I just picked up one of these awesome insulated metal water bottles made by S'Well from Fab.com for $26. I got the plain silver because come on, we all know it's what's on the inside that counts.
Get yours here, or sign up if you haven't already through this invite link.
It's been a while since I have posted a Way Back When video, but this new video by Vitra has gotten me in the mood again.
I'll admit that, in the photo at least, this lamp shade looks a little bit like an under-stuffed bed pillow. BUT, I think it could work really well in certain modern homes, especially ones with a more organic aesthetic (lots of white, wood, minimal decor, etc.). What do you guys think? Also, did I mention that this shade is only $5? Yeah, chew on that.
Lately I seem to be finding good things in pairs. Yesterday I found the fantastic furniture of Smart Woodhouse, a Chinese design firm full of soulful modern designs, and today I find another asian firm with a beautiful portfolio of work. Truck Furniture is a Japanese design group that shares my view on furniture design.
We design the kind of furniture we want ourselves, regardless of fashion
We respect the properties of the materials―wood, leather, steel―we use and never pursue novelty for its own sake.
We create furniture that can be used for a long time.
Details on pricing and availability on this A-Frame stool are slim, but that doesn't stop me from loving the simple material pallet and joinery details.
Check out Whatiftheworld / Design Studio for more great work.
Habitation is an Etsy shop that creates handmade pillows and other housewares from reclaimed materials such as burlap coffee sacks and vintage fabrics. Their offerings are pretty scattered as far as decorating styles go (something for everyone!), but my two favorite pieces are pictured above. Check out more of their goods through the link below!
I've had my eye one these Stump stools from Kalon Studios for a while now, and I can honestly say that they are growing on me more and more. In fact, they may even be moving from the "want" list to the "need" list. At $85 a piece for a unique hand made wood stool, I also think they are a great deal. I secretly want to try my hand a making a set myself too. Don't tell.
Chinese design firm Smart Woodhouse seems to know a thing or two about clean minimalist design. Their work which is composed mostly of beech wood furniture with rounded forms has more of a Scandinavian feel to it than the more traditional angular mimiimalism of the east. The end result however is a simple, warm and beautiful. Now if only there was a way to get a hold of their stuff stateside. I would gladly pay $520 Chinese Yuan ($80 USD) for that coat rack.
Holy smokes, guys! These handmade iron pitchers are absolutely gorgeous. Crate&Barrel definitely channeled their inner Mid-Century Danish designer with these puppies. Available individually or as a complete set.
Beautiful and brilliant foldable wooden chair concept by redbit studio out of Croatia. It's a shame that concepts like these never make it into production.
Non Fiction Tees has an overwhelming 40+ pages of tees listed on their Etsy shop, but it was these two that really caught my eye. Printed on American Apparel 100% cotton shirts, these colorful prints are an absolute steal at $16. Make sure you check out the Bauhaus and Klutis shirts as well.
Now your favorite furry friend can dine in glorious Mid-Century style, thanks to the fine folks behind ModPet. This raised pet feeder sports sexy aluminum V legs beneath a birch plywood top. Available in two sizes and four hip colors.
Even though I am still rocking a 3 year old iPhone 3 doesn't mean I can't start dreaming about what case I am going to get when I upgrade to the iPhone 5 later this year. These EXO Vault cases on Etsy are borderline steampunk for me, but I do admit that I love the look of that aluminum and rosewood. I secretly like the minimalist solid brass Exo9 as well, but don't tell anyone.
Here is the extent of my knowledge about record players.
#1 I want one.
#2 This one looks amazing.
Yep, that about sums it up. Seriously though, I have been craving something to play some of those old 7" EP's that I collected back in the day. So far this one is pretty high up on my list.
Any other vinyl loving audiophiles want to point me in the right direction?
My ever-growing stash of artwork and prints is about to get bigger thanks to Jill C. Lee, the talent behind Beau Ideal Editions. I spotted her colorful screen prints on Etsy a little while ago and have been coveting them ever since. I'm especially obsessed with her "You, Me, and Everyone..." series, pictured above. Check out more of her work here and snag a print or two from her shop while you're at it!
I was just about to search for a MCM video for a Way Back When post, when I saw this great Calder Mobile on the Google homepage. A quick hover over it revealed two things. #1 You can actually spin it around. #2 Today is Alexander Calder's 113th Birthday.
Visit the Calder Foundation for more information about this amazing artist.
Photo via the Calder Foundation.
Here is another brilliant key holder concept. This time it has been paired down to it's simplest form. By adding a strong magnet to the back side of the light switch plate it creates a place to put your keys when you get home. I like that when it is not in use, it disappears. Seems like this could be a real easy DIY project too.
The classic task lamp just got a major face lift thanks to Crate&Barrel. Available in 5 up-to-the-minute hues (as well as tried-and-true silver), these lights are right up my alley. What do you say? Is there room in your life for a bright fuchsia office light? How about lime?
Love color? May I present to you the UNESCO City of design posters by FEED. I'm really into bold layered colors lately and this body of work by FEED definitely takes it to a new level. These posters are jammed so full of wonderful color and pattern it's like fireworks in my brain.
Long time readers may remember how I started the blog. My wife at the time and I had just bought a 700 square foot home in Salt Lake, and we were determined to ad a 600 square foot modern addition on a shoestring budget. (If you missed the story the first time, it starts around here..) It was a lot of hard work, but it was literally one of the best experiences of my life. In fact I'm ruined now because all I want to do is design and build houses, more on that later.
Anyway, getting to the point. Just as we mostly finished up the home we sold it. The new owner did an amazing job finishing up the remaining projects and really bringing it all together. Flash forward a few years, and he is moving on and the house is back on the market. Priced at $249K it's hard to find a comparable modern home for the price anywhere in Salt Lake.
