Sometimes we get caught up in the crazy expensive products and places we come across and often forget that very few of us can actually purchase and enjoy them. So lets calm down here and get back to basics and remember that really we only can afford to buy the occasional iPad case and belt....so with that in mind, here is a great DIY product we can get behind. Branded leather mason jar wallsconces to hold your various art supplies, cotton balls, candy etc. created by a couple saving money for their wedding. Available here.
In the year 2000, Daniel Suelo dug deep into his pocket, found his life savings of $30, and left it in a phone booth. In that single action, Mr. Suelo abandoned the modern social convention of money, which in his mind is imaginary, and has lived with a new found sense of freedom and security. If you don't own much, then the things you own can't end up owning you. The Man Who Quit Money is a tale about how one man learned to live happily, without earning, receiving or spending a single cent...and before you say anything, Suelo doesn't accept food stamps or welfare. If you'd like to learn more, you're going to have to read the book. We've also included for you viewing pleasure a short little doc (after the jump) about the man in question, which we're sure will wet you appetite for more in the book. Very smart and inspiring stuff.
One of our great regrets is, when travelling through Argentina, not taking a few days to explore Uruguay. It's a country that, in our neck of the woods anyways, you hear very little about. The vistas shown at this lovely hotel should be enough to intrigue even the most travel jaded, but if it doesn't, we can offer you this; 43,000 square feet of hotel, bungalows and private homes, a glorious spa, equestrian centre, golf course, polo field and 3 klicks of beach frontage. Still, if that is not enough, then please scour the pics after the jump.
J.Crew is on a collaboration tear...so much so even we're thinking of collaborating with them (totally untrue). Continuing these affiliations with iconic American brands, J.Crew and Timex have again gotten together and come up with a beautifully simple and classic dive watched named Andros, after the famed barrier reef in the Bahamas. Timeless in its design, this is obviously a watch that should remain in vogue for some time, and being a Timex...you know...takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Available here.
We never thought we'd utter the words: Tom Jones doing Leonard Cohen, but alas, here it is. A very different (good thing) and beautiful rendition of the Cohen classic. Definitely not the Tom Jones song to toss your panties to, unless you find the topic of aging a turn on. Fill your boots if you do.
Say you have a lot of money to spend and you are an environmentalist then the Loki Playhouse Set is for you. Made of 100% recycled plastic, this playhouse for kids also extends into a pretty comfortable outdoor furniture line and comes in vibrant primary colours but also great monochromatic ones too. This will definitely make your kids happy and will not transform your backyard into a bad multi-coloured garbage dump. Available from Room & Board.
Anthropologie isn't well known for selling modern accessories and clothing, its more the place you go to get the quirky and folksy but we found a great ice bucket that would be right at home in a minimalist abode. Right on track with the Pantone colour of the year, the Tangerina Ice Bucket comes in a vibrant orange beechwood and will be the best accessory for those long summer afternoon lunches.
We were drawn to the new Clark chandelier from Delightfull due to its styling that is reminiscent of musical instruments and the fun incorporation of retro detailing. With all of the light sources pointing in different directions, trumpet base and trombone-like angles, this quirky pendant makes a statement we're loving. Available here.
There is an epic war brewing in the world of film making, in that we're slowly witnessing the demise of actual film stock shot movies for the more slick and adaptable digital format. Similar to the digital format dominating all things tech; from music, to still camera's, to how we receive our cable, digital tech is now waging war on the classic film camera used in shooting your favourite movies. Side by Side is a documentary about that war, and in it we see the opinions of the most powerful directors on the planet, and hear the arguement for both the preservation of film and the modern ease of shooting digitally. An intersting topic to be sure, and having heard arguements on both sides, we walk away agreeing with whomever we listened to last. We are however, left scratching our head wondering why both can't coexist, but that wouldn't be an interesting movie.
Made from ultra durable waxed canvas, solid brass grommets, secured by a rope lanyard that has been hand spliced and whipped with a red technical control line, and finished with a stylish solid bronze snap hook. What more do you need in a bag? Really...if you think your stuff is too good to go in a bag like this then it's time to take a long hard inventory of the complexity of your life, and find the precise moment it all went wrong. Interesting fact: the Ditty bag would have been the first test of an apprentice sailmaker or seaman. Before he could be trusted with the fabrication of a sail, he would have to prove his skill by making his own ditty bag out of sailcloth. You can see and learn more here.
A modern interpretation of a railway station clock, the Twice Twice is our latest favourite way to tell time. Versatile and modern, this clock can be mounted off the wall or sit simply on a surface but no matter how you use it, it will definitely be admired by all.
New ways to display planting in and out of your home is hard to find so we are loving the new A-Frame Plant Hangers from Poketo. Deadstock military strapping holds the wood plank fit with a hole ready to receive a standard collard plant pot. Perfect for a porch or exposed beam, this design is suited nicely for the modernist with a green thumb.
We're not sure when our local book store started selling lifestyle accessories, furniture and clothing but so far so good. We've chosen a great necklace box by Thomas Paul to showcase an example of Indigo's new and seemingly growing line of unique and affordable goodies. Available here.
Our go to footwear day in and day out is generally one of two things; classic Vans slip-ons, or Converse All-Stars (either high or low). However, as we get a little older we have an appreciation for items of fine quality. Not to say that Vans or Cons aren't well made, to the complete contrary, but the materials and construction in those icons of footwear has to remain true to the legend and the price point. We came across these "interpretations" of the classic sneaker from new It-brand, Saturdays Surf NYC. We are totally digging the high-tops with polka-dot lining. You can see more or the brand and these sneakers here.
If you were the least bit apprehensive regarding the purchase of Jack's first solo effort "Blunderbuss," don't be. After several listens we have determined that it will be on continued rotation in our home for some time. Upon the first few listens, it is our humble opinion that Hypocritical Kiss is definitely a stand-out track, and our offspring agree, wanting to here "that song about a kiss" over and over again.
The company's sub header explains it all simply; weekend cabin - backyard office - studio - guest house - prefabricated, delivered and assembled on your site. We're debating finding a cheap slice of remote province somewhere and getting ourselves one of these compact and modern little pads. No word on pricing, but we imagine that because it's prefab it'll be far cheaper than building something of your own with similar square footage. More pics after the jump, and we highly recommend that you have a look. You can also see and learn more here.
Patio season's here in our neck of the woods which has us turning to our tired outdoor area and thinking of ways to make it comfortable again. With furniture and plants in place, we can now look at the one thing that makes those long summer outdoor dinners with friends memorable and that is the lighting. These unglazed ceramic pleated string lights by Oregon designers Pigeon Toe fit the bill nicely. Simple, elegant and timeless, these should add just the right amount of ambiance.
We are so in love with this iPad case we can hardly contain ourselves. Originally this was another idea for Mother's Day but we're not sure once we buy this gift, that we could really part with it. Check it out here through super talented UK designers tovicorrie.
Milan Design Week finished up yesterday and one of the standouts by far were the wood castings by Israeli product designer Hilla Shamia. Combining modern cast aluminum with natural burnt wood into simple furniture forms, Shamia has produced jaw dropping beauty with these pieces and we can't wait to see what comes next.
We've been looking to upgrade the workspace. In that, we are specifically looking to upgrade the desk, or in our case, the lack thereof. Problem is, space is at a premium, and we do not want a large monolithic desk for which to sit behind, after all, we have no pleebs in the office that need intimidation. In our travels through cyberspace we came across Stringfurnitures String System, which for all intents and purposes, is a modular shelving system that can be customized to your particular needs; from large, or in our case, small...just like the picture above. Check out here to see all the different variations.
We have a soft spot for statement jewellery and love the idea of collecting an assortment for all occasions. With the summer months in our near future this African inspired bib necklace seems perfect for a little exposed skin with double wrapped neon thread bringing the hottest trends together in one great piece. Check it out from The Glossy Queen.
Flashcards have been getting more and more elaborately designed in the last few years as companies have started to figure out that parents need to be stimulated too while teaching their kids. JHill Design from Boston have beautifully combined graphic design and learning the alphabet with animal silhouettes that are almost better suited as art than learning tools. Available here.
Remember record stores? They're those bricks and mortar establishments that sold records, or tapes, or CD's depending on how far back you care to remember. There was something magical for us about our regular pay day trip to the record store to decide what album we were buying in an effort to whittle down an ever growing list of must haves. Well, as we're sure you are aware, the internet ushered in a new era of convenience when it came to purchasing music, being able to get whatever you want on a whim. This, in conjunction with the rise of online thievery of material (something that we will never condone or understand), has all but killed off the major record stores. Fortunately for us, in nearly every town a small local record store has survived, and tomorrow (today or yesterday depending when you're reading this) is in essence their birthday. It is a celebration of the place where one instantly forgets why they went in and leaves with a treasure that they didn't know they wanted. As a bonus, Record Store Day draws some pretty special releases (unavailable online, and shame on those who post them illegally) to encourage people to rediscover their local shop. We have the very popular Zulu Records, pictured above, and are planning a visit in the afternoon to see what's left. We encourage you to go here and type in your location to find the participating shop nearest you. We also encourage you to go here, as the fine folks at Pitchfork have compiled the 45 best releases for this years special day.
We've grown weary of the Vietnam War era propaganda art on our wall, and have decided to make a change. In searching for something new we came across that the photo work of Shannonblue on Etsy. Particularly, the Lets Run Away photo shown above. There's a lot to choose from, and all interesting. On reconsideration...maybe we'll get the VW bus. You can see more and order here.
We're not sure where you can get these pieces of French designed pet furniture, but aren't they choice. There's another pic after the jump, and you can learn more about the designers here.
Today we lost a music legend that was the voice behind such great songs like The Weight, Ophelia, The Night The Drove Old Dixie Down and of course the above, Up On Cripple Creek. Levon has been battling throat cancer for much of the last 20 years, and succumbed to the disease surrounded by family and friends.
With trainers and runners increasingly looking more and more like concept cars from the year 2025, it's nice to see Nike taking a deconstructive approach in their Roshe Run, a shoe that is garnering fans in both the running world and sneaker heads everywhere. The above are the new colourways for spring/summer 2012, and we're digging that neon sole paired with the simple black upper. Available a fine shoe purveyors everywhere.
Suffice to say...that if Audi put this in production tomorrow we'd be in line. Look at the beautiful lines, those ridiculously chunky wheels, the evil light frames staring back at you like eyes, and that gorgeous matte blue finish. All that and we haven't even dipped into the 360 horsepower 2.5 litre TFSI engine rocketing this pocket size SUV 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds. Audi...if you're listening, make it...and make it as it sits.
Stop raining, stop raining, stop raining! Out here in Vancouver, we keep having these glimmers of hope tossed at us by Mother Nature wherein we are given a couple of beautiful sunny days that remind us once again why we choose to live here. Then that dreamy warm weather is cruelly yanked away from us and the temperature drops 10 degrees and the clouds unleash hell. Dramatic, we know but in those moments of warmth we start planning for the upcoming patio weather and we found a great lounger that keeps a nice organic feel with slim space-saving lines. Available here.
We're fairly familiar with Pendleton and their traditional men's fieldwear that has been making the rounds with downtown hipsters everywhere but we had never taken the time to explore their latest offerings including their diverse home accessories line. The one item that caught our attention right away was the San Miguel blanket which has a "pattern inspired by mid-to-late 19th-century Native American weaving traditions and the influence of Spanish missionaries in the Southwest.". We actually felt that it had an almost Danish feel with influences rooted in Modernism which we suppose goes to show you that good design can be many things to many people. Check out the blanket collection on their website but make sure to peruse their Ranch Style section for great wrap shawls and field shirts.
We were fortunate enough to get ourselves lost in Argentine Patagonia a few years back, and we had a few moments, looking over its vast expanses, where we had Patrick Watson playing in the background. To us, it really was the only music that suited the mood, the place, and the atmosphere. We're so happy to report that yesterday Patrick released a new album, titled "Adventures in Your Own Backyard," and we found a lovely acoustic performance of the lead off track Lighthouse. Enjoy
Using old records, designer Paul Cocksedge (seriously...that's his name and we're twelve because we giggle every time we type it) gently moulds the LP into a horn shape, careful not to damage the records grooves. The shape naturally amplifies the sound coming from your tiny iPhone speaker. Clever to be sure, and would look great on the shelf as well. More info available here.
The ridiculous thing about this is that it took until 2012 for someone to come along to and do this. What Uppleva is, is a all-in-one full 1080p HDTV, stereo, DVD, Blu-Ray player, media streamer, and internet viewer that seamlessly fits into almost any living or family room. Coming is all sorts of sizes, colours and finishes, Ikea has really thought of everything. Watch the clever and funny video after the jump to see and learn more.
The summer blockbuster season is nigh...and continuing the great marketing campaign that's supplementary to the standard movie trailer, is Ridley Scott's new film Prometheus. You'll have to watch the above to understand what we're getting at, and we've posted another after the jump (a Ted talk from 2023). These will serve as a great primer for the movie, and we think that this campaign is pure marketing genius. If the trailer didn't rope you in, watch these and then tell us you're not interested.
If shooting video is your thing, and you're dropping $3000 plus on a DSLR, than have we got an option for you. The Black Magic Cinema Camera shoots some great cinema quality video, but in a price range that puts it in the hands of the mass market. It boasts tonnes of things we know nothing about, but that apparently make film geeks salivate. For us, aside from its beefy appearance, our favourite thing about the camera is the ease of use (because of the afore mentioned ignorance), being designed to be yanked from the box for immediate film making. It uses all standard connections, including Thunderbolt, and can be connected to both Canon EF and Zeiss ZF lenses. Available this July at $2995. More info here.
This post is less about the watch, and more about how its Kickstarter fundraising campaign is a success of ridiculous proportions. So first, because you need some context as to why its campaign was so successful...the watch. The face is made with e-paper, letting a customizable electronic face to be easily read out doors in the sunlight. You can download all matter of faces to customize the look. What's more, the watch can sync wirelessly with iPhone and Android devices, giving you silent text and email alerts that you can read through the watch face. In fact, we can go on and on about what the watch will be able to do, but we're going to run out space if we do. Suffice to say it will be amazing, and if you don't believe us, you can go here to see for yourself. Now...on to the Kickstarter campaign. The watch designers set a lofty goal for themselves of $100,000, which they accomplished in 2 hours. 48 hours later they raised in $1,000,000. With 30 days to go, the have raised over $3,000,000. That's 30 times their goal, and they have a month to raise more. Apparently this whole watch thing was a good idea.
European coffee machine stalwart Senseo is about to drop some art inspired special editions, with the livery by the estate of famed NY artist Keith Haring. Unfortunately for us, there appears to be no plans for a North American release, at least not yet, as we are eyeing the two cup model posted above.
We're shedding our winter wear which means no more wool coat, no more knee high boots, no more toques hidden at the bottom of our bags. We get to switch to a more colourful wardrobe and one that fares better in warmer weather as constant rain can ruin even the most resilient pieces. With that in mind we would love our Spring look to include the new suede Padrone slouch toe oxford flats in blue. We're big fans of oxfords to begin with and having light weight, handcrafted super soft blue suede ones made with love in Japan is pretty ideal. Available at Koshka.
Mothers Day is coming up here in North America and yes that has us hunting for the perfect gift that reminds our loved ones that we appreciate them. How about a nice vintage-like camera iPhone case in pink, blue or mint? Yes now even your mother needs to dress up her phone as she texts you her funny interpretations of modern tech lingo - LOL - lots of love! Available from redtilestudio.
Creativity must be a funny thing. We are routinely cupping our hands over the tiny speakers on our iPad yet it never occurred to us that something like this would be useful. It's a remarkably simple and elegant solution to one of the iPad's minor shortcomings. You can go here to learn more and get yours. More pics after the jump.
The most difficult, or rather...exhausting thing about a day of surfing is the constant paddling, both out to the line-up, and then the furious few strokes to finally catch that wave. Now, this may be sacrilegious to the purists, but we are of the opinion that anything that can get you into more waves more often is a no brainer. The folks at Wavejet Propulsion have incorporated into all matter of water devices; be it boogie, paddle, gun, rescue, short or long board, a battery operated water induction propulsion motor. In layman's terms...it sucks in water and squirts it out the back to propel you along. Now...they're not cheap to be sure, but if you forgo your annual trip to Costa Rica just once, you'll catch exponentially more waves over the course of the year. Seems like a fair trade to us. You can learn more, see more and pre-order here.
Check out the official video for the newest 3 Artists, 1 Song from Converse and Journeys; featuring Mark Foster of Foster the People, trendsetting DJ A-Trak, and current it girl and rising star Kimbra. For an exclusive download of the track, go here.
This 70's Dial Calendar is a retro original and not exactly being reproduced today so limited quantities only but we can't help but share the timeless design. In both english and french this manual spinning calendar is a perfect accompaniment to your modern decor and as authentic as it gets. Available here.
Melbourne design house Mecurialist create unique jewellery inspired by the machine age and their love of antique military equipment. We think the dramatic shape and mix of metal patterns on this Deconic Banglecould easily be reminiscent of the 80's or even an earlier decade which is appealing to everyone we're sure.
Spring sun and warm weather has everyone running to their local gardening centre for plants and vegetables alike but what if your green thumb is non-existent and you just want a bit of greenery & furniture to spice up your modernist patio? Enter the concrete and wood planter bench by Tao from Arizona where they know a thing or two about sunny weather and minimalist planting. Available here.
Now that you've earned your "mixologist" merit badge by making a classic old fashioned using bourbon distilled in your garage and blended with your own variety of heirloom orange bitters, you are one step closer to being a full fledged hipster douche bag. But alas, wouldn't making your own honey and selling it at the weekend farmer's market be da bomb? The good folks at Williams Sonoma have got you covered, with the home apiary starter kit, or backyard beehive for the layman. Complete with the beehive itself, the kit comes with all the accoutrements that would be found on the modern apiarist, including that hat with veil, gloves, hive tool (???), bee brush (??????), and a stainless steel smoker. Now all you need is a quirky name for your honey...like Buzzinga, The Hive Mind, or maybe The Honeycomb-Over. You can get yours here. Another pic after the jump.
We can't actually direct you to where to get this mini sound system....but it's not stopping us from busting out our professional appreciator hats and lusting all over this thing. Marrying the modern tech of Apples Airplay, which allows you to stream audio from your iPhone, iPad or Macbook wirelessly, with that of the classic tube amplifier; this is the do-all mini-system that will turn the heads and perk the ears of your friends. We're hoping that this is not just a one off, and that production is a reality. Soon as we know more, we'll update. More pics after the jump.
We've always been fans and proponents of the less fancy tableware. For instance, we like how the Italians share their vino in stemless tumblers. We also like the the idea of wine being decanted in something a little less sophisticated...like a water picture. Of course, we can appreciate the finer things and have ourselves posted some fairly fancy and upscale products when it comes to tableware. What we're getting at, is that every occasion doesn't call for your $400 crystal decanter. Take for example the wine cooler shown above. In terms of materials it doesn't get much simpler than this, and is the perfect vessel for your select vintage during the warmer months. The special thing about it is that after a short soak in cool water, the terracotta will keep the wine inside at a cooler temperature using the process of slow evaporation. It's actually a centuries old technique for chilling water. We think that it is more modern than ever. You can get yourself one here.
It's hard for us to fathom that Kubrick's Vietnam classic is 25 years old. We remember being blown away seeing it for the first time, and it still manages to grip us just as hard 25 years on, and countless viewing later. We are happy to report that the film has been given the high definition treatment, along with all the other anniversary accoutrements that we are used to seeing in re-releases, such as a 44 page booklet taking a look behind the scenes, and a 60 minute documentary. Available everywhere.
We posted the Fossil Collective song "On and On" way back in September (you can see and read about it here). It was a popular post for us, partly because of the beautiful song, but also because of the great stop motion video that accompanied it. Well...Fossil Collective is back on a new label (Dirty Hit) and has a new five song EP titled "Let It Go," out June 11th. They have again paired a beautiful song with an equally beautiful and touching stop motion video, and we think this is even better than their last. No word on a North American release, but if you've got the access to the UK iTunes, it's there for pre-order. We're keeping our fingers crossed on the North American release though, as we really truly feel that 2012 is going to be their year.
We may have mentioned all the children we need to buy for now and in the upcoming months which has us searching out the latest and greatest in toys and accessories. Our favourite find lately is UK based Miller Goodman's PlayShape Blocks, a modular 74 piece set of wooden blocks with the potential for endless designs and creations. We are not holding our breath mind you that our little friends will create the elaborate designs we are showing here so perhaps some parental guidance is needed but fun for all regardless.
Finally brought to market by Innermost, the Aviva Rocker designed by Jarrod Lim has been well worth the wait. Introduced as a prototype last year, the Aviva chair has a pretty sleek line with sold teak rockers, a beautiful triangular seat frame all in a great black leather weave.
LRMA is a Vancouver based menswear line that is quickly making a name for itself, finding its way into the hottest of local menswear boutiques in the city, and we're betting that it will only spread from there. Fortunately for you, we live in the information age, and you can therefore get yourself anything on the internet...which means that you can see, learn and buy more here. We found it difficult to pick our favourites, as we'd readily wear the entire collection, but we're particularly fond of the loudly patterned short sleeve collared shirts (one of which is pictured above) as well as the hoody from the spring 2012 collection....but also love the Cowl Sweater from the fall 2011 line. Decisions, decisions. Our credit card is calling to us. More pics after the jump.
Ahhhhh yes....another Kickstarter project, and this one is a good one. For starters, getting yourself involved in this is down right affordable, and the idea so simple and good we can't really see you wanting any less than three of these...and for less than $50 you can't really go wrong. And not that you need anybody else's opinion other than ours, the design has won many awards and accolades already, including Best of the Year in the accessory category from Interior Design Magazine. If you feel that you need more, go here.
We love new artists collaborating with, for lack of a better phrase, older ones. Rick Rubin resurrecting the career of Johnny Cash was pure genius, and Jack White recording an album with Loretta Lynn...well, we still routinely listen to that one. The latest, and quite possibly our favourite in this genre is the collaboration between the Black Key's Dan Auerbach and the legendary man of the south, Dr. John. We bought and listened to the whole album many times, and it just gets better with every listen. We are especially liking the title track and album opener "Locked Down," and the follow-up, "Revolution" which we've posted above for your listening pleasure. The album is out now on iTunes.
What happens when two Cali pot growers and a corrupt DEA agent tag team against a Mexican drug cartel? Oliver Stone explores this question is his latest offering "Savages." We've been longing for a good shoot 'em up organized crime flick, and Ollie seems set to deliver. A huge cast, and production value out the wazoo...this should entertain in spades. Out the first week of July.
In the last couple of weeks we have had the pleasure of being woken up by our neighbourhood birds which is a sure sign of two things. First, Spring is finally here and second we need more soundproof windows. The nice thing to do though on our end would be to provide our feathered friends a birdhouse and while we have occasionally presented many great and beautifully designed wooden houses in the past, we're convinced that the acrylic one is appealing in many ways the others aren't. A completely see through habitat that requires no glue or screws, this home is easily cleaned and you can finally see what those little birds are up to at all times. Available here.
