Nailed it!

The two colors I'll be wearing all fall. Left to right: Bobbing for Baubles, Carry On.
www.Essie.com

Do you know the history of Halloween?

Happy Halloween!

http://www.halloweenhistory.org/

A leather what?

Yep, that's a toilet seat/lid.

Prince Charles is reported to have his own white-leather wrapped toilet seat which he received as a Christmas gift several years ago.  His personal butler confirmed that the Prince always has his leather-clad seat accompany him on travels.


EcoDomo introduces  the Royal Throne Collection™ of leather toilet seats, lids and rugs.  This continues the rollout of ecological, stylish and unique sustainable architectural details which EcoDomo has pioneered in the sustainable finishes industry.  The company admits that leather toilet seats are not for the shy. They come in racy colors or classic tones. They’re warm and really quite beautiful. Think of them as the ultimate Le Corbusier leather chair to rest and ponder in a quiet...uh.. personal environment.
The leather seats are maintained with anti-bacterial natural Clorox (whatever that means). Polishing the seat with leather wipes will maintain the finish. www.ecodomo.com

Embrace Me!

FAVN™, the Danish translation for embrace, is designed with great attention to detail and consist of only a few elements. "I wanted to create a form that embraces you, something really organic, that's why we named it FAVN, says Jaime Hayón. It is an evolution of Fritz Hansen's design language that brings together the qualities of Spanish and Danish design. The work of the artist-designer is characterized by his respect for color, craftsmanship and techniques.
The large rounded shell rests on the small, but elegant legs while the seat and back together with the decorative cushions combined with the use of three textures, makes up the strong visual layers. As the sofa has no edges – it is round and soft. "I wanted the sofa to be based on a shell. A shell, being hard on the outside, soft and welcoming on the inside. Protective and warm." http://www.fritzhansen.com/en/favn#JH3_13_MC100_FAV008_LC100_B100

Start Spreadin' the News!

Part of the “New York Collection” by Christopher Grubb, the GREENWICH bathroom vanity found its design inspiration in the towering structures of New York City. GREENWICH joins The C.G. Collection by Christopher Grubb featuring a clean, modern design with a rich, two-toned finish and rich, dark-stained trusses that support its floating countertop. GREENWICH, and the rest of the new signature line of modern furniture and fixtures sold through MODERNBATHROOM®, targets the affordable luxury market for those with a taste for sophisticated, contemporary style within a comfortable price-point range.

Light it Up

These adorable paper lanterns from PopDeluxe.net add color and fun, morphing any space into a place where good things always happen!  (Above, Heavy Lifting Paper Lantern.  Below, Astra Paper Lantern.) 

Coolest Guest Bed Ever!

Reinvent the guest room! I'm totally in love with this self-standing space saving bed system from Resource Furniture. Made in Italy by Clei, the Nuovoliola '10 features a queen-sized wall bed with a comfortable sofa. Without removing any objects from the shelf, you simply pull a handle to lower the bed to the sleeping position. The shelf becomes the foot of the bed and there's additional storage underneath the sofa seat.

Other systems, like Ulisse, are built-in but just as beautiful. It's available as shown or with a desk, sofa or dining table on the front that ingeniously folds underneath the bed as it opens. www.resourcefurniture.com

Wright On!

In exclusive partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright foundation, Reveal Designs unveils the Taliesin collection of drawer pulls. The fixtures pair anodized aluminum with walnut, stainless steel, beech and oil rubbed bronze and echo the graceful geometry of their namesake, the architect's Wisconsin studio.

Levitating Luxury

The Aluna bed from DOLUM gives new meaning to "floating on air." The French company's cantilevered high-end beds are custom made for homes, apartments, mega yachts and distinguished luxury hotels. Also makes it easy to vacuum under the bed!

Fall for Restoration Hardware's Fall Collection!

A little bit vintage. A little bit industrial. That's the new fall collection from Restoration Hardware. The SOHO Tufted Sofa looks like a place I'd like to curl up with a fuzzy blanket on a cool fall day. Its lavish styling recalls the classic Chesterfield- plush seating for London's turn-of-the century gentlemen's clubs- but squared-off arms and a rakishly low profile imbue it with contemporary, of-the-moment style. Inspired by a vintage birdcage, RH's Birdcage Chandeliers juxtaposes rustic hand-wrought iron with a precision-cut faceted-crystal pendant. It hangs from 3" thick weathered marine rope. Toss in some reclaimed french floorboard coffee tables a 1900's style pharmacy lamp and vintage-inspired drawings and you've got yourself a recipe for industrial chic style! 

Love antiques? Love candles?

These one-of-a-kind antiques are also candles from Topanga Candle Company. The delightful vessels and containers from around the world made from a variety of materials such as tin, copper and steel and filled with hand-poured 100% soy and palm oil wax. The candles feature hand-placed wicks and one of three signature fragrances made from organic essential oils. http://www.topangacandles.com/

Much Obliged!

I want to reach out and touch the new Noblesse Oblige tile from Tabarka Studio. Producer and wholesaler for hand-painted decorative terra cotta tiles, Tabarka uses a unique glazing process to give tiles an aged look which adds warmth and old world charm. Touareg (below) is a new tribal pattern with artistic inspiration from the nomadic cultures of North Africa. 

Sexy Curves!

This curvaceous beauty from XYLEM is sure to get you into your Zen state. The spa-like simplicity of pure white Vitreous China enhances a range of decors and coordinates perfectly with Xylem's countertops and vanities. 

It's heeeeeeeeeere!

The signal has come that my most favorite time of year is upon us! My fav is fall. But the hint isn't the big yellow bus that drove up my street this morning picking up a group of rather forlorn looking kids. It's also not the slight nip in the air that I can feel if I close my eyes, think about orange leaves and concentrate really hard. Its not football (although I'm pretty excited about that too!) It's not the back-to-school sales. Its not the lack of lightning bugs in the lawn. "It" has arrived.

The Pottery Barn catalog with those smiling yellow pumpkins, those way-more-chic-than-I-could-ever-produce "homemade" cobwebs, and those freakin' cool skeleton hand candleholders was in my mailbox today, ushering in the fall. Halloween is nearly here! What will you be this year?

Jewelry for the Home

Cuff links? Earrings? Cabinet hardware?
Following the season's runway fashions, Atlas Homewares has created a version of "Pure and Simple" couture. The Clearly Basic trend for the home is an unparalleled selection of timelessly attractive hardware infused with warmth and elegance. It showcases the Legacy Crystal Collection of knobs and pulls; ethereal gems that make a classically elegant statement. Custom designed geometric crystals are inset to create shimmering, eye-catching accents. The Legacy Crystal collection is available in six different styles and in finishes of Matte Black, Polished Chrome and Brushed Nickel.

Back to School Giveaway!

Got a little one headed back to school? Let Hammi Jammi Jewelry help ease you into the back-to-school grind with a jewelry give-away! Click here to throw your name in the hat for a chance to win this one-of-a-kind creation: http://hammijammijewelry.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-to-school-giveaway.html

In the Bag

I recycle plastic grocery bags. But I've also hidden the trash cans inside cabinets to conceal the unsightly rumpled plastic handles that fold over the edge. This clever trash can lets you store and reuse grocery bags in a neat, organized- even attractive- way! Winner of the Pratt Product Design Competition and made in the USA from recycled polypropylene, the Urbano Eco Trash Can is available from UncommonGoods.com. Simply loop trash bags around the cut-ouit sides and push them all the way down, creating a visual of stacked handles along the side. When you're ready to use one, just move it up to the handles and hook it in place! Genius! 

Can't get back to the beach?

Then bring the beach back to you!

Circle pendant or sand bar designs by Holly Christensen let you carry a piece of the surf with you wherever you go! Handmade from sand gathered from over 300 shorelines around the world, they're a sculptural and unique way to keep summer vacation memories close. Handmade in Massachusetts, textured mounds of sand are set in sterling silver bezels and sealed with resin. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/custom-beach-necklaces

The excitement of NYC right in the bath!

Just as New York City takes urban architecture to higher heights, the HUDSON vanity brings new contemporary design excitement to the bath. Part of The C.G. Collection by Christopher Grubb, a new signature line of modern furniture and fixtures sold through MODERNBATHROOM^Ò, HUDSON speaks to those with discerning taste within the rapidly emerging “affordable luxury” market.

Echoing the Manhattan skyline, HUDSON reflects the city's majestic and intricate weave of architectural geometry. The city's dramatic urban canyons and plateaus inspired HUDSON's conceptual design and Grubb named it for the river on which the city that inspired the design reflects. HUDSON was designed to create the same type of energy that brings the city to life! 

As functional as it is stylish, HUDSON features soft-close drawer guides and hinges plus an interior drawer for optimal organization. 

Repeat Performance!

Just had my second go-round with Scratch Cupcakery from Cedar Falls. I would write more, but all the blood has rushed to my taste buds! Holy frickin delicious!!!! Good stuff!

I see a "truck" section on their site? Could it be the Cupcake Fairy is going mobile? Awesome!

Happy Birthday Alexander Calder

Celebrate the birthday of American sculptor and artist (most famous for inventing mobile sculptures) Alexander Calder (July 22, 1898) with a custom mobile from Atomic Mobiles! You choose the design and colors and voila! A custom mobile for your home, office, baby or wherever you want to enjoy your own personal piece of abstract art! 

Take a Moment...

Slow down.
Focus.
Stop trying to multi-task.
Put down the phone.
Pick up your child/pet.

The article "Lessons from a Zen Mommy" by Bethany Saltman in the August issue of Parents magazine gave me pause. She has some advice that sounds so simple, but that can really be a challenge for us today in our media- and tech-bombarded world. Even if you don't have children, these are pearls...

• Do what you're doing while you're doing it. Stop multitasking! The past is over. The future hasn't happened yet. Therefore all we have is the present. Why do we need to do it all? Dig deep to find YOUR answer to that question.

• Leave no trace. Oh how I wish my family abided by this rule! Take responsibility for yourself and your mess.

• Take just the right amount. Do we really need all of this "stuff"? You already know the answer to that.

• Practice Patience. Don't beat yourself up over things. I loved this idea: Saltman suggests using something you see or do every day- such as flushing the toilet- to remind you to pause, breathe and slow down.

If you're like me, you're more familiar with the feeling that your world is spinning out of control than you are any sort of Zen state. And that's okay. Just remember the journey IS the journey, so we might as well enjoy it, right?

Grime Fighter

To wipe out the bad guys (germs), sometimes you have to (kitchen) sink to their level. Spongester is a  stainless steel rack that helps expunge bacteria with two distinct shelves for your separate sponges. "Good sponge"(for countertops and dishes) lives on top. "Evil sponge" (for the sink and drain) resides beneath. This little gadget's a great way to keep track of your scrubbers in style. Exclusively available through UncommonGoods, Michael Frank created it to appease a former germ-conscious roommate.

A New Angle

I love the shape of the Metro sofa from Room & Board. The angle is a practical alternative to the sharp right-angled sectional. Its low profile, clean lines and blend-down cushions create the ultimate experience in contemporary comfort!
PS- I'm also a big fan of Room & Board's fantastic customer service.

Who needs Ken?

Architect Barbie can build her own dream house!

Equipped for business with blueprints, hard hat, and geek-chic reading glasses, Barbie's not toying around! Her creators consulted members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to make sure she captured the true spirit of the profession. I love her, though I'm not sure her outfit is appropriate for the construction site. www.Shop.Mattel.com

Celebrate American Design!

The US Postal Service has given its stamp of approval for a dozen iconic household products featured on this page of "Pioneers of American Industrial Design" postage stamps! The series focuses on designers of  Machine Age products, a style that emerged during the Depression. Manufacturers wooed customers with futuristic household goods in materials such as Bakelite, aluminum and chrome. Meant for mass manufacturing, these designs departed from the more ornate detailing of the then-popular Art Deco style, adopting a streamlined appearance influenced by the silhouettes of planes, trains and ocean liners. The set pays tribute to famed 20th century designers who gave us everything from Fiestaware (Frederick Hurten Rhead) to the standard desk telephone (Henry Dreyfuss). Available at www.shop.usps.com

Better than the pot of gold!

Rainbow flip flops are the best ever! They may take some time to break in (thanks to their memory foam construction), but they take a licking and keep on ticking...or flip flopping! Hand made in San Clemente, Calif. for 35+ years, they stand true to their reputation for comfort and durability. (And they're not just pink. They come in "manly man" colors too!) www.rainbowsandals.com

Look no further...

...than your own backyard. Because sometimes inspiration catches us off guard and finds us when we're not even looking. Nature painted me a Magritte sky, and I think this is the moment my eyes were first opened to the true beauty in the fields I see every day

June 2011 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

At wit's end for a gift?

Try AtWestEnd.com...

I couldn't possibly pick one item to highlight. When the catalog came to my home the other day, I spent hours browsing through the unique rustic and recycled items. From the funky felt owl to the pool ball candle holder, no item is uninteresting! I particularly love all of the reused and repurposed choices. Neat-o stuff, and a beautifully designed catalog that will whisk you away to simpler world.
www.atwestend.com

iGrill

Now you're cooking!

Not your ordinary cooking thermometer, iGrill will revolutionize the way you grill. Equipped with long-range Bluetooth, it works with your apps to turn your i-devices into your own personal Sous-Chef so you can spend more time with your guests and less time with the grill.