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The joys of the summer wedding season, where your friends and family get together to celebrate the official union of two people in love… are you rolling your eyes yet? Or squirming uncomfortably because there’s a wedding coming up shortly and you’ve no idea what to get the happy couple?

Never fear, for the wine box is here. Buy the box, fill it with a few bottles of nice wine (make sure the ten year one will actually taste good in ten years) and call it a day. Bam! Guess who just gave a really thoughtful gift? That’s right, you did. You can also customize a message on the inside of the box to further emphasize your awesomeness.
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Another item in MoMA Store’s Destination NYC collection is this notebook by Brooklyn-based designer Bari Schlosser. The pattern is “inspired by a deep hypnotic state”- that sounds interesting, doesn’t it? And who doesn’t appreciate lovely patterns hand silk-screen printed on sustainable resources anyhow?
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This goes to prove that a storage box can be an objet d’art, as I want a few of these just to look at and admire, forget about their function. Place one on its own in the room of your choice for specific storage needs, or stack several for a ‘miniature-home’ look. Be sure to take a look at the whole collection, as there are quite a few gems (besides my favorite, the Secretary, there’s the Housewife, Handyman, Woman in Bath, and Gallery Owner).
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Another folded paper lamp, yawn… but wait, it’s not paper, it’s ceramic! Which means it’ll break if you drop it, so don’t. The patterned surface will lend just enough texture to a room and you’ll get the nice, even glow you’d expect from a ceramic shade. And, the size is just right for a small breakfast nook, or maybe even beside the bed suspended above the nightstand.
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You might think you have no use for wooden page markers, but then you’ll find yourself fumbling through a cookbook other other miscellaneous manual mumbling expletives because you can’t find that certain page, and the bookmark/flag you had put there weeks ago somehow fell out. That’s when you’ll remember these wooden tabs. 8 page markers in each pack, available in a Salt Stripes or Color. There’s also wooden stickers (for herbs and spices) if you want to go label crazy.
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Hmm, what’s the price of this very affordable fire pit? $300?! Compared to the Loll Fire Ring or, my personal favorite, the Geometric Firepit, that’s a sight for a sore wallet. It has somewhat petite dimensions, but the space below keeps extra logs handy and dry- two important bonus points when it’s chilly out and you want to stay close to the nice, warm fire.
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Quick, what is it? Hint: it’s very similar to another item from Ideaco with ‘Tubelor’ in its name, except this one is rectangular. Answer below.
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If you had hope of propagating cuttings like a pro after learning of the rootcup, you’ll be a bonâ fide believer that a greenhouse in the backyard is a good idea, never mind the $5 grand for the kit. For rootcup has a PLANTER now, made from the same BPA free, phthalate free, food safe, durable polymer, and it has a no mess drain and reservoir that lets your plant take as much water as it needs via sub-irrigation (from the roots).
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Let me tell you a little story. One of these showed up last week for me to review, and, as I’m not especially excited by radios, it sat in its box for approximately a day until my husband noticed it. Then, being an audiophile, he promptly started opening the box like a kid on Christmas morning, and asked me while doing so if I got to keep it. Nope, I said, I have to return it after I review it.

Next day after work, when it’s fully charged and ready for a test run, he starts messing with the touch controls and setting the time (on the digital color display) and then tuning the radio to various stations (you can stream all available Internet stations too). I’m mildly impressed, mostly because it’s a sleek little box with old-school boom box influences, and I like that sort of thing. The handle folds down nicely, the touch controls are perfect; all in all, it looks good.

That night, we set it in the living room to compare it with the speakers set up with the TV, which we sometimes use for an overall sound system during dinners and such. That’s where we both got hooked- the sound is actually pretty damn good. It fills a room easily with a warm, not-at-all-tinny sound, and the bass certainly feels as if it’s not encased in a small box. We could use this outside on the patio! We could take this on a picnic! I could use this in my office! he said. Etc., etc. And, of course, it has a built-in wireless Bluetooth receiver, so we listened to a bunch of favorite songs on an iPhone, easy as can be.

Now, if I was an audiophile, I would rattle off some more specs, maybe insert ‘awesome’ somewhere as an adjective, but I think it’s more telling to repeat what my husband said: ‘You have to figure out how to keep this thing, by hook or by crook. Can you just not return it?’ To which I replied that I would ask nicely, at least for some kind of discount. So, dear Geneva rep/PR person that sent me this WorldRadio, can I keep it? Or at least get some kind of discount? My husband wants to put it in his office. More specs and info below.
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As promised, here’s a link to onefortythree’s Single Pendant Light. With a cloth twisted cord and a socket in a powder coat finish, and either a hard wire or plug in option, and with a price tag of $45, it’s a no brainer. Available in several delightful colors.
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Hmm, who makes this grill? My first thought was it was something from a Teletubbies set, then I quickly adjusted myself into appreciation for its bulbous form. It’s from IKEA, if the diaeresis didn’t tip you off. You can assemble this grill at two heights- standing or as a table grill- and the body is made of porcelain-enamelled steel with two vents to regulate air flow. They’re not selling this online (yet?), so you’ll have to brave the crowds at the closest store to get your hands on one, after you call to confirm they have it, of course.
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Contrary to what one would expect, a set of stacking trays that doesn’t offend the eyes is slightly hard to find nowadays. That explains why you’re seeing this set of 3 trays by Conran. They’re rather large and have pleasing neutral colors that would most likely work with your color scheme. So, whether you use them for mail and keys near the front door or in the closet for jewelry and accessories, they’ll blend right in and, more importantly, give you a landing pad to keep things handy.
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Happy Memorial Day! We’ll return tomorrow with regularly scheduled posts.

Shown above: Star Spangled Spatula, now available in red, blue, black, or white, $10.00, in addition to the Stainless Steel and American Walnut version, $65.00.

Designer: Jacob Riley-Wasserman
Material: Nylon Resin
Dimensions: 19.5 x 4 x 2 inches

Remember this little guy? The Pixo lamp incorporates a USB port in its base, which means more convenience when charging our mobile devices. However many times you’ve reached behind your sofa/bed/table/desk to pick up a charging cable, you know it’s been too many.

There are other impressive things about this lamp (360 degree rotating head, three-axis articulating stem, uses just five watts thanks to low-energy LEDs, etc.) but all we’re going to appreciate right now is the USB port (Hat tip to designers Pablo and Fernando Pardo for this small yet significant detail), and the new color options of yellow and blue.

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For those papers and magazines that need a home, consider a folder- not a flimsy paper folder that sits on your desk- a metal folder that mounts on the wall. These aluminum folders by Debra Folz easily mount to the wall, giving you that extra space to organize your important documents. Can you see several scattered on the wall next to your desk? Because I sure can, and I don’t even know where you work. Available in silver or white.
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