An extra helping of eye candy for your Monday morning! All images are from a villa renovation by Studio John Irving, based in New Zealand. Wish I knew more about it or had some before shots for reference. Oh well, it's gorgeous anyway! Enjoy!
See more here.
I received this reader question from Michelle last week, and figured the best way to get some quality advice was to let the rest of our readers answer the question. So here it is;
I have the kids Junior Panton chairs and would love some feedback on what table the 'design inclined' out there would team the chairs with. Seeking a working table. Somthing sizable enough to sit and draw at, yet looks fabulous with the Panton.
Many thanks
Michelle
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Never heard of Robert Rummer? Don't feel too bad, most people haven't. Robert Rummer was a builder in the 1960's in the Portland area who built many gorgeous mid century modern homes. Here is a great little interview with him that also shows a couple of the homes that he built. Enjoy!
I realize Winter may be winding down (at least on the West Coast), but I thought these new space heaters from Plus Minus Zero were pretty sweet. With a sleek shape and ceramic heater, this little guy will definitely keep your toes warm and look good doing it! I really like the unobtrusive buttons on top, too. This heater has a high/low setting as well as a timer with 1, 3, and 6 hour settings. Available in blue, red, or green. The price seems a bit high, but if looks are important to you, it may be worth it.
Available from GNR8 Design: $389
I want to be over vinyl wall graphics. I want to think that all the cool stuff has been done, and it's all just getting boring now. I want to but I can't. Blik just keeps partnering with amazing artists like Amy Ruppel and make great graphics like the Night Owl shown above. This large sized, 28 piece masterpiece will set you back $65 and an afternoon of DIY time. I'll take one please.
Night Owl wall graphics $65 from Blik.
Oh boy, do I have house envy! I stumbled across this gorgeous home on flickr, which belongs to Martha McQuade, the founder, designer, and artist behind UNIFORM Natural. I love the fun mix of mid-century and new, but what really does it for me are all the wonderful textures throughout the house. This space is very modern, but looks so, so cozy! Definitely a warm, livable home. I would love to call this place mine, wouldn't you? Say, Martha, are you game for a house swap? Check out more images below, but definitely stop by her flickr page for the full set of pics.
I love Unison's bedding and pillows and I was completely amazed at some of the sale prices that they have on their website. Some of their duvets are 70% off of the original price. The pinstripe duvet shown above for example is only $42 for a queen. That's seems like a great deal for a 220 thread count 100% cotton duvet. Their pillows are 30% off and are on sale for $36.
Check out all the sale goodies at Unison.
I received the new Rejuvenation catalog this week and didn't waste any time getting to the Mid-Century Modern collection. Like all of their products, each of these lights is handcrafted, made-to-order, and based on historical designs. Almost all are available in a variety of finishes, as well. I love the hourglass family, whose designs are all based on the 1959 Stockholm series manufactured by EJS lighting. Super sexy on all accounts! Be sure to check out the whole MCM collection, I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Pictured: Astron Tri - $445 | Spektr - $129
I was reading a post over at Fresh Home about HIVE Modular prefab homes. Priced at around $185 a square foot these homes aren't exactly amazing from a price point, although there are certainly more expensive options, nor are they particularly amazing from a design standpoint (see more photo's after the jump). So with all these tepid comments, why even post about them? One thing I think they did get right is the size. The B Line small home pictured here is around 990 sq/ft, and it got me thinking. One area that can save you more money than anything else with a new home is cutting back on square footage. I can attest that our 2,000 sq/ft home is more than we need with two kids. With that in mind, a pat on the back goes to HIVE Modular for offering a modest selection of "small" modern modular homes.
So, I've been thinking about a kitchen remodel for a while now and one thing that definitely needs remedying is our countertop "situation". We have some really lovely Formica that reminds me of something my dog may have regurgitated. While I enjoy experiencing that thought every time I chop onions or butter my toast, I'd prefer a new, uh, perspective. I love the look of concrete countertops and feel it's a project I just might be able to pull off. I've read the Instructables entry, which was a bit overwhelming, and I'm wondering if any of you dear readers have experience with this particular DIY project? How difficult was it? Any tips, tricks, or other advice? Was it worth it? Can a novice DIYer pull it off? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Image: Trueform Concrete
We've featured the gorgeous salvaged cardboard lights from Graypants, and the corrugated plastic city honeycomb lights. Now it looks like there is another contender throwing their hat in the ring. Shiner is the newest kid on the block, and while they make some amazing looking reclaimed cardboard lights, they do a lot more than that too.
Based out of Atlanta Shiner has a focus on modern eco friendly furnishings. In addition to lighting they have tables, chairs, even bowls. Pricing for cardboard lighting is sub $100 and seating is in the $300 range.
A while ago we were looking for a new side table for our living room and I'm a little sad that this one didn't exist yet. I love the sculptural shape and high gloss finish, and that persimmon color is fantastic! Made of recycled aluminum, this little number is light weight and even suitable for outdoor use. Definitely a fun and reasonably affordable option if you're looking to liven up your space.
Martini Side Table from West Elm: $129
Here is a fantastic hour long documentary on the life of the great master Le Corbusier. Done by Jacques Barsac in 1987 this film is full of wonderful vintage footage. Unfortunately it's all in French and the only subtitled version I have found is in German.
If anyone knows of a version with english subtitles, please share!
I've always loved pendant lights like this, but the Phrena Lamp is something unique. Taking inspiration from the simple act of opening a book, this light ships flat and fans open: no time consuming assembly required, the accordion folds do all the work. The Phrena is made of white Tyvek and can be configured for up or down lighting. White cord kit and plug included.
Phrena Lamp available from Velocity Art and Design: $78
There is no better price than free, and that's exactly how much you should be paying for scrap wood. No matter where you live, I guarantee that there is a nice supply of scrap wood somewhere not to far away. So go out and collect it all, and follow these directions from Instructables and you can have a amazing looking and nearly free table just like the one pictured above. Even if you don't think your DIY skills are up to it, what's the worst that can happen, messing up some free wood?
Modern Scrap Table DIY at Instructables
These modular storage cubes are made from zBoard, a water-resistant, recycled paper product made from almost 99% post-consumer waste. Light weight, yet sturdy, each cube holds up to 50 lbs. The Six Mix storage system is available in six different colors to mix and match to your heart's content: white, green, orange, espresso brown, and cedar wood. These would be perfect for a kid's room, don't you think?
Six Mix Modular Cubes available from Re:modern: $140 for a set of 6
Dwell Studio was one of the first big players in the modern bedding industry. I remember looking at the strong geometric prints on some of their first duvets and being totally in love. Since it was my first love, I want to still like their products, but this preview of the spring 2010 collection has me wondering. Even some of their 2009 line is a little too much for me.
Comment below. Has Dwell Studio lost their touch, or am I just not hip enough to see how great they are?
Ah, there's nothing to make you feel better about life than to reduce, reuse, and recycle while simultaneously creating a comfy spot for your furry friend. At least that's the idea behind these dog duvets from Molly Mutt.
Just fill one of the "Stuff Sacks" with old blankets, worn out clothes, or pillows that have seen better days. Then choose from one of the many stylish duvet covers, and you've got yourself one smart looking (and smartly designed) dog bed! Fido is sure to love it, since it will be filled with smells of home and his favorite people. An added bonus is that the cover, and the cozy contents, are machine washable. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns.
Dog Duvets from Molly Mutt: $20 - $45 / Optional Stuff Sacks: $10 - $15
[via Dog Milk - the newest site in the Design Milk family!]
I love these ceramic salt and pepper shakers from Perch! They definitely have an Alexander Girard feel, don't you think? Like all of Perch's products, they're handmade in Brooklyn, NY.
Bonnie and Clyde Shakers from Perch: $52
Is it weird that I can get excited about something as boring sounding as a stapler and tape dispenser? Weird or not, I am loving these ordinary items made sexy by Urban Prefer. The simple yet attractive white minimalist design might make those meaningless office tasks just a little more exciting.
If you speak Taiwanese, get them here.
Anyone know if these are available stateside?