Masahiro Minami!

This guy is awesome! He teaches design classes in Shiga, Japan. I wish I could be one of his students/disciples. I think Japanese designers really like the sort of moss or lime coloroed green, because I have seen soo many designs with these colors. It's a very soothing and relaxing color. I think I might have to make my new creation a lime green color, or something!

Anyway, check out his other work here: http://www.masahiro-minami.com/frame_set_e.html

Cut once, measure twice!

Some people are really good at coming up with cool names for their companies. Take, for example, the "Very Good and Proper" British furniture design group --- very British sounding indeed. A company like this will also be good at naming furniture, such as the table in this picture, called quite simply, "Canteen Table." I love simplicity, and I love this table, and especially the fact that you are able to pick the color for the legs! I wonder how much this costs....

http://www.verygoodandproper.co.uk/

Wall art

That's what I call these cool "Scene" shelving systems by Dick Spierenburg. Pure genius. Luckily, soon one of CLI's interns will be traveling to Amsterdam, and will be carrying pen, pad and camera to capture the city's design products. Hopefully she will bring us back something!

Anyway, check out Spiererburg's work here: http://www.spierenburgstudio.com/page/00products.htm

His products are sold at numerous places, but a great place is at the Mobilia Woonstudio (http://www.mobiliawoonstudio.nl/)

Something cool from Droog

Droog just opened a new store in SOHO, and aren't we New Yorkers lucky for that? I like this cool little "Strap Antracite" by NL Architects thing they have, and it's only $30! Go get one right now!!

You can use the strap for hanging shoes, magazines, brushes, socks, drum sticks, etc. If you can dream it, you can hang it! I might get one to hold magazines or books or something. Fantastic! They come in green, blue, red and white!!

A desk after my own heart!!!

One of our clever interns AGAIN found a really cool designer by the name of Tiina Hakala from Finland. (Question: Are people from Finland called Finish or Finnish, or some other name?) Tiina was trained in the UK, but I think her work does show some very Scandinavian influence, wouldn't you agree?

Moving right along,"My Desk" was designed as a means to come up with a truly functional desk. For example, how many times have you had things in your work area, but had no idea where to put them? For example, I have giant paper clips, and I don't know where to put them! Or what about plants? Desks are a nice place for plants! I think "My Desk" answers all our questions -- except I still don't know where to put my giant paper clips...

http://www.tiinahakala.com/

One of my people!!

This guy, Christian Vivanco, is a really, really, cool Mexican designer. Seriously, almost everything on his website is drool-worthy. I am actually drooling over one of his lamps as I write this! (Well, not really, but kind of!).

Check out, for starters, this cool lamp called the Alux table. From the website: Alux is a geometrical exercise starting from a conical shape; several plans cuts and transform the volume into the final shape: a lamp in a table or a table with a small lamp. Perfect for the side of your bed or the hall of you home.

Yes, it is perfect! I need this to put next to my lounge chair. I wonder if Christian gives discounts to his fellow countrymen and women?

http://www.christianvivanco.com/lighting/alux-lamp/

A really cute "green" radio

Is this a double entendre? This radio is "green" and green (as in it's eco-friendly and the color green). Anywhoooo, this cute little radio (3.25 x 3 x 2.25) is really sweet! I think it's on my list of things to buy, and the price is right! Note: It's sold for $32, but I've seen it on amazon.com for $15 or so. Niiiice!

I went to a store to listen to it the other day, and I plugged in some speakers to the mic jack, and guess what? You can hook this little speaker up to a nice speaker! And, from the website: AM/FM + Weather Band. Charges w/solar power or manual hand crank. Great for power outages, camping, and other outdoor uses.

http://www.kikkerlandshop.com/ra06.html

A calendar to last you a lifetime!

Pieter Woudt designed this cool "Futuro" calendar, and I must say, we at CLI quite like it! The only thing is I wish it was a little bigger (it's 9" by 12.5"). Pieter should make it 4" by 4" and have other colors available. What say you, Pieter? Give us a bigger Futuro clock!

Anyway, this calendar is awesome because it will last forever, and it requires zero energy to power! From the Kikkerland website: "There are only 7 days a month can start on and only 4 different month lengths (28, 29, 30 and 31 days). So with only 14 double sided inserts all 28 variations are covered. All the cards you will ever need are contained inside the calendar!"

http://www.kikkerland.com/

P.S. I think the calendar is about $30, so not bad at all!

A super cute lamp

This cute little lamp is called "Milk" by the Danish company NORM, and it is my new favorite thing. The designers describe their inspiration by classical Danish traditions as well as Japanese aesthetics. But I'm not sure where the name "Milk" comes from. I guess it kind of looks like a glass of milk turned upsides down? You be the judge. And if you want to buy one, click on the link below. There are a lot of other cool things on the & Tradition website, so drool away!

http://www.andtradition.com/

A desk/dining table

Those of us who live in small apartments often do not have the luxury of having a work desk and a dining table (I am one of these lucky bastards!), so this table is a nice solution. While I am not in love with the color and design of this table, its function is quite appealing! I might incorporate this into my own coffee table idea!

http://razy2.com/en_index.html

Comfy chair!

Another cool product from Ligne Roset designed by Eric Jourdan. I don't know why it's called the "Harry Armchair" but it's kind of a cool name. At least it's not called "Clouds" or "Symphony #9 in E Flat." The Harry has a really cool shape that makes it inviting to the young and the old! I really like it!

For some reason, the Harry Armchair is not yet on the Ligne Roset website, but maybe contact them if you are interested?

http://www.ligne-roset-usa.com/default.aspx

Stina Sandwall

Stina Sandwall is a great Swedish designer and has made lots of cool things, like this cool lamp called "BOB-lampserie" sold by SMD Design. And also check out her "Box-vedkorg/tidningskorg" for magazines or newspapers and other stuff you read (but not Kindles!)

http://www.smddesign.se/default.aspx?articleId=3297&lang=SE

I love Sweden...

...because it creates such awesome designers. Maybe I should move there. Too bad I don't speak Swedish! Anyway, there is a cool designer that goes by the name Katarina Häll, and she is a genius. There are a few things of hers that I love, but I particularly like this cool storage shelf/container thing called "Corrected" -- probably because it's made from corrugated steel leftover from shipping containers or something. Very cool! Also, check out her clever storage solutions for a desk and a fun design for a dresser (both items are called her "Save" collection).

I don't think her stuff is sold in the US, but contact her via the website below in case you are interested!

http://www.katarinahall.se/

I wish I had this desk!!!

Check out this cool desk by Canadian designer Zoe Mowat. I am simply in love with it. I'm not sure it's for sale in the US of A, but I'm sure if you contact the designer, something can be arranged. Also, check out Zoe's other items on her website, and I think you'll find her use of felt is very nice indeed!

http://www.zoemowat.com/

A great inexpensive little lamp

Unfortunately, I think this little "Pack Lamp" is only available in Japan. But if you are going there anytime soon, let me know and I'll give you $40 or so to pick one of these up for me. And apparently it's sold out, so never mind!

http://www.r-p-s.jp/product/packlamp.html

Leave your light..errr...suitcase at home!

Check out this cool light by a Slovakian dude named Peter Jakubik. I don't know if it's for sale or how much it costs (or the price of beans in China), but it's pretty cool. We will ask our interns at CLI to investigate!

http://www.peter-jakubik.com/2009/09/case-lighting.html

The Danish!

I came across this cool Danish designer that goes by the name of Kasper Salto, and find his work to be purely fantastic. (Yes, those two words CAN go together!)

Kasper is quite young, and has quite an impressive resume and list of clients and cool furniture to drool over. But let the picture of his cool "Bone Lounge" coffee table woo you into blissful slumber (or at least induce a furniture heart ache).

Check it here: http://www.kaspersalto.com/bonelounge/2.html

Japanese design...will you marry me?

I can't help but drool with pleasure everytime I peruse the Sempre (Japanese company) website. I just love every single thing on there. It makes me want to move to Japan. Another good reason to move to Japan is the sushi!

Check out this clever coat hanger and shelf thing! It's perfect for shoes and stuff. I would put this at the entrance of a house or an open floor plan condo or something. Soo cool and simple.

http://www.sempre.jp/item/708602/

Another from one of my favorite furniture stores EVER

Twenty Twenty One (see, even the name is cool) is an awesome English company based in London, and they have probably the best collection of furniture in the entire world. Yes, in the WORLD!

Anyway, check out this cool $2,000 or so table by Vico Magistretti (a veteran Italian designer). Less is more! I will leave it at that.

http://www.twentytwentyone.com/displayProduct.asp?ProductID=1017&x=18190

A cool place to put your cool magazines

This cool Swedish company has this cool magazine rack called "Handy"! What a great name. I love it when things are described with adjectives instead of weird made up names. What a great magazine holder thing!

http://www.asplund.org/accessories/press.html

More genius-ness from the Danish

This cool Danish cooperative called "No Problem" caught our eye the other day as we searched through an Italian design magazine. (The Italians RULE the design world, by the way). No Problem is a group of 4 Danish designers who work together to come up with solutions to "optimize every day life through investigation and understanding of needs." To put it another way, I believe they help those who are space-challenged!

I digress; the point of this post is to encourage you to check out their cool stuff! Especially this cool Flip Table by Signe Baadsgaard. What a clever design!

Here! Here! http://www.no-problem.nu/page24.html

Fancy!!!

Poltrana Frau is a super cool, high-end furniture company. And when I say "high-end" I mean design out of reach. BUT they have suuuuuuuuuuper cool furniture. Especially cool is the Archibald chair. I don't know what to say except HOT DAMN! What a beautiful piece of furniture. Jean-Marie Massaud is a genius. Check it out here http://frauusa.com/

How COOL is this ski logde cabin cafe?

Too cool for school, that's for sure!

This cool cafe is somewhere in Spain. Next time you are in Spain and feel like skiing, make sure you go to this place for sure.

I love the use of red and light colored wood, as well as the fun zig zaggy red ropes and use of felt, and basically, I love everything about this cafe. I wish I was into skiing and was going to Spain soon, but alas, I will not be. But you can! And you should!

Check it here: http://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/04/el-portillo-by-stone-designs/#more-63281

Still on the lookout...

...for a great floor lamp!

The editors of Cheese Lovers International, lovingly known in the blogosphere as CLI, live in tight quarters, and thus are always on the look out for stream-lined, minimalist yet fun home accessories and of course, furniture. This is why we are quite partial to this cool reading/floor lamp called "Tab Floor Lamp" by FlOS and designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. In particular, we like the fact that light looks soo thin and non-obtrusive. And at $256, it's not "design out of reach," but still not too easy on the wallet. What can you do? Nothing is cheap these days! (Well, that might not be entirely true...)

Buy it here so that Remodelista gets credit! http://www.remodelista.com/products/tab-floor-lamp

Apple's entry into furniture design?

Well, not really. But doesn't this coffee table look like an iCoffee Table? Or maybe iTable? I'm not the creative one, so feel free to add other names! Anyway, I kind of like this cool table called "RKNL20" and around 1270 Euros (or around $1,770 in red, white and blue dollars). Ouch! Pricey, but it does look quite fancy. And it has a cool name! And it comes in different colors!

What a clever way to hide magazines! If I had a giant loft that would look good with all white furniture, I might consider this. Maybe.

http://www.odesi.nl/salontafel_rknl20.php