"FAVN is the Danish name for embrace. This piece is the result of a creative dialogue between Jaime Hayon and Fritz Hansen. 'I wanted the sofa to be based on a shell. A shell being hard on the outside, soft and welcoming on the inside. I wanted to create a form that embraces you, something really organic - that's why we named it FAVN' " - http://www.hayonstudio.com/

AHHH!!

Not sure if I'm going to be able to make this tonight, but I'm feeling like I sort of NEED TO. A one-night pop-up shop of vintage, mid-century modernist pieces. Attention, Oakland! You must go! And maybe pick up a chair or two for me?? ;)

...just a few things I'm lusting over this morning...

LIGHT READING / LULA DOT

I can't help but cringe a little. This piece spawns the same feeling I get when I see people reading Kindles on the train.

Almost as a period to the general acceptance that BOOKS AS WE KNOW THEM are becoming extinct, Lula Dot (the design studio of Lucy Norman) has created Light Reading, a light fixture made from recycled books. However, as sad as it makes me that the art form of book design is fading (I'm as much of a book lover as I am an art lover), I simply can't deny the beauty of this piece.

Perhaps this is a way of putting THE BOOK on a pedastal...a way of honoring it. I can imagine the pages fluttering gently when a fan is placed nearby, or when a window is opened. Lovely.

What are your thoughts on Light Reading?

(P.S. Kindles save trees. I know, I know...)

ABC...OMG

Apologies for disappearing for a few days, folks. What can I say? 

Life happens.

What I'm about to share is by no means a secret hidden gem of NYC. If you reside in the city, are anywhere from 15-65 years of age, and spend any time at all around Union Square, this is quite frankly, old news. 

BUT, I simply can't refrain from gushing.

Over the weekend, I passed by my FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE store in all of New York, ABC Home. Unfortunately, it was late at night and the store was closed, but being the insistent shopper that I am, I was able to get a glimpse of its breathtaking interior, by shoving my face through the metal grates. Natural imported wood furniture, luscious gem-toned textiles, ornate (but never gaudy) home accessories, all lit by incredibly gorgeous chandeliers (of all colors) tucked between panels of raw silk and other tapestries. Rustic, yet immensely rich. 

It's not everyone's aesthetic...if you're faint at heart or a fan of Scandinavian design (clean lines, modern), then this place is not for you (you might want to check out a certain little known Swedish store nestled in Red Hook).

Literally, when I step inside ABC, I can't suppress the desire to touch and smell all of it. All of my senses are awakened, and I want to buy it all. 

And realizing that stuff is not all that affordable always make me want to cry a little.

See for yourself. I promise you'll love it as much as I do.

Top photo courtesy of jubella.com.

MIA CULLIN

Flake (Curtain), 2006

Dreeeeammmy....

Swedish designer, Mia Cullin has created this origami-inspired curtain with a material called Tyvek, which is more commonly used to create priority envelopes. It's lightweight and SUPER durable. That stuff is pretty close to indestructible, so it's quite a feat that she was able to create such intricate and delicate shapes with it.

I want one.

Check out more origami-inspired designs by Mia here.

TROPICALIA BY MOROSO

This winter weather must be affecting me....lately all I can think of is sun, beach and more sun. So naturally, when I came across these FABULOUS chairs by Patricia Urquiola for Italian furniture company, Moroso, I did a little dance in my seat.

To be honest, when I think of Italian furniture design, I usually cringe. I've learned to associate it with massive leather couches in unsavory colors, weird lacquered surfaces and an overall feeling of ostentatiousness. This is a broad statement, I know. Sorry, Italy.

If it helps, I'm a huge sucker for espresso and pesto.

Anyway, these chairs simply make me happy. They energize me and make me want to dig out my purple plastic sunglasses. I'm mesmerized by the patterns created by the weaving and by the luscious candy-like color combinations.

See more from Moroso here.

(detail)

WINNIE LUI

Jewelry designer, Lui, created this fabulous lighting fixture for design brand, Innermost. 

Snow-white teddy bears,

Deers with antlers,

Strings of pearls,

Baby shoes,

Pipe fixtures...

These are a few of my favorite things....

FREDERICK J. KIESLER

Rocking Chair

1942

Plywood and linoleum

Apparently, the original piece is housed at the Brooklyn Museum of Art (just down the street from me!), so I'm going to have to check it out (Steal it. Ok. Borrow.).

The version above is a re-edition by Franz Wittmann Möbelwerkstätten.

Read more about Kiesler's work here.

And here's another of my favorites...of which I'm sure to dream about tonight.

SUPERSIZE ME

Designed by Kayla Kromer, the Hamburger Bed comes with a duvet cover (the sesame seed bun) and pillows in the shapes of tomatoes and pickles.

Disturbingly delicious!

I wonder if they have "sliders" for the kiddies?

Read more here.

MATHIEU CHALLIERES

I remember walking past a window display in Athens back in April that had what must have been Challieres's birdcage-inspired lighting shown. I was blown away, and instantly wanted to run into the store to inquire about one, but the store was unfortunately closed!

Today, I found his lamps in a French design book, and the desire to own one rushed back.

I might try to make one myself (sorry Mathieu!)...but in the meantime, I can just sit and admire.

They're so cute and quirky! AND there's no feeding necessary. So low-maintenance! :)

See more of his work here. He works with many other types of materials, including more traditional crystal. His designs, however, are far from traditional. I mean, check out that white one up top.

Yup, those are mice.

...

...

M-I-C-E.

I WANT ONE.

The Clutch Chair by Scottish designer, Scott Jarvie, is made of 10,000 plastic drinking straws. Sort of reminiscent of Frank Gehry's cardboard furniture, no?

i want one i want one i want one i want one i want one i want one i want one i want one...