I'm horrible about taking care of my jewelry when it comes to storage -- I have a tangled mess of bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings in about 4 different jewelry boxes. But I think that would be a different story if I had one of these Jewelry Trees from Scandezign (or I might need a small forest of them). Exceptionally fluid and simple, its classic and modern feel both holds your jewels safely and shows them off beautifully. Designed by Louise Christ it's made of brushed aluminum and stands 10.1" high and 5.3" wide. $54
This gadget is for just for users of Apple laptops. The Floater is made out of a block of solid aluminum and is designed to hold your computer when you have it hooked up to an external keyboard and monitor. The Floater has airflow designed to keep your Apple cooler. The stand has drilled channels for the cables and silicon pads to grip your Mac without scratching it. Although it looks precarious, the company also promises that the Floater is perfectly stable. It has the same pared down aesthetic as Apple products and sells for $305.
The blogosphere has been all abuzz over these gleaming beauties, the Muon speakers. The over six-foot-tall aluminum speakers were created in a collaboration between KEF, the loudspeaker manufacturer and Apple's industrial designer, Ross Lovegrove,known for his work on the iMac. The result are these sinous speakers which are created from super-formed aluminum. They are four way speakers that use the KEF proprietary Uni-Q drive unit array to create a seamless sonic picture. There are also two additional bass drivers mounted in the back of Muon. There are just 100 pairs being made and they sell for an astounding $140,000 per pair. Check out video of the launch in Milan via MoCo Loco.
I am a huge fan of mobiles -- something about them is so peaceful and tranquil, plus they bring unique interest and movement into a room. Mobiles are available in every style, color, and size you can imagine, but one of my new favorites is this Translucent Lucite Mobile by Michele Varian. It consists of aluminum rods holding different sized clear discs and circles hanging on clear cords, and is available in both small (2 1/2' X 4') and large (4' X 5 1/2') sizes. Selling for $625 and $1250, respectively, it's definitely not an impulse purchase -- but then unique accents like this rarely are anyway.
Exclusively available at Design Within Reach, this 20-06 Chair has a bit of appeal added to its minimalists functional by the fact that it is limited edition and only 500 chairs were produced. Each one is made from 80% recycled aluminum and is numbered (2/500, 3/500, etc) on the back. The seamless chairs weigh only 5.5 pounds each and, although slim, are "three times stronger than steel" (tensile strength of 45,000 p.s.i.). They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Price: $400.
The Gracious Goods Cake Dome & Pedestal is one of the most elegant ways of presenting baked goods that I have seen in quite a while. The highly-stylized pedestal is made of cast aluminum, so it is lighter than it looks, and is topped with a glass dome with handle that matches the base. While it is easy to see a bundt cake under the dome, it actually seems like it would be the perfect way to present scones or muffins at a spring brunch, where the lid can be lifted and replaced as guests take what they want. It measures 16"H x 14" and is dishwasher safe. Price: $215.
Although it has a bit of a holiday look to it do to its shape, the Jewelry Tree does not have a specifically seasonal affiliation. The branches are designed to hold rings and hang bracelets much more elegantly than your average ring-holder does. It stands approximately 13cm high and was designed by Louise Christ and is made of mirror-finished aluminum. Come to think of it, if you're not going to need it as a jewelry holder over the holidays, perhaps a Christmas centerpiece actually could be a viable alternate use. Price: $57 .
The Fold Lamp gets its name from the fact that it is actually folded out of one large sheet of black, powder-coated aluminum. Its overall shape is fairly traditional, so if it were not for the color, you might not even notice that there was anything unusual about it. The only thing that distracts from its all-black look is the red power cord extnding from the base. Due to the material, this isn't a great choice to illuminate an entire room, but it would make a good accent piece and would work on a bedside table, where the light needs to be confined to a relatively small area. Price: $340.
With Halloween coming up, not to mention all theotherskullstuff that we've seen lately, it seemed worthwhile to mention this SIGG Skull Bottle. The Swiss-made aluminum bottle is unbreakable, very lightweight and 100% recyclable. The 24-oz. bottles are taste-neutral, so you can store any type of beverage in them. One final feature is that the skull glows in the dark, which might not be a selling point for a lot of adults, but would definitely make it a more appealing Halloween "treat" if you wanted to give the kids something other than candy. Price: $20.
An aluminum-framed folding chair is more likely to be on the sidelines at the child's soccer game with cheering parents than in a well-appointed garden, but the ReDo Chair by John Paul Plauche is redefining the classic in an upscale way. The limited edition chair has black leather webbing instead of the more traditional and much cheaper plastic or vinyl, yet it is lightweight and folds up in the same way as the original chair because the aluminum frame is that of one of the original chairs. The armrests are finished hardwood. Price: $2,500.
A seat and an "object of very provocative design," according to Samanta Snidaro and Andrea Fino of Sand & Birch design, the Diamond Sofa is sculpted from mirror-like aluminum without a diamond in sight. It will, however, have 160 Swarovski crystals on the widest strip of metal, which will disperse the light that emanates from the attached fixture throughout the room, making the sofa a focal point - at least until somone sits down and blocks the reflections. A very limited edition, only 100 of these sofas will be produced. Each measures 150 x 90 (190 at lamp) x 100 cm. Contact designers for pricing.
This chair is artfully formed from a single piece of aluminum, bent and cut to form a sleek, minimalist chair. The Get Bent Chair has a powder coating on top of the aluminum and is available in not one, but 186 different colors and finishes, both in matte and gloss, and the bottoms of the chairs are padded with small neoprene pads to protect your flooring. The chairs are also stackable, so the can easily be stored away if need be. Setting a rainbow of these chairs around a glass-topped dining room table would have home design magazine banging down your door. But at $2,400 each, you may want to start with just one before buying a set.
The Splash Bowl by Matt Proctor and Aixe
Djelal of Melt Modern earns its name. The bowl is created by using a sand cast
mold with manual 'splashing' of liquid aluminum. Each bowl is formed by repeat splashes and so each one is a unique
creation with its own special topography. The fact that the bowl has small holes in it means that it can't hold water
but the large version could be a great fruit bowl. The bowl is made from recycled aluminum. It comes in small,
medium and large, starting at $195 for the 9" x 4" version. The Oregon-based designers also create a variety
of custom products including room dividers, wall panels and fences that use the same unique melted aluminum theme.
This modern birdhouse is certainly a cut or
two above the plywood, shop-class construction that has been attracting birds to the back corners of thousands of yards
across the country for at least the last half century. The Richard Birdhouse is made out of sustainably harvested
teak and is finished with a protective oil that will keep it looking pristine in any weather. The floating roof - which
is actually attached with metal dowels - is a 1/4-inch thick aluminum plate. Most small birds can fit through the front
entrance hole, but tossing a handful or two of seed inside to encourage them certainly couldn't hurt. Price: $195.
Another great find from the CA Boom show was Jet Age Furniture.
The company is the work of two metal-loving childhood friends, Damien Mavis and Pat Arnold who both wound up with
degrees in Mechanical Engineering. They have created a line of sleek and simple aluminum and glass desks and tables
that are meant to match with Emeco chairs. The
dining table/desk shown here sells for $1995 and would look great in downtown loft. They also sell an aluminum and
glass table that can be purchased with separate Tic Tac Toe Xs and Os.
The Gracious Goods Cake Dome & Pedestal
The Fold Lamp
