House Industries is a US based type foundry, a rarity these days. They will be releasing a new "Eames Century Modern" font collection and to celebrate, they are giving away a handful of tours at the Eames casestudy home in sunny California. To enter to win fill our the catalog form and type the words EAMES HOUSE in the comments box. More details after the jump.

House Industries

Win an Exclusive Eames House Sunset Tour Tours by Eames Demetrios and Lucia Atwood, grandson and granddaughter of Charles and Ray Eames. Date: March 11, 2010 Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

As part of a celebration of our release of the Eames Century Modern font collection, House Industries will be drawing three names to join us for this exclusive look into the inner sanctum of one of 20th century’s greatest design teams. Sitting high atop the Pacific Palisades and overlooking Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean, the Eames House was built in 1949 as number 8 in the series of Case Study Houses and is still recognized as a revolutionary use of space and materials. Interior tours of the Eames house and studio are normally only available to members of the Eames foundation.

If you wish to participate in this drawing, please fill our catalog form and type the words EAMES HOUSE into the COMMENTS box:

www.houseind.com/catalog

The drawing will take place on Friday, February 19, 2010 and will notify the winners no later than February 23, 2010. As much as we would like to pay for travel costs, winners must figure out how to make their own way to the Eames House. We will supply detailed instructions to all drawing winners. For more information on the Eames House and the Eames Foundation, please point your internet browser to: www.eamesfoundation.org

Punxsutawney Phil may say we have six more weeks of Winter, but I've turned my thoughts towards Spring: blooming flowers, buzzing bees, and chirping birds. To get a jump on the season, I'm considering one of these colorful and cheery Birdhouse Balls from Danish company Bagus. Available through Design3000, these ceramic orbs hang easily from a sturdy branch or garden hook. I'm not entirely sure if they ship to the U.S., but it doesn't hurt to ask!

Birdhouse Ball available from Design3000: 36€ or about $50

Here is a great reader question that I thought someone might have some good ideas about...

I am looking for a really large, modern poster or wall decal that looks like a subway map. Any ideas on where I could find it?
Cameron

I mocked up a quick photo to show what I think Cameron is looking for. Does anyone know of a company that sells something similar?

Oh, now these are some fabulous salt and pepper shakers! Made from refined white clay, each shaker is a beautiful contrast of glazed and unglazed surfaces. Their spinning top shape will add a touch of playfulness at mealtime. Handcrafted and designed by Chris Stiles.

Tops Ceramic Shakers available from A+R Store: $36

Furniture from Urban Outfitters seems too good to be true. Take this "Mid Century Sofa" for example. Great simple classic style and priced at a mere $480. The downside? It seems like any reviews I've read in the past have been pretty unfavorable as to the quality of the furniture. Also, I'm always sketched out by the thought of buying furniture that is only available online.
Anyone have any feedback about this sofa, or furniture from Urban outfitters in general?

Mid Century Sofa available from Urban Outfitters for $480.

I spotted these retro looking bread boxes at Target the other day and was pleasantly surprised by their high-quality, all-steel construction. I've got my eye on the turquoise one, but they are also available in white, black, red, green, and yellow. (White and Black available in stores only.) The price for these fun kitchen accessories? Only $14.99 - nice!

Steel bread boxes available from Target: $14.99

Here is a trailer for another great film by Design Onscreen that is due out sometime this year. Currently in post production, Desert Utopia: Mid Century Architecture in Palm Springs traces the history of modern architecture in Palm Springs from the earliest days to the preservation issues facing the region today. This looks like another fantastic film, and kudos to Design Onscreen for focusing on this wonderful documentary niche.

Suport Design Onscreen by buying DVD's or making a donation.

ScanWood is one of Denmark's largest manufacturers of wooden kitchen utensils. Besides their beautiful products, I'm really quite enamored with their recent package re-design - a clever way of showing that their products are sustainable. I'm not sure if these are available for purchase online, but there are two stores in the U.S. which carry ScanWood utensils (one in Vermont and the other in Arkansas). Their catalog is worthy of a perusal, regardless.

See more at www.scanwood.dk

If you have been thinking about getting a Fatboy, now is the time. Design Public currently has a sale going on where if you purchase any fatboy over $229 you receive a FREE fatboy Point. (Until 1/31/10)

After selecting your fatboy purchase (Original, Headdemock, Outdoor,Metahlowski, Island, Avenue or Block), simply add the Point to your shopping cart and the price will be deducted from the total. SWEET!

These little vinyl critters from SWIGG are super cute! The material allows for easy cleaning, while the silk screened graphic allows for endless smiles. Stuffed with poly-fill and poly-pellets for some heft. Available in various colorways in Giraffe, Rhino, or Beaver.

Critters from SWIGG: $28 for 2

With the amount of key holders that I have been posting about lately, you'd think that I have a problem keeping track of my keys. If I did, I would definitely look into getting a keypad from Mode. Made from durable silicone the Keypad is wall mounted and has a super magnet that holds your keys in place. Available in Charcoal, Cream , Blue and Pink.

Keypad available from Mode for £12.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Celebrate your love (of MCM design and your significant other) with these charming sterling silver necklaces from Tider Design. I'll take the little LCW, please!

MCM chair jewelry from Tider Design: $46

I wish I had the skills to reupholster mid-century inspired furniture, but I don't. Luckily there are people like Lynne and Julia from L + J Industries that have the gift. These twin sisters based out of Houston rework vintage furniture and create one of a kind new furniture as well. Check out their Etsy shop to see some of the great pieces they currently have for sale.

Available from L + J Industries Etsy shop.

This simple Egg Lamp Pendant from BSweden may look right at home in this restaurant, but I have a hunch it would be equally nice sitting above my table. At only 13 cm it's not the biggest lamps, but the $50 price tag reflects this appropriately.

Egg Lamp Pendant available from Scandinavian Design Center for $50.

How great are these retro-y illustrations from design studio Invisible Creature? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty jealous of that clock collection in the "Time Will Tell" print! Be sure to snap up one of these limited edition beauties while you can! Each signed print is printed on 'German Etching' Hahnenmühle Fine Art paper and is a generous 17 x 22 inches.

Invisible Creature Prints available from Velocity Art and Design: $50

Salt Lake is all abustle with the Sundance Film Festival this week. One film that caught my eye was "The Man Next Door".
Here's the story line:

Leonardo, a successful industrial designer, lives with his family in an architectural wonder, a midcentury Le Corbusier home. One morning, he wakes to an irksome noise and is appalled to discover that workmen next door are constructing a large window that faces directly into his home. Leonardo protests, using a number of excuses (privacy, building codes, his wife), in an attempt to coerce his neighbor, Victor, into scrapping his plan. But Victor just wants a patch of sun to catch some rays. Thus, one man’s light is another man’s blight.

Enamored of architecture, the film is meticulously designed. Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat give it a carefully crafted weirdness as well as a figurative quality. Its caustic humor comes in contemplating why the window completely undermines Leonardo. Does it reveal his arrogance, affectation, and lack of compassion; or dispel his bourgeois illusion of power? The Man Next Door offers a biting critique of moral shallowness—and what happens when thou dost not love thy neighbor’s window.

There are still 5 more screenings if you have a chance to see it.

Oh boy. I came across this modern remodel of a Craftsman home in Silver Lake, CA and fell in love with it immediately. I am particularly impressed with how the architect, Jeremy Levine, was able to bring light into this formerly dark, claustrophobic home. That, and the landscaping is absolutely perfect! I'm a sucker for native / water wise landscaping, xeriscaping if you like. I think this particular application shows just how beautiful it can really be.

Jeremy has this to say about the project: The main aesthetic challenge was to find what aspects of the Craftsman Style to preserve while eliminating the warren of small, dark spaces. In response, long vistas were carved through the house with new elements arranged along the axis to create a deep, layered depth of field. The walls of the interior were punctured with openings and the ceiling vaulted to erase the former claustrophobia. Light enters the house in oblique ways, such as through clerestories shaded by deep eaves or interior transom windows.

Be sure to check out the whole set of photos (including Before pics) here.

www.jeremylevine.com

Graham and Brown has been making wallpaper look sexy for some time now, but their new shape and form line may be their best stuff yet. I'm particularly smitten with the checker wallpaper shown above. As with all Graham and Brown wallpaper a roll that will cover approximately 50 square feet can be had for around $60 a roll and a little DIY spirit. That's some pretty good value for the money if you ask me.

Has anybody had any experience putting Graham and Brown wallpaper up? Is it hard?

Graham and Brown available from Design Public.

Oh, Karim. Everything you touch is pure genius. Case in point: These new decorative metal tiles done in collaboration with Aussie company ALLOY Design. Available in eight designs and five finishes, including raw steel, stainless steel, titanium, copper, and brass, these tiles are both futuristic and organic in appearance. Karim has this to say about the new collection:

I have always been obsessed with patterns. Working with ALLOY has given me a great opportunity to play with the idea of pattern, grid, and repetition. A pattern is a way of giving richness and depth to our Cartesian landscape. The more diversity of line, shape, and composition, the more interesting a single cell is. The undulating, curvilinear forms give a 2-dimensional surface a sense of 3-dimensions. These elements repeat in a predictable manner but they are designed to contradict the square tile. This collection for ALLOY is organic in shape because I believe that the world needs a softening and a more fluid human spirit.

Each tile is punched from an individual sheet of solid, 1.6mm high quality metal and is designed to last a lifetime. The price tag certainly reflects this: each tile is $5 AUD or, at the moment, about $4.50 USD. Ouch. Certainly expensive, but still beautiful to look at.

See the whole collection here.

Be sure to check out the rest of ALLOY's metal tile products - they're gorgeous!

via

If you are a fan of Thomas Paul I suggest you hustle on over to Gilt. They currently have a nice little selection of pillows on sale for $22. I think that's the cheapest I've ever seen a Thomas Paul pillow. If you are not already a member, you can click the link below to sign up. Hurry before they are all gone!

Thomas Paul pillows $22 on Gilt.com