By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Home Programs manager
Coolest idea I've seen in a long time.
From afar, it looks like wallpaper.
Get up close and you see that it's actually bundles of magazines. I have no idea how they did it, but I love it! Great second life for all those beloved magazines that sit in stacks around the house! From the Swedish design blog, Design Delight.
by Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
A famous designer once proclaimed, "If you don't find it, design it!"
"Itch " aka the "Square Cat Habitat" is clearly the result of a designer's frustration by the torture of their beloved couch at the hands (er, claws) of their beloved feline. But now, no need to banish the cat or the tattered upholstery. Itch mounts to the wall and functions as a stylish scratching post. As an added bonus for your cat (and your couch), catnip can be tucked behind to promote further scratching. Meow!
Available in five perfect-with-any interior colors at Supermarket.
by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
While meeting with Flora Grubb last week at her shop (we're photographing a March 2010 cover story there tomorrow), she was excited to show me some new products she's carrying by San Francisco-based FluffyCo. I fell in love with these beautiful mobiles.
Made from sustainably-farmed, fast-growing wood veneer and eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free MDF 100% recycled wood fiber board, these beauties bring a playful spirit to any room of the house.
Bird mobile by FluffyCo, $68.
Circus mobile by FluffyCo, $68.
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Home Programs manager
Lovers of mid-century modern went ga-ga this week with the launch of George Nelson's iconic bubble lamps (always in standard white) in two select colors available exclusively at Room&Board. The muted blue Saucer and soft yellow Cigar have a fresh and friendly vibe that is certain to broaden the appeal of this classic lighting.
By Jennie Nunn, Sunset Associate Editor
Just because we're heading into winter with cooler temps, doesn't mean you have to forgo color and patterns indoors. Amy Butler for Welspun has launched a new line of new, colorful bath towels. I love the botanical patterns and bold colors.
$14 each; Available at bedbathandbeyond.com. For more of Butler's designs, go to amybutlerdesign.com.
by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
As you may have seen in the October issue, Nikki McClure, talented paper cut artist, created an amazing pumpkin stencil for Sunset readers. All of us at Sunset are such huge fans of Nikki that when she agreed to work in a whole new medium for us (pumpkins vs paper!) we were beyond thrilled. The results were beautiful and perfectly Nikki. Try it out at home yourselves and send us photos....
It was an honor for me to travel up to Olympia, WA for the photo shoot at Nikki's home & studio and I wanted to share some of the photos that didn't make it into the issue. (If editors had their druthers, every issue would be at least twice as long as they are now!) All photos are by Jose Mandojana. Enjoy!
by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
photo via design*sponge
I've been adoring design*sponge's new We like it wild column over the last couple months. Today's post features the felted beauties of Patty Benson (Papaver Vert), whose tiny plant cozies we featured in our October 08 "Craft under $20" story. Checkout more of Benson's work here (you'll want to have your credit card handy).
Written and styled by Jill Pilotte and Alethea Harampolis of Studio Choo (check out their floral diary here), you can follow the gorgeous inspirations of We like it wild every Thursday at design*sponge (you'll want to bookmark).
(Love the simple pumpkin vignettes above? Check out Sunset's pumpkin arrangement gallery here.)
by Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
Some nights it's all you can do to get dinner on the table, right? Well, here's an easy way to brighten up the experience: set your table with bright and beautiful cloth napkins by Picking Daisies.(Just a few of over 50 designs are shown below).
As is so often the case, the San Luis Obispo-based company was started by an unsatisfied customer who decided to make what she couldn't find. Her family was so taken with her hand-sewn napkins that she and her two sisters decided to make a business out of the enterprise. Available at the sisters' SLO store on online at pickingdaisiesinslo.com. Made of very washable, very durable 100% cotton, the company's vibrant designs will transform any meal into a special occasion.
by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
It is possible that I am late to the party on this one, but I was beyond excited when I found out about 360 Electrical's rotating outlets. The insanely simple idea is that if sockets can rotate then they can accommodate more than one large plug at a time. Imagine plugging two cells phones into one outlet!!! Sigh. My life just got better.
Available online at Ace.
by Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
On this Friday afternoon, a whimsical reminder of design's capacity to delight.
Click this link, and I bet next time you're out and about, you'll surely take the stairs.
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Home Program manager
I admit it. I do not get enough exercise. There's a gym here at work that I never go to, but if there were a treadmill close to my desk I might be more inclined to burn some extra calories during the day. Well, that's what I thought until I saw this photo for the Sit-to-Walkstation from Details, a subsidiary of Steelcase office furniture.
The desk and treadmill are fully integrated. The desk surface is adjustable, so when you don't have enough to do sitting at your desk all day, voila, you can raise the surface and walk, talk, and type all at the same time (that would take some practice for me). Makes me think of a Zen quote I read the other day: "When drinking tea, just drink tea." Connecting exercise to work just doubles the work for me. I think I'll go outside and just go for a walk.
By Jennie Nunn, Sunset Associate Editor
As if Paula Smail's designs couldn't get any cuter, (or more practical), the Los Angeles–based textile designer, founder of Henry Road, has just launched a new collection of office supplies. I love the fun, retro patterns.
I love these task clips! $9.50 for container with 12 clips.
And, these pretty file folders. $8.50 for set of 9.
For more information, go to henryroad.com.
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Home Programs Manager
At this year's Solar Decathlon--a biennial event sponsored by the US Department of Energy where 20 teams of college and university students compete to design and build solar-powered homes--Team California is currently in the lead with their 580-square-foot Refract House. Team California is made up of students from Santa Clara University (go Broncos!) and Oakland's California College of the Arts.
Photo courtesy Refract House
Teams compete in ten categories, ranging from engineering and lighting design to hot water and net metering. Team California just won first place the architecture category. The competition (and public viewing at the National Mall in Washington DC) concludes on Friday.
Photo courtesy Refract House
The home is powered with 48 solar panels that generate 150% of the home's energy on a sunny day. Other interesting green features include salvaged billboards used as a waterproofing membrane on exterior walls (see pic above); elm flooring reclaimed from trees that died of Dutch Elm disease; and an entry lighting fixture, like the one below made by Bay Area artist Dave Meeker, comprised of swizzle sticks and straws and a fluorescent lamp. Love it!
Photo courtesy Dave Meeker