Cool Stuff: Graham & Brown Peony Wallpaper

I really like this Peony Wallpaper from Graham & Brown's new eco-friendly collection.

It's $60 a roll right here.

Cool Stuff: Flowie

I'm loving these fresh and pretty hand-screenprinted designs from Flowie, the company launched last year by Bay Area textile designer Yaling Hou. Above: Bela Tea Towel, $22

Bela Pillows, $68 each

Dear Mika Napkin and Placemat Set, $32

Garden Love Napkins, $38 for two

Gerrie Tea Towel, $21

Gerrie Big Tote, $68

Saki Coin Purse, $11

Garden Love Bow Bag, $72

Check out the entire Flowie collection right here (pssst ... use coupon code HAPPY15 for 15 percent off your purchase between now and November 15), and also here.

Cool Stuff: THOUT HoleySTUMP

I've coveted one of these HoleySTUMPs from Toronto design firm THOUT for awhile now, but could never find them for sale anywhere. Happily, Design Public has just stocked them.

The 18-inch stumps are made from white cedar (a weed tree in northern Canada, where they're harvested) and finished with glossy, outdoor-safe paint. They'd make great little side tables (stash your magazines, remotes, or reading glasses in the bored hollows); provide novel seating when grouped around a dining table; or simply be interesting, organic-meets-pop plant or display stands.

HoleySTUMPs are available in white, black, aqua, and lime-green for $140 apiece right here.

Cool Stuff: Magno Wooden Radios

These little cuties are vying for a place in my heart, right next to the Tivoli Model One.

Designed by Singgih Kartono and made by skilled craftspeople in Indonesia, the retro-style AM/FM/shortwave radios are constructed from sustainably grown and harvested ebony and other woods and are MP3-ready. They're $200 to $300, depending on size, right here.

P.S. Drat! All three sizes are on back order at Design Public, but the medium is in stock at Areaware.

Deal of the Day: Design Public Discounts

The cyber-shopping deals are hot and heavy this week. Design Public is offering the following discounts:

Today (Tuesday, November 27) only:

Ferm Living Berry Black Wall Stickers, $95 after discount

* $10 off all orders of $100 or more. Use coupon code DESIGN10 at checkout.

Through Friday (November 30):

Pablo Tube Top Lamp, $90 and up after discount

* 10 percent off Pablo Design lighting. Use coupon code PABLONOV07.

notNeutral Triton Lacquer Tray, $111 after discount

* 15 percent off notNeutral items (except the Tetra collection). Use coupon code NOTNOV07.

Dwell pillows, $70 and up after discount

* 20 percent off Dwell linens. Use coupon code DWELLNOV07.

The Artful Home: Fabric Art

True confession: Art intimidates me.

I'm well over the sort of mass-produced prints (Man Ray, anyone?) that decorated my post-collegiate homes. And yet I haven't quite graduated to buying much "real" art -- for one, a lot of it is simply out of our budget. But even when it comes to buying smaller pieces from emerging artists, I don't quite trust my eye yet.

So for now, I'm making due with framed prints from various artists that I've discovered via Etsy and at a few local galleries and exhibition spaces. Well, that, and hanging fabric.

I started with the retro-inspired fabric above, which I bought from the awesome Tonic Living a couple of years ago. I knew I wanted to do some sort of project with it -- at first I was thinking pillows, until my lack of sewing skills and even a sewing machine put the kibosh on that idea.

Then I decided to simply buy some cheap art-store canvases, stretch the fabric around them, and affix it with a staple gun. Voila -- instant "art."

Since then, I've expanded my fabric art collection. A quick tour:

(Please forgive the total in-progress nature of the home you can glimpse around these, and the fact that most of the canvases are still sitting on the floor. One of these days, I swear, I will get around to hanging them... )

I picked up this Inhabit stretched canvas at the last Design Public warehouse sale, and hung it in our downstairs hallway.

Recognize this? It was an "eBay Find" I blogged awhile back. (I don't normally bid on the things I blog, but couldn't resist this one.)

Another Inhabit stretched canvas snagged at the Design Public warehouse sale.

I freakin' love this huge Marimekko print (I bought one of Textile Arts' handy frame kits for it, since a canvas this size would've been prohibitively expensive and heavy). I haven't hung it yet because I think we're going to repaint the dining room -- I love the red, but it's just not working with the colors I'm drawn to these days.

This is some groovy vintage fabric I found on eBay Australia. It's destined for the unfortunate pink bathroom.

More of that stretched Tonic Living fabric, which currently resides in my mad-for-blue daughter's room.

Have any fabric art projects of your own you'd like to share -- or other surprising ideas for using fabric or non-traditional items as art around your home? Send them in!

Cool Stuff: Pretty Pillows

Loving these pretty new pillows at Design Public:

Ailanthus Pillow, above, $60 to $68, from Inhabit

Flown Pillow, $60, from Inhabit

Plant Forms Pillow, $78, from three sheets 2 the wind

Bent Tulip Pillows, $78 each, from three sheets 2 the wind

Check 'em out here.

House in Progress: The Office Chair Conundrum

So here's the deal: I work from home as a freelance writer pretty much full-time. (Yeah, I know -- I'm lucky; but if you saw last year's tax return, you would not be jealous.)

At left is the Jules Chair from IKEA, in which I spend upwards of ten hours a day. I bought it because I thought it was cute, and it only cost $40. But I simply can't take it anymore. It's just not a proper work chair, and my back and tailbone are screaming in protest. I desperately need a functional, comfortable, and ergonomic desk chair.

But here's the thing: I think most desk chairs are kind of ugly -- even the coveted $949 Aeron Chair. Since my office is in my home, I can't bring myself to buy, and than have to look at, some ugly black-and-hard-plastic thing on wheels. So I'm on the hunt for a good desk chair that's also -- and this is key -- attractive.

I'd really like something in white or a poppy color or fun pattern. It absolutely has to have lower-back support and a padded (or at least pliable) seat. I'm tall, so it has to be height-adjustable, or at least be on the higher side. It doesn't need to be on wheels or to swivel, but those would be nice options. I'm hoping to keep it under $250.

Here are a few I've been looking at:

Perforated Airgo Chairs, $179, from Pottery Barn Teen.
Pros: These chairs come in white, light green, orange, light blue, and pink, and I love the polished armrests and base.
Cons: Those armrests don't actually look so comfortable. And my ass, sadly, is no longer teen-sized.

Lilly Office Chair, $169, from CB2.
Pros: Fresh and clean in white and chrome, and a great price.
Cons: I'm not sure what "pliable white Hirek® techno-polymer composite" is, but it doesn't look as cushy as I want.

Holden Chair, $249, from Crate + Barrel.
Pros: Comfortable, adjustable, and tasteful.
Cons: It's not black, but the color is still a bit too dull and masculine for me.

Swivel Leather Desk Chair, $299, from West Elm.
Pros: It looks cool and comfortable, and the seat is adjustable.
Cons: The color. I could've sworn West Elm had this in white the last time I looked, but now it's not there. $299 is also a little more than I'd hoped to spend.

Allak Chair, $80, from IKEA.
Pros: I sat in this at our local IKEA yesterday, and it's actually very comfortable. Plus, it's white, and the price can't be beat.
Cons: I don't really love the gathering on the leather seat, and the black plastic arms and base look cheap and cheesy.

Nominell Chair, $129, from IKEA.
Pros: I like this in green.
Cons: This is lacking armrests, and it's a bit on the slight side for all-day sitting.

Skruvsta Chair, $139, from IKEA.
Pros: I love the retro shape and the fun print (this comes in white, too).
Cons: It doesn't offer as much back support as a higher-backed chair would.

Patrik Chair, $179, from IKEA.
Pros: So cute.
Cons: I tried this on for size, and the seat is a tad narrow for my child-bearing hips.

Vitra Hula Hoop Chair, $915, from Design Public.
Pros: Super-stylin'.
Cons: The price -- no way am I paying this much for a chair, as cool as it may be. (Plus, the IKEA Skruvsta has a similar look for a lot less.)

Egoa Task Chairs, $648, from Design Within Reach.
Pros: Fun colors, elegantly slim profile.
Cons: The price.

Hudson Swivel Chair, $1,415, from DWR.
Pros: How cool is this in polished aluminum?
Cons: No padding. And the price.

Eames Aluminum Management Chair, $1,998, from DWR.
Pros: I love the fresh spring green leather (it also comes in white, orange, red, power blue, camel, and chocolate) and the polished base.
Cons: The price.

Have thoughts on these, or any other suggestions? Please post a comment and clue me in (and don't forget to include any relevant links). I'll let you all know what I ultimately decide.

Thanks!

Objects of Lust: jefdesigns' Lightbox Paintings

I just spotted these gorgeous lightbox paintings on Design Public and started salivating immediately.

Produced by Portland, Oregon artist Joe Futschik, these limited-edition digital paintings (there are only 15 of each) are mounted on 20-by-30-inch aluminum lightboxes. Each duratrans image is illuminated by three fluorescent tubes, and the lightboxes can be ordered with a hardwire or plug-in option.


Aren't they just breath-taking? I can't stop looking at them. (At $1,500 each, though, I'll have to tuck these away in the "If I Win the Lottery" file ... )