Street Green

In a world of disposable products and growing landfills, what can we do with the stuff we don't use anymore? Instead of throwing it all away, artist Carlo Sampietro reimagined a new purpose for the ubiquitous newsboxes.

He transformed those newsboxes or magazine kiosks you see on the street into an oasis of green-friendly creations.  One kiosk became a dishwasher, another a soda cooler and a terrarium.  Below on the right is a newsbox turned aquarium.  For a look at more of his work, go to The Street is in the House.

Out of the Box

When I was a little girl, I was enormously envious of my sister's jewelry box; when you opened it, a little ballerina popped up and twirled around.

Today, I lust after these hand-made wooden jewelry boxes instead. Rick Parr, of Above Parr Designs, makes them with such care and precision that they could easily more precious to you than the necklaces and earrings you keep inside them. He'll also do custom work, so you could have a jewelry box that would be exactly what you want, fashioned of the finest maple or walnut. I wonder if he can make a ballerina pop up when you open the lid.

http://www.aboveparrdesigns.com

Beautiful Linens and Rugs, and The Fight Against Breast Cancer

We like this: a home furnishings company with a conscience. Company C was already making a pretty great contribution, in that it is a small company producing beautiful home linens at reasonable prices. That was good enough for us. One reason their things are so compelling is that they really pay attention to texture as well as to color. And the colors are great, drawn from nature, with mink browns and celery greens.

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Kitchen Culture

New York's MOMA will explore the beginnings of the modern kitchen with its exhibit:  Counter Space:  Design and the Modern Kitchen, starting on September 15 through March 14, 2011.

MOMA recently acquired the Frankfurt Kitchen - designed by Austrian architect Margarete Schutte-Lihotzky in 1926.  The architect designed this kitchen as a prototype for kitchens that were to be installed in public housing in Frankfurt after World War I.  Italian kitchen-cabinet maker, Snaidero, is also displaying their 1968 mobile kitchen.

Kitchens became a laboratory for many design firms - allowing them to test out new materials and technologies, ergonomics, storage, and space planning.

Schutte-Lihotsky designed the Frankfurt kitchen to be compact and efficient, integrating various functions that not only included cooking but also other tasks: ironing, paperwork, and storing.  The kitchen was replicated and became a commercial success.

Take a look at the exhibit at MOMA's website.

Frankfurt Kitchen

Office To Go

The Mayfair steamer trunk has a secret - it hides a complete office!  Furniture maker Timothy Oulton of London redesigned this antique steamer into a secretary - displaying a desk, file cabinets, bookshelves, and cubbyholes.  And when you're tired of looking at your office, roll one of the sides and close it, and voila!

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