While mick & PJ are off having fun with the Brits, I have decided to have my own fun this weekend by driving the scooter up to Skokie Lagoons in Skokie, IL.  I bought a scooter earlier this month and absolutely LOVE it.  Everyone needs to have one and we wouldn’t be in such a gas crisis right now with all those gas guzzlers out there, right PJ?  80 to 100 miles on 1.5 gallons of gas @ about $6 for premium; you definitely can’t go wrong with that!  It’s been a long few weeks for me being busy with ICFF, a trip to San Francisco for my actual job, and finally taking care of things at home.  So, I have decided I need a break and this is how I will spend it.  I will let the pics say the rest...I am now ONE with nature (and back to blogging)!

This picture perfect scene looks so great on this blog than that gloomy London pic below =)

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Well we arrived in London and have spent most of the past day in one of two activities… sleeping or exploring our new neighborhood. It’s a interesting experience to drop into a new life and place to call home for an extended period of time… so I’ll try to share some of that experience here as we make it thru the next month in London.

it’s always fun to find something unique and in this case the “Bridge of Aspiration” is just that… steps from our front door this beautiful piece of modern architecture links the classic structures of Royal Opera House on the left to the Royal Ballet across the street.

Actually—The Americans are invading the UK!  We thought we’d head across the pond to source some cool new products to add to our collection.  We love our British friends and their designs are well received by our customers (i.e. Duffy London, Mibo, Innermost, Emma Jeffs, etc). So for the next 30 days, we’ll update you on some potential new goodies coming to PureModern as well as some cool architecture, design, and ideas that we find as we troll the streets of London. 

PS:  Thanks to Virgin Atlantic for the great first class ride!

Most people like to think that each piece in their home has a unique story behind it… well this collection designed by Canevese Giuseppe for Ennezero has a story all over it’s surface. The high gloss MDF surfaces pay tribute to Italian artist Guido Crepax and his graphic pop art of the 1960’s. See more of this work at the manufacturer’s site

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That’s what you’ll be saying after your guests get off this lounge chair from Visual Reference.  Also seen at ICFF, this was another one of my favorite booths at the show.  Their products designed by Nuno Gonçalves Ferreira and Erin Hayne are made of this really cool thermosensitive material that reacts to change in temperature.  You could spend hours playing with your furniture!  This awesome soft material can be found on their pillows, lounge chairs, wall panels (displayed in their booth as a prototype), benches, and stools.  I really wish I knew who did their business cards which was made of a similar thermosensitive vinyl.  I couldn’t decide which was more fun, their lounge chair or their business cards!

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Deeply Madly Living has this odd take on cycling and furnitire.  The Tour De France Lounge Chair has armrests that glow in the dark...cool if you’re into raves and stuff.  Made from recycled bike parts...way cool, I like green products.  “It will make you feel like taking to the streets and smack some asphalt ... Lance Armstrong beware!”...ummm...more like smack your guests after they annoy the hell out of you with the horn that is “within heel reach”.  With a price tag of $940, this chair better take me places!

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...And you KNOW you’re bathroom is really about you!  Featured at ICFF (one of my favorite booths), Lacava debuts beautiful bathroom collections that make the statement.  Experience “luxurious elegance in your bathroom” with this Chicago based company of Italian origin (they are also GREEN at heart).  As you can see pictured below, the Double Reflection Washbasin Vanity is crafted from brushed stainless.  With a sink this beautiful, you’d be obsessive on maintaining this sink’s beauty and luster by washing your face or hands elsewhere!  If a mountain inspired this designer, then the sky is the limit for your bathroom design!

See more pictures below

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How cute are these fuzzy switches!?  International Fashion Machines make these interesting furry light switches that are beyond your traditional boring plastic ones.  The product description itself makes this light switch 10x cooler; you’d definitely be flippin’ feelin’ up on this switch A LOT!

A description from IFM:

“Each dimmer is handcrafted in Seattle, WA from Designtex wool felt, conductive yarns, neoprene, and acrylic. Electronic fibers are embedded directly into the material, so there are no hidden buttons or switches in the fabric. All you feel is the allure of a soft, fuzzy surface. Available in 14 captivating colors, ESSENTIAL™ Square Wall Dimmers are modern, minimalist, and luxurious. Our dimmers put the finishing touch on any interior. Also available in single gang and triple gang configurations.
Easy-to-install, the ESSENTIAL™ Square Wall Dimmer is antimicrobial, stain resistant and UL listed. All IFM’s high quality, exclusive electronic textile products are rigorously tested for safety and durability.”

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Give your tiles a facelift with these cool Tile Tattoos by Mibo.  These vinyl stickers are easy to install and require no glue for application; they are even waterproof once applied!  Within minutes, you can transform your bathroomn or kitchen to a more stylish look.  Removal of Tile Tattoos are simple and will leave no residue.  Stickers are available with different designs and styles to jazz up your tiles.  Definitely a non-permanent solution worth checking out!

Mibo Tile Tattoos now available at puremodern.com

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As you can see from the hostess with the mostest at the ICFF booth, Innermost offers fabulous lighting to brighten up anyone’s day.  Choose from complete lamps, lamp shades, lamp bases, or other homeware accessories.  The lighting itself makes the statement as they cast amazing effects to compliment your style. 

The best way to add style to a whiteboard—get rid of the white! Danish company CHAT-Board has taken the dry erase board from boring and industrial to a fashion statement for your home or office wall. Available in 17 colors, the glossy finish on the glass surface of the boards give it rich depth to its appearance.  Pricing ranges from about $130US to $1200 depending on size and color. As you can see from their display at ICFF - they made quite an impression. I hope to get thru the crowd tomorrow to get availability and shipping info.

One trend that is definitely expanding is the use of ventless ethanol fueled fireplaces. German stainless steel products from Blomus were very popular in 2007 and now a number of stylish entries in the segment are available this year. This model from Planika is a floor standing fireplace encased in to large tempered glass plates. the clean minimalist design is striking and the benefit of ethanol is the elimination of a chimney/flue which limits your interior design due to the architecture constraints of a traditional fireplace. This model is available in white or black and stands approximately 47” x 28” x 17” - pricing is approximately $3500 US.

I think this sign says it all

We’re headed to ICFF and will be reporting some of our cool finds, unbelievable designs, and new trends.  Look for regular updates! 

For the longest time, I could remember people going on and on and on about Corian.  Corian this, Corian that—counter tops, sinks, bars, bla bla bla.  Enough already!  Well, the Corian + interior designer love affair seemed to be over for quite a while.... until now!  Enter, FTF DESIGN STUDIO in NYC—making clever use of a material that nearly faded into the black hole of designer trends.  FTF creates amazing, beautiful, and timeless furniture using pure white (snow) Corian.  Shown is the Jane coffee table in which we recently specified for a design project in which the client was nothing short of amazed.  Not only is the design seamless and beautiful, but the quality of construction rivals pieces that are 2-3 times as expensive.  For just about $5000, this table can be yours!  (soon to be offered at puremodern.com)