As the year comes to an end, all I can say is what a year 2008 has been!  So in response to PJ’s October 31 post…

..and I wish everyone a FANTASTIC 2009!  CHEERS!

In response to my previous post (Sparkle Your Holiday On A Budget), Blomus makes THE perfect accessory for that bottle of champagne.  The Cino Champagne Stop (GREAT stocking stuffer) really keeps the fizz in, and it makes a great conversation piece.  This accessory is definitely a must have for everyone’s “miscellaneous” kitchen drawer.  So don’t let that bottle go to waste!  Give the gift this season of everlasting fizz! 
Available at PureModern.com

Need some bubbly to ring in the New Year?  Despite the bad economy, tough times call for desperate measures...AND cheap booze!  At an average of $9.99 a bottle, Saint Hilaire sparkling wine (by Jack Poust & Company, Inc.) is sure to give the other finer, higher-end champagnes a run for their money.  My personal favorite is the Extra Dry; crisp and elegant with a touch of sweetness (just like me!).  So forget paying top dollar for a bottle of champagne when you can pay top dollar...for a case of bubbly!  There is no need to end 2008 with 1 expensive bottle when you can have a few bottles for the same price!?  You do the math!  Saint Hilaire is available in Brut, Extra Dry, and Semi Sweet.

Stuart Fingerhut presents an interesting interpretation of an organizer rack that is designed to hold your mail, ammo, keys, etc.  You can hang your keys off the birds, barrel, or the innocent girl swinging amongst the chaos of flocking birds flying away from the sounds of an AK-47.  I suppose “organizing” can be a bit chaotic at times!

MORE...

Riveli is a very functional cocncept that enables you to flip wall panels to create instant shelves and art.  The panels can also be re-arranged to create a fresh new look.

”Mark Kinsley is a native Chicago-area resident with a lifelong passion for all things Design.  He has successfully been involved in a number of different design industries including Industrial, Furniture, and most recently in Lighting Design.” - Deceptive Design

MORE...

Designed by Victor M. Aleman, ohm is an interesting bed that will transform any modest space.  The configuration can be changed into 2 individual beds, a modular sofa, or a bench via “an electronic device installed inside the structure”. 

MORE...

For all you grasshoppers wine enthusiasts out there, this Kung Fu Girl Riesling by Charles Smith Wines is sure to pack the punch and put a small ding on your wallet.  By all means I am no wine connoisseur, but I have to admit this is one of the better tasting Rieslings I have had to date.  With a price tag of roughly $10 to $15, you can’t go wrong with this bottle.  Whether it is for those “just because” parties (maybe party of 1) or a nice gift for a friend, this Riesling is sure to leave a lasting impression!  Another great suggestion from West Lakeview Liquors (Chicago), my local neighborhood beverage store!

“Kung Fu Girl is filled with lush aromatics and tons of flavor.  On the nose, Kung Fu Girl is bursting with Asian pear, white peach and spring flowers. Apricot, pear, lime, and a pleasant minerality keep this off-dry wine at the perfect level of subtle sweetness.”

While visiting Palm Springs this past week - we spent a lot of time looking at real estate and architecture, a sort of evil passion.  Architecture has always inspired me, and what designers and architects do with materials never ceases to amaze me (unless it’s really tacky).  Because my passion is unusual living spaces, I tend to gravitate towards loft living with an industrial and contemporary feel.  While driving down the main drag in downtown Palm Springs, I hurried to a loft development of only 12 units, all for sale.  Depending on your preference—one side of the property looks over a bustling pedestrian friendly shopping corridor (conveniently housing most of the modern furniture stores) or the base of the serene mountainside.  Ranging from the Mid $500s to the Upper $700’s, it’s a relative bargain for a brand new property in a vacation hot spot.  For about $570,000, you get a completely outfitted 1400+/- sq foot, two story loft with high end finishes like Wolf, SubZero, Glass Mosaic Tile, etc.  Until recently, comparable properties would be selling for the upper 700’s without question.  For better or worse, the economic climate has made this property a great find.

Location :  803 N. Palm Canyon - Palm Springs, CA. 

Contact:  Windermere Real Estate (Michael Weitzel) 760-340-9253 [ see website ]

We at PureModern have been working endlessly to bring our customers more fun stuff, hot modern products, and great design ideas… Unfortunately that’s meant taking time away from what we really do enjoy most… sharing our inspiration through blogging.  When we first started PureModern years ago—we wanted to share our ideas on design and architecture with other people that had similar interests.  We quickly evolved into becoming a resource for our fellow enthusiasts to discover new products and eventually started offering great stuff to our readers! 

That said, our blogging and sharing of our finds took the passenger seat to expanding our business and offering cool products that are new, unusual and unique. 

So!  We’re marking today, the 31st of October as our revival.  We’ve all decided that blogging is something we love, and we MUST share our great ideas whenever and wherever possible.  So from now on, you’ll see regular posts, architectural discoveries, and blogging about our global buying trips!  From the NYIGF in New York, to ICFF, and 100% Design London—we’ll show you some of the most incredible new designs on the market. 

UNTIL THEN…

We’re going to reboot our blog— by bringing you a full week Palm Springs.

For those who aren’t familiar—Palm Springs is the epicenter of hip, modern, and retro living in the USA. 

Strida has hit the market with being one of the coolest fold up portable bikes.  Available in nearly a dozen colors, this surely is an attention getter. 

Specs:
Bike Weight: 10 kgs
Frame: 7000 Series Aluminum
Drive Train:Kevlar Greaseless Belt Drive (up to 50,000 miles)
Wheels: Alloy 16” Rim
Brakes: Disc Brakes
Speeds: Single Speed
Folded Size: 45” x 20” x 9"(114cm x 51cm x 23cm)
Grip: Gel
Bottom Bracket: Welded
Luggage Rack: Plastic or Alloy new option
Weight Limit: 100 kgs
Height Limit: 153cm – 193cm

After a couple of years dealing in products from Adam Frank, they’ve finally released a cool new Lumen model.... “Bloom” We’ll have them available for the holidays here

Color (or bling) can make a bold statement with modern design.  Fir Italy presents “Glamour Style” faucets that integrate luxury with materials such as Swarovski Crystal, glamorous finishes, and unique detailing.  Attention to detail definitely goes a long way with these creative designs!

MORE...

Designers Nuno Gonçalves Ferreira and Erin Hayne from Visual Refernce Studio have officially come out with a new piece of work that is sure to get a lot of hands on attention and compliments.  Touch Wall Panels are also made from the unique thermo-sensitive material and will change color at different temperatures even to the touch.  You can also see my previous post, One Hot A*S..., on the other cool pieces they have done.  I am still wanting their business cards!

Don’t overlook the small accessories to go on your balcony.  Rephorm, designed by Michael Hilgers, carries some interesting modern and very functional pieces to accent your balcony.  If space is an issue on your “balcon-ette” (short for tiny balcony in my book), then you cannot go wrong with these accessories!  They carry oil lamps, planters, bird feeders, and umbrellas.  Now I wish I had a balcony!

Fireball Oil Lamp

Cube planter

MORE...

If you are looking for a wall sculpture to light up your life, check out these designed by Foscarini.  The Field Wall Sculptures are simple yet elegant and just look really cool with the built-in accent lighting.

MORE...