Gucci cap toe lace-ups:


Bri and I have a rule that any shoes we buy must be under $200 (and less is better, of course). However, after learning recently that Gucci makes small-size shoes, I might have to make an exclusion to that rule. After all, it's pretty damn near impossible to find nice shoes when you wear a men's size 6.5.

Jack Spade Journal Case:



I really, really dislike Kate Spade goods, but I have to admit I like most of the items made by her husband's line, Jack Spade. His items are classics but always with a funky edge to them.
This briefcase is on the small side (good for someone like me who is also on the small side) and it includes interior organizing pockets. I'm a sucker for pockets that let you organize all your stuff.

Ligne Roset Offrande glasses:



Ligne Roset makes some of the most stunningly beautiful objects ever. I am lusting over these clear mouth-blown Champagne, wine and water glasses designed by Parisian Pascal Mourgue. They also look great holding flowers.
Ligne Roset was founded in 1860 in Montagnieu, France, as a small business making bentwood walking sticks. Now it's a contemporary furnishings company. What an odd transformation, but one that I am very happy occurred.

The K:5 lounge chair by Koi:



Koi Design was launched by designers Adam Bottomley and Kirsten Jones at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair New York in 2000 with a goal of creating contemporary designs that will remain relevant for decades.
I love this stitched saddle leather lounge chair (of course I like the black it's also available in) with stainless steel base. 

Hans Wegner CH 07


Known as "the three-legged shell chair" or just as "the shell chair", it was designed by Danish architect Hans Wegner in 1963. Although Wegner joined with Arne Jacobsen, who designed the Series 7 stacking chairs we have with our dining table, and others to design the furniture for a city hall in 1940, I find much of his furniture overly traditional. The CH 07 is obviously a different story. It's available from Carl Hansen & Son in leather, fabric or solid maple.
To me it looks like a bird about to take flight. Or like a little scurrying animal. Which means it's perfect for our apartment.

The Aalto vase:



Once I had this beautiful, classic vase designed by Alvar Aalto for the World's Fair in Paris in 1937. Supposedly, this vase (which comes in several different sizes and glass colors) is based on sketches made with the intriguing pseudonym “The Eskimo Woman’s Leather Breeches”. However, the word "aalto" is Finnish for "wave," so maybe it is just meant to invoke his name.
I loved having this vase. It looked quite nice on one of our end tables with two white candle holders that evoked the smokestacks of ships. But then one early morning the cats knocked it to the floor and it shattered. I miss that vase.
Now, I want a replacement.

Futura Cufflinks:


Another pair of cufflinks I recently spotted. These stainless steel ones are ingenious— they just press into place. Of course they are designed by a Swedish company, Simplicitas. "Simplicity based on intelligent solutions" is the logo of the company. Cool. You know, I just can't get enough of all things Scandanavian (well, except for all the herring and meatballs).

Grid Cufflinks by Jill Morton

I am back from my business trek to New Orleans, and while it wasn't nearly as painful as I imagined, the best part was as expected: Staying at the W Hotel New Orleans.
In one of my very few spare moments I flipped through the W The Store catalog (which is always left in every room) and found these very cool British cufflinks made by a designer I've never heard of. I love the various shades of blue.

Nambe's Aurora vase:



Just because Briar had to use her blog as a space to complain about my love of vases and claim that it has a deep, Freudian implication, I have chosen to highlight another vase I covet.
This vase was designed by Fred Bould, who studied industrial design at Carnegie Mellon, my father's and grandfather's alma mater (also the alma mater of Jamie, our very favorite carpenter/wood worker/designer, who built our bookshelves, closet, baby changing table, etc).
Nambe makes beautiful items that look like scultpure. The company is devoted as passionately to form as it is to function. Louis Sullivan— who coined the phrase "form follows function"— would be proud.

A Butterfly Stool to go with the Nurseryworks rocker:


This little maple stool was designed by the Japanese designer Sori Yanagi in the mid 1950s. It's made from two identical molded plywood forms held together with a simple stretcher. Best of all, it can be used as an ottoman, a seat or a table.

Villa Sibi modernist doll house:



This Miesian dollhouse is from Sirch, a German toy company, which is my new favorite company ever. The house has Plexiglass doors, a large deck, an indoor-pool house and beech-wood custom furniture. I wish I could live in it. It even has the coolest minimalist shower. Future baby is definitely getting this!

Desu 1-Line Spice Rack:


I spotted this clever use of steel at the Brooklyn Designs show earler this month. Desu Design began as an LA-based architectural metals shop but it seems they've relocated to Brooklyn (very smart of them). I'm glad they're here, because I think this is one of the most ingenious spice racks I've seen. The cute spice jars are include, and I really love the spot for the vinegar bottle (I choose to ignore the fact that the website says it's intended for olive oil). I really wish we had more wall space in our kitchen— this will have to wait for another home.

Lawson-Fenning NurseryWorks rocking chair:





I saw this rocker online last week at Zac and Zöe (which offers free shipping!) and thought it was pretty nice. Then Bri and I saw it at Nest, a cute home goods store in Park Slope, this weekend and I liked it even more in person.
It may win out over the Womb chair for baby needs. You have a choice of fabric and leg material.

I opt for the slate microsuede and light birch legs. Of course.

Rosendahl stackable wine rack:



We haven't been able to find a wine rack that works in our new kitchen and we've taken to just storing all our wine in the ridge (it is all white, after all). However, whenever we get a FreshDirect order, our fridge gets too stuffed for anything extra to fit. So, I think it's time for us to get a wine rack.
This stainless steel one from Rosendahl, a Danish company that focuses on good design, can be mounted to the wall. Perfect for our small kitchen.

Angela Adams Islands rug:



A possibility for our bedroom. Or maybe the baby nook. It's also available in a "moonstone" colored background. For once I'm not sure which one I like better.

Kerberos wall door stop:



Another find from Oriac, a stainless steel and rubber doorstop that goes on the wall to protect it from banging door handles. This would look much better in our living room than the ugly one we have now. And Bri, it costs less than $25!

Flensted Symphony in 3 Parts Mobile:



Flensted mobiles have been made in Denmark (where mobile-making is a traditional craft) by the Flensted family since 1954. They make amazing abstract models along with cutesy baby-type ones, all of which are created so that the elements are in constant motion while the entire mobile maintains a harmonic balance. Of course I prefer the abstract ones for the future bambino. I think "Symphony in 3 Parts" is elegant, but will also look good from below. I'm also a fan of their "Turning Leaves" model. My two favorites come in black and white, which at the time Calvin was born was thought to be the most visually stimulating for infants. Now they've come up with research that says babies are stimulated by bright colors more. Good thing we painted the wall and ceiling of the baby nook a brilliant sea blue.

Atacio Umbrella stand:



I am sick and tired of all our umbrellas falling out of the coat closet anytime I grap my yoga bag out from the corner. I've seen several umbrella racks that I thought would work out in the hallway of the building but this stainless steel one from Oriac is my favorite. Now we just need to make sure we won't get in trouble for putting something outside our door and creating a hire hazard.

Pseudosasa japonica bamboo:


Our plan for our garden last summer was to build a seating area and a long planter out of concrete. We completed the seating before autumn came, but the planter didn't get done. So, that's my project for the spring. Once it's done we'll be filling it with a long row of Pseudosasa japonica bamboo. For centuries this type of bamboo was used in Asia to make arrow shafts. But I like it because it can withstand temperatures as low as -15 degrees F, it likes the sun and shade equally well (good thing since our garden doesn't get a whole bunch of sun), and it won't grow above about 15 feet tall.

A simple metal shoe horn:


I somehow lost the only shoe horn I had and now it seems to be impossible to find one that's a)metal b) not designed for elderly men who can't reach their feet and c) sold separately instead of part of a set of "grooming" tools.

The one pictured is the closest I've come and it is being sold by American Bridal as a groomsmen gift. Too bad I've never been in a wedding party or maybe I'd have an extra shoe horn.