Many Treats To Be Had

 ceramics, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, inspirational, interiors, nice things, product design, shopping, shops  2 Responses »
Apr 122013
 

NYC Shopping Many Treats To Be Had

I was pretty restrained on my recent trip to New York despite the many treats to be had. The choice was out of my hands. I had to be. I’m soon to be moving home and property in London isn’t cheap. Needless to say, the mortgage company would not be sympathetic to my pleas and tales of cushion-love in NYC, however lovely it was, so, well-behaved I was. This doesn’t mean that I don’t sit here at my desk and dream. I confess, the Cole Haan shoes and the birdie letter opener came home with me, but then they don’t count, as they both fall under the ‘practical’ category. For future reference (for myself and any one who fancies treating a hard-working Finch), here are my top nine shopping treats from the great city across the pond.

1.) Gramercy Oxfords in nubuck rooftop and sunlight, $198, Cole Haan, 2.) stone house door stop, $31.90, West Elm, 3.) Petrie armchair in fawn, $2,199, Crate And Barrel, 4.) Petrie ottoman in fawn, $1,248.75, Crate And Barrel, 5.) birdie letter opener, $12, MOMA, 6.) Dauville gold glazed bowls, from $11, Canvas, 7.) Map of New York decorative sheet, by Charles Lahti, $20, Kate’s Paperie, 8.) porcelain pitchers by Ryota Aoki, from $148, The Future Perfect, 9.) Acciaio dining chair, designed by Max Lipsy, $1,500, Matter

Yes, The Future IS Perfect

 ceramics, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, interiors, lighting, nice things, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Apr 092013
 

Future Perfect Yes, The Future IS Perfect

On a recommended tip by a now-native New Yorker (thank you, Liz!), I made sure that I fitted a trip to The Future Perfect in Manhattan. It wasn’t a venture wasted. In amongst a good list of interiors stores in the SoHo/ Nolita area, this by far was my favourite design shop, and the closest to my own personal taste. Nicely laid out, there were little treats to be discovered in all corners of the store, from well-known companies to lesser-known designer-makers. It was also nice to see a large range of products from my own London favourite, SCP (and no shortage of Donna Wilson‘s knitted delights). Royelyn (the shop attendant) indulged me a small tour of my favourite goodies, and also a discussion on slang and the linguistic differences between Brooklyn, Manhattan and London. Good times. Here are my top 9 items (international shipping available).

1.) Reunion bowl, by Pieke Bergman, $165, 2.) Mirror standing shelf, by Garth Roberts, £3,650, (this is far more amazing in person than you can see from the photos. It’s gorgeous), 3.) Bluff City pendant light, £750, 4.) Moon Dance Rug Small, Domestic Construction, $63 (sale price), 5.) Watering Can, Copper, Paul Loebach, $99 (available from May), 6.) Facet Bowl, by Piet Hein Eek, $956, 7.) Tree Trunk Chair in Green Velours, by Piet Hein Eek, $2,858, 8.) Crescent Brass Bottle Opener, by Oji Masanori, $60, 9.) Glacier Double Old-Fashioned Glass, Purple, for Artel by David Wiseman, $439

BlogTourNYC: No.4

 Art, ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, homewares, interiors, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Apr 042013
 

No4 BlogTourNYC: No.4

1.) Bespoke Global: bringing artists and craftfolk’s work to the fore. Facilitating communication and encouraging non-high street retail. 2.) the fantastically cheerful carpet in the reception of the Fab headquarters, 3.) Du Verre‘s ‘Rise’ cabinet handle by Christopher Smith of East Main Design (available in three finishes and 4 sizes), 4.) a selection of Prehistoric stone bracelets on stands, just a few of the many treasures on sale at interior designer, Vicente Wolf‘s showroom, 5.) Pomegranate cabinet handle, in satin brass, by metalsmith designer, Heinz Pfleger, sold by Du Verre (available in different finishes and sizes), 6.) a detail in the corner of the Fab photographic studio. Lovely colours.

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

Into The Pink We Go

 ceramics, colour, decorative, homewares, interiors, nice things, shopping, shops  2 Responses »
Feb 062013
 

pastel pink Into The Pink We Go

This is not baby pink, oh no. And from hence forth, it shall never be referred to in that derogatory term, for at long last the pastel pink fights back from its corner of where it was damned eternally to be subjected to much sneering and be covered in regurgitated baby food. And I’m surprised for I am welcoming it, with a degree of open-armed behaviour. Maybe without such a nice array of projects, it might not have got so far, but with the continuing trend of pastel homewares, pink is definitely regaining ground in the cool stakes. This by no means, means that you can all run out straight away and smother the entire house in this delicate hue, no, proceed with the same amount of caution you would when dealing with any turbulent colour, but twinned with a good strong neutral colour to balance out its saccharinely-sweet potential and you’ll be onto a winner.

1.) Montana shelving units, £POA, 2.) House of Money money box in coral, €31, Ferm Living, 3.) Visu Colour chair in rose, £199, TwentyTwentyOne, 4.) Louise bust in old pink by Cire Trudon, £80, Selfridges, 5.) 100% linen cushion in deauville mauve, £32 (available in early March), Cox & Cox, 6.) Je T’Aime tote bag, £12, Hunkydory Home, 7.) The Pastel Vintage bouquet, from £60, Wild at Heart, 8.) Dulux’s Rock Candy 4, £POA, available from all good trade shops, 9.) Patisserie in Reves glazed tile, £2.99 per tile, Fired Earth

A Bird In The Hand…

 animals, ceramics, Christmas, decorative, fun things, homewares, interiors, London, nice things, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Dec 112012
 

Pols Potten birds A Bird In The Hand...

A bird in the hand is worth four on the Christmas tree, right? Or summat like that. It wouldn’t be hard to go all birdy this Christmas and especially not with these little fellas by Pols Potten. SCP are stocking a variety of their white ceramic birds, and I reckon they’ll be flying off the shelves (boom), because, whilst these photos do no justice to them, when you are up close to them, they are just totally adorable. Your hearts will melt and before you know it, you’ll have bought the lot. Well, I very almost did, at any rate. Now, who knows what ‘Sparrow’ is in Dutch?

Large Sparrow ornament, £10, small Sparrow ornament, £6, set of 4 tree decorations, £18, all from SCP.

Spinning Bowls

 Art, ceramics, Christmas, colour, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, homewares, inspirational, London, nice things, shopping, things to do  No Responses »
Dec 042012
 

Sapetra Spinning Bowls

It was the Christmas Cockpit Arts open last weekend at their Holborn studios, and whilst I’ve been to Deptford, I haven’t been to the original site for a good while. I used to work at the opens, sitting on the desk taking the entrance fee and shivering in the cold. But, alas, I digress. There were lots of old friends with new news, and Sapetra is just one of them. Well known for the ceramic ‘Air’ series, particularly the little travel pillows, it was nice to see them nestled amongst new designs. I’d not seen this ‘Spindle’ series before and was rather taken with them. They are a perfect form, that rests on one side of its sloping bottom, allowing a circular movement should you so wish. But the bit I liked the most were the colours and the way the slip had been dribbled in rivulets down the side of the vessel. Lovely.

Deptford Cockpit Arts is open this weekend, and most definitely worth a visit, for original and interesting handmade gifts.

Deptford Cockpit Arts
18-22 Creekside, Deptford,
London,
SE8 3DZ
T: 020 8692 4463

Opening times: Fri 11am-9pm, Sat – Sun 11am-6pm

Kitty On A Plate

 animals, ceramics, Designer-Maker, fun things, homewares, illustrators, kitchen, nice things, shopping, shops  1 Response »
Nov 082012
 

Kaoru Shibata Kitty On A Plate

Now, I realise that these might have been a bit more apt last week, but hey, better late than never. Never has a plate seen a cuter moggy than these Japanese felines. Cute without being cloying, these ceramics decorated by Japanese illustrator, Kaoru Shibata, are currently available to buy here in the UK and I could merrily consider making these my pets. Fab featured the mugs earlier on in the year, and are currently selling the plates as a set of 5 for £25.50. I have found very little information on Kaoru Shibata on UK websites so this might be a rare chance indeed. All details, including dimensions can be found here.

A Sweet And Sour Palette

 ceramics, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, inspirational, interiors, kitchen, nice things, pattern, product design, shopping, textiles  No Responses »
Nov 072012
 

Lindsey Lang A Sweet And Sour Palette

Zingy and zangy, fresh and clean, these colours are colours of popping candy, of sweet and sour, they’re bright and dark, pastel and moody. So many contradictions and yet in the midst of all the fighting there is peace and tranquility, and here resides Lindsey Lang’s products. Her little stall at this year’s Design Junction, was in a little corner at the back, but has stayed on mind since. It’s not every day that I get to sing the merits and joy that a trivets brings me but today, I do. Lindsay’s trivets (second row down) are her pièce de résistance. The colours and patterns come together in this simply designed and oft overlooked piece of kitchen equipment, in such a way to be quite a thing of pure joy. As you can tell, I’m a fan. She does other stuff too, for those that aren’t such ‘riveting’ triveting enthusiasts.

A Taste of White

 ceramics, collaborations, decorative, homewares, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Sep 052012
 

Reichenbach A Taste of White

If you always fancied a bit of Louis XIV- style designs but could never quite bring yourself to really ham it up big-style with baroque swirls and twirls, then here’s a nice solution for you. A classic shape-made-contemporary which will definitely look fresh and clean against any table dressing. White porcelain chinaware by traditional German ceramicists, Reichenbach, have brought themselves up to date with the introduction of an Italian designer called Paola Navone, and these are one of her designs. Lovely.

Prices start at £10 (sale price) for a small side plate, FabUK (sale ends in 6 days. Roughly 12th September)

Hybrid For The Non-Committals

 ceramics, colour, decorative, fun things, homewares, interiors, London, nice things, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Sep 042012
 

Seletti At Liberty Hybrid For The Non Committals

For all of you that just cannot make your minds up (yes, you all know who you are), this new bone china range is called Hybrid and it’s for you. By the world-renowned design brand, Seletti, this latest addition to their sometimes unusual and quirky but always marvellous range, really does have a little something for everyone. It’s unashamedly noncommittal if only to please the peoples of the world who suffer from an inability to make a decision. We all do it, let’s face it. We um, and we ahhh, we approach for a second opinion, a third and sometimes even a forth. We wait until another day, forget all about it and then, like a flash in the pan, we make an impromptu decision and BOOM! There we have it. This range has been designed by CTRLZAK which shows the perfect union of East and West by fusing the two together into one. The range includes the usual: plates, bowls, mugs, cups and saucers.

And if you were wanting an added bonus, if you do do it Seletti’s way, you not only get to not make a decision but you also get to eat your cake and eat it too (off a difference plate each time, if you wish) and what could be better than that?

Prices from £25 for a cup and Saucer, on sale at Liberty, London (020 7734 1234).

pixel Hybrid For The Non Committals
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