Continuing with my recent warm weather obsession of sitting outside around a nice fire...
AK47 is an Italian based design firm that has turned out a whole slew of great looking fire pits. I mentioned them a while back, but it looks like they have some new tricks up their sleeve. While their fire pits are designed to be shipped, I have a hard time believing you are going to be able to get one stateside. In the meantime, hit up your local metalworker and tell him to get busy. Give me a call when it's done. I'll just sit here with my bag of marshmallows waiting.
It's no secret that we have a huge crush on Pigeon Toe Ceramics here at GRM, so when we received word about their new Spring/Summer collection let's just say we were INSANELY EXCITED. The new collection consists of solid walnut coasters, ink blot tea towels, faceted drawer pulls, and many, many more rockin' pieces. Check out their shop to see the whole collection and let us know which piece is your favorite!
As I mentioned last week, we have been tempted with affordable modern prefab homes for years now. Most of the options you see are well done on the modern side of things, but come up short when it comes to being affordable. These Marmol Radziner designed prefab homes in Santa Monica seem to err on the other side. That is to say, they aren't the best looking, but at least they are affordable. 20 manufactured homes ranging in size from 384 to 1,200 square feet are being placed in Santa Monica. Individual prices range from $25,000 to $72,000. With a sub $100 a square foot price these really show the potential that prefab could bring to the market. I'm just not quite sure how everyone keeps missing the middle ground. See the slightly underwhelming pictures after the jump.
Jetsongreen has a great write up full of links and details on the project.
Swedish illustrator Sandra Juto works and lives in Berlin, but her sweet illustrations bring in clients from all over the world. I, for one, am absolutely smitten! Her portfolio is full of bright colors, strange looking people, and fabulously over-sized hairdos. If you're equally smitten, you can snag a print or two from her shop.
I keep on forgetting to post about this one. Little Nest, makers of fabulous MCM "inspired" furniture for kids is having a sample sale. Prices were already pretty reasonable, but now they are very good. For example you can get a walnut woody chair (LCW) for a mere $75 plus shipping. Apparently the sale is only good for 14 days, so I'd act quick if you are interested.
There is just something about sitting outside around a fire that I love. I've been looking for a good outdoor modern fire pit for a while, and these outdoor fireplace by Modfire are definitely candidates. Available in either natural blackened steel or several modern colors they are made in Phoenix AZ and are reasonably priced in the $500 range. There is even a propane kit for $150.
Anybody have any other favorite outdoor fireplaces?
Julius Shulman is a sort of legend when it comes to mid century modern photography. The breadth of his work over his 30+ year career is astounding, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised to find out that he even photographed a building a few short block away from my loft. The Prudential Federal Savings and Loan building was designed 1 of 4 buildings in Utah designed by William L. Pereira. It was photographed by Shulman in 1964 a year and a half after construction was finished.
We posted about Little Sapling Toys' eco-conscious wood toys before, but they've finally added alphabet and number blocks to their offerings. Each set is made from walnut, maple, and cherry wood, then finished with local beeswax and organic jojoba oil. I'm half tempted to get one of their 7-piece sets for our coffee table!
It's thursday, the week is almost over and I've decided you all need a little eye candy to get you through the day. Introducing the Plooop Chair. Yes, it's not the best name, but it is one good looking chair. I admittedly have a thing for anything involving bent plywood, and this is one of the most unique and well executed examples I have seen for a long time.
For all my love of mobiles, I never knew there was such a thing as a "stabile". This new knowledge might be dangerous, folks. If I start posting about stabiles constantly, please stop me. My obsessions tend to run away from me.
About: "Alexander" is truly a small piece of art! This colorful tabletop mobile creates hanging structures inspired by the famous Alexander Calder mobiles. Measures 8" x 12". Made entirely out of light weight sheet metal in the USA.
This shiz is epic; I mean we're talking about the motherload of 50s-inspired wallpaper here, folks. I recently put up (well, hired someone) some Orla Kiely wallpaper in my guestroom, but I'm kind of wishing now that I'd seen these wallpapers from Sanderson first! I'm really, really digging the Miro pattern, though they're all equally fantastic.
Ahh prefab, why must you always tempt us with affordable modern architecture?
The latest eye candy I stumbled across is this attractive modern prefab cabin by a Canadian company called Karoleena. This beauty will only set you back $129,000 which sounds great until you realize that it doesn't include site work, transportation and that it is only 630 square feet small. Still, $200 a square foot isn't bad, it's just not any better than a custom architect designed home.
Jan Skácelík is a graphic designer / photographer / composer from the Czech Republic whose MCM-style prints caught my eye. (He also has a fantastic apartment that I posted about here. Oh, and an awesome blog, too!) I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite, but I figured the Star Wars fans among us would get a kick out of the prints above. Check out more of his work on Etsy or Flickr.
I absolutely love the idea of a community of modern homes. When you add in environmentally responsible and affordable I almost get all tingly with excitement. That is exactly what is going on 3 miles east of downtown Austin. The SOL Austin community of 40 homes range from 1,000 to 1,800 square feet and prices start at $190,000. Not surprisingly it looks like half the homes are already sold. Despite the fact that I'm very jealous of Austin modernists right now, it is encouraging to see attractive modern green homes being built that don't break the budget.
It's nearly Spring and this melamine dining collection from Living Factory would make a fine picnic basket staple, if I do say so. The Retro Collection includes a set of forks, spoons, or tumblers in four mod colors: pistachio, burnt orange, cream, and grey-black. What it lacks, strangely, is a set of plates.
This is a split eames-style screen comparison of two classic charles eames directed film montages, produced 14 years apart. in comparing the key eames image scenes of the manufacturing of products, between the classic mgm hollywood film - "the spirit of st. louis" in which charles filmed the plane assembly montage, and the 1970 eames office film - "fiberglass chairs", we see the eames office love for certain imagery....the mgm film is the one on the left and fiberglass chair is the one on the right.
These solid acacia bookends from Umbra are something of an optical illusion: the three bottles are actually attached to each other! Sneaky pants, I say. With the tallest bottle measuring in at just over 10 inches tall, these bookends definitely make a statement.
Ah, the power of triangles! These cardboard stools hold up to 1720 lbs thanks to the famously strong shape. With those kind of abilities, this is one occasional seating option to definitely consider! Available in white or multicolor and in two heights: 13" or 16.5".
I love simple kids toys, especially wood ones. Despite the fact that Richard Upchurch's Voice Recorders happen to have their fair share of electronics, they are still simple and straight forward.
The Voice Recorder with Pitch Control Knob has a red record button that you hold down while recording. When finished recording release the red button and press the black playback button. Upon playback turn the knob to adjust the speed/ pitch for endless fun and laughs! The record time is just over 30 seconds.
Continuing with my recent warm weather obsession of sitting outside around a nice fire...
It's no secret that we have a huge crush on Pigeon Toe Ceramics here at GRM, so when we received word about their new Spring/Summer collection let's just say we were INSANELY EXCITED. The new collection consists of 
As I 
Swedish illustrator 
I keep on forgetting to post about this one. 
There is just something about sitting outside around a fire that I love. I've been looking for a good outdoor modern fire pit for a while, and these outdoor fireplace by 
I spotted this clock in the most recent issue of Dwell... and then I spotted the price. Only $26? Sold!
We posted about Little Sapling Toys' eco-conscious wood toys 
It's thursday, the week is almost over and I've decided you all need a little eye candy to get you through the day. Introducing the Plooop Chair. Yes, it's not the best name, but it is one good looking chair. I admittedly have a thing for anything involving bent plywood, and this is one of the most unique and well executed examples I have seen for a long time.
For all my love of mobiles, I never knew there was such a thing as a "stabile". This new knowledge might be dangerous, folks. If I start posting about stabiles constantly, please stop me. My obsessions tend to run away from me.
This shiz is epic; I mean we're talking about the motherload of 50s-inspired wallpaper here, folks. I recently put up (well, hired someone) some Orla Kiely wallpaper in 
Ahh prefab, why must you always tempt us with affordable modern architecture?
I absolutely love the idea of a community of modern homes. When you add in environmentally responsible and affordable I almost get all tingly with excitement. That is exactly what is going on 3 miles east of downtown Austin. The 
It's nearly Spring and this melamine dining collection from Living Factory would make a fine picnic basket staple, if I do say so. The Retro Collection includes a set of 
These solid acacia bookends from Umbra are something of an optical illusion: the three bottles are actually attached to each other! Sneaky pants, I say. With the tallest bottle measuring in at just over 10 inches tall, these bookends definitely make a statement. 
Ah, the power of triangles! These cardboard stools hold up to 1720 lbs thanks to the famously strong shape. With those kind of abilities, this is one occasional seating option to definitely consider! Available in white or multicolor and in two heights: 13" or 16.5".
I love simple kids toys, especially wood ones. Despite the fact that