coral, its everywhere........kudos to paul for his comment and bringing up a great issue: yes, it is true threats to coral reefs are leading to a multitude of problems for reefs today. 58% of the world's coral reefs are potentially threatened by human activity. coral reefs are found in 109 countries. Significant reef degradation has occurred in 93. we have already lost 27% of the world's coral reefs. if present rates of destruction are allowed to continue, 60% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed over the next 30 years. a good way to imagine a coral reef is to think of it as a bustling city or community, with the buildings made of coral, and thousands of inhabitants coming and going, carrying out their business. In this sense, a coral reef is like a metropolis under the sea. corals grow at different rates, depending on water temperature, salinity, turbulence, and the availability of food. the massive corals are the slowest growing species, adding between 5 and 25 millimeters (.2 inches to an 1 inch) per year to their length. branching and staghorn corals can grow much faster, adding as much as 20 centimeters (8 inches) to their branches each year. read more here.
so, in this instance a good fake is a great design trend solution, try one of these ideas:
evocative of the mystifying beauty of the undersea world, the crystal ocean reef bowl is framed in a crystal branch of coral. the strikingly pure reef bowl is cradled in a branch coral form cast in pure Steuben crystal. the contrasting qualities of the cast reef and the elegant simplicity of the bowl speak to the mysterious textures and beauties of the underwater seas, overindulge at $23 000 US at steuben glass by michele oka doner designs 2006.
coral napkin rings, pieces of resin "coral" adorn these silver-plated napkin rings, red or white. $88.00 each at horchow collection.
kenneth jay lane coral frame, this stunning red coral frame holds one 6" x 8" photo. $125.00 at horchow collection.
unpretentious and chic, instead of real coral from the sea, try these fanciful glass coral pieces. striking as a table centerpiece, measurements: approx. L 10" x W 6" available in white, black, or red at velocity home $33.00 US each.
a handcrafted wonder to hang on high, perfectly mimicking graceful coral branches, this chandelier is actually made of steel with a powder-coat finish. Requires four 60-watt bulbs, 28"Dia. x 38"T with a 31"L hanging rod and includes canopy; professional installation recommended. $4 245.00 US at horchow collection.
ready to bed by anne gish linens of machine-washable silk. for solid-color quilted linens, specify color. For striped silk linens, specify winter, summer, or spring. added are beaded silk doupioni pillows that come in sets of three different sizes and colours brown with white beadwork or ivory with coral beadwork. sheets are made of 275-count egyptian cotton percale from italy by hamburg house, available in white with brown embroidery or ivory with coral Embroidery see horchow collection for detailed pricing.
corale rugs from danskina. perhaps the most luxurious floor coverings on the planet, danskina of the netherlands produces a beautiful series of rugs that both look great and feel great. unsurpassed in quality, all of these rugs are custom built to size with only the finest wools available. shown here is corale, so named because of its resemblance to ocean coral. a central color is surrounded by a complimentary color to acheive this great look. 100% pure new wool, hand tufted, 1.6" pile height, approximately $57.5/sq. foot at unica home. uber cool for your floors!
new hip and colorful crib bedding from dwell baby, a playful and modern coral motif. dwell baby crib sets are designed to include reversible quilts, bumpers, skirts, blankets and accent pillows, to allow more choices for coordinating patterns and colors in your contemporary nursery.
coral-like plastic creation, filigreed, flexible and yet strong. algues is a finely branched, asymmetrically shaped object that is 12" high, 8" wide and slightly less than 2" deep. when viewed alone, it simply looks like a uniquely poetic, decorative design element. however, algues are actually conceived as modular components of interior architecture. thanks to 19 ring-like eyes at the end of their branches, algues can be easily joined together with small plastic pegs at one or several points. in this way, it is possible to construct interwoven structures of substantial dimensions. potential configurations range from a delicate web that could be used in place of a curtain or as a trellis for climbing plants, to an impenetrably dense plastic hedge consisting of several layers of interconnected algues that serves as a room divider. the bouroullecs have once again created a product that reflects their unconventional and innovative approach: the people who buy algues are not merely consumers, but participants in the design process. manufactured by vitra. available in red, green or white. sold in a set of 6, $30.00 US at unica home. this one is my persaonal faux coral favorite.
