Did I mention that I'm going to have a gift-wrap/craft room in the new house? Indeed I am! So I couldn't resist when I spotted these spool stands on Mighty Haus. I immediately picked up a set at KarenElizabeth's Etsy shop to store my ribbons:
Yay for cute organizational goodies!
I seriously want one of Berkeley photographer Aya Brackett's chromogenic prints for our dining room or kitchen:
Saigon Cafe
Problem Solving
You can see more of her work at The Beholder. I love the travel photos on Aya's website, too.
It looks like JHill Design has released even more cities in the "Places I Have Never Been" series, including:
Traverse City, Michigan, might be my favorite of this bunch.
So I have this idea for our new house: a Wii Room! Jon's not fully on board yet though ... And that could be because we don't yet have: 1) any furniture for that room (including a TV), or 2) a Wii. But here's just what we need to get motivated to start putting together our Wii Room:
Nintendo wall stickers by Blik! (via Apartment Therapy)
Ever since Sasha at BellJar sent over this photo of her shop (for an Apartment Therapy post), I have not been able to stop obsessing over the wallpaper.
My dream: To line one wall of the laundry room with this pattern. And, on the opposite wall, hang a few of these little guys:
And, um, no. I still haven't really given the washer and dryer much thought. I'm too busy figuring out how to make that room pretty!
Remember when I said that I must have this teak mirror for the dining room?
Well, the problem is that it's $725 at Neiman Marcus. I was starting to calculate how long I'd have to save up for it when I saw that Pottery Barn came out with this one, for about $200:
I thought maybe, if I stained the wood on the PB one, it might come closer to the look of the pricier one. I finally resolved that I shouldn't settle if what I really want is the teak version. BUT. Look what I spotted on the Brown Design blog:
The shape looks a lot like the PB one, but the color of the wood is similar to the Neiman Marcus mirror. So now I'm reconsidering the cheaper option, with a nice, rich stain. Hmmm ...
I love this UK store. There's even more good stuff in the shop now, such as:
Anthony Burrill's "Work Hard & Be Nice to People" letterpress poster
Rob Ryan's silkscreened prints, "Bird Lady" and "I Can't Forget"
Wow. I totally want both of these items — featured in this morning's AT:SF Scavenger post:
Vintage warehouse dolly (would make a great coffee table!)
But I don't *need* either of them. And I'm pretty sure Jon will stop talking to me if I bring any new/unnecessary furniture into the house while he's working hard to plan our move.
I must have this mirror:
I hope it'll work above the dining room credenza. Fingers crossed ...
Photos from Angie Hranowsky's portfolio, via Orange Beautiful.
All available at Huset.
I would love to line the back of my shoe storage area with this Lisa Bengtsson wallpaper:
Nanni Holén's "Nero" shelf is a contender for a wall in the new house:
If only these weren't $80 each! I would love to line up half of dozen of these porcelain birds (which also come in black and white) near the entry:
Just in time for the summer getaways! I ordered a set of these little bags from Philadelphia-based Something's Hiding in Here:
And now I see they've added these cute report card pennants — very good, pass, fail, incomplete — to their Etsy shop:
I don't drink much hot tea during the summertime, but I'm thinking I should pick up one of these Paige Russell teapots for future use:
I love that repurposed and felted striped cozy.
Back in April, when we were in Paris, I spent a few hours wandering around the housewares department at Printemps. I couldn't stop looking at the Kenzo home collection. I didn't buy anything — in part because I sometimes couldn't tell if I was picking up a tablecloth or a bed sheet — but, thankfully, Unica Home carries some Kenzo Maison pieces.
Lovely stuff.
Perhaps in part because of the gorgeous weather, I find myself unable to stop looking at these Joyce Lee chromogenic prints:
Both are available at The Beholder, which is a fantastic online art gallery.
How great is this shot of Aida Dirse's new bowls at Rare Device?
I already have one of her lovely creations sitting on a dresser in my bedroom, but now I'm thinking it's a little lonely and needs some company.
I am in love with these two Rubie Green patterns and think they would work well together for a pair of cushions on a couch:
Alas, I have been instructed that NO MORE PILLOWS are allowed in our home. Jon has declared a ban on new pillows. When we were in Europe in April, he would shake his head every time I picked up a pillow. When he sees a post about pillows on this site, he lets me know that it is absolutely not okay to buy any more pillows. When he hears me say that there are pillows stored somewhere, he immediately assumes that I've gone against his wishes and brought yet another pillow into our lives.
But fabric to MAKE pillows is different, right?
P.S. If you enter the promo code "dominodeals" on the Rubie Green site, each yard of fabric is $50 instead of the usual $90. Thank you, Domino!
I love these:
Too bad the navy is sold out. But the khaki may be perfect for the daybed in the office.
I work in a beige cubicle. In a generic office building. On a suburban street corner surrounded by strip malls. Not that I'm complaining ... but, visually, there's little to get excited about around here. Which is why even the tiniest of design details — like this pretty little mug featuring the Bottna pattern — can make my 9-5 a little brighter:
The fact that it's usually brimming with coffee also helps.
Lorena of Petit Collage just released this new poster:
If we had a kid (and a kid's room), I'd be all over this.
P.S. In case you missed it, I did a house tour of Lorena's place for Apartment Therapy last year. It's definitely worth sitting through the wonky AT slideshow system to see her lovely home.
Serena & Lily is a baby- and kid-centric design company based in the Bay Area. In addition to bedding, furniture and other cute goods, they sell their fabrics by the yard.
One of many souvenirs I picked up at ICFF's designboom Mart:
This lovely handbag is by Elvira Vroomen, who also makes some fantastic felt bags. Since I'm allergic to wool, I opted for the embossed leather version. I was won over by the clever design, but knew I had to have it when I saw that it has two zippered compartments inside.
I couldn't resist picking up a roll of wish tickets at Cursive (inside ABC Carpet & Home) last week:
The little tag says: "If I had a hundred wishes, I would give them all to you." The blue and pink versions are available online right here.
I just received my delivery of Lara Cameron's "Rainy Day" fabric and Amy Butler's laptop cover pattern.
New at the MoMA store: "Average Day at the Museum is a schematic illustration from 1940 depicting the everyday activity within The Museum of Modern Art's newly opened building on Fifty-third Street."
I think the packing tape is cute, too, but don't have much use for it.
I convinced myself that I need a green handbag and picked up this Gryson for Target tote this weekend:
You can view the entire collection right here.
Have you heard of this new line at Target? It's already available online and is supposed to hit stores this weekend. (Just search for "Whim" on the website.)
How cute is this little guy? Brand-new at Jonathan Adler, the $110 price tag is a bit steep for a ring box that I probably wouldn't use much. But adorable nonetheless. He may be my favorite of the Adler menagerie.
Um. How is it that I've never heard of this site until today? (via Nestled In) RE-Found Objects is amazing! I'm not sure how much it cost to ship to the U.S., but I'm happy just browsing.
I love (LOVE!) my new Orla Kiely bag, picked up at the flagship store in Covent Garden last week:
It is the perfect size for magazines and notebooks. Plus, it has a good number of compartments, which are a requirement for me. It also has a removable shoulder strap — ideal for when I get tired of holding on to the bag.
While we were traveling, I was on the hunt for a few specific items — including a tea cosy and a table runner. I didn't have any luck with the latter. But then yesterday, I made a quick stop at Ikea on the way home and came across the Petronella fabric series. They are just 18" wide and already hemmed on the sides. Which makes them perfect for table runners.
I just realized that furniture company Maine Cottage also carries fabric by the yard. Here are some of my favorites:
Oh, and check this out: Is it just me, or does Hotty Dotty look a lot like Hable Construction's bead and checkered patterns? And two of the Maine Cottage versions, in shrimp/teaberry and moss/white, are on sale right now for only $15/yard!
Although these are actually wastebaskets, I think they're attractive enough to use for general storage of knitting supplies, kids' toys, etc.
$18 each.
I totally need one of these ... okay, maybe three of them: Grobal is a cool plant container (designed by Karim Rashid) that has a self-watering system. It's available in lots of colors and in two sizes.
Pssst ... Gump's has marked down the small and medium ceiling lamps. Although their original price is higher than what Room and Board sells them for, now that they're on sale, they're a better deal at Gump's.
While I like the slogan on these posters, my favorite thing about them is that they're hand-letterpressed on to antique maps. No two are alike!
Two posts in a row about one of my favorite designers! Lotta just added FABRICS to her online shop!!! And there are just too many that I want!
Arriving soon at a bookstore near you: designer Lotta Jansdotter's latest guide. This one is called Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum.
I hope the instructions in Lotta's new book are as easy to follow as the ones in her sewing book.
I am trying to resist buying this dress, by Madison Marcus:
But the scallops! The adorable racerback! I'm not sure I can deny my closet this much cuteness.
There's a local Venezuelan cafe that has a spicy hot chocolate that I am addicted to. But most of the time, when I'm handed my beverage, it is WAY hot. So hot, the barista usually puts the cup inside a second cup to avoid burns. Now, I think I've found a better solution: one of these cool knitted sleeves, available at the Curiosity Shoppe.
Original, hand-screenprinted pillows:
Part of the "Borneo" collection by Tiger Fish Design
Love the song lyrics on this design by Golcar House
"Cutlery" in black by Tim Buckley
I love love love this store. Because every few months, they stock new goods from a different part of the world. Today, Hong Kong products hit the Kiosk webshop. I think I need these pinwheels (eight are strung together):
And these Bank of Hell stock certificates are pretty funny.
Just to the right of our front door, we have a slim bench and a wall-mounted coat rack — an area that has become overrun with scarves. I think placing a small receptacle like the bucket below is a good solution for organizing them:
That's right. Jonathan Adler just released a collection of wallpaper.
In addition to the ready-to-go patterns and colors, you can actually have any of the designs done up in a custom color. Nice!
I have a real problem. I can't stop buying fabric! I have stacks and stacks of great textiles that will not be put to use any time soon. Still, I keep picking up more! But can you blame me when there are so many wonderful artists selling hand-screenprinted fabrics on Etsy? Like Melbourne-based Aunty Cookie:
I think the "Home Sweet Home" design (top image; also available in black) would be perfect for a pillow in the living room. But who knows when I'll actually get around to sewing that pillow ...
We are running out of empty wall space in our house, which may be a good thing. Because otherwise, I would be tempted to purchase some of the silkscreened posters in UK-based Soma Gallery's "It's Pop It's Art" collection. With the dollar falling, these are about USD300 each.
Wow. I have been a fan of Paula's work for some time. And I am really, really loving her new products for spring.
I may need to treat myself to one of her Panama shopper handbags ...
The latest collection by this New York label is just starting to show up online. I like. Especially the dresses.
Pssst ... The arrival of the spring line means that the Fall 2007 goods are deeply discounted now!
The DwellStudio line at Target that is geared more towards adults is supposed to officially hit the stores this weekend, but some of the bedding and table linens have already arrived online.
Another day ... Another cool, new-to-me online shop!
Heather Knight's set of three urchin bowls
Lamps made with old umbrella handles and Ikea ceramic planters (clever!)
Valérydesignwrks' "Un thé" print
P.S. I thought it was a little odd that the product categories ("wear + carry" "space + place" "paper + prints") were identical to those on Elsewares, but it looks like some of the same folks are involved with both sites.
I stumbled upon this great online shop today and there are so many things I want to buy. Sadie Olive has been around for about a year now, selling lots of French-inspired wares.
All images from Sadie Olive.
I am a big fan of Xenia Taler's tiles. But what I love even more? Her new tile boxes:
And did you know she also designs installation tiles? If only I had a surface that needed retiling ...
While we were in Hayes Valley this weekend, we popped into Flight 001 (a store I love) and loaded up on Streetwise maps. These are my absolutely favorite. I also like the Moleskine City notebooks, which I carried with me in Prague and London last summer because they were small enough to fit into my pockets.
I'm excited about going to London again this year, but not excited about paying 30 USD for fish'n'chips. Stupid exchange rate.
I really really really want one of these somewhere in my house:
Cute. The Happy Porcelain collection by Tina Roeder:
The strawberry and croissant are both on sale at Lekker.
I am still searching for just the right wallpaper for our entry. Today, I found another contender: Camilla Meijer's patterns. The UK-based designer makes wallpaper, lampshades and cushions.
(You can also find some of her work in Soma Gallery's online shop.)
Jon and I don't exchange Valentine's Day gifts anymore. But if we did, I would be tempted to buy The Little Box of I Love You — which includes 40 postcards expressing adoration. Like these:
Even better? Make your own set of postcards to give to a loved one.
I really like Monsoon's collection of wallpaper for Graham & Brown, especially the Chrysanthemum pattern.
(You can order samples of any of the G&B wallpapers ... which I just did.)
I think I need this:
"Roller Stop" is a new piece in Harry Allen's "Reality" collection. How perfect for our new shelving unit! (Available in April.)
These days, more often than not, I've got a pair of Converse on my feet. Which is why I'm intrigued by the collection of apparel and footwear that the company is launching next month exclusively at Target.
You can view the entire image album right here.
After yesterday's post about the vintage typewriter at Three Potato Four (a site I love, by the way), I did some digging around and found Sonrisa. It's a shop in Los Angeles that carries new and vintage industrial-y stuff (mainly for the office).
Like this Metallurgy desk:
And this retro portable clock radio:
And these porcelain pendant lamps:
Look what recently arrived at the Saks online shop! New Loeffler Randall goodies!
Actually, they're only available for pre-order, but they'll probably be snapped up quickly (especially the shoes). As someone who wears jeans, sneakers and t-shirts to work most days, I have no business buying any of this — well, maybe the boots? — but they sure are pretty to look at.
This Philly-based firm makes the cutest stuff. Over the past few months, I've picked up SHiH goods from their Etsy store as well as The Curiosity Shoppe in SF. So I'm thrilled that they are having an opening at Rare Device next Friday, February 1.
I heard a story on NPR this morning about Goodwill's collaboration with designer Nick Graham (of Joe Boxer fame): William Good is a line of repurposed clothing, made from items donated to Goodwill. How cool is that?
Today's NY Times has images of several pillows that will be included in Dwell's collection at Target:
The baby line will be in stores at the end of January, while grown-ups have to wait another month for non-nursery goods. (The official press release is right here.)
I am sort of loving this mixed tape dispenser over at Uncommon Goods:
Reminds me of my youth ... And the 200 or so cassette tapes that are currently sitting in my living room that need to be removed.
When we moved into our house about three years ago, we picked up a dining table from our favorite vintage shop in the Mission District. And then we bought eight really affordable chairs from a local eBay seller. While the chairs have served us well, they aren't in the greatest shape. Never were. But we considered them our trial-run chairs. Because prior to this house, Jon and I usually found ourselves eating our meals on the couch.
Now that we've been elevated to grown-up status (i.e., paying our mortgage on time, eating in the dining room), I've been scouting new chairs. I'm not sure when we'll actually make a purchase, but I like the idea of getting a pair of these Chip side chairs:
I'd like them in white. And maybe the other six dining chairs should consist of a simpler, less ornate design.
Wow. Amy Butler is coming out with a new fabric collection ("Midwest Modern") this Spring. You can check out the bold colors and funky patterns on her site, and below are just a few of the designs:
Also, I just received a few new
