Home & Garden Blog » 2007 » September

Apartment Therapy - New York attends the bi-annual Foire Nationale Ă  la Brocante et Aux Jambons (National Ham and Antiques Fair) on the Ile de Chatou just outside of Paris.

Pure Contemporary explores the Sumo inspired world of Vintage Japanese Modern Design

The folks at Spacify highlight Coffee with Class, a brief synopsis of coffe tables with pinache!

The Design Public revisits David Hicks by viewing and displaying favorite images from the designer’s novel.

And this week in the Smarter Home & Garden Blog we covered:

• Hampers & laundry baskets that collapse and store away for a clean and refreshing laundry room
• We begun our hunt for creepy, crawly Halloween decorations…
• Paid tribute to the: Designer Spotlight - Vladimir Kagan
• Found an apple slicer that is cool, modern and keeps the unused apple from browning

The Container Store is having a storewide SALE and you can take 25% OFF everything in the store. If you have never shopped at The Container Store you are missing out on really great deals. Their specialty is offering every single type of container or storage unit known to man. I first discovered them because of my cousin Charm who is just as into “organization” as I am, she took me to the store in Orange and I was hooked.

They truly have every size and manner of container or storage unit. Everything displayed in the image above is marked down. I believe the highlight of the image is the Wall-Mounted Galvanized Steel Cubes.

These Italian designed, solid steel Cubes feature a rust-resistant, galvanized finish that’s ideal for use in humid environments like a bathroom. Of course, they look spectacular in any room of the home, too! The modular system allows you to customize a solution to your needs. Start with a Cube and add Doors or Shelves to divide the interior of the space. Mount them on the wall as shown or stack them to create a free-standing solution. The possibilities are endless!

Galvanized Cube
14″ sq. x 14″ h
331010 - In Stock

Was: $59.00 each

Now: $44.25

Galvanized Cube Shelf
14″ sq.
331040 - In Stock

Was: $12.99 each

Now: $9.74

Find more great deals and free coupons for The Container Store, click here.

To browse or purchase items visit The Container Store.

So there I was stuffing an obscene amount of clothing into the washing machine. To my left was a plastic laundry basket that housed 4 dingy mis-matched socks and a towel, to my right was another nappy plastic basket, chalk full of oil and greased stained mini towels and rags that my roommates use for assorted garage work (I have 3 MALE roomates! Take a moment to let that fact marinate and you will understand my grief).

This moment in time inspired me to research stylish hampers that can be folded up and stored away after use! I guess my biggest grievance with plastic laundry baskets is that you can’t hide them away. I am very much about putting things back and storing them neatly out of sight!

Thanks to some quick search action on the ol’ internet highway, I discovered the following awesome solution to my dingy dilemma. Collapsible microfiber hampers! These hampers are made of soft and durable microfiber and they come with handles for easy transporting. But the best part is that they are “collapsible” which means when you are done with your laundry, you can collapse the sucker and put it away. Leaving the laundry facility nice and clean, imagine that.

Retails for $34.95

They are offered in the following patterns:

Microfiber Collapsible Hamper - Damask A53931

Microfiber Collapsible Hamper - Floral A53932

Microfiber Collapsible Hamper - Basket A53933

Read reviews, get coupons or purchase at Smarter.com, Click here.

Click here to view Wrapables.com

HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN……

So you might guess that I love me some Halloween, and you would be right! It’s just around the corner so I figured we should begin our holiday decoration search now. Personally I like to find decor that is unique and that I don’t see everywhere.

I am very pleased with the following two discoveries. I think they are very festive, cute and original. My first find is the Spider Pumpkin Multi Tea Light Holder which is pictured above. It holds a total of 8 tea lights and would be perfect to decorate your patio as a spooky greeting to trick or treaters, or for setting the mood at your bloody horror party!

Spider Pumpkin Tea lights retails for $23.95

Displayed above is the creepy, crawly … Spider Web String Lights! These string lights come in a boxed set including ten orange light bulbs. Perfect for decorating your driveway, windows or patio. The string set is made of metal so it is durable and can be used for many holidays to come.

Spider Web String Lights retail for $21.95

Can you feel the Halloween spirit sweeping into your soul? I can feel my eyes slowing turning amber with the glow of pure wickedness!!

Be afraid…be very afraid.

Items offered by Wrapables, click here.

For more Halloween Decorations, click here.

I have a confession. Ready? …

I am one of those people, who when visiting a friend, relative or a complete stranger, and I return from the bathroom, you will find that the toilet paper is right side up! The shredded end should be overlaying the roll and neatly folded there, held by gravity in place. This is the correct position people, there is a method to my madness. This way when you are done, you tear your sheet off and it doesn’t continue to hang there or unwind for 5 more inches looking dirty and discarded.

Kohler Devonshire Toilet Tissue Holder - $27.89

See that is how a roll of toilet paper should look. This is what I mean about the toilet paper being right side up, who doesn’t know this??

So this is a nice little number that is classy and polished. I mean it’s toilet paper holders folks, not rocket science. Really depends on your pet peeves and preferences. The toilet roll matches the Devonshire faucets and fixtures and is a great price.

Kohler Memoirs® Classic Toilet Tissue Holder - Was $143.40 Now $102.38

This number is more expensive but you pay for better quality. This model is made with solid brass and is inspired by faucets from the 1920’s and 1930’s. It is made to endure a long life and is quite elegant.

Kohler Purist Tissue Holder - Was $81.61 Now $65.30

I personally like this little guy. Gives me no anxiety about the toilet roll being right side up, and it is super easy to refill. Now instead of your boyfriend, husband or children leaving the refill on top of the old holder, now they can literally just drop the fresh roll onto the holder (I bet they still leave the refill by the sink….ugh!!).

Kohler Revival® Double Toilet Tissue Holder - Was $248.34 Now $217.54

Last but not least for you folks that just can’t use enough toilet paper, there is the double tissue dispenser. Women in particular will find the additional roll helpful, especially during certain times of the month… enough said. It is beautifully crafted and resists scratching, corrosion and tarnishing.

The one lesson I want you to walk away with is that THE TOILET PAPER MUST ALWAYS BE RIGHT SIDE UP!! If you need me to show you or want me to fix it send me an email and I will!

For more Toilet Paper Holders, click here.

In all earnestness, if you haven’t checked out the Smarter Coupons section of our site you are wasting some serious dinero my friend. You might as well just withdraw your money from the bank and make a cash bonfire in your backyard! Better yet, just give it to ME!!

Check out some of the deals I found at Smarter Coupons for Home Depot:

Hampton Bay 1 Lite Flushmount Flourescent

Beautiful 1 Light fluorescent flushmount with European etched white glass. Brushed steel finish.

Was: $119.00 Now: $47.60 ………..YOU SAVE = $71.40

A Sleek Cylindrical 3 in 1 Landscape Light

This sleek cylindrically designed landscape light incorporates a satin nickel finish to enhance any contemporary style. A soft warm glow emits from the plastic lens to illuminate any drive, deck or walkway. It has a unique 3 in 1 system where it mounts with or without the flange. The flange can also be used as a spike to landscape.

Was: $49.00 Now: $29.40 ………..YOU SAVE = $19.60

Hampton Bay Province Forge w/Sanding Glass Candelabra

Elegant three light pendant in province forge finish with frosted opal essence glass and crystal accents creates a European look in any home.

Was: $159.00 Now: $63.60 ………..YOU SAVE = $95.40

Hampton Bay Brushed Steel w/Frost Opal Glass Halogen Light

Halogen five light chandelier in brushed steel finish with frosted opal glass and contemporary design provides a unique look for any home.

Was: $299.00 Now: $119.60 ………..YOU SAVE = $179.40

Let’s say for the sake of argument that you live in a cave and purchased all this lighting to illuminate your earth hut you would have saved $365.80!! I guess the only problem would be, where to plug in these modern devices? In the dirt? ….

More Home Depot Coupons, click here.

Smarter Coupons for Home & Garden, click here.

To purchase items click on image or visit Home Depot “Lighting & Fans”

Ps. I should mention that these great deals are “Internet Specials” and not available at Home Depot Stores, but on the bright side, it’s absolutely FREE shipping!! Enjoy!

I wanted to take a moment and highlight one of my personal heroes and favorite designers. These segments are what I dub “dream a little dream posts” because in my dream world I would be able to purchase his designs on a whim. A girl’s gotta dream right?

Well the photo above is of the man himself, Vladimir Kagan. A brief synopsis of who he is and what he has accomplished is best summed up by a clip from his autobiography:

Vladimir Kagan is one of today’s most enduring designers of modern furniture with a career that has spanned over fifty-five years. He started designing in 1947 and by the early Fifties, his innovative sculptured furniture created a new look in American furniture. Today, his sparkling creations are on the cutting edge of the 21st century. His designs are spearheading creative designs for hotels, furniture, textiles and home furnishings. The European Magazine says: “Vladimir Kagan is one of the most important furniture designers of the 20th century. Furniture designed by him in the forties, fifties and sixties have become icons of Modernity and an obligatory reference to every designer. He is the creative grandfather of a whole new generation of designers.” - Biographical Notes 2004

Here are some examples of his beautiful work:

Fauteuil Broadway par Vladimir Kagan

Villain Chair by Vladimir Kagan

Fauteuil et pouf Wing de Vladimir Kagan

Canapé Welcome par Vladimir Kagan

Long Island by Vladimir Kagan

I am speechless. I will own a Kagan in my lifetime, I swear it on whatever God you pray too. It will be mine, oh yes… it will be mine!

In Kagan We Trust.

Source of pictures is from JGS Decorations Mod’eles, check them out here.

Their showroom is fabulousity, check it out JGS Decorations Showroom.

Officially summer solstice ends on September 22nd and the first official day of Fall is September 23rd, but I find the following molds so cute and delicious, that I am going to squeeze it in my blog as the final summer treat!

These molds make an awesome dessert or snack for kiddies and adults. Start with your favorite chewy cookies or brownies, then add your fave ice cream, frozen yogurt or tangy sorbet. Add another layer of said cookies or brownies, smoosh the mold shut and wham-o instant delicious!! The molds come in pig, cow and star shapes. They are dishwasher safe and cost $14.00 for the complete set of three.

To visit Williams-Sonoma and purchase, click here.

To see more Ice Cream Sandwich Molds, click here.

What red blooded American gal hasn’t seen “Sleepless in Seattle”? Well it has been on rotation on the local movie channels lately and I happen to catch the tail end of it yesterday. I always thought it was really sweet that Jonah (the son) wanted a lady who could peel an apple in one long strand like his deceased mother use too. And as fate would have it, Annie (Meg Ryan) had such a skill.

Well I decided to go to my kitchen and give it a whirl, heck I wouldn’t mind landing me a Tom Hanks! Turns out maintaining the single strand of apple peel without scalping your thumb is harder than it looks. The whole incident inspired me to search for a tool that would help me harness my apple slicing skills …

My top pick is from the MoMA store. Position this ingenious disc-shaped slicer on any apple and rotate to release perfect slices for snacking or cooking. Also, if you do not need the whole apple at once, you can leave the disc slicer pressed against the fruit and it will not turn brown or dry out! It’s made of stainless steel and is dishwasher safe.

Sold for - $38.00

MoMa Members pay - $34.20

My second choice is the Apple Corer and Slicer from CHEFS Catalog. Core and slice apples in one fast and easy motion. The diameter of this slicer is 3.5 inches so it can handle large apples as well, plus the extra large handles gives you more leverage. Sadly it does not provide the whole one long apple strand effect I was seeking, but on the bright side it retails for $14.99.

Still does the trick just maybe not as cool, and you may not snag Tom Hanks with the second choice.

To see more apple slicers, click here.

To visit the MoMA store, click here.

To visit the CHEFS Catalog, click here.

I attended a wedding shower this weekend and the bride-to-be received the cutest square dinnerware set! Not sure exactly where the gift giver got them, but it enticed me to look for some other square dinnerware styles. Here are some of my favorites:

Price: $89.99 for 16pc Set

Kowa Dinner Set - Oneida.com: This set is my FAVORITE! I love the square bowls. The shiny black color, and the style of the dinnerware is super DRAMATIC.

Price: $24.99 - $49.99
Whittier Collection - Target.com: I’m pretty sure this is the set that the bride-to-be received, or pretty close to it. The pure white color is great for presentation because it makes any food on the plate POP out. This collection of dinnerware also has square blows and square saucers.

Price: $26.00 for a set of 4

Floral Square Salad Plates - WestElm.com: These are super cute and I wish they came in other colors (like black & white).

Price: $29.99 - Set of 4

Terra Toscana Appetizer Plates - Target.com: These have an Italian look, and I love the colors. Click here to see more items in this collection.

Price: $14.50 for one plate

Palamino Blue Square Accent Plate - HomeClick.com: This is an accent plate, which comes with a set of other flatware. I personally love the blue/aqua-ish color and the ridget design on the plate.
Price: $19.96 for a set of 4

Blue Blossom Square Plate Set of 4 - WorldMarket.com: These plates look very vintage and have a refreshing blue color. I imagine eating sushi off these plates with tea from a cute similar style Japanese tea set.

Blue and other colors in the blue “family” are some of my favorite colors. I’ve heard that blue dinnerware and flatware are suppose to suppress your appetite. So, if you are trying to control your weight, blue plates might be a good idea so you don’t overindulge. I found some information about that here.

For more square dinnerware sets click here.