Engraved correspondence cards:



Whenever I need to write personal letters I never can find the right type of paper. We have monogrammed cards from our wedding which were designed by a graphic designer friend and are super cool, but aren't exactly appropriate when I'm writing a note that is just from me.
Solution? These thick gray cards from Chelsea Paper. The name can be done in this soothing harbor blue, or a sleek white (or the typical black). Too bad they cost nearly as much as a pair of Gucci loafers— $375 for 100 with envelopes.

Leather weekend bag:


I've been coveting a smooth black leather weekend bag for years now. Maybe this one from Banana Republic is finally the one I'll get. It would give us a nice chunk of frequent flyer miles— a good way to take a trip to be able to use it.

Happiness:



Yesterday, JB commented on Bri's blog that "all of us are always blah, all the live long day." If that statement is true for most people, I feel more depressed than ever. Maybe it's just because I've spent most of my life coping with clinical depression but I've always assumed (or maybe hoped) that most people are happy. Not all of the time, of course. I know that many people have many "blah" days, but I assumed that was not a constant or typical state. Now, though, I'm wondering if blah is the normal state and it's foolish to hope for more.
So, people, are most of you happy, depressed or blah?

iannone:sanderson "Signature 1" credenza:



Philadelphia-based designers Michael Iannone and James Sanderson make this and many other similar credenzas (or should I say cabinet or sideboard for certain people?) with reclaimed, salvaged or recycled materials. This model uses naturally renewable bamboo. Their green:mod model focuses on environmentally friendly materials by using bamboo, lumber from managed forests and non-toxic lacquer. Finally "green" design is looking cool.

Galactica fruit bowl:



This white earthenware bowl was designed by Israeli-born Arik Levy for Gaia&Gino, an Istanbul-based design brand. Too bad I didn't see this when we were in Istanbul. It had to have had a better price than the $500 price tag it carries here.

One of Olivo Barbieri's "Site Specific" Photos:



Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri has recently been exhibiting his series "Site Specific", which are large-scale, aerial views of ancient architecture in places such as Rome and Jordan and modern architecture in L.A., Shanghai and Las Vegas. The entire series manages to skew scale and reality— the photos look like they are images of toy models.

Barbieri accomplishes the look by working from a helicopter about 400 feet in the air (which is approximately the height of my office on the 41st floor) using a large-format camera with a tilt-focus lens.

I love this image of the Coliseum but I have a feeling Bri would prefer this image of The Queen Mary.

Ethan Ames Sculptural Bench:


Yet again, another covet from this past weekend's Brooklyn Block Party. This gorgeous "Hollowform" wooden sculpture serves as a bench and possibly a playground for kids, cats and small dogs. Our next garden will be designed around one of these.

Vice coffee table:


I spotted this clever table by Matt Hutchinson and Mark Hash at this weekend's Block Party design show. The removable cast aluminum tray fits into the wood table seemlessly. I could imagine using it as a dish for snacks during a party (only if our dogs were being boarded, of course), as a shallow vase for orchids or as a little dish to float candles in.

Bubble Chandeliers by Lindsey Adelman:



Adelman is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates obsessive bubble-filled drawings. This light was created especially for the BlockParty design show, we attended today. It was part of the annual BKLYN Designs show and was hosted in one of the newly developed modern townhouses on State St. (See my previous post about Bri's desired new home.) Not only did I fall in love with these lights, but I also fell in love with the townhouses. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep until I figure out a way to have both things.

A condo on NYC's High Line:



The unused elevated railroad tracks in the Meat Packing district, called the High Line, are about to be turned into a gorgeous park designed by landscape design firm Field Operations and the uber-hip architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. And so of course all the warehouse buildings in the surrounding area are now being turned into condos. Some of the buildings have already been completely sold, even though the first section of the park won't be completed until 2008.
My favorite of the new conversions is being called HighLine 519. They have a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2,500 sq. ft. duplex condo with a private 500 sq ft. terrace. Price tag? Approximately $2 mill. (which is actually about $600,000 cheaper than the new designer Boerum Hill, Brooklyn townhouses that Bri covets. It's also about 1,000 square feet smaller, though. But come on, 2,500 sq. feet is much more than adequate. It's enough room for at least one more dog.)

Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos cruise:



To be able to nap this close to sea lions would be a dream come true. There are numerous cruises and yachts that travel around the Galapagos Islands, but Linblad is the premier luxury, adventure, eco-friendly cruise line (it does seem like an oxymoron but it perfectly describes my style of travel). The best part is that Linblad offers special photography workshops on some trips that feature National Geographic photographers working with a group of only 16 student passengers and offering
one-on-one mentoring.
Any trip with a National Geographic photographer on board to teach classes would be great, but add sea lions, giant tortoises, swimming iguanas and tropical penguins and it practically gives me heart palpitations of excitement.
If only I had a spare $20,000 to take the whole family.

B&B Italia Mart armchair:



The way the luxurious leather is stretched across the voluptuous feminine frame of the Mart MPR/1 chair is strangely sexy. Milan-based designer Antonio Citterio is responsible for some of my favorite sofas, including the 1979 Diesis and the Tight sofa, both of which I’ve featured. Brilliant guy. Unfortunately the price of Mat isn't brilliant— it's a little over $4,000 at EuropebyNet.com.

Satyr chair by ForUse:



I am generally drawn to any animistic object, so of course I am smitten with this bird-like lounge chair. Austrian Design trio ForUse— Sven Jonke, Christoph Katzler and Nikola Radeljkovic— came out with the Satyr chair this year for German company ClassiCon. Since I haven't found a NYC store carrying it yet, I may have to make a trip to Berlin as soon as I get off crutches.

Artemide's Logico Single wall sconce:


Artemide is an Italian company that's been designing cutting edge lighting since 1959. In my opinion (and I'm not alone in this), they make some of the best lights— and best known lights (inlcuding the Tolomeo sconce that graces our bedroom)—in the world.
Logico looks like a soft cloud floating along. It's gorgeous and even a little fun (a word that doesn't typically describe most of my favorite furnishing). Logico also comes as a suspended ceiling light that floats ethereally above your head.

A padded Bubblewrap suit:



After this past weekend I've decided I need a soft, padded, protective suit to keep me safe. A suit of Bubblewrap would be perfect. Anything to avoid another injury— I've have now reached injury number 3 in a mere 18 months.

December 2004: Sprained ligament in my left ankle from overuse (i.e. too much running, yoga, pulling at the dogs to keep them from eating chicken bones on the street). It took about 2 months of physical therapy and about 5 months without running before it healed.

February 2006: Sprained ligament in my right wrist from over use. Once again I can blame pulling on the dogs, along with yoga and typing. Physical therapy completed in April, about 80 percent recovered.

April 29, 2006: Broken right 3rd metatarsal. Expected time before I can once again put weight on my right foot: 8 weeks.

Design Within Reach's Otto Desk:



Growing up I was fascinated by my father's huge roll-top desk he had custom made when we lived in Taiwan. It has so many compartments that I used to be convinced that it has a secret compartment only he knows about, and I really wanted a desk just like it. But then I grew up and developed my own taste (which obviously runs completely counter to my dad's foundess for huge, old, clunky pieces), and decided a roll-top desk would not be for me. Until I saw Spanish designer Ricard Vila's desk, that is. This is truly a 21st century desk— it features a cable management compartment, a telephone jack, an electrical outlet, an overhead fluorescent light, and a built-in pencil holder. And it probably has a secret compartment, too.

"You’ve Come Along Way, Baby" silkscreen tea towel:



This weekend I had to fly to LA for work and I took along about a half dozen magazines for some "research" for our company brainstorming retreat. One of the magazines was a cool Australian shelter book called Inside Out. (Why is it that all the best shelter books from Australia and the UK?) That's where I found the Australian company Third Drawer Down. They make limited editions of what they call "Domestic Art"— tea towels, aprons, table runners and the like— by Australian and European artists.
I immediately fell in love with German artist Tobias Rottger's 2004 design. And I also am quite fond of "She Danced". Either of them would look really good hanging from our stove— or framed on a wall (especially in a baby's room).

Stingray rocking chair:



Why is it that most rockers are ugly, wooden monstrosities? And why does the only modern option seems to be the fiberglass Eames RAR rocker, which I'm not only tired of seeing but I'm also not entralled by. Solution? The new Stingray ("rokke" in Danish) chair from Danish design company Fredericia Furniture. It was designed as a final project at architecture school by Thomas Pedersen.
It's made of black or white high-quality molded plastic.

Holga plastic camera:



Many people consider Holgas to be toys. Or garbage. They are $20 plastic cameras that can make very cool images. They were first produced in Hong Kong and were originally intended to provide an inexpensive mass-market camera for working-class Chinese. Little did the company people around the world would still be using them even when they can afford other cameras.
I got one several years ago but I lost a piece to it after shooting one role. Now they have this slightly "fancier" version— it comes with a built-in flash, a long-exposure setting and a tripod nut. And this one costs a whopping $35.

Annual Don't-Talk-to-Me Day:



I would like to inaugurate a day in which we all keep silent. My staff couldn't bug me with silly questions they could answer on their own. No one would be able to whine to me about wanting a bigger raise even though they know I can't do anything about it. And I wouldn't have to talk to the loquacious little girl up the block who always asks if she can hold Gertie. It would be such bliss. And I think I'd be in a much better mood by the end of the day.

Garnet Hill's Techno Blossom Percale:



I seem to be on a colorful bedding kick. It must be the spring weather. From afar this print looks a little like flowers but close up it resembles a molecular formula. Very cool. And despite the use of colors, it also includes my old standbys black and white. Can I have it Bri? Please?

Zettel’z 5 pendant light:



Contemporary German lighting designer Ingo Maurer calls his Zettel'z a blend of art, sculpture and light. Very true. From the moment I first saw this light a few years ago (it was designed in 1997), I was smitten. The light is composed of 80 sheets of Japanese notepaper— 31 pre-printed with Maurer’s doodles and 49 blank sheets for your own designs and reflections. The paper is then clipped to stainless steel wire cables and shade the light heat-resistant, frosted glass bulb.
The Price? Design Within Reach sells it for a hefty $1,165 but if you search around you can find it for hundreds less— Europe by Net has it for only less than $700.

Mandatory prison sentences for people who abuse animals like Tinkerbell:


Tinkerbell, an older Yorkie, was found living in a cardboard box, starving to death unable to find food because some sick, sick person chopped off her front paws. Luckily the person who found her took her to BARC, a no-kill shelter in Brooklyn, and she is now being well cared for.
But who in the hell does something like that? I just can't imagine why doing something like that would even occur to anyone. That kind of cruelty makes me completely baffled.
All of our animals are rescues but Gertie seems to be the only one who suffered any abuse. When we got her I was horrified by her story— she was abused (probably kicked) and was then left out in the middle of winter chained to a fence with another Chihuahua, possibly her mother. The other dog died and Gertie was facing the same fate.
But Gertie's story is nothing compared to that of Tinkerbell. Maybe if animal abuse laws were much harsher, people would treat more of them with kindness. Or maybe I'm just wishful.

"In a New York Minute" bedding:



The bedding company Garnet Hill (OK, it's now more than a bedding company, but it used to only do bedding and similar items) just came out with this fun, new design for sheets and duvet covers. It's a little too colorful for me to have on the top of the bed, but I think it's so clever that it should at least be underneath the duvet. I love the drawing of the Brooklyn Bridge and the pretzel vendors.

Bell a0 wall sconce:


We are still on the hunt for living room lighting. My most recent find is made by Italian company Vetreria DeMajo using hand-blown Murano glass. When we traveled to Venice two years, we spent an lovely afternoon on the island of Murano. We didn't end up buying anything there, though. Partly because the glass is a little too colorful for my taste. This wall light solves that problem. And a certain someone will really like is its über-affordable price of $161.

Poul Kjaerholm PK 9 chair:


The PK9 chair, AKA the "Tulip Chair", was designed in 1961 by Danish wunderkind Poul Kjaerholm. It's still in production today and available in various types of leather thanks to the manufacturer Fritz Hansen (which happens to be the official licensers of a plethora of my favorite mid-century Scandinavian furniture. How I wish I was an executive there.)
The seat seems to be perched so delicately— almost awkwardly— above the legs that it sort of makes me laugh.

Enough space to adopt the stray animals of Istanbul:



Everywhere we went in Turkey there were homeless cats and dogs. In the ancient city of Ephesus I met a couple dogs who lived among the 2000-year-old ruins. Then there were several smart cats who hung out at the butcher shop down the block from our hotel in IStanbul and the aging dog who had claimed a spot outside of Aya Sofya. Most of the animals seemed fairly healthy— people put out food for whatever strays happen to come by. And I saw others beside myself (probably tourists) stop to pet them. I think the best thing for them, though, would be for me to ship them all over to NYC to live with me. First I need to buy a large brownstone, though, I guess.

A personal intern:



This past work week involved 11-12 hour days from the time I left the apartment to the time I got home. I was so swamped when I was at work that I barely had enough time to run to the water cooler (OK, I admit, I did manage to sneak out to the gym at lunch four times, but that's it). I definitely didn't have time to pick up a very necessary box of contact lenses or to return a purchase, and there was definitely not enough time to try to fit in any work on my sideline business. So, I think it may be time to get my own personal intern. I would willingly give she/he college credit for checking and responding to emails, faxing in requests for price quotes for materials for my dog beds, returning phone calls, as well as refilling my water glass at work and running important errands (like to the brand new Union Square Trader Joe's to get organic raisins and veggie gyoza).
It would definitely be no worse than most internships and I've been told I'm a great boss. Any interested parties out there willing to work for nonexistent pay?

iJoy massaging chair:



For years, Bri has occasionally mentioned her desire for a massaging chair. It came up again recently because I'm going to physical therapy for a wrist injury and the physical therapist has massaging tables that feel wonderful. After my first session I came home raving about them. And that's when she started in about a massaging chair. "No way," I've always said. "They are way too ugly to have a place in my home." Discussion over.
Until last night. When we went to Brookstone. And she got me to sit in one of them.
The iJoy is amazing. It actually feels like hands are massaging your back. Truly, truly amazing. And it's currently on sale for only $600. It's still ugly but not as offensive as most of them. I could probably live with it tucked away in our bedroom.

Mokusei lamp by Tortoise:



This light shade is actually a puzzle. Or the puzzle is actually a light shade. It consists of 20 pieces of triangle shaped cherry wood veneer. You can use all the pieces to make a ball-like shade or only some of them to create different shapes(the shade pictured above uses only 10 of the pieces). The shade is named Mokusei, the word for the planet Jupiter in Japanese, because the pattern on its surface is similar to that of the 5th planet. Very clever and it looks good, too.

Calvin Klein Home Ellipse flatware:


I love the style of pretty much anything made by Calvin Klein— it's minimal, refined, elegant and sleek. So of course I love this new stainless steel flatware design. It is a softer take on Iittala's 1997 Artik flatware, which was done by the Finnish duo Laura Partanen and Arto Kankkunen. And it's a good $10-$20 cheaper per 5-piece set.

Design Classics Dogsofa:


Lexie told me about this take on the Le Corbusier Confort Sofa that she would like. It will look quite classy in our living room with her perched on top.

Modernlink's "Jimmy" desk:


Modernlink— an NYC-based group of architects and artisans who sell vintage Scandinavian-modern furniture at their Bond St. store and design functional, stylish, contemporary furniture— created this extremely ingenious desk. It has 5 file slots built into the desktop to keep papers organized. One of the drawers is the perfect size for storing letter-sized paper for your printer. The drawers also come with removable organizers. It's made from bamboo, a highly renewable (And therefore eco-friendly) source. And it's intentionally sized for apartments— it's less than 5 feet long. It could only be better if it came with a built in computer.

Fortuny lamp:



Perhaps it's obvious that I would like this iconic lamp.
A) It looks like a photography lamp and deflector but much, much cooler.
B) It was designed by Mariano Fortuny, who was born in the ancient Spanish city of Granada, which is located about an hour's drive from my family's apartment in the Mediterranean coastal town of Solebrana and is therefore I place I have visited several times throughout my life.

Although Fortuny was trained as a painter, he became known as a fashion designer, stage-set designer, and lighting technician. His 1907 lamp design represents the early modernist emphasis on industrial materials, functional style and the spatial role of objects. It also makes a compelling modern sculpture. The light is height adjustable and the diffuser swivels to allow for direct lighting or a nice, soft glow. It's a clear embodiment of Fortuny's philosophy: "It is not the quantity, but the quality of light, that makes things visible."

Paola Lenti Linea chaise:


The Italian furniture company Paolo Lenti designed this chaise to magically adjust to four different positions. It's so simple while being sleek and luxurious. Unfortunately, it's also more than $3,000.

Gus Design Fruit Trough:



I love fruit. I love brushed stainless steel. I love clever organizational/storage bins. All of these things come together in this one sleek item by Gus Design, a Canadian company devoted to producing elegantly minimal furniture. I'm always happy to support my fellow Canadians.

An Icelandic lair:



Thanks to a brilliant suggestion by Weasel, I've realized what I really need is a lair of my own, preferably an ice palace in Iceland like the one in Die Another Day (not a great movie for a Bond flick, but the Iceland scenes were amazing). Along with the scantily-clad women one typically finds in a lair, my ice palace would also feature numerous penguins, wombats, porcupines, kangaroos, chimps and dogs (of course) and would be furnished entirely in B&B Italia, Cassina and a few select mid-century modern pieces. And I'll take some of those Bond gadgets, too.

An albino kangaroo:


Yesterday we attended the NY Times Travel Show where we saw the sweetest little albino kangaroo joey from Seaworld/Busch Gardens (I'm not clear on why Seaworld has kangaroos, though). He reminded me a little of Lexie, with his soft white fur and long legs. I think he would be a good addition to our pack since none of us (except the Gertie the Chihuahua, of course) enjoy spending time in the sun.

Room & Company Tight Back Sofa:



This evening some friends were over with their adorable toddler and as he romped around on the sofa I couldn't keep my eyes off the destruction on the sofa arms courtesy of Amelia and Art. I feel like I have become obsessed with having a new sofa. Of course, most of the ones that I see and begin drooling over cost upwards of $5,000 which is a little high. But then today I spotted this suede microfiber number for a mere $2,600 (I used that adjective just so I could imagine Bri rolling her eyes). The best part is that this microfiber resists moisture and tearing but still looks and feels soft. It's the perfect solution for our home. And, it comes in this gorgeous blue-grey "Graphite."

Long Box credenza by Daniel Donnelly:



A couple days ago I stumbled upon the website for Daniel Donnelly Modern Design Studio in Alexandria, Virginia. The Studio/store not only designs and custom builds some amazing pieces, it also carries a collection of vintage design and reintroduced classic furniture by companies such as Herman Miller, Knoll, and Modernica.
I immediately fell for The Long Box Storage Series. Not only is exactly what I've been picturing for our office, since it's custom built I can pick out whatever interior storage configuration I want. For $1600 it's a veritable bargain.

A French bulldog puppy (or two):


A week or so ago, Bri and I were on the Upper East Side and walked by one of the most dangerous stores in the city for us. There were about 4 or 5 French bulldog puppies in the window and we were very, very tempted to bring one home. I was partial to a brindle and white one that was hopping about like a bunny, tackling his brothers and sisters. Bri liked an almost identical one who was quietly sitting in the corner watching the action without getting involved. As we watched, Bri's favorite laid down and my guy sat down on him to get a nice, long drink of water. We seriously considered bringing both of them home. After all, how could we split up siblings who were obviously so close? And maybe Gertie would be sleep better if we got her a puppy to cuddle with.
Originally French bulldogs were developed in England as a miniature version of the English bulldog. In the mid-19th century, French breeders imported some of these very small bulldogs from Great Britain and bred them with French terriers. Supposedly French women were immediately drawn to the little bulldogs, particularly the ones with erect ears (the French tried to breed the dogs for the "bat" ears, which the English supposedly disliked). Parisians of all classes, from "streetwalkers" to the gay and artisan communities, were responsible for the popularity of this breed and its subsequent naming.
And, hence, they are responsible for one of my favorite dog breeds. I do love those Parisians.

Adobe Creative Suite 2 software:


I've been trying to design fabric patterns for my burgeoning business but I'm really not so good at drawing freehand (especially when it comes to drawing straight lines or perfect circles). I've managed to do a few designs usually the rudimentary drawing tools offered by Microsoft Office, but that only gets you so far. What I really need is Adobe Illustrator and all the other fun software that comes in this bundle— "real" Photoshop (not just the Elements version that comes with Macs) and a program I've never heard of, Adobe GoLive, which helps you create Web sites. It's everything I need for my new business. And it would be a nice tax write-off since it costs $900. Too bad you have to buy it BEFORE you get the write-off.

Isokon Plus Loop Coffee Table:



The Loop coffee table, made from bended birch wood (or walnut), by the British design duo Barber Osgerby (which is Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby)and now resides in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Isokon was founded in the 1930s with Bauhaus-patriarch Walter Gropius as the controller of Design and Marcel Breuer(the architect of the Whitney Museum) as the designer. Breuer's designs are what eventually brought fame to Isokon.
This would be a perfect coffee table if we ever do have a baby (our rectangular glass and metal isn't very toddler-friendly). The price? More than I even think a coffee table should cost— about $1500.

Lynn Davis’ photographs of icebergs

This weekend Bri and I went to The Association of International Photography Art Dealers Photography Show and saw amazing photography from around the world. My favorite work there was the photos of icebergs by Lynn Davis shot in Greenland's Disko Bay. They were minimalistic and serene while being majestic.
Davis began her career as an apprentice to seminal photographer, Berenice Abbott, who is known for her street life and architectural depictions of NYC.
Obviously Abbott taught her well.
And now I want to go to Greenland.

Hans Eichenberger oak credenza:



Hans Eichenberger is a mid-century Swiss Designer known mostly for his prolific chair designs, including the Saffa chair. This vintage credenza is being sold by Metro Retro, a Pasadena, Texas mid-century furniture dealer, which is wierd because Pasadena is very close to where I lived 6 of my formative years— Clear Lake City. It must mean this is the credenza we're meant to buy.

Zambra Easy Chair by bdm design:



To me this chair looks like a elegant bird in flight. And it seems very comfortable. I first learned of bdm design, which is a design consultancy group that also makes furniture, during a trip to London in Dec. 2004. They have a store in the OXO Tower Wharf in South Bank, London, which is one of my very favorite spots in what I consider the best part of London. The OXO Tower was built in 1930 as a processing facility for Oxo beef bouillion but is now a collection of design stores, restaurants, and a great art gallery. I like furniture shopping much more than beef flavouring.

No more candy:



With all our pregnancy wait-and-see of late, Bri isn't too interested in having an actual dinner most nights. Which means I just eat crap. My favorite no-dinner dinners? Bread with black currant jam or shredded wheat with warmed soymilk or candy.
I've had so much sugar lately that I feel positively ill. (Granted, I often feel ill, but this time I've felt nasty for too many days.) So, I'm banning the consumption of candy until we leave for Turkey in late March. Wish me luck. Those Swedish Fish are sneaky little tempters.

Matri-x sideboard from Casamania by Frezza:



I am still longing for a credenza. The need is getting extreme. I. Can't. Stand. Seeing. The Mess.
Bri nicely cleaned tour office a few weeks ago and it looks much, much better. However— and here is the problem with a loft that no one ever talk about— no matter where I am I in the apartment, I can see everything. Which means I can't ignore parts of our apartment that aren't "finished." And the big part of our office that makes me cringe is our lack of concealed storage.
Casamania, a crazy Italian design company, has developed this Matri-X series of storage units that vary in size and color. I like the red lacquer, but maybe the black is more practicle.

A building of our own to turn into condos:



I am really, really tired of sharing a communal yard (mostly becaue it makes Lexie nuts when another dog is out in the back).
This is a four-family building that can be converted to condos and it's priced under $2 mill. Of course, the listing says it's in Cobble Hill but the way realtors use these neighborhood names, it could be in the Lowe's parking lot.

LuxMaster W wall sconce from Flos:



We still have the same crappy living room sconces we had when we moved into our apartment and the lack of light downstairs is really driving me crazy. Maybe, finally, these are the answer. This light was designed by Jasper Morrison, who is a favorite of mine recently (see his sleek toaster I coveted— until Santa brought it to me). It provides direct or indirect light by rotating the lamp head. Smart.