Home Accessories
Designed by Gido Wahrmann for Carl Mertens, this Slate Tabletop Fireplace will add a cozy feeling whenever and wherever you want. It is a contemporary miniature fireplace that could add an extra touch of glamor to your dinner party. It has two stainless steel logs affixed to a natural slate base. The fire is maintained by liquid paraffin lamp oil and subsequently does not require an external ventilation system. This would be a fabulous in place of standard candles for a romantic evening, with no dripping wax or perfumed scent. It brings both mood lighting and a touch of warmth to any modern home. Although its design is rather contemporary, it really is a timeless piece. The mix of stainless steel and natural slate is quite appealing. I think it would be the perfect accent for a contemporary apartment that might otherwise lack that cozy fireplace feeling.
Posted by KarenShearer at 4 February, 2013
The David Rasmussen Furniture Design display was one of my favorites at the New York International Gift Fair. They were featuring their Wud tables, plates and martini glasses in the At Home section of the NYIGF. Their display of contrasting wood products highlighted with vibrant colors immediately caught our attention. The Danish modern design of the WUD series serves as eye catching, functional table art. The plates are formed from a solid piece of wood and finished with a food-safe oil that will keep them maintenance free for years to come. The collection is available in both walnut and maple with the options for light blue, dark blue, lime green or yellow rims. The martini glasses are so creative and original in their design, they truly stand out amongst all else.
The David Rasmussen Furniture Design Studio is based in Carbondale, Colorado and he is one of the few designers who also continues to handcraft his truly elegant and detailed work. The furniture and other creations that David makes are built to last. Clearly this is a man who is passionate about designing and producing his creations. I really adore David’s Curve A Linear series as well, it blends beautifully with the styling of the Wud Collection. Although it was not premiered at the NYIGF, I felt the two just belong together, so I have included a few additional pictures.
Posted by KarenShearer at 29 January, 2013
Blu Dot may be trying to give Ikea a run for their money by selling their fabulous modern designs at Target. Incredibly affordable prices and the well know quality of Blu Dot, they might be onto something here. Target has been making strides to improve access to quality design in their clothing lines with Isaac Mizrahi and Converse, now it seems they are developing those same connections in the home furnishings and decor departments. At these great affordable prices and the ease of accessibility, Blu Dot is striking out into new territory and giving everyone the opportunity to purchase fabulous modern furniture and decor items for their home.
Posted by KarenShearer at 25 January, 2013
Professional photographer and a digital painting artist, Efrat Kuper of Art2Get, has an eye for capturing the delicate details and creating her beautiful imagery from them. As a photography veteran of the fashion world in Milan, she has now moved into creating her own collection of artistic pieces. She has an expansive range of work including architecture & essential nature, bold and beautiful contemporary digital painting pieces and gorgeous wall decor for children. She has now made her work available to the masses, at very affordable prices through her online etsy store.
Posted by KarenShearer at 17 January, 2013
Robert Quintero and his wife Yin, based in Southern California, are a power couple who are all about fabulous design and ethical processes. They have designed and are now manufacturing a brand new line of architectural modern planters via their new company BML. The artisans who are producing the final product are experienced in their trade, make a living wage on which they are able to support their families and are provided with a safe working environment. The outcome of this combined effort, are these inventive and appealing planters.
The planters are designed to fit a five gallon plant container, so that it is easy to change your plantings with the seasons or at your whim. The appeal of these fabulous planters is not only their beautiful exterior design, but the hidden the drip tray within. For those of you out there who love to have greenery about, but not necessarily the green thumb to coincide your desire, these planters are a perfect fit. The tray holds just enough water to properly hydrate your plants, so there is no guessing about the watering process.
The motto of the company, per sec, is “The Best for the Most for the Least” essentially BML. This is the plan for the process for their design. They make the best possible product, make it accessible to the largest number of people and utilize the most sustainable and ethical practices available. Now that is both a concept and company that I can get behind.
Posted by KarenShearer at 27 December, 2012
Mattias Rask and Tor Palm, the Swedish duo behind Glimpt Studio, developed the Superheros Series of stools and pendent lights. The inspiration for this work came from traditional Vietnamese craftsman coupled with the pattern development of Malin Koort. The weaving technique utilized for the series is a modification of one used in Ho Chi Minh City where traditionally, paper threads are wrapped around seagrass to form small bowls. For the Superheroes Series, this technique was upscaled in size and hammock fibers were wrapped around plastic tubes and mounted to a metal frame. The large stool can easily double as a table and the series can be used together or independently for a bold highlighting piece. Cappellini released the series earlier this year.
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 26 December, 2012
Jo Woffinden, through her work, has declared herself a promising new talent in the world of contemporary design. As a recent graduate from Royal College of Art in the UK, she works with a variety of materials including porcelain, stoneware, bone china, concrete, plaster and even paper. Her Baroque line of sculptural objects is a juxtaposition of geometric curves, lines and planes. While the interior of these pieces form an almost continuous space, the exterior creates quite the opposite affect with its lovely misalignment of height and depth. Ms. Woffinden’s creations manage texture and color in a very natural way, so that one has the urge to reach out to feel their surfaces. I, personally, am so excited to see concrete worked in a way that breathes new life into such an often overlooked medium. Clearly, it has extraordinary potential when placed in the right hands.
Posted by KarenShearer at 21 December, 2012
