"Doesn't this sort of look like that one thing in the DWR catalog?"
One of the themes I've noticed while lurking on the forums over at Dwell is the number of times people ask where they can get DWR styling at IKEA prices. A valid request as I'm sure the majority of the population still wonders who exactly the WR in DWR is meant for.I live near an IKEA. I'm not too far from a couple DWR showrooms as well. I spend hours and hours paging through the DWR catalog when it comes in the mail. Considering my "knowledge" of both, the one thing about IKEA is it's so easy to spot their furniture, especially when you walk into someone's house/apartment and it looks like a page out of their catalog or like one of their showrooms.
Link: Design Within Reach
Link: IKEA
"BARNSLEY, England (Reuters) -- A British man has covered up his lewd garden gnomes with painted-on swimwear after police warned him he faced arrest for causing public offense."
"Sure, it seems crazy dropping cash to spruce up a place you rent, especially when you plan to move, well, one of these years, after you've saved enough dough for a down payment. But where is it written that just because you live lease to lease, you have to put up with peeling paint, closet doors that don't close, refrigerators that reek -- or even a dusty, desolate, debris-strewn excuse for a yard?"
"A wriggly earth bank set around three sinuous ponds, which transformed a flat patch of scrubby grass in front of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh, last night won the £100,000 Gulbenkian museums prize, the richest single prize in the arts."
A level is one of those items that's always a part of our weekend projects. I don't think I'd want to make it part of my formal evening projects, but if I did, I think these cufflinks are just the way I'd do it.
"Taking an outdoor shower can be so refreshing––and with this shower, it’s so easy! Just attach a garden hose to enjoy open-air bathing. Perfect for spa lovers or for cleaning up the kids after playing outdoors, the shower is made of striking yet sturdy nyatoh wood, a fine-textured Indonesian redwood. Its sleek, simple design features a large wood base, handy soap tray, easy-to-turn knob, adjustable pole and showerhead in brushed chrome finish."
"At a ceremony May 6 in Boston, Metropolis named Single Speed Design as the winner of the magazine's first Next Generation Design Prize. In front of their peers and colleagues, the members of the architecture firm—John Hong, Erik Carlson, and Jinhee Park, along with their collaborator, developer Paul Pedini—were honored for their proposal to transform remnants from the Big Dig, Boston’s $15 billion public works project, into beautiful, sustainable housing."
"Green. It conjures images of a meadow in spring for some, and the color of money for others. What does "green" have to do with our homes? In essence, green building-or sustainable building-means being smart about how we use energy, water, and building materials so that we can live well without needlessly damaging the environment. Creating a good green home isn't just about conservation, about using less or saving more-although that's certainly part of it. It's about creating better homes that are easier on the environment, less expensive over the long term, and more delightful to come home to. That's the message Jennifer Roberts wants to share in Good Green Homes, the ultimate guide for people who want to live in comfortable, healthy, environmentally conscious homes."
"Lotusland is a unique 37-acre estate and botanic garden situated in the foothills of Montecito to the east of the city of Santa Barbara. The gardens now covering the estate were created by Madame Ganna Walska, who owned the property from 1941 until her death in 1984. Before her death, Madame Walska established the nonprofit Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation, which now preserves this unrivaled botanical treasure."
"Taking a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway in California presents magnificent views of the coastline as you weave back and forth amongst the hills. One can expect rolling hills, breaking waves, and steep, rocky cliffs but, perhaps less expectedly, one can also stumble upon man-made parts of the landscape that seem to harmonize naturally. One such example is the Glass Residence in Big Sur. Daniel Piechota of Sagan Piechota Architects explains that this residence which is 90 percent glass impedes as little as possible with its surroundings and is a house 'one experiences from the inside out.'"
"A product line with uncomplicated shapes and sophisticated use of materials redefines the countertop island with simple, yet innovative solutions. The traditional wall kitchen is interpreted with contemporary taste by using highly functional modular components and today's latest appearance solutions."
"Manufacturing a greenhouse / household appliance is an original, useful idea that is in no way odd. Made of steel and tempered glass, Serra Domestica by Smeg offers a new way to enjoy greenery in one’s home. In the Serra Domestica, aromatic herbs can be planted in pots, along with cactus plants and green and flowering plants that are acclimatized to an apartment. Temperature, humidity and luminosity sensors recreate environments that are suitable for the growth and upkeep of plants of all types, whether extant or seedlings. A special function allows the user to heat the earth in the pots, thus making it easier for cuttings to take root. Serra Domestica can be placed on any top or on its own pedestal."
"The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced the recipients of its 2003 Professional Awards. Of the 436 entries submitted, the nine-member jury selected 33 projects to receive awards. The awards were presented during the ASLA Annual Meeting, October 30-November 3, in New Orleans."
"Rashid was born in Cairo and raised in London and Toronto. With a career that began at age nineteen, Rashid is now forty and the author of more than five hundred product designs, ranging from coat racks to mailboxes, perfume packaging to lighting, tableware to high fashion. His Garbo trashcan has become a design icon, with more than two million units sold. His extraordinary commercial success has been mirrored by critical acclaim. His work is in the collections of museums worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and The Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts." "Among the projects featured in this book are those designed for Nambe, Sony, Issey Miyake, Umbra, Tommy Hilfiger, Leonardo, Yahoo!, and many more. This, the first comprehensive book on his designs, has been written and designed in collaboration with Rashid and includes essays by a stellar list of contributors."
"The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) unveiled plans for a Frank Gehry-designed building that will expand the total space of the museum by 20 percent or 190,000 square feet over its present 486,000. Gehry's $194.8 million scheme is part of Transformation AGO, a $500 million initiative to invigorate the institution with new art, a new building, and a new push for greater public visibility. Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2005 with completion by 2007."
"A square-shaped armchair with epoxy powder coated steel frame. The seat was made by hand-plaiting 650 metres of cotton-covered acrylic cord. The deliberately irregular plaiting makes the padding even more comfortable."
"Free by Babel lends every bathtub a level of aesthetic experience never seen before. An innovation: the translucent non-reinforced acrylic, which allows the bathtub to shine with a new radiance. As a contrast, fine wood. The intelligent solution of the wall adapter means that the tub can be fitted at any time. Free by Babel: new freedom for bathroom interiors. Also available as a fitted bathtub with whirl systems."
Dan Hill reposted his sketches of Gehry's Guggenheim:
"Simplicity and rounded edges reveal the distinctive stamp of James Irvine, while the bentwood frame of this chair spells out Thonet. A660 stands on a polished aluminium base - your choice of disc or cross - on which an aluminium bracket is mounted. Polyester netting covers the continuous beech frame resting on this bracket. The chair is available with and without armrests, and the frame can be colour-stained or varnished. Seat height is 46 cm, chair width 51 cm. Irvine has clearly swept Thonet into the 21st century."
"Ecoshack (Headed by SCI-Arc faculty member Stephanie Smith) is sponsoring a competition to design an environmentally sustainable camping shelter - a 'green' tent - that explores nature, culture and experience. Open to anyone with innovative ideas inspired by Southern California's 'green' lifestyle. Winners will be prototyped on a 5-acre site in Joshua Tree, California."
"Rob slewe designed BLOOM! for the new terrace of the Parnassia beach pavillion in the Dutch seaside resort of Bloemendaal. BLOOM! is characterised by its simple but classy design and versatility: a flowerpot doubling as light! Its cleverly designed dimensions make BLOOM suitable not only for flowers and plants indoors as well as outdoors, but also for use at (garden) parties, filled with ice to chill champagne or other mixed drinks, for example.
The double-walled, waterproof flowerpot is made of high-grade plastic. Inside the pot are two 11 watt energy-saving light bulbs that can be connected to both outdoor and indoor lighting systems."
Hanging lamp from moooi. Made from epoxy and fiberglass.
Elaine Louie of the NY Times writes:
FlapFlap - floating lamp
"A fascinating piece in Metropolis about The Ironwork Lofts, a rather dismal collection of executive homes in Colorado masquerading as pseudo factories, canneries and warehouses. The architects responsible are Terra Verde, who are seemingly able to turn their hand to anything, from the style that should be known as Prairie Golf, through to Neo Adobe and Steroidal Ranch. The developers, Cornerstone Homes ('we build livable art'), have identified a niche - people who want the space and style of city living without the actual city."
"Although it's 'currently on home trial,' (so don't expect to purchase it anytime soon) this Dyson DC06 robotic vacuum cleaner looks to humiliate all the Roombas and Electrolux robots currently out there eating up cat hair with its 'Dual-Cyclone' action. I'm not sure how I feel about a powerful sucking robot having a 'mood indicator light,' though. Nice robot. Gentle robot. No dreamin' of the overmind for you, love."
Construction of the Dwell Home - a design contest sponsored by Dwell Magazine back in 2003 - is nearing completion. The contest winning home was designed by Resolution 4 and is expected to be completed mid-2004.
"Since Edith Heath became the first non-architect to win the prestigious AIA Gold Medal Award for the exterior tile on Pasadena's Norton Simon museum, Heath tile has been known for its high quality and design leading aesthetics. Heath tile stands out for the handcrafted feel of its glazes that contrasts with the crisp modern lines of its shapes."
"Designed by Anders Nørgaard this wine rack can also be considered as furniture due to its beautiful, sculptural shape. The wine rack can hold up to 18 wine bottles and minimalistic in its design, the wine bottles themselves form part of the design. The wine rack is made from polished aluminium."
"DURAT is a polyester-based solid surface material that withstands wear, humidity and chemicals. It is used to create various furniture surfaces for restaurants, cafés, shops, hotels, ships, domestic and institutional kitchens, bathrooms and public sanitary facilities. DURAT contains recycled plastics and is 100% recyclable."