Showing posts with label dinnerware. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinnerware. Show all posts

2.21.2008

spotlight on mud australia



thought i would continue today with another spotlight on an openhouse designer. mud australia is a poreclain manufacturer based in Syndey. it was started by shelley simpson in 1994 and has become an instant classic.

mud australia ceramics, in the words of the designer herself, is a product "that perfectly combines a minimalist aesthetic with a clearly hand made finish while providing a soulful alternative to mass produced & highly manufactured ceramic design."

i love that. i'm always talking about how the objects in our shop have soul. from the sheets to the tea towels to the tealights. you pick up a mud coffee cup and your hand molds perfectly around it. there is an energy that exudes from each piece. and it so perfectly embodies our purpose to see the art in the everyday.

oh, and the best part? everything is oven, microwave, dishwasher and food safe. are you kidding me? too cool.

if you're in richmond, come in the shop and check it out for yourself. great for wedding gifts. special orders are welcome. enjoy! k&m







2.04.2008

nyigf, part 1

we had a whirlwind 30 hours in nyc this weekend (thanks to bad weather and cancelled flights). but we managed to scope out hundreds of talented designers in a sea of, well, stuff. loved, loved, loved meeting some of the openhouse family: joanna from looolo, jenny from three sheets 2 the wind, shoshana from john robshaw, amy from perch!, the wonderful creator of our yummy kobo candles (pardon me for forgetting your name!), shelly from k studio and the oh so creative ladies of dermond peterson. so lovely to put a face with everything that fills our shop.

i'm going to let the images speak for themselves. today's installment will focus on ceramic and porcelain objects and tableware. some are old favorites and others new. we didn't take our own shots, so these are all from the catalogues and websites of the designers. sorry if the quality is a bit shoddy. enjoy!


sweet bella:

we're not sure exactly what this is all about, but we loved their booth. some sort of cooperative? an indie rep group? whatever is, these letters caught our eye. handmade in england, each one is created from casts of vintage originals. we also loved the porcelain fruits and stunning ceramic tiles. we might see these popping up at openhouse one day soon...









kleinreid:

a perennial favorite. i was just psyched to meet the design-duo and talk eva zeisel, as we have both worked with her in the past. they are just as charming as their designs. loved this collection especially...



cristina salusti:

cristina is full of personality and she really puts so much passion into her work. we were floored by her renascent object collection. she takes vitage glass and ceramic thrift store finds and brings them back to life with shimmery gold designs. each piece is unique and in person they are truly breathtaking.





höganäs keramik:

mary berin introduced us to this classic swedish design house. their philosophy is not unlike ours, that everyday objects must be functional, but it doesn't mean they needn't be beautiful.





perch!:

amy is adorable and we just love her new vases. the black bird light is a stunning addition as well to her popular white bird light. she also debuted a new bird feeder and i got to see her kiki vase in person, which i am now coveting! look to see that, along with a number of her other items in openhouse this week.











xenia taler:

i've seen xenia taler's tiles online and in magazines. but i just loved the wooden boxes and frames at the show. such fun, yet sophisticated designs. sorry i don't have a pic of the frame. i'll try and get one this week.



dbo home:

dana from dbo home is too cute! and we totally want her life ;o) she brought a number of wonderful new treats to the fair this weekend. our favorite was this lamp below. truly a labor of love, dana creates the ceramic base while her husband turns the walnut top and does the wiring. beautiful! we also swooned over her new gilt collection. i don't have a picture yet, but it's the joining of two of my design obsessions; all things white and ceramic, with a touch of gold.



back tomorrow with pillows!!!!!!!

10.19.2007

mud plates and paper clouds

3 new pieces came in today from mud australia...a large pebble serving bowl/platter in ocean [$110], a medium pebble bowl in white [$55] and a beautiful large flared bowl in sand [$100]. i've been staring at the large pebble bowl all day repeating over and over "you can not keep it for yourself" ;o) and talk about serendipity! i was unpacking the newest arrivals as i tuned in to today's episode of Everyday Italian and the always lovely Giada. wouldn't you know i watched her as she plated a nice Cinnamon-Pancetta Carbonara on a mud australia pebble bowl! i don't know what looked better, the food or the platter. if only having the same dishes as Giada would make me a better cook...


[image above courtesy of mud australia]



[images above courtesy of Paper Cloud]

turning now to textiles for a moment, i had to share a great ebay find. for months i've been looking for just the right lamp bases for my dining room to go with our great Paper Cloud lampshades. i've been all over from Target to Shades of Light and struggled with Goldilocks syndrome: too small, too big, too expensive, too decorated...but now i've found them and they are just right. thanks to whoever invented ebay. enjoy the weekend and we'll be back monday with a sneak peak at some holiday items. happy shopping! k