{design inspiration: wooden laptop cases}

. . . quite smitten with these streamlined and beautifully elegant wooden laptop cases with leather lining -- a wonderful combination of natural elements and technology, and a perfect mix of rustic and modern . . .

{p.s.} & speaking of wood: decals

{images: rainer spehl via laissezfaire}

{give-away: herman miller eames chair}

. . . can hardly contain the excitement for this week's glamorous give-away: the award winning, iconic, and always classic herman miller eames chair from boston-based csn stores, a wonderful resource of over 200 online stores with over 1 million products, carrying everything from champagne flutes and four-poster beds to weekend carryalls {prefer this filson duffle}, and, of course, a perfect selection of herman miller eames pieces . . .

". . . designers charles and ray eames established their long and legendary relationship with herman miller in 1946 with their boldly original molded plywood chairs; the aesthetic integrity, enduring charm, and comfort of the chairs earned them recognition from time magazine as the best design of the 20th century; time called the design 'something elegant, light and comfortable. much copied but never bettered.'"

. . . and for the impossibly exciting news: one very charmed reader will win a choice between:

the stunningly elegant Herman Miller ® Eames ® DCW - Molded Plywood Dining Chair with Wood Legs - DCW {$629.00 USD}


or the iconic Herman Miller ® Eames ® LCW - Molded Plywood Lounge Chair with Wood Legs - LCW {$679.00 USD} available in light ash, walnut, or natural cherry

*********************

to enter, {click here} to visit the csn stores website, or {here} to browse csn's 200+ online stores, then leave a comment below listing one other item from the site that you like . . .

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after wednesday, july 14, 2010; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification; unfortunately, this give-away is open to u.s. & canadian readers only - apologies!; images: domino magazine, and a previous post; quote via hermanmiller.com}

{design inspiration: gracefully gilded}

. . . a little obsessed with the walter lamb armchair -- the original 1940s collection came about as a result of experimentation with bronze and copper tubing salvaged from sunken naval ships, and while the modern version is made of waterproof bronze, it's much too lovely to keep outside . . . and no shelf could possibly be complete without a set of stunning pink quartz and gold bookends -- hardly a more beautiful colour combination and so luxuriously elegant . . .

{also:} more gold -- pretty dishes & a coffee table

{p.s.} weekend wishes + links to follow, and still catching up on comments -- thanks so much for the lovely thoughts here xo

{images: design within reach & eduardo garza, discovered via lonny; layout via nicole}

{eco chic: decanterlights}

. . . p's mother has a beautiful cut crystal decanter collection displayed in their formal living room and have always loved the way they glimmer and add such elegance, and so was much delighted to discover another use for them -- decanterlights, by british designer lee broom, are pendant light fixtures created from vintage crystal decanters sourced from antique markets and vintage shops and available in a natural clear crystal or polished gold -- aren't they lovely?

{p.s.} more stylish eco chic inspiration:

cushions | cork | wine bottle centrepieces

{images: lee broom via moco loco}

{spring things: bicycles}

. . . must confess am not much of a bicycle girl {petrified of the traffic and would most likely try to ride in heels}, but after coming across this pretty city bicycle in the most spectacular shade of smokey violet, suddenly dreaming of careening down side-streets with reckless abandon . . .

{bicycle design by note + abici, discovered via design*sponge}

{design: wine decanter + water carafe}

. . . shall never fall out of love with antique cut crystal decanters, but have become quite smitten with a beautifully modern design series of kitchen tools that includes a water carafe and wine decanter with turned oak stoppers -- the series, a collaboration between stokkeaustad and frost produkt, is also a wallpaper design awards 2010 winner

{stokkeaustad and frost produkt via design shimmer}

{two lovely things: paper + lace}

{two lovely things:} a stylishly eco-friendly weekend bag made of completely recyclable water- and tear-proof paper, and a delicately beautiful dolce & gabbana white lace top perfect for sunny spring mornings . . .

{images: 1 - travel bag design by saskia & stefan diez via design shimmer; 2 - rosie tupper via a glamorous little side project}