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