When it comes to outdoor materials for landscaping, I tend to get pretty excited about concrete. It has the potential to be a great DIY material, produces great clean lines, and will hold up to all the elements. With the huge rise in DIY concrete countertops, I'm surprised that we haven't seen more people taking those same skills outside. The Viteo Cementum Fireplate shown above is simple shape that would be easy to reproduce and would make an amazing urban fire pit. The only trick would be a fuel source for the flame. I believe you can either do a gas fire pit using parts from a Heat & Glo kit, or just use an alcohol gel.

Does anyone know of any documented DIY outdoor concrete projects?

There's nothing I like more than a good sale, and this one could prove to be the most epic of the year. Due to some unexpected rezoning Modern Materials Design has to move out of their warehouse. While they look for a new location they need to clear out all of their inventory, which means everything is 50% - 80% off. If their last sale was any indication the best deals will go quickly. The sale starts this Friday.

Hours: 10-6 Tues-Friday and 10-4 Saturday (Saturdays starting March 7th)

Location: 800 North 350 West (North side of building)
              Downtown SLC
              Slightly hidden, but worth the search!

If you're not local, don't feel bad. You can still pick up some good deals online at their website.

Make sure you tell them Grassrootsmodern sent you, and post over at Utahmodern.org if you got a amazing deal!

Typically I find the wares offered by Chiasso to be a little overpriced (you can usually find the same item elsewhere for a lot less). That's not to say the whole store is overpriced or even expensive in the grand scheme of modern home furnishings. In fact, there are a few nicely priced, "exclusive" items that I can't help but covet. I think my favorite item out of everything they have is the Tripod Planter - it's just plain cool! If you spot anything you've just gotta have, act now! They're currently offering free shipping on orders over $100.

All items available from Chiasso.com

Top: Spirale Pillow - $58, Blox Bench - $498, Lulu Rug - $348-$698
Bottom: Geo Doormat - $38, Milo Planters - $48-$78, Tangle Rug - $198-$598

Top: Cube Planter - $55-$75, Mod Pillow - $38, Convex Blox - $168
Bottom: Mingle Rug - $198-$598, Tripod Planter - $148, Riviera Doormat - $38

While it may not feel like it in some parts of the country, summer really is just around the corner. That mean's that Ikea has a whole bunch of new items coming out that will be for summertime only. Summer items should start hitting your local Ikea in about two weeks. Most of the time summer items are available through June or July, but when they are gone, they are gone. Here is a look at what you can expect this year.

I'm not usually a fan of rattan, but these plastic rattan ARHOLMA lounge chairs look pretty sweet. Priced $60 - 140.

Continue reading for LOTS more.

The ROXO seating ads some color for $139. The ROXO tray table is $40.

I'm not as big a fan of these VANO chairs but the color fans can pick them up for $50.

The NORDANO line of outdoor furniture are made of acacia and look beautiful, especially for the price. $69 -$179.

APPLARO series is also made of acacia. $29 - $129.

Not your usual paper lamps, these SOLIG lamps are rain proof and solar powered. Very cool. $10 ea

Lots of other new outdoor lighting.

New cushions and blankets.

I'm loving these SOLIG cushions for $12

More SOLIG goodies.

Maybe some of that goodness will get you inspired for warmer days. Anyone have a favorite must have item?

I've written about a couple products from Pkolino in the past like their bed and table and chair set. The manage to pull off great style at a great cost. Last night I was at Babies R Us doing some shopping and I noticed they had the table and chair set. I was super impressed with the quality of the construction. It was way above anything else that they had there. That got me wondering what other great stuff Pkolino had that I didn't know about. A quick look over at Design Public turned up a bunch of great products. One of my favorites is this children's desk. it comes in orange or white and sized just right for you little one.

Available from Design Public for $66.

I just got word from Byrd and Belle (whose modern ornaments I wrote about in December), sharing a new line of framed, hand-stitched art inspired by everyone's favorite modern furniture! I love the color combos and think a grouping of these would look pretty spectacular over a console table or in a (very hip) kid's room.  

What do you think? Yay or nay? Modern Furniture Framed Stitchery by Byrd and Belle: $19 – $39.

It's been a while since I have posted about anything from CB2. I was glancing through their website the other day, and found myself quite smitten with the Draper sofa. It has all the ingredients to be an epic sofa, removable cover for cleaning, certified sustainable kiln dried hardwood frame, soy based polyfoam seat, simple lines and it's made in the USA. My only complaint about it is the lack of color choices.

There is the cotton "flame" cover shown above, or a poly blend "pearl". I'm not sure I could pull of the flame, and the latter is a little boring. Either way it looks like a great value for only $799.

Draper Sofa available at CB2 for $799.

Has anyone ever sat on it?

Great little video about preserving the iconic "Doo Wop" styled architecture in Wildwood.

Does anyone know any good websites for Mid-Century architecture preservation?

I only recently discovered Josh Cochran and his awesome illustration style via The Criterion Collection. He has designed one of my favorite Criterion covers ever for the movie Wise Blood, which will be released this May. While designing for The Criterion Collection is probably the pinnacle of some illustrator's dreams, Josh's client list is vast and impressive.

With such a great style, it's no wonder the likes of Fantagraphics, Wired, GQ, and Target are commissioning his skills. Lucky for us, Josh has an online shop where you can purchase prints of his illustrations. To see more, check out his website www.joshcochran.net.

Prints available from Josh Cochran for $45.

proof technology is something that you just can't get enough of when you have a little toddler. The fine folks over at Loopa have taken the challenge of making a bowl that is resistant to spills, even in the hands of your little guy. By using a weighted center bowl and a set of gyro's, the Loopa bowl stays upright no matter how you hold it. That helps keep the cheerios in the bowl, and not on the floor. The bright colors and easy grip surface is kid friendly while the $10 price is parent friendly.

Available from Loopa for $10

Action pics after the jump.

According to inmod, this table is styled after the "legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames". I guess they are referring to the wire base? In any case the Anson table does have a classic look to the design, one that would make it look good in just about any home. The melamine top comes in either black or white with an exposed plywood core. The pictures are a little misleading because this little guy only measures in at 10" high and 15" wide. At that small size I've got my eye on it for a bedside table.

Available at inmod for $74.

Times may be tough, but that doesn't mean you can't afford to laugh! Right?? Hopefully we've all still got our humor intact, anyway. If not, these "Retro Recession Cards" from Rock Scissor Paper are a sure fire way to bail someone out of the blues!

Recession Humor Cards from Rock Scissor Paper - $2.75

via

While this news is apparently almost a year old, I guess it was still news to me. Design demi-god Karim Rashid is up to his old tricks again and has designed a new line of affordable modern and functional kitchen gadgets for Slice. Taking the companies product line from 2 to 6, the four new kitchen accessories share two things in common. First is their ridiculously good looks (although I could do with out the apple green color) the other is the ultra sharp ceramic blades for grating, peeling and any other misc cutting you need. The products are widely available at all the normal suspects (Bed Bath Beyond, Container Store, Sur La Table, Linens N' Things) and are amazingly affordable.

Slice by Karim Rashid priced from $7 - $15

A friend of mine just shared this great Etsy shop with me and it's pretty much the coolest thing to happen to the Internet.  Salty and Sweet is the side project of an industrial designer based in Arizona "whose design style is rooted firmly in sense and nonsense". Whether you like it cute or a little cheeky, there's something for everyone. The hooligan series is by far my favorite (who doesn't love a molotov cocktail in their hanging mobile??), but the zombie uprising is pretty rad, too.  

So which one are you? Salty or sweet?

Hanging mobiles from Salty and Sweet - $30

There has been quite a bit of talk here at Grassrootsmodern about the Corona Sofa from Macy's. The consensus from everyone was that it is a pretty great looking sofa at a great price. It looks like that price just got better. Macy's has several sofa's that are currently on sale for $699, including the simply stylish Ava Metro sofa shown above, and the much adored Corona Sofa shown below.

Both are available in a variety of colors to suit your taste. The sale ends March 1st, so if you have been procrastinating you have one week left to make up your mind.

Available from Macy's for $699.

I've been seeing this retro-inspired telephone popping up all over the interwebs lately and it almost makes me wish I had a landline. I'm still tempted to get it simply as a decorative piece! The Scandiphone by Wild & Wolf is based on the Ericofon and is available in five great colors: Red, White, Black, Orange, and Brushed Chrome. You can pick it up in the US from UnicaHome for about $60 (original Ericofons go for several hundred dollars). Unfortunately, UnicaHome only offers this device in three colors. If you must have the brushed chrome version, you can try ordering from Graham and Green if you can rationalize fronting the shipping costs!

Scandiphone by Wild & Wolf available from UnicaHome for $60.

Some of you may have heard of Jill Dryer already, but for those of you who haven't, well.. Here you go!

Following a 15 year career in marketing (and 7 years at Architectural Digest), Jill decided to finally do what she loved: painting. Her "Design Meets Nature" series has received loads of attention and she has gone on to write and illustrate a children's book, provide Imagination workshops for parents and kids, and even started an Etsy shop to sell her wonderful creations.

I can't get enough of her paintings! So imaginative and full of humor! My favorite piece is the "Calderooster". If you could pick any painting to add to your own collection, which one would you choose?

Originals for sale from jdryerart.com from $650 - $1200.
Prints for sale on Etsy from $20 - $35.

I'm a big fan of Muji, but I have to admit I've continued to be disappointed by their online presence. I was checking out their USA website the other day and the "play Muji" game. While it is sort of amusing to see all the goods that are available, why is it that it tries to redirect you to the Muji Japan site where you can't buy anything online? I was hoping that they would someday get an online store specifically for the USA. It looks like until then, we are limited to buying from MoMA online of the UK Muji online.

Has anyone ever tried ordering big items (furniture) from Muji UK?

Check out these incredible illustrations from the 1958 USSR Pavilion Brochure. Traveling to the sunny, palm tree swathed shores of the Soviet Union never sounded so good!

One word: AWESOME.

From the "Brussels Universal and International Exhibition 1958" - See more great mid-century illustrations via jericl cat!

It's no secret that I am a big fans of ofuro tubs. There is just something about the Japanese efficiency of these little soaking tubs that gets me excited. While our DIY stainless steel ofuro project turned out well in our last house, I'm always looking for other alternatives. I stumbled across this Takagi Ofuro on JenJapan's site and I have to admit it looks like it may be a winner. Priced under $800 it definitely meets the affordable requirement, and while it's no Victoria & Albert Sorrento Series Bathtub I still think it looks good (actually, maybe even better). Best of all is the fact that it can be used as a temporary or permanent solution.

Available from At House online for $780 plus $80 shipping.

Full review and write up at Jen Japan.