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If you’re not in need of a some kind of a zipper pouch for travel needs, desk supplies, or to keep your bag organized, then you need to write some kind of book on minimal living. I won’t buy it, of course, because I’m planning on buying a couple of Izola’s zipper pouches to tuck away all manner of miscellany, thus solving any clutter in my bag or suitcase, not to mention my everyday work surface. Also, there are Dopp Kits done in the same color/material with appropriate text if you need to update yours.
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There’s a vague sense of responsibility I feel every time I come across decent Thank You cards, almost like I’m a schoolmarm rapping knuckles of anyone not writing their letters correctly. After all, handwriting has slowly become old-fashioned, as we all have turned towards typing out emails instead of picking up a pen. Perhaps that’s precisely why Thank You cards are very special to give and receive nowadays; each is a rare physical act of appreciation with the heartfelt scrawlings of someone that took the time to actually put pen to paper to express their thanks.
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At last! We can stop our search for the perfect window coverings, for Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have come to the rescue with the Ready Made Curtain kit, and it’s finally available to purchase. A curtain and its complete hanging system are included, and with a few assembly steps, you’ll have one heck of a modern curtain that you can brag about. Oh, but wait, there’s the issue of the price; you’d assume that a kit that requires a little elbow grease from someone such as yourself might be budget-friendly, maybe around the $200 or even $300 mark, as I did when I called the retailer. Prepare yourself, and expect to pay around $470 per kit/window… or keep searching, as I will.
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Don’t you feel better using your own water bottle? It’s better than sending a bunch of disposables to the landfill, that’s for sure, but there’s the tiny issue of keeping it clean. That’s where the The Square by Clean Bottle comes in. Both ends unscrew for easy cleaning and drying. It’s leak-proof, opens and closes quickly and the square shape won’t roll away if it tips over (it fits in most cup holders, don’t worry). The stainless-steel bottle won’t affect the taste of your water either.
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What kind of person would you be without a picnic basket? Probably the kind that spends too much time indoors staring at a computer screen. This basket looks like the typical picnic basket but it’s much better in terms of quality. It’s woven from strips of Appalachian white ash- “the wood of choice for almost all baseball bats, boats and furniture due to its relative hardness and strength”- and the handles and twin split lid are secured with solid brass nails and hardware that won’t ever rust. There’s also a waxed canvas lined interior.

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Finding the right bar/counter stool is no easy task, yet I’d be willing to take on the challenge knowing this guy is an option. It’s minimal in design, stackable (a definite plus) and looks oh-so-cool with metal tube and steel sheet materials. If you’re looking for something taller than 27.5″ high, no worries, as it’s also available in a 31.5″h bar height ($494.00).

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Do you remember the SSB-1 Bookcase from BOOK/SHOP? Now it’s available in Natural Walnut Ply, and if that’s not enough to tempt you, I’ll just wish you good luck in finding a better home for your reading list. Each SSB-1 is cut, sanded, and fitted by a craftsman to an exact fit in Berkeley, California.
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How fun are these? I know it’s hard to think ‘fun’ when it’s the first day back from a long holiday weekend, but put on your regular design-appreciative hat and you’ll see I’m right. They’re on sale now from Plastica- 50% off!- so pick up one or two or twelve for a few extra swaying seats. Each stool is hollow and filled with dry sand for ballast.
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Wouldn’t your Independence Day grilling be very festive with this Star Spangled Spatula? Yes, you’ve seen it before, but buying it from Few & Far Company will leave a few more dollars in your pocket than the $65 price tag from Areaware. (And yes, it’s the very same one by Jacob Riley-Wasserman; it’s hand fabricated by Lamson and Goodnow, the oldest manufacturer of cutlery in the United States.)

So, now it’s time to say happy fourth of July weekend to you and yours! Have fun, stay safe- don’t blow any fingers off playing with fireworks, etc.- and see you back here on Monday.

(Hat tip and a high five to Patrick for the price difference spot.)

There’s nothing wrong with a little Thonet in your life/home/office, especially as the bentwood chairs have been in production for more than 150 years and still look at home in many a modern setting. One current promotion gives you a break if you buy four of the Era Chairs or Era Round Armchairs- 20% off. So, if you’re wanting a few for a breakfast nook or a full set of 8 or 12 (lucky you that you have a large dining room), now’s a pretty good time. Details below.
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Manhattan-based photographer Joanne Dugan compiled these urban typographic images originally as a teaching game for her two-year-old son. And, as they’re so striking, why not make them into a coaster set for all to enjoy? Many of the signs and landmarks are now demolished, so tip of the hat to Ms. Dugan for creating such a great archive of New York City’s visual history.
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No one wants to see your trash, trust me, so hide it away with these paper baskets that have a swinging lid. Perfect for a bathroom, right? And yes, you did read ‘paper’- these look like teak wood but they’re made from a plywood of sorts that is stained in 6 different tones and then laid out to resemble teak.
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Minimal quilts! Feast your eyes upon the offerings of Hopewell, the design workshop of Eliza Kenan and Claire Oswalt. Of course I need one of these, because when does a chill not sweep through the house on any given evening? Or, perhaps there’s a bare spot on the wall or a lonely chair that needs a a few blocks of color artistically placed… yes, there’s at least one of those in every home, for sure.
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Need a bench? How about this Cain Bench by Staach? It’s been around a while now (the first time we posted it was in 2008) but simple lines and an affordable price tag never goes out of style. The wood is sourced sustainably from New York and Pennsylvania, and each bench is fabricated completely in Staach’s workshop with a limited use of only two tools. Think of it as a landing pad in the entryway for bags and putting on shoes or as seating for one/both sides of the dining table.
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Quick update on price for this table by Axel Bjurström; it increased ever so slightly from $295 to $330. However, thanks to one of the summer sales, greenergrassdesign is offering 20% off all Design House Stockholm goods until Friday, so if any of their products are on your ‘must-buy-soon’ list, you can save a little bit of dough.

Combining a magazine rack and a side table is nothing new, but add some wheels and us bibliophiles will sit up and take notice. Wheeling a stack of books and magazines around the house to wherever our reading spot might be sounds just fine- we can keep our current collection together without resorting to an actual library cart.
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