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Articles Written by Katie

Katie

About Katie: Katie has been a product and textile designer, an art restoration specialist, and an interior designer/merchandiser. Her interests are focused on finding well designed items that improve daily life as well as reading fiction and making stuff. (View Profile)

 
 

Commune Leather Sling Chair

Ready for another Commune + West Elm piece? This wood-framed sling chair knocks the socks off other lounge chairs from the retailer, as it has raw, undyed leather for an authentic feel. That plus the angular frame and stitching gives an eclectic personality that would fit easily into most rooms, giving you lots of options on placement. Living room, bedroom, study… put this Sling Chair anywhere and enjoy it as the leather develops a vintage patina (it’ll look even better).
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Purchase Information:

Price: $999.00
Available from: West Elm

Billy II Box

Need more storage space for paperwork? You could get a ho-hum boring rolling file from an office supply store, or you could shell out a little more dough for one that actually looks like a fair amount of design thought went into its creation. Ethnicraft’s Universo Positivo collection has caught our eye before, and their Billy II Box stands out for its combination of solid oak and lacquered stainless steel. A large opening in the back accommodates cords (not apparent in the picture above, fyi) while one drawer provides just enough space for essentials. Need a stack of drawers instead? Consider the Oak or Walnut Billy Box.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $650.00
Available from: Lekker Home

Japanese Porcelain Stacking Tools

My goodness, this stacking set packs quite the punch in tools. A mortar with pestle, a ginger/garlic/zest grater, a citrus juicer, and a storage canister (that also acts as a ladle holder) all stack together for a unified system. So, don’t go running back to the kitchen to get whatever tool you need, bring the whole thing to the table for an impressive display of dinner prep right in front of your guests and/or family. They’ll be awed by your efficiency and skills (let’s hope for the best case scenario).
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Purchase Information:

Price: $129.00
Available from: Kaufmann Mercantile

Sweep-It Set

You don’t have to tell me how hard it is to keep dust and dirt at bay; I had a dog that liked to step in mud at every opportunity, plus a cat that shed all over the place all the effing time. I have Ole Jensen’s Dustpan and Brush, but this Sweep-It Set by Klaus Rath for Stelton looks like it would be more functional for everyday messes. The lotus wood brush nests neatly with the dustpan, and it can be easily stored under the sink or hung from a hook.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $25.00
Available from: Amazon

Marta Tasting Glasses

While you may not be excited by a simple, short glass, you might like the fact that it’s available in a set of 8 for just under $10. Can you do any better than that, with a similar, fine-looking glass? If so, you need join the team here at BLTD, and I’m not kidding (finding nice stuff that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg isn’t easy). There’s also a set of 8 Marta Double Old-Fashioned Glasses and Coolers, should you want to beef up your collection.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $9.95
Available from: CB2

Friday Links

– You know those hooded towels for babies? Stingray Hooded Adult Towel

– “Jenna Maroney’s words. Donald Trump’s face.” Donald Maroney

– This loft has a neat TV shelving surround with doors

Jooki – The Jukebox for Kids

– “a curtain made from a repurposed isothermal emergency blanket separates kitchen and corridor” silvia allori self-designs compact studio apartment in florence

– Do you like plywood on interior walls? I do: Mountain Lodge

Have a great weekend.

Focal LED Lamp with USB Port

It’s great to see that USB ports are now incorporated into some task lamps, especially as most of our outlets are overwhelmed with plugs and wires. This Focal LED Lamp has an easy-to-access USB port right at its base- no need to fuss around behind your computer or at your charging station for a free spot. Its head tilts left and right and spins 180 degrees on its post to focus its energy-efficient LEDs right where you want. Three levels of brightness give you more control over light intensity. There’s also a handy shallow dish at the base for small pocket items.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $195.00
Available from: DWR

Gather Vases

The Gather Vases by Sam Anderson invite you to arrange your floral bouquet across a variety of different receptacles. Choose just one for for a singular statement or collect all five for a larger, more spectacular display. All are made from borosilicate glass, so they’ll withstand your occasional clumsiness (for the most part).
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Purchase Information:

Price: $19.50 - 29.50
Available from: good thing

Commune Storage Bench

One of the more exciting things to happen in the furniture retail world this month is the arrival of Commune’s collection over at West Elm. I won’t bother with talking about how this represents a shift in design sense or quality, because hopefully that will knock you over the head once you look at the pieces up close. The piece I’m most excited about is the Storage Bench, mostly because it has a mid century vibe with its black and white sliding doors and removable leather cushion. You’ll most likely see the rest of the collection (at least the Sling Chair and Marble-Topped Coffee Table) featured here on our site over the next couple of weeks, as they’re great deals to be had*.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $699.00
Available from: West Elm

Minimalist Zip Folio

This folio beats the pants off of any other folio. It’s made of vegan leather (score!) and has a roomy zippered compartment that perfectly fits a 13″ laptop or iPad. One outside pocket gives you space for other necessities while still keeping its tailored, slim profile. Lack of decoration suits all genders; choose between gray, navy or cream. And, best of all, looking smart with this folio under your arm won’t cost a fortune.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $68.00
Available from: Poketo

Wooden Wall Hooks by Sketch.inc for Lucie Kaas

Gah! How cute are these wooden hooks by Sketch.inc for Lucie Kaas? You may be familiar with their Kokeshi Dolls, and now you can appreciate the graphic nature of your favorite faces in the form of a wall hook. Please don’t think that these should just be for kids’ rooms, as one or two (or three) could be a fun, unexpected surprise in your home’s entryway or closet.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $25.95
Available from: Vertigo Home

Plantation Porcelain Element

Hello there, little Plantation Porcelain Element. You’d be perfect for growing herbs and other plants, as you would fit inside any existing glass as the ideal home for new cuttings or germinating seeds. Let’s notice how you can be used right side up or upside down, depending on the cutting and our plant tending preferences. Now, the question is, do we need just one, or several to start our own plant nursery?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $28.00
Available from: MoMA Store

Kai Shelving by Jean Louis Iratzoki for Treku

Does this shelving remind you a tiny bit of the New Order Shelving by Stefan Diez? Maybe a little? It’s similar in that it has dividers and optional panels that can be moved around to suit your preferences. Each shelving unit comes with two movable dividers, one back panel, and one storage box with push latch. Each unit is fully finished on all sides- you know what that means, don’t you? Yep, you can float one in the middle of a room to separate and define a space.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $2,490.00 - 3,490
Available from: DWR

Pepper Tray

Pepper dust. If you have a pepper mill, you know all about how it sits just under your mill whenever you set it down, creating little dust piles of pepper. How about a tray to keep it contained? Yes, it’s the smallest detail, and maybe a little unnecessary, but you like to keep your kitchen spic and span, this may be your pepper mill’s new best friend.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $26.00
Available from: Human Crafted

Unseen Backpack

Do you want a special sort of backpack? This one by The Unseen Emporium transforms from black to vivid colors in response to fluctuations in air pressure. A little reptilian, no? Of course, a bit of magic is involved- or science, if you prefer the truer explanation- and will have others doing double takes as they catch your bag changing color.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $1,450.00
Available from: Cooper Hewitt Shop