architect.posters

As graduation nears and I search for housing, I've been trying to find new decorations for a new home. The posters below come from two collections found on Minimalissimo, "a blog that celebrates minimalism" across multiple platforms. The first poster comes from Donna Wearmouth while the latter two were created by Andrea Gallo. All three, including the rest of their collections, would be great decorations that feature some of the most famous architects (all have been mentioned on this blog) without being too distracting.

[caption id="attachment_2827" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Charles Eames Poster by Donna Wearmouth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2828" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Frank Lloyd Wright by Andrea Gallo"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2829" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Mies van der Rohe by Andrea Gallo"][/caption]

bottle.opener

The Jensen Steel Elephant Bottle Opener, designed by the Jacob Jensen Group, is small by nature but worthy of greater recognition. Simple and elegantly designed, the opener was found on The Fancy and available for $55 on Amazon through FJORN Scandinavian. If you enjoy Jacob Jensen's designs, check out the previously featured Telephone 3 and World Timer.

movie.posters

I recently discovered a plethora of websites dedicated to designing and selling modern reinterpretations of movie posters. The number of sites seem endless but I've featured a few of my favorite. Browse the websites and bring a few home.

[caption id="attachment_2820" align="aligncenter" width="382" caption="By Albert Exergian via www.minimalissimo.com"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2822" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="By MoxyCreative via www.whitezine.com"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2823" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="By David Lopez via www.minimalissimo.com"][/caption]

bus.signs

These vintage bus blinds -- and various others -- are available on Rokett St George and priced from £210.00 to £985.00. Bringing the authentic urban landscape into your home is expensive but the decorations can add a unique decoration to any room.

bookshelf.wallpaper

Until you amass a heavy collection of books that you'll probably never read, the Bookshelf Wallpaper by Young & Battaglia can provide a sense of faux intelligence. Found on TheFancy and available in white and vintage, the wallpapers are available at Rokett St George and run £70.00 for each 55 x 300cm roll. 

metropolis.vases

The Metropolis Collection, by Lladró Atelier, premiered at the 24th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair and features porcelain vases, lamps, mirrors, and boxes. The "retro futuristic buildings" were found on MocoLoco and and would contrast well with the modern materials (glass, steel, etc.) often featured on this blog.

snowy.owls

I'm not particularly interested in owls but this article from the New York Times shows great images of snowy owls in their natural habitat. Many habitats will be affected by global warming and owl researcher Denver Holt explains why we should place particular focus on snowy owls: "if climate change results in habitat changes and it affects the lemmings, it will show up in the snowy owls because 90 percent of their diet is lemmings. The owls are the key to everything else."

I hardly think owls are more "key" than anything else in the circle of life but the New York Times stressed the "unscientific reason to study the snowy owl". Owls as mascots for the green movement simply because they're photogenic? Why not?

barcelona.chair

The Barcelona Chair, starting at $4,703.00 and available at hive modern, for  is an iconic and timeless design by Mies van der Rohe. Released in 1929, Knoll took over production in 1953 and continues creating the frame from a single piece of stainless steel. Praised as a "design worthy of Kings”, the chair and ottoman are available in numerous options allowing millions of possible combinations.

weather.screensaver

I'm reluctant to feature a screensaver that's only available for Apple Macs but I really like this simple design by Stefan Trifan. The Weather Screensaver is available for many cities across the world and lists the weather, time, and date using an elegant and minimalist design.

henge.pong

The HENGE Outdoor Ping Pong Table, found on The Fancy, is a rough and industrial table that will survive all the elements. The company is an approved vendor for the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department and recently donated a table to the Tompkins Square Park. I'm not sure if government affiliation enhances or diminishes credibility but HENGE had professionals guarantee that the return bounce on this unique surface is the exact same as indoor tables. I'm sure it'd be fun to have an authentic experience transported outdoors but you better own your own shipping company if you're not in New York.

lanvin.cufflinks

I'm really picky about my cufflinks. Understated is the best word to categorize my preference and the Square Labradorite Cufflinks by Lanvin fit neatly into that description. Found on The Fancy and available on Mr. Porter for $415, the cufflinks are the opposite of the previously featured Baccarat Rock Cuff Links. Instead of a unique shape with bland texture, these cufflinks are a basic square with interesting detail. Imagined with a crisp white shirt but fitting for many more styles, they make a perfect accessory.

mr.porter

There are plenty of good sites to shop for clothes but I chose to feature MR PORTER for a variety of reasons. Their mix of featured designers is a unique mashup of high-end fashion icons, rising mid-level brands, and low-end favorites. They mix Alexander McQueen, Jil Sander, and Church's alongside J. Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Paul Smith. It's about high style, not high costs, and good taste comes at every price range.

The section that pushed the website onto the blog is their journal. The Journal features 10 sections of advice, tips, and ideas to create good outfits and maximize the use of timeless basics.  Best of all, instead of showing a particular look and providing alternatives that look similar, they give links to the clothes you see on screen and make compromise unnecessary. Of course, all the links loop to their own website and the prices may make the clothes out-of-reach, but their approach is much like this blog: price aside, what looks good? Sometimes the answer means spending $10; other times, it's going to drain the savings account.

prism.case

Designed by TECAtech, the Prism Case for glasses was created for PRISM London using a new material from DuPont. The angled case reinforces the brand values of clarity and detail while providing a distinctive and unique product. Developing the tools and perfecting the moulding process for the new material took teams from both TECAtech and DuPont and the final product is the successful result of a one-year process.

3d.television

This will be nothing less than breathtaking. Bang & Olufsen is set to release an 85" 3D television this June. The combination of size, technology, design, and sheer quality will create a television that's in a league of its own. Based off the original BeoVision 4, the new television has features stacked upon features. My favorite component is the Automatic Picture Control sensor, which "continuously measures the ambient light in the room and adjusts the light output from the screen accordingly, which ensures you get the best viewing experience whether day or night, or whether your walls are white or wallpapered." Add in the motorized stand and infamous sound and you're suddenly outpacing movies theaters by leaps and bounds. If you're willing to pay $85,000 for a 3D television, you might as well buy designer 3D glasses to match.

danya.decker

DanYa Decker luxury candles are unique because of their signature wick. The ribbon-length wick helps release the scent faster and their wax (10%-20% fragrance) is about twice as potent as industry standard. Prices range from $35 to $102 depending on the size (3 oz. - 16 oz.) and category. Like a good parfum, the candles are comprised of multiple scents to create bottom, middle, and top notes.

milky.way

The following 360 degree panorama of the Milky Way is comprised of 37,000 images from 28 year old Rick Risinger. ((I insist you go to this link)) to understand the massive and incredibly awesome size and distances of outer space. As you zoom in and out, it's awe-inspiring yet depressing how small we are in the scheme of things. Found on Wired, you can check out the original article and interview by following this link.

personal.urinal

The Drop Urinal by Hidra is a follow-up to the Numi Toiler from Kohler featured earlier today. Also found on Trendir, the personal urinal is convenient, aesthetic, and saves water (be green while saving green?). Check it out on the Hidra website, call a plumber, and buy a bathroom addition that ends the "put down the seat" fight.

numi.toilet

The Numi Toilet from Kohler has it all.

Motion activated lid and seat. Advanced bidet functionality (adjustable wand position, water pressure, temperature, and spray pattern). Integrated air dryer. Deodorizer. Feet warmer. Illuminated panels. Music (mp3, FM radio). Touch screen remote. Magnetic docking station. User presets. Numi flush technology. Auxilary controls.

Found on Trendir, the design and technological masterpiece is available for $6,390 and comes with a touch screen remote that looks like an iPhone knock off. Would I put it in a living room with glass walls like the images below? No.

expressing.oneself

I'm not a fan of escalating an altercation but these cards are fun anyway. The Douche Cards, available on Orange 32 for $5/25, are a great way to be non-verbal when other communication fails. Found on The Fancy, the cards must be used with caution, as expressed by the comment of user ChrisMoore: hand it to the asshole in question and most likely get punched in the face :-p

shoe.shine

The Benny Brush by Stefano Giovannoni, found on The Fancy, is a great way to look nice when in a hurry. Unfortunately, I often shine my shoes at work because I forget in my rush out the door but this convenient shoe shine from Authentics would look great next to the shoe rack and inevitably provide a daily reminder. Obviously this won't provide a thorough shining but it gives you the day-to-day upkeep without the hassle.

identity.protection

The Embarrassing Photo Protective Sunglasses from Urban Outfitters were found on The Fancy and can be bought for a mere $12. In my opinion, the name of the sunglasses should reflect the celebrity-esque tendency to half-heartedly hide from publicity rather than capitalize on fears of embarrassment but they can be utilized for a variety of reasons. Unlike emo girl in the photo, maybe you can smile while wearing them.