This CB2 exclusive is what a good pendant lamp should be, sleek, sexy and not overstated. The white fluid shape is handmade iron painted gloss white and is 13" dia and 9" H. The sleek lines of the Puddle Pendant Lamp are obviously reminiscent of saarinen tulip line of furniture, they definitely carry that mid-century vibe. They can be used individually, or hung in series (see the picture after the jump). Best of all is that they are currently 50% off at CB2!Available from CB2 for $19

This is a great example of someone who is breaking the mold to come up with some great new design. It seems like these days it's hard to get an angle on furniture design that hasn't already been done. Alexander Pelikan has combined wood and plastic in a very dramatic way. By using molded plastic for all the joinery it gives the chair an organic look that you would expect to find in classic danish design, but achieved with modern manufacturing practices. What's best of all is that Alexander has been gracious enough to share exactly how he does it. Check out the video below.... I've been anxious to play with some resins lately, any idea what he is using?

I have to admit that if you are looking for a affordable modern kids chair and table, Ikea can't be beaten. If you just don't like Ikea, or are looking for something a little different make sure you check out the Alma chair and Linus table. Not nearly as affordable at $56 a chair and over $200 for the table, the Alma/Linus combo is still a good looking set. The chairs are available in 4 different colors of made of injection-molded polypropylene goodness. The table only comes in white.

Available from Unica home $56 - $258.

Lexon has a tradition of makeing some wonderfuly simple products, and the Around Clock is no exception. Designed by Anthony Dickens, the Around clock features durable ABS construction available in either black or white. A single red line wraps around the side to indicate the current time. Price is $22.Available from Unica Home for $22.

Here is a great minimalist trash can designed by Li Jianye. It's made of a continuous piece of chrome wire, bent in a shape to accept a common sized trash bag. The idea is simple and brilliant. The wire gives enough shape to hold the bag, but it will also flex slightly to accommodate larger loads. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any information if it has ever gone into production or if it's just a concept. Looks like a great DIY project though...

Ever since my wife and I got married, we have never really had a proper dining room table. Unfortunately with our new house, we still don't really have a great spot for a decent sized table. We could however probably find a place for this nice little four seater from West Elm. The Round Leg Dining Table (quite the creative name) is 42" diameter and comes in two colors, acorn (shown here) and chocolate. It's simple shape and clean lines definitely have a retro feel about them, especially when pared with the oval backed dining chairs. Available from West Elm for $399

I was looking around Etsy for some good art the other day when I stumbled across Four Crows Art. Robin, the artist behind Four Crows actually has four different etsy shops, each one filled with all sorts of great art. Following with the company name (and perhaps her own name) almost all of the prints involve a bird in one way or another. The colors are rich and dramatic, and the prices are fairly reasonable for an original print. Available from Four Crows Art Etsy shop, prices start at $16. See Robins Blog "Sneaking out at Midnight"

I thought with the long weekend everyone would have some time to kill so I am posting up some videos that I have found online of one of my hero's Charles Eames. Enjoy!If you have more good ones, let me know and I will embed them in this post.

Continue reading for more videos.
powers of ten :: charles and ray eames from bacteriasleep on Vimeo. Powers of ten.

A Gathering of Elephants

Eames Lounge Chair Assembly Short Film

One of the best things about holidays (besides not having to go to work) are the sales. I just got word that Modernica will be having a 72 hour 4th of July sale on some of their Eames case study units. I am a huge fan of Modernica and all the original Eames pieces that they have. One of these days I might actually save my pennies and buy something from them.Sale begins July 4th. Check it out.

Does anybody know of any other good 4th of July Sales?

The Jerry Lamp could very well be the ideal lamp for a kids room. It's made of nontoxic hypoallergenic silicone that is unbreakable and never gets hot to the touch. That means it can stand up to the abuse of a toddler, and get knocked off a table without causing any tears. The Jerry lamp sits about 10" high and 5" wide and is currently on sale at DWR for $50, a huge savings over the normal $145 price tag. It is available in white or green.

Available at DWR for $50.

Here is a great little retro boomerang table from Etsy. Made of Beechwood veneered plywood, the table top is 1 1/2" thick and has a black polyethylene molding around the edges. It is also available in white with classic hairpin legs. Each table is made in a small shop in Austin Texas, flat packed and shipped to your door. Assembly is simple, and the price is very affordable. Tables start at $75, which is a smoking deal for something hand made. Dimensions are apx 30" long, 24" wide and 17" tall.

Available from Shereemc's Etsy shop starting at $75.

I was perusing Overstock for some good modern outdoor furniture and I came across two decent pieces. Both are made of ABS plastic and available in a variety of colors. The Prism table is very contemporary and is almost a little far out there for me. Depending on the space however, it could look great. At $50 it's 50% off of the original price. The Uforia Chairs are a little more conservative, and thanks to the ABS that they are made of they would be a great little outdoor chair. You can pick up a set of two for $119. My only worry about it are those skinny little legs. No leaning back on those.

Available from Overstock.com Prism table $50, Uforia chairs 2 for $119.

I've always been a fan of Mid Century Modern design, and it seems like as time goes by the atomic era grows on me even more. One of the more iconic styles from the era are all the different starburst clocks. There is something about those lines that just scream 50's to me. This Starburst Wall Clock from Chiasso would be a good centerpiece clock for any room. At 23" diameter, it's no little guy, and with the high contrast black it's sure to get noticed. It's currently on sale for $58, and it looks like there are only 3 left. Made of steel and black plastic. Available from Chiasso for $58.

Fans of Blu Dot rejoice! Their new 2008 line is now available for preorder over at Design Public. They have some great new sofa's like the One Night Stand sofa shown above, which converts into a queen sized bed. The new Blu Dot Paramount Sofa is one of my favorites. It has some obvious mid century cues, and manages to stay low key and good looking at the same time. While none of these goodies are ready to ship, you can preorder now and be first in line. Design Public has a low price guarantee, which means they will match or beat anyones pricing.

Available from Design Public.

I love wooden toys and puzzles. They are generally either very simple, and in many cases very ingenious. The 3d wooden sphere puzzle falls into the later category. The puzzle has three separate planes connecting four chambers filled with colored wooden balls. It works much like a rubiks cube, in that if you make a change in one chamber, it will effect another. Besides being a great mind bending puzzler, it is also good looking and affordable.

Available from Deep Discount for $8.

Via Bem Legaus!

Chiasso has a couple of new wall clocks out, my favorite of which is the Trace Clock. It is made of a wooden core with 12 solid aluminum rods that project out from the middle. They describe the effect as a look "that's stunning contemporary with just a hint of retro." I would say that it's atomic clock shape is more than just a hint of retro. It's that classic mid century vibe that it has that makes me like it so much. The overall diameter is 20" and the cost is $88. Available from Chiasso for $88.

The FORSA is a new lamp from Ikea. In classic Ikea style it manages to look great and not cost you an arm and a leg. This little guy takes some obvious cues from Tolomeo and classic architect lamps. While it is available in the more traditional nickel plated, it also comes in dark red, dark blue, and black. It sits about 20" high and it's base diameter is 6". Since it's brand new it still isn't available online, so you will have to check out your local Ikea if you want to get it.Available from Ikea for $25.

I have featured a couple of piggy banks here on GRM, and they have ranged from functional to whimsical. The Volcoino bank designed by Karim Rasid has got to be one of the best looking. Made from chromed aluminum, this little coin bank has a small slot at the top where you put your coins in, and a rubber stopper at the bottom to get them out. It's attractive enough to put in any room in your house, and priced at $22 you might even have enough change in your old piggy bank to buy it.

Available from I love UMA for $22.

I've always been a fan of Blu-Dot's real good chair. Made from powder-coated steel and folds along laser-cut lines to create a dynamic and comfortable chair. It has a brilliant flat pack design and assembly process, and once put together it looks great. If you haven't already seen the video of the squirrel putting it together, you are missing out. (I've included it after the jump) It is available in two glossy tone-on-tone colors, satin black and glossy red. Velocity Art and Design currently has it for $99, which is about the cheapest I have seen it online.

Available from Velocity Art and Design for $99.

Rugs can be a tricky thing. If you really want a nice one, you usually need to be willing to shell out a little bit more money. But if you are just looking for something to cover the ground, then the door is wide open. There are lots of cheap cotton rugs to be found, but few with this much style for the price. This 3' x 5' Heart Flower rug from Urban outfitters will run you a mere $28. That's a bargain. I checked it out the other day in the store, and while it is just a thin cotton rug with a print, what more could you expect for $28? Available from Urban Outfitters for $28.