A friend of mine recently turned me on to UK shelter mag LivingEtc by unloading about 6 or 7 issues on me. I've been poring over each and every one with zeal! SUCH an inspiring magazine! I thought I'd share the wealth, so to speak, with these Christmas decor ideas from the pages of LivingEtc. So, sit back, and get inspired! Be sure to stop on over to their site for more modern Christmas eye candy.
More images after the jump!
[All images from LivingEtc]
If you are looking for one last thing to wrap up and put under your Christmas tree, look no further. I recently received this book "Julius Shulman Modernism Rediscovered" from a friend, and it has absolutely blown my mind. Starting in the late 30's and continuing all the way through the mid 70's, this Taschen book has some of Shulman greatest work. It has been said the Shulman is single-handedly responsible for America's love affair with modern architecture, and after reading this book I can see why. The best part of all is the incredibly affordable price, a mere $20.
Available from Amazon for $20.
SLC fans rejoice, there are even a few pages dedicated to the beehive state.
Reconstructing Ideas creates collages that are equal parts typography, vintage ads, and plain ol' awesomeness. Mundania Horvath is the creative mind behind this art and design studio based in Pittsburgh, PA. Check out more of her design work here.
Inspiration:
The city of Pittsburgh to me is a pulsating life source, a constantly revived heartbeat in a body of architectural skeletons. Growing up near this city, I’ve been inspired by the notion of demolishing the old to rebuild it in a way that allows you to see it with new eyes - paying homage to history while always looking ahead. I was surrounded by the looming remnants of steelmills, abandoned warehouses and weather-worn advertisements emblazoned on the sides of buildings. All of them put there one time with a purpose, still remain there tarnished and a testament to time, the way it changes, the way it doesn’t change anything.
Like what you see? Reconstructing Ideas has an Etsy shop! Prints available from $10.50 - $22.95.
Traditional Christmas trees not really your thing? Thanks to Thomas Hourdain, there is a great alternative to that big bushy green thing. These Sapinos measure 40 cm (15.7") high and are perfect for someone who is looking for a non-traditional Christmas tree. The artist series features 15 tree's decorated by graphic designers from France, Italy and Brazil. If you think you have the skills, you can even order a plain white one to "decorate" yourself.
I don't own a bread box, but the Bread Bin from Morph has me thinking that I really need one. I didn't know I needed one, but apparently I do, because this melamine and beechwood beauty is calling my name (and it won't stop). I'll take one in white, please.
Bread Bin by Morph available from GNR8: $89
P.S. You can even use the lid as a cutting board - just turn it over. Voila! Pretty spiffy, I say.
Here's another great modern home for sale in Salt Lake City with some amazing interior elements and a great neighborhood. Located in the 9th and 9th area, this home was built with the environment in mind. It has an ICF foundation and SIP construction with R40 in the walls and an amazing R80 to top it off. It even has one of my favorite things, radiant heat. The price tag is set at $685,000 which is a little steep for my blood, but for all the green construction that has gone into this thing it's probably a good deal. For more details and lots more pictures, check out Utahmodern.org or the Realtor Andrew Stones' blog.
Yasha Butler creates some of the most beautifully simple ceramics I've ever seen! I really love her Off Circle collection, with its subtle color glazes and organic shapes. Each of her ceramic pieces has an incredible tactile quality - I just want to reach through my monitor and touch them! Be sure to check out her gorgeous porcelain jewelry as well.
About:
Taking cues from nature, such as the smoothly textured surface of a sand dollar, the malleable shape of a jellyfish, and the clean curves of a sand dune, I create forms that calm and encourage the act of touch. I employ the pure feel of bare porcelain with the hues of bone, water, stone and small splashes of intense color. Utilizing the stark contrast of light and shadow, I emphasize the contours of my pieces and delineate their boundaries. Although my inspiration draws on organic matter, I aim to create forms far from those found in nature.
Yasha Butler ceramic vessels and jewelry: $28 - $46
Looking for some last minute stocking stuffers? Here are a couple cool/unique products that I found over at Fredflare.com. These Talking Japanese Watches come in a variety of colors, and you can even mix and match parts. Best part of all though is that with the push of a button it will tell you the time... in Japanese. On sale for $15.
The Repro Depot note card book includes 24 retro patterned cards and envelopes. These kickback patterns could be just the thing for the MCM lover on your shopping list. $16
The white Russian Dolls are actually Russian Doll Measuring cups! Includes six standard measuring cups made of sturdy plastic. Stack them all together inside the largest 5" doll or spread them out. $16
Last but not least are some retro inspired headphones for the music lover. Imported from Japan these Zumreed Headphones come in lime, pink, blue, white or black. If you want the white, better act quick. There are only two left! $65
Ah, two things I love: typography and felt! The Eat, Drink, and Be Merry coaster set from Pepper Sprouts is laser-cut from thick, industrial wool felt. A cheery way to protect those tabletops!
Available from Pepper Sprouts: $28 / set of 4
Psst, Typophiles! Also check out the Typography Wood Wall Art from Pepper Sprouts - available for pre-order!
A vintage film (mid-1960's) on the importance of architecture in everyday life. Produced by Ann Seltman Smart, formerly of WPTF-AM in Raleigh, North Carolina. Narrated by Ted Daniel.
I really enjoy Meg Hunt's illustrations! They have a touch of 50s and 60s whimsy that is so endearing! Be sure to take a gander at Meg's portfolio. If you like what you see, check out her shop, where select illustrations are available as screenprints.
www.meghunt.com
Sometime finding good Christmas ornaments can be a little tricky. While we have already featured a good selection of modern Christmas ornaments and decorations, here is a new twist on the classic glass bulb. We are Land Rich has come up with the great idea to put dried plants inside of a simple glass bulb. I love the end result. If you're a little bit clever I'm sure you could figure out how to do it yourself, or you could leave it to the pro's at We are Land Rich.
Available from We are Land Rich for $10 or a set of 4 for $36.
These Designer Emulation Kits (DEKs) would make great stocking stuffers or humorous gifts for your mod cubicle buddies. Designed by Mark McKenna, each DEK has one super-bright LED powered by a single 9 volt battery. Available in three styles: Lucellino Lamp, Arco Floor Lamp, and Tizio Lamp.
Whenever I see photos of houses like this one, I have a hard time believing that people actually live in them. Kind of like when they discover some crazy new deep sea fish: it's hard to wrap your head around the design, especially when you've never seen it in the wild. But there it is, in photos! Look, even a bed - so someone lives here, right? Anyway, the Cape Schanck House was designed by Australian architecture firm Jackson Clements Burrows. The impressive cantilever design maximizes the expansive views of the surrounding area.
My favorite part of the home, though, is the black and white kitchen. It's really inspiring to see all of this great architecture coming out of Australia. Be sure to check out the rest of the Jackson Clements Burrowsportfolio - you won't regret it!
Read more about the Capre Schanck House here.
More images after the jump!
Unless you have been living under a rock you have heard about the designer kids chairs from Little Nest. Originally only available in Australia, last month they announced that they were officially selling stateside. We love their kids furniture so much here at Grassrootsmodern that we are going to give away one of their fabulous little bert chairs on Christmas day. The winner will have their choice of a pink or blue chair. To enter to win all you need to do is comment below and/or share this tweet with your friends. Max of two entries per person (1 for a comment and 1 for a retweet). Last chance to enter is Dec 24 at midnight. After that all entries (retweets and comments) will be thrown into our randomizer and the winner will be announced Christmas morning.
Not feeling lucky? You can always pick up a little bert from little nest for $89.
Comment below or share this tweet (retweet) to enter!
A friend of mine recently bought this beautiful inverted butterfly home a couple of blocks away from me. Not only does he have great taste in architecture, he also has some mad skills when it comes to gingerbread houses. This little gem is an exact replica of his home, with a couple tasty adornments added. Great work Luke!
Check out more photo's of his beautiful MCM home on Flikr.
These handy little journals from Jet Set Paper are a wonderful gift for that well-traveled friend! Airport codes from your favorite cities are hand-printed on Moleskine cashier journals. Included with the journal is a set of 4 area code notes for jotting down contact info or directions on the fly. Check out the Jet Set Paper shop to see if one of your favorite destinations made the cut!
Not Neutral has been kicking out great affordable design for some time now and their newest kids melamine snack set doesn't disappoint. Designed to be easy enough for your kid who is just learning to eat, and hip enough for your preschooler, this set does it all. It comes gift-boxed in eco-friendly packaging and includes two trays/dishes, cup, bowl, and an easy-to-hold fork and spoon.
Here is another great film that I would love to see. Journeyman Architect: The Life and Work of Donald Wexler is a new film released by Design Onscreen that has some wonderful footage of Donald Wexler and the homes he designed. The world premier of the film was this February in Palm Springs during Palm Springs Modernism week. The film is now available from Design Onscreen for $30.
One more trailer for you viewing pleasure after the jump.
The fine folks at Hometta are offering up some free modern gingerbread house plans! This looks to be a fun challenge for anyone interested in mixing it up this year. I may just try my hand at it!
About:
To celebrate the upcoming holidays, we are offering a free downloadable set of plans for a somewhat smaller, more delicious version of Draft House by Hometta's own, award-winning HouMinn Practice. The plans, as well as detailed instructions on how to build it, are available here until the end of the year. Additionally, one Hometta member will win a gingerbread house kit that includes all of the supplies required to build one Gingerbread Draft House. Existing members and anyone who signs up for a monthly or annual membership by December 13, 2009 will be entered to win the kit. The winner will be announced on December 15.
Click here to learn more about Hometta!