The shape of the Swing Vase from Normann of Copenhagen arose in a dialogue with local glass-blowers, through which the vase was allowed to determine its own form. The vase was allowed to "settle down" so to speak, and the Swing Vase was born. Each Swing Vase is unique; the shape varies from vase to vase, as all of them are mouth-blown. It's a little sculpture that looks fine alone. Designer Britt Bonnesen added Vibrant colors including Red, White, Black, and Green that show up well with the shiny look of the rounded glass. 20cm 210dk $42US 30cm + 59dk $12US 40cm + 119dk $24US Available from danskdesign.
About a year ago I saw the Obelisk by Janus et Cie for the first time. It is a truly striking set of outdoor furniture, which is easily fashionable enough to be used indoor as well. It is a set of four chairs and a small table that stack into a towering obelisk when not in use. I love the idea in theory. In obelisk form, it takes up very little square footage -- equivalent to one of its chairs. The rest of its volume is stacked, thus freeing your precious floor space. The quality and durability of these pieces is truly top notch. The chairs' frames are made of powder-coated aluminum for lightweight durability. The outer shell is a woven polyethylene, extremely resilient and especially good at standing up to the elements. It's truly a perfect set -- in fact the only draw back I can see is it's nearly $9,000 price tag.
This year it's in with the knock-offs. Yesterday I found three suspiciously similar sets made from rattan. Now rattan, done right, can be a very durable. It can also be that cheap wicker furniture that disintegrates after a few seasons. I am sure these new sets will not live up to their high style counterparts, but they are good budget options. The three sets range in price from $2,379 to $4,000. This represents a huge price difference from the Obelisk. I will be excited to see how these new pieces stack up against the competition.
What are some of the characteristics of great design? For me it is the ability to make a powerful statement with a minimal amount of clutter and material, relying on the basics. Alivar's philosophy states "each element intrinsically reflects the spirit of the home, making a harmonious whole. The pure lines enhance the quality of the materials used, in a minimalist yet highly expressive style". This belief has been brought to life in one of the most stunning collections of modern furniture I have seen. Their philosophy also embraces form and function, in which every detail matters, and adds value. The Alivar Museum collection which pays tribute to the modern masters like Mies Van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer offers the perfect combination to the latest Alivar styles for a timeless look spanning over 80 years. The entire line includes modern furniture for every part of your décor allowing a seem less flow from room to room.
Eva Solo has been dazzling our eyes for years with their catchy and often fun decorative accessories. The new "Smiley" bowl not only makes an optimistic statement, it tastefully dispenses your favorite treats and offers a place for shells and wrappers as well. Available in Red, Black, Lime, and Turquoise glass from danskdesign for 649kr or $129 US. 21CM
I was reminded today how much I miss summer, or at least warm weather. Cottage weather, as we like to call it.
While at the cottage we are often more social than we are at home. Not that we are anti-social at home. But the cottage is community; we visit with people we don't see all winter. We have the neighbors up and my wife's parents are often there with us. Life at the cottage is simpler and often revolves around meals, more so than our home life. And I almost always cook! I enjoy cooking and I'll try almost anything. If there's a recipe, I'll give it a go. We very often grill our evening meal. What can I say -- I enjoy grilling and it seems like the manly thing to do.
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