So, we're planning a remodel and we want to hear your comments on what you'd like to see happen. There's all sorts of ways we could grow, and really, it's kind of up to all of you, so please think big and tell us what you want. We'll do our best to make it happen.

Some questions:
1) Do you want comments enabled on all posts?
2) Would you like to have an option of registering and saving your favorites?
3) Do you want an easier way to submit links and products?
4) More information on sales and specials from retailers? Giveaways?
5) Do you want us to reinstate the newsletter (that we had oh-so-long ago) on a monthly or bi-monthly basis?
6) Are there other design topics you'd like to see covered, such as design materials or home tours?

We've enabled comments so that it can be more of a discussion, so please let us know what you think.

We hope everyone enjoys (and appreciates) Memorial Day, we'll be back tomorrow with regular posts.

[image via wikipedia]

[posted by katie]

We were at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) this weekend and took a few pics for your viewing pleasure. Keep in mind that most of these items will take a while to hit the marketplace, but we'll do our best to post things as they become available for purchase. If there's something in particular you'd like the info on, just shoot us an email.

Also, if you want to see/know more, MoCo Loco and Core77 (as well as other design blogs) are covering ICFF in more detail.

[posted by katie]

We're a little tardy in getting the word out that we were included in TIME magazine's 2008 Style and Design 100 Issue. The list highlights 100 people and ideas that are behind today's most influential design, and we are entirely honored to be recognized.

link to The Design 100

[posted by katie]

Chances are if you're shopping for modern (& affordable) furniture, you'll have heard of Blu Dot. Right now at UMA there's 15% off of all Blu Dot merchandise with free shipping online. Just enter this coupon code during checkout: BLUDOT15

Sale runs through the end of the month.

[posted by katie]

Yes, we've jumped on the bandwagon (albeit rather late) due to many a request. For those of you with iPhones, you can now add our BLTD webclip icon to your homescreen, allowing access with a mere touch of your finger. We actually created it a while back, but are a little late in letting you know...apologies, apologies. Just delete your old link and add it in again to pull up the new icon. If you've not added BLTD yet (gasp!) or if you're not sure how, here's a quick walk through:

On your iPhone:
1. Find BLTD in Safari
2. Tap on the '+' sign
3. Tap 'add to home screen'
4. Ta-da! The icon should appear on your home screen

[posted by katie]

If you're curious at all about how or why we started BLTD, Gigi over at roadsidescholar invited us to a little q&a over at her site.

Thanks Gigi!

[posted by katie]

If you've got a great idea on how to make household chores easier, now's your chance to show off your smarts. Simple Human is holding a design competition with the grand prize of $5,000 scholarship, which is enough to get you motivated into putting your thinking cap on I'd think.

"The goal of the simple solutions competition is to promote creative problem-solving among students through product design, and by doing so, increase public attention and awareness of industrial design. Endorsed by the IDSA, students at all U.S. design schools are invited to participate by designing a new and innovative product, technology, or concept for making household chores easier and more intuitive."

The First Prize winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship. The competition deadline is February 29, 2008.

Visit www.simplehuman.com/design for more information and the entry form.

[posted by katie]

Last night I attended a great event in Los Angeles at All Purpose (a great up and coming menswear store) sponsored by Citizen:Citizen and the endlessly charming Philip Wood. Also in attendance was super talented designer Cory Ingram of the Crude Line, and the design/engineering genius Ethan Imboden behind the little steel line by JimmyJane.

It was refreshing to see all the lines in person and get to meet the minds behind the designs.

So, we promise not to go crazy with holiday this and holiday that, but we do want to make sure everyone knows that we do have a gift category, where you can search by price for that special recipient. (If you're unfamiliar with BLTD, you can find all of our categories in our drop down menu, located in the gray bar below the header image.)

Please do let us know if any of our links are broken, and we'll do our best to fix them so that everything is up to date. Also, if you know of a great gift that we haven't posted, drop us an email and we'll add it to our list.

(If you're interested in the gift wrapping you see above, you can find it at CB2.)

[posted by katie]