I don't have cats, and it's a good thing. I'm not sure I could handle the whole litter box thing. If I did have a cat, and did need a litter box I would definitely have my eye on this new one from ModKat. Combining both form and function this may be the best looking and useful litter box I have ever seen. It features "rooftop" access to help give you cat privacy and keep kids away from the place of business. Inside is a reusable liner to hold the kitty litter and a handy little scoop with integral brush hangs on the side. It's available in several colors and goes on sale this summer for $180. If you preorder before June 14 and use code modkat20 you can save yourself $20 off that price.

Available from ModKat for $160.

Come on cat lovers, tell me what you think....

The Madrid-based company Nine to Nine offers a wonderful collection of modern furniture and design for babies and kids. Among the standout items is the Zebra crib, a more playful version of the standard crib with its slightly off-set bars (or stripes). I also love the Caterpillar stool, which is incredibly versatile. Alone it's a stool, linked together it forms a bench - a great example of form and function! Check out the rest of their collection here.

For purchasing information, contact Nine to Nine directly.

Here is an amazing documentary done by the BBC several years ago that covers the lifes work of Mies van der Rohe and the lasting influences that he has had on architecture.

Grab some popcorn, it's a long one...

Parts 2-7 after the jump.

Target has done it again! Somehow they manage to team up with some of the best designers out there to bring affordable design to the masses. Beginning this June (as in right now!) Target will offer an exclusive, limited-edition collection from designer Dror Benshetrit. Amongst the wares are these awesome nesting shelves for only $89. There are also loads of pillows, bedding, stationery, and a few other furniture items and decorative accessories. Check out the full collection here.

The Dror for Target collection will be arriving at your local Target any day now, so keep your eyes peeled. A few select items will also be available online.

The Dror for Target Collection: $0.99 - $89.99

Heath makes some of the most beautiful tile I have ever seen. I have been drooling over their tiles for years now but the prices have always kept me from seriously considering them for any project. The seconds and overstocks section on their website has always been a temptation to me, although they state that they are for pick up only and they won't ship. I wonder if anyone has ever been able to convince them to ship seconds? If not, it looks like I may have to take a road trip to Sausalito one of these days.

Heath overstock and seconds, prices starting at $5 sq/ft

A lovely, 1,800 square foot home tucked away in Los Angeles. I love how the entire focal point of the home, whether you're indoors or out, is that massive tree! Designed byStandard.  

©2002-2006 standard® | Tree House | Los Angeles, CA
1,800 sq ft | new residence

Project Team: Jeffrey Allsbrook | Silvia Kuhle | Nicholas Hopson | Sylwia Pasciak

Check out the rest of their portfolio at www.standard-la.com

What do you get when you have a name like Bernadette Sipkes, you live in Aukland New Zealand and you get your hands on a Gocco? The answer is an amazing portfolio of mid-century inspired prints. Bernadette says she draws her inspiration from "mid-century kitchenware, furniture and textile prints; vintage wallpaper; Scandinavian design; Florence Broadhurst; Lotta Jansdotter; Marimekko and; Lefor-Openo" It shows in her work too. She has a lovely collection of prints available on her Etsy shop, with extremely affordable prices starting at $15 a print. Shipping isn't even too big of a deal with most prints costing just over $4 to ship to the continental US.

Available from the Sugarloop Etsy shop starting at $15.

I'm a huge fan of CB2's dinnerware and am excited to learn that much of it is on sale right now for crazy-cheap! Appetizer plates for 95 cents, dinner plates for 3 bucks... it's nuts! I've been coveting the Lamina dinnerware ever since it showed up in their catalog a while ago. I've also been meaning to grab a few more settings of the Bubbles dinnerware to keep on hand in case any of the pieces I already have happen to break (which I doubt, because they're über sturdy, but you never know). So if you've been wanting to replace your old dishes, get a few backup pieces, or just like to have options, now's the time to grab some really high quality dinnerware for really affordable prices!

CB2 Dinnerware Sale: $0.95 - $10.95

  

I love it when I see modern kids stuff, especially the hard to find stuff like doll houses. This labor of love comes from My Modern Mini. Designed and built by an architect who has a love for building models this is the first of hopefully a long series of modern doll houses. The house is 1:12 scale built from MDF and painted with a primer coat ready for customization. Current introductory pricing is $299. If that is too steep for you, hopefully these pictures will inspire you to make your own.

Available for $299 from My Modern Mini

Lots more pictures after the jump.

All Photo's via the Mini House Flikr page.

Heather Palmer has mad skills when it comes to working with glass. Her Nest bowls, each with their own unique forms, are absolutely stunning in their organic and almost otherworldly appearance. Though their intricate lattice work appears delicate, they are quite sturdy, not unlike actual nests. Heather offers her wares through a variety of galleries and shops, but recently opened an Etsy store with the desire to interact directly with those purchasing her work. I can honestly say that out of all the incredible glass and ceramics I've seen on Etsy, nothing has struck me quite like Heather's work. I am in awe.

Links:
Blog
Portfolio
Etsy Shop

Nest Bowls by Heather Palmer: $60 - $210

As my lovely wife and I have recently welcomed a beautiful second child into our family we have been amazed at how much more modern kids stuff is available now compared to two years ago. Point in case - rocking chairs. When we got our storytime chair from nursery works it was far from affordable, but there wasn't really a whole lot of choices at the time. Enter 2009 and now Ikea has released a rocking version of their wonderful (and dare I say iconic) POÄNG chair. We saw it Saturday at our local Ikea, and it looks pretty sharp. It's just as comfortable as the original iteration and starting at $129 just as affordable. Best of all you can use all the regular POÄNG covers to tailor it to your individual tastes.

Available from Ikea starting at $129.

picture via

The Clock Clock is the brainchild of Swedish design group Humans Since 1982. It features a set of 24 analog clocks whose hands rotate to create the illusion of a digital timepiece. As the time passes, each set of hands spins and whirls, performing its own unique choreography. Seen as a whole, this process is simply mesmerizing. Not sure yet if this clock will ever be available commercially, but it is a fascinating concept nonetheless. In the meantime, you can download a free typographic version of the Clock Clock for all your clock-font needs.

via

THE BEN ROSE HOME - To some it may have been the first modern home ever seen. The iconic modern house in Ferris Buellers Day off and the unforgettable scene in which a gorgeous old Ferarri is sent crashing through an equally gorgeous garage wall. If you've ever wondered about that house here's your chance to find out more, or even buy it for a cool 2. 3 million.

Designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century the home was originally built in 1953. At 5,300 square feet it has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. For all the nitty gritty details check out the for sale page on Realtor.com.

The Ben Rose Home.

Thanks RP!

It's been a while since I've come across some shelving that I actually thought was attractive and unique, but those were my exact thoughts when I saw these fishbone selves from Overstock. Usually when I find something I think is unique I find out from one of my more educated readers that it is really just a knock off of some piece I had never heard of. Has anyone seen this design before? The one review wasn't super favorable about the quality of the piece, which might make it a bad choice considering the $280 price tag for the small shelf. Sure is purdy though...

Available from Overstock.com from $280 - $462.

I was browsing around Ol' Etsyland when I spotted this lovely handmade, MCM-Style table from seller Bald Man Mod. It struck me as something wonderful, so I thought I'd share. Here's what Baldy himself has to say about the table:

The bald man releases the beast! This is a freshly built mid century modern style table- it ain't 50 years old, but has the same swank feel.

Here are the details:
27.5 inches long, with the table top tapering from 14 inches to 11.5 in width. Table itself is 11 inches tall plus the leg height. The inner cabinet is 9.5 inches deep, and the door is 11.5 inches long by 9.5 inches tall. The inner space is also 9.5 inches tall.

Made of 3/4 inch birch ply, with a nice dose of semigloss water based polycrylic. The door and inner wall are veneered with walnut and a hot racing stripe of maple. Used biscuit joinery to keep it together, and veneered with a vacuum press.

Customize the table by choosing leg style and height - hairpin or square tapered steel from 12" to 18". Legs are vintage, fresh from their original boxes. All tables are made to order.

Custom, handmade MCM-style table from Bald Man Mod - $350

Umbra has a few new products out for spring, one of which is this hookaboo multi-hook rack. Available in either espresso or natural bamboo the rack measures about 13" wide and 3" high. While I really like the design of the hooks, I'm not sure I'm too big of a fan of the bamboo. It's too bad the don't have any other options. The price seems about right at $26, or you can buy a single hook for $8.

Available at Umbra for $26.

I love toys, especially mechanical ones that are full of engineering genius like these ones from Chico and Francisco Bicalho. These three toys, the Skidum, Awika and Le Pinch are all part of the MoMA stores "Destination Brazil" series. Each toy winds up and moves in it's own special way. Some shoot sparks, some glow in the dark, and all of them look just as brilliant sitting there as they do in action.

Available from the MoMA store for $15.

Another up-and-coming designer with talent and vision!  Stephanie Choplin is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Industrial Design from l'Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique. The fresh-faced, 23-year-old already has an impressive portfolio with product designs ranging from dishwashers to tombstones. I'm particularly fond of her Tetris Potsand Wood Bulb pendant light. Check out her awesome shelving system as well - a set of 6 'blocks' you can arrange however you like! If these projects are any indication, Stephanie definitely has a bright future ahead of her!

See more of Stephanie:
Portfolio
Coroflot
Behance

These animal illustrations by Mignon Khargie are fantastic in their simplicity and playfulness! A little reminiscent of Charlie Harper, too. Pick up a few prints for the kid's room or for yourself. I just love the dancing foxes - which one is your favorite?

See more work at zand2ohs.com.

Mignon Khargie 'Animal' Prints: $30 - $35

P.S. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

I appreciate it when people put a little bit of thought and design into simple items. These doors stops from Josh Owen fit that bill perfectly. The "U" shape makes it convenient to hang them on the door knob when not in use, and the silicone makes sure that when you put them on the ground they won't be sliding around. Available in packs of three with a black, gray and green doorstop in each,the $20 price is a more than what you would pay for a wooden wedge. I'd still be tempted to buy a set though, that is if I ever actually needed a door stop.

Available from Design Public for $20