modern wine rack, vintage roots

Paying homage to the genesis of all wine, Danish designer Jakob Wagner has created a wine rack to resemble the twists and curves of grapevines.  A smart cantilevered style enables the stored bottles to do double duty as stylish sculpture, as they appear to float freely against the wall from a distance. The rack holds six bottles of assorted sizes and is offered in two styles: polished aluminum or synthetic black rubber over fiberglass.

Oh so minimal and stylish.

Find it at Menu.

share this story

aqua expeditions: green cruising luxury

i’m not really one for cruise ships, although i would make an exception for the inside passage of alaska, because i think you see things from the boat perspective that you cannot see on land. i am making another exception now that i have seen this gorgeous m/v aqua ship from aqua expeditions that goes along the amazon river in peru and into the pacaya samiria reserve. wowee wee woo woo it looks like it might be the trip of a lifetime! the ship has just 12 spacious cabins, designed by jordi puig, with outward facing windows and sitting areas. there is a beautiful dining room with menus designed by pedro miguel schiaffino, an observation deck and indoor and outdoor lounges for relaxing too. the crew of 17 includes 3 naturalist guides to point out the most interesting things both on and off the ship — there are chic aluminum skiffs that are taken into the jungle waterways for more intimate touring.

in addition to all this decadence, the company realizes the fragile ecosystems throughout the area, and is dedicated to being eco-conscious too. river water is treated on board so that it is fit for human consumption. waste water is too so that it can be purified and then released into the river. low-emission, fuel-efficient engines are found on board the main ship as well as the launch/life boats.

can you even imagine the wondrous things you would see there? get more info and book your trip right here.

share this story

monseigneur collection by philippe starck

yeh, i know philippe said a few very negative things about being a designer just recently, but i am willing to turn a deaf ear to it when i look at this monseigneur sofa he has made for driade.

very glamorous design from a guy who said that design is a dreadful form of expression, don’t you think?

find the collection here.

via trendir

share this story

cool gae aulenti toaster

i think it’s slightly easier to find the retro looking toasters than the contemporary ones, so when i saw what italian architect gae aulenti had designed for trabo, it knocked my socks off.

the price will knock your socks off too, but hey! it’s cool.

it’s currently sold out (at £92.84 or us $192, including vat and removable crumb tray!), but hopefully another shipment will come in, so you can purchase it at made in design.

via geekalerts

share this story

palazzetti wood burning stove

this camilla wood burning stove from italy’s palazzetti has hooked me for a few reasons: it’s self cleaning, is vivdly colored and most importantly reminds me of a jukebox. i imagine roasting root veggies or puffing up a frittata in the curved top portion of this stove — how cool!

get more info and view their other modern fireplace and oven designs on their website.

via trendir

share this story

bellato round table

ack! i’m nutty coconutty about this sleek round (well, the company calls it round) table by luciano bertoncini for italy’s bellato. it looks more like a wedge to me. revel in its curvy lines and the way it stores your stuff. three compartments open 360°, so all your remotes, mail, magazines and whatever else you have cluttering up your family room can now be hidden away.

bonus: this sleek piece of furniture is on wheels for added convenience!

i love intelligently designed furniture that can multitask — it’s almost like having an intimate, interactive relationship with what is in your home instead of simply occupying/admiring/dusting it all.

it’s offered in wenge or a black and white finishes, and dimensions are cm 59.5 x 59.5 x 37, or about 24″ x 24″ x 15″.

check out bellato’s website for more info.

via freshome

share this story

foscarini supernova pendant light

i love the perfect shade of lipstick pink (or is it nail polish purple?) on this supernova ceiling fixture by most excellent art director and designer ferruccio laviani (click to see the magnificence he created for dolce and gabbana!) for italy’s foscarini. this 22 1/2″ x 19 3/4″ hanging lamp is created from cut sheets of lacquered aluminum.

the lamp comes in that punchy fuschia color, matte aluminum or (for an upcharge) polished stainless steel.

to see more photos and to purchase, head over to y lighting.

via betterlivingthroughdesign

share this story

sleek japanese playing cards

(UPDATE: it appears that california company mollaspace will be distributing these cards in the fall of 2008 — hurrah!)

that losing streak you may be having on poker night won’t matter much, once your friends see how cool your taste is after you whip out these beautiful black playing cards from japan!

the use of matte and glossy inks is so hip and minimal, and the edgy illustrations on the face cards are quite intriguing. i think i just convinced myself to try and buy a deck…

find them at the visions coax shop for 1575 yen, or about us $14. (update: i am doing my best to find out from the company if they will sell to anyone who does not live in japan, but i don’t think it is going to be good news. drat.)

share this story