British designer Charlie Bowles designed his London Lamp in 2010, and we believe that its futuristic-yet-retro vibe may have captured the attention of the set designers for the X Men First Class movie. Have you seen the film? If so, let us know if you spotted the sunny London Lamp (also available in grey and black) on the big screen. (P.S. The London Lamp is on sale through Thursday.)
In the wake of the hurricane, it's refreshing to know that there are prefab solutions designed to withstand 150 MPH winds. The LV Home by Rocio Romero offers two models that comply with the most stringent hurricane codes. The Chilean-American designer's work has even caught the attention of Paul Goldberger of The New Yorker who said "Romero's designs stand out for their clarity, simplicity, and grace." If you're in the Bay Area, you can attend a presentation by Ms. Romero at our Fillmore Studio on September 8, from 6 to 8pm.
With all eyes on Irene, we know that our East Coast friends and families are worried, so we're passing along some tips from CNN and Ready.Gov. CNN posted a list of hurricane tracking apps, including Hurricane HD, Hurricane Hound and StormPulse. And the Ready.Gov website has posted a list of ways to prepare for the storm. To find out how to keep food and water safe during and after an emergency, visit FoodSafety.gov. And for Twitter feeds, NOAA runs @stormprediction, a feed for sharing weather alerts. Be safe. -DWR
I love surprises. Even when they are as simple as moving a piece of furniture (or a refrigerator) and discovering that it's on wheels. Our Twilight Sleeper Sofa has these super subtle wheels on the back legs so all you have to do is lift the front edge of the sofa to easily wheel it away from the wall. Did you also know that Twilight transforms from sofa to daybed to double bed to two twin beds? It's like getting five pieces of furniture in one. (P.S. Twilight is on sale through Tuesday.)
This Futuro prefab home is for sale in Philadelphia, and is in desperate need of human kindness. In 1968, Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed the Futuro as a modular ski cabin that could be assembled in poorly accessible ski areas. It is believed that 100 Futuros were built before production was shut down in 1972. The original prototype was recently restored and is on display at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam through October 9, 2011. To infinity and beyond!
Photo: Jelle Brandt Corstius
In addition to being an architect and designer, Joaquim Ruiz Millet is also a writer, filmmaker and gallery director. His Manuscrit Rug (2003) is an expression of all of his passions, and features a romantic poem that he wrote in his native Catalan. Featuring the actual handwriting of the designer, the rug is an enlargement of a page in a novel Ruiz Millet is working on -- a work of fiction about power relationships imbued with highly charged eroticism. (P.S. This rug is in stock and on sale through Tuesday.)
A master of unique materials, Sandy Chilewich's career path includes being the founder of HUE hosiery company, as well as the creator of a patented series of bowls made with stretch netting typically used in lingerie. Rest assured, there were no unmentionables used in the making of her Shag Mat. Rather, it is made of a tufted vinyl that Chilewich immediately recognized as having limitless potential the first time she saw it. Use the Shag Mat indoors or out -- with its padded no-slip backing it also makes an awesome bath mat. (P.S. It's on sale through Tuesday.)
Frank O. Gehry has made us rethink museums, music halls and even chairs. A Pritzker Prize winner – and arguably one of the greatest living architects and designers – Gehry is continually giving us things to analyze, admire and enjoy. His love of Picasso and of cubism is expressed in the shapes he creates, both of which can be seen in his simple Left Twist Cube (2004). Available in bright cheery colors (as well as in black, white and grey) this Cube can be used anywhere, from patio to playroom to bathroom or den.
Today's Daily Candy post featured our Celine Desk, which they described as "a graceful, midcentury-inspired reminder that the best part of working from home is decorating your home office." Very sweet.
DWR Behind the Scenes - August Catalog from Design Within Reach on Vimeo.
Wondering what happens when a truck full of DWR furniture arrives at the suburban home or urban loft where we're scheduled to shoot our next catalog? Take a behind the scenes look with this video from the making of our August catalog.
Originally created on paper at the Bauhaus in the 1920s, this floor covering (or wall hanging) is the work of Gunta Stölzl. Known worldwide for her textiles, Stölzl was one of the few women to teach at the Bauhaus, and the only woman to hold a senior role on the faculty. During her 12 years on campus, she made the Weaving Workshop her own, explored ways to reinvent weaving, and in the process, evolved it from craft to industrial design.
What began as an 850-square-foot rustic bungalow has been transformed into what the LA Times calls "the new-old Craftsman" -- also known as "the Chartreuse House" -- in Venice, California. The home of Lisa Little and Phil Brennan, this renovated space includes an outdoor courtyard with fireplace. The furniture they chose is our very own Deneb Teak Table and Bench designed by Jesús Gasca for Stua, as well as our Primary Pouf designed by Arne Quinze for Quinze & Milan. "This flexible seating allows us to use it as a multipurpose room for entertaining," says Little. Photos by Katie Falkenberg for The Times.
Saving a factory and helping the employees keep their jobs was not something Peter Bowles thought he’d be doing when he designed his first bone china light. The story begins in Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of the British ceramics industry, where its prized porcelain has been produced for more than three centuries. Bowles convinced a tableware factory to produce his first design, but as the orders started to come in, he learned the factory
Continue reading "The story behind the bone china Drop 1 Pendant." »
I know I’m biased since they are a DWR product, but I honestly think these are the best towels ever made. I just got mine last week and I’ve been telling strangers about them. (Who needs a copy of “How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends” when you’ve got Vipp towels?) Soft without being annoyingly plush, they are the perfect weight when wrapped around your head to dry your hair (your neck will thank you). Plus, they dry super fast which is crucial in humid Connecticut weather. And the bath
Originally from Brazil, Dalton Ghetti is now based in Connecticut, where he transforms the tips of pencils into his amazing micro sculptures. Using a razor blade, sewing needle and sculpting knife (and no magnifying glass), each piece takes several months, and he once spent two and a half years working on a pencil with interlocking chains. When a piece breaks, he adds it to his Cemetery Collection. “People think it’s weird that I keep them but they’re still interesting. I worked on them for months so they might be dead now, but at one point I gave them life.” While many collectors have tried to buy his work, none of it is for sale. Ghetti gives his sculptures to friends as gifts.
Congratulations to everyone who entered our Haiku contest. Here is the winning entry, plus four runners-up. Our winners, David Sanders and Nancy Brokaw, will enjoy a special event at The Glass House tonight, where they will have to speak in Haikus all evening. (Kidding.) (Kind of.)
WINNER:
In wood, glass, and steel,
modern buildings reflect me --
my form and function
David Sanders and Nancy Brokaw | Philadelphia, PA
We are thrilled to be a launch partner with Google in their iPad app called Google Catalogs. This free iPad app (an Android version should be available soon) enables you to interact with product images and videos, save favorite items in a collage, share products with friends and receive updates when new catalogs arrive. “Mobile technologies can make catalog shopping more engaging, social and creative,” says Kinnari Jhaveri from Google’s commerce team. Adding to our 3D Room Planner and DWR videos, joining Google Catalogs is just one more way that we’re making it easier for you to find the best in modern design. Let us know what you think of the Google Catalog app. You can download it directly from iTunes or learn more about this iPad app at the Google Catalogs page.
In this month's HC&G magazine, landscape designer Joseph Cornetta describes his latest project that, when he first saw it, resembled "Grey Gardens gone bad -- only worse." It took three months to create the architectural garden he desired, resulting in a stylish, verdant escape that includes a boxwood topiary garden, a fountain made from an 18th-century Chinese pot and the Rusa Outdoor Collection from DWR. Adding to the fun, he also added a plunge pool. Happy summer.
Three sizes, five shapes, two finishes, and clips; there's a lot to consider when building JDS Architects' Stacked Shelving System. In fact, we recently spent an entire day arranging and rearranging these virtual building blocks ourselves – and yes, the cameras were rolling . . .
DWR Presents: The Stacked Shelving System from Design Within Reach on Vimeo.
Fortunately, the client was working with our very own Marcy Chapman from our Potrero Studio in San Francisco who figured out how to ship these 111 Navy Chairs to a nearby hotel. The clients got their chairs and The New York Times got to photograph a fully furnished home. Featured in last week’s Home and Garden section, the Rondolino Residence is the work of Peter Strzebniok, a German architect living in San Francisco. His firm, nottoscale, creates affordable prefabricated houses. Photos by Joe Fletcher for The New York Times.
Color was used sparingly, to reflect the desert surroundings. The dining room chairs from Design Within Reach are red to suggest the desert heat. The house has no air-conditioning; a ceiling fan hangs overhead.
