D.C. Vintage

Washington, D.C. suburb-based Factory 20 offers "exceptional and exquisite design without boundaries. Moderne, Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary, Industrial, Deco, Streamline, Primitive, Turn-of-the-Century, Bauhaus, and Outsider Art. No run-of-the-mill designs. Only unique pieces, thanks to their intrinsic quality, originality and their history." As it should be. A smorgasbord. Here's some of their furniture offerings. I'll have to post on lighting and objects later. Too many good pics from their site

From Apple Ad to the Office

Designer Mike Ableson and manfucturer Postalco from Japan "wanted a way to carry papers and documents that would function and age well. Some experimentation resulted in a series of document carrying envelopes made from pressed cotton and leather with an adjustable button closure." Here they are. Great design:

About Damn Time

I really want to stay away from politics on this blog because of the vitriol it brings out in people / readers, but Patrick Moberg's illustration of past U.S. presidents and President-Elect Obama makes quite the point. Yes we can:

Love Him or Hate Him #2

This might become a series. I have some friends who love Richard Buckner and others who hate him. Like my first "Love Him..." post about Elvis Costello, I can understand both positions. Anyway, I'm in a Buckner mood this a.m.. Maybe it's the weather, or Calexico in town tonite, or other topics we won't get into.

Blowing Smoke

Disassembled and Reassembled and...

Stuart Haygarth, Steve Wiman, Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Cornell, and others used and use "found" objects for their art, but Brittny Badger takes a different angle when assembling her objects for art's sake. Instead of collecting items off the street, the beach, from an antique shop, etc., the Hartford Art School graduate disassembles and then arranges the innards of new household appliances into artful compositions. Pictured below are the guts of a sandwich press, popcorn maker, electric knife, iron, and can opener. I'm a fan.

Balloon Dress

Costa Rican Retreat

Whereas Glen Murcutt works slowly and methodically, architect Gianni Botsford is seriously prolific, churning out project after project for retailers, hoteliers, wealthy homeowners, etc.. The project I like most of his, however, was built for himself. Check out this beachfront spot in Cahuita, Costa Rica:

Quonset Huts

Michael Williams at A Continuous Lean made a post on Quonset huts yesterday, but I couldn't help but do the same. I've always dreamed of having a design shop in one of these:

Dieter Rams

Glenn Murcutt's motto (see previous post) is "touch the earth lightly." Dieter Rams once explained his design approach as "Weniger, aber besser" - or "Less, but better." One is an architect and the other a product designer (though he studied architecture), but their philosophies seem to cross paths in their simplicity. Here's some of Rams' brilliant work for Braun:

Glen Murcutt

Australian architect Glenn Murcutt's motto is to "touch the earth lightly" - a concept American architects are just starting to figure out. And in an age of glitz=obsessed "starchitects," Murcutt works in a one-person office and gives each project his undivided attention.

Marcela Restrepo

Columbian-born, Australian-trained, Sydney-residing ---- lefty Marcelo Restrepo:

Zero

aka Hans Schleger

Me Likes Old Staplers

Somewhere in France