Here is a quick post via the lovely ladies at BLTD. It is a honey comb lamp that folds up flat to ship. The concept is great, and the price is too, only $30 plus shipping. Just think, even if you got it and hated it, you are still out less than if you would have went out for a dinner for two.
Available from Kyouei Design for $30
I admit the fact that I have been practically obsessed with walnut lately may have played into the attraction to these frames. These hive inspired frames make a retro classy holder for some of your best memories. Priced at $20 they are not super expensive. Unfortunately it seems that $20 will only get you one frame, not three like shown in the picture. Who knows maybe you could buy one a month for three months, the it wouldn't feel like your were blowing $60 on a picture frame. Designed by Boom Design. Make sure you check out booms other goods.
Available onine at Wexner Center Bookshop for $20.
Yep, as awful as it sounds, my wife's birthday is actually the day after our anniversary. To those guys out there, you're thinking, wow, hooked up. One gift, and you're covered. No such luck. My wife is smarter than that. Before we got married she made me sign in ink, a statement saying I would never ever combine the two.This year I splurged a little. My wife has always wanted an arco lamp. I obviously couldn't afford the original made by Flos (ylighting has it for a mere $2,300). I had seen several knock offs around town (discussed here in the forums) but really didn't like how far most of them strayed from the original design. I called a local store, By Design, to check prices and they told me they had a new model in that was almost exactly the same as the original. It sported a large square marble base and the square arch tubing. I went to look at it, and it was spot on. It is made in China, but the craftsmanship seems very quality. The original manufacture is italstudio mfg ltd. (no sign of them on the web) and it was apparently imported through Chair Tech out of Canada. The price was $400. While not exactly affordable for a floor lamp, compared to $2,300 it was a total steal.
I admit that when it comes to nesting bowls, I'm a complete sucker. The best deals can usually be found by going with something melamine like the Sunami bowls. If you are not a big fan of melamine, there are some decent deals out there for porcelain nesting bowls. The MoMA Store currently has a lovely set of bowls designed by Ditte Fischer in 2000. Part of a limited run exclusively for MoMA this set of four bowls normally sells for $124, but is on sale for $92. It comes in blue, green, or orange (pictured).Available from the MoMA Store for $92.
Chiasso has always been a great source for affordable modern design for the home. If you don't already, make sure you check out their website on a regular basis. The study desk and chair is currently on sale for just under $150 for the set. Thats a great price on a nice simple modern desk and chair. The high gloss laminate wood and chome legs are a nice clean look. It doesn't appear to have any drawers, so clutter may be a problem if you need to store stuff in your desk.
Available from Chiasso for $146
Designsponge has posted a couple things about Reprodepot.com lately. If you haven't checked out their website ever, I suggest you do. They sell retro print fabrics among other things. Many of their fabrics are very affordable, starting at $8.50 a yard. Checking out their selection, I can't help but think about how easy it would be to buy a yard of fabric, and stretch it on a frame. If you are looking for inspiration or examples, check out the Poppycotton wall hangings, or the inhabit stretched canvases at designpublic.Shown above is Maxi Mondo - Cola, which is one of the more expensive at $18 a yard, but it has an awesome nubby texture which I love.
I got an email from Hayden, a loyal GRM reader. All it said was BAM! and had a link to DWR. Well, BAM! is right. I'm not sure if this is a misprint or what, but it is a great deal. The quilted tweed bed mats (on top of the comforter) seen in this picture normally retail for $228. Why someone would pay that much, I have no idea. However, the sale price of $29 seems right on. Who knows, it could make a great yoga mat or even a rug. At that price, who cares what you choose to do with it, you need it.
Available at DWR for $29. Thanks Hayden. Anyone else have any great tips, pass them on.
Yesterday I mentioned that I was starting to do some cabinetry. It's funny how it started. At the time I had just spent some time with Chris Gleason of Gleason Woodworking, and was wanting to start doing cabinetry and custom woodworking. My friend and architect Seth had just bought a new house that he gutted and was remodeling. I mentioned to him I would love to do his cabinetry. We agreed to trade his cabinetry for my house plans. I scrambled to buy all the tools I needed and rent a small space I could put them all. Yesterday I installed the first of his cabinets, pictured to the left. It is a drafting height counter and set of drawers in his master bedroom. It almost doesn't look it in the picture, but it stands almost 40" tall. All the drawer fronts are European baltic birch, and the top is a natural birch with an exposed 1 1/2" font edge. It was finished with a water based polyurethane. All the credit of design goes to Seth. As far as build time goes, I did it between working lots of overtime, but it probably took me around 8-10 actual hours of working on it. The crazy thing is how inexpensive it was to build. It was probably about $170 in materials. Not too shabby.
I have been into the design scene for just a little over two years now, and blogging for just under a year, but I must admit it has had a change on me. Seeing all those people like Furni, MAKR, Gleason Woodworking, etc start out with just a dream and be able to make something of their passions has lead me to believe I could actually have a job I enjoy. Unfortunately blogging doesn't pay the bills, so I had to look for an alternative creative outlet. My real passion lies in furniture design. I considered seriously for a while going to ID school, but the reality is I want to work for myself, so a degree is probably not too important. Inspired by my friend and artist Chris Gleason, I decided woodworking would be satisfying and potentially profitable. So I threw caution to the wind a couple months ago, and rented a room a few blocks from my house, and bought a couple thousand dollars of tools and went to work. This morning I am going to install my first job. Its a countertop height desk in my architects house (another great example of affordable modern housing, more on that later). I'll be back with pictures later today or possibly tomorrow.
Now that the weather is starting to warm up, its time to think about getting some of those wonderful summer hobbies started. A favorite around our house is gardening. Whether its is planting vegetables outside, or repotting indoor plants, spring is the time to do it. If you are looking for a sturdy and bold pot, check out this cast aluminum pot by Design House Stockholm. It sounds super sturdy and looks stunning. Prices range from $24 - $68 for diameters of 3 1/2" to 7". Its a little on the expensive side, but these beauties are sure to withstand the test of time.
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.
Lets face it, there is nothing affordable about sofas. I sometimes hesitate to list bigger items like sofa's and beds, because they are big purchases and highly dependent on personal taste. So what may be worth it to some, just isn't to others. I am starting to decide though, that any couch under $1000 is at least doable, if not affordable. The Penta, from SOHO based apt just barely meets that criteria. Priced at $998 on sale this sofa boasts a number of cool configurations that makes its not so affordable price fairly reasonable. The top flips down to alternate between a relaxing deep-level seat with a high back rest, and a normal depth seat with a low backrest. It also flips out to make a nice double bed (see pics after the jump). It comes in a number of colors and two different materials, my personal favorite being the 100% cotton Bari.
For those of you looking for a last minute gift for that special mother in your life, make sure you check out BLTD. Last week they picked some affordable treasures for moms that you won't want to miss. They even broke it up into categories by price, under $25, under $50, under $100 and over $100 so there should be something for everyone's budget.
Its been a while since I featured anything from Etsy, so I figured it was about time. This week is a nice little case for your business cards, or any other card that size. If you are looking to add some cute organization to your purse, check it out. It's a great place to put your drivers license and credit cards, and it is not nearly as bulky as other card holders. Simple, stylish, and very affordable. You almost can't go wrong. Designed and made by misslilamae. Warning, this one is by far the cutest she has, and there is only one available.
Here is a nice set of plates from Bed Bath and Beyond. I love the rounded square shape and the offset border. The fact that it's white insures that it will go with whatever decor you have in your house, and that it will still look good in a couple of years from now. Each set includes 4 each of the following: 11" dinner plate, 8 1/4" salad plate, 8 1/2" soup bowl and 12-ounce mug, and sells for $79 for a 16 piece set.
Available from Bed Bath and Beyond for $79.
Urban Outfitters has been a favorite of mine for a long time. They always have funky stuff at decent prices. Its kinda like going to a flea market though, sometimes they have just the perfect thing for an amazing price, and sometimes its a total wash. Urban Outfitters shares a little secret in common with Target, the have great stuff that is only available online. That means if you check out your local brick and mortar you are bound to miss out on great deals like this Retro Sofa for only $499. This classic modern low laying sofa has a timeless style that should especially appeal to the mid century modern folks. Personally I love the nicely textured rust tweed.
Available from Urban Outfitters for $499
Via BLTD
We recently had to make the unfortunate plunge from being a one car family to becoming a two car family. While I love our Golf TDI, it just wasn't too good at hauling plywood. With all the extra sets of keys bouncing around the house, I figured it was probably time to find something to organize them a little. First thing to come to mind was the Blomus Key Rack. This stylish stainless steel rack lets you slide a key into a narrow slot, and the rest of the keys hang off of it. The best price I could find for it was at Modern Motive, where it is only $19. I just wonder if it still looks as nice with my bulky keys and key fob hanging off of it.
Available from Modern Motive for $19.
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.
notNeutral has been a long time favorite of mine. They consistently come up with great fresh products that are generally very affordable. Design Public recently announced that they are now carrying some notNeutral Melamine trays. At only $18 a pop, these colorful little trays are just the thing for moving your breakfast outside, or adding a splash of color to a dull display. They come in an assortment of colors, and are a 15 inch diameter. I was a little disappointed to find that they didn't have blue.
Available from Design Public for $18.
Todd Oldham of La-Z-Boy fame has been bringing a nice modern angle to the overstuffed recliner for some time now. What a lot of people don't know, is that he also has a great collection of accessories. I managed to find most of them on Target's website, unfortunately they are for online purchase only. To bad too, because I would hate to blow $40 on a nice Walnut Gear Vase (shown) without being able to look at the quality first. Never the less, if you need some great MCM pieces to go with your Jet Set styled interior, make sure you check it out.
Available from Target $29-$349