All posts filed under: Things for Decorating

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art

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If you are looking for a different way to give flowers this Valentine’s Day, consider gifting your loved one the MoMA Design Store’s Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art. Designed by Soojeong Shin and Jiseon Park from Korean Studio Style Jieum, these sculptures feature fresh flowers that have been encased in domes of hand-blown glass and filled with preservation fluid. When viewed through sunlight, the object seems to contain a calm forest of plants that feels like a real landscape. Each Pieces of Time Objet d’Art is handmade by specialists in floral design, and its design will vary slightly. The handcrafted glass may contain small bubbles that are a natural part of the creation process. They can be displayed individually or as a group. To care for your objet d’art, store indoors in a cool place and do not open its silicone plug. Each measures 2.8”w x 5.1”h. $80 each at the MoMA Design Store. Images courtesy MoMA Design Store.

Designy Things Holiday Gift Guide

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Here are some designy gift ideas for your holiday season, from a snowflake you can cuddle to pencils you can plant in the garden. Jellycat Holiday Soft Toys Jellycat arguably makes some of the most adorable plushies in the world, combining the softest materials with a small smiling face that brings personality to all types of everyday objects and animals. Designed in London, this snowflake ($30.00), Christmas Tree ($40.00), or potted Poinsettia ($48.00) can adorn a mantle or work as a festive table centerpiece. Available through the MoMA Design Store. Embroidered Holiday Ornaments Designed in London and handmade in India by a team of master embroiderers, these ethically sourced fabric holiday ornaments are made through the traditional technique of “zardosi” (sewing with gold), historically used to decorate the most luxurious of courtly finery. Ornaments in the collection include Claude Monet, Alma Woodsey Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frida Kahlo, and Vincent van Gogh. $16.95- $18.95. Available through the MoMA Design Store. Taste Collection by Paola Navone The Glass House design store offers an exclusive design collaboration …

Ukraine Twist Candle

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For every Ukraine Twist candle sold, the Celsius54 Candle Co. is donating $25.00 to Sunflower of Peace, a Boston-based charity directly helping victims of the war.  Sunflower of Peace is a nonprofit organization with a mission to mobilize support and aid for Ukrainian orphans, internally displaced persons, and those most affected by the current situation by providing medical assistance and other necessities. Due to the current crisis, Sunflower of Peace started a new fundraiser to provide medical and humanitarian aid that will be used by the paramedics and doctors in the areas that are most affected by the violence in Ukraine. They are acquiring and distributing first-aid backpacks, medicine, medical instruments, and other items that are saving hundreds of lives. Celsius54’s twist candle for Ukraine combines the country’s flag colors of blue and gold in a sleek modern design. Made in the Netherlands, the candle costs $40. Available at: https://54celsius.com/.

Floquem Neoclassical Busts & Sculptures

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One of the most colorful booths at last month’s ICFF show in New York City belonged to Floquem, which displayed a collection of neoclassical busts and sculptures finished with bright colored flock fiber. Purple, blue, red, and pink velvety fiber are applied with electrostatic technology to replicas of masterpieces such as Michealangelo’s David and new visions such as “Ludwig Van Creepy” a bust of Beethoven with a split head revealing a skull inside. It’s not for everyone, but the pieces would be a good fit for hotels, restaurants, and other spaces looking for a certain type of quirk in their interior design. All images courtesy Floquem.

Behind the Scenes: Mudshark Studios

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On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I got to tour the production facility for Mudshark Studios, a one-stop shop for developing and producing ceramic objects, with CEO and co-founder Brett Binford. Binford, a well-known ceramicist, is also the owner and curator for the contemporary Eutectic Gallery, located in a storefront attached to the studios. In their 10,000-square-foot facility (an additional 7,000 square feet upstairs is mostly for mold and gallery storage), Mudshark offers model making, mold making, and production services for projects ranging from custom designed plates for Eleven Madison Park in New York City to lighting fixtures for Portland-based Schoolhouse Electric to technical parts for the aerospace industry. Other clients include Cedar and Moss, Barn Light Electric Co., Rejuvenation, and many more. After my tour, I couldn’t wait to head back to my friend’s house (ceramicist and painter Nicole Curcio), where I got to spend some time playing around in her pottery workshop. I won’t be showing a photo of my endeavors, but let’s just stay I tried and it wasn’t very good. …

Kukka Custom Mirror

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Designer Rona Meyuchas-Koblenz was commissioned by London-based Kukka Studio to design make-up mirrors for the mid-century Modern interiors of the new Bankside Hotel that opened late last year on London’s South Bank. The mirror is made of CNC-milled premium crystal with a base of Ceasarstone’s Pebble natural rock-inspied design in a cool gray shade with subtle darker accents. 200 mirrors were ordered to finish the 161 rooms which include seven suites. The designer chose Ceasarstone because the company encourages up-cycling offcuts wherever possible. “The offcuts from the kitchen fabrication industry mostly come in smaller sizes, therefore I found it logical to find a new way to use these pieces,” says Koblenz. Since the Ceaserstone base is heavy enough to hold the mirror in place, there is no need for adhesives or mechanical fittings. It simply sits securely inside the slot.   Images @Uri Grun Courtesy Kukka Studio. Photos in situ by Merilin kook.