Japanese Design...So Clever

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend from The Netherlands visited recently, bringing wonderful house gifts which his wife had sent along.  One of the gifts was a pair of flat pieces of printed polyester, polyamide, polyethylene (see fifth photo from top) by D-Bros of Japan.  The graphic instructions showed the piece being pinched open and filled with water to convert it into a vase.  Thinking this could be a disaster, I filled the first vase with trepidation...voilà, the clever design instantly grew into a perfectly balanced, flat bottomed vase that showed off my orange Gerbera Daisies in all their glory.

Later, you'll see wineglass converted into chic little candle lamps.

A History Lesson in American Industrial Design

Here's a history lesson in American Industrial Design from an unexpected source: The United States Postal Service. Get your icon stamps at usps.com.

Designer Dog

Scooter, a Malti-poo, is a Designer Dog...

...see how chic he looks with the gray Flor carpeting, the black and white color scheme...

...and the black leather Le Corbusier chair.

Also, note his obvious design savvy as he admires the functionality of an Eileen Gray table.

(Please ignore the puppy paw prints and dribbles, 'cause Scooter doesn't shed!)

Milk Bottles Out on the Porch

Design Within Reach Goes Bungalow: British Green Adirondack chairs were purchased through the Houston DWR Studio.

Milk bottles out on the porch? Yes, each of these modern Adirondack chairs is made of 100 milk bottles, by Loll. They sit on the second-floor-screened porch of the Arts & Crafts style garage/studio out behind our 1920 bungalow.

Ligne Roset USA Closing Showrooms

Antoine Roset (right), Executive Vice President of Ligne Roset USA Corporation, at the opening of the Austin Ligne Roset Boutique last year.

As a long-time customer and devotee of the Ligne Roset style, I am saddened and stunned to learn today that many of the Ligne Roset showrooms in the USA have closed, including the Austin and Houston showrooms. Read source here.

Art With an Edge

Allegiance by Sculptor/Painter Patrick Medrano

Detail of Allegiance

The piece is mounted in it's own architectural moment with lighting. The pendulum is a percussion grenade.

Kimber Modern and a Tree Named Hillary

The courtyard at Kimber Modern B&B.

The uncommon common room of Kimber Modern B&B. Architects: Burton Baldridge Architects, Austin, Texas

Guest rooms off the courtyard.

A tree named Hillary

This tree is named Hillary, as she is the namesake of another Hillary. Both were showing signs of losing during construction and recent primaries. The B&B co-owners passionately supported both and point out that both Hillary and Hillary are thriving and looking forward to the future.

If you love modern design, solitude, and pampering, Kimber Modern in Austin is the B&B for you. Tall Husband and I loved padding barefoot across the shaded courtyard to the common room to find a buffet from which guests could put together their own breakfasts. You could stay here for a week and not see staff, which you'll love if your are weary of all the fawning that occurs at most high-end establishments. You don't even have to check in or out or carry a key card. You make your reservation on line and choose your own entry code which will let you into the main entrance and your room.

Oh...if you do find yourself at Kimber Modern, give Hillary a hug for me.

Note: The photos above were taken at a recent party sponsored by Austin's Design Within Reach Studio, Kimber Modern and Tablet Hotels. Also, see my posting about the super cool Tax Trailer which is on the roof of Kimber Modern. (Click on photos to enlarge.)