notNeutral tableware
Rios Clementi Hale Studios (notNeutral) is a multidisciplinary design team based in hip and trendy Melrose in West LA, and specifically avoids “lowest common denominator” products. This kind of attitude is pervasive in their products, which range from garden accessories to tableware. We focus on the latter in this post; above: notNeutral’s limited edition Designers’ Gilt plates are adorned with familiar patterns ranging from lace doilies to spirographs that are further interpolated along a polar axis. The 12.5″ plates carry a high price tag at nearly $80, but that’s because the designs are made of 22K gold.
notNeutral’s more conservative casual china still skirts the edge of style with four designs: Leaves, Letters, Links and Circuit. Despite their rather mundane names, these self-contained works of modern art are difficult to find at any traditional retailer. Color combinations alternate between b/w and shades of green, blue and brown. The latter colors seem to be inspired by Nature; notNeutral, but perhaps “natural”.
Much more seasonal are the Studios’ trivets, which basically consist of two themes: Fall and Winter. Their “Fallin” Trivet collection bakes the intense reds and oranges of Fall onto leaf-shaped steel cutouts with neoprene feet, while “Frosty” is the more elegant of the two with beautiful and delicate snowflake patterns painted in shades of blue.
Although perhaps not as interesting as the china and trivets above, notNeutral’s placemats fit their role perfectly; subtle birch mats with cork feet are screen printer with their now familiar patterns, and then sealed to protect against food and liquids. Also available in coaster sets, these complementary tableware accessories have the innate beauty of woodgrain and the style of minimalist, rounded corners.
As a final touch, no dinner is complete without the comforting ambience of candlelight; 80% soy based wax candles are scented with 10% essential oils. The beautiful glass cups are decorated with contemporary botanical designs that include bamboo, sycamore and pomegranate, and come primarily in green with hints of baby blue. For more information on Rios Clementi Hale Studios, feel free to visit their website, notNeutral.