Marian Bantjes.

Marian Bantjes is a design genius as far as I’m concerned. I’m literally ready to sing her praises from the rooftops. I love her even more for refering to her gorgeous designs for the latest Saks Fifth Avenue campaign as “swirly stuff” – fantastic!

Bantjes was hired for the project by Michael Beirut of Pentagram. After creating the signature Want It! piece, they moved on to the accompanying eighteen – nine each for men and women. Even Bantjes was suprised when the design didn’t stop there. Saks proceeded to create 3D sculptures of the “swirly stuff,” as well as surface coverings, wallpaper and carpeting.

I wish you could buy these pieces somewhere…maybe once they call it a day with this campaign it’ll hit eBay? Craziner things have happened.


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Nigella Lawson: Living Kitchen.

Nigella Lawson is a tad too much for me to bear. Nonetheless, she is a beautiful, intelligent, modern woman who has my full respect. Especially after seeing her line of Living Kitchen kitchenware which makes me swoon. Every piece is beautifully simple and pared down with a color palette to match. I wouldn’t mind one bit adding these pieces to my already too full kitchen!

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Grilliput.

Maybe it’s that summer won’t seem to die this year.
Or that I like cooking outside. Bugs and all.
Or perhaps I’ve developed some sort of mini grill compulsion.
Yeah. It’s most likely that the last one.

I love the Grilliput. I even love the name. Say it, it’s too much fun. The design is so sleek and pure. It’s form and function in a dishwasher safe package.

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Remake: Labels

Show me a label or tag and I can’t say no. It must be some sort of genetic programming malfunction (that way it’s unavoidable – at least that’s what I tell myself).

These adhesive tags made out of regular old printer labels are the imaginative work of Etsy shop Remake. Remake is “dedicated to making things using salvaged materials.” That just makes their work all that much the better. I mean, they could have gone out and just bought whatever. But they didn’t. They made something that otherwise would have been wasted work. I love that.

Their shop is a little low right now, but check back often because they’re always restocking it with something new and amazing.

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Architectural Artifacts, Inc.

Yet another reason I should (or should not) be living in Chicago.

Architectural Artifacts Inc. is the sister store to the newly openned Museum of Historic Chicago Architecture. Founded in 1987 by Stewart Grannen, the focus of the store has always been on intrigue, pieces of the lost world and beautful aesthetics. With the recent expansion of their showroom from 30,000 to 80,000 square feet there’s even more room for fabulousness, including their amazing collection of stained glass, lighting and wrought iron.

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Daily Lit.

Daily Lit was developed by two overwhelmed souls who spent hours each day on email but could not find the time to read a book. Now the books come by email and the problem is solved. An installment is emailed to you each day from a book of your choosing off of Daily Lit’s collection list.

I’m currently making my way through Many Thoughts of Many Minds (Quotations). It’ll take me 2851 days.

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teaposy.

It seems like I’ve been coming across teaposy everywhere lately. The last place I spotted it was in the movie Marie Antoinette. Premium white tea leaves (yum) and natural herbal flowers are hand crafted into delicate tea blossons that “bloom” once you add hot water. Not so sure I’d be a big fan of the flavor – I tend to lean more towards black teas – but the presentation is incredible. teaposy glassware is a perfect compliment to the process of “growing” these blossoms.

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Brunette on Blonde.

Okay, okay. I know it’s only mid-October but I have a bit of a Christmas card addiction that I can’t seem to kick. I’m loving these sweet, minimal designs by Angie Gubler and Kristin Rees of Blonde Designs. Both served stints as senior art directors for Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings, respectively. The simplistic, clean style that’s evident in both magazines has clearly been an influence in the design of Blonde Design’s Christmas cards as well as the rest of their design lines.

My favorite of Blonde Design’s everyday designs is their modern flowers theme. So pretty, so clean, so completely my style.

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