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)

 
 

Sputnik Chair Collection

Want a little bit of retro with a dash of modern? This Sputnik chair collection has a few colors to choose from, and they all have fully adjustable seats (height of 18″ to 29.5″) which gets handy if you’re planning on moving them from desk to bar to dining table. (If you need more than one, start saving your pennies, because it could get expensive.)
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Purchase Information:

Price: $495.00 - 595.00
Available from: Horne

Topo Hip Pack

This sporty hip or shoulder pack looks to be the perfect size for a day trip, whether hiking in the wilderness or city sightseeing. There’s lash tabs for extra gear or bike lights, and a water-resistant inner liner just in case you get caught in a little rain. At 15″w x 8″h x 5″d, there’s just enough room for necessities.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $69.00
Available from: Topo Designs

Napkin Notes by DCI

Along the lines of Hello Napkins and Napkin Notebook (which both appear to no longer be available), these napkins encourage you to put pen to disposable paper for those important ideas at parties, work gatherings, etc.

Yellow legal pad or “Hello” name tag napkins.
Dimensions: 5″ x 5″ cocktail napkin

Purchase Information:

Price: $5.00
Available from: Quirk Gallery

Thuya Rainwater Tank

The world of above ground rainwater storage needs help. No matter how practical they are, most designs are eyesores and run the risk of upsetting your neighbors. However important that may or may not be, it’s worth noting that there’s definitely room for improvement. This tank is perhaps not the prettiest (nor the least expensive), but it is a heck of a lot better to look at than most, and it has a weird faux-topiary shape that might just camouflage itself in the right surroundings. Also not horribly offensive to the eyes are the Rainwater HOG ($325), Exaco ECO 67 Wooden Rain Barrel ($239), Algreen 50 gal. Castilla Rain Barrel ($129), and the Graf Sunda Rattan Wall Tank ($350).

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Purchase Information:

Price: $438.80
Available from: Lumens

Hi-Gloss Stepladder

Stepladders usually hide out in our broom closets and garages, but this guy is a different breed altogether. With a simple, clean-lined frame and super high-gloss wood, it begs to be noticed. An indent at the top of the frame and accompanying lacquered peg means it can be hung on whatever wall you deem appropriate, though considering the price tag I’d recommend the closet rather than the garage. (Also, if you’re seriously considering purchasing this stepladder, be sure to check out the Lucano Stepladder ($290) as well.)
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Purchase Information:

Price: $295.00
Available from: A+R Store

Housekeeping Brushes

You super finicky housekeepers, check out the huge selection of household cleaning brushes over at Nessentials. It’s pretty ridiculous, and will have you going cross eyed with all the specific tools to keep dirt and dust at bay.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $12.00 and up
Available from: Nessentials

J110 chair

This dining chair catches the eye, doesn’t it? It almost appears to be a lounge chair because of its high back, but rest assured that the seat matches the standard dining height. Made from solid beech, the J110 chair is part of Hay’s 2011 relaunch of the Danish furniture classics originally made for FDB, the Danish Consumers’ Co-operative Society.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $345.00
Available from: Finnish Design Shop

Kosketin Carpet

Do you know what Kosketin means? You’ll probably guess it has something to do with a keyboard, and you’ll be right*. I thought it sounded more like a medicine brand name than anything, but what do I know? The Kosketin carpet is constructed of paper yarn and cotton.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $239.00
Available from: Finnish Design Shop

Beater Whisk

So smart. This whisk by Ding3000 can be folded together to save space in your kitchen drawer. A small ring serves as the opening and closing mechanism and can be used to hang the whisk as well. Looks like it would be easy to clean (it’s nylon), and, if that’s not enough for you, check out all the colors available: white, grey, light blue, nude, lavender, pink, mint and dark blue.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $18.00
Available from: gretelhome.com

Mini Plopp Inflated Stool

Yes, we’ve featured this little guy before, but after a couple of years, he needs his info updated. This stool appears to be inflated plastic, but is, in fact, made from welded steel sheets that are industrially inflated. This manufacturing process (called FiDU (Freielnnen Druck Umformung)= ‘free inner pressure deformation’) was developed by Oskar Zieta and allows for lightweight forms to hold a fair amount of weight with minimal material. No two are alike.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $450.00
Available from: moss

Same Same But Different Glasses

These three glasses are shaped differently yet each hold the same amount of liquid. The familial likeness combined with the slight shape variation would add a little interest and movement to a table top, and, best of all, they’re stackable.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $49.00

Support BLTD by buying here.

Available from: DWR

Cross Tray Birch

Call me crazy, but I like the birch version of this tray so much more than the white. Thankfully, the tray is much less than the Cross and Crux blankets, so there’s hope of adding it to one’s home decor sooner rather than later. There’s also a smaller size (31 cm) for 250kr, which works out to be around $37.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $~ 52.00
Available from: Pia Wallen

Planktable by Piet Hein Eek

Because this table is made from scrapwood, each is one-of-a-kind. There’s also a non-scrapwood teak version (pictured below), but you’d do well to consider the more interesting scrap version, as Mr. Eek is known for that sort of thing (remember the Scrapwood Wallpaper?).

If you’re not familiar with his work, check out the full collection on his website: Piet Hein Eek.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $1,753.00 and up
Available from: The Future Perfect

Envelope iPad Case

Taking inspiration from traditional manila envelopes, this polyurethane iPad case has a string and button closure. The contrasting color string is an especially nice yet subtle touch- my favorite is the grey case with orange string. The case fits iPad 1 and iPad 2, as well as the iPad Smart Cover.

Available in grey, red, and black.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $48.00
Available from: Poketo

Salad Servers

Salad servers are one of those things that get overlooked, unless you did (or are doing) the whole gift registry thing for your wedding/celebration/housewarming/etc. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever owned a specific pair of salad servers (the shame!) and running across these three options, I might just decide to remedy the situation. See below for details on each set.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $25.00 - 95.00
Availability: Buy Salad Servers here