Objects of Lust: Missoni Throws

It's cold, wet, and dreary here today, so I'm craving color and coziness. These delicious wool throws from iconic Italian design house Missoni fit the bill perfectly. (Even in flush times, I can't see spending quite so much on a blanket, no matter how lovely -- buy hey, it doesn't cost a cent to feast the eyes, right? And if you're in the position to cough up some cash, one of these would make for a bold, colorful accent draped over the back of a chair or folded at the foot of a bed, even in warmer weather.) Above: Jamiro Throw, $410 from Bedding, Etc.

Humbert Cushions and Throws, $102 and $315 each from Bedding, Etc. (For those of us on a tight budget, IKEA's $20 Jorun Throw is a comparable -- though far less luxurious -- option.)

Kiruna Throw, $670 from Bedding, Etc.

Karlos Throw, $295 at Bedding, Etc.

Harpo Throw, $275 at Pillows and Throws

Objects of Lust: Ladak Recycled Blankets

Another fave from our recent visit to Los Angeles's ReForm School: Ladak blankets. I literally could not keep my hands off of them.

Crafted in the Netherlands, each 78-by-55-inch throw is handmade from recycled moving blankets (which themselves consist of material from recycled sweaters, jeans, blankets, and mattresses). They are then embellished with scraps of colorful fabric, trim, ribbon, and lace.

The blankets cost 189 euros (about $247) apiece directly from Ladak, or you can buy one for $285 from the ReForm School e-shop. (That's not cheap, of course, but you can always rationalize the purchase by reminding yourself that 15 percent of the profits are donated to an Amsterdam homeless shelter.)

If you're crafty, you might also be inspired to create your own throw blanket on the cheap from salvaged materials. You can find simple wool blankets at most army surplus stores and on eBay, and then go to town with ric-rac, ribbon, fabric trim, lace, printed binding tape, and that collection of fabric remnants you've been meaning to do something with. (Consider writing a check to your local homeless shelter with the money you save.)

eBay Find of the Day: Swiss Army Blanket

When it comes to Utilitarian Chic, you can't beat a vintage Swiss Army blanket. There's that graphic red stripe and white cross, and the earthy gray-brown nubby wool. These circa-1930s to -1950s military-issue throws are perfect for draping across the back of a sofa or folding at the foot of your bed to add a shot of color and texture to the room and to help ward off the winter chill.

Photo by Don Freeman for House Beautiful

Here's one in designer John Peixinho's (very traditional) Newport, Rhode Island Home.

And here's a not-dissimilar wool Army blanket employed in a much more modern way in Portland's uber-hip Ace Hotel.

Robert Redford's Sundance catalog is hawking Swiss Army blankets for (a shocking) $289 a pop -- but you can snag one for a tenth of that price on eBay. The vintage blanket pictured at top, for instance, measures 56 by 77 inches and is in excellent vintage condition.

Current bid: $28. (If the auction has ended by the time you read this, simply run a quick search for others.)

Objects of Lust: Felted Wool Blankets

Remember that felted wool blanket my friend Catherine was making that I went on and on about the other day?

Well, it was pretty much exactly like this.

Or maybe this.

This one has its charms, too.

And this one, I could definitely develop an intimate relationship with.

At between $325 and $350 each from Sweetfeltgoods, these aren't cheap -- but I have no doubt they're worth every penny.

Still, I think I might be better off hitting the sweater rack at my local Goodwill Store, making a date with our washer and dryer, and then spending a day with my grandma and her vintage sewing machine, stitching together all the fuzzy squares cut from the felted sweaters to create something totally unique and homemade.

Maybe this whole crafting thing is kind of fun, after all ...

Cool Stuff: Danish Bohemia

When Nick, the kids, and I were visiting my amazingly creative friend Catherine and her family in Western Massachusetts last Autumn, Catherine was in the midst of making a felted wool blanket out of Salvation Army sweaters. It sounds kind of weird, but the fuzzy squares that resulted from her throwing the wool sweaters in the washer and dryer were sinfully yummy and soft to the touch -- and I so coveted the blanket that Catherine was assembling from them.

So as Fall starts to fall around here, I'm determined to have a felted wool blanket of my own to snuggle up under. Since I don't have a crafty bone in my entire body and don't even own a sewing machine, I'm resigned to buying rather than making one. Anyway, as I surfed around on the hunt this evening I stumbled upon Danish Bohemia.

The online arm of the St. Paul, Minnesota boutique features some really lovely Danish designs from the likes of En Gry og Sif, Mulle Moth, and Knud Hoi -- including, yes, felted wool (like the blankets above, $159 each).

A few of my favorites:
Embroidered Floor Cushions, $114 each

Lime Basket with Flowers, $55

Felt Bird on a Stick, $20

Round Basket with Pom-Poms, $75

Turquoise Cushion Cover with Flowers, $65

Multi Color Cushion Covers, $55 each

Big Flowers Floor Cushion, $75

Floor Cushions with Diamonds, $75 each

Check out the entire Danish Bohemia selection right here.

Cool Stuff: Designers Guild for Fall

I was so happy when the London-based Designers Guild opened its US online store earlier this year. Finally, we Stateside Tricia Guild fans could scoop up her company's delicious colors and yummy patterns without worrying about exchange rates or shipping from the UK.

I tend to think of Designers Guild wares as being eternally springlike, though, so I was delighted to see the brand-new Autumn/Winter Collection when I checked in on the site this morning. The last few days here have been crisp and cool, and I'm feeling ready for fall. These deeper, richer colors and autumnal and wintry motifs look like the perfect thing to snuggle up in now:

Taillandier Bedding, $45 to $280

Esperanza Noir Bedding, $63 to $280

Caserta Driftwood Throw, $225

Marienlyst Persimmon Throw, $225

Tullgarn Noir Throw, $225

Sarafan Peony Throw, $250

Rocaille Cassis Cushion, $110

Ledoux Cocoa Cushion, $90

Perrault Platinum Cushion, $90

See the entire Designers Guild Collection right here.