One of the highlights of West Coast Green for me was meeting Brandon Morrison, the designer and craftsman behind Whyr'hymer Furniture, an eco-furniture design business he owns and operates with his wife, Sundeep. I love their furniture's lines, which in some pieces are very Arts and Crafts-inspired, and in other designs, seem to blend this sensibility with a modern aesthetic.
All of the furniture from Whyr'hymer is made from FSC-certified wood, and the finishes are either water-based or natural waxes and oils. And the couple makes everything by themselves in their West Hollywood studio. Nothing is outsourced in their creations. Of course, this means that these pieces are going to be more expensive, but the quality of each piece is obvious. And, as someone who's been lucky enough to sit in one of Brandon's well-designed chairs, it's an amazingly comfortable experience as well.
To see a video of the couple designing and building furniture in their studio, read more
I don't mean to be materialistic, but one of the best things about traveling is the shopping! I love returning from a vacation with home goods or clothing that no one else has, that makes people say, "Where did you get that?" OK, I guess that's superficial. These days, thanks to the grand old Internet, we can shop internationally with just the click of a button. So many of my favorite home décor shops, such as Graham and Green, are based internationally, so it's nice to have the option of ordering online. But, pricey shipping costs and longer shipping times are kind of a bummer. Do you shop online internationally? Source
Craftster member OpheliaITA recently refurbished her grandmother's sideboard. She writes, "I started this restoration two years ago, but the university, work, and, well, the lack of will stopped my good intentions! This Summer I finally had the time to bring back to life this old sideboard that was of my grandmother's and had stayed for years in the cellar with humidity, dust, mice, and other not so sociable little animals!"
With some hard work, OpheliaITA restored the sideboard to its former glory.
Artist and designer Amy Butler, whom many of you know for her textiles, has decided to delve into the world of ceramics, partnering with Mikasa to introduce Vintage Botanica, a unique china pattern in her signature style. Vintage Botanica is a clean-lined collection with curved silhouettes and fresh, colorful florals and in some cases, a stylish peacock. The dinnerware certainly has that Midwest Modern vibe with vintage and organic elements, and is versatile enough for casual or formal dining, depending on how you style your table setting. The collection is available from Mikasa or Amy Butler.
Recently, I got to test the Sumo Omni ($149). While it's technically a bean bag, it's a lot cooler than the bean bags I grew up with. The Omni is close to indestructible, made from rip-proof nylon and filled with Sumo Beads (aka tiny white foam balls). It's big, too, measuring in at 4.5 by 5.5 feet.
To hear what I thought of the Omni, as well as the opinions of some of my fellow Sugar friends, read more
You might have seen the Design House Stockholm Carrie Shopping Basket when I featured it in my Not Your Grandma's Lace Trend Alert, or even snuck a peek of it used as a magazine holder in my very own house. I must admit, I shelled out $44 for the basket from Zinc Details — kind of a lot for my shelter mag storage, but I couldn't resist! When I caught it selling for $37 at Unica Home, I felt a little cheated. Now that I've seen it selling at the Container Store for $29.99 (what a steal!), I really just feel as dumb as a rock. But, perhaps this means I can snatch one up to use as an actual shopping basket. : )
Koodos
My-Wardrobe.com
Vanessa Bruno