Jools is obsessed.  I think he bought Paul Smith “MAN” fragrance, so he can really play the part.  Someone tell him that the fragrance won’t make him any more of a man—but will smell good on the right dude. I like the scent, actually—but Jools should perhaps chose CoCo Chanel.

Paul Smith Man available for £34 at the official Paul Smith website [ see here ]

While PJ is adoring Ted Baker and yawning at designer Paul Smith‘s clothes, I have taken a moment to highlight some items of interest that just scream PS, I LOVE IT!  One of the main reasons why I fell in love with this designer is because his use of stripes is simple and discrete, yet makes a statement.  I like to think of it as a burlesque show of color.  From fine china, furniture decked in PS fabric, Triumph motorcycles, Mini Coopers, to luggage, this designer manages to always entice my masculine side.  Enjoy!

Paul Smith Bespoke Stripe fabric by Kvadrat
If you are interested in reupholstering your own furniture in PS fabric, you can get it at Moroso, NY. Fabric samples also available at Maharam

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Part hanging plant, part green art installation, the Indoor Fabric Garden from the recent 100% Design in London is a green and eye-catching collaborative project from fashion house Ted Baker and UK branding agency JAM. The installation merges tasteful fabrics and beautiful flora, giving modern dwellers a great way to integrate greenery into their interiors seamlessly and stylishly. Plus, the hanging vessels are made use from reused lampshades and their fabrics to reinforce the environmental focus of the project. - via Inhabitat

I wonder if Ted Baker does furniture; hopefully PJ will post something soon.  I’m waiting! 

From REPUBLIC of Fritz Hansen:
Decision was designed by Pelikan Design in 1986.
The Decision sofa series comprises a wide range of different sofa units that can be combined in many different ways into a great variety of shapes and sizes.

The sofa is particularly suitable for reception and lounge areas and comes with optional tables in glass and with wedge-shaped cushions.  One-seaters, two-seaters or for a large group of people, in a quiet fabric, leather, or in an eye-catching fabric like the “Stripes” designed by the world-famous designer Paul Smith.

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WHY I never knew about this place 5yrs ago really beats me.  Since I love to cook and I am always seeking new ideas for my own creations, I got a great tip from a friend about this little gem in Chicago.  The place is Borinquen Restaurant located at 3811 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL.  What’s even better is that this restaurant is right around the corner from my place!

- via Wikipedia:
The jibarito (pronounced hee-bah-ree-to), a specialty of Chicago, is a sandwich made with flattened, fried green plantains instead of bread. 

It was invented in 1991 by Jorge Muñoz and Coquí Feliciano in Aguada, Puerto Rico, in their restaurant, Plátano Loco (crazy plantain).

Chicago restaurateur Juan “Peter” Figueroa introduced it at Borinquen Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant, in 1996.

The sandwich’s popularity soon spread to other Latin-American restaurants around Chicago, including Mexican, Cuban and Argentinian places, and jibaritos now can be found in some more mainstream eateries as well.

The original Borinquen jibarito had a steak filling, and that remains the usual variety, but other fillings, such as chicken and pork, are common. A proper jibarito also contains cheese, lettuce, tomato and garlic-flavored mayonnaise.

While sitting in my small urban garden today with my laptop I came across this amazing concept for bringing nature back into our concrete jungle. Designed by Chooi-leng Tan the “Brick Habitats” are modular brick replacements which provide homes for plants and birds to move in and liven up the most sterile urban space.

The perfect way to enjoy incense around the house without an unsightly pile of leftover ash. From Design IM Dorf of Germany, this discreet little abode makes a unique gift and fun modern accent piece. See it [ here ].

This evening, I went to Ravinia in Highland Park, IL for the first time to see Pat Benatar and Blondie perform live.  I highly recommend picking up a concert at this venue especially if the weather is nice; it makes a perfect setting for an evening picnic with friends and good music (if you get the lawn seats).  It was definitely a great way to end a Monday evening!  And don’t forget to bring your picnic accessories!

These accessories definitely came in handy for my picnic...available @ Pure Modern
Champagne Stop by Blomus
Bottle Opener, Square by Blomus
UU60 Wine Coaster by MuNiMulA - get the Wine Tray here!

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New from our friends at Offi & Company, these unique ambient lights are hand-blown frosted glass in discreet sizes perfect for a shelf or small bookcase. Click to view the Cupstack and Zig-Zag lamps.



And from Karim Rashid’s 1999 design, the Bongo is a simple molded plastic stool and low energy-consuming lamp combined to make the perfect modern accent piece. See it [ here ].

One of my colleagues here at PureModern is in love with Paul Smith (ahem… Jools).  While I have a couple nice things from Paul Smith, his designs generally make me yawn. I think about what the well dressed contemporary man should be wearing today.  Everything for men is dated, lacking taste, and is not at all cutting edge.  However, recently—I’ve become quite interested in Ted Baker.  Rarely do great design, tasteful simplicity, and quality materials converge.  Ted Baker is one of the few designers that has been able to accomplish all of this with their entire line.  Check out their online store and designs.





I’m a bit biased—as I just purchased a great bag from my local Ted Baker store—and I’m quite happy

No need to settle for a boring old mailbox on your house - The Letterman by Radius is available in a range of colors or in stainless steel. The pothole in the front lets you see when you have mail and the flap conceals a space for your newspaper to protect it from the weather. From Radius or dealers throughout the world starting at approximately $350USD

Ever wonder what your DNA blueprint looks like?  Get yours now at DNA 11!  You can even do Pet Portraits for those animal lovers!

Via DNA 11:
DNA 11 pioneered the application of genetic science in the creation of truly personalized unique custom art. We’re really proud of that fact. In addition to our DNA art We continue to lead the way with innovative new products like our Fingerprint Portraits, KISS Portraits and our latest creation, the NEW! DNA Mini Portrait.

We empower you to create art that has a deep personal meaning to you. In fact, you are as much a part of the process as we are. You choose the size and style of your art piece and now you can even choose your own color scheme from over a million possible color combinations. To finish off your perfect art piece, you can also select from a variety of high quality frames.

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Swingy:  A swing made from a single piece of cardboard that you can take anywhere with you and supports up to 100kg.  Kids will be flying with this concept!  Designed by Dror Bren - via designspotter.com

Because we’re all a little creeped out by that stuffed and mounted antelope head on the wall, our friends at the NYC-based Areaware have created a coat hanger perfect for animal lovers and hunters alike, the aptly named Antlers Coat Rack by Thorsten Van Elten. Made of powder coated steel (8mm) and available in 3 colors. See it [ here ].

While searching for a corporate apartment in Miami, I’ve come across some interesting stuff.  Great deals to be had, amazing views, modern decor.  Not that there aren’t some real dumps… but if you’re willing to part with a few coins, you can get something nice. 

Anyway, there are always units in condo buildings that shock me. People that have gone way overboard.

Two of the best today:

Mirador South Beach - For about $880,000 - you can have an incredible rooftop unit ready to add your modern touch. [ SEE IT HERE ]

Another in the same development, actually my personal favorite for a mere $850K—With wild colors and great taste—[ SEE IT HERE ]