Architectural Digest 1980, interiors by Ron Wilson

via gingerbread house

Walter Gropius-designed Tac 02 stemware by Rosenthal

Finding modern flatware has been somewhat challenging for our registry. We went with Nambe's Mikko pictured above. I feel like modern flatware should be simple and have straight lines, but for some reason designers tend to add weird angles and widths. I also have a pet peeve about holding forks that are too thin. WHYYYY???
Now, if  I wanted to eat with 300 dollar everyday flatware Mono E (or A) is the way to go. Designed by Peter Raacke in 1960 and simply perfect.

Nambe available at Arango
Mono E available at Luminaire

A Boucherite rug once on display at Calvin Morris. These types of Moroccan rugs are made by women from "torn or reused clothing" and lack the symmetry of typical Middle Eastern rugs. The chaotic patterns symbolic of the Berber herder tribes' nomadic freedom from structured city living. via old NYTimes.

In 2007, Alessi released The Fruit Backet Family,  a range of products designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, and I think I'm in love. So now we need this + a place to live, you know the basics.

Available at Arango .

arango
7519 SW 88 St.
Miami, FL 33156
t:  305 661 4229 

All this moving and organizing and throwing out stuff also makes me scour the internet for hours looking at homes and interiors and desk chairs and hanging pendant lamps. No bueno. Anyway, I love me a white house with a flat top and grey stones and palm trees. Wouldn't mind the car either.

I think nothing gives a room more life than some fresh flowers or an exotic houseplant. My choice is a Bird's Nest fern since I don't have much room right now. If I had more space I would go for a potted tree like fiddle leaf fig. Yes I love horticulture.

New neighbor

Japanese wonder MUJI will be opening its first U.S. store in November on Broadway off Grand St. Right now you can pretty much just get their stuff at the MoMA Design Store, but it carries only a fraction of the 3,000 products designed by MUJI. I found this bed and dresser on their website which if they carry it in the new store I will be sure to get. I still haven't found a bed I like, and this one is both low to the ground and has storage. The drawers also are simple enough that I can blend them with century pieces. Other favorites are the toolkit and the office supplies.

At your nearest Kiosk

So my first issue of New York Magazine came in yesterday (maybe last week, I just hadn't checked my mail), and this particular issue contains a list of "maps" for all the classic New Yorker types, "Rebel Youth", "The Cheapskate", "The Dog Freak", and "The Lit Guy" were among the few. Under "The Design Maven" the first shop posted was Kiosk, which happens to be down the street. I can't believe I've never been here! Makes sense that I've never seen it because it is located on the second floor of 95 Spring. Its like a dream concept: The owner sells her littel global finds. Its like an international MOMA store meets the dollar store. Anyway, they have a site if you aren't planning a visit anytime soon. They are a little low on merchandise at the moment, but you can see the previous merchandise to check out the type of stuf they sell. I love this stuff.

Nice hooters!

Say hello to my new salt and pepper shakers. For those of you who don't know, owls are my favorite animal. I saw these at anthropologie, but found them at Pearl River Market, which is like all the Chinese goods you could ever need under one roof, and its right on Broadway. Anyway, I bought the matching mugs, a little kitchy, I know, but at least they are earth tones right?
I picked up some shades there as well, which Carlo installed for my last night, the place is coming together. I spent Saturday at IKEA and picked up a rug for the living room and a mirror for over the mantle. Still no luck with furniture. We did see a bed at West Elm that might be a last resort, but I'm giving it one more day. Oh! and I think i just may pick up that bookshelf from Targets Thomas O'brien collection, I think we have a wall for it. Now I just need like a thousand books....take note.

Ebay Crush: Cuban poster art

I'm really feeling this poster. They have a few others, but this was my favorite. If only they weren't reproductions. Either way, good stuff.

As for yesterday, I think I did ok, so we shall see, I'll find out next week!

Book Review #8: SO BOMO

Bohemian Modern. Perfect description for the look I'm itching for. "It is a look that favors raw, authentic materials, brilliant colors, creative space planning, and a natural flow between indoors and outdoors." This book by architect Barbara Bestor details the residences and small businesses in Silver Lake California. Next on my wish-list. Beautiful homes, a great sense of community, all neighbors that demand pretty things and good attitude. What's not to love? This is a great add for the library.

Oh deer.

David Wiseman makes beautiful sculptures including these Deer Hat Hangers which he created for a school project. They are available at I Heart boutique in a bunch of different colors. Underneath, some of his more recent work, like this ceiling sculpture.

For the library...

I came across this bookshelf at Target today, and let me just tell you that it is a marvelous find. It would blend in perfectly with anyone going for the mid-century look. Unfortunately, I don't have a wall (nor wallet) big enough for it, but if I did I would definitely get this piece. It cost 239.99 and is worth every penny. I'd have to forfeit a couch or a bed to fit this in my apartment. Once again Target offers democratic design.

Book Review #7: Sanaa Sanaa Curita Sanaa

I came across this image on another blog, and I think its so different. I'm dying for some indoor plants, but this interior takes it to a whole new level. Anyway, the book is called Sanaa Houses, and its about the work of Japenese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. The book is published by Actar, and they have more images on their site. I haven't bought the book yet, but would love to add it to the library.

Dollars and Scents

The only thing I said I would splurge on was this candle, I'm obsessed with Votivo's Red Currant. To semi-justify the 30 dollar candle (which I've seen way more outrageous), I bought the tester for 5 bucks, so now I have two for 35. I know, it doesn't make any sense guys, but its just one of those things....the boys don't get it. Anyway, moving in today...very excited..next up for purchase, the mattress. Which reminds me, the air conditioner gets delivered today...

Out of hiding

I used to be a visual intern at ABC Carpet & Home back in the day and one nice friday I decided not to show up. So basically, I hadn't been there in a long time because I was too embarrassed to show my face. They have this whole Zen look going on that I'm not so crazy about now, but a lot of this organic wood that I'm getting into. They had some great bowls way out of my price range that i was successfully able to find at Marshall's Homegoods for 30 bucks. Anyway, the store is just worth going into, they have great ideas and amazing furniture.

knockoff on wood

My cousin Raul, an architect by trade, but freelance writer/interior designer/anything fabulous in actuality sent me this great site called White on White. You can get a lot of that mid century modern stuff for a fraction of the price (its not related to the original designers) but they are like exact case studies. For the budget starter the quality looks quite nice. I really want this side table. Can't decide between the wood and the stone.

Rocking Chair Winner

Modernica has been making these Eames RAR rocker case studies for a while. I like them because they come in that plastic/ fiberglass look instead of the cheap looking plastic ones from DWR. Also they have a much broader color selection, you can get it as just a chair, not a rocker, you can get it as an armchair or without. They cost about the same as DWR but have a little more similarity to the originals. Maybe I'll find one on ebay...maybe I find something better that's not in every mid-century modern style home. This one piece is the exception, everything else is way overdone. but then again I'd take a Saarinen side table anyday.

The List

I have quite a bit of shopping to do for the new place, its time to make a list and prioritize. I really want to get nice furniture one piece at a time instead of just going to Ikea and buying a whole room. I'll definitely be frequenting the Chelsea flea market quite a bit. So in order of importance I need to find:

an air conditioner
a full size mattress
sheets/towels
hangers
a couch/ sleeper ( I have my first visitor on July 8th)
a bed frame
a full size mirror (tsk tsk vanity)

after I find those necessities, I get to find the fun stuff:
a coffee table
a lamp
rugs
a vase for flowers
a mirror for my mantle
a candle
and george foreman
a ricecooker
a bodum tea infuser
an eames rocker!!! more on this later...