From Julie:
These stylish Ginkgo spoons made from solid beech wood and stainless steel are $7.50 each from www.canoeonline.com; I’d use as salad servers.
This capacious 17-inch maple salad bowl, hand-turned in Granville, Vermont, is an essential item for the summer kitchen. It’s $150 at vermontcountrystore.com:
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Add comment June 28th, 2007
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From Julie:
We remain magnetically attracted to the work of UK architect John Pawson, even if he is overexposed (and what was that thing with Martha Stewart?). His candleholder for Belgian company When Objects Work (whenobjectswork.be) is perfection:
Yes, they are not quite as refined, but here are two options that will do nicely: West Elm’s glass cloche and alabaster base (below left), currently on sale at westelm.com; and (right) Crate and Barrel’s Monterey Hurricane candleholder; $34.95 at crateandbarrel.com:
Add comment June 27th, 2007
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From Sarah:
A water pitcher (or “jug,” as we like to say in the UK) done properly is the perfect embodiment of good design. You might think it’s easy to design something so simple, but, in truth, it’s a great test for even the most seasoned designer. Not surprisingly, two of my favorites are from that great UK design dynasty, Conran.
Jasper Conran’s simple fine bone china jug is part of his White Collection for Wedgwood. £36.60 at wedgwood.com
Sophie Conran designs for Portmeirion; her Celadon jug is available in the US from dishesdecorandmore.com (currently on sale for $18.70)
Heath Ceramics’ pitcher is available in a variety of colors for $66 at
heathceramics.com
The Studio pitcher from Pottery Barn is surprisingly appealing; $22 from potterybarn.com
Another success story from a mass retailer; the Italian rustic white pitcher for $21.95 from crateandbarrel.com
Cornishware has long been a staple of the British breakfast table; this Cornish Blue Dreadnaught Jug is available from Conran for $39, conranusa.com
Two enamel offerings from the UK:
1.White enamel jug for £15 from one of our favourite British sites,
labourandwait.co.uk
2.Enamel retro jug available for £12 from gardentrading.co.uk
Jasper Conran takes the simple pitcher to a new level with this pewter-coated beauty; $125 from his above line at wedgewood.com
1 comment June 25th, 2007
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From Julie:
Just noticed that West Elm has a great summer rug—and it’s round, our favorite shape. Eight-foot diameter, hand-braided jute rug; $249 at westelm.com:
Also, Crate and Barrel has some new offerings; go to crateandbarrel.com to view:
Handwoven plantation-grown abaca rug; eight-foot diameter for $399; ten-foot diameter for $650:
Remy rug of soft white cotton jersey (would make a great bathroom rug) five-foot diameter; on sale for $179 from $199. crateandbarrel.com
Celeste shag rug of fluffy New Zealand wool; six-foot diameter; $369. www.crateandbarrel.com
Add comment June 24th, 2007
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From Sarah:
It’s a bit of a Germanic mouthful, but Rechenbeispiel is a hook system designed by Nils Holger Moormann. This simple peg design offers a modular approach to coat hooks, with add-on components for mail, keys, a chalkboard, and more. The additional panel of lower-level hooks for children is sheer genius. Go to www.moormann.de
For another streamlined hallway coathook system, check out Utili-tiles from Canadian design firm Thout. The flat wooden panels feature flip-out pegs for hanging coats and the like. Go to generaldesignassociates.com:
Add comment June 21st, 2007
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From Julie:
Perhaps you’ve heard: Ikea has introduced a new line of more refined, higher-quality pieces called Ikea Stockholm. I paid a visit to the Emeryville Ikea today to peruse the selection. Some make the cut, some I’d give a pass (a few of the wood pieces have an Icestorm-ish 70s-Danish-modern gestalt). Here are my picks:
The winner is the Stockholm oak-veneer serving cart; sleek, stylish, bears up under scrutiny. And at $229? Go to ikea.com to view.
A close second is the Stockholm Easy Chair, nicely proportioned, comfortable, good for smallish spaces. And a steal at $399. Go to ikea.com for specs.
Surprisingly more appealing in situ is the Stockholm 3 1/2 sofa (go to ikea.com for specs); comfortable, streamlined, nicely proportioned, down-filled cushions. At $1,399, an excellent value. Seemed more like a real couch and less like an Ikea placeholder piece you tolerate until you get your act together.
Add comment June 20th, 2007
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From Julie:
A while ago, our toaster oven went up in flames. I spent hours searching the web for a decent-looking replacement. I settled for a Krups. Recently, I discovered this Duralit at conranusa.com (it’s also available at chefscorner.com for $249.99). Yes, it is $250 (you can get an OK one for less than a hundred), but I do believe it is worth the extra cost:
Add comment June 17th, 2007
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From Sarah:
Call it midcentury fatigue. How else to explain my recent penchant for all things Gustavian? Admittedly, it’s still simple Swedish design, but it’s 18th-century roccoco reduced to something more lean and restrained. I particularly love simple wood pieces with an austere layer of pale gray paint.
L.A.’s Chloe Decor offers a wide selection of Scandinavian furniture and antiques, such as this Gustavian original painted sofa; $12,000 www.chloedecor.com:
Swedish gate-leg table; $4,900 chloedecor.com:
A gate-leg table of more recent vintage; $3,900 at chloedecor.com:
Julia Foster Decorative Antiques in London specializes in the Gustavian period; view her wares at juliafosterantiques.com:
In San Francisco, the Swedish Room is a charm-filled trove of wares brought back to the states by Scandi owner Suzanna Harden; go to swedishroom.com:
The Swedish Chair in the UK does some nice reproduction pieces as well; go to theswedishchair.com:
1 comment June 14th, 2007
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A kitchen we’re obsessed with, from livingetc.com, the website for Living Etc., one of the most addictive British home design magazines. The combination of cool stainless steel and warm walnut works beautifully:
Add comment June 13th, 2007
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We’re always in search of classic, easy-to-read kitchen clocks. Clocks that manage to be both retro and modern at the same time. Here are some recent finds (n.b.: all clocks feature quartz-battery mechanisms):
Chrome-plated commercial retrofitted German clock from the 50s; £85 at notonthehighstreet.com
Beech wall clock; £25 at muji.eu:
Pugg wall clock; $19.99 from ikea.com:
Junghans Clock, designed by Max Bill in the 1950s; $380 at nova68.com:
Romber Clock by Arne Jacobsen; designed for the National Town Hall in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1937; $340 at nova68.com:
Bengt Ek wall clock; $91 at unicahome.com:
Polished aluminum quartz clock designed by Bengt Ek of Sweden; £49.75 at notonthehighstreet.com
M & Co. Wall Clock; $125 at moma.org:
Giant Electric clock; based on an original design from the 1940s; $245 at conranusa.com or at heals.co.uk for £50:
About as neutral as you can get: the Helvetica clock from MSC Industrial Supply Co.; $29.35 at mscdirect.com:
Bonus Kitchen Clock:
Mechanical scale on one side, built-in clock on the other; designed by Bengt Ek; $200 at unicahome.com:
2 comments June 12th, 2007
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