All posts filed under: Things for Decorating

B.B. Billosaur Bank

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This half bank/half dinosaur from le mouton noir & co. isn’t interested in your pennies — in fact none of your change will fit into the B.B. Billosaur as it’s designed specifically for saving bills. For this redesign of the classic piggy bank, the traditional slot for coinage has been replaced with seven small holes to insert rolled-up bills. Don’t have enough cash to stash away at the moment? The bank comes with little cork plugs that give the bank a stegosaurus-like appearance. The 5”1/2 wide x 5 3/8” deep x 6 7/8” high bank is handmade in porcelain in matte black, gloss white, silver metallic, and matte pink.

Origami Hunter Wall Lights

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Hunting trophies may signify power and grandeur to some, but they are downright cruel to others. There is no denying however, that they become the focal point of a room. An animal-friendly alternative is the Origami Hunter lighting range by Chilean designer Veronica Posada. The fixtures are made of industrial-grade, heat-resistant paper that has been folded into the shape of a stag, rhino, or ram head. While tested for safety, the lights have not been UL-listed as of yet. The pieces range from 13.8 inches tall by 11.8 inches wide (rhino) to 28.3 inches tall by 15.7 inches wide (stag and ram). They are available exclusively through Pretty Dandy, an online interiors boutique based in Nottingham, England. £179 (single light), £495 (set of three).

SkateBacks for iPhone 4 and 4s

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Each week, enough waste material is thrown away from one skateboard factory to fill a city bus. To help find another use for the leftovers from a Costa Mesa, California-based skateboard factory, the Portland, Oregon-based iPhone and iPad accessories maker Grove collaborated with designer Lindsay Holmes of MapleXO to create a 100% post-industrial product for the iPhone 4 and 4S. While there are three general colorways to choose from, no two SkateBacks are identical — making them more desirable for those of us that don’t want to have exactly what everyone else does. The 1/16”-thick back protector easily attaches to the back of your phone with a peel-and-stick 3M adhesive that Grove claims is removable without residue. While you’d probably want something tougher to protect your phone if you are actually skateboarding, this will do just fine for those of us that gave up that pastime longer ago than we’d like to remember (mine was black and white — what color was yours?) $49.00 U.S. Ships in 2-4 weeks from Portland. All photos ©GroveMade

Kaikado Canisters

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Kyoto-based Kaikado has been producing airtight canisters for tea and other items since 1875. Made through a manufacturing process that involves as many as 140 steps, the tea caddies, or chazutsu, have been handmade virtually the same way since the company was founded. A double-walled construction protects the leaves from humidity while helping them maintain their scent. As the joints of the lid and body are lined up, the lid descends in a smooth, silent motion while expelling air from the container. Depending on the metal you choose, the color will change over time — copper in 1-2 years, brass in 3-5 years, and tin in 30-40 years. I love how the manufacturer describes the unique patination process that happens through handling the canisters. “Gently caressing the entire body of chazutsu day after day brings out a mysteriously elegant sheen and gleam to its years. Chazutsu provides utility and pleasure as it ages gracefully with ownership.” Wow, that’s some sexy stuff. Stay tuned for a novel starring the containers called Fifty Shades of Earl Grey. Available in …

My Embroidery Kit by Lisa Grue

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Embroidery. The word conjures up the vision of wall hangings in the hallway of your grandmother’s house and delicate handkerchiefs that seem too nice for blowing your nose. Or, in the case of a new embroidery kit from designer Lisa Grue, a grinning skull that cheekily reminds you that “Shit Happens”. Created by Danish graphic designer and artist Lisa Grue, the collection is based on the concept of  Memento Mori — the idea that we must remember our mortality and pause once in a while to enjoy life. The modern embroidery kit contains everything you need to create a piece of quirky decor in the same stress-releasing, meditative way that has been done for centuries. You can pick one up for yourself, and your hippest grandma, from Grue’s web shop in June.  

knIndustrie Cooking Utensils

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These sculptural cookware lines from knIndustrie, an Italian company founded a year ago that now is sold in over 240 stores in Italy alone, were on display at last month’s Eurocucina show in Milan. The pieces are functional for the stove top, and then can be used as elegant serving dishes on the table once you remove the handle. The new FoodWear collection, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, includes stainless steel casseroles, low casseroles, and pans that can be used on all types of stoves including gas, ceramic glass, thermal, and electromagnetic induction. The line comes with a handle in a black steel finish and two covers, in either bronze glass or polished steel, that can be used upside down as a stand for cake, quiche, cookies or other non-drippy items. Also new from the company (and designed by Dordoni) is WhitePot, which has an inner white ceramic “nanotech” surface, an external stainless steel surface, and a detachable walnut handle. The detachable handles have the added benefit of making the pots easier to store and clean …