Restoration Hardware’s newest line, RH Modern, is teeming with great pieces for both home and office. The Polyhedron Bar Cart echoes the “sculptural modernism of mid-century Italian design”. Three hinged sections open to reveal “mirrored surfaces for tools and glassware” while the deep well can hold bottles and decanters. The 80lbs bar cart is available for $1,795 and stands 42″ high with a 25″ diameter.
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Tags: alcohol, bar cart, home bar, liquor, restoration hardware, rhmodern
Nanoleaf Aurora
I first discovered Nanoleaf’s Aurora ($200) in the window display of Cliff’s Variety in San Francisco. The pictures below don’t capture the Aurora’s constantly morphing gradient but the smooth transitions add a relaxing vibe to the element. Configure to fit your space and create your own lighting-turned-art. Edit: this YouTube video shows the Aurora gradient in motion.
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Tags: gradient lighting, lighting, modern lighting, nanoleaf
AJ Lamps from Arne Jacobsen
The AJ Lamps from Arne Jacobsen are among the more iconic pieces featured on this blog. Created in 1960, the lamps — both a table and floor lamp — were originally designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen (now a Radisson hotel) “for which Jacobsen designed every element, from the skyscraper structure to the stainless steel cutlery”. The loop in the cast iron base for the table lamp was originally designed to hold an ash tray when smoking was more common. The lamps are available in multiple colors with prices ranging from $1,048-$1,208 at Design Within Reach while reproductions can be found for less than $200.
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Tags: aj lamp, aj sconce, copenhagen, modern design, modern lamps, modern lighting, sys royal hotel
Unofish offers high-end basketballs that would look incredible on any shelf (because I would cringe if these balls ever hit a gym floor). The Unofish website features 11 balls — many with matching backpacks — with each ball retailing at $249. With a price that low, the leathers are clearly embossed but, depending on the size of your bank account, this could be a good thing. Originally found on Uncrate, The Black Komodo Ball, featured in the first two pictures below, offers a mix of Italian tumbled leather, stingray beaded leather, and an orange polyurethane rim. The Albino Gator Ball, featured in the latter two pictures, boasts alligator-embossed ivory calf leather in lieu of stingray.
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Tags: albino gator, basketball, basketballs, black komodo, luxury balls, luxury basketballs, luxury gifts, luxury sports, stringray, unofish
Modern 11+ World Clock
The 11+ World Clock is possibly my favorite in the category among similar products featured on this blog. The World Time Clock Barrel and World Timer by Jacob Jensen are both surprisingly popular posts but the 11+ World Clock reigns as the most affordable. Found on Uncrate and available for $50 on Dwell, the clock looks featureless from front but includes international cities inscribed on the side letting you “roll your way to different time zones as thee hands automatically adjust”.
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Tags: 11+ clock, 11+ world clock, clock, international clock, international time, modern clock, time, world clock
I suspect I’ll be gifting the DIY Grow Your Own Shiitake Mushroom Log to a few people this holiday season. Offered at $30 on Food52, it’s a guilt-free present that offers a sizeable “wow factor”. The logs “are hand-cut and inoculated with shiitake mushroom spores in visible drill holes that are covered in cheese wax” and will yield mushrooms for two years. It only takes 4-10 days to see your first harvest on the 12″ tall log and a small metal plaque on the underside lists date of inoculation. Simply soak the log for 24-hours in cold water while providing the occasional mist and the fungi will grow.
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Tags: diy, garden, mushroom log, mushrooms, shiitake, shiitake mushrooms
High-quality bedding has always been a pet cause of mine and the statement doesn’t solely originate from the beautiful dog in the first picture below (though I do enjoy the pseudo-pun). I’ve featured a lot of content guiding toward the perfect bedroom because 1/3rd of life is spent sleeping, to say nothing of the overall time spent in the bedroom. I previously wrote this lengthy article on understanding bedding terminology and choosing the right set of sheets but textiles can only go so far when your bed doesn’t match your needs.
Duxiana’s bed collection is synonymous with luxury and style (even though the style portion is somewhat moot as the bed will usually be covered) but a luxurious bed by itself is hardly unique. Duxiana’s Pascal System is what draws me to their collection and really sets them apart from other high-end sleeping solutions. The Pascal System features six cassette-style slots where clients can insert panels that range in firmness. Unlike other mattresses where people must choose a single firmness that best suits their body, the Pascal System allows clients to choose a different firmness for shoulders, hips, and legs. Two panels wide and three long means that both occupants can customize their side of the bed in whatever way they see fit. The panels are ultimately zipped into their own enclosure (shown in the second picture below) which is then attached atop the bed.
Additional features include a lumbar support system for further customization, a small hidden compartment in the mattress to stow a fire extinguisher or hide small goods, and a variety of leg styles on which your bed can stand. Impeccable service, outstanding quality, and an incredible amount of internal springs leads to a hefty price premium but the warranty and expected life expectancy help mitigate cost over time. Assuming the money spent won’t have the ironic effect of keeping you awake at night, you can lull to sleep knowing that your bed is possibly the best-looking bed on the market, even if you only see it during the brief moments you wash (or dry-clean) your sheets.
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Tags: bedding, beds, duxiana, duxiana pascal system, luxury bedding, luxury beds, pascal system
The Archetto Lighting System (.pdf), designed by Theo Sogni for Antonoangeli, is as versatile as it is aesthetic. Suitable for both in- and outdoor placement, the light comes in a variety of colors and, most notably, bends. The pliability lends itself to an infinite number of possibilities, some of which are shown below, and creates a modern touch that can act as your main, auxiliary, or decorative light source.
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Tags: antonoangeli, archetto, archetto lighting, flexible lighting, lighting, minimalist lighting contemporary lighting, modern lighting, outdoor lighting, tube lighting
It’s been over two months since my last post. I’m still very passionate about modern design but the time I normally spend updating this blog has been re-purposed for cooking and baking: homemade ricotta inside raviolis, a 7-layer wedding cake covered in hand-painted gum paste hydrangeas, oatmeal cookie ice cream with mini-chocolate chips, breads, desserts, cocktails, and so much more. With today’s post, I hope to become more active.
I found the Multi-Basket Picnic Basket from Menu on The Kitchn and, given my recent foray toward food, it acts as a perfect segue back into ˈmä-dərn. Available on the A+R website, the $150 basket is designed by New Norm and features two air-tight containers with bamboo lids that double as butter boards. The basket also includes two cooling pads that can be frozen in the freezer to keep your food chilled while a felt liner adds a soft and luxurious touch. Picnics don’t seem entirely common but the right gear could be catalyst for change.
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Tags: luxury, luxury picnic, menu, modern basket, modern picnic basket, multi basket, new norm, picnic basket
Cooking Table from Bulthaup
As someone who loves to cook and entertain, the new cooking table from Bulthaup couldn’t be a better addition to the home. It reminds me of the Korean BBQ restaurant in Los Angeles where I ate years ago during a camping trip to Joshua Tree. If you haven’t been to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, it’s definitely worth a visit. You and your group order plate after plate of mixed veggies and meats that the servers bring alongside various sauces. You cook the meat on the scorching hot portion of the table in front of you and enjoy the food until you’re on the brink of purging. As you can see in the last picture below, the two wood portions of the table slide together to hide the cooking portion until needed. Bulthaup focuses particular attention on the social aspect of cooking at the table:
The cooking table is a further element for the kitchen as a living space. It places cooking at the center of communication. The design of the cooking table also picks up on the fascinating interplay between open and closed surfaces. Functionality takes a step back to allow wood, aluminum and concrete to create a sensuous experience.
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Tags: bulthaup, cooking table, modern kitchen, modern table
ˈmä-dərn 