Yapc Europe 2008

Designed in Germany by Bodo Sperlein for Dibbern, the Black Forest porcelain collection is one-of-a-kind and absolutely stunning.

As today marks the beginning of daylight savings, trees are beginning to bloom and no longer mimic the forms on these vases. The Black Forest Round Vase and the Black Forest Cylinder Vase are a sophisticated take on the cold winter months behind us. Utilizing the rigid silhouette of bare branches in black on white, these vases offer a captivating contrast for display on your open shelf or tabletop.

Dibbern, known for its contemporary fine bone china, follows on the heels of the company’s centuries old traditional standards of high quality and beautiful design.

Next on my list of books to read is the recent edition of EcoDesign: The Sourcebook by Alastair Fuad-Luke, a UK professor of green design. Trolling around for ideas and inspiration I found the book that’s my next must-read. Having flipped through a copy of the ‘11 edition, I was so excited to see this one just released.

For those of us who seek to juggle eco-friendly and high-style designs into our lives, this book is described as the ultimate one-stop shopping resource. Who couldn’t use a little guidance on this noble quest? Here’s the official description:

The latest edition of this definitive sourcebook includes up-to-the-minute listings for more than 700 consumer products—from clothing to kitchenware, electronics to furniture—that have a minimal impact on the earth while remaining useful and beautiful. This remarkable compendium also directs readers to little known gems and handcrafted objects from artisanal studios. Detailed, illustrated entries describe the products, while an extensive reference section defines new and hybrid materials and provides information on manufacturers, design studios, and green organizations. ecoDesign remains the total resource guide for the new generation of contemporary design.

If you’ve read this gem of a book – I’d love to know what wonderful finds it lead you to. For now, I’m off to Powell’s…

Don’t miss out on some great buy-one, get-one’s over at Design Within Reach. Like the Sapien Bookcase and the Toto Cube Lamp, both available at a reduced price if you get 2 or more, and both excellent examples of creative designs that contribute unique storage or lighting options to your lofty place. Certainly two favorites of mine. I love those sculptural oh-yeah-and-by-the-way-I’m-functional-too creations!

Other great designs, like the Deneb Dining Table, are also on sale. Perfect for the summery weather that’s already begun to poke it’s warm sunny head. If you haven’t seen this piece by Spanish designer Jesús Gasca, do take a look. Its simplicity in form and materials cannot be ignored and the power of the two certainly pack a pretty punch. Made of an aluminum frame and teak slats this table and bench can be used indoors or outdoors to provide warm comfortable texture and color and a sleek modern shape.

It’s a hurry-cuz-they-won’t-last-long sale! Visit Amy Ruppel’s special art sale site tommorrow for the opportunity to own one of her beautiful original pieces. A fellow Portlander, she’s all the buzz right now, sold at Velocity Art and Design, and recently interviewed by design*sponge’s Grace Bonney earlier this week – great podcast Grace! Amy creates unique encaustic art pieces made of paper, oils and beeswax/resin mixtures on wood that are whimsical, eclectic and often feature birds. A modern color palette, sketched strokes and geometric elements make these pieces a very cool compliment to any contemporary space.

Mibo designs are easily the kinds of pieces you’d theme an entire space around. Not that they’re at all imposing, or for that matter embelished or large in size. They are simply simple, original and elegant in their very own way, and therefore adorn a room best when the coordinating pieces gently compliment a Mibo design.

The creations of Madeleine Rogers, her intentions for these pieces were that they be, “original, bold and affordable interior products,” and they are exactly that. Inspired by imagination and her life along the British seaside, Madeleine’s design are named for resorts and ports along the coast and the life of leisure that they portray can be felt just by looking at them.

Shown are the Bo’ness Shade – great as a pendant lamp or on a base, the Boscombe Shade – the perfect slim cylinder lamp, and the Selsey Grey Pillow – a dreamy soft design, hand screen-printed on 100% cotton. The patterns on the each of the shades are printed on a coated paper that is then transferred on to a translucent PVC which helps retain the vibrancy of the pieces.

I imagine any Mibo creation alongside a long sleek sofa, near well worn sandals, loose linen shirts, sunset beaches and the appropriate cocktail – or any modern dwelling where such a laid-back feeling is suggested.

You might have downloaded the pdf and printed a few sheets to try them out for yourself. Well now he’s gone and made things even easier. With his ever so simple, yet also so genius concept, Chad Doane has given us Doane Paper. Now available for purchase on pads of 20lb stock, this ‘legal pad meets grid paper and has a baby named Doane Paper’ creation is the beginning of a paper revolution. Drawings and the ideas that inspired them can now live happily ever after on the same sheet of paper!

Here’s a great design by the ever so brilliant crew at Nambe. Another example of Nambe’s commitment to simplicty, functionality and aesthetically stunning design, the Tilt Wine Coaster is a delightful sculptured piece of their signature metal. Molded into an asymmetrical edged coaster to keep those stain-causing drips of your favorite red off of your favorite surface – you’re sure to party in style with this clever piece.