Vivavi is one of my favorite retailers due to its emphasis on carrying environmentally friendly products. In particular, I am a fan of their stylish, asian-themed shelves by Iola Design. Above: Kumiko is a freestand shelving system made from bamboo planks. Shelves alternate between full-length and half-length, while the base is supported by flared legs. Also available is a shorter version (Miharu).

Hasegawa and Chiaki are wall-mounted displays with creatively organized shelves. Hasegawa in particular provides ample storage space with its massive 83 inch wide frame. The more diminutive (but affordable) Chiaki is also more versatile, with a foot print that is not as intrusive as its larger sibling.

Lastly we have the Akira and Ayumi wall-mounted shelves which fill the central cavity with dovetailed drawers. Though not particularly large, these cubbies are a great way to hide small clutter such as keys and coins. As with all the other shelving systems mentioned in this post, Akira and Ayumi are made from solid laminated bamboo. For more information, visit Vivavi or Iola Design.

The appeal of wall decal designer blik’s graphics is perhaps only rivaled by its collaborations. Above: 7.00 is an extremely popular t-shirt design that is sold-out at Threadless, but still available at blik. Dark brown branches contrast with bright green leaves and navy blue birds to deliver a clean, vectorized rendition of nature. Made from pre-colored film and backed with adhesive, these decals are removable (although not reusable).

Iron Vines was recently installed by Jessica over at HowAboutOrange to stunning results. A vintage/victorian design that harkens back to an era dominated by wrought iron, they’re available in a variety of colors including snow white, mint green and tomato red.

One of blik’s latest graphics is the geometric-meets-organic SPHERES by Matthew Haggett. Shapes ranging from stars to hexagons are wrapped around a sphere, giving a 3-dimensional feel to a 2-d surface. No flash in the pan, blik has received the 2004 Product Design Distinction Award for Furniture by I.D. Design and joined Pixar, Apple and Nike as a participant in the 2006 National Design Triennial. For more information, visit the blik site.

The Design Can takes wall mirrors into the realms of whimsy and self deprecation. Their Self-Portrait acrylic mirrors feature floral edging and laser-etchings of mustaches, antlers, and dive bombing eagles strategically positioned around your face. Also available is a Deathwish variant for those of us who prefer to wake up on the wrong side of bed. Smoked acrylic, crossed eyes and guard ravens give your reflection a uniquely macabre look.

Wall decor tends to be an afterthought, with most attention focused on furniture pieces. There are however quite a few interesting options that can help your wall become a conversation piece in its own right. Above: Ivy is a modular system composed of Y pieces and four different types fo connectors. The angled spokes are strong enough to hang clothing on, making this not only decorative but functional.

“Here” is many things; it’s perhaps a map marker or a mouse cursor, but just like Ivy it also doubles as a wall hanger. Made from medium density fiberboard, this lacquered piece is already sold out in yellow, green and orange; second edition white, red and grey may be available by inquiring with creator Richard Shed.

Lago’s Tangram shelves are actually based on a Chinese game which consists of a square divided into seven parts. A medley of triangles, squares and parallelograms allows for an infinite number of combinations, ranging from strictly symmetrical to whimsical, life-like arrangements. Tangram is made from birch wood and finished with bee wax.

In my daily searches for stylish decor and furnishings, I occasionally run into furniture that lacks proper descriptions. Owing to a long Thanksgiving weekend I haven’t had time to properly follow up on these pieces (they’re all from Palo Alto-based contemporary retailer Temple). Think of them as my Monday Mysteries:

Titled “Ark Table”, this unique coffee table has a single sheet of clear glass perched atop a bentwood frame, somewhat like a bridge crossing a wide, U-shaped valley. Supported by chrome legs, this table has a bit of asian architecture thrown in with its upward arcing top.

You’d think with a name like “Fergustable” it’d be pretty easy to search for information on this rippled table. It is, however, a word that has not yet made it into Google. Any ideas on whether that’s a glass or plastic top?

Titled “Ludwigad”, this gorgeous buffet table can easily hold your entire tableware collection inside its cavernous chrome/metallic body. Dual shelves and interior lighting definitely make this a piece to remember. My only question – is the single downward swiveling door manually or electronically opened?

“Librería” is Italian for bookcase so it’s not too hard to guess what this piece of furniture is used for. I really love the earthy wood finish and the contemporary design.

Perhaps least descriptive of all is the “BD 09” – clearly a retro-inspired piece, the red, yellow and orange drawers definitely give this side table a playful presence. This is, of course, assuming they are drawers and not merely decorations.

The plainly named Shop of the Orient (SOTO for short) carries an intriguing line of decor with an unmistakable eastern influence. Above: The Aladdin and Panarch beds both feature complementary use of materials. The Panarch is a solid teak frame with padded water hyacinth panels on the headboard, while the Aladdin has a tightly packed water hyacinth frame with teak edging. Both beds have sleek bodies with restrained curves. Though an Asian design philosophy is evident, there is nothing “traditional” about these beds: they are contemporary through and through.

Also available are boxed candle and tea-light sets. The first bamboo vessel can also hold potpourri infused water or flowers, while the second set features an inverted bamboo plank that serves as an elegant candle holder.

Lastly, SOTO sells privacy screens with a wholly natural look. The first screen is a mat of bamboo sticks strung vertically inside a square teak frame. Slightly more contemporary is the Sarmart screen which is composed of alternating bamboo bundles and packed water hyacinth blocks. These are by far the most traditional of their products, but like all of SOTO’s products, they maintain a contemporary/minimalist appeal.
SOTO-UK.com

I just wanted to take this time to apologize for the lack of posts this Fall. Sometimes life sneaks up on you and takes you way off track. I am happy to say that PadStyle is now back and I will resume regular posting. Thanks to all my readers for your patience!

I’ve never found rugs to be particularly interesting, but after seeing Angela Adams’ work I’ve found myself looking for similar pieces everywhere. Her hand-tufted rugs aren’t for everybody – those looking for designs on the serious end of the spectrum (traditional and/or plain) will likely find Angela’s artwork to be a bit too playful. However, it’s precisely the whimsical nature of her designs that I like: spaces are consistently uneven, shapes are irregular and lines are never quite parallel. Above: the Lulu ($70-$1,550) and Kenga ($299-$1,550) rugs both employ large, oblong ellipsoids – a good choice if you’re looking for an uncomplicated pattern.

It’s also nice to know that Angela Adams’ rugs are Rugmark-labeled; the label signifies that no illegal child labor is utilized in their manufacture. Hand-tufted in India using 100% New Zealand wool, her rugs are also famous for their three-dimensionality; differing pile heights are interesting aesthetically but also maximize tactile feedback. Translated into more casual terms: they’re great for rolling around on the floor (yes, I am man enough to admit to having done this on occasion). Above: the Mammy ($299-$1,550), Islands ($70-$1,550) and Munjoy ($2990-$1,550) rugs are fairly busy and therefore require more careful placement–but remain fun pieces nonetheless.

For those of us who want our decor to look like a million bucks but don’t have the cash, Alsa’s FXSheeting may be the answer to our prayers. Made from sheets of metal bonded to Lexan plastic (the same stuff used in iPods and Nalgene bottles), FXSheeting can quickly give the look of brushed metal, carbon fiber, and even solid wood to just about any surface. The results are so smooth that I had to do a double take on the dining table above–yes, those are copper sheeted placemats you see.

Installation is incredibly painless: just peel and stick. Generally available in 24″ to 36″ rolls, the sheeting requires little more than a smooth surface to deliver beautiful results. The before-and-afters above really drive home the incredible difference this ultra-specialized contact paper can make. Above: I love the plain-jane countertop converted into a stainless steel surface (without the heft) and the carbon-fiber/stainless steel jewelry box.

My top pick goes to the beautifully-finished brushed brass nesting tables – in fact, I think the larger one was previously a $20 Ikea coffee table. If you’d like to get a taste of what FXSheeting has to offer, consider ordering their sample pack. At $79, you get 13 varieties of their most popular surfaces in 6″ x 12″ sheets – good enough for a few test runs!
$12-$15/sq.ft., alsacorp.com

Furniture that looks good enough to eat: good or bad? I don’t often find myself waxing philosophical, which makes the Hollow Ottomans above all the more interesting. The ottomans are part of a line of furniture by Los Angeles-based designer Lebello that utilizes polycarbonate “strings” roped into a wicker-like consistency. “Hollow” is composed of a pastel interior wrapped in a rich chocolate shell, which results in functional yet eye-catching footstools.

The ottomans are outdoor and indoor friendly thanks to their durable polycarbonate construction. Primarily a functional material, polycarbonates can be found in everything from DVDs and eyeglasses. An imaginative designer eventually realized that the plastic was also easily molded and dyed. Thousands of upscale dishes and rainbow Apple iMacs later, the pretty but practical Hollow Ottoman was born.

Rest your feet, store books in the middle, or expose them to the elements – Hollow Ottomans can take it all. They are, unfortunately, inedible. Which brings me to my last point: these footstools look a lot like fruit-flavored taffy candy. It’s a toss-up between calling these “delicious” or “delightful” ottomans, so don’t be surprised if you catch me nibbling on the corners.
$220, lebello.com, surrounding.com