Posts with tag yesplease

You've never seen terrariums like these modern masterpieces.



Lauren Coleman is a commercial photographer by day, but she moonlights as a modern terrarium designer under than name LÍtill.

LÍtill terrariums are not your average terrariums. Influenced by the minimalistic yet colorful ambiance of Palm Springs, Lauren's terrarium designs are miniature, modern works of art -- tiny, living sculptures for your home.

Prior to working as a photographer, Lauren made a living in a flower shop, which abruptly closed and left her with a handful of weekly accounts. Lauren had grown tired of the waste and toxins involved in the flower business, but she still had a desire to work with plants.

She began playing around with the contents of her clients' terrariums, changing something tiny here or there to make the terrarium more interesting

Our go-to source for vintage-style barn and industrial lighting.

The Source: Barn Light Electric

The Goods: Barn Light Electric is a Florida-based company that specializes in, you guessed it: Barn-style lighting. However, these fixtures aren't just for the farmyard, they're suitable for both commercial and residential uses and in exteriors and interiors of a wide variety of styles. The company touts their commitment to "commercial grade lighting at residential prices."

The Secret: Barn Light Electric's website has a huge selection of light fixtures available online, which makes finding just the right sconce or ceiling pendant much easier for the individual homeowner. Plus, almost every fixture from Barn Light Electric is American-made, which makes their prices even more impressive.

Things to Know: In keeping with the latest trend, Barn Light Electric recently launched a new collection of vintage-industrial-style fixtures, including the handsome Barn Light Benjamin Industrial Pendant ($98) and the minimalist Barn Light Indy Industrial Pendant ($85).

Above from top left clockwise: "The Old Dixie" 11" to 17" Warehouse Shade, Barn Light Industrial Static Topless Sconce, Minimalist Polished Brass Cage Pendant and Warehouse Barn Light - The Ivanhoe.

Interested in other sources of quality vintage-style lighting fixtures? Check out this post about Schoolhouse Electric Co.

Dwell Studio's Christiane LeMieux spills her eBay shopping secrets to The Inside Source.

As much as we love a good antique market, the crowds, heat and prices can sometimes make our heads explode. Naturally, it's no wonder we're huge fans of eBay, where we can shop 'til we drop -- all from the comfort of our king-sized bed.

But all too often, navigating the waters of eBay can be time-consuming, frustrating and just as crazy as those antique markets we've established a serious love/hate relationship with. How to combat the crazy? Follow a few shopping tips from the pros, namely Christiane LeMieux of Dwell Studio fame:

On scoring hidden gems, Lemieux says: "My process is all about the keywords. You can really drill down to what you want if you put in the right series of search terms. I usually put in at least four words for every search -- one definitely isn't enough."

Some of Lemieux's favorite phrases for yielding sleek, modern, one-of-a-kind housewares include: Danish, midcentury, teak, Hollywood regency, Vintage, Eames, Draper (as in designer Dorothy Draper), and Parzinger (short for Tommy Parzinger, another of Lemieux's favorite designers). "The more specific you are, the better your results -- that's when you end up with the smorgasbord of stuff to choose from," she advises.

Lemieux also offered some practical tips for larger acquisitions: "Scale is so important. If you're buying furniture, measure your room carefully and pay attention to the dimensions of the piece to make sure it'll fit well in your house. A lot of vintage furniture is teeny," she cautions. "And always ask questions. Most eBay sellers are really responsive."

A few pieces LeMieux has had her eye on?:
Kofod Larsen Danish Modern Brass Rod Chair (buy it now price, $675) "I lust after this chair; I am stalking it. So gorgeous -- the proportions are amazing. The hint of brass elevates it to something more than just a Midcentury chair. I want these for my bedroom."
Moreddi Danish Modern Eames Era Desk Chair (winning bid, $275) "I love this chair -- it's a great example of Danish Midcentury innovation. It's a chair, it's a console -- it's both. You could very easily put this in the corner or a small room and do something amazing with a light and some objet. Genius."
Large Real Cowhide Leather Rug (buy it now price, $150) "I never get tired of a cowhide as long as it's cream. Cowhides are very versatile and the organic shapes make them graphic and gorgeous too. The lines of the hide can really balance out a room full of linear furniture."

More Smart Solutions
Tie Back Curtains Without a Tieback -- CasaSugar
5 Cheap Ways to Make Your House Look More Expensive -- The Frisky
Reduce Pet Hair and Lint with Lint Balls -- Shelterrific
Pretty Mirrors Under $100 -- Design * Sponge

Source

This season, go bold with vertical stripes in the bathroom, bedroom or living area.

Although striped walls are nothing new, we've noticed an uptick in the trend this year. Perhaps the popularity of the look has stemmed from the striped revolution in fashion? Stripes are no longer reserved for nautical decor and coastal settings. Why not get vertical with a few of your rooms? The result will lift your spirits (and ceiling heights!) faster than you can say "Stripe me!" Here's how to get the look:

In your bedroom
By pairing this striped wallpaper with oil paintings, antique furniture and a spindled, four-poster bed, this bedroom can easily be mistaken for a Parisian bed-and-breakfast getaway (and you know we love a good bed and breakfast!). Notice how the homeowner has used black and white curtains to blend in with the wallpaper, creating a seamless perspective for the eye: It's genius!




Looking for a softer-yet-contemporary striped look? Try pairing a yellow and white striped wall with a modern charcoal-gray headboard. The key to making this aesthetic pop is symmetry. By keeping everything else in the room balanced, the stripes are less overwhelming and more inviting, especially when capped off with a few colorful, decorative pillows.

In your living space
Can you believe how different these two rooms look? Although both rooms share gray and white vertical stripes, one is decidedly more trend-driven than the other. On the left, the accent wall is highlighted with a bright, bold dose of yellow and paired with a few complimentary plum pillows. However, the homeowners at right chose more subtle furnishings and thinner stripes, creating a neutral background for a collage of artwork and mirrored focal points. Proof that stripes can be bold or neutral, depending on how you accessorize!

In your bathroom
Stripes in the bathroom are admittedly tricky. If the space is tiny (as most bathrooms are), stripes can create a chaotic, circus-like aesthetic. One way to combat the crazy? Continue your paint lines to the ceiling. By creating a vertical perspective, your guests will focus less on your tiny bathroom and more on those tall, handsome ceilings! When using stripes in the bathroom, keep accessories and furnishings light: A pedestal sink and a diminutive dark bench are just the right scale for this space.

Of course, striped walls are quite the commitment, if you're scared of the permanence of paint, you can get a similar look by incorporating striped curtains over picture windows and/or sliding glass doors. Although they're marketed for children, I'm a big fan of the coastal-chic color scheme of the Alfresco Curtain Panel ($180). For a more affordable option, why not take a pair of West Elm sheets ($80) and transform them into decorative panels?

Best of luck, stripeys. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Have a striped wall to share? Upload and share your photo on our Flickr site!

For more striped inspiration, read on:
- Trend Watch: Stripes
- A Calming Blue and White Bedroom

Desks fit for an aspiring Bond, James Bond.

Whether you're living in a tiny apartment, you're an aspiring Bond girl or you've got secrets to store away, you'll appreciate these sneaky storage options. Actually, we've noticed a trend lately in multifunctional pieces -- Maybe it's designers attempting to give consumers more bang for their buck. Still, secret storage compartments are nothing new. In fact, they've been discovered in antique desks from the 1900s and earlier. Today's designs are fresh and modern -- and definitely cool.
The Bluelounge Studio Desk (above), $599.95, is designed specifically for laptop users. A sliding storage compartment is located on the desktop surface in which you can hide your peripherals and excess cables. I could use one of these, as I've got a mess of cables and wires all over the place.

Crazy, cactus-shaped chairs walk the line between art and interior design.

The Prickly Pear Chairs by artist/designer Valentina Gonzalez Wohlers are some of the craziest looking seats we've seen in a while. Wohlers describes these chairs-turned-art-objects as "born out of the creative experience of a Mexican designer in Europe." She says, "The chairs juxtapose Mexican and European aesthetic values, incorporating the formal design elements and quirks of both to create a cultural blend."

Each chair's form is based on the classic Louis XV chair (Europe) and the Nopal cactus (Mexico). The chairs have bright pink wooden frames and green fabric upholstery with cactus spine-like hairs growing from the tufts. While on the one hand, these pink and green chairs are rather silly, Wohlers hopes they will also encourage reflection and acceptance of differences.

The chairs were first shown at Milan Design Week last year -- we'd be curious to know if they found their way into a home or a museum. Want to read about other unusual chairs? Take a gander at these ShelterPop posts:

- A super-mod rocking chair
- A dining chair made from children's building blocks
- A bar stool that looks like a peacock

We rounded up some of the most unique flooring options we could find. Think: Pennies, Salami, Glass

We've all had those days when you wish you could keep your head down and avoid contact with all people. Well, if you look down long enough, you may be surprised by what you see.

We found some really cool flooring options that may inspire you to pay closer attention to where you're walking.

Standard Grill, New York City: Looking for some good luck? Don't bother picking up one of these Lincolns! The floor of the Standard Grill inside of the Standard Hotel in New York City is made from thousands of pennies. The design was selected by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of the New York-based design firm Roman and Williams.

Sears Tower, Chicago: Seeing the skyline from atop one of the city's most renowned buildings is a must. Yet the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago offers something even better -- a chance for visitors to see the action of the city right below them. The newly opened glass observation deck delivers one of the most unique views -- and floors -- of any city in the world.
Finsbury Avenue Square, London: As night falls, environmentally-friendly LED lights illuminate Finsbury Avenue Square in London's Broadgate business district. The installation was originally commissioned to add more allure and pizazz to the once unassuming space. Welcome to one of London's most exciting public spaces.

San Francisco, California: When people think of concrete floors, they usually don't associate them with beautiful home decor. The San Francisco based company Transparent House is shattering that stereotype with their elegant designs. The flowers and swirls are suitable for any contemporary home. And spills couldn't be easier to clean!

New York, New York: Unsure how to make a child's bedroom more fun? Paul's European Touch Pro Wood Floors, Inc will create any type of hardwood floor for you, but we really liked this jigsaw puzzle. It adds whimsy and fun to any room!

St. Lorenzen, Austria: Hansel and Gretel wouldn't have gotten lost with this floor! The LightFader Interactive Illuminated Flooring by Tricorder will light your way. When you take a step, the pressure displaces the liquid inside of the floor and leaves a glowing footprint for about a minute.

Feeling inspired? Here are some of our fave links of the week.

Check out Casa Sugar's round of gorgeous toile products or get help picking out the perfect Valentine's Day gift for the home on the Frisky. (We also loved this idea for a fabulous DIY Valentine's Day present on DesignSponge.)

One last don't miss: Hear Domino editor Deborah Needleman talk about her design sense at Decor8.

Don't let that alarm battery run out ever again! This water-powered option will keep on ticking.

Have you ever forgotten to replace the batteries in your alarm clock but realized it only after you overslept for an important meeting?

That will never happen again with this water-powered alarm clock, available from Bedol. The eco-friendly design keeps the time and wakes you up just like a regular, battery-powered alarm clock. The only difference? This one is powered by water.

I suppose that using water to create power isn't anything new, but on average, most of us don't use water power for our small appliances or electronics. According to Bedol, some of their customers report that it is necessary to change water after 6-12 weeks, but for others it just "keeps on ticking." And when you're refilling the water, the clock even remembers the time, so not a second is lost.

The clock is $29 at Bedol's and comes in five colors. The Claremont, a California-based company, also makes water-powered non-alarm clocks for $16. I think that's small change to pay knowing you're saving money and the environment by not using batteries.

So does it really work? Well, it's hit or miss according to Amazon reviewers who purchased the non-alarm clock. I guess it's just one of those products you have to try for yourself.

Regular Wallpaper is a Major Commitment, But Here's a Chance to Experiment With It

Blik's self-adhesive, easy-on, easy-off decals make it easy to flirt with any of their reasonably priced patterns -- including this Donkey Kong decal. The designs, most of which range from $30 to $60, stick well to almost any clean, smooth surface, from walls to furniture to windows, and those labeled as Re-Stik can be moved and re-applied repeatedly. For more on how to apply decals, see Blik's website and this ShelterPop tutorial.

Architect Scott Flora and food writer Jerinne Neils originally created the wall graphics for their home in Venice, California. Many of the colorful designs have a playful, cartoonish quality perfect for a child's bedroom. Think whimsical animals, storybook cityscapes, sci-fi robots and vintage video-game graphics.

But silhouettes of furniture, chandeliers and china, vibrant flora and fauna, virtual bookshelves and abstract motifs could crop up in any room in need of visual flair.

In the world of stick-on graphics, Blik stands out by supplementing in-house designs with outside ones from spirited artists and designers. They come in a choice of colors, including custom colors. It's not hard to imagine some of them on art-gallery walls or (literally, in their collaboration with Threadless) on T-shirts.

With their witty, spontaneous quality, Blik's wall art can make a too-serious room smile.

Here are a couple of our favorites.

Made from Japanese cypress, this stylish humidifier will help you breathe easy through the winter months.

There are a few reasons why humidifiers are essential in winter -- Not only are they important for your health, good for your skin and help to keep static electricity low, humidifiers can also protect your furniture. When humidity levels are low, germs fester and fabrics can deteriorate. (For proper humidity levels, see this helpful Apartment Therapy Re-Nest article.)

But as too many of us know, traditional humidifiers -- the kind we've all seen at Grandma's house -- are pretty darn ugly.

I spotted the Mast humidifier by Shin Okada on TreeHugger, and here's why it's totally cool: no outlet is required.

Made from thin slices of rot-resistant Hinoki, or Japanese Cypress, the humidifier absorbs water from the base and silently evaporates into the air, spreading a lemony scent throughout the home. According to the designer, the water will evaporate from this humidifier 6 times faster than from an open pan of water. Inspired by the mast of a ship, the result is a humidifier that could be mistaken for a work of art -- and doesn't rack up any extra expenses on your electricity bill.

It's not available in the U.S. yet, but it looks like you may be able to buy it here. The Mast will put you back 6,300 yen, or according to Google Currency Converter, about $69.87.

And don't miss Jaime's story on another natural way to purify the air in your home!

Corian is a durable, stain and chemical resistant material, so it was only a matter of time before someone discovered its sculptural potential.

Yes, you heard that right. A bed made from Corian. But isn't Corian that DuPont countertop surface material? It sure is -- remember we talked about it in our story about kitchen countertops?

Machine Histories, or Los Angeles-based duo Steven Joyner and Jason Pilarski, decided to have some fun with the durable and stain resistant material. This particular bed was created for an artist, Pae White, who was designing some woven tapestries and was looking for an unusual four-poster bed to display them on. Instead of purchasing an out-of-the-box traditional cherry four-poster bed, White approached Machine Histories to make something unique and artistic for the display.

I chatted with Jason about the bed's design -- I just had to know: Why Corian? Jason explained that Corian is "an extremely easy material to machine as it is capable of maintaining every bit of detail...I had been wanting to use it on a project for some time and thought this would be a good opportunity."

He obtained the material from a local distributor. It comes in half inch thick sheets so Jason and Steven had to laminate the sheets together to make-up the stock sizes required. Is Corian an easy material to manipulate? Not really, says Jason, but It is "fairly difficult to laminate because the Corian glue sets up so quickly. This means that by the time you have the glue spread over the surface it is already drying and this can lead to a less than satisfactory bond."

The design of this particular bed was created with 3D modeling software. The biggest challenge? Creating a classic four-poster bed while trying to make it feel fresh and contemporary.

The two designers experimented with different strategies for creating marks and textures on the surface until they were satisfied with the results.

What emerged was a beautiful, sculptural piece of art that, unfortunately, no one has actually slept in. But could they? Sure, says Jason. "It would have functioned very well," he says. "It wasn't designed to be a prop. We built in all the required components to make it work. I am sure the experience in the bed could definitely be scandalous and decadent."


SEE MORE AWESOMELY WACKY DESIGN HERE
A DIY dress made with an IKEA bag, seriously -- The Frisky
Fab photo walls you can make yourself -- CasaSugar
Vases you can knit (pattern here) -- Design*Sponge
Mousepad with an awesome rack -- The Frisky

What do you get when you ask a group of art students to reinterpret the task lamp? Light takes an unexpected angle.

No, this architect's lamp wasn't subjected to extreme temperatures, this crazy-looking light is actually a limited-edition work titled No Angle, No Poise by Tiago da Fonseca. Fonseca's lamp was one of many designed as part of a competition hosted by Artemide, an Italian lighting company. Artemide challenged a group of students at the Royal College of Art in London to reinterpret Artemide's classic Anglepoise lamp, which was the first spring-balance task light.

Fonseca's spin on the classic 1932 design was made from silicone instead of usual metal. Describing his seemingly-melted design Fonseca said, "'No Angle, No Poise' is my offering to the magnificent icon, of a well deserved respite from its vigilant stance by splaying a rubber version, like melting objects in a Dali painting. Most Anglepoise lamps end up in the same position for months, we barely touch them, adopting awkward postures as soon as springs give in. I thought I could give it a rest from its stiff vigilance and capture those moments of unattended beauty."

After selecting Fonseca's piece, Artemide worked with him to bring the lamp into production. With a limited series of 99 lamps, No Angle, No Poise carries a hefty price tag of $2,400 -- a hefty fee for a lamp, but a relatively modest sum for a work of art. You decide.

No Angle, No Poise lamp (available in red, green and blue), $2,400, Moss

Willy Wonka comes to life for a night in New York's Renaissance Hotel's candy suite.

There are candy lovers. And then there are candy lovers. The latter, of the Willy Wonka-obsessed variety, are sure gonna be excited about this latest venture. Renaissance Hotels, together with New York sweets emporium Dylan's Candy Bar, has created a first -- the edible hotel room.


And it's not just plain old candy -- we're talking over 300 pounds worth! Dylan's, the veritable FAO Schwarz of the candy world, has decked out some suites at the Renaissance Hotel's New York 57 location with gigantic gummy bears, a chocolate fountain and a wall of candy buttons among other cult-candy favorites. There's even your own personal cotton candy machine. All you need now is something to wear for your big night: how about this dress made out of cake?

The ANDREA air filter is the first air filter system that uses everyday house plants to remove harmful toxins from the air. Designed and created by Mathieu Lehanneur and David Edwards, this award-winning design claims to harness the metabolic powers of plants to remove airborne toxins that present health risks in many domestic and work environments, performing more than 40 times more efficiently than standard carbon/HEPA filters. Sound like baloney? Maybe but maybe not. Perhaps this is just the future of science.

Research by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) shows that houseplants do have an impact on the quality of our air. We all know from grade school that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, but the results of these studies show that many houseplants also remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

Think your home is super clean? Think again. The man-made materials and synthetics in our homes like counter-tops, carpeting, paint, fabrics and wallpaper often slowly emit harmful fumes, also known as "off-gassing". Imagine you've got the windows closed all winter long. These chemicals are building up in your home, which can lead to internal and external irritation and allergies.

The goal of the ANDREA air filter is to harness the amazing natural processes of plants to rid your home of these gases as well as other toxins found in cleaning supplies.

So, if houseplants are natural filters, then why do you need the ANDREA? Well, the ANDREA air filter is designed to improve the efficiency of the plants. The rate of gas removal by ANDREA is, according to the data produced by the company, 1000% faster than for plants alone, and it offers a 360% improvement in the efficiency of formaldehyde removal from the air. Plus, it is small and portable and there are no filters to replace!

The ANDREA launched in Europe in 2008 and has been recognized by MoMA for its design. Popular Science magazine has called it "Invention of the Year." It is finally available for purchase in North America.You can get your own ANDREA at Amazon for $199.99.

Made from one of our favorite renewable resources, these shades are fabricated with paper-thin slices of trees, highlighting the beauty of both wood grain and green design.

With its sand-cast aluminum base and cherry or walnut shade, the alluring Roost Antler lamp from Velocity Art and Design has the poetic charge of a deer glimpsed in a forest clearing. Priced at $160 for the smaller base, $180 for the large, it's on sale at 15% off till the end of January. The same material adds natural warmth to dform's modern shades, creating a campfire glow with rhythmic patterns and sleek shapes.

Veneer from many species is available through Rockler and other sources that supply woodworkers -- and you don't need power tools to make your own eco-friendly shade, as detailed in this DesignSponge post. Whether the light's on or off, wood looks good.