Hmm, what in the world could this small, ramp-like item be? It’s made from natural cork and is about the size of a medium sized notepad (for lack of a better comparison). Any guesses? Pay attention to the incline, ribbing, and bumper at the end… would you be able to store, say, longer, flat things on it somehow?
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Nowadays there are more lighting options than ever- you don’t have to buy from the big box stores, as there are many designers/makers doing their own selection of ceiling pendants and lamps. This Brass T fixture from Allied Maker is just about as simple as you can get, and was inspired by 19th century gas lanterns that used to illuminate old saloons. With hints of the same materials as the You Make It: Lindsey Adelman Chandelier (my own version shown here), it has me itching to get out my pliers and electrical tape, but, thankfully, there’s no need because it’s actually pretty affordable, especially considering the custom lengths available.
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Not every home can stomach super modern sculptures, mostly because they’re not exactly kid-friendly, but also because modern art can be prohibitively expensive for a more modest budget. However, these sleek, colorful acrylic sculptures by Vasa Mihich aren’t going to make you choke when you hear the price- or maybe they will if you have a very, very modest budget- but for those of us that wouldn’t mind investing in such splendor for under the $1G mark, it looks like a safe bet. There are also smaller, less expensive pieces on Vasa Mihich’s site. Hmm, what was that? Why, yes, my birthday is coming up, how kind of you to remember.
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If one of these kits were within my arms’ reach, I’d be building my own geodesic dome, no matter if there were kids around or not. It looks fun, doesn’t it? A bunch of 24-inch polypropylene tubes plus 12 SEBS (non-toxic, latex-free material) OgoBild balls gives you the ingredients to construct large, lightweight structures. Throw a sheet over it and you have a fort. Like I said before, fun, right? Now on sale at MCA Shop, but you can also purchase directly from OGOStore.
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Too many notebooks? No such thing. Each of these One Day Notebooks feature a cover image to correspond with the time of day: morning, day, evening and night. Organize your thoughts into sections of the day, or just pick one randomly and enjoy the imagery.
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Ah, now, who couldn’t find a use for a Clothespin Clip Light? Open the clip and you’ll find an on/off switch as well as a place for two replaceable CR2032 batteries. Clip it on a book, magazine, your clothes, or wherever else you’d like- you’ll have a little beam of light for illumination.
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A set of special hooks might just encourage you to hang your coat where it belongs, especially when there’s some “special optical effects” involved, as with these Antique Mirror Coat Hooks by Garth Roberts. A combination of unfinished oak and specially treated mirror cladding make for a pretty set of four hooks, either in Galaxy Blue, Smoke, Antique Silver, or Gold.
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