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A couple of cool bathroom finds I’d like to share. First-up, this re-issue of Patrick Rylands’ iconic 1969 Fish and Bird floating bath toys, with an internal ballast weight for balance.
And I love this Puj ultra-soft elephant spout cover, which flexes over a variety of faucets to make them safe, and is made from recycled, non-absorbent materials…so no mildew!
Two pieces of elegant design for the bathroom, separated by about 40 years! And once baby’s dried off, what better way to get snuggly and warm than with a hooded blanket?
This George version features soft plush, and just happens to match the spout cover! Hope you enjoyed that quick dip into the bath…and that the rest of your week stays dry 
I bookmarked Modern House Numbers ages ago, in preparation for buying our first US home. That time has yet to arrive, but this Design Milk giveaway rekindled my interest.
A sumptuous choice of typefaces, across aluminum, vinyl and stencil numbers, to lead the way from your curb, to the mailbox, right to your front door. Giveaway ends Friday
There’s something so pure about wooden toys. I love their simplicity and durability, in the form of a single, beautiful, natural material. Here are a few examples I spotted recently.
At the high end, how about these beautiful Herman Miller Select 2009 Eames-inspired solid walnut wooden tops? And who could resist these cute Dovetail Animals by Karl Zahn?
Simple polished wood shapes converge at dovetail joints to form smoothly sculptured animals. I also spied this wooden (non-operational!) camera at Etsy’s Little Saplings.
Had to stop myself posting many more wooden wonders. Suffice to say, it’s great to see many companies, large and small, continuing to create toys in this traditional medium
Got a great surprise the other day, spying this store in our favorite Boston neighborhood, the South End. Addo Novo began in Portland, ME, and opened at this location last year.
The showroom is bigger than you’d think, and expertly curated, with a mix of pieces from mid-century icons and current designers. Once you get inside, you won’t want to leave…
…if you’re anything like us that is. It’s thoughtfully arranged and visually engaging. I love this George Nelson clock display, for instance. Pic from Addo Novo Facebook page.
A bonus was trying out this Eames Executive Work Chair I’ve been eyeing (in brown). So comfy. So want it. If you’re nearby, I’d recommend a visit. Either way check the site
Just had to share this ‘DIY paint chip mural’, I spotted recently on Remodelista (a go-to source for home inspiration) comprising paint chips from Australian company Murobond.
I’d prefer a more muted color palette but that’s the beauty of this concept; you can choose and arrange paint chips to suit. You can frame them too, but you’d lose the tactile quality.
Oh, there’s still time to enter our giveaway to win a $150 O&L shopping spree!
I’ve long been an advocate of sourcing vintage, original chairs for the home. So, when Babble Family Style posted Numero 74′s offering it struck a chord. Here’s a selection.
I picked these beauties to match our George (green) and Billie (orange) collections, but there’s plenty of other color/style choice. Click to view the full Babble slideshow
Thought I’d share three very different pieces of wall decor that caught my eye last week, All are connected by an animal theme and all would look great in or out of the nursery.
I spied these stylized African Mammal prints on Coochicoos. This limited edition portrait set by Josh Brill was available from Lumadessa. I say ‘was’ as they’re marked ‘sold out’.
There’s an 8-bit revival going on, echoed by Google Map’s April Fool’s release. I love this adhesive vinyl alligator – spotted on Apartment Therapy – and designed by Puxxle.
And finally, these cardboard ‘trophies’. I can’t recall exactly how I stumbled upon these, but I’m pleased I did. We are SO getting one. Check them out at Cardboard Safari
Today’s ‘Google Doodle’ jumped out at me; German-American architect Mies van der Rohe would be 126 today. I couldn’t resist sharing two of my favorite VDR contributions.
First-up, the stunning Seagram Building, 375 Park Avenue, NYC. Almost inconceivably completed in 1958…yet it still ‘out-moderns’ many of today’s ultra-modern skyscrapers.
Next, the Barcelona Chair, created for the 1929 International Exposition, Spain. These iconic chairs seem to pop up everywhere, including past Olli & Lime product photography.
If you’re not familiar with Mies van der Rohe’s work, it’s worth making time to find out more about this extremely influential, visionary 20th Century architect and designer
There’s (almost) nothing we enjoy more than casually wandering around home/design stores on a sunny afternoon…so that’s just what we did on Sunday, in nearby Cambridge.
Amongst our stops, Design Within Reach, a chain with almost fifty stores across the US. I’ve mentioned the Boston store before. Anyhow, no two ways about it, we love DWR.
And what’s not to love? Everything is made by approved manufacturers, like Knoll, Herman Miller and Carl Hansen. We’ve been burned by poorly made replicas before, so this is key.
Though good value, ironically, DWR is still out of reach for many of us. This is a problem, as the stores are stuffed with pieces you simply need to have, if you know what I mean.
Case in point, the Hans Wegner Shell Chair above. We didn’t buy it on Sunday – despite the current sale – but I’ve been eyeing it for some time, and it will be mine…eventually.
So, a warning: be prepared to fall in love…if this is your ‘thing’, of course. Whether a wall clock, sofa, lamp or lounger, something will catch your eye…and by then it’s too late
In December, I declared my love of the Metro system, following a trip to Washington DC. Another thing that caught my eye in DC was the Hirshorn museum, completed in 1974.
The Hirshorn is unapologetically modern, both in its architecture and curated content. But while the art inside is mightily impressive, it’s the building that really captured my interest.
This wonderfully curvy concrete structure kind of resembles a giant donut, supported by four sturdy pillars at its extremes, which define an internal courtyard area and fountain.
And it’s a pleasure to wander around the Hirshorn. Wherever you are, whatever the angle, inside or outside, the building’s structure is a strong, integral part of its visual success.
It straddles the National Mall, blending in like a just-landed spaceship, to form part of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution. Like most DC museums, it’s totally free.
In most cases, its design enhances the art. Not least with Warhol’s shadows (on during our visit) with 102 consecutive canvases, hugging the wall in a seemingly perpetual curve.
Of all the museums on offer in DC, this was the real standout for us. If you share our love of modern design, art and architecture, I’d strongly recommend visiting the Hirshorn
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