A few more last-minute gifts

by Johanne

3 days away and still lots to do.

I’m all for the one-stop shopping experience. This year I managed to cram my Christmas gift shopping list into four stops, including stores where I had to go anyway to buy supplies for my own holiday survival kit (ie. the wine & spirits store).

Hopefully you’re getting near the bottom of the list and maybe, like me, you’re already done (!). Either way, ain’t nothin’ wrong with taking a little peak at what’s happening at one of our fave all-around go-to suppliers: the Paper Source.

If not for this Christmas, surely other occasions will come up to justify a little bit of this:

Paper cardstock tree house, $29.95

Smencils smell deelish and are made from 100% recycled paper. Perfect for decorating a paper tree house! $15.95 for a yummy 10-pack

Bathtub tea, $3.95
Camera rubber stamp, $6.95
Printed in Italy utensil paper, $3.75 for a 20″ x 28″ sheet
Monogram letter press stationary, $6.50 for 10 flat cards
Donkey memo paper (includes 140 blank slips), $12.95

For these and more visit the Paper Source.

Stocking stuffers for the foodie

by Johanne

White stocking stuffers for the DIY foodie:

Beaded napkin rings, $30 for a set of 4 at Urban Barn

Peppermint hot chocolate and handcrafted marshmellows set, $32.50 at Williams Sonoma

Personalized apron, $29 at Williams Sonoma

Stainless steel moose corkscrew, $30 at Urban Barn

Koi glass tumblers, $24 at Urban Barn

Cookie jar, $14.95 at Crate & Barrel

Classic Century sauce boat, $47.95 at Crate & Barrel

Milk frother, $19.95 at Crate & Barrel

Microwave egg boiler, $4.49 at Kitchen Stuff Plus

Stainless steel pierogi maker, $8.99 at Kitchen Stuff Plus

Handmade cocktail picks, $0.99 for a set of three at Kitchen Stuff Plus

Mini lettuce spinner, $24.95 at Crate & Barrel

Matryoshka measuring spoons, $8 at Urban Outfitters

Lace dish, $6 at Urban Outfitters

Monogrammed soap set, $29 at Pottery Barn

Images courtesy of Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Urban Barn, Urban Outfitters, and Kitchen Stuff Plus.

Deep Design

Post by Johanne

Deep Design hard at work. The Bluebell prototype floor lamp takes its name from the plant it so perfectly embodies.

In case you missed it when you were traveling in Milan last year, lucky for you, we have images of the deepdesign exhibit at the Triennale Design Museum in Italy.

The fascinating exposition is about “l’anima sensibile delle cose” (“the sensible soul of things”) and showcases six objects and an assortment of photos featuring the innovative creations by Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti of the Milanese design agency Deep Design.

The show’s press release explains the design duo’s philosophy and approach to commercial and industrial design: “Taking as their model the dynamics of the natural world, deepdesign’s research aims to harmonize functional complexity and formal organicism to achieve a pure one economy of the shape.”

Here’s a sampler of the Milanese exhibit:

Dandelion

Deep Design duo Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti with the Dandelion lamp: a thin stalk topped with dandelion-like seed puffs, light as air.

Flexica

The Flexica is designed to be able to slide under low-lying furniture in the home- unlike many electric vacuum appliances that simply don't fit. The reality of our furnishings is that there isn't a lot of space underneath our chairs, recliners, and love-seats and somehow, other vacuums on the market fail to address this challenge.

Deep Design's Flexica

Pulse

The Pulse washing vessel is Deep Design's washing machine prototype based on the concept of centripetal force. The vessel is designed to keep air and water in continuous flow, and with the help of various membranes and pressure changes, the laundry gets done. When the device is in use, a light icon is activated via electroluminescence.

Flat Piano

The Flat Piano addresses that interior design question of where to keep the space-greedy but beautiful grand piano in today's smaller homes. Deep Design suggests an alternative to the dining room or work table: an electronic keyboard that runs under a large glossy white top with an electronic device that acts as its sound board. When not being played it becomes a work or dining table. With built-in amplifiers meticulously designed to evenly deliver 3D sound across the surface of the table, it's practical without compromising sound quality.

Winds

Deep Design's prototype hair dryer is designed to address the hairdresser's uncomfortable posture from using typical hair dryers. Its double airflow, L-shape and redesigned internal components are also intended to direct the airflow directly at the hair for better styling while also reducing the strain on the hairdresser's arm from twisting the typical hair dryer into a 90 degree position.

Images and more information about the Deep Design exhibit prototypes can be found at Plus Mood. For more information about the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, we suggest visiting the Museum website.

Light my seat

Post by Johanne

Chester Lit Armchair, $680 at Design Within Reach

Light-filled chairs and chesterfields are the latest concoctions to arrive at Design Within Reach.

The company asked Italian designers Raffaella Mangiarotti and Matteo Bazzicalupo of Deep Design to refine the 2009 model and make it better suited to braving the outdoors.

(You might know Mangiarotti from her Dandelion Lamp now included in MoMA’s permanent collection, pictured below:)

Deep Design's Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti with the Dandelion Lamp

The collab between Deep Design and DWR is what we see today: the Chester chair’s button tufting and rounded arms are fun and comfortable while the innovative draining system ensures that the chair and built-in light fixture will remain dry and weather-proof.

What a brilliant solution.

Product image courtesy of Design Within Reach; Deep Design image courtesy of Plus Mood.

P.S. I was so inspired by Deep Design’s work that I embarked on a little search to feature more of their designs on White Cabana next Wednesday. Stay tuned for more inventive Deep Design!

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