We rarely say this, but it’s too bad we live in Traverse City.

Inspired by the resourceful culture of “curb-mining,” Minneapolis based furniture designer Blu Dot launched a marketing experiment last week, scattering 25 of its Real Good Chairs around inner city New York. Abandoned, random, free for the taking—and each chair equipped with it’s very own GPS tracker and twitter account.

“Who will take them? Where will they end up? How will they be used?” asks Blu Dot co-founder John Christakos. “We have visions you may find one under a bridge being used by a group of homeless people, another in a hipster’s apartment. We don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s fun.”

Blu Dot plans to film a documentary chronicling each chair’s unique story including interviews with the new owners, slated for a December release. Sadly, the opportunity to snatch one up yourself is long gone, but for now, you can follow their journeys here.

What will we learn? It’s a good question to ponder. For one, the campaign is an example of an innovative way to generate brand awareness in the current, evolving landscape of marketing and new media. Two, it just might prove that good design isn’t solely for the elite.

foto: PSFK.com

Blu Dot's chair

Blu Dot's chair

Blu Dot's chair

Blu Dot's chair

The Blu Dot Real Good Experiment espalhou várias das suas cadeiras pela cidade de Nova Iorque como se estivessem “perdidas” e passíveis de serem levadas.

O que os transeuntes não sabiam é que cada cadeira tinha incorporado um GPS que estava a ser seguido pela marca.

Isn’t that cool?

Fonte: PSFK

Produção Helena Marques & Susana Borges

Uma produção de design de interiores da empresa Plurevento que me fez recordar a ideia da Blu Dot.

Welcome to my spooky visual trip through all things modern and orange…

Desk 51 Blu Dot

How could a desk be more simple and sleek looking?  With a keyboard tray, it’s not only fun but functional.

Colombo Storage Trolley

This storage trolley next to your streamlined desk 51 would allow you to hold all your supplies and keep that working area tidy.  Or roll it to the next room for an arts and crafts project.

Egg Chair Arne Jacobsen

The classic Egg Chair looks amazing pulled up to the fire place as a focal piece in a transitional Family Room.

Poldo Como from Conran Shop

Who thought Rococo could look so hip!  Imagine this in a gloss white dining room with a black ceiling and clear glass table.  It’s all about the console…

George Nelson Ball Clock

The ever loved George Nelson Ball Clock available from Design Within Reach is perfect for a pop of color in your kitchen.

Blob Ceiling Lamp Karim Rashid

I can’t think of Halloween and bright orange without thinking of the invigorating color palette of Karim Rashid.  The Blob even sounds a bit spooky…

Eero Aarnio Pony Chair

Can’t forget the kids with this fun Pony Chair–after all Halloween is their day..

Though we were trick or treating on Safety Street in Fairfield yesterday and could not understand why their weren’t treats for grown-ups.  How about Coors Light from the bar, a diamond from the jewelry store and some cash from the bank?  Gives a whole new meaning to Halloween, doesn’t it?

Wishing all a Happy Halloween!

We love to shop. The thrill of finding the perfect item at the perfect price is exciting. But do you ever wish you could find everything you’re looking for, all in one store? Well if so, then this giveaway will be right up your alley. All Modern, a CSN store, wants to give one Office With a View reader a $75 shopping spree to its store! Via All Modern and the CSN network of 250+ online stores, shoppers have access to one million products from awesome lines such as DwellStudio, Herman Miller, Blu Dot,  and many more.

To enter for a chance to win this giveaway, simply visit All Modern and find an item or two that you love. Then share those items in a comment on this giveaway post. Make sure to get your comment in before midnight on Sunday (10/18). We will post the name of the randomly selected winner on Monday (10/19). *Please note that this contest is open only to United States residents due to shipping costs. Sorry. The winner will get to choose one or two items that, together, add up to $75.00 total including tax and shipping.*

Who will be the lucky winner? Head over to All Modern now, and then leave a comment here! If you want a little direction, check out All Modern’s items for your office or contemporary furniture for your home.

Ready, Set, GO!

Modernicus: Seattle Modern: Mid-Century Furniture and Accessories Road:
M A P of the most exquisite places where to shop for or just enjoy fine modern or mid-century furniture in the city of Seattle, WA.

Most of these stores carry classics like: Eames, Bertoia, Saarinen, Aalto, Nelson, Noguchi or Florence Knoll and new modern pieces by the likes of Bensen, Didier Gomez or Patricia Urquiola, just to mention a few.

It is a must to visit stores like Egbert’s to enjoy a showroom that combines classic, timeless Mid-Century pieces with more exotic accessories with a tribal flair. It is a very pleasant combination that makes a home feel home.

Other stores to go to are Velocity Art and Design and of course the more established chains like Inform Interiors, Ligne Roset, Current or Diva.

A few more places to shop in Seattle:

Chartreuse International (2609 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121)
A mix of new and used furniture and accessories (Vitra, Alessi, Marimekko). Good place for accessories but for furniture its hit and miss.

Area 51 (401 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122)
New furniture. Reproductions of classics and mid-century modern inspired contemporary pieces. Prices are good but without getting into an authorized versus non-authorized reproduction debate the quality does not compare to what you will find at the stores called out above (Inform, Ligne Roset, Diva etc.) that carry either thier own lines or Herman Miller, Knoll etc.. Dwell bedding.

TUULI of Finland (1407 1st Ave, Seattle WA, 98101)
Products from Finland. Even though the only thing mid-century here are the Marimekko fabrics I really like the store. The owner (I assume) is really great and will not only sell you the fabric but will frame it for you for a reasonable rate if you are intereseted in mid-century fabric wall hangings.

DWR (Seattle and Kirkland)
Shouldn’t need any further description. Anyway unless you are buying one of the small number of pieces exlusive to DWR you are better off shopping online at highbrowfurniture.com (no tax or shipping) or Inform were you will get a lot more color and fabric choices and help sifting through them. Historically DWR has gouged on delivery/shipping charges and thier is no pick up option (shiping prices are getting a little bit better). The Seattle showroom is bigger but I’ve found the Kirkland staff friendlier and more knowledgeable.

Alchemy Collections (2029 Second Ave, Seattle, WA 98121)
Reproductions and furniture ‘inspired by’ modern classics made in China I think as the rest of the store has an Asian modern feel. Mostly reproductions of the classics but also surprisingly some knock offs of contemporary pieces (B&B Italia for example). Quality of reproductions seemed really low to me. The pieces that I didn’t recognized seemed better quality. I think they have opened up another store on Western Ave just down from Inform. I’d recommend Area 51 or Velocity art and Design over Alchemy in terms of quality reproductions.

Urchin (1922 1st Ave, Seattle, WA)
Mostly modern accessories but also a small amount of furniture and clothing. Call it a euro-’boutique’ of modernism. Cute little store but selection is very limited.

Retrofit Home (1419 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122)
Another mostly accessories store although they have some furniture (Blu Dot and the like). Has more of a pop 60s feel. I prefer “Velocity Art and Design” and Chartreuse.

Collective (5323 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107)
Vintage (used) mid century furniture. You generally won’t find the iconic Herman Miller and Knoll pieces here but what you will find is unique, well above average in terms of design quality, and in very good to excellent condition. You will also pay top dollar for it. In their defence if you’ve tried hunting down interesting vintage pieces at garage sales, goodwill, etc. you’ll know how time consuming it can be. If time is money its probably cheaper to have the folks at Collective hunt it down for you. If Collective’s prices make you choke the next easiest alternative is craigslist.

Antika (8421 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103)
Antique store with a Danish modern room in the back. I’ve been here a couple of times but haven’t been impressed with the stock. Prices and condition are reasonable but none of the pieces stood out as representing exceptional design. It’s Danish modern but you won’t find Wegner, Fritz Hansen, Jacobsen, Ib Kofod Larsen, etc. here.

Crate and Barrel (University District and Bellevue)
Might not come to mind for mid-century or modernism but quality is light light years beyond Ikea (or Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware etc.). Prices are reasonable for the quality. They have a mid-century inspired furniture line, re-issues of Eva Zeisal dinnerware, etc.. I prefer the architetcure at the University district store otherwise they are the same.

Tottini (259 Yale Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109)
Modern furniture, accesories, and toys for kids. Build that inspiring environment for your ‘future architect’. Just down the street from Velocity Art and Design so take one trip and check them both out.

Artemide (310 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA)
Full line of Artemide lighting located in the pioneer square area. Love the products but they’re not cheap. There is a another very cool lighting store on Western near Inform which I like to but can’t remember the name of (either Highlights or Lightform).

Obwohl wir über das Wochenende keine neuen Blog-Beiträge geschrieben haben, waren wir nicht völlig inaktiv. Wir haben uns auf den nächsten Schritt vorbereitet.

Mehr dazu bald.

Einer der Höhepunkte unseres Wochenendes kam kurz nachdem wir dachten, den Höhepunkt bereits erreicht zu haben. Wir haben vor kurzem gehört, dass die exzellente “blu dot”-Reihe nun auf design public erhältlich ist.

Als wir endlich dazu gekommen sind, uns das anzusehen, haben wir entdeckt, dass nicht nur blu dot sondern auch iglooplay – eine unserer Entdeckungen von der ICFF – sowie Jason Miller auf design public verfügbar sind, auch wenn es von letzterem leider nur die “Seconds”-Teller sind, und nicht den phantastischen Spiral Lounger.

Laut Design Public ist ihre “Mission frisches und inspirierendes Design zu verkaufen, mit dem Engagement, zu bilden, zu inspirieren, zu fördern und großartiges neues Design zu feiern.”

Und wir haben schlechtere Versuche gesehen. Viel schlechtere.

Wir haben blu dot das erste Mal auf der ICFF gesehen, und ihre Entwicklung seitdem mit Interesse verfolgt. Mit Produkten wie dem Buttercup Rocker haben sie eine wundervolle Interpretation der 1970er in klassischem Eamse’schem Stil geschaffen, die dennoch reif für das 21. Jahrhundert ist. Und sehr bequem noch dazu.

Buttercup Rocker vonblu dot (Quelle: http://www.designpublic.com/shop/blu-dot/4804)

Für uns, eine der besten Eigenschaften von iglooplays Kindermöbel ist der Name ihres Schlüsselelements: ”Mod Rocker”

Wir sind uns nicht sicher, ob den Macher die Geschichte der britischen Jugendkultur in den 1960ern, die Rockopern von The Who oder die Werke von Staneley Cohen geläufig ist. Wir sind uns genausowenig sicher, ob wir möchten, dass sie es sind.

Aber mal vom besten Namen, dem wir je begegnet sind, abgesehen: Mod Rocker ist einer der frischesten und originellsten Kindersitze, die wir je gesehen haben. Und obwohl es nicht gerade ein Buttercup Rocker für die jüngere Generation ist, so ist Mod Rocker doch ein gutes Beispiel dafür, was mit Sperrholz, Erfindungsreichtum und Talent erreicht werden kann. (Obwohl iglooplay einen Tick weniger beschützerisch sein sollte, wenn es um ihre Fotos geht – kommt schon, Leute, wenn ihr nicht wollt, dass Leute eure Produkte sehen, dann handelt nicht online Es ist 2009, nicht 1986, und wir wollen nur eure wunderbaren Möbel zeigen… Etwas weniger USM Haller, und etwas mehr Vitra wird euch nicht weh tun, wirklich)

Mod Rocker von iglooplay - wunderbares Produkt, schockierendes Webdesign.

Und es sind nicht nur neue Designer vertreten. Unter den Herstellern findet sich auch der beliebte große Schweizer Hersteller Vitra, wenn auch wieder nur mit einer beschränkten Produktauswahl.

Das einzige Problem ist, dass design public nicht nach Europa liefert… und deshalb müssen wir vor dem Schaufenster stehen bleiben wie die Kinder, unsere Nasen an die Scheibe pressen und uns die wunderbare Welt vorstellen, die so verlockend außer Reichweite ist.

To review the article in its entirety, please click here

Blu Dot

The Modu-licious furniture line is a great series from Blu Dot. Modern lines and steel drawers and doors make this a beautiful collection. Consisting of seven different cabinet options and ten customizable color options one can build a unit just right for their place. Our favorites include the Modu-licious #6 (left, $1400), Modu-licious Bedside Table (center, $400), and Modu-licious #5 ($1400).

So this challenge has been in the works for several days…I had to skip it a couple times because the website was down (bludot.com) for a while. Today, the main page is functional, but the rest of the site is still down. I refused to skip it again, so I did it anyway. After all, I only have a couple challenges left on my first list, and I can’t really afford to skip around!

Blu Dot

Blu Dot makes furniture. Awesome, retro-modern, simple, functional, and attractive furniture. It’s also awesome because their furniture is priced right. It’s affordable, and it’s not hideous. It looks like it’s really expensive. Novel idea, huh?

The whole manifesto behind Blu Dot is that good design is good. And you don’t have to sacrifice your nest egg for it. That’s all I really wanted to focus on.

So, this is a concept for an interactive ad that could possibly be the cover of a catalog, or it could be a standalone direct mailer/handout/leave-behind, perhaps along with a mini-catalog or insert. Let me explain.

(c) Amy E. Rumbarger 2009

See, it’s a venn diagram. But you don’t see the middle yet. It’s just the two circles that don’t overlap–good design and affordability–because they don’t usually overlap, do they? Then, you open it from the center…

(c) Amy E. Rumbarger 2009

…and out pops the big blue Blu Dot logo. It would literally pop out, too, because it would be a pop-up book kind of thing where it’s almost spring-loaded on a paper accordion. The two colored circles still remain on either side on the inside flaps of the piece. The Blu Dot logo visually completes the venn diagram, merging good design and affordability.

As I mentioned before, one use of this that I thought would be effective would be as the cover of a catalog. It’s a nice introduction to what they do, and a good lead-in to all the lovely furniture pictures and such. Since this piece doesn’t actually have any furniture on it, it wouldn’t be overkill with the catalog. Here’s a mock-up of how that might look:

(c) Amy E. Rumbarger 2009

Again, it could also be a standalone mailer or leave-behind, but I think it’d have to come with a brochure or insert of some kind explaining further, since it’s intentionally pretty vague. If it was definitely going to be standalone, I’d put some photos and information on the back of the piece. Just didn’t have time to deal with that this time!

The Aftermath

How do you feel about this ad? I like it. I’d like to deal with the different applications of it a little more, and design the back, but I like the concept.

Given more time, what would you have done differently? Just as I said above! I did have about 10 minutes left when I finished, but it wasn’t going to be enough time to do those things properly, so I decided to just call it a night.

How would you extend this into a campaign? I’d like to explore the venn diagram thing as a campaign. Visually it might be more successful as a web ad or something where the viewer doesn’t have to connect the venn diagram–it’d be done for them, digitally.

Day 27 complete! Come back tomorrow for more, and for now, feel free to comment, e-mail me, or follow me on Twitter.

As a side note, I’m almost out of challenges. I’ll be trying to compile my own list for at least the next 30 challenges, but I could use some help! You can’t trust me to remain unbiased and not do awesome products that I love every single time, can you? I’d be happy to hear from you with suggestions for future challenges. I guarantee I’ll take whatever you can dish out (unless it’s illegal or inappropriate!) so go for it! E-mail me, comment, or Tweet me with your ideas. Thanks!

Although no new blog posts appeared over the weekend, we weren’t completely inactive; rather we were preparing for our next step.

More soon.

For us one of the highpoints of the weekend came shortly after what we thought was going to be the high point. We had recently heard that the excellent blu dot designer furniture range was now available through design public.

On finally getting round to checking it out we discovered that not only is blu dot available through design public but also iglooplay – for us one of the real discoveries at ICFF  – and Jason Miller, although sadly just his “Seconds” plates and not the wonderful Spiral Lounger.

According to Design Public their “mission is to sell fresh and inspiring design with a continued commitment to educate, inspire, nurture, and celebrate great new design.”

And we’ve seen worse attempts at such. Much worse.

We first encountered blu dot at ICFF and since then have take a keen interest in them.  With products such as the wonderful Buttercup Rocker they have created a wonderful 1970s take in classic Eamseien styling; albeit fit for the 21st century. And it is very comfortable.

Buttercup Rocker by blu dot (photo source: http://www.designpublic.com/shop/blu-dot/4804)

For us one of the best features of iglooplay’s childrens furniture is the name of their principle element: “Mod Rocker”

We’re not sure if the makers are familiar with the history of British youth culture in the 1960s, the rock operas of The Who or the works of Stanely Cohen. Nor are we sure if we want them to be.

But aside from the best name we’ve ever come across, Mod Rocker is one of the freshest and most original child seating solutions we have seen. And when not exactly a Buttercup Rocker for the youngest generation, Mod Rocker is another fine example of what can be achieved with plywood, imagination … and talent. (Although iglooplay do need to be just a tick less protective – dare we say a*a* – when it comes to their photos – come on guys if you don’t want folks to see your products, don’t deal online Its 2009 not 1986, and we only want to share your wonderful furniture … A litle less USM Haller, a little more Vitra won’t hurt, honest)

Mod Rocker from iglooplay - excellent product, shocking approach to website design.

And it’s not just new designers that are represented. Among the producers is everyone’s favourite Swiss giant Vitra; again albeit here just with limited range of products.

The only problem is design public don’t deliver to Europe … and so we’ll just have to stand like the big kids we are with our noses pressed against the glass and wonder at the Aladdin’s cave tantalisingly beyond our reach.

The NYC Post Police - tailed our every move and word

Your (smow)blog team didn’t become the internationally feared and monitored crew we are simply because we travel the world fearlessly attending opening night parties.
Oh no! We achieved our notoriety on account of our excellent network of contacts among designers, producers, critics and delivery drivers. Nothing but nothing passes us by.

As observant readers may have noticed, during our visit to the ICFF we did spend quite a lot of time complaining about the lack of tables in the press room.

And now we must admit that during ICFF we did solve the riddle.
Magis had of course delivered tables for the press room.

Piggyback by Thomas Heatherwick for Magis

In addition to supplying Chair First by Stefano Giovannoni Magis also supplied their wonderful Piggyback tables by Thomas Heatherwick.

Magis are serious and reliable partner, why would they not supply tables?

Only the Piggyback tables became damaged during set-up and spent the show stowed in a store room deep in the bowels of the Javits Centre.

And no-one from the ICFF organisation sought to seek replacements.

Behind the scenes there was a lot of talk of unions and “official processes”, but for us the fact of the missing press room tables summed up ICFF beautifully and underlines why for us it was the weakest and worst organised of the events we attended as part of the smow design spring.

Which isn’t to be interpreted as direct criticism of those who are responsible for the press work, they are also merely a partner of the organiser, and it is they who carry ultimate responsible for the shoddiness: Along with the Javits Center management.

Tints by Jason Miller - one of the true stars of ICFF 2009

The word on the street in New York was that next year ICFF may do away with the press room all together, which is truly a sad indictment on the show and how seriously it is taken. In addition to the established critics amongst the traditional media – alone the vicinity to the New York Times must, must count – America is home to some excellent design blogs, we name alone Core 77 and design milk as two that we follow and read with interest and which amuse and entertain.

When we think of, for example, Milan where from early morning to late evening texts are written, interviews carried out, pictures edited and videos cut in a dozen languages. And then New York where all too often we sat alone on the floor, or when we had company it was inevitably executives from some B2B publication deciding who to sell advertising space to.

Tablefights - we know just how they feel

Instead of further discouraging reports the ICFF should be actively recruiting those who can bring the products to the masses and so encourage other producers to book space. Or should that ugly, dirty and unkempt space at the back of the hall grow even larger?

We will be back in New York next year, not least because we want to kick Ami timber at the 2010 Table Fights Championships – if we attend ICFF, however, remains to be seen.

We made a few fantastic discoveries at ICFF not least Jason Miller, Blu Dot and Iglooplay; three discoveries that more or less justified the air fares. But if that alone is worth struggling with a barely functioning Internet and inadequate facilities to promote an event run by an organisation who lack the ability to place two tables is a room – and that despite having rented some 145,000 net square feet to furniture producers – that remains to be seen.

I’m dating myself by saying this, but I remember when you could find really great stuff* in thrift shops: Bakelite radios. Art Deco vases for a quarter. Eames chairs for $15. Rya rugs. Higgins glass. Chrome cocktail sets. 1940s barkcloth. World’s Fair juice glasses. *Not all at once

The other day, I decided to find out whether you could find anything at all worth buying anymore.

I was on a mission.  I was thinking of the empty shelves of the cottage in Springs (left and below) I’m going to contract on next week.  I’ll need to furnish and kit out the place cheaply and in a great hurry, between closing April 15 – fingers crossed, God willing, Inshallah, spit spit - and Memorial Day, which I hope will be the start of my summer rental season.

So I started at one of my old haunts, the Salvation Army in Bed-Stuy (the one on Downing Street near the Broken Angel House), where, back in the day, I picked up a hand-tinted panorama of Genoa, Italy, for $7; an entire wardrobe of some lady’s super-stylish, big-shouldered 1940s cast-offs, for $20; and a great, swooping sofa a la Vladimir Kagan, upholstered in orange with glints of gold.

The place hasn’t changed a bit. It’s still dreary and depressing, with that thrift-shop smell.

But I held my breath and picked out a white melamine mixing bowl, a set of Oxo knives, and a green wire drinking-glass carrier that might be ‘old’ (total $12). Not very exciting. Then I went into the furniture department and spotted, among plaid couches and utter crap, a blonde wood armchair with webbed seats that I momentarily hoped might be Jens Risom but quickly realized was IKEA.

No matter. It was $25, in great shape, and will totally work in Springs. I bought it.

I moved on to the Goodwill on Livingston Street in downtown Brooklyn, where I had an epiphany: where yesterday’s thrift shops were filled with the products of Woolworth’s and Kresge’s, today’s are filled with second-hand Target, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, IKEA, and Martha Stewart for K-Mart. Which would actually be OK, if the prices were startlingly better for those incomplete sets of dishes and silverware. But they aren’t, which begs the question: why not just go to Target, IKEA, etc. and buy the stuff new?

Still, I bought two turquoise chargers ($4) and four dessert plates with hula dancers that I recognized from Fish’s Eddy ($8, probably the same as Fish’s Eddy).

Thrift shop bonanza

Then I made a final foray to the Bendel’s of thrift shops, Housing Works on Montague Street. And there I didn’t buy anything. Why? Because the abundance of well-priced, relatively tasteful stuff (white restaurant china and glasses for $1-2 apiece, a plywood media unit on casters by Blu Dot for $165, all the art and photography books I’ll need to fill those shelves) is such that, when I’m absolutely sure the cottage is mine, I may not need to go anywhere else.

From ABC furniture

Blu Dot Strut X Large Table

From ABC

Nice kitchen table and killer chairs for the crib!

Check out Blu Dot, http://www.bludot.com/Browse_Products/Tables/product/Strut_Table,_X-Large

And ABC Carpet & Home in NYC for amazing finds, http://www.abchome.com/

Gigantic!

When Will at Green Bottle asked us to consider CB2’s Industry Pendant Lamps as part of our kitchen lighting set-up, consider we did… for all of two seconds… before deciding that they were exactly what we’d been searching for.

They’re big (20.25″ D. x 23″ H.)! They’re black (although this may change once we start nailing down color schemes)! They’re steel! They’re affordable…

…and, right now, they’re shipping for FREE!

From the CB2 site: “The really big one. Over the top, hi-gloss black steel warehouse lamp rimmed in delustered metal replicates its big union predecessors at a minimum wage price. Frosted glass diffuses the beam. Retro black cloth cord tandems with metal cable for strong suspension. Professional hardwire installation recommended; hardware and ceiling plate included.”

So, we’ll be getting two of these bad boys to go above our kitchen island (should go real good with our Real Goods). And with our left-over-wedding-booty Crate and Barrel gift cards and FREE shipping, we’re hoping to pay only pennies.

Blu Dot's Real Good sit.

Hard to believe, but Minneapolis-based Blu Dot has been at it for more than a decade now… that’s ten years and then some to you and me.

Born in 1997 out of the goal to “bring good design to as many people as possible,” Blu Dot has managed to do just that, along the way creating “useful, desirable and affordable” future classics such as their award-winning Modulicious line.

Blu Dot’s latest, the Real Good Barstool (reviewed in the current issue of Dwell magazine), is, like their Real Good Chair, a single piece of laser-cut, powder-coated steel that ships flat and is, then, easily folded into the lovely piece of work pictured above. Sleek and sturdy (and comfortable!), it’s available in aqua, ivory, satin black or glossy red (an optional cushioned faux-leather seat pad is also available for $39). And, at $199, it’s easily the most affordable, durable, modern barstool that we’ve managed to find thus far (we’re planning to get three or four for the island in the kitchen).

Real Good height.

For more on the Real Good Barstool, check out the equally good Blu Dot site. And while you’re there, be sure to watch our good pal Bob Shea’s movie Eric’s Really Good Idea (featuring Andy Keep!). It’s one of four short films that comprise the Blu Dot Short Film Series—films that “celebrate and discover design in everyday life.”

Oh, and after that, be sure to hop on over and say “Hi” to Bob at his site.

[Ed. note: If you're planning to be in the Chicago area this Thursday, November 20th, the founders of Blu Dot will be at I.D. (3337 North Halstead Street) at 7 pm to unveil their latest designs.]

I’m continually amazed by how Blu Dot takes so much of what was lifeless about modernism and infuses it with fun and irreverence. I just recently took a serious look at the brand’s Series 11 range (scattered throughout the image above), which I initially kind of dismissed as a movement away from whimsical spirit of much earlier design. But this stuff is working on me. I like the refinement of it, which feels a little more grown up than much of what we’ve seen from Blu Dot before. And, as always, this stuff is incredibly priced for designer furniture.

Blu Dot have teamed up with Herman Miller to make this Cognita storage bench, which goes very nicely with the Nelson Swag Leg desk.

Velocity Art and Design is a home furnishing store I have only recently discovered that I am completely in awe of. Their roster of designers, variety of offerings, and beauty in display all make me a return ‘online store’ window-shopper. I can’t vouch for the online shopping or in-store experiences of customers, but I can say that their online range of products borders on the sublime and their sale page is very compelling!

The store owners state that they operate their business around the theory of ‘organic modernism‘, which is the perception inspired by an optimistic outlook of the diverse world in which we live. Organic qualities represent the intuitive processes of discovery and growth which embody interactions with the living world. Organic Modernism joins these two distinct entities creates a way of being – aesthetically, experientially, and in action.

That makes some sort of sense to me. Design like this is exciting and while in many ways a collective experience, it’s a personal journey and seeing and living with discoveries – both old and new – makes it a worthwhile trip. Navigating through what you do and don’t like. Intuition, interaction, optimism.

Living with a design-conscious Scandinavian, this mode of thinking is continuously being learned through his interests in this area. It’s wonderful to live with colour, well thought-out design, and quality over quantity.

Have a peak at the Velocity Art and Design online store and begin your journey into organic modernism!

Available in: Seattle, US and online

Last night I attended an open house at Vessel, promoting the Vessel Dot Spot — it now carries an extensive inventory of the Blu Dot range. Here are a few of the Blu Dot items that caught my eye and hopefully over time will find their way into my apartment.

I would use this Blue Dot desk 51 as a sewing workspace and pair it with this . . .

. . . Real good chair. It’s crafted from steel and reclines slightly upon applied pressure.

Finally, the 2d:3d Wall Mount Magazine Rack would house my conversation-worthy magazines.

We’re expecting our first child in mid-April, and we’re thrilled as pomeranians with new Hello Kitty chew toys. But six weeks until the bun is baked, and we’re struggling with names.

Our shortlist consists of exactly ONE English name, and ONE character for his Chinese name. Oh, yeah, it’s a boy!

Some people have no such problems. Angelina and Brad are great at naming kids: Maddox, Pax Thien, Shiloh, Zahara! But they probably have eight full-time staff coming up with them.

So, we’re enlisting the help of you, our friends, family, and readers to help us choose a name. Imagine, you get to name our son! But even better than bragging rights, if the name you propose is picked, we’ll give you a brand-new, Blu Dot Couchoid Studio sofa. (Download a pdf spec sheet here.)

(If this sounds like some thinly-veiled publicity stunt for our store, that exploits an innocent, unborn child, I say to you, “Yes, it is!” But at least it’s better than naming your child “Brooklyn” just to get free pizza.)

Seriously, though, we just figured it might be nice if others could share in our big event. You know, the wisdom of crowds and all that. So here goes:

Our surname is “Quah” (“柯” in Mandarin). The one English name we like is “Kyle”.

The Chinese name we like is a lot “King” (“敬”) which means “respect”. Preferably, it would be used as the second name, i.e. “Quah King Something.” “King Kong” has already been thought of and rejected, thank you very much.

We also like “Khai” (“凯”) which means “triumphant” or “victorious.” But the problem with “Kyle Quah King Khai” is the alliteration—it’s just too much of a tongue-twister.

Some guidelines:

• You can offer a Chinese name, or an alternate English name, or both.
• One to five carefully considered names is plenty. We prefer not having to read a list of 300 names lifted off the internet.
• We don’t mind if the name’s uncommon. We’re not keen on Michael, John, David or Andrew. (Apologies to readers with those names.) I personally like cowboy names. Cody, Jake, Wyatt, but the wife will have none of it, as according to her, they’re “too American.”
• Chinese names can be in any dialect. Hokkien if at all possible, otherwise we’re not too fussed about it. The Chinese character should, naturally, be something meaningful.

Send your entry to:pomelobaby (at) gmail (dot) com

Good luck!

Raymond & Karina

The fine print: Contest closing date: 15 April 2008. Please include your name and a contact number in your entry. Prize eligible for readers residing in Singapore only, sorry. Sofa is not exchangeable for cash, currypuffs or anything else. If more than one person suggests the same name, the first person who emailed it in, wins. In the event that we go with a completely different name than any suggested, we will award the sofa to one person chosen at random. Winner will be announced on this blog soon after the delivery date.