January is organizing month

January 4, 2012 | 1 Commentary

Happy New Year!

Are you poking around your home and office clearing out accumulations of stuff to start the new year a few pounds lighter?

We are. And we’re coveting these cool modular shelves by Belgian-Dane Julien De Smedt of JDS Architects for Muuto. Perfect (or painfully obsessive) for the indecisive designer who likes to redesign.

Stacked shelving system designed by JDS Architects for Muuto, available at Design Within Reach

Julien De Smedt explains, “Our projects are humanly designed, politically engaged, financially viable, and structurally realistic.” When asked how he sees the “new Nordic” celebrated by the Danish company Muuto, De Smedt says it is “like an embrace of a southern culture with a northern rigueur.”

In three sizes and held together with strong steel clips, the shelves are the best design storage investment we’ve seen all year. Ha.

Might I recommend watching this neat video I’m now renaming, How Do I Shelve Thee? Let Me Count The Ways-?

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/27183069 w=400&h=225]

A good boy

November 8, 2011 | Leave a Reply

We’re still into animals this week, and really- what’s not to love about our sweet elephant?

Charles and Ray Eames were apparently really into elephants, having documented circuses and their adventures in India, both of which prominently feature the impressive animal. The Eames designed two prototypes made of molded plywood that was too complicated to produce for sale and so were displayed at the MoMA from 1945-6.

We hear that today, only one of the original elephants remains and is privately held by the Eames family. The copycat toy elephant we’re featuring below is made of white polypropylene and is created by the Vitra Design Museum and made in Germany. A perfect toy for the stylish toddler.

Eames Elephant, $290 at Design Within Reach

Wearable planter

November 7, 2011 | Leave a Reply

Would you wear a little plant around your neck?

Wearable acrylic polymer planter by Colleen Jordan, $30 at Vespoe

Marketplace: Citta Design

October 6, 2011 | 1 Commentary

Oh how I wish New Zealand’s Citta Design was in Canada! I just had the most wonderful time browsing their collection.

rattan mooring waste paper basket

market bag with leather handles

paper rope baskets

Lanky Larry Lamb

Poppy the Sausage Dog

wool scarf with sequins

Photos courtesy of Citta Design.

Marketplace: Chapters Indigo at Home

September 22, 2011 | 2 Commentaries

I’m at Chapters at least once a week and over the last few months I’ve really noticed an increase in the quality of products for the home. Is anyone else impressed with the home wares at this Canadian bookstore?

Sicura small owl white lacquer bookends, $29.50