In our ever increasing desire to follow quality local modern projects, we are adding yet another construction project to our group. The Zevon house currently under construction is located in the Wasatch Range and was designed by Dave Brach of Brach Design. Dave has a great eye for design, and a passion for green building. The Zevon house is expected to meet 3 of the 4 criteria for a Certified Passive House (cooling demand, total energy demand and air tightness) which is amazing considering the location. The only criteria it will come up a little short on is heat demand. They will be seeking LEED Platinum on this home. Besides being an incredibly efficient home, it is great looking too. Construction will be handled by Benchmark Modern.
Brach Design
Benchmark Modern
More renderings after the jump.
Based in South Carolina, Proud Mary is a textile company that firmly believes in the idea that good design can and should solve problems. From this motto, the socially conscious company works in conjunction with artisans in developing nations to provide a source of income as well as high quality goods. The product line consists of napkins, pillows, totes, and purses, all in bold, colorful patterns. My favorite print is "Quill", a beautiful blue fabric that is hand-printed using potatoes in a small cooperative outside of Cape Town, South Africa.
Textiles by Proud Mary: $15 - $110
Yowza. I spotted this a-maz-ing light from Normann Copenhagen and just about peed my pants at the sight of it! Designed by Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt for the Danish company, the Bau Pendant is made up of interlocking, birch wood circles. Painted in bright, primary colors, this pendant would definitely make a statement - in a big way. It comes in two sizes - small with 59 pieces and large with 80. No pricing yet, but look for it to become available in October.
See more: www.normann-copenhagen.com
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I love the idea of a spice rack, but the truth of the matter is that I have a jumbled mix of spices in all kinds of mismatched jars and containers. I'd love to consolidate into something more manageable and, well, pleasing to the eye. The Aperture Spice Rack by Desu Design looks like it would fit the bill quite nicely. Made from a single piece of 18-gauge, folded stainless steel, this beauty has a narrow slot on the front that provides an abstracted view of your favorite spices. I think it would be cool in multiples, especially in an open kitchen!
Includes eight glass jars with cork tops and mounts to the wall with two screws.
Aperture Spice Rack available from GSelect: $79
The House 2 project is completely framed up now and they are starting to put the roof membrane on almost in time for all the wet weather we have been having. It's great to be able to get a sense of what the spaces are going to feel like. My favorite is the kitchen/living room area. The extra high ceilings really give the room a nice feel. They have also finished framing the small studio in the back yard since I was there last.
More photo's after the jump.
This is the kitchen/living room looking toward the front of the house where there will be a large window seat.
Kitchen/living room looking out into the courtyard with the studio in the back yard.
This photo gives you a bit of an idea of the scale. The opening for the glass slider is way taller than your typical 6' 8" door.
If you know me, you know that I'm a lover of all things bright and colorful! It's no wonder then that I fell for these appetizer plates from Crate & Barrel. Aside from the incredible colors, I love that they are sold individually rather than in a set. You can mix and match to your heart's content! What's more, they're made from high quality glazed porcelain, making them microwave and dishwasher safe. Ringing in at only $2.95, there's no reason not to get (at least) one in every color!
Appetizer Plates from Crate & Barrel: $2.95
P.S. Speaking of Crate & Barrel, I've heard (more) recent rumors of a Salt Lake City store. Two possible locations have been floating around: City Creek Center and Fashion Place. Can anyone confirm or deny?
House and Home online has a great DIY of how to make a Moooi Random Light style pendant. I actually had a failed attempt at this DIY last year that involved twine and fiberglass resin. The cotton and fabric stiffener looks like it is much easier to work with. Ikea is your best bet for the light cord, and I found that a yoga ball made a great size for wrapping. I may have to give this another attempt now that I know the secret.
Watch the video on H&H online.
Woody Becker is a San Diego woodworking shop churning out awesome home accessories like these modular tea light holders! Available in six mix-and-match shapes, each chunky candle holder is handmade from scrap wood and painted in a number of bright, modern colors. A fun way to accessorize and warm up your space!
Candle Holders by Woody Becker: $13 - $19
If you are in Salt Lake and you are looking for a screaming deal on a contemporary concrete sink, jump for joy. I just spotted these "prototypes" on KSL for $25 each. According to the ad, they may have some slight blemishes, but for $25 I think that could be overlooked.
$25 Concrete sinks on KSL
It's hard to believe it's that time already, but the 2011 Ikea catalogue is officially available online! I haven't had a lot of time to go through it yet, but so far I'm most excited about the induction cook top for $1,000. We love our induction, and this will bring them down to a much more reasonable price.
What's your favorite new item?
Ikea 2011 catalogue
Flat-packed, self-assembly lamps are all the rage, right? I'm definitely digging this one by designer Simon Karkov for Normann Copenhagen.
Simon says about the design: "I have worked on Norm 06 for the last 3-4 years and just like many of my other projects I had to leave my idea for a while and look at it again a couple of months later. The design is inspired by nature, by the lilies and the water lilies. Norm 06 nicely follows the Danish design tradition for lamp shades with its shielding of the bulb and the soft light."
Did you hear that? This baby took three to four years of serious thinking, but can be yours for a mere $66 and a few minutes of assembly time. Fair trade, really.
Norm 06 Lamp available from Design Public: $66 - $128
I post a lot about dog products (what can I say, I'm biased), but I thought I ought to give the cat lovers amongst us something to smile about, too! Enter Modernist Cat, a Seattle-based design studio bringing the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic into the realm of dual-purpose pet furniture. From end tables to stools, each piece functions as a beautiful hideaway, play area, or den for your feline friend. Handcrafted from Russian Baltic Ply, each item is made to order and built to last. Be sure to check out all the available designs here or here.
Modern Cat Furniture by Modernist Cat: $199 - $299
A friend of mine recently asked me for recommendations for a good teapot. While I don't necessarily think that the Oiva Teapot by Marimekko is the end all of teapots, I do think it is one of the nicer ones I've seen in a while.
Oiva Teapot by Marimekko $66
What's your favorite teapot/kettle?
I love the simplicity and natural beauty of this 
If I had a beach house, it would be full of these great prints. They are from a series of magazine advertisements from the 40's and 50's for Jantzen Swimsuits. Each one is completely vintage, straight from the magazine and ready to mount. Prices range from $5 - $10.
The 
These gorgeous bamboo bird 
Wow! These ceramic pieces from