The Pet Project

An oversize cat scratcher covered in brown carpet looks even worse when paired with say, an Eames Chaise. Same goes for pet beds and bowls. So designer Lene Nendel paired with CEO Michael Ryding in 2004 to form Copenhagen based The Pet Project, an animal-centric design company that fulfills pets' needs in modern style.

We especially like Cat and Dog Cave No. 2. It retails for about $650 in the Walnut veneer and a portion of proceeds from any The Pet Project purchase is donated to cat and dog charities in the customers' local area. One Pet Peeve though, except for Cat and Dog Bed No. 1, which comes in a large, retriever-friendly size, The Pet Project pieces cater to mini tail-waggers.

Modern Love

With a vibrant red seat and gravity defying form, the classic Mezzadro stool by Castiglioni brothers looks as modern today as it did in 1957, when the design was new. Taking a seat in the MAK, Museum of Applied Arts and Contemporary Art in Vienna, the Mezzadro stool joins Mart Stam's famous Cantilever Chair and works by Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Bruer, Tom Dixon and Ross Lovegrove. Being ahead of the curve never looked so good.

The Mezzadro stool by Zanotta is available from Europe By Net for $429-- the best price we've seen.

Dutchtub

The Dutchtub is about fun and physics, so it heats up a good time in a most unexpected way. Cold water, or even snow, goes into the tub and gets sucked through tubing heated by a wood fire. The hot water flows back into the tub and voila, you've got a party. It takes about two hours for all the water to be cycled through, but you can use that time to shell shrimp. The Dutchtub is designed for cooking over the fire while relaxing in the warm tub. And it's designed for maximum portability. Empty, it's light enough to be moved from place to place for an outdoor party anywhere. With a young, outdoorsy, party image and a hip and vibrant color palette, the Dutchtub is every bit the wish-list toy for weekend warrior urbanites. But even though this tub is sans fancy water jets or even electricity, its price tag is full force. Expect to pay about $5,700 plus delivery.

Morrison's Pots & Pans

Oooh look at these new pots and pans by Jasper Morrison for Alessi. Available at the MOMA store.

Thanks Kitchen AT!!

Technorati Tags: Alessi, Jasper Morrison, Modern Kitchen, Modern Design

Space Saving Sinks from Whitehaus

Small size sinks from Whitehaus Collection save space without sacrificing style.

Vitra's long low sofa

Vitra's Polder sofa by Dutch designer Hella Jongerius is a construction marvel. Buried deep within the foam is a wooden frame, which in and of itself is hardly exciting. But what Jongerius knows is that people do awful things to sofas. They sit on arms, on backs, on edges. The very things that break down a frame. So she designed it with wayward adults -- and active kids -- in mind.

This is a sofa that is supposed to be a set for every major event -- the first kiss, the lovers' romp, a kids birthday party. And Jongerius isn't taking chances that you won't deck out her set in style. Like it's name, the sofa is long and low-lying and surrounded by different elevations. Available in five different palettes, a subtle combination of colors and textures accentuate the elevations. The final detail is a random assortment of natural buttons attached with colorful threads.

At nearly $9000 for the 115" sofa, and $9500 for the 131", the Polder is not for all, but the sofa will be everything to those who do.

Technorati Tags: Modern Sofa , Hella Jongerius, Vitra, Modern Design

Eames Lounge Comfort

DWR Founder Rob Forbes celebrates the anniversary of the iconic Eames Lounge in his latest newsletter. Among the achievements of Charles and Ray's museum star, Forbes sites the chair's "exceptional comfort."

We know some of our readers disagree, but perhaps the modern Herman Miller versions sold through  DWR have improved comfort. What do you think? A comfortable classic, or a beautiful reminder that ergonomics has come along way in 50 years?

Excerpt from Forbes's DWR newsletter:
"The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956) stand firmly in the world of icon status, and the pair's golden anniversary is being commemorated internationally. However, what truly makes this chair special is its exceptional comfort, even more so than its star status. Charles and Ray Eames conceived the chair as the 20th-century American answer to the Edwardian English Club Chair. In the process, they introduced the concept of a "lounge" chair to postwar America, as well as to Europe. (If you have a copy of 1000 Chairs nearby, flip through the pages up to the Eames Lounge, and then flip through the pages that follow. Do you agree the chairs appear to relax?)
At the time of the chair's debut, governments and businesses were busy ushering in a period of tremendous growth, cultural expansion and the rise of corporate America. The need for mass-produced housing was shaping architecture (11,000 Eichler homes were built between 1950 and 1974 in California alone), and roadways showcased the crisp and clean styling and performance of new automobiles. It was a time when American values were expressed through well-designed products manufactured in the U.S., and the results were recognized globally for their appeal.

Not only did these items have appeal then, but many continue to be popular today. The reason for the continuing relevance of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is simple. It's comfortable. It's at once precise and voluptuous, without sacrificing function or form. The Eameses wanted the chair to have "the warm receptive look of a well-used first-baseman's mitt" and the chair fulfills this objective, plus it has the unexpected motion from its cool swivel base. Its trim lines make this high-style lounger suited to the office as well as the study, and at the time of its introduction it was one of the first lounge chairs that appealed to women as much as it did to men. (A 1975 cover of Business Week had the headline "The Corporate Woman: Up the Ladder, Finally" next to a picture of a woman sitting in the Eames Lounge.) When a design offers as much as the Eames Lounge, it has the potential for longevity. If one could pick only one piece of modern furniture to use and appreciate, this would be as suitable as any."

A Twist by Oliver Becker

Oliver Becker has engineered this new chair and offers it under the name Studio Becker .

Thanks TrucDesign!

Technorati Tags: Oliver Becker, Studio Becker, Modern Chair, Modern Design

Dream Grills

Americans keep fanning the flames of love for outdoor kitchens and this version from Viteo Outdoor is sure to create the same lustful response. But when it comes to adding fire to this al fresco cooking dream land, to whom shall we turn to get the looks we want with the functionality we need?

Well, as Caroline Barry found in searching for the perfect modern grill, it depends on what you're looking for. She's found the best of the best for those seeking everything from the Ultra-Modern to the Classic to the Serious Grill. Rest assured, there's a grill out there for everyone, and we can help you find yours. Find your Dream Grill.

Good News About the Pentagon

No, we're not refering to the U.S. Department of Defense. There's still trouble brewing there. But apparently the best qualities of the 5-sided structure were lifted by concept designer Tobias Wong and Danish-born designer Niels Bendtsen to create this 1970s-style conversation pit.
The sectional is manufacturerd by Bendtsen's Vancouver-based company. And, in case you geometry buffs are measuring, that is a 108-degree angle.

Thanks MocoLoco!

Technorati Tags: Conversation Pit , Tobias Wong, Niels Bendsten, Modern Design