Simplified: Industrial Stools

We are kind of obsessed with industrial stools, especially the screw-top type which can be twisted up or down to any desired height. And if they look beat-up, chipped or weathered, so much the better. Here are a few that we like:
Turner barstool @ Crate & Barrel, $199
Top row:
Safco Diesel high-back @ Betty Mills, $111
Modern Times factory stool @ Sundance,$159
Miner side table/stool @ cb2, $149
Bottom row:
Small draftsman's stool @ Wisteria, $159
Mid-century studio stool @ Sundance, $245
Diesel low base @ Dick Blick, $95

Invisible Creature Prints

Invisible Creature -- a Seattle-based graphic design studio -- creates fantastic prints and posters for indie bands like TV on the Radio, the Kings of Leon, Placebo, Spiritualized, the Misfits and many others.

The design team has already nabbed a few Grammy nominations for their album art, and the folks over at Velocity (rightly) thought that some of us might want to hang silk-screened prints on our walls. Our personal favorites are this one for Spiritualized and the Michael & Michael suit jacket print (even if the Michaels don't have much need for album cover art.)
@ Velocity, from $20

Chic Mobile Speaker Tote

At last. A stylish solution to iPod speakers.

This little tote + speaker has an iPod dock inside, making it a sweet way to transport music to a picnic, a pool or another get-together.

It's also a chic, simple alternative to having speakers/docks all over the house. Just hang of these from a doorknob, and voila. Plus, it's so much better-looking than a boom-box.

It is designed and sold in Japan, and you can find many more details at the always interesting Spoon & Tamago. [via S & T]

Playforever Speedster

Playforever toys are endlessly appealing, and they're long enough (12") to stand out on a bookshelf or pop in a room. This one is called the Enzo Speedster, and it's made in England, from glossy ABS Plastic real rubber tires. So cute.
@ Nest Living, $60

Tracy Reese Quilts + Bedding

We like Tracy Reese's girly-chic clothing line, so it's no surprise that her bright, color-shot bedding sets and modern quilts work for us too.

We saw them a while back at Anthropologie, and just discovered that several of her styles are available through Amazon for a relative bargain. The prints are named Saigon (our fave), Folk Song, Big Blooms and Almost Famous.

Could we live with pink bedding? Not sure, but according to our sister site, Opaline, pink is about to have a major moment.
@ Amazon,from $200

Spanish Lace Tea Set by Edyta Cieloch

Perhaps not the most functional tea set we'll ever see, but certainly one of the most beautiful.

This piece was made by Polish ceramicist Edyta Cieloch, who slip-cast industrial porcelain and then carved out the intricate design via tracery techniques. (It must take a steady hand to achieve such a delicate look.)

The Spanish Lace set is on display now at the Museum of Arts and Design, as part of the Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics exhibit. From the artist statement:

Crockery, devoid of its original common function in a traditional meaning, becomes useless but acquires new aesthetic value.

Barnyard Chic

The animals must be running the zoo. Or at least they've inspired designers to transform their hoofs, paws, feathers and heads into high-style, collectible furnishings.

Antique dealers will tell you that furniture with carved animal feet and hooves have been around since at least ancient Egypt. A few of the designs above (the Traccia table, the sheep stool) are considered classics, dating back to the '70s or thereabouts.

Still, we're not convinced we'd want critters and their various limbs in our home (barns do exist for a reason). But in the right space, these anthropomorphic styles could be dazzling.

Top row:
Moooi horse lamp @Hive Modern, $6,542
Ibride Sultan dog stool in glossy red @ Burke Decor, $435
Ajax dining side chair @ Oly

Middle row:
Ari side table @ Oly
Moooi rabbit lamps @ Modern Nest, $423
Meret Oppenhein Traccia table @ Unica Home, $3,211

Bottom row:
Moooi pig table @ All Modern, $2,070
Sheep stool @ Moss, $1,200
Ostrich side table @ The Future Perfect, $549

Inhabitat Graphic Text Pillows

Love these Inhabitat pillows because they combine great colors, a nice sheen to the fabric, typography in a crisp font and inspirational (but not too annoying) messages. They'd add a nice touch to all kinds of room.
@ Design Public, from $54
[via FOKal]

Simplified: Docking + Charging Stations

We've been looking for a simple, tidy little home to contain phones, iPods and such, and we're surprised to find so few creative options at the moment. Especially considering all the diverse (and sometimes nutty) styles for charger/speakers that are everywhere.

That said, however, docking stations are a relatively new concept, we're looking forward to the designs that are around the corner.

Top:
Sanctuary @ Blue Lounge, $150
Grassy Lawn @ Think Geek, $25
Laquer and mini stations @ West Elm (with a snazzy site update), $59/$35
Smart Charging Staion @ PB Teen, $60
Load-Ding station @ Delight, $15
Tree of Charge @ Radius-Design, €59
Socket Pocket @ Think Geek, $7

Trend Spy: Matryoshkas (Russian Nesting Dolls)

Call them Russian nesting dolls. Or babushkas. We call them matryoshkas, and we're seeing them everywhere. Our favorite versions are the ones that tweak the carved Old World dolls so that they reflect life in 21st century.

Clockwise, from left:
Thomas Paul melamine plates @ Velocity, $28
Measuring cup set @ Anthropologie, $28
Computer icon set and iPhone wallpapers @ Ben Schlitter's blog [via Swiss-Miss]
Maxim Velčovský Matroska set @ Qubus
Pantone dolls in fading colors @ Yar Rassadin Design
Bit, byte...terabyte memory dolls @ Art Lebedev [via Jars of Cute]
Packing tape @ Fred Flare, $10
Cotton dish towel @ To Dry For, £10

Back to School Week: Desktop Doodads

What's that saying about God the devil great design being in the details? We think these cute, useful desktop items illustrate that point perfectly.

Top row:
Pixel pencils @ Fred Flare, $10
Cavallini sticky notes @ Anthropologie, $14
Robot pencil sharpener @ Blue Ribbon General Store, $8

Middle row:
Cavallini jumbo erasers @ Kate's Paperie, $3
Temperature task clips @ Blue Ribbon General Store, $
Cavallini desktop calendar @ Anthropologie, $13

Bottom row:
Talk bubble paperclips @ Perpetual Kid, $7
Hanger magnet set (holds pens, keys, stickies) @ Wrapables, $13
Elephant paper clips @ MoMA, $7

Style Counsel: Aimee Wilder on Bold Graphics

New York designer Aimee Wilder has an incredible sense for big, bold, eye-catching graphics. Her amazing wallpaper designs feature robots, cassette tapes, Sumo wrestlers, pigeons and equally audacious patterns. Her design fearlessness comes from experience; Aimee has worked with Dwell, Martha Stewart Living, Crate and Barrel and many other prominent style-makers.

We're totally smitten with Aimee's hip, canny style but, honestly, we're kind of timid when it comes to wallpaper. So, we invited her to share some tips, and we're thrilled by her savvy suggestions about designing with strong graphics.

In the first of our periodic Style Counsel series, here are few tips from Aimee:

1. Maximalism vs. minimalism
I wouldn't integrate more than one conversational piece at a time. If you're putting bold pattern on the wall, down play other textiles in the room. Use solid, complementary colors or non-competing geometrics on your furniture or bed linens. Then supplement the room with throws, pillows and smaller items that have pattern or textures.


[Close up of Pigeon and room view]

2. Mix old and new
Combine vintage furniture with modern textiles. Place a vintage bureau or wardrobe against a contemporary wallpaper. Or put a modern chair against a retro wallpaper. Mixing one era or style with another balances the room, while the contrast makes each item stand out.

[Analog Nights, same pattern as these awesome pillows]

3. Think Global
A globe, a rice paper lamp, a hand-crocheted afghan or vintage toys would make great, colorful accent to a child's room that decorated with wallpaper like Robots or Analog Nights. They'd give the room a rounded and more dynamic look.

[Sumo, check out the close-up below]

Have Fun
Play with your space. Don't be afraid! If you have an idea that you think would be cool, it probably is. Go for it!

[Snowscene]

A few more swatches.... check out Aimee's site for other fantastic great patterns.

[Robots in blue, Leaf Damask, Sumo close-up]

Back to School Week: Paper

Binders. Notebooks. Files.
Boring words normally associated with office drudgery. But these pretty binders, notebooks and files are chic enough to make menial tasks much, much more fun.

Notebooks @ Anthropologie, from $10
Cavallini file folders @ Kate's Paperie, $18
Wood grain and shipping @ Greener Grass Design, $10



Suck UK notebook & pencil set @ Greener Grass Design, $12
Rhodia Treasure Box @ Curiosity Shoppe, $21
Russell+Hazel signature binders @ Russell+Hazel, $24