Looking for a little modern twist to your stationery? Check out Modern Printed Matter, a paper goods shop featuring the designs of owner/artist Anna Cote. While many of her designs are inspired by nature, I am particularly fond of the classic furniture series, including this pregnancy journal featuring an Eames rocker. So if you're looking for fun, modern stationery, stop by the Modern Printed Matter Etsy shop or click here for a list of retail locations that carry MPM designs.
While this video doesn't have a lot of vintage footage, it's great to see some of his work from the 60's still preserved. I've added staying in suite 606 to my list of things to do before I die.
With the holidays this last week we had some great posts on some of the Utahmodern.org blogs. Liam did some rearranging in his studio apartment. A closer inspection of his picture revealed that we have yet another thing in common, a love of old cameras. Jory also started up a new blog this week called Dot Gain and started things off with some great post's including one about Charlie Harper. Stay tuned for lots of more great things from Jory. To round things out Laine is up to more of his mod fab tricks and built a gorgeous desk and chair set for his son for Christmas. Head on over to his blog and give him some feedback about what you think about it. Who knows if there is enough interest in his stuff we may have to open a GRM store ;).
I love children's furniture. It's been refreshing to see that in the last couple of years there has actually been some really well designed furniture available for kids out there. The good thing about kids furniture is that often times the diminutive size translates into more affordable prices. That is certainly the case with this Pkolino's Little One's Table and Chairs. This table and chair set is available in white or orange and sells for $129. The styling is spot on for children's furniture, the design overall is quite mature, but the popsicle stick legs give it the hint of playfulness that it need.
2008 was a big year for us hear at Grassrootsmodern. Like the year before, we experienced a huge growth in our reader base. A special thanks to everyone for spreading the word about the website and helping fuel the affordable modern revolution. Our most popular posts of 2008 were;
In addition to our normal content of 2008 we also had a wildly successful Affordable Kitchen Contest with close to 20 entries and over 600 votes. Not only did we get to see some beautiful affordable modern kitchens, it also gave me some great inspiration for our own kitchen remodel (which is getting close). We are planning on doing an Affordable Modern Bathroom Contest in 2009 and possibly others. Stay tuned for more details.
We also saw our little family grow in 2008 when Capree joined us as a blogger. She has been delivering up some quality content and brings a fresh new angle to Grassrootsmodern. In 2009 we also plan on bringing on a few new bloggers. If you are interested, make sure you drop us a line and let us know. Good writing skills and a passion for affordable design are required.
Besides running Grassrootsmodern we also branched out a little this year and started up Utahmodern.org for the locals that have an appreciation for modern design. It's only been up for a couple of months now, but we have seen a slow but steady growth of our little community over there. If you live in Utah, make sure you stop by and check it out.
With the winter chill comes the joys of heating a house. Our old house had radiant, which was not only very efficient and comfortable, but also didn't dry out our house to bad. Our new house has normal forced air and a house full of chapped and cracked lips has finally convinced me we need a humidifier. Of course the first one I thought of was the gorgeous plus minus zero humidifier. Try as I might though, I couldn't talk myself into dropping $300 for it. Blomus also makes a good looking one but it is passive evaporation and I don't think that is aggressive enough for our dry house. After a lot of searching I finally settled on the Air-O-Swiss evaporator. The $130 price tag is a little high, but it was the best compromise between high prices and good looks. One of the features I am excited about is the fact that you can fill it with a pitcher of water without having to open anything or carry anything to the sink. It should get here in about a week so I'll let you know how it goes.
I sort of have a thing for wall clocks, not because I'm preoccupied with knowing the time, but because I think the design possibilities are endless! That's why I am so thrilled to share these awesome clocks designed by Keith Moore of Pilot Design. After graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design from Colorado State University, Keith moved to Minneapolis where he currently works as an interactive designer. He has been designing bespoke modern furniture for about 10 years, often using bamboo and other sustainable materials. Be sure to check out Keith's sweet portfolio at www.pilotdesign.com.
I was in a local kitchen store a couple of days ago when I came across this great looking toaster by Cloer. I had never heard of the brand before, but I am a huge fan of their styling. The toaster has a clean brushed steel look to it with a simple control interface. While it has the looks of a high end toaster, the price is quite reasonable at $50. Not surprisingly it looks like Target is one of the biggest retailers of Cloer products, although they are only available online. The rest of the line includes a double waffle maker, electric BBQ, coffee maker, roll baker and electric water kettle.
I don't have kids, but if I did I would love for them to have cool toys like this pull-along zebra from Giggle. This high-quality, high-value toy is made from 100% organic rubberwood and is only $22. I'd consider that a pretty good deal for such a fun, modern, and sustainable toy! "This black-and-white striped pal is sure to get your little mover and shaker up and walking! An extra fun detail: when you pull the zebra, the head nods up and down. Plus, it's made from replenishable wood and it's also safe, sturdy, nontoxic, and environmentally friendly for a toy you can feel good about."
If you happen to have any money leftover after the holidays, check out the sales over at ReproDepot (my favorite online fabric store!) They have fabrics that would be perfect for that chair you've been meaning to re-upholster, or those pillows you wanted to make six months ago, or those roman shades you thought would be easy to do yourself - but still haven't done. They carry a lot of really awesome fabrics, including designs from Marimekko, which are on sale now from about 20% - 50% off. So go pick up some fabric and get going on those projects!
I found this awesome lucite candle holder while perusing the holiday section of 2modern and had to share. I love the look and versatility of this pie ce - the unique design of these lucite and aluminum candle holders allows them to stand alone, be stacked for height or connected for length. Even cooler than this customizable candelabra is the dainty price it carries. A set of three is only 20 bones! So if you're looking for a centerpiece that packs some serious design oomph, head on over to 2modern now!
It's been a busy week over at UtahModern.org this week. Ron from the Green Ant announced that he will be moving his store downtown, Laine blogged about some new affordable modern doors that he finished up, and Liam blogged about the great deal he got at Ikea on some Sorbo doors. I also posted about a great local modern warehouse sale that is still ongoing. The rumor on the block is that there are some great deals to be had. In addition, our introductions group is starting to pick up. If you are local, make sure you head on over to see what else you have been missing.
Lets admit it, when winter comes sometimes there is noting better than coming out of the cold to a nice hot drink. If it's cold enough the best part is just warming up your hands on the mug. These gorgeous Radiator mugs designed by Stephen Reed are made just for that. The fins disperse the heat and help prevent your hands from getting too hot. The mugs are made of white bone china and look absolutely stunning.
Available at Zinc Details for $27.
Via Remodelista
I am in love, LOVE, with the beautiful 8-bit/pixel art by Craig D. Adams, aka superbrothers. It's a refreshing contrast to the current hyper-real, 3-D, CGI aesthetic. Adams, who works out of Toronto, has created lovely little pixel illustrations for such clients as WIRED Magazine, ESPN, and the New York Times, to name a few. Watch as his blocky figures come to life in this video for musician Jim Guthrie:
If you are a procrastinator like me, you still haven't gotten your Christmas decorations up. We are vowing to go and get a Christmas tree tonight and pump a little more festivity into our little home. The good news is that there are tons of modern Christmas ornaments and decorations on sale right now. When it comes to modern Christmas decorations I like to keep it simple. Here are a couple of ones I've got my eye on; (starting top left) orange on clear moroccan ornament ($4.95) and clear glass bubble balls ($1.95 - $3.95) from CB2, white modern Christmas tree ($41.40) and beaded branch stocking ($11) from West Elm, Ikea KALLT 18 pack of assorted straw stars ($4.99) and Christmas tree mat with lighting ($4.99) and silver bells ($4.99). When I was at Ikea last Friday I noticed that all their decorations were on sale. I am kicking myself for not having picked any up.
I take my lunch to work every day. I guess I am totally spoiled to have a wife that is an amazing cook, and the idea of having to get something less than amazing isn't too appealing. Because I am always toting my own food around I have a mild obsession with lunch boxes, especially bento style ones that are all compact. That coupled with my love of baby blue makes me a complete sucker for this Oots lunch box. This little kit contains 4 bpa free, microwave safe (my microwave ate my last bento) containers that all fit together in a little traveling case. There is even a place for your drink (Klean Kanteen shown but not included). Sign me up!
Available from Delight from $35-$45.
if you are looking for a good easy craft project to do, look no further than Swiss Miss. Tina posted a fun little project yesterday called Swiss Miss alpenglow. You basically just have to download the template, get handy with your exacto, add a little tea light and you'll have a great little alpenglow of your your own. I love projects like this that are cheap, easy, and look great when they are done.To get the the templates you need, head over to Swiss Miss
I am really loving these playful ceramic pieces by Circa Ceramics. Based in Chicago, Circa Ceramics is a collaborative effort between the brilliant duo Nancy Pizarro and Andy Witt. Together, they create fun and functional dishware, cylinders, bowls, and magnets - or as they say, 'porcelain goodies for the adventurous entertainer'. These pieces are sure to add some excitement to your dinner table or that perfect pop of color you've been looking for.
More about Circa Ceramics:
Circa Ceramics is a two-person (Andy Witt & Nancy Pizarro) studio that came to be in the fall of 1999, when we began designing a line of tableware with an emphasis on functionality, color, and fun. Our specialties lie in the shape design and the decoration - consistent, usable shapes with the liberty to mix and match the ware with regards to design elements and color. We hope you find our ware exciting to look at, as well as useful! We continue to create pieces in our north-side Chicago studio, and our work is available to the masses primarily through Etsy,art festivals and the occasional open studio weekend.
With the holidays this last week we had some great posts on some of the Utahmodern.org blogs. Liam did some 
With the winter chill comes the joys of heating a house. Our old house had radiant, which was not only very efficient and comfortable, but also didn't dry out our house to bad. Our new house has normal forced air and a house full of chapped and cracked lips has finally convinced me we need a humidifier. Of course the first one I thought of was the gorgeous 
I was in a local kitchen store a couple of days ago when I came across this great looking toaster by 
I found this 
It's been a busy week over at 
I love the holidays. Everyone is happy, the use of glitter is legitimized, and there are always 
Lets admit it, when winter comes sometimes there is noting better than coming out of the cold to a nice hot drink. If it's cold enough the best part is just warming up your hands on the mug. These gorgeous Radiator mugs designed by 
I am in love, LOVE, with the beautiful 8-bit/pixel art by Craig D. Adams, aka 
I take my lunch to work every day. I guess I am totally spoiled to have a wife that is an amazing cook, and the idea of having to get something less than amazing isn't too appealing. Because I am always toting my own food around I have a mild obsession with lunch boxes, especially bento style ones that are all compact. That coupled with my love of baby blue makes me a complete sucker for this 
if you are looking for a good easy craft project to do, look no further than 
I am really loving these playful ceramic pieces by 