For those who may not have noticed, i’ve been writing Surface - the CNET design blog on their new blog network on the side. I was writing about these Dermond Peterson pillows over there earlier today, and was so smitten by them i had to share them here as well. Founded by two sisters in 2001, Dermond Peterson has a great seaside line this season with hand printed aquatic creatures and motifs… i’m particularly craving the black octopus… isn’t it so very NOTCOT?

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Design Milk featured these Grapple Coat Hooks… and i’m… well, hooked! Grapple Hook Coat Rack is by Ryan Frank, and available over at Bouf, which is apparently a sleek online store that sounds like a filtered/edited higher end etsy? [Sounds like the NOTCOT.org approach to having a store… love their products over there… if they like what you have, you too can sell there!]

The Poor Light is a brilliant project by Poor.nl - which is “a module - pictogram accompanying the design, appears in various situations, emphasizing the places where the light, though present, is not encased within the frames of the object used to lighten the given area.” The result is a set of options ranging from the Lamp ScreenSaver, Lamp made of glow in the dark stars, and black cloth cut outs… (via Moco Loco)

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For only $500? That’s cheaper than my iPhone that i’m considering returning! Just noticed this URBN Trick My Sofa on BLTD. And this fun little couch not only matches my bigger couch, but has adjustable arms! So you can totally make it the perfect little office couch for friends to crash on. Add this to my list of current cravings, and things i can totally buy if i return the iPhone.

Polly George has some gorgeous ceramic lines designed and made in Kent, which are unlike any other. She’s the designer behind the Mr & Mrs Jones lemon and lime squeezers we’ve seen around for some time. I just spotted the Butterflies series at Oh Joy, and they actually first reminded me of the Mixko rings… Things to pay attention to? The crazy toast rack, butter dish, adorable egg and soldier stand and cake stand. Also, the site is designed with enormous background images (large like 4500 width)… so some snippets of pieces i liked below, but check out Polly’s site here to see more.

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Design*Sponge had a reader send in these pics of her little girls room, and i couldn’t resist reposting them to show you. It’s refreshingly girly… and has the tord boontje before dawn curtains (casting some awesome shadows)… the birds of a feather mobile, bird/tree lamp, some great stenciling on the walls that matches it all beautifully. Also, check out that cool teepee like nook and crazy slanted door? Inspiring design job on this lucky little girl’s room.

Saw the Palm Coast Furniture line over at Trendir, and there’s something about the large blunt cushioned resin shapes that is strangely inviting, or seems ideal for curling up in right now after that Social Atelier Benefit last night and then working till 5am. Also the matching armrest even comes in a light up version which looks gorgeous by the outdoor pool.

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I want these. How can i ever look at other outdoor chairs again? When i could have plastic stacking Eames’ Lounge Chairs and Barcelona Chairs? Dirk Winkel’s “A Stacking Hommage” has mesmerized me all weekend, and continues to do so. This was his 2007 University of Arts Berlin final project.

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Fun Friday post ~ i’m typing this on my couch sitting cross legged with laptop on the Offi Overlap, and i don’t know if i’ll be doing much work anywhere other than here for a while! I’m a softy for bent plywood furniture, esp Offi + Eric Pfiffer (of Pfiffer Lab)… so when Matt Sanocki over at Design Public emailed about their outlet sale, stating “I should also note that if we clear out enough space we hope to put in an espresso bar and/or video game area so it’s *crucial* we move everything.” how could i resist this Offi Overlap and Offi Scando Coffee Table?

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To me the word Webble first looked a lot like Plaskool Weeble toys that don’t fall over… but i guess in a way this new Webble makes YOU into that those in a way, as you sit and wobble to and fro in your desk chair. There are two models. but i’m dying to give this Webble Air a try, because the amount i sit and work in my Think chair, its nice to move your feet a bit while thinking… is this the latest innovation in footrest technology? would it be good for airplanes too? It is launching June 11th at NeoCon 2007 in Chicago. Spotted this over at MocoLoco.

While in NY, i ran into Mike Simonian of SF based design duo Mike and Maaike at their great ICFF booth (some of my pics from that below). If they sound familiar its probably because their brilliant Juxtaposed: Religion bookshelf spread across the design sites like wildfire not all that long ago ~ and he led the design efforts of Astro Studios which led to the XBOX 360.

There are pieces you need to try in person (vs indulging on virtual design porn) ~ and this Windowseat Lounge is certainly one of them. Lets just say every tiny apt with more than one person needs one of these for that little piece of personal space. When i sat and talked to people in it, it felt like i was in my own sound proof room. Perhaps these would be perfect for that moment of zen while in a crazy club? Or at ICFF? Full upholstery over a foam-padded rigid molded frame on a swiveling steel base.

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Reeves Design. In addition to the Louis Four Poster Bed, there’s a nice clean detailing to all pieces in the Reeves Design catalog ~ The mix of porcelain and teak is a beautiful combination. The Arthur chair was the second piece that grabbed me in the ICFF booth, it almost evokes a bathtub feel with those porcelain feet. “Arthur rediscovers caning to form a low slung lounge chair…classic cabriole legs… perforated oak frame… exposed rattan weave reminiscent of a strung tennis racket.” The Cadiz table has a slip cast white porcelain base with teak feet and a teak decking style top (reminiscent of teak deck/bathroom flooring). And finally, i love the way the Dovetail Shelving takes one of the “most respected joints in cabinet making” combined with white lacquered shelves and solid oak connectors, this piece is an incredible easily dis/re-assembled unit with no additional fixings.

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One of my favorite design discoveries of ICFF was John Reeves. Adorably sweet, and designs that have haunted me since i first saw the booth… (late in posting, because i’ve been slowing on hooking up the scanner, and most images were in the catalog). So here is the bed i want… if you’re going to go with a four poster… yet black lacquer, and still some perpendicular edges while still having that playful flourish on the inside - brilliant contemporary baroque look & feel.

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Twist. There are two points of interest here… 1. the product… loofah sponges! and “euro” sponges… that are trying to revolutionize and evolve the sponge world. At TWIST, they take special care to make sure 99.97% of all our waste is reused in production. And, our cellulose is sourced from renewable tree farms. 2. the branding and packaging… lets be honest here, that’s what really got this into my cart at Whole Foods…

So, regarding the product, they seem good enough, a sponge is a sponge, granted it does look a bit cooler and the loofah addition is interesting… but news to me is that you can dishwash it! But on to the branding and packaging… interesting aspect (beyond the playful graphic design and circular windows)… you can make it into a birdfeeder. Innovative idea (especially enticing for moms who want to let their kids have an activity to do while unpacking the groceries)… not so hot on the execution, the packaging is so thin that it’s not that sturdy, and i do wish the design made better use of the existing creases and the diecut windows… this bird feeder wouldn’t hold up well in a drizzle (how about some water proofed packing?) and isn’t quite strong enough to support the birds. And perhaps a small packet of bird feed would be fun too? and the design is much like our print+cut toys we often feature. But great concept, fun sponges.

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The simplicity of both booth and chair made this one of my favorite finds at ICFF ~ The Cork Lounge Chair by Nick Tretiak. The lounge chair has a special form of “cork lamination that was developed to embrace the textual qualities of cork in a thin, strong, and flexible material.”

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