All posts filed under: Things for Decorating

100% Trays from Blu Dot

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  100% Trays are the latest accessory from the modern furnishings maker Blu Dot. Sold in sets of three, the trays are ready for keys, jewelry, sunglasses, or barware. The colorful, powder-coated steel trays are perfect for nesting or can be used separately. Just don’t serve canapés directly on them as they are not food-safe. The blue tray measures 14.7 square inches, the white is 9.7 square inches, and the lavender measures 5.8 square inches. $79.00  All images courtesy of Blu Dot.

Spectrum Candles

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Founded by architects Jean and Oliver Pelle, PELLE is a Brooklyn-based design practice that produces sculptural lighting fixtures, furnishings, and accessories that merge architectural practice with craftwork. The Spectrum Candles are a set of 12 lightly scented, soy wax candles that are individually hand-cast in PELLE’s cone-shaped Sugarloaf candle molds. The set comes in either dark red to cream (Red Currant) or black to white (Dark Rose) spectrums, with each candle producing a stronger scent as the color darkens. As the candles burn (up to 25 hours), the scents can combine and pools of colored wax interweave to create an new color experience. The makers highly recommend using a liner or candle dish to collect wax runoff and to protect your tabletop. $336, set of 12 or $28 per candle. All images courtesy of PELLE.

SMEG Small Appliances

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Italian kitchen appliance maker SMEG has collaborated with the renowned Italian design firm Deepdesign to create an affordable line of retro kitchen accessories to coordinate with their line of ’50s-style inspired appliances. The new line includes a stand mixer, a 2- or 4-slice toaster, a blender, and two kettles in a range of colors from polished stainless steel to pastel pink. The kettles are available with an auto shut-off at 212° F or with a temperature setting from 122° F to 212° F that will be available in the second half of 2015. The blender, which is also available in the second half of the year, will come with several pre-set programs. Images courtesy of SMEG.

Tanssi Tableware Collection from Iittala

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New from the iconic Finnish brand Iittala, the Tanssi tableware series features illustrations by Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi. The group of dishes, plates, mugs, and other decorative pieces were inspired by Haapaniemi’s visual designs for the Finnish National Opera production of The Cunning Little Vixen, a Czech opera by Leoš Janácek that premiered in January 2015. The story, which looks at the co-existence of animals and humans and the eternal circle of life, comes alive on tableware shapes created by Finnish designer Heikki Orvola. Reflections from both ancient Oriental and Slavic imagery, as well as traditional stories appear in the drawings of deers, badgers, vixen, and foxes. The earthy color palette coordinates with all current Iittala glassware, including the brand new desert color now available for the Aalto vase. All images courtesy of Iittala.

My Favorite New Products Now Available at the MoMA Store

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Last week I got to get a sneak peek at the new products available at the MoMA store in New York City and through its online shop. Here, in no particular order, are my five favorite new gifts, gadgets, and gear now available through the store. 1. Amish Scooter This scooter-bicycle hybrid has been crafted by the Stoltzfus family, an Amish family in Pennsylvania, since 1978. This substantial scooter lets adults move on two wheels without worrying about balance and knee strains. It comes with a kickstand, basket, and rear brake and handbrake with black or orange powder-coated steel frame and fenders. I’m partial to the orange myself. Black, $360, Orange, $320. 2. Porthole Infuser Designed by the Chicago-based design firm Crucial Detail, the shape of this table-ready infusion vessel was inspired by submarine portholes. It can be used to create and hold 13 ounces of cocktails, infused oils, dressings, or whatever you want to conjure. Made of tempered glass, ABS, stainless steel, and silicone, the Porthole Infuser is dishwasher safe and comes with four recipes to get you started.  2” wide x 7″ …

Sense Sleep Tracker

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The Sense sleep tracker from Hello, which begins shipping to consumers next month, raised an astounding $2.4 million on Kickstarter in August to become the 6th most funded tech campaign in the crowdfunding site’s history. Taking a different approach to “wearables” that can only track your sleep patterns when they are on your body, Sense is intended to fade into the background and let you just focus on the task at hand — sleeping. The design of the polycarbonate shell was inspired by architecture, in fact Sense resembles a little egg that would have rolled out of Beijing’s iconic “birds nest” Olympic stadium. Sense comes with a little device called a Sleep Pill that attaches to your pillow and invisibly tracks your sleep movements at night. In case you were wondering, the manufacturer says that the unit “absolutely does not” track movements related to sex. The unit’s high-precision sensors are so sensitive, however, they are able to identify noise (from snores in your bedroom to car alarms on the street); pick up on light disturbances; monitor temperature and humidity conditions; and even see particulates in …