Kristian Aus Splash Stool

Aussie based designer Kristian Aus is the man behind these wonderful Splash stools -- which are meant to remind us of '80s video games. Made of molded polyethylene, they double as planters or catch-alls. Can't wait till they're available in the U.S.

Bebe Doll Head

I can't decide if this is very cool or very creepy, but figured that it definitely deserved a mention. The aluminum head is hand-rubbed to ensure an iridescent patina. Oh, and the manufacturers make it clear that no dolls were harmed in the making of this product. Hmm....
@ Modern Dose, $45

Long Live Boks iPad Sleeve

Like a lot of folks, I'm still on the fence about whether to get an iPad. But I'm not on the fence about this: If I get one, this is the sleeve I'd want for it. Made with a neutral-colored hardback book cover and a felt-lined interior, these cases are available for Kindles too, and the spine and cover titles are customizable. (Or go with the company's "This is not a book" title.)
@ Long Live Books, $89
[via Design Milk]

Bojka Chairs

Bokja, it seems, is an old Turkish term for the wrapping that held a new bride's dowry. Vintage scraps of the hand-embroidered and embellished fabrics were found in Uzebekistan, Central Asia and the Silk Road and repurposed into these wonderful chairs.
@ abc home, $2,800

Personality Socks

Here's a novel idea: If you can't afford to completely redecorate, you can try changing your chair's socks. What's that? Your chairs don't wear socks? Well, maybe it's worth a try. I'm not sure what material they're made from (silicone is my guess), but it seems they're easy to swap out when the mood strikes.

@ Design Spray £15 or £50/set of 4.

Simplified: Chic Bookends

Who knows what'll happen to reading habits once the iPad takes aim at all of us book-lovers. Meanwhile, long live the supporters old-fashioned paper-and-ink books. Here are a few favorites:
above: bookworms @ show, $44


object bookends @ crate & barrel, $30/each; birdfeet @ emmo home, $50



bronze owls @ yliving, $125; giant jax @ abodeon, $25; scissors @ ballard designs, $45; fu dogs @ cb2, $50



vise bookeds @ restoration hardware, $69; text @ a place for everything, £18; roost piggies @ velocity, $98; manhattan chairs @ pottery barn, $38.

360º See

360ºSee is a Chicago gallery based on sustainable design, and these creative takes on pop culture trends caught my eye. The rug, as you probably figured out, is made from the skin of the rarely-seen wild Persian bear (kidding). It's actually a piece created by the talented Lisa Leferve. The skate decks feature laser-etched botanical prints on maple by artist Piotr Woronkowicz.

The orbs come from German company called Grassland, which specializes in 'grass art.' The idea is that real grass is grown on polystyrene orbs, then somehow dried and protected so that when you hang it, if slowly changes color from lush green to dried wheat. (At least, I think that's what is going on... Google translation services might have misled me.)

Trend Spy: Octopi

The octopus trend just keeps evolving in new and different ways. It shouldn't come as a surprise, since the eight-legged undersea creature is fascinating, mysterious and utterly unique-looking. Besides, those tentacles make for some great graphics.

Double octopus pendant light by Autobahn @ Velocity, $1,495. Cake cups @ Feel More Human, $15. Ceramic sake set @ Louche Lab, $45. Outdoor pillow by Thomas Paul @ Velocity, $80.Tentacle table by Chul An Kwak. Dovetail vase @ Feel More Human, $40. Deep sea curtain @ Anthropologie, from $208. Jef Designs plate @ Design Public, $80.

Porter Tray Tables

I love these bright little tables that actually manage to make a TV tray look quite stylish. Ready to do one's bidding at a moment's notice, the Porter Tray was designed by Studio Domo, and it's designed to work as a perfectly sized bed-side table or an impromptu table that holds a cup of tea, a stack of juicy magazines or a remote. It has a C-shaped design so that it can be pushed over the edge of a sofa or chair. And all for a very affordable price.
@ SFMoMA, $75

Sphero Chandelier

This bronze-colored chandelier has a gyroscopic science experiment feel that would looks pretty amazing in the right space. Handcrafted and made from lacquered steel, it has a retro quality, but still looks very fresh. And at nearly three-feet diameter, it would definitely add some major panache to a room.

@ Sundance, $795

iPad Accessory Bundle

Calling all Mac cult members living on the bleeding edge: You can prepare yourself with all the accessories you may need when you take home your new bundle of love on April 3. This iPad kit includes a silicone skin protective case in a choice of four vibrant colors (red, purple, lime green, hot pink), black and clear that is sized for an iPad, along with a screen protector and a screen cleaner. This way, you'll be able to ensure that your iPad will remain safe for as long as it takes to figure out why you need it.
@ Amazon, $20

[via Holy Cool]

Simplified: Earbud Cord Control

Earbud Owl @ Etsy, $10

For many of us, there's only one real downside to iPods: The constantly tangled and impossible-to-find earbuds that always seem to get buried at the bottom of bags and backpacks. The good news is that there are lots of clever and affordable ways to manage those messy cords.

Bow cord wraps @ Mod Retro, $13

Rew headphone cord by Fred @ Perpetual Kid, $5, Cordctrl wrap @ Cordctrl, £10, Earbud Tin @ Etsy, $5, Earbud pouch knitting pattern @ Etsy, $3

Tree Stumps on Casters

Spotted these fantastic tree stump stools on casters at the always fun Happy Mundane website. They are from a Loft Life feature, although I couldn't track down the image on the site. Anyway, I love the log cabin meets industrial chic aesthetic shown here. Makes me want to caster-ize all my furniture.

Steal These Styles

Elle Decoration just featured these rooms for an article called 'Style Steal'. And some of these ideas are so fantastic, I'd be happy to rip them off and try them in my home. For example, I love the way contrast between a framed watercolor painting in an otherwise art deco bathroom.

Isn't this a smart way to revamp an old cabinet. Just add a few coats of gray paint, some wood brackets and casters.

Grouping a collection -- swans, stones or anything else -- together makes them so much more interesting.

Chilewich Pet Mats

These pet mats are pretty cool -- and Chilewich's nearly indestructible material means they won't show much wear-and-tear no matter how rambunctious your pups may be. The only thing I can't figure out is what I'd do with the little dog cut-out.
@ MoMA, $35

Hip Houseplants

Ficus lyrata

Elle Decor has an interesting feature called Hip Houseplants, and it showcases how much sculptural impact a plant can have in a room. Personally, my thumb isn't green enough to manage anything by the hardiest of all houseplants, such as members from the Ficus and Dracaena families. Most of the plants shown here can be found at Plant HQ, an online source in case you can't find a variety at your local nursery or Home Depot.

Fiddle-leaf fig treeSplit-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)


Mother-in-law tongue and ponytail palm

These plants, available at Plants HQ, are usually hardy enough to withstand a few weeks of benign neglect.

Variegated ficus and yuca cane