number crunching...

i'm a survey monkey today and i'll be hiding behind a calculator tabulating the results of the d*s survey until around 2. i'll be posting the results this afternoon, along with some great new products. thanks again to everyone who took the time to fill it out! xo, d*s

[update: taking a bit longer than i'd hoped (so many responses!), so i'll be back tomorrow with the full results, and winners!]

designer emulation kits

designed by mark mckenna, the designer emulation kits are a fun little diy project where users can take part in the design process to create your own "design classic" by assembling a tiny kit that resembles a famous design object. after assembly, you can attach the model to a 9-volt battery (not included, ugh) and the whole thing will light up! fun little way to pay homage to some of the great designs of our time. you can purchase the modellucellino table lamp by ingo maurer right here for $26. more designs to be available soon...

binth

the lovely chicago based gang at binth has come out with a great new design for parents- a hip, modern baby book. with beautiful drawings that combine clean lines and flora and fauna, binth's baby book is a wonderful way to celebrate a new birth. handcrafted with 52 pages and its own matching green keepsake box, the binth baby book costs $110 and is available online right here. enjoy!

busy bee, no gift fair for me

sadly the office was too busy today that i was sent back to deal with some stuff going on here. it means i wasn't able to cover the gift fair (!) like i'd wanted, but it does mean i'm here to post. i'll be adding some gift fair posts soon, when i get more images from companies..etc. so i can spare you from my horrible photography skills...

this beauty is from icelandic designer, gudrun lilja gunnlaugsdottir of studiobility. she'll be exhibiting this piece (among others) at imm cologne and wanted to share them with the d*s community. part of her "flat pak antiques" collection, this flat mac table houses all your desk accessories in the most streamlined way possible. with spots for your laptop, mousepad and mouse, it's a nifty little way to cover up your home office in style. sure beats the monster of a desk i just bought at ikea. damn damn my budget! for more information on studiobility please click right here. enjoy!

marimekko, meet fatboy

billing itself as the world's first modern couture beanbag, a brand new design from beanbag design studio, fatboy combines iconic fabrics from legendary finnish design house, marimekko with their popular oversized beanbags. debuting at the nyc gift fair (booth 3848), the marimekko/fatboy collaboration includes three color/pattern options: kaivo red, unikko black and unikko red (each selling for $299 a piece). with larger dimensions (55 x 70 inches) that a traditional bean bag, fatboy's designs are meant to act as a luxurious lounge, pillow or even a (small) spare bed. you can see these new offerings from marimekko and fatboy at the giftfair, or check out the collection at fatboy's website. enjoy!

[i'm stuck at the gift fair today so i'll be posting my picks of the show tomorrow...and survey winners will be announced tomorrow, too! thanks again to everyone for filling out the survey, i really appreciate it!]

gift fair...

this is it for me today- i have to gear up for our last ikea trip tomorrow and the gift fair this weekend and monday. i just wanted to add- if you're going to be at the gift fair, drop a line below- i'll be there and would love to meet some of you! also, i'll be covering the show for d*s, so look for great new products on monday and tuesday! oh! and today is the last day for the survey, so if you haven't entered for the chance to win one of four great prizes, ENTER HERE! thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

gift fair preview..

since my survey (thanks for entering!) is telling me that a third of this wonderful audience is either pregnant or already has a household brimming with children (or at least one child), i figured this might be right up some of your alleys. nurseryworks, the los angeles-based company that specializes in modern "adaptable furnishings for the under-five set", is debuting three new pieces at the nyc gift fair this weekend (booth 44041) designed for the over five crowd: a twin trundle bed, storage box and nightstand. designed by lawson-fenning, the new collection is simple, modern and perfect for adding a polished, modern look to a young child's room (or yours- well the beside table and storage unit at least). you can out more about nurseryworks (and order their bedding) right here. this collection won't debut officially until this weekend, so look for it online after the show. enjoy!

gingko

gingko leaves have always had a special place in my heart. after a disasterous first semester as an art major, i finally found my niche in intaglio printing and worked on a print inspired by bright yellow ginkgo leave falling outside my dormroom. the print is now hanging in my parent's dining room and reminds me of a good time in my life when i felt proud of something i created artistically. this jewelry from maria jauhiainen reminds me of that- elegant, graceful and with such clean, simple lines. maria's jewelry is inspired by organic forms and showcases the beauty of simple designs inspired by nature. you can contact 2jane for purchasing and prices. enjoy! [be sure to check out her beautiful lehti bowls as well]

emma jeffs

i've written about emma jeffs' work before in the context of 2jane's adhesive lace film for windows. i was browsing their new additions and decided to investigate her work a bit more closely. the lace patterns intrigued me (being someone that has windows that face many, many other peoples' windows) because they provided a sense of privacy without totally frosting out a window, and they gave it a nice bit of pattern. but i wasn't loving the lacey pattern as much. but then i checked out jeffs' website and found she makes two other designs that i enjoyed much much more.

specializing in "surface material design", jeffs designs her adhesive films in three patterns: lace, otto and pixel. lace is nice, but otto and pixel caught my eye. otto, inspired by chiselled wooden screens found within islamic countries, tries to, "capture the hand made quality of these decorative designs within this translucent material for the modern home". available in taupe grey, crisp white and bright pink (better for kids' rooms i think), otto is a wonderful way to discreetly cover a window that needs a bit of cover...

pixel is my favorite design of jeffs' because it reminds me of the windows in my elementary school girls' bathroom. i know, doesn't sound appealing, but i LOVED our bathrooms in elementary school- they were a beautiful peachy pink and the windows (because they faced the playground) were faceted in tiny octagons with a nice frosty finish. i know, design geek from the get go. pixel is available in taupe grey, crisp white and turquoise. each film costs around $84 and a few patterns are on sale for half that. you can browse emma's entire collection right here. enjoy! [thanks to d*s reader, eleanor for reminding me to check 2jane again!]

jatta lavi

thanks to rena for sending me a link to designer, jatta lavi. based in a small studio in helsinki, lavi produces beautiful porcelain vessels that look delicate but are actually intended for everyday use and can be washed in the dishwasher. lavi specializes in smaller designs because, "i like to make small objects that one can pick up to have a closer look and feel the material". you can find more information on lavi's work right here. thanks, rena!

sparrowcast

seth of sparrowcast was nice enough to include me as part of one of his podcasts for and about the creative community. aside from the fact that i sound like a rambling teenager in sections, i thought some of you might get a kick out of it (or enjoy a good laugh on me). it's surreal to hear your own voice talk about design for minutes and minutes on end. thanks so much to seth for including me- and sandwiching my interview between two really great songs. you can listen to the podcast right here, it takes a few seconds to load after you click "direct download". thanks, seth!

just a quick reminder, if you have time, and haven't done it already, i would be most appreciative if you could take a few minutes to fill out the d*s reader survey. four lucky readers will one of the follwing great prizes: a table from modernseed, a modern cookie jar from sparkability, an inhabit pillow from 2modern and a $75 gift certificate from iluren.

click here to fill out the survey. tomorrow is the last day, promise. thanks, guys!

room and board

in my dream world our living room would be big enough to fit a sectional sofa- the type that allows for both ac and myself to lie down comfortably without one of us being scrunched up against the arm of the couch. in that dream world i'd own either the jasper or klein sofa from room and board. the jasper is sleek, modern and has the cutest little wooden legs around, while the klein is just screaming, "come take a nap on me! i'm so comfortable!". sadly they're both way above my price range, but i've been drooling over them for some time, wishing that they detatched so i could get them through our ridiculously skinny hallway and into our living room (where they probably would block the closet door because the room's so narrow. but, a girl can dream, yeah?

probably more within my reach is the trusty grace chair (love the name) with its clean lines and comfy boucle upholstery. though at nearly $900, i'll be saving up for a long time...but, perhaps some of you could afford a new grace in your home?

[on another note, i did get to live ONE dream of mine last night- ac surprised me by taking me to wd-50 (we had the tasting menus-yum!). i'm one lucky girl.]

area home

area home designs the most luxurious, understated bedding. with a collection that includes a wide range of neutral colors in materials like linen, area has your sophisticated bedding needs covered. if beige, grey and pale blue doesn't do it for you, they have some colorful patterns for you as well...more info online (and retailers near you) right here. enjoy!

ray rug

color, anyone? how about this multi-colored ray rug from chiasso online? backordered for 4 days, it will be available on january 30 for $318 at chiasso.

twenty2

gorgeous hand printed linen pillows from brooklyn based design studio, twenty2. to be debuted at the nyc gift fair this weekend...i'll be there, will you?

ikea-nation?

while discussing the pros and cons of a trip to ikea with the ny times' rob walker last night, i was tipped off to this ikea-fanatic site. run by armand b. frasco, a northern illinois resident working in the healthcare field (and creater of "the world's premier fan site for moleskine notebooks"), positive fanastics is the unofficial ikea web journal. here's a description from the site:

"For most of us it starts with the catalog. Or a word overheard. The anticipation builds. Then the inevitable pilgrimage to the yellow-and-blue building. Wherever we heard it first, IKEA intrigues, excite the senses and incites people into action. This web journal will document how the world perceives IKEA, the brand and the lifestyle. This is a site for us to share the latest product news, our musings and photos. It is intended to be fun so put down that Allen wrench for a while and commune with us."

an interesting concept and an even more interesting website from someone who clearly hasn't had the classic ikea breakdown in the kitchen section while debating the merits of a wall-mounted dishrack. the site takes its name an essay ("Positive Fanatics") by ikea founder ingvar kamprad and whether you hate that infamous blue and yellow building or can't get enough of your impossible to pronounce furniture the site is fun to check out. click here to read positive fanataics..it's certainly a trip.. [thanks to rob for the tip]

urban goes glam?

while browsing urban outfitter's new selections for the home i was surprised to see a series of mirrored furniture- and a brand new deluxe chandelier. it looks like urban is glamming it up a bit with pieces that resemble another company under their parent co's umbrella- anthropologie. now, i haven't seen these pieces in person yet so i can't speak to their construction quality (and i'm sure many of you will have plenty to say about urban's quality..)- but i at least like the look of the new pieces. while i'm not in love with the golf ball style lightbulbs of the chandelier, i'm enjoying seeing pieces with a bit more sophistication. i'm finding that as i decorate my own place i'm being drawn more and more to pieces that have an antique look or at least a bit more sophisticated flair. the chandelier is going for $140 and the mirrored pieces from $200- $360, so i'm not sure if they're worth the dough until i see them in person (which i plan on doing this weekend), but i'm enjoying the new look. click here to browse urban's home collection.

illu stration

more beautiful wool felt designs from illu stration's mary-ann williams: the sconcigli daybed, sconcigli cushion and starlight lights made of 100% wool felt. you can find more information and view illu stration's full collection right here. (you have to register to view the full site...i know, not fun)

just a quick reminder, if you have time , and haven't done it already, i would be most appreciative if you could take a few minutes to fill out the d*s reader survey. it's only once a year and four lucky readers will one of the follwing great prizes: a table from modernseed, a modern cookie jar from sparkability, an inhabit pillow from 2modern and a $75 gift certificate from iluren.

click here to fill out the survey. thanks, guys- we've had close to 1,500 entries so far, i'd love to top 2,000! thanks!

dinner-ware

snazzy little porcelain napkin holders from dinner-ware. at only $8 a pop, these little guys are well worth checking out. available in 6 patterns (alphabet, star flowers, pinwheel, flowers, sunburst and mod dot), the napkin holders are available right here. enjoy (even on a budget)!

not neutral

not neutral always has lovely dinner and barware that's much more budget conscious than the lighting below. this new ribbon pattern is available in a jaunty red color that makes me want to invite the gang around for drinks at our place. if red's a bit too much, try the icy white ribbon martini set (4 glasses for $24). and if you're looking for something to eat off of, rather than drink from- try the ribbon dining set- there are espresso cups, serving plates, a coffee set and small dessert plates to choose from ($22.50 to $68). more info and shopping available right here. enjoy!

lighting

i love pendant lights that remind me suspended raindrops, so this series (dubbed "the 14 series") by designer omer arbel were right up my alley. available in 4 variations (from $244 to over $7k) the 14 series is also available for custom-designed installations.

if the 14 series isn't what you're looking for check out these splurge-worthy pendants from bruno rainaldi (for terzani, 2005). made of metal with a white finish or tin plating, the magdalena lamp is a beautiful glowing sphere that comes in 2 sizes (both around $2k) and 2 versions (suspension or floor lamp). available online right here. enjoy!

mini sofias

i'm a fan of both sparkling wine and nice packaging, so when the sofia minis came out, i had only one hurdle to face in enjoying them. sofia coppola. i'm just not a huge fan of hers (she always looks so mopey). but, despite that, i really like these little mini cans of champagne and their delightful cranberry color. available in packs of 4 minis for $15, the wine comes from monterey county in northern cali. you can find out more about the sofia minis right here and purchase right here. enjoy! (responsibly)

sneak preview...

thomas paul just emailed me a little leak of their newest collections to launch soon. these sea themed pillows are absolutely gorgeous- simple, sweet and wonderfully luxurious. i'm loving sea-inspired patterns these days (just wait till you see the new d*s look...). you can check out thomas paul right here, and i'll be sure to update when the pillows are ready!

survey says- it's a go!

today is the first day of the design*sponge reader survey! the survey will give me a better idea about everyone out there, and help me add/edit content so everyone has more of what they like and less of what they don't. in addition, four lucky survey respondents will win fabulous prizes!

so, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE DESIGN*SPONGE 2006 READER SURVEY. it will only take a few minutes and i promise won't be too boring. and hey, you could win a great prize just for filling it out! the survey will run through friday and winners will be announced on monday morning, along with results! so, CLICK HERE TO BEGIN! thanks so much for participating! xo, d*s

cb2 newbies

my new cb2 catalog came in the mail yesterday and i was loving some of the new pieces. always modern, fun and clean, cb2's selection stays true to crate and barrel's look, but with a more contemporary twist.

i'm always drawn to smaller, accessory-style pieces, but i was really pleased with their new "true low dresser" ($450) in shiny white lacquer. it's the kind of piece i've been looking for, although slighly above my budget. with four drawers and one cabinet compartment for extras, it's a great place to stash clothes or other accessories like shoes and delicates.

the smart side table in bright orange stole my heart immediately. ac will tell you- i'm a sucker for bright orange. something about that cute little table in such a bright, happy color is too, too perfect. they're $100 a pop right here.

if something stylish and inexpensive if what you're looking for, check out these adorable pebble salt and pepper shakers- an instant hit. oh! and the lumiere candle holders combine fun shapes with a very do-able pricepoint. $4-$5 a piece!

last but not least, don't miss the white bed tray for $29.95- perfect for sunday mornings spent in bed...you can browse cb2's new pieces and entire existing collection right here. enjoy- there's a lot to see!

clean design 2006

fun design contest for all of you creative types out there! clean design is looking for a great postcard design that celebrates simple, eco-friendly design.

"As simple as it sounds, we believe that a significant first step in cutting print waste is to actually conceptualize and design printed media in an uncluttered direct way, so that the all important message is clear and concise upon first glance, therefore requiring less printing over time in order to get the message across more effectively. The theme of this contest is “Clean Design” and contestants will be expected to conceptualize, design and create a postcard that will make the most impact, therefore attract the most “votes” and subsequently be chosen as one of our top ten designs. The top ten designs will then be displayed on our website, the vising public votes to determine the 3 finalists. At that time the panel of industry veterans choos the top 3 winners. The panel will consist of industry veterans, designers, advertising executives and others of interest.

for details on entry requirements and format, please click here. have fun!

[ps: i have comment moderation on right now only because i'm being spam attacked by interiordesign-info.com....i'll turn it off as soon as i can figure out how to block them. does anyone know how? they've been leaving like 5 spam comments a minute for the last two hours...ugh.]

melt modern

melt modern is the design team of matt proctor and aixé djelal. based in portland oregon, matt and aixé used recycled aluminum to create cast aluminum objects for the home and garden. each piece is hand poured and cast into the shape of bowls, table "runners" and even room dividers. i think these pieces would be a striking addition to any sculptural/home collection. you an find more information and shop online right here. enjoy!

poppytalk

[the following quick post is from d*s reader, jan of poppytalk. jan found a new love in the furniture of jennifer scott...]

"jennifer scott" began as a hobby for couple jennifer kakon and scott richler in 1999. the montreal based couple started making bracelets in their spare time as a diversion from their hectic careers. at the time, jennifer was working in advertising while scott held a job as an architect. very quickly, the business took off and both left their day jobs to create and run jennifer scott. and i'm sure a lot of people are glad they did when looking at this chair..."

reader advice...

d*s reader houri has a question for everyone out there...in her own words:

"My fiance and I are in the process of furnishing our first place together-- a one bedroom apartment in San Francisco with a fantastic view of the city. I'm getting pretty obsessive about choosing the color scheme so I took a photo of our living room and photoshopped the colors of the walls, rugs, curtain panels and throw pillows to see what I like best. I have 8 different combinations of either white+brown with maroon or chartreuse. I'd love to see what advice/opinions your readers could give?"

ask and you shall receive, houri. so, feel free to let houri know what your favorite look is (green, white or red? i like the white...) and any design advice you have for her in the comments section. good luck houri! let us know how it turns out :) have a wonderful weekend everyone!

just a reminder...

starting next monday i'll be posting a link to the survey of d*s readers on the site. generously sponsored by modernseed, sparkability, 2modern and now iluren, too! i'll post a link on monday and FOUR (!) lucky survey respondents will win fabulous prizes!

first place (to be determined by randomizing email addresses of entrants) will win a seriously gorgeous scando table from modernseed. that's right, a big piece of furniture! perfect for use as a coffee table or play table, scando comes in birch, walnut and white and has "thank you for filling out the d*s survey!" written all over it. thanks to modernseed for the wonderful prize!

second place will be chowing down on cookies in style with this hysterically cute cookie jar designed by momoyo torimitsu at sparkability!. available in green, orange and blue, the bunny rabbit cookie jar is a great spin on an old classic. thanks so much to sparkability for the sweet prize!

our lucky third place respondent will receive a gorgeous weeee pillow from 2modern. designed by inhabit, this stylin pillow is made of retrosuede with a cotton insert with a bold graphic print on one side. perfect for adding some color to your home. thanks so much to 2modern for their fabulous prize donation!

and, now a lucky fourth reader will receive a $75 gift certificate from iluren! not a bad way to start the year- $75 of lovely design goods from nyc based design site, iluren. thanks so to iluren for their wonderful donation!

paper mills

i'm a sucker for a good houndstooth, especially an updated version. this great design, called "nono chanel", is by paper mills, a brooklyn based design studio run by two sisters who studied at the pennsylvania academy of art and the university of the arts. their handprinted papers are the perfect combination of rough and refined and come in a number of beautiful patterns. it seems that they're trade only right now (sold through showrooms and interior designers) but if you have a friend in the design industry, i'm sure they could hook you up. or maybe paper mills would be kind enough to sell directly to you if you're interested. you can view their whole collection and contact them right here. enjoy!

pet-crazed

i tend to have a mild obsession with my cats. i just think they're the greatest pets ever, like all pet parents do. so, i get happy when i find fun toys with which to spoil them. if you have cats you probably know the joy of a ping pong ball in the bathtub (keeps them entertained for hours), so these little kitty face versions are just too too cute. while i think $9 for three balls is kinda crazy (ok a lot crazy), i still love those little kitty faces (the flower patterns are on one side, kitty faces on the other). and if you're shopping for a pooch instead of a cat, check out this bright orange dog bed upholstered in vintage-inspired fabric, too cute ($120-$240). all available at george sf, check out their new additions right here. enjoy!

cork it

this cork bracelet at branch home is a great way to accessorize in eco friendly style. made of 100% recycled and recylable natural cork that is both water repellant and flexible. each cuff is handcut by studio 1am in chicago and available for $48 at branch home. enjoy!

egg-ums

i'm a sucker for little potted herbs in ceramic egg shells. branch home has the full collection including basil, chamomile, parsley, thyme and mint for $14 a piece. adorable. would look so charming on a bedside table- nothing like waking up to the smell of fresh mint. available online right here.

survey says...

starting next monday i'm going to host a little survey of d*s readers on the site. generously sponsored by modernseed, sparkability and 2modern, the survey is designed to get to know a little bit more about everyone out there. what sort of design do you like (boho, mid-cent?), where you live (city or country?) and all sorts of good stuff like that. i can't wait to get a better picture of what you guys look like! i'll post a link to the survey on monday and three lucky survey respondents will win fabulous prizes! all for filling out the survey! (which, of course, is totally optional)

first place (to be determined by randomizing email addresses of entrants) will win a seriously gorgeous scando table from modernseed. that's right, a big piece of furniture! perfect for use as a coffee table or play table, scando comes in birch, walnut and white and has "thank you for filling out the d*s survey!" written all over it. thanks to modernseed for the wonderful prize!

second place will be chowing down on cookies in style with this hysterically cute cookie jar designed by momoyo torimitsu at sparkability!. available in green, orange and blue, the bunny rabbit cookie jar is a great spin on an old classic. thanks so much to sparkability for the sweet prize!

our lucky third place respondent will receive a gorgeous weeee pillow from 2modern. designed by inhabit, this stylin pillow is made of retrosuede with a cotton insert with a bold graphic print on one side. perfect for adding some color to your home. thanks so much to 2modern for their fabulous prize donation!

anemone table

the anemone table by anna-katriina tilli and mari relander is a beautiful piece of lace-inspired work. certainly not something for those of us with cats that would love to hang off the fabric on the ends, the anemone table was inspired by delicate lace tablecloths and has fragments of lace attached to its surface. available as a coffee and dining table, the anemone would be a stunning piece to add to your collection if you have a pet-free and messy-eater free home. (made of sand blasted glass, hand-made lace and powder coated metal) available for $1999 at gnr8.

simplicity

today seems to be about simple design and minimalist decoration. these jm tools stacking containers at moss certainly fit today's bill for pieces that ooze simplicity at its best. designed by jasper morrison (one of my favorites), these white porcelain bowls come in a set of three with one lid (to close the three containers when stacked as one). perfect for all sorts of storage be it kitchen or jewelry related. available online at moss for $108.75.

oldie but a goodie

this is not a brand new product by any means (it came out in 2004), but sometimes i like to go back to modern classics and celebrate them all over again. alessi's todo grater has such a stunningly sleek, elegant form that it's hardly the sort of cooking utensil you'd hide in a drawer or cabinet. more like a sculpture than a device for shredding things, this beauty is available at fitzsu for $64. enjoy!

hive design

521 design's chris ferebee and gubi of denmark teamed up to produce a new series of shelving called the "The HiveH2". h2 builds on the original "hive" concept of bent aluminum and walnut veneer storage units and allows them to be combined together in a number of ways to create customizable storage/entertainment center units. it's such a classic, clean design that i think is worth investing in if you have the money and the inclination to create a unique, customizable storage system. perfect for long walls that need expandable storage or spaces that need to have stacked systems to make the most of a tight space. you can find more info here at 521 design and at gubi's website. be sure to check out gubi's cinal coffee tables that match the hive system perfectly. enjoy!

bag it

sometimes you need a pretty catch all to store random things like keys, business cards or even loose cds. this fabric version at illico gets my vote, although i'm not sure i'd use it to store cds- i think i'd rather keep it on my dresser to store extras like bobbypins and clips or brooches, that sort of thing. the container is reversible and made of sturdy canvas cotton with silver metallic lining. designed by maison georgette of france and available at illico design for $26.

simone by area

sometimes you want bedding to jump out and say "look at me!" and sometimes you want it to be so subtle and understated that it blends into the room seamlessly. these new linen bedding designs from area home are subtle and sophisticated enough to work in any room without overpowering graphics or bold color. available in camel, umber and white and made of pure linen. the line starts at $95 and goes to $315 and is available right here. enjoy!

29 and feelin fine....

yesterday was so crazy with computer problems at the office that i didn't have time to post a happy birthday to my wonderful ac. he turned 29 yesterday and i just wanted to take a second to celebrate him. to me he's more wonderful than all the great design in the world. in the universe, really. happy birthday ac, here's to another wonderful year!

[ps: we had a hysterical dinner at 66 last night to celebrate. somehow our waiter thought we ordered two tasting menus (though we clearly said ac was the only one getting it), along with 4 other dishes. an hour into dinner the dishes just wouldn't stop coming and somehow the smallest people in the restaurant were covered in plates of shumai and spicy egg noodles. the other customers must have thought we were insane. all i could think was, "no more food, no more food!"]

lab 31

founded in the summer of 2004 by designer, maggie birmingham, lab 31 produces beautiful furniture inspired by, "color, pattern, tradition and craft." her "temescal" collection is full of solid wood pieces with beautiful inlaid patterns in a variety of colors. from benches and tables to chairs and chests, birmingham's collection is perfect for those in need of simple, striking furniture. my favorite piece is her mirror- the way the inlay reflects in the mirror just makes me happy. such a simple idea but such a stunning effect. for more information on lab 31 click here.

three by three

every now and then you just need something colorful to brighten your day. and why not some powder coated steel magnet (and non-magnet) hooks? these little gems can hold up to 5 pounds and come in black, red, orange, pink, olive, sky blue, chocolate and white for $5 a piece. and if you're little for a little variety, check out the multi-packs of three hooks for $13 in groupd of 3 white, 3 orange, & combo packs of chocolate/olive/orange and blue/white/black. designed by three by three seattle and available at velocity right here. enjoy!

hudson furniture

i'll have to admit i'm rather biased towards this company because they're in the same building as ac's company. although i don't know anyone at hudson furniture, having browsed their website after ac investigated their collection on a lunch break, i found more than a few things i found interesting. full of elegant, modern pieces that ooze "sturdy, solid and sleek", hudson furniture's collection focuses on beautiful, quality materials and preserving most materials in their natural (or close to natural) state. huge slabs of walnut, petrified wood and birch are the hallmark of their collection, which ranges from endtables to stools, beds and lighting. for more information click here. enjoy!

the modernlist

the modernlist is a recently launched site that covers modern architecture, design and culture for both manhattan and seattle. with a slick interface and a growing list of places to dine and shop (arranged by neighborhood), it's sure to be a useful tool for those traveling (or living) in either location. the design section isn't exactly overflowing yet, but there are a few shops listed (even one in brooklyn), so check back to see what comes next...enjoy!

double bubble

the double bubble is an adorable new series of lamps from the celebrated finnish designer eero aarnio. originally designed in glass, but now cast in plastic, the double bubble lamp comes in three sizes (two tample lamps and one standing lamp) from $358- $1,203. you can find more information right here. enjoy!

fillipa k

the filippa k mug was designed by swedish clothing and product designer, filippa k. the porcelain is given a "textile" feeling through raised patterns and colors that are designed to go on fillipa's clothes as on the porcelain. produced by rörstrand and available online right here.

lana alsamir

australian designer, lana alsamir was named a runner-up in the 2005 young designer of the year awards in sydney. her "sugar mamma" lamp is a playful piece that lights up to resemble jelly in either strawberry or peaches and cream. interviewed in the sydney herald, alsamir added, "who doesn't love jelly?...i wanted you to turn it on and instantly recognise it as jelly rather than just recognising the form - the mould. the material is also very shiny so when you turn it on it looks even more jelly-like." such a simple, fun idea. you can contact lana right here for more information. [thanks, lana!]

wheredidyoubuythat.com

fun little finds from overseas design site, where did you buy that: adorable hanging bird feeders, a fun breadbox that looks like a modern armadillo, great little globe lights/vases, fun little metal bird hooks and a great pillow with a floral pattern and pearl in the center. all available online with overseas shipping at wheredidyoubuythat. enjoy!

mlk=planning day

covered in piles of work, i'll be working from home today while i plan out details of the new d*s to launch in mid-late feb. i'm so excited i can hardly wait, but i need to finalize some planning for the site before it can go live. so, today i'll be planning biz and creative aspects of the site in between "real" work. i'll be back tomorrow with fresh ideas and some great new designs...happy mlk day!

progressive pets

ok one last thing, i'm crazy about these clear pet dishes by everyday studio. available in four colors (orange, blue, clear and pink), these cute little dishes come in a small, medium and large version for $50, $75 and $100 at elsewares. too cute. [there's also a clear version of their standard two bowl dish right here for $65 and $80]

agave

the agave light from dwr ($461) is an elegant pendant lamp designed by diego rossi and raffaelle tedesco. an experiment in using fluorescent bulbs to create an energy-efficient fixture, the agave light uses acrylic to recreate the rosette of an agave plant. in addition, the lamp optimizes light distribution, whether throughout a room or over a table top and comes with three primary colored light filters, for a total of nine shades of light to let you customize the room’s hues according to mood or event. very cool. more info and purchasing right here.

that's all for this week. thanks for all the input and advice on the apartment project. i'm producing a photo shoot for new york home magazine in park slope this weekend, so i won't have time to paint or decorate, but i'll be back next week with more apartment updates and notes on decorating do's and don'ts (mostly don'ts). have a great weekend!

soleau

i've found my dream lamp for my sideboard. sadly it's way out of my budget, but we can all dream, no? these gorgeous "forest and shade" lamps are available online exclusively at velocity for $1300 and $1000 (large and small) from soleau design. based in northern california, soleau design focuses on organic, modern design and natural materials. all of their products are hand-made from renewable resources and the table lamps that comprise their forest and shade line are constructed with the utmost quality from naturally-shed white tail deer and elk antlers. there's just something about the black shade and the base that look stunning. i know a lot of people are way over the antler thing, but i think this look is timeless and would look classic, not trendy if used in a simple, modern home. and it would look smashing on my glossy black sideboard...ah, to dream. available online right here. enjoy!

shop SCAD

supporting young artists and students is something i feel strongly about, so i was excited to find so many great pieces on scad's shop page (the savannah college of art and design- the site carries works from students, staff and alumni). this gorgeous felt rug and these super sleek salt and pepper shakers are fantastic. browse the whole scad collection right here (the website's adorable as well). enjoy!

greener grass design

fun finds at greener grass design: gorgeous letterpress tags from sesame letterpress and tissue box covers from lotta jansdotter (i'm not a big tissue box cover girl, but if you'r going to use one, these are lovely). browse the whole collection right here.

design my world

dutch by design has launched a new website called "design my world" carrying all sorts of great design goods from across the globe. with everything from small accessories to larger pieces of furniture, they've got your modern design needs covered. my favorites are the glow chandelier (made of canvas, $500), the crease magazine rack ($59), low cut stool ($87.50) and gorgeous "by the lake" cups ($22.50). you can browse the entire collection here. enjoy!

illu stration

designer mary-ann williams of illu stration just sent me some of her beautiful textile work- rugs and a gorgeous laptop cover made of felt. you can find more information here (but you need to register to use the site fully). thanks, mary-ann!

working class concepts

working class concepts is a line of modern home accessories designed by emerging students/artists at the savannah college of art and design (scad). each quarter students are selected as interns to form an interdisciplinary design team led by studio directors. currently the collection includes journals, pillows and great home accessories like coasters and place mats. i just love this idea so much- what a great way to support artists and their first attempts at producing goods for sale. the work is just stunning- take a look here and shop away to your heart's content right here (scad's shop- gotta love that savannah toile). hooray for student design!

modern ethnic

modern ethnic is a great online resource for modern design goods inspired by eastern traditions. i love their copper bowls and the great big platter below. click here for more info.

blueprint

i've gotten numerous requests for a blueprint of the apt. i don't have one but i decided to make myself a really low budget version on paint. if you're interested, it gives you a better idea of the layout (railroad city).

audrey by russel+hazel

i'm a huge fan of russel+hazel's office accessories- their fun collection of colored rubber bands and notebooks with great modern patterns are a godsend for the dull world of office accessory design. they've now launched a new collection called "audrey" that clearly channels the spirit of ms. hepburn with pieces that exude elegance and that classic "tailored" look. inspired by, "vintage architecture, classic hollywood and the textures of contemporary couture", the audrey collection contains both a 5 and an 9 file tote, file sleeves, two books and an assorted label set. designed to "transition from day into night" seemlessly, the collection is great for classing up your pile of jumbly papers. and yes, i'm speaking to myself here. i'm considering ordering the white 9 file tote because goodness knows i go to way too many meetings with magazine clippings and documents in disarray. for more info and ordering, click here. (prices range from $18 for the labels to $60 for the 8 file tote). enjoy!

tivoli home

i'm always thrilled when i discover a fantastic design resource that's been right around the corner from me all along. tivoli home is a wonderful online resource for scandinavian design that happens to have a showroom in d.u.m.b.o, not far from me. until i get over there in person, i'll be scanning their website for updates and great new finds. their current online selection offers a huge array of sleek, modern designs from the home, ranging from pendant (and table)lamps and tableware to textiles and personal accessories. i've highlighted my favorites above and below, but you can check out the entire collection right here. enjoy! [ps: the prices range from affordable to over $500]

johannes carlstrom

d*s reader, lillie passed along the work swedish designer, johannes carlstrom. i can't read the text on the site, but the work is lovely so i just thought i'd share it. if anyone can read it, please do let us know what any of it says ;) thanks. i'll try to find some more info in the meantime...aren't those lights gorgeous?

coco-pink

business cards can be such a stressful undertaking, provided that they come to represent you (in paper form) to various contacts and people of importance. i'm in the process of trying to finish up my own, but then i got an email from annie regnier, who runs coco-pink. coco-pink is a fantastic business card resource that provides over 30 fun, colorful templates to choose from for extremely reasonable prices. all you do is a choose a template (there are plenty with of-the-moment themes ie: birds, deer, baroque swirls...) and you can order 125 cards for $50 or 250 cards for $65. it's a great price for fun, fast little business cards when you're in need. until mine are finished i think i might be ordering my own little set. click here for more info. [thanks, annie!]

the d*s apt project: ac speaks

[i felt it was only fair to let you hear the other half of this process, so as to fully expose the mistakes i've been making and the full extend of our fixer upper decorating dilemma. so, without editing- ac's take on the project. thanks, ac!]

"it's actually quite difficult to know where to begin writing about our apartment search process because it feels like we've been "moving out" for the past year. fortunately, it looks like we may get the "moving in" process down to a mere few months. one day, in the future, i'm looking forward to actually just "living somewhere."

onwards. grace and i do have quite different styles (to hear her tell it, it's simple: she has style, whereas i have none. i kid.) - she mentioned that she was looking for apartments with period details, molding, and what is commonly refered to as "character" or "history." i actually tend to prefer apartments that seem brand new (clean wall lines, logical space structures, semi-reasonably spaced doorways, etc.). mostly, older places just seem dirtier to me on first look. now anyone who knows me may find this funny because (it has been said) that i can be something of a slob - so why should i care if i'm moving into a dirty place if i'm just going to filth it up anyway? i don't know. i just like knowing that the filth is mine, or at least, my fault. who wants to clean up someone else's mess?

and believe me, on first glance this apartment was a definite "fixer-upper." while it had lots of space, and lots of rooms (any amount of space or rooms is "lots" when you've been living in a tiny one-room studio...), i was not thrilled with living in a railroad - mostly because i like doors (clean lines of separation between rooms). the location (center slope), and the giant bedroom were, to my mind, the obvious draws. but besides that, I couldn't see what she loved about it. it was dirty, the walls were in terrible shape, the floors are absurdly uneven, and the colors on the walls were horrible - and this is from a person who rarely cares about the colors on the walls. fortunately, grace excels at visualizing the potential of spaces. we talked through potential arrangements, and i started warming to the space. after sleeping on it, i knew that with some work, this could be the kind of apartment we could really turn into a home. Now for the dirt:

1. The move: Grace wisely decided that we should have the apartment professionally deep-cleaned top to bottom, and painted (discussion of the wisdom of this aspect to follow) before we moved in. Not much to say about the cleaning other than that the woman grace hired apparently seemed to resent the idea that she should have to do it all by herself. also, the place to my eyes always seemed sort of dirty regardless of actual dirt, so i frankly had a hard time noticicing the difference.

2. The painting: If you happen to be dating the writer/editor of a well-read design blog who tells you: "don't worry, i'll take care of all the painting before we move into our new place - everything will be fine," DON'T BELIEVE THEM. Not only was she disappointed with the colors she chose (out of magazines and without testing them on the walls), but she complicated the matter by claiming to "love" many of the colors at first, before the reality of the situation eventually sunk in. She hated the colors. I didn't really like them either. This led to a lengthy (and tragically obsolete) conversation about the wisdom of painting the walls before furnishing a room. I was of the mind that this made no sense. Grace was squarely in the opposite camp. Much debate and discussion ensued. It was decided that we were of two fundamentally different mindsets. Days later, grace ruefully told me that she'd been watching some interior designers discussing the subject on tv and the consensus was with my camp. woo hoo!

my victory dance was cut short by the need to repaint the kitchen from its far too-dark blue. the color - some sort of cranberry red. we made it as far as one coat before we knew that it probably wasn't going to work. as it stood, it was an awful purpley mix of grossness that no one should have to look at.

take three: an oatmeal cream-type color that brightened the room and our moods immensely. one casualty: ms. jackson stepping in the paint and leaving little creamy kitty footprints everywhere - she enjoyed no part of having her feet washed out in the sink. i am happy with it but have now read, along with all of you, that grace is now having doubts. as far as i'm concerned, i say: tie a paintbrush to ms. jackson's tail and let her repaint it.

the only other room to experience a repaint so far has been the bedroom, which is so far incomplete - mostly because we haven't gotten around to finishing it. it has gone from some ridiculously bright blue (which would have been more appropriate on a popsicle) to a more muted blue color which the jury is still out on. it's definitely an improvement, but i'm not convinced it's the final color."

[ac will be posting as the process goes on about painting, furniture, mistakes and any additional casualties of the apartment redecoration. thanks, ac!]

the d*s apt project: episode 6 [the bedroom]

ok, last post on the apt today and the last word from me as i'm due at a lunch meeting for work in an hour. ac is going to post a few thoughts on the apt and the redecorating process later, so you can enjoy his comments on what an experience it is to live with someone as nutty about decorating as i am. i'm sure it will be funny to say the least. anyway, thanks for trudging through all this- i promise to take better pictures next time. i hope this can be a learning experience for everyone and we can all get something out the process. i've shown everything in its very, very rough, "fixer upper" reality in hopes that, when it's all said and done, we can track how far it's come and how fun (or frustrating) creating a home in real life (and on a budget) can be. see you tomorrow, xo, d*s

i had a vision that our bedroom [click here for full slideshow] would be a deep, grey blue with bright white accents and a gorgeous crystal chandelier. somehow the blue i chose (again, site unseen- dumb, dumb, grace!) turned into primary blue and it looked like we lived in a little boy's room. i immediately repainted with benjamin moore's "silvery moon" paint to cover the mistake and now we're both not quite sure about the color. it's nice, but we don't really have a cohesive vision for the room so everything's in that oh-so-fun limbo stage. all we know is that we plan on keeping our bed (malm in oak) and putting a knotted wool rug under it to counter balance the sharp edges and lines of the bed. i was thinking a grey and red theme, but i'm not quite sure anymore. we don't have linens picked out and we don't have new dressers yet (ours don't match) so it's all a crapshoot right now. any random suggestions? thoughts on colors? fun themes? we're open to most things right now....

the d*s apt project: episode 5 [the bathroom]

my original vision for the bathroom had been something clean, minimalist and miami green colored. then we realized we had an old, rundown bathroom that really didn't look clean or minimalist [click here for full photo show, sorry- our painter is in the shots]. so, until we get a new sink unit, we're going to have to work with what we have, which is, well, not a lot. i tried the miami green- didn't work. then i thought what about butter/sun yellow? not so much. now we're stuck in the no man's land of "we'll find a color to match the showercurtain when we pick one." so now i'm searching for a simple but beautiful cloth fabric curtain (i'm tired of the plastic kind) to inspire a color palette. but we're drawing a blank so far. in the meantime, enjoy my color mistakes. any suggestions for fabric shower curtains?

the d*s apt project: episode four [the living room]

ah, the living room [click here for full slide show]. let me start by saying ac hates this color so, so much. we didn't pick it, it was already there (sort of a weird purpely grey). my favorite part about the living room is that when we moved in there were huge, heavy shelves already built into the wall. these were a godsend. ac is one of the biggest readers i know so we had tons and tons of books to store (after the 10th or 12th box of books being dragged upstairs by our movers they declared, "you guys sure do like to read!")- so these were perfect. two bookcases and who knows how many stacks of books disappeared into all four shelves, it was genius.

now we're stuck with a very narrow room in which we hope to store a new couch (i won't even show our couch, it's pathetic), new entertainment center, our tv and hopefully some small end tables with lamps. we might need to store our guitars in here, too. not sure yet. basically we don't have a color choice for in here yet, but figured we might be inspired by fabric choices for the shade that will go on the random tiny window in here (anyone know how to find a shade that small? or am i destined to have one made custom for it?). i want the room to be comfy and cozy, but not too cozy that it looks sloppy. i also plan to totally rehaul the horrible closet we have and either wallpaper the inside (i know that's a no no in the rental world, but i figure they won't care about the closets considering the shape they rented it to us in...it's a risk, i know) and paint everything and get a new knob from anthropologie. any thoughts for the living room? great fabric ideas? color themes? we're trying to keep everything streamlined, so no crazy primary colors, but any great hues you're hooked on that you'd love to share?

the d*s apt project: episode three [the office]

this will be short and sweet. we have an office nook. right now it resembles more of a storage heap (upon heaps...) than an office. it's main purpose now is to hold our guitars, extra books and stuff we haven't had time to deal with. now we need to find a desk, small curtain, build wall shelves and find artwork, a chair and a paint color that will make it all come together. this room clearly isn't a priority...whoops.

the d*s apt project: episode two [the kitchen]

the kitchen represents all of the mistakes i've made in the apt so far [click here for full pics and color mistakes i've made so far]. our poor kitchen was painted white at first, then dark blue (to match a photo from domino), then dark red (like laura yaggy's kitchen in domino) and back to a cremey oatmeal. ac's hoping the third time's a charm, but something about the color isn't quite right yet, but hey, let's start at the beginning.

the kitchen is tiny (very tiny) and has limited counter and storage space. the cabinets are old and basically need to be taken out, but until our landlord agrees to do that (which she never will), i decided to repaint them white and try to fill in chips and dents with wood filler. we painted the walls a cremey oatmeal color after i decided the dark blue was too cold and the red was well, too red. ms. pancake suggested a creme/black/white theme with a fancy schmancy chandy for the lighting. i agreed and painted the walls creme and plan on painting our kitchen island a glossy black to match with possibly a black and creme toile roman shade for the window (any suggestions for fabric here? i'm not stuck on toile). i've also decided to cover the hideous grey tiles with FLOR tiles. they're easy to clean and easy to remove, so they're a win win for a rental situation. not to mention, we don't cook as much as i think we do, so stains are something of a faint issue, but not super pressing. top that off with a gorgeous chandelier i got for christmas from ballard co and hopefully it will all pull together to achieve the creme/black/white crystal chandy luxe look that stacy suggested. although somehow i think the george foreman grill somehow kills the "luxe" look. oh well, you gotta cook, right? [storage is an issue here so if anyone has suggestions for creative wall storage please feel free to spill- i'm thinking of building shelves on the wall to the left of the sink and next to the fridge above the island, but am worried it will be too cluttered...]

the d*s apt project: episode one [entry and dining room]

all of these posts should really be entitled, "how NOT to choose paint colors", but i'll go room by room for now. when you first walk in our apt, you walk into our dining room with a hallway on either side leading to the kitchen/bathroom on your right or the rest of the apt on your left [click here for slideshow of dining room pics pre painting, and please not that i'm clearly not a photographer]. when we moved in the room (aside from being pretty slanted, which we can say about most of the apt) was a dirty putty grey color with not much else going on. i envisioned a deep chocolate brown room accented by pops of bright white and rich, patterned fabric. so, i picked a color i saw in a magazine (benjamin moore- rockies brown) and had our painter paint it. (he's the guy in the pictures).

lesson number 1: never pick paint colors without living in a space for at least a day first.

the dark brown, while not a bad color in itself, is way too dark for our space. granted, the overhead lighting will need to be changed out (for a chandelier hopefully, when we have the funds), but the room is in the middle of the floor-through which means it doesn't get much light (that window doesn't serve much purpose). so, we're now weighing the options of a grey-blue/robin's egg color, which would certainly lighten things up a bit and look great with the black table/chairs we're ordering.

the sideboard will be stained a dark glossy black to match the table and chairs and will hopefully be accessorized with a new lamp, buffet mirror and some small artwork (like the print below) on the table. we'll be using the sideboard to store dishes and other odds and ends because we need the storage space badly. after that i hope to ge a sisal rug for the room (with a black border). we plan to utilize the niche on the dining room wall by either buying a bench or building one into the wall (with padding) to be used as seating for one side of the table. we'll see how this works out..it's our plan for now. any suggestions on great colors of paint? i'm looking for a fabulous robin's egg grey/blue and would love to know if anyone's found one they love...

the d*s apt project: introduction

so, today begin's the blogging of one little sponge's attempt to decorating an aging rental with good bones a lot of problems. i wanted to write a little intro blurb to explain the premise of this project and the details behind it...

as most of you know, ac and i looked for an apt for like, 20 years. ok, more like 8 months. seems crazy, but as any new yorker will tell you- new york real estate is a BEAR. our requirements were as follows: a real one bedroom (ie: no studios or "bedroom niches"), at least 700 sq ft (we were moving from a 500 sq ft studio) hardwood floors, pets allowed, niche/nook for small home office and a bathtub. after that the requirements came down to picky things like wanting period details if possible (molding, ceiling medallions). i'll save you the gory details of the hunting process (it's well documented throughout the blog), and say that we finally settled on a 1 bedroom in the central part of park slope. the pros and cons were as follows:

1. pros: location (2 blocks from prospect park, 6 blocks from my office, safe, well established area with lots of great shopping and brunch options), size (we went from under 500 sq ft to over 900) and good bones (though in not-so-great condition, the apt has tin ceilings, hardwood floors and molding) 2. cons: price (we went up, way up, from what we wanted to pay), seriously nutty landlords, old building quirks like bad wiring, majorly uneven floors (the entire apt is on a 10 degree slant, i swear) and walls and molding that need major work.

but after we weighed the options and details, we decided this was the place for us. our bottom line requirement: could we see ourselves living here? was met and we knew our cats would love the long hallway. so, on dec first we moved in.

ac will write today about what HE thought of the apt, but for now, here are my initial thoughts: i wanted this apartment to be a step up from my others- i tend to be drawn to bold, saturated wall colors and crazy, borderline trendy accessories (i know, shocker). but i wanted this apt to be a real home, something a bit more sophisticated and something that would reflect both ac's and my own personality. combining two very different people with very different tastes was, and will always be, a challenge and that's something i'm sure a lot of you deal with on a day to day basis. so, without further adieu- please click here to view the flickr slide show of our apt as we moved in (pre-paint) and empty...[i'll break it down room by room in the next posts]

art star gallery and boutique

passed on to me by one of my lovely editors at the philly inquirer, art star gallery and boutique is a great little online philly find. with a nice little collection of ceramics (by neutrino designs) and an even nicer collection of prints (tiny showcase style indie artist prints- samples above are by julie west and camilla engman ), art star is a wonderful resource for original (affordable) art. enjoy! [thanks, jill!]

furni creations

the montreal based design studio of furni creations is run by designers, mike giles and devin barrette. their mission is to offer, "alternatives to cookie cutter lifestyles" with simple, short-run handcrafted furniture and accessories for the home. their work has a smooth, modern look that combines dark and light wood with unassuming, minimalist shapes. their clocks (table and wall) are my favorite. you can find more information on furni and their work right here. enjoy!

the real world

i'm scared as all get out, but tomorrow i'm going to start posting the d*s apt renovation (well, as much reno as i can do in a rental). i feel like it's so easy to get caught up in a world of design magazines and showhouses that sometimes we forget that the rest of us live in the real world of budgets, rentals and apts with "character" (ie: uneven floors, broken molding and old appliances). so, i thought i'd talk about and blog the redo of my humble abode that i share with ac and our two cats. from top to bottom i'll discuss the renovation of our rental, mistakes and all (and believe me, it's been mostly mistakes so far). i'm even going to let ac post a little, because he's got his own opinions on my choices and "mishaps" so far. so, wednesday will be the day when i open up my doors to d*s readers in hopes that we can all learn a little (and laugh a little) from my adventures in redecorating. so tune in tomorrow for some fun and paint sagas- episode one will most definitely be a lesson in how NOT to choose paint colors. see you wed...xo, d*s

ikea finds

ahh...sufficiently rested from the ikea nightmare (although destined to go back because they were sold out of some pieces), i return. a got a whole heap of emails asking what we got there, so i thought i'd share. (i'm going to share our whole apt update, too, when i find the guts to start posting pics)

like most of you out there, we live on a relatively modest budget, so we were looking to get some functional, basic pieces to add storage where none exists (storage is an issue in our new apt). our goals for the trip were: additional kitchen surface space, rugs, window treatments or fabric, sideboard, dining table and chairs and any lighting that looked fun but simple. we also decided we'd give couches and new dressers a chance but that didn't really happen. in the end we got some great pieces for under $500, which was right on target.

our apt is a railroad, so i'll go right to left: for the kitchen (which is lacking storage space in a major way) we got the forhoja, which will be painted a glossy black (and finished with poly) to match the cream/black/white "luxe" theme in the kitchen (a very lovely color palette suggested by the lovely ms. stacy pancake when i couldn't find a color that worked with our god-awful speckled grey counters). not the most glamorous piece, but it fit the budget and provides us with much needed work space and storage space (i'm adding some hooks and a bar to hang dishtowels). for the next room down, the dining room, we were looking for a sideboard and dining table/chairs and bench. we ended up getting the ingo sideboard and going the diy route. the piece couldn't be more basic (and unfinished) but we decided we'd rather save $200 and finish it ourselves then buy the more expensive fancy finished version. i'll be staining it a dark black/brown with a glossy finish (and new knobs of course) to match the table and chairs we're ordering (new, not online yet, and sold out at the store, see pic for idea of the look). hopefully this will work with the walls that i plan to change from brown to a robin's egg blue/green. if ac doesn't kill me for repainting the 8th time.

after that we plan on ordering one or two rislev rugs (a tragically comfortable knotted wool rug that feels oh so good to walk on) for around our bed. they were sold out so this is another "order later" item. most of our bedroom furniture is pretty minimalist and sleek, so this sort of chunk rug will be a nice (and soft for the feet) contrast. after this we grabbed a whole chunk of accessories like new hangers (so they'd all match- my request), dishrack (i miss our dishwasher terribly), bathmat, speaker stands and i think some other things that i'm blanking on. the whole day is sort of a blur so that's all i can remember for now. but we're planning on getting a new dresser and some more things soon, so i'll post on that as well.

i think the key to ikea shopping is to buy simple, basic pieces that can be changed or finished at home so they don't have that super "ikea" look. we certainly have a lot of ikea in our home, but i don't think our home looks to ikea at all because we've mixed them in with more traditional pieces and great finds like artwork, mirrors and chandeliers. i'll be sure to post pictures when it's all done. until then, i'll try to get the vision of the ikea winter sale out of my head...

2006 bloggies

the 2006 bloggies are here (they're an annual award for blogs) so i just thought i'd mention them. everyone seems to be posting big blurbs or sending out emails about them, so i thought i'd mention that if you wanted to vote for your favorite blog (or d*s) you can find more information and vote right here. i think most design blogs would be put in the "topical blog" category. anyway, just an fyi if you're interested in voting for d*s for any other design blog. today and tomorrow are the last days to vote. xo, d*s

death by ikea

no posts today, recovering from day spent at ikea's winter sale. poor ac had to endure my multiple breakdowns after being overwhelmed by crying children and parents who felt it socially acceptable to let them run around knocking over things and hitting my cart. ac also reminded me that, "this is the place people go to break up!" thankfully we made it home intact, with a few good pieces to add to our apt. phew. anyway, will be back tomorrow...have a wonderful monday.

pb teen (say what?)

i've come to the shocking conclusion that i may end up outfitting my house largely from a store designed for 13 year olds. but hey, they have great stuff! i was browsing through the new pb teen catalog (my boss has teens) and found some really great stuff. and, it's affordable!

now, it's well known that i'm a sucker for a good chandelier and this little floral number is too cute for words, and only $99! can't beat that! and if you're looking for a classy dining room option, check out the chandy with mini shades- remove the purple beaded shades and replace with some bold red or black shades for a touch of (affordable!) elegance. $99 right here.

lastly, why not add some accessories? i love the flocked rugs they have, as well as the flock-y storage buckets. very chic and very cheap (but in a good way). clearly, if you put all of this together in room you'll be living in a very tween-style home, but mix these in sparingly and you'll get some great touches for very little money. browse their whole collection right here.

port2port press

maria at port2port press has lovely sparrow cards for sale, $3 each at her etsy boutique. perfect for sending a new year's note.

faux bois fun

lovely faux bois urn for $125 at koo. would look quite striking on a mantle filled with huge bouquet of bright red or purple poppies. or maybe just rustic twisted branches...

koo-koo clock

i got a few emails about a modern cuckoo clock i posted a few weeks ago and how to find a more affordable version (anthro's version is $278, ouch!). so, when i saw this $17 version at koo de kir i couldn't pass it up. whlie not exactly the same, it's a similar idea and would look fabulous spraypainted white, black, or any other bold color. available online at koo de kir. cuckoo away!

palace papers

in an ideal world, i'd be able to wallpaper at least one room of my apartment. but seeing as i'm a renter and don't want to even think about having to take down wallpaper and repaint when we move, i'm destined to just window shop beauties like this. founded in 2004 by designer, casey gunschel, palace papers produces a small, but lovely, line of silk screened wallpapers of which i can't get enough. with names like "nevermore" (an edgar allen poe-esque raven print), "cockney" (a rooster print) and "cornish" (a subtle, classy corn-cob print), you can't lose. ms. gunschel's line is sure to be a success and i can't wait to see what she comes up with next...perhaps lovely fabric versions of the papers? you can find more information on palace papers right here (be sure to check out "carnivale"- an adorable pink children's print). enjoy!

williamsburg spode

d*s reader, ken passed along artist susan hamburger's work this morning and i'm so glad he did. in honor of my old neighborhood, here is ms. hamburger's updated version of spode, with a williamsburg twist. each plate appears to be a traditional spode pattern but is actually a drawing of a typical williamsburg scene. ah, industrial grit- such a lovely contrast to traditional english porcelain. i don't think ms. hamburger's work is available for sale, but you can find more information on her work and contact her here. enjoy! [thanks, ken!]

2006 is the year of the dog, and a great chance for a fresh start and new year's resolutions. i'm always curious about what everyone else plans on doing...do you have design resolutions? personal? professional? my design resolutions were posted here on msn's lifestyle blog, but, when it comes to personal resolutions, mine revolve around trying to incorporate more time spent outdoors, away from screens (tv & computer) and finding some peace and silence in what is a pretty crazy and hectic city. how about you guys? here's wishing you all a healthy and happy 2006. xo, d*s

springtime at anthropologie

anthropologie is slowly releasing its spring home line and i'm, of course, loving a number of items. (in my dream world i'd LIVE in an anthropologie store surrounded by extravagant chandeliers).

the hemlock chandelier (pictured in detail above and full sized below) is a beautiful wrought-iron chandelier that looks like twisted vines wrapped around 9 electric candlesticks. would look lovely on a screened-in porch somewhere in the woods overlooking the mountains ($1,200). the white birch lamp (below, $248)) is another lovely lighting option that has the rustic thing going on, but with a chic white finish. if those two aren't for you, check out the gorgeous parisienne chargers ($98 a piece) for a touch of french style. you can see the rest of their spring home additions right here. enjoy!

inhabit

lovely linens from inhabit bedding. this particular pattern is awfully similar to dwell's "ring" pattern, but i prefer these muted colors to dwell's bold kiwi green and dark chocolate brown. bedding and pillows available online right here (pillows $60 a piece, bedding $170-210).

stick it

i'm a sucker for cute accessories like this. magnetic message clips at wrapables- if only it was warm enough outside to leave a note like this. sadly my note would say "too cold to move. your turn to do dinner". for for $10 right here. happy clipping!

scandinavian surface

[the following post is a quick thought from d*s reader, jan of poppytalk, thanks, jan! love that room!]

"i found this photo at one of my groups i belong to at flickr called fresh new spaces and one contributer, astrid, posted this image (photo by scandinavian surface) from scandinavian surface and i automatically flipped! love everything about this room (including the deer in the window)! scandinavian surface is a company that makes patterns for all kinds of surfaces and purposes. so cool!"

tart

tart (short for "table art") is a wonderful online source for gorgeous tableware. definitely in the "splurge" category, these aren't pieces you necessarily buy on a whim, but are more likely pieces you invest in (for most of us, at least). i fell for a few of tart's 5 piece sets (each around $195 a set) from bodo sperlein that, if i had more disposable income, i would definitely buy.

bodo sperlein, purveyors of all things beautiful, designed a gorgeous 5-piece series called "wing" that has a beautiful black and white feather on each piece. if it weren't $195 per set i'd consider it- oh well, to dream. if wing isn't your style, check out "hortensia" (what a name), an equally beautiful (and equally priced) setting that is marked with a beautiful cranberry red floral pattern. so, so lovely.

and lastly, bodo sperlein's white textured four piece set ($226) is another wonderful design that would make dining a seriously classy experience. i'm a sucker for clean white dinnerware anyway, but that subtle raised dot pattern is just divine. so, if you're looking to invest in (or just browse) some beautiful dinnerware, check out tart's site for the best of the best. enjoy!

keyholder

this cute little wall-mounted key holder is a lovely, minimalist way to organize keys in style. available at relish: modern objects for $32. enjoy!

karl johnson

silhouettes were all over the design world in a big way last year, and still continue to be- with the neo-baroque look of last year still being so popular, it's not uncommon to still see bedding, pillows, plates and more decorated with elegant black and white silhouettes. while i'm nearing the end of my own personal interest in the trend, i think the idea of silhouettes is certainly a timeless one and can be used in a number of decorative ways that add elegance and style to a room. whether you're looking to add silhouettes to furniture or just frame them as art, artist karl johnson has got you covered.

specializing in customized, hand-cut silhouette portraiture, karl johnson creates beautiful works of art from photographs sent in by customers. his pricing is extremely affordable for the amount of time that must go into cutting each one by hand, so i think it's definitely worth checking out. each original silhouette costs $20 and any additional silhouettes (of the same image) cost $10 a piece. in additional karl does speciality pieces upon request. you can find more information on karl and his work (and see him in next month's issue of domino) right here. enjoy!

chatchada

chatchada is a great online design resource based in los angeles, ca. with it's gorgeous selection of modern tableware, chatchada has all your modern kitchen needs covered, whether you're looking for salt and pepper shakers or something from which to sip your afternoon tea. you can browse their entire collection and order online right here. enjoy!

stone park cafe

d*s doesn't often cover restaurants, but i've been obsessing over this local favorite for a few weeks now and felt compelled to mention it (perhaps it's because i'm close to my lunch break).

opened in september of 2004, stone park cafe is a wonderful little restaurant in brooklyn's park slope neighborhood. we're fortunate enough to live two blocks away from it and it's fast becoming my sunday brunch favorite. ever since we moved, i've been trying to find a local brunch replacement for dumont, one of my favorite restaurants of all time. but now stone park cafe has matched the warm yet modern decor and spectacular brunch options of dumont (check out the gorgeous terra cotta colored wall by the bar, such a lovely color). not to mention, i'm quite smitten with their logo (i know, bird overkill, but this one is subdued and paired with an excellent font choice).

we've yet to eat dinner there, but the food we've had there has been wonderful so far (i highly recommend the ciabatta eggs benedict- with spinach). so, if you're ever in the neighborhood, i highly recommend a visit- but take note that that don't serve breakfast drinks (the alcoholic kind) until noon so if you come at 11, sip on some of their delicious coffee until the real drinks start flowing. stone park's website is right here (you can take the f train to 9th street or the r to 4th ave, the restaurant is on 5th avenue and 3rd street). enjoy!

porch modern

toronto based antiques and vintage outlet, porch modern was started by canadian, colen colthurst. after discovering his love of collecting great flea market and yard sale finds, colthurst expanded his collection to include great pieces from midcentury masters like the eames and aalto. colthurst's collection includes some beautiful vintage pieces like classic fritz hansen stools and antique french brass table lamps. the collection is definitely worth a browse and the pricing is fairly reasonable for a number of the items. international shipping is available and you can find more information (and view the online collection) right here. enjoy!

dirty linens

while searching for a cream and black toile roman shade for our new kitchen, i got an email with this saucy version of toile. certainly not for the faint at heart (there are two much, much saucier versions on the website), this updated toile pattern is available at groovy q online as part of their "dirty linens" line of pillowcases, sheets, boxers and lounge pants. certainly on the kitschy side, but definitely fun if you're looking for a non-traditional version of a traditional print. (reminds me of that scene in "the bird cage" when the guests realize the bowls they're eating off of depict something that looks like "young boys playing leapfrog"...). available online right here, have fun...

tiny showcase

if the zeisel/klein reid print is out of your budget, don't forget about tiny showcase- a wonderful online resource for affordable artwork. founded in 2004, tiny showcase shows a new print every week that is affordably priced at around $15-$20. they sell out quickly (really, really quickly), so be sure to check often. the selection is fantastic and a percentage of the proceeds go to a charity of the artist's choosing. tiny showcase is a really great way to support artists and take home a piece of original artwork that won't require a second mortgage. more info and gallery right here. enjoy!

klein reid and zeisel

gorgeous limited edition prints from brooklyn designers klein reid and legendary artist, eva zeisel. the "magic language print" was inspired by paper cut-out shapes created during a collaboration between the three artists. each print is signed and numbered by the artists and shipped in a black shadowbox frame for $580 at velocity.

happy new year!

happy new year everyone! i hope you all had a wonderful nye and rang in the new year with style. in honor of toasting the year ahead, here are some fun little "inside out" martini glasses that come in lime, purple and sky blue. for only $6 a pop you can celebrate 2006 without breaking the bank. available right here. enjoy!