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someone i know told me that....someone that i don't know, says that i did something wrong - in terms of writing. its kinda deflated me. put out my creative fire.plain and simple - bummed me out.funny, as much as i try to forget what was said, it just keeps popping into my head. all night and all day today. i like to think i write from passion, especially if i find something uber fashionable in any avenue of design. i'm gonna post about it too.i love design.i love that you guys love to read about it and come here to find it.even if i just post about a shoe.gonna take a break... be back soon.
john houshmand creates a decadent table.....by blending timeless hardwoods with modern elements of glass, bronze and steel. not ony is he an artistic and fine carpenter, but he is a man of many talents who recently launched a tribeca showroom showcasing an sensational line of organic furniture. re created if you will, from slabs of american hardwoods sometimes fashioned with glass and steel. his process is plain and simple, he and his team are dedicated and hand-pick various woods from his very own 800 acre upstate new york farm. now and then, he hand picks from trees that have bit the bullet from a storm and welcome all that the wood has become, worms, broken bark and all. his designs radiate a graceful yet organic style and are handmade on his own farm. considering your purchase in more like an investment in a celebration of fine furniture and though these masterpieces may seem dear in price - they are worthy of their fine craftsmanship and organic beauty. tables $6000.00 US and dining tables can fare upwards of $18 000.00 US. these guys love trees. and their website is way cool, check them out. [yes, them - of course he has a fabulous team behind him and each member is unique in their own way].
wearing a TEE is unmistakably a work of art these days, and the boys [aka: eddy chai and paul birardi] who own nyc shop ODIN know it. these gents sell exclusive men's limited-edition designed t-shirts. thats right tee's running from $50.000 to $150.00 US. handsome devils can find unique labels like obscurity, a line by two artists who make limited editions of their fabulous graphic tee's or the excellent collection from jason miller [more on jason another day] which includes a laser-cut 'argyle' tee's - too preppy for u? I think not! jump on ODIN early and often, stock swaps with new editions and up comers every few weeks.
if you guys know all about greg, then you’ve seen this already. but just incase your mini has to learn to use the lou; try the ever fashionable and multifunctional potty bench by boon. that’s right folks, a training potty featuring two enclosed side storage spaces for organizing potty training supplies, and a pull-out drawer for easy sanitary clean-up. simply close the lid to use as a large, sturdy stool that supports up to 300 lbs. the sleek, modern design includes a built-in toilet paper holder [yikes -paper everywhere people, keep an eye on your toilet paper monster if you know what i mean! ] and a removable soft deflector shield [duck! few, thank goodness for that] . available at target april 15 2006. it was created by parent duo sales exec ryan fernandez + industrial designer rebecca finell, smartly creating quality kid gear: remember the frog pod? come on, you knew that already too. and as for us, we used the incredible, yet at this point, primitive concept by phillipe starck once available at tar-jay ....now available on ebay.
boon circa 2006 - present
phillipe starck circa 2001 - 2002
[and you know what, we love the starck option, stackable, portable, practical, incredible design - easy! we still use the stool today and i will never give it up. potty 1, 2, 3 - covered.]
the norwegian designer morten hippe brings life to a unique design; a concept like ‘zigzag’, a fresh spin on an open ended toy intended for children ages 6-8 years old. kid-o’s can spin their own web pattern, producing flying pathways, anything that they can imagine. the toy has many attachment possibilities such as suction cups, pinches and a v-shaped string, allowing mini-spiders to use their insight to connect and position the zigzags onto appropriate surfaces [i’m thinking ample space required here – wall to ceiling to floor connections! magnificent!]. the threading process enables the children to use their motor skills. zigzag enables kids to escape from reality with the spaceship design of the spiders. a toy that can be used individually or as a part of group interaction – just clever. other than the worry of kids + string + necks, sounds like an intelligent plan; adult supervision required of course. hippe holds a bachelors degree in industrial design from the louis laybourne smith school of architecture + design. now that is pure ingenuity, the possibilites are endless.
these are likely to engage a conversation with visitors at your home; the ankasa disc pillow, made in the usa avaiable at neiman marcus. $315.00 US plus shipping.
exuberant zebra blankets for kids at neiman marcus. exotically warm and huggable untamed fleece coverlets; throw:$95.00US, twin:$150.00US, full:$170.00 US. 100% cotton + lovable.
for the hottest in utilitarian fashion, look no further than this maison martin margiela 'line 11' silver paper-clip necklace. it’s $195 at maison martin margiela [a graduate of the royale academy of fine artfashion department in belguim and may favorite part: jean paul gaultier, design assistant!], 803 greenwich street. gonna have to find me one of these! reminds me of my other favorite french jewlery designer 'metal pointus' anyone remember them?
yo! toronto.....hit this sample sale. you can thank me later.http://www.shoppingaddicts.ca/
chant to self: will find this shoe on sale and will be mine for summer time. sergio rossi, metallic silver open toe leather shoes $700.00 CAD
add some shimmer and sheen to your summer whites with a pair of metallic silver shoes.it's got me singing: 'shimmy, shimmy coco pop...'i saw this shoe about a month ago and finally found it online, i've been dreaming of it since.size 7.5 for those that need to buy me a gift ;)
yup, i'm torn. it's a tough one. who to review first?one of a kind show or brooklyn designs? both of their exhibitor lists are up. click on the names above and it will take ya right to it. if you find something innovative on either site or you, yourself are exhibiting, drop me a line and we'll talk. in the mean time hit supermaggie for spring inspiration, maggie and michael have created some new graphic t's for both men and women. subtle, feminine and sophisticated, the dandelion tunic is a must have for me! and my little guy would scream with glee over the octopus tee. super cool and super urban. [p.s. off to shop with my best gal pal today so i'llbe posting much later. toodles]
william sonoma new things: thes two things cought my eye, unless of course you are in fact a designer betty crocker then by all means please check out the easter bunny pan. [ug!]
for you fauna lovers out there, soft and romantic trio of songbirds could be placed in your spring garden. Poured and finished by hand, the beautifully colored candles are from bougies la française, one of france's oldest candle-making companies. 6" long, 4" high. set of three, in assorted colors. $39.50 US 
but to follow up with that spring time cleaning try the under the sink trash can
designed to tuck out of sight beneath the kitchen sink, the trim can makes an brilliant vessel for recyclables. made of stainless steel with your choice of a brushed or color-coated finish. resistant to odor absorption, the can easily wipes clean. Use the rubber ring around its rim to secure a trash bag in place. 7-gal. cap., 13 1/2" x 10 1/4" x 15" high. $49.00 US [stainless 59.00 US]. crimson trash can, now we’re talking!
blogger is on the fritz, bare with me will ya, photos to come. i promise.
wow, urban outfitters is really beefing it up for spring. every week or so there is a new product to find. great for dorm living or loft living - i mean once you grow up and make the jump into the real estate pond, who has gobs of cash to spend on decor and more? so, in the mean time urban ourfitters has thrifty finds for those who love design, especially trendy design. and yes we have an urban outfitters in downtown toronto on yonge st, it's just that online the pricing is in US dollars. so canada, hit the store and see what you find.
i came acrros some fun fantastic plastic with official andy warhol style; four colors of contoured lip plates based on warhol's original prints. even the box is a handsome addition to any room, and the plates are perfect for hors d'oeuvres $20.00 US. if lips are too peppery for your decor, then try the tacoma plates in four different tones of pretty petals. if not those then what i call official spring gear; the 1960’s flower plates, definitely iconic of the pop art maestros flavor.
flutter into spring with the butterfly leg table, simple and elegant next to your imported italian sofa or the do it yourself ikea lounger. either way, there are three colours to choose from and at 42.00 US you could grab a bunch. dress your walls for success with the walter wall series, the square series is my personal pick and they have adhesive on the back so stick’em on the ceiling if you can! 8 pieces per pack and $42.00 US and there are circles or hexagons too, you decide. the resin ball lamp goes nicely with a previous choice I posted: the cherry blossom shade, $36.00 US. the lamp topped with a different shade, would go nicely next to the bed that is swathed in a cotton red rose bedspread with a concentric border trim $32.00 US.
if you don't already know them ....Studio Job is job smeets and nynke tynagel, a young belgian/dutch duo whose peculiar work balances between design and autonomous art. the twosome’s 'rock furniture' is an array of cast aluminium seating with a baroque, crystalline form, an intllation created for milanese manufacturer dilmos which stood out in a milan summer show in 2005. they incorporate ‘insects’ in pieces depicting unsettling two-tone patterns of bugs printed on wall coverings, tiles and fabrics. for years form influenced the function, but studio job seemed to move in a whole different direction so that they astounded the onlooker with enchanted and decorative elements. a dark side of studio job's composition is hidden behind the cartoon shapes full of humour and beauty.
'still life insect tile's' rendered in black and white from 2003 are produced by koninklijke tichelaar makkum in the netherlands. it is a glazed porcelain tile, 5.25" square, available in four patterns and can be arranged anyway you like. $20.00 US each available at moss nyc. what is even more remarkable is that as clever, amusing and insightful Job Smeets is, studio job is amongst the most fascinating interpreters of a trend whose forerunners have been the Droog: to design, prototype, sell, sanctify ideas. 
their work is neither art, nor industrial design, production design, nor craftsmanship but a novel conduit, a language, a personality. this communicative path brings Studio Job to develop directly for exhibitions, museums, architects. job classifies their way of working as an expression "writing with shapes" and we are to recognize that their hands are blissful, generous, and tongue in cheek. sometimes it formulates common objects and transforms them and their dimensions, materials, functions into the “modular cabinet” or a bronze hammer becomes a toy. take a simple object like a lamp for instance; designed specifically for the 2005 council of fashion fesigners of america awards by studio job, the limited 50 edition set was manufactured by swarovski. a gold-anodized aluminum base is laser-cut, and sprinkled with red and peridot-colored swarovski crystals $2 900.00 US with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel available via moss nyc.
let face it, your closet is messy. come on you can admit it. its spring and you know you walk by the closet and cringe at the thought of opening it. closets are notorious for a mélange tangled hangers; a perennial problem for spring cleaners. bold enough to brag about your closet that is big enough to walk around in? you're just like everyone else except your problem is bigger. wire hangers get caught in each other's hooks, and clothes have a way of sliding off plastic hangers. and slowly we just close our eyes + say goodbye as we shut, slide and in some cases.... slam the doors shut. i won’t elaborate much more, it’s my problem too. never fear! new hangers designed to hold onto their charges, with shapes that contain not only shirts and trousers but also ties, scarves, belts, fur coats — even blankets and comforters.
detangler number one manages to do the heavy lifting without taking up extra space. huggable hangers, for example, have a velvet-like surface that holds garments in place, yet the hangers are as thin as wire. the velvety surface on huggable hangers adds traction to slippery slopes. the hangers are sturdy enough to hold coats and they come in a variety of colors and shapes, including one with multiple bars for trousers. a set of 20 is $24.95 US from hsn.
hanging boot shapers clear the floor for other shoes. a pair is $9.79 US from the container store.
blankets can be smartly stowed away for spring on the sturdy comforter hanger $7.99 US from hanger city.
or wood hangers with animal heads are $11.99 for four from the containter store. or ....you can just buy from poliform and all your worries will be fixed. poliform is available in toronto via interior elements 435 king street west.
woo - hooo! design bungalow has made the 'what we read' list for retail design diva located in alpharetta, GA. thank you to sree and the gang and we will add them to our list too. 'retail design diva is the industry's first retail design weblog dedicated to hashing out the issues, opinions and frustrations of the day. hosted by DDI magazine and globalshop, this forum offers you the chance to vent, praise, share, enlighten and inspire to your heart's content, because we know there's a little DIVA inside everyone. lets be sure to point out, however, the opinions reflected in retaildesigndiva do not necessarily reflect those of DDI, globalshop or their parent company VNU Inc.'now, read the retail design diva will ya?
Tubtrugs a flexible container that can be held in one hand like a basket making them useful while triming the branches of your magnolia tree or climbing a ladder to pick your juicey homegrown apples. squeeze 'em and you have a spout for pouring h2o, compost or sand. carry your pettite or man size gardening tools, garbage, compost or lawn clippings. oh, yeah ...they are made from 100% recycled waste polyethylene collected from all over europe. now doesn't that make you feel better? a green solution for the concientious designer gardener not only that but they also are available in 8 great colors: purple, dark green, light green, red, orange, yellow, pink, or blue -one color per set. pst! frostproof and UV sunlight proof! and for you minimal modern gardeners - they come in black too.like all magnificent ideas, the best ones are always simple. great value and dash of vivacious colour for your yard. grab'em for your garden at gardenscape tools in the beaches [yes people, we have beaches up here in toronto too] 2010A queen st. east $45.00 CAD for a set of three tubs or online at gardenscape tools. like the quick thinking mom that i am .....hmmm, how many toys can fit in a tubtrug and still get a lid on it?
