The Water Lily dining chair is perfect for people who enjoy contemporary decorating but want to keep a taste of the traditional mixed in. Handcrafted by New Leaf Furniture, the chair backs are steam bent American Black Walnut planks (you can also get them in other sustainable woods if you prefer) that provide both ergonomic comfort and unique beauty. Wood planks also form the legs, which hold up a firm but comfortable padded seat cushion in a happy modern print. Designed to complement the Water Lily dining table, these Water Lily dining chairs will also work well with many other table designs. $1482

This Periodic Table is almost as simple as things can get, really. It's just four pieces of wood stuck together and painted, but somehow it works. Designed by One & Co., this piece was part of the launch of the new San Francisco-based furniture company called 'Council' last month. The metal coated wood block coffee table is made by coating a 48" x 48" x 13" block of wood with your choice of silver (natural, black, or pink). The resulting appearance is modern and bold, while keeping an organic feel with the natural wood-grain staying easily visible.

I love the design, but hate the colors.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has reached a deal with the Costa Rican development firm Genesis to build a new luxury resort in the country. The ultra-luxury hotel will be under the St. Regis Brand, located on a 250-acre site in Playa Coyol. The hotel will feature 133 guestrooms, all with outdoor terraces, showers and day beds. There will be four spa suites for guests wanting the most private, pampered stay, in addition to an 11,000-square foot spa and fitness center elsewhere on the grounds. There will also be a world-class golf course. The Presidential Suite may rival the top rooms at other luxury resorts with a cliff-top location, private pool and three bedrooms. On the grounds, there will also be 49 condominium/hotel residences, 42 private villas and 9 large estates. They will be built primarily with indigenous material, making them environmentally friendly as well as luxurious.

The St. Regis Resort, Costa Rica is slated to open in 2008.

I will come right out and say that I do not agree with Issey Miyake's decision to make dual-purpose furniture and clothing, but given that he is making it using A-POC, cloth made in a revolutionary new process that is entirely done by machine, it could conceivably be the wave of the future. Make that the ripple of the future, because his newest creation is based on the design of a chair called "Ripple" that he made last year with designer Ron Arad.  The new product, known as Gemini, is "a streamlined, body-cushioning seat pillow made of A-POC fabric, which morphs into an elegant body-hugging jacket." Elegant is not the word that I would use, but there is no doubt that this is a fairly innovative use for seat cushioning, an object that's only significant accomplishment (aside from actually cushioning the seat) to date has been doubling as a flotation device on airplanes. The Gemini chair cushion debuted in Milan and will be available retail in Miyake shops later this year for $1,360.

[Image Business Week]

The Cartier Love Collection was recently reborn with a whole new line of pieces in addition to the classic Love bracelet. The original collection debuted in the 1970s and was designed to represent enduring love because it was fastened with a tiny, sturdy screw, which required an equally tiny screwdriver to open and close it. The screwdriver is disguised as a pendant. The current collection includes rings, necklaces, earrings, cuff links and wedding rings in metals ranging from pink gold to platinum. While all the pieces are engraved with the signature love "screw" emblem, which partially disguises the location of the real screw, many also feature diamonds or other precious stones.