10 Easy Pieces: Office Wastebaskets

October 6, 2010, 3:15 am

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Good office wastebaskets are surprisingly difficult to find; here are ten good choices from the current crop available. NB: We didn't include wicker or rattan baskets in this roundup; for ideas in this category, see our Boxes, Baskets, and Bins product grouping for some ideas.

Above: The weighty Korbo Paper Bin is handmade from heavy gauge acid-proof stainless steel in Sweden and stands 14 inches high; $150 at Canoe in Portland. Available by phone order.

Above: The Recycled Black Trug is an unexpected material in the perfect size (14 inches tall) for an office wastebasket; $18 at Grdn in Brooklyn.

Above: Simple and compact, the Muji Aluminum Trash Can is 9.75 inches tall and is $13.50 at MoMA Store.

Above: The Boucle Wire Mesh Wastebasket by Roost is 11.5 inches high; $48 at Velocity Art and Design.

Above: Japanese Plywood Paper Basket is 12 inches high; $65 at Tortoise.

Above: The Midi Square Wastebasket is available in orange/red or black and is 13.8 inches high; $40 at @WorkDesign.

Above: The Pablo Duo Paper Bin is crafted with two pieces of high-grade Finnish birch plywood. It stands 15-inches tall and comes in a choice of five finishes;$52 at Velocity Art and Design.

Above: The Bin Bin Wastebasket by John Brauer for Essey of Denmark is available in black, white, and red. Made of hard polyethylene and shaped to resemble a piece of crumpled paper, it's 13.2 inches high and costs $54 at Velocity Art & Design.

Above: The industrial Steel Schoolroom Wastebasket comes in black, gray, or almond, and is 14.5 inches tall; $11.75 at Global Industrial.

Above: The powder-coated steel Knodd bin is a Remodelista favorite; the 17.25-inch-tall Knodd bin with lid is $24.99 and the 11-inch Knodd Bin (available in white, red, green, blue, or yellow) is $14.99 at Ikea.

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Lighting: Steuart Padwick in the UK

October 6, 2010, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Accessories: Whiteboard Message Clocks

≪ Previous: 10 Easy Pieces: Office Wastebaskets

UK designer Steuart Padwick has worked with Terence Conran and Benchmark Furniture (and is an adherent of the ideas espoused in Super Normal by Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morrison); he aims to make "products and furniture that can be used in our daily lives, where the pleasure is gained both from the appearance and the use of the object." His Sticks desk and floor lamps with counter balanced arms were recently nominated for a 2010 British Design Award.

Above: The Sticks Desk Light is made of oiled oak with a spun aluminum shade and a silken flex cord; available directly from Padwick for £245 (it's also available at Liberty of London).

Above: A source of inspiration for Padwick, Super Normal: Sensations of the Ordinary is a compilation of text and photos of 204 everyday objects that exemplify what Naoto Fukasawa (who's designed for Muji) and Jasper Morrison call "super normal design," simple objects that enhance our everyday lives; $23.07 at Amazon.

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Accessories: Whiteboard Message Clocks

October 6, 2010, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Architectural Detail: Folded Shelf by BILT in Providence

≪ Previous: Lighting: Steuart Padwick in the UK

Spotted lately: clocks made from dry-erase whiteboard, good for note-keeping and time-tracking.

Above: In the UK, the 35-by-60cm magnetic White Board Message Clock by Karlsson is available from Rockett St. George. In the US, The Conran Shop carries the clock (available in store for $75; call to order).

Above: The Dry Erase Clock measures 9 by 12 inches and is $29.50 at Woodstock Clocks on Etsy.

Above: Designed by Il-Gu Cha, the Trace of TIme concept clock is made of laminated whiteboard and features a built-in eraser that clears your to-do list as the day progresses.

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Architectural Detail: Folded Shelf by BILT in Providence

October 6, 2010, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Office: Red Storage Accessories

≪ Previous: Accessories: Whiteboard Message Clocks

Designed by Brown Universitys grad (and RISD grad students) Alex Malkin and Pete Fallon for BILT, a Providence-based design collective, the Fold Shelf is a clever, customized storage solution for an awkward corner. Go to Bilt Furniture to see more examples of the group's work.

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Office: Red Storage Accessories

October 6, 2010, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Office: Diminutive Desk Roundup

≪ Previous: Architectural Detail: Folded Shelf by BILT in Providence

Practical doesn't have to be boring: here's a roundup of red office accessories to relieve workplace tedium.

Above: The TPS File Cabinet in red powder-coated steel (also available in carbon or white) features 2-inch castors with brakes on the front two wheels; $149 at CB2.

Above: For desktop storage, the Bisley Five-Drawer Cabinet in powder-coated steel is 13 inches high.

Above: Blu Dot's 2D:3D Letter Holder is $25 at All Modern.

Above: The Triple Hook-Up Strip is $19 at Velocity Art and Design.

Above: Made of heavyweight recycled fiberboard, the large Stockholm Document Box is $12.99 and the smaller Stockholm Letter Box is $9.99 at the Container Store.

Above: Designed by Dorothee Becker (wife of lighting designer Ingo Maurer) in 1969, the classic wall-mounted Utensilo Plastic Organizer is back in production from Vitra and is available in several sizes and colors (including a chrome version) at Velocity Art & Design. Prices start at $350 for the Small Red Utensilo, which measures 26.75 inches high and 20.5 inches wide.

Above: The Spot-On Magnet Hook is available in six colors and can support up to 5 pounds; $5 each at Velocity Art and Design.

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Office: Diminutive Desk Roundup

October 7, 2010, 3:15 am

≫ Next: Office : Linen Pencil Case from Fabriano in Italy

≪ Previous: Office: Red Storage Accessories

Urban dwellers know the importance of utilizing every square inch of living space; here's a roundup of diminutive work spaces, carved from corners or integrated into shelving units.

Above: A compact office space via My Deco.

Above: Brooklyn-based Atlas Industries makes modular shelving systems using cold-rolled steel and hardwood (Wallpaper says the line "reminds of us of the designs of George Nelson and Jean Prouve"). Go to Atlas Industries for more information.

Above: From the Desk of Lola designer Alexandra Loew created a tiny workspace in a Hollywood Hills residence.

Above: The Ledge Desk from Urbancase is available in solid walnut for $1,500 or red painted MDF for $1,300 at Velocity Art & Design.

Above: Designed in 2008 by Argentinean architect Alejandro Sticotti, the Sticotti Shelving units are made from warm South American hardwoods; prices start at $1,350 at Design Within Reach.

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Office : Linen Pencil Case from Fabriano in Italy

October 7, 2010, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Furniture: Koji Katsuragi in Japan

≪ Previous: Office: Diminutive Desk Roundup

Stationery lovers take note: On a recent trip to Italy I admired the Mini Linen Case from Fabriano, longtime purveyors of paper and writing supplies (since 1264). The linen case rolls up and accommodates pens, rulers, and erasers; available in red or brown linen for €39.50,

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Furniture: Koji Katsuragi in Japan

October 7, 2010, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Office: Calendar Wall Decals at PB Teen

≪ Previous: Office : Linen Pencil Case from Fabriano in Italy

On my wish list: Koji Katsuragi Furniture, on view recently at 100% Design in London. Katsuragi is a Japanese furniture designer who uses traditional techniques to create his simple and contemporary chairs and benches, which are based on English Windsor and Latin slat-back chairs.

Above: Koji Katsuragi Bench.

Above:Windsor chairs.

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Office: Calendar Wall Decals at PB Teen

October 7, 2010, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Shopper's Diary: New at the General Store in San Francisco

≪ Previous: Furniture: Koji Katsuragi in Japan

For the practical-minded: reusable peel-and-stick wall decals at PB Teen (according to Pottery Barn, they won't damage your walls). While they're designed for the teen market, we think the decals would work equally well in a home office or kitchen.

Above: The Dry Erase Vertical Gray and Navy Calendar Wall Decal measures 13 by 46 inches and is on sale for $35 (down from $49). Also consider the Chalk Calendar Wall Decal, which measures 39 by 25 inches and is on sale for $59 (down from $69).

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Shopper's Diary: New at the General Store in San Francisco

October 7, 2010, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Berge in Germany

≪ Previous: Office: Calendar Wall Decals at PB Teen

On a recent visit to the General Store in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco, I was taken by "the bits of everything useful" collected by Serena Mittnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter—including new and vintage goods (many sourced from local artisans and craftspeople), clothing, books, and other finds; the current selection of tools and accessories for the office are especially appealing. Also see Shopper's Diary: General Store in San Francisco.

Above: A block light by San Francisco artisan Andrew Berg.

Above: From German company Einrichtungen, the Limpo eraser with brush is $19.

Above: A design collaboration by German art suppliers Duller and Japanese creatives IDEA, a set of 36 colored pencils for $60.

Above: Useful items for the kitchen, including a Japanese coffee pot, bottle brushes made from natural materials, and black and white ceramic "mini cups mori" from Japan available in six different patterns for $18 each.

Above: Reclaimed apothecary matchstick bottles.

Above: A collection of dog leashes by Found My Animal, a Brooklyn-based company that donates 25 percent of all profits to the Louis Animal Foundation.

Photos by Janet Hall.

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Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Berge in Germany

October 8, 2010, 3:15 am

≫ Next: Lighting: Matte Black Lamps from Task

≪ Previous: Shopper's Diary: New at the General Store in San Francisco

When we first featured Berge, an inn in Aschau, upper Bavaria (see House Call: Berge by Nils Holger Moormann), it was still a work in progress. Moormann recently completed the 17th-century building, which was once a bakery; it now features 14 self-catering rooms as well as a few additional garden rooms. For the design of Berge, Moormann veered away from the world of traditional luxe and instead created small, modern, functional self-service suites; guests have a choice of cooking in their own kitchens or congregating in the communal kitchen. Most of the furniture is of Moormann's own design with an occasional Eames chair or the like thrown into the mix.

Above: The traditional facade belies the modern interior within. Photograph via Belscout.

Above: Moormann designed all the furniture and built-ins.

Above: Original brick walls and timber framing add a rustic note to the interiors.

Above: Moormann integrated modern bath fixtures in the suites.

Above: Photograph via Belscout.

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Lighting: Matte Black Lamps from Task

October 8, 2010, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Furniture: Slatted Oak Chair at Terrain

≪ Previous: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Berge in Germany

On a recent visit to Task in Williamsburg, Julie and I admired the matte black light fixtures mounted on the display shelves. Proprietor Anne Seally just emailed us that the lights are now available for custom orders; the clamp lamp version is $390 and the wall-mount lamp $430. Task is located at 100 North 3rd Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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Furniture: Slatted Oak Chair at Terrain

October 8, 2010, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Fabrics & Linens: Aprons from VDC Maison

≪ Previous: Lighting: Matte Black Lamps from Task

The vintage-looking Slatted Oak Dining Chair is one of those all-purpose pieces that can move from room to room, from indoors to outdoors; the stackable chair features a contoured oak seat and iron frame and is $278 at Terrain.

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Fabrics & Linens: Aprons from VDC Maison

October 8, 2010, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Shopper's Diary: Nils Holger Moormann Goods for the Home

≪ Previous: Furniture: Slatted Oak Chair at Terrain

Nimes-based designer Charlotte Le Stum began designing rustic, nostalgic clothes for her younger sister a few years ago under the label Le Vestiare de Jeanne ("the cloakroom of Jeanne"); she's added a few items for the home to her offerings under the name Le Vestiare de Cle, including VDC Aprons made of Belgian linen, available in two sizes: €60 for adults and €45 for children. International shipping available; also napkins, placemats, and tea towels.

Above: VDC Apron in natural; €60 for adults and €45 for children.

Above: VDC Maison Apron; €60 for adults and €45 for children.

Above: VDC Apron in natural linen with striped pocket; €60 for adults and €45 for children.

Above: VDC Apron in stripes; €60 for adults and €45 for children.

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Shopper's Diary: Nils Holger Moormann Goods for the Home

October 8, 2010, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Office Visit: Philpotts Interiors in San Francisco

≪ Previous: Fabrics & Linens: Aprons from VDC Maison

Upper Bavaria is not usually on our radar, but we're longing to check into Berge (Hotels, Lodging and Restaurants: Berge in Germany). In the meantime, we've found the next best thing: Berge Equipment, a selection of products Moormann designed for his inn and now available online at Moormann-Berge.

Above L: Salinchen is a small maple wooden bowl and spoon handcarved in Aschau; €34.90. Above R: Durstlöscher Mug; €23.90 each.

Above L: Schlemmerschüsseln wooden maple bowls are handmade in Aschau and are available in four sizes, small to large: €67,€69, and €74; the flat bowl is €72. Above R: Wooden Napkin Rings designed by Doris Gassmann are made from maple and can be used as egg cups or napkin rings; a set of four is €23.50.

Above L: Trockenzeit white piqué towels from 100 percent cotton, large for €28.10 and small for €9.90. Above R: Besenkammerl storage box designed by Carl Clerkin for €168.

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Office Visit: Philpotts Interiors in San Francisco

October 10, 2010, 8:00 am

≫ Next: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Salvinia Lodge in Poland

≪ Previous: Shopper's Diary: Nils Holger Moormann Goods for the Home

When interior designers Marion Philpotts-Miller, Jonathan Staub, and Lowell Tom opened their new Philpotts Interiors office in San Francisco, it was a homecoming of sorts. Philpotts-Miller and Staub began their careers in San Francisco several years ago with the boutique firm Your Space, Inc., before moving operations to Honolulu, where they operate out of a LEED Silver Certified space. For their new San Francisco outpost, the partners adhered to their philosophy of "reuse, repurpose, and recycle," integrating odds and ends they'd had stored in the city for years, including bright, oversized umbrellas. The resulting space is happy, open, and blends East and West elements seamlessly. To see more of the firm's work, go to Philpotts Interiors.

Photos by Matthew Millman.

Above: The San Francisco office is located in a modern building on Seventh Street.

Above: Marion Philpotts-Miller at work.

Above: The San Francisco studio is open and airy.

Above: A vintage electric typewriter and lamp.

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Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Salvinia Lodge in Poland

October 11, 2010, 3:15 am

≫ Next: Fabrics & Linens: Megastripe Blanket

≪ Previous: Office Visit: Philpotts Interiors in San Francisco

Named for the water ferns that grow along the VIstula River, Salvinia Lodge is located on the Vistula Spit in Poland, a Baltic coast resort area 30 kilometers from Gdansk. Built in 1782, the timber-framed lodge is one of the oldest surviving arcaded houses in the region; the interior has been modernized and features a mix of new and old furniture, with modern baths and kitchen. Go to Salvinia Lodge for more information.

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Fabrics & Linens: Megastripe Blanket

October 11, 2010, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Walls, Windows & Floors: Hand-Printed Wallpaper from Les Indiennes

≪ Previous: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Salvinia Lodge in Poland

Recently admired: the Megastripe Blanket from Sundance Catalog. The oatmeal-colored cotton blanket is available in two sizes: Queen for $95 and King for $125, and with stone, ink, or ocean stripes.

Above: The Megastripe Blanket in stone.

Above: The Megastripe Blanket in ocean.

Above: The Megastripe Blanket in ink.

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Walls, Windows & Floors: Hand-Printed Wallpaper from Les Indiennes

October 11, 2010, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Design Sleuth: Embroidered Sheets from Salvinia Lodge

≪ Previous: Fabrics & Linens: Megastripe Blanket

Mary Bergtold Mulcahy of Les Indiennes, one of our favorite fabrics and linens lines, just sent news of her latest venture: hand-printed wallpapers with classic Indian motifs. "Wallpaper has been a project of ours for many years," she says. "We tried different printing methods and types of pigment but never quite captured the simple, rustic appearance of the block- printed fabric. Now, with the help of a few skilled artisans still using the hand-screen process, we've finally succeeded in recreating the Les Indiennes look."

The wallpapers come in Les Indiennes' trademark six natural colors, as well as three new ones: pink, soft blue, and white (custom colors can also be ordered).

Each roll is five yards in length and 27 inches wide and is available at John Derian Co. or from Les Indiennes (contact them directly for pricing).