Category: <span>Finds</span>

Published June 30, 2008 by

Seriously Double-Duty Furniture

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Who doesn’t love double-use furniture? No matter the price, two-for-one always feels like a deal. I am generally dazzled by pieces with even one extra storage compartment so when I saw these two transformers, I was beside myself.

(Above) Forget the sofa sleeper, the Doc couch by Bon Bon Trading double flips into a bunk bed! Near-magical and actually good-looking, this blows all double-duty furniture out of the water.
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I know having a gym at home would make me exercise more but as a decor-snob–I’ll take the extra pounds over an elliptical eyesore in my living room. However, this Otto-Bench by Gabriel Prero for Life Fitness is ruining my argument. A multi-adjustable bench, bench press, and free weights are all hiding in a handsome bench.

Etc Finds

compact design

Published June 11, 2008 by

Whimsical vs. Childish Decor

ClaireColes_CollagePaper

Whimsical and childish walk a fine line, but when a designer finds that balance–I’m charmed. Master seamstress and wallpaper designer Claire Coles‘  signature-move is to cut, layer and stitch vintage papers together to create pattern. The texture and 3-D effect really make her scenes pop and stick in the mind. Her latest wallpaper, Collages with its dancing ponies and blooming flowers is like a little girl’s fantasy land (or maybe mine) but the patina of the antique papers against a simple circular pattern somehow pass it off as sophisticated.

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Claire Coles’ papers are all made to order and start at $800 for a three-meter roll. Expensive, but gorgeous.

Finds

wall decor wallpaper

Published June 4, 2008 by

Man Design

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The Light Plumbing candelabra by Chris Bjerre for Danish Crafts is made of pipes complete with accent knobs and valves.

In honor of Fathers Day, I have found some great man design. Dad may not mind be an outright fan of home design but I bet if he was presented with silverware cast from screwdrivers or a candelabra made of pipes, he may just change his mind.

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The handles of this silverware by Hi Five are cast from screwdrivers, providing excellent grip and a look that any handy man can appreciate.

Etc Finds

design trends

Published May 21, 2008 by

Techy Trend

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Technology is seeping into design. And I am not talking about the advances in materials and processes, but the look, the amorphous perception of digital that’s being translated into home decor. Take the Planko vanity that I saw last weekend at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair for example. When I saw this stylized jagged outline, I thought–what a cool spin on the Baroque trend! It took the daintiness out of the ever-romantic style and gave it a literal edge. I loved it. I looked closer for any printed info I could find and the tag simply read, Pixel Vanity.

Pixel. This threw my entire perception of this piece on its head. Every picture you’ve ever blown up, every distorted image you’ve seen on the web– you could suddenly see in this vanity’s outline. This piece went from an abstract design to something so relevant to everyday encounters. The Planko’s vanity was truly unique to anything I saw at the show, but I think the interpretation of digital in design is something we are going to see more and more of.

Finds

design trends wall decor