This past week was the Outdoor Retailer Expo here in Salt Lake City. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it's one of the biggest outdoor retailer shows in the world. While the focus is not really on anything modern, I figured I would check it out and see what goodies I could find. I would like to give a special thanks to Sara Nazzaro, who was kind enough to help me get in at the last minute.It's pretty funny, as I wandered around one of the things that I noticed the most were some of the elaborate booth designs, and the nice simple furniture that a lot of the booths had. I think I was more excited about that than a lot of the products. However, for the rest of this week, I will highlight some of the products that I thought were the coolest.

Sigg has been making water bottles since 1908, so I figure they have had some time to perfect things. The fact that they use epoxy coated aluminum bottles has recently caught a lot of attention since some studies have show that plastic Nalgene bottles can leach harmful chemicals. That means the Sigg bottles are safer to drink out of. Personally I can tell a difference in the taste too, especially after having orange juice in the Sigg for the day, when you wash it out the water tastes like water, not orange water. Perhaps what I like the best about Sigg is their good eye for design. The two bottles shown above are my wife's and mine. The blue (mine) is a soft touch baby blue, which has a nice powder coated type of paint job. Matte and sexy. My wife has the nice orange graphic print on hers. Both have a nice active bottle top, which means the water only comes out when you need it. No hands needed.

Sigg also has some really nice small insulated mugs, which I haven't been able to get my hands on yet, but if I do, I'll be sure to do a write up on them. They are really beautiful.

Check the Sigg home page on sources where to buy.

Well, I finally wrapped up another small project. I have had our Caroma Walvit toilet hooked up and functional for about a week now, but I was waiting until I had the walnut section done to post about it. So far we are liking the toilet, although I am still not sure if it was worth the money. The whole dual flush thing does make me feel good about myself though. Who knows, another 50 years and it will pay itself of in the water we are saving.Today I finally had time to build the walnut column that the toilet hangs from. It is made out of the exact same material as our vanity I did a while ago, so it is a nice match. We are planning on doing white tiles on all the walls, so I think that the walnut will break things up nicely. Plus it lines up with the doorway exactly, so it makes for a pretty dramatic first view into the bathroom. Now that I've got that out of the way, I can start working on getting our ofuro tub installed.

As always, more pics after the jump.

I have been trying to get our Caroma Walvit wall mounted toilet installed since my post last week two weeks ago. Progress has been slow. I finally managed to get the frame that it hangs on secured, and the wall that will be slightly popped out to accommodate the tank framed in. Today I've got the whole day to work on it, so hopefully I will be able to get it all done. I just have to run some copper tube over to it for water supply and hook it into the sewer. After that comes the fun stuff. I am trimming out the wall behind it in walnut to match the vanity. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some good pics of it all done.

Two days ago, I posted about the Blomus Bird feeder. Now that you have flocks of birds coming to your backyard why not indulge them with their own bird house. Actually its not a bird house, its a bird apartment. It's what all the cool modernist birds are living in these days. Available from Sprout Home, these funky ceramic bird shelters are guaranteed to look good hanging in your backyard. Available from Sprout Home for $64.

I never would have thought that I could spend hours looking for toilets. I also never thought that I would spend more than $200 on a toilet either. Looks like I was wrong on both accounts. Since our bathroom vanity does not go straight to the ground, I didn't want a toilet that did either. The thought of having a floor space that is totally open is very appealing to me both in cleaning and aesthetics. Unfortunately wall hung toilets are nothing close to affordable. I finally decided on the Coroma Walvit, for two main reasons. First the specs said it could be mounted inside a 2x4 wall, which was huge for me, and second it has a dual flush, so it saves on a lot of water. Price tag was a very painful $800 after all the little parts I needed. Ouch. The worst of it is that now that I am going to install it, I find the hardware to do it in a 2x4 wall isn't available in the US, so I will have to add a little detail to accommodate an extra 2". The affordable runner up, which I maybe should have gotten was the Kohler Rialto, which can be had for closer to $250

I posted some time ago about my love for Flokati Rugs. They add a great textural element to the room, at a price you can afford. If fluffy and plush is not your thing, then go the other way. Sisal rugs are just as affordable as a good Flokati, and offer a nice texture to a room as well. One thing that I really love about sisal is how freindly it is to the Earth. Natural Area Rugs has some great deals on sisal rugs, without the ugly cloth border that you usually see.

Natural Sisal Area Rugs

When it comes to concrete countertops, things have really taken off lately. About a year and a half ago, I picked up a copy of "Concrete Countertops" by Fu-Tung Cheng and set out to make a concrete top for my tulip base I had rescued from a dumpster. While I highly recommend the book, it would have been nice to have some additional training first. Brandon Gore of Gore Design Co, is filling that void. I have been watching his business evolve over the last couple of years, and I can honestly say he is doing great things for the concrete design world. He has classes for everyone from the hobbyist to the top professional, as well as some great supplies. One thing I love about Brandon is that he always keeps a great green philosophy, using only things that are the most friendly to the environment. If you are looking for tips, or just some inspiration, make sure you check out his web site.

Gore Design Co.

Just passing on some of the email deals that I got recently. The Flor one is 50% off shipping. Not bad if you already planned on ordering from them. CB2 has some nice new stuff. Make sure you check out those chairs. Very chic and only $69. Seems like a killer deal to me.

Lastly from Crate and Barrel a nice teak outdoor set. Love the look, hate the price. Such is the life of a poor modernist.

It seems that there is a positive trend with city dwellers to ditch the old SUV and get out the trusty old bike. Its an idea that helps both the environment and the wallet (especially with crude oil at a record high). Well if you live in a small pad like my wife and I do, then you know that finding a place for the bike to stay in the house can be less than simple. Luckily for us, cycloc is just that, simple. This cone shaped hanger is just the thing to hang your old metal stead on. Designed and produced in Britain, this award winning hanger comes in orange, white, green or 100% recycled plastic black. Available from Cycloc for £49.95.

via designsponge and cocolico

I have been sitting on this one for a long time because I wanted to make sure I did it justice. But I think the time has come. Gleason Woodworking Studio is a Salt Lake City based company that is bringing a touch of modern class custom woodworking. Strictly a one man show, craftsman/designer Chris Gleason has managed to design some wonderful products in the short 8 years he has been designing furniture. In fact his new line "New Modern Design" won some awards last year. Chris is sort of a mentor for me, and I am constantly amazed at his ability to merge great design and affordability. For those that are slightly handy, check out his new book "Building Real Furniture For Everyday Life" available from Amazon.com. If features 18 great projects that you can make in a day, most of which don't require a bunch of tools either. Its a steal at only $15.74. If you are interested in purchasing something from the New Modern Design collection feel free to contact Chris, or send us a note, and we will pass it on.

GRM reader Ann of Seattle wrote in asking:

Do you know of any interest in second-hand house trimmings? I'm about to remodel a 60's house, would love for all those mahogany doors, frames, base boards etc. to go to a good home, not sure how to seek out a market ... I'm in Seattle, a "hotbed" of re-use and reasonably fashion-forward, so there must be someone who wants my mahogany :-) It's a matter of finding the community connections...

I am sure there are some great places, I would give The Re-Store a call, they might be able to help you, or at least point you in the right direction. Besides that look online or in your yellow pages for architectural salvage. If anyone in the is interested, post in the comments, or contact us and we will forward your info to Ann.

A while back I got an email from Jessica that went a little something like this:

Can you please focus on eco vegan products as well? There is such a huge market of people who want it all,

good for the eye, good for the wallet, good for the planet, and good for the animals.

It can be done if enough people ask for it... matt&nat or via vegan is a good example...

Hopefully Jessica knows about OTSU, a San Francisco based store that carries all sorts of vegan goods. I was perusing through their online store, and found all sorts of good stuff, like these Eyeglass Cases by FluffyCo. Handscreened vinyl and great graphics mixed with the knowledge that it hold up to even a hardcore vegans standards makes these inexpensive cases a great find.

FluffyCo Eyeglass Case available here for $16.

Have something you would like us to feature? Contact us and let us know!

I have a sister who is in a family way, so I am always looking out for baby goods for her. gDiapers look like a great little system for the eco conscious parent looking for an alternative to cloth diapers. The fashionable outer covers are reusable, and the inner absorbent center is completely flushable. So what is the flushable center made of you ask? Tree farmed fluff pulp of course. So rest assured just because it is easier on you doesn't mean its bad for the environment. Available in 4 fashionable colors, including our favorite grassroots green. Pricing seems very reasonable (although I admit I am no diaper pricing expert).

Check out the gDiaper website for pricing and tons of other info for the sceptical. Via babygadget.

I don't do too much here on fashion, but this is one I just couldn't pass up. Katrinakaye over at Etsy has made a lovely union of original Mid-Century Scandinavian prints and good old sturdy army messenger bags. The result is a wonderful collection of one of a kind bags that are as affordable as they are original. Katrinakaye lives in Amsterdam, but fortunately shipping is very reasonable on these bags. Most sell for around $30 and ship for around $7, which is a great deal for the sturdy stylish bag you are getting. So far the feedback on these bags has been very positive. She should have a webpage coming soon, so stay tuned for more news.

Check out her Etsy page for all her great bags.

This is for all of those procrastinators who still haven't gotten out their Christmas cards. Potion Brand is a San Francisco based company that produces high quality, and tasteful cards. They have a holiday line out which we think is simply delightful. The pictures above are an example of some of the cards that they have. They come in a box of 12 for $18, which isn't bad when you consider what you pay for one awful Hallmark card. Each box contains three different designs, and there are three different box sets available. We also admire their commitment to the environment by using environmentally responsible inks.

Support our modern grassroots artists, and get them here.

Here is a product that is aimed at kids, but could probably come in handy for just about anyone in the family. The Peanut Step Stool from Nest is a good example of a simple concept that is well executed. A step stool does not have to be anything elaborate, just sturdy, and hopefully a bit attractive. This stool easily pulls off both of those, plus they threw in a handle to make it convenient to carry around. Perhaps the thing I like the most about Nest though is their philosophy, and commitment to green design. I applaud anyone who can make an attractive modern product out of sustainable resources all at a price that I can afford. This stool is available directly from Nest for $54.

Available here.

Yesterday I posted about some cool letterpressed cards, today, I am back with some more. This time they are from a great little store I discovered over at designsponge. 16 Sparrows carries all sort of wonderful cards and invitations. They are all hand silk screened on heavy weight bag kraft paper produced from 100% recycled fiber. If you haven't checked them out already, make sure you do.

Buy them here.

Via designsponge.

No, that's not a type-o, I do know how to spell bamboo. These are some hip new bowls from a company called Bambu. They come in a six inch soup sized bowl, and a 11.5 inch serving bowl. The inside of the hand-coiled bowls are left their natural bamboo color, but are lacquered so that they are waterproof and food safe. The outsides are lacquered as well, and come in either natural, (naked) blueberry, or my personal favorite, tomato. Besides just being very handsome bowls, they are very earth friendly since they are made from bamboo, which is a great renewable resource. All that goodness for a price you can't beat. A set of three 6-inch bowls is only $39, and the 11.5-inch serving bowl is $45.

Via Charles and Marie

Available here.

It's hard enough to find a couch with a decent design these days at an affordable price, and when you throw green built into the whole equation, it becomes almost impossible. Well I think that the guys over at EcoFurniture.com have done a pretty decent job with their Savoy Collection of sofa's, loveseats, and armchairs. The sofa seems to be the best value to me, coming in just under $1000 for a custom built couch. Constructed of a solid wood frame that is kiln dried to prevent warping. Plywood used for shaping is always backed with solid wood. All wood used is from sustainably harvested sources. See their environmental policy here. Here is what they have to say about it:

The Savoy Collection uses a skilled combination of minimal lines and lush cushioning to give a modern, balanced look to your living room. These pieces feature generous, squared off, wide-set arms that offer a stylish symmetry. The smooth, semi-attached back pillows are as supportive as they are pleasing to the eye. Loose, boxed seat cushions provide a responsive comfort with clean lines that still add allure. A combination of double and single top stitching gives a well tailored charm, and extra-wide wooden legs provide compact style.

It is available with a number of different fabric choices in a sofa, loveseat, armchair, or ottoman.