Hailing from a long line of architects and carpenters, Gesa Hansen raids the family archives to create her wonderful line of furniture inspired by mid-century modern Scandanavian design. Now based in Paris, Hansen sources sustainable oak from local forests to produce unique and beautiful pieces under The Hansen Family mark. The limited line includes a curvacious coffee table, a desk with colorful......read more
Sure, you could send that letter on blank paper, unadorned with any neat illustrations. But that would be rather boring, wouldn't it? Spruce up your paper creations with these fun stamps from Yellow Owl Workshop. Handmade in San Franscisco, the set of five natural rubber stamps is mounted on reclaimed maple and nicely presented in a 4 x 8" birch box (also reclaimed, of course). ...read more
These nature-inspired Di Corte wooden chairs offer a dose of the forest in your home. Designed by green furniture aficionados Andrea Magnani and Giovanni Delvecchio, the chairs feature raw bark details intermingling with finished wood. Manufactured in Italy by Resign. ...read more
The work of Singapore-based Guz Architects, who specialize in the design of tropical, eco-friendly buildings and homes, is informed by the firm's earth-focused philosophy. Fish House, designed last year for a seaside location in Singapore, is a nice expression of the company mission. With a fluid structure that creates plenty of open space, encouraging natural ventilation and offering views......read more
Earlier this week, The New York Times business section featured a story on Meyer Wells, a small Seattle company that makes high end, custom furniture from urban trees downed by development, disease or storms. Started four years ago, the company has succeeded in the face of a recessionary economy, with sales pushing $1 million. “I really believe a designer can make better choices, and that......read more
The talk of the town at Design September 2010 in Brussels is an exhibition of Kwangho Lee's work at next-gen retailer/gallery Hunting and Collecting. The show, which is to runs from September 10-30, presents an overview of the talented Korean artist-designer's work and an animated projection of his creative process. Born in Seoul in 1981, Kwango Lee grew up in the remote countryside......read more
Nightwood is a Brooklyn-based design studio focusing on its own brand of reconstructed furniture and textiles. Owners Myriah Scruggs and Nadia Yaron seek out sustainable fabrics and discarded wood and furniture then deconstruct and recontextualize it into their line of modern-rustic home furnishings. Nadia explained their approach in the New York Times: “We’re making furniture for......read more
OK, tranSglass may not be new, but it's still looking fresh. Originally designed in 1997 by Tord Boontje and Emma Woffenden, the elegant line of glassware was picked up in 2005 by Artecnica for its Design w/Conscience collection. The vases, candle holders, carafes, and tumblers are crafted in Guatemala City from recycled bottles, where skilled craftspeople cut and polish items by hand. One......read more
Just fill the tank with tap water, add a splash of natural lemon juice, and you’re set for 8 to 12 weeks of accurate timekeeping. Fun, functional and eco-friendly, the Bedol Water Powered Clock is ideal for home or office, or as a great little gift item. Don't ask us how but something about the acid in the lemon juice works like a battery. Sure. Whatever the ways, we like the means. ...read more
BBC Earth is ringing in its 50th birthday by dropping Life Is, an interactive site chalk full of epic nature images, videos and stories from the people behind the mindblowing DVD series Planet Earth and Life. The site's not up yet, but judging from the screenshots, it's going to be equally amazing. With access to BBC's incredible archive of images and video, site designers Fantasy......read more