Designed as letters and decidedly French, these fine ceramic trays take us right to the heart of Paris. Just one look and we’re sitting, beret-clad in a café on the Champs...

New York designer Re Jin Lee of Bailey Doesn’t Bark has created some spectacular tableware, but the simplicity of this white porcelain pair is an all-time favorite. We don’t sit...

Perfect for a dorm room, a teenager’s bedroom, or a home office in need of a laugh, this talk bubble message board adds a humorous flair to the basic...

A sweet solution for cramped sheds and garages from Design Within Reach, the canvas water bucket is made from heavyweight canvas that can hold any liquid without it seeping through....

What modern icon have you been dreaming about? An iconic Eames lounger? The yummy Nelson marshmallow sofa? Whatever modern piece fulfills your decorative fantasies, there is a good chance it’s...

With warm weather and clear skies on the way, we say forget the automatic dryer and let sunshine do its handiwork. And when line drying in the sunshine isn’t...

Giorgio and Claudine Lostao, the husband-and-wife interior architecture duo behind Ridiculous Design LLC, have combined their brilliance once again to create Artwork in a Bag, a fabulous solution for...

My father gave my mother a Dustbuster for Christmas in 1979 (among other things—it was her “joke” gift). We had heard of the glories of this new Black & Decker...

This week I thought I would write about something that I really love–kitchens! They are often the bane of people’s lives. Not only are they expensive to redo, but, especially...

Butterflies are in the air lately (see ELLE DECOR’s recent Trend Alert). The motif seems to have swarmed the design scene but this clock stood out in the crowd....

Stop trying to jam all those utensils into one small space. This simple, clear acrylic kitchen organizer features five cylinders of different heights to hold your every measuring spoon,...

Changing the shape of a room doesn’t always require demolition. I’ve loved non-square spaces since I visited Monticello, the most famous of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia houses. As I...

Citronella candles are useful, yes, but they’re not always the prettiest. For the summer, these votives are a chic solution. The dainty and delicate insect designs are filled with bug-repelling citronella...

It’s summer. Between the pool, the guests, and sticky Popsicle spills, you can never have too many towels. Normally, we’d say just stock up on the basics, but with West Elm’s...

As the old adage goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!" And when it comes in the form of shiny pink polka-dotted bags, it’s easy to agree. You...

If you live in a city like us, you probably find yourself pining for some greenery once in a while. Solve that problem with Deger Cengiz’s Chaise-lawn. One part lounge...

Last weekend my sister, cousin, their significant others, and Mike and I rented a house in Santa Fe —the central location between our homes in L.A., Denver, and...

Composed of off-white porcelain carved with dozens of divots, this vase may stand at just ten inches, but the impact is much greater. We love the mix of the strong geometric,...

When you’re confronted with rooms full of jewels once worn by some of the world’s most glamorous women—among them Princess Grace of Monaco, sewing machine heiress Daisy Fellowes,...

We love personalized hostess gifts but in a busy world, we’ve learned to keep a few pretty things on hand. Lovely pink lotus-shaped soaps, presented perfectly on a ceramic lily pad...

I’ll never forget my first glimpse of the Guggenheim—the original one, on Fifth Avenue, the one that is called, in full: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. It...

We fell in love with dozens of products at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, but Chunwei Liao’s Transformer lights, based off of his previous Transformer coffee table/seat, are truly one of...

There’s no easier way to dress up a cake than a doily—but we ran out of those years ago. The look of the lacey white paper is a bit dated and...

Even covered in fabric and crisscrossed with ribbons, a bulletin board is still a bulletin board. But in graceful golden wire, this message board is more like a decorative accent than...

For those that love kitchens and baths as much as we do, we present Drip Clips—a magnetic paper clip holder and desk tchotchke like no other. These hysterical droplet shaped...

Seasons change, but your tableware doesn’t have to. Bailey Doesn’t Bark’s newest porcelain collection features trees at their various seasonal stages and the time of...

We love a great accent rug. And if our favorites were a little less expensive we’d keep a few on hand for varying moods or seasons. Urban Outfitters knows us...

You never know who will be the next Picasso—but the artists at U-Gallery are a pretty good guess. Ugallery.com features the work of promising art students and...

I like to troll the web sites of furniture retailers and auction houses, especially those dedicated to modern product. I rarely buy anything or even bid, but I do learn a...

Villa by John Saladino

Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a designer as they take on a new project? Well, wonder no more. This new book by master...

Secret gardens. Hidden places. There’s just something charming, classic, and even a little mysterious about the skeleton key. So of course we were hooked when we saw...

Designer Todd Oldham’s work has spanned everything from fashion to home to his latest, the sandwich baggie. Sure it might seem a bit over-the-top for a school lunch, but when you...

Mexico has always had incredible allure, from its pantheon of glamour girls such as María Félix and Gloria Guinness to the eternal chic of the mountain resort of San Miguel de...

At less than $15 for a set of three, these chain-linked candleholders are where today’s lunch money is going. Depending on the setting, these holders could take on an urban edge...

Hey, it’s a recession and our budget for things like stationary is a little slim. Designer Ji Lee makes correspondence a bit easier with this All-In-One Card Stamp (still in...

This modern, clean-lined newspaper holder by Offi is the best way to keep yesterday’s news looking fresh. Others have tried to emulate its design, but nothing comes close to Offi’s perfect...

We can’t get enough of these woodsy lighting fixtures by Isabelle Sicart, which are a whimsical hybrid of modern and organic. Crafted from a variety of materials including resin...

Not only do these comic plates appeal to our love of Pop Art—they’ve channeled our inner super hero. Ooo!, Yum, and Mmm…we want all three! Virtually nothing can defeat these...

Flowers are on my mind at the moment, for good reason. Purple irises have unfurled in front of my apartment building, and bleeding hearts are blossoming beneath a 200-year-old...

There are people who think I lead a glamorous life. And there have been times when I thought so, too. After all, I’ve chatted about diamonds with Liz Taylor   in New...

Ahh, the romance of a warm summer picnic. Whether you use this for a feast in the park, to carry snacks to the pool, or to tote treats to the backyard—this...

Design junkies like us love Generate, an edgy web retailer that always trades in buzz-worthy buys. Take Kouichi Okamoto’s sconce and table Liquid Lamps, crafted out of iron plate and resembling...

This blown-glass creamer brings back one of our favorite childhood memories—recess. In paper we never thought much about the shape of the disposable carton, but strip away the colors and the...

Roost always wins us with its rustic objets and animal motifs, but these wooden bottle openers are some of our favorites to date. When not in action at the bar, these...

We love things that come in tiny packages, especially when the package becomes part of the gift. For an instant “ooh la la,” give a tiny trinket in a delicate Eiffel...

Made from recycled glass in the shape of a beehive, these pieces are gorgeous enough to be decorative lanterns, but sugar water turns them into chemical-free wasp- and bee-catchers. Hang...

In honor of Mother’s Day, I need to give my mom some credit. If I have good taste, it started with her. An East Coaster by birth, a former...

What’s in the wardrobe and what’s in the living room often play off of each other but never before have we seen a collection of rugs so purely runway-inspired....

Curiously a lot of the work I do is new construction. Without much of a history, these spaces often have a long way to go when it comes to...

We love the high style and functionality of the Smasher, DesignWright’s newest for Brit kitchen connoisseurs Joseph Joseph. The spring-loaded mechanism beats the pulp out of lumps and its spunky acid-green...

A picture, it has been endlessly said, is worth a passel of words, and design magazines are full of them. So I thought it might be useful to look...

I like baths to resemble either laboratories (clean, crisp, and clinical) or living rooms (pictures, patterns, and comfortable furniture). Both styles make me happy. Though it was pretty spare, my bath...

Eclectic, imperfect, and très chic, these holders are made from bendable iron handwoven into three different classic candlestick forms. And in fun summer hues, they’re a welcome change from brass! Grab...

We weren’t sure it was possible, but it’s true—we’ve fallen head over heels in love with a fruit bowl. But don’t laugh just yet—have you looked at that pattern? The vibrant...

Doll up the dining table with exquisite floral accents from the New York Botanical Garden Shop that won’t ever wilt. We’ve seen porcelain petals before, but none this delicate or lifelike....

If you’re stumped for home-improvement or interior-design ideas, consider following the lead of great hotels. Designed to catch the eye and make a memorable impression, the best hotels often are rich...

You can never be too organized—or too stylish for that matter. And we adore this sculptural desk accessory because it finally lets us be both at once. Business cards, pens, clips,...

A coat rack has never had such artistic potential. Using individual Y-shaped pieces that hook together through four different connector types, Ivy puts the creative direction in your very own...

Great for the office, the bulletin board at home, or as a gift for a coworker or a teacher, these sets of nine chic pushpins are irresistible. Whether you go for...

And the worldwide trade show tour continues . . . Today Editor in Chief Donna Warner and the editors of Met Home are live blogging from K/BIS , the...

Small spaces sometimes call for desperate measures. We’ve seen compact dining tables before, but this one takes the cake. All folded up, this impressively tiny table measures just 25”...

Leave no detail overlooked! This silver-plated attachment clips to the side of any casserole dish and keeps your serving utensils in place. Rest your spoons between the pineapple-adorned prongs to...

In spring a design maven’s fancy turns to color. It seems that the long winter hibernation brings out the desire to paint the cave come warm weather, and we...

Last Saturday I was lecturing at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, and once I finished talking about the American interior decorator Billy Baldwin and his work at Villa Fiorentina,...

Greeting cards are great, but so expected. Show someone you really care with this delicate (and most likely useful) handkerchief with the words “Get Well Soon” embroidered right on the edge....

As you can imagine, one of the drawbacks of constantly being exposed to what's new and fresh in the design world is that you want to keep changing things all the...

So here’s the plan: buy a chicer frying pan; trick ourselves into cooking more and actually doing the dishes when we’re done. It may sound like a stretch, but even...

After days at Milan Design Week, the editors of Met Home continue their search for the freshest modern design at High Point Market—the largest furniture fair in the U.S. Editor in...

A return to what Ikea does best! Modern, plastic, and affordable. Their PS Vallo is a classic in their line and for around $2—we are always happy to...

A hot pot with cool graphics? This enamel-coated stainless steel vessel starts off white, but as the pot heats up, thermocromic ink designs—throwbacks to traditional blue-and-white tea sets of...

The ongoing dilemma: how to organize a mass of belts, scarves, and delicates. Well, Ikea has an inexpensive solution with this new hanger composed of 28 different rings—perfect to hold whatever...

Whenever I return to a place I once lived—Hollywood, Amish country, or Andalusia—I know exactly where I’m going to eat. Visiting an old haunt and ordering a favorite dish—nothing fuels...

Showhouse rooms, by and large, are about glamour, sizzle, and chic, which aren’t characteristics usually achieved on a strict budget. But most show houses are populated with more than a...

Met Home Editor in Chief Donna Warner continues to scout the floors of i Saloni, camera phone in hand. Take a look at Friday's freshest finds, or check out...

Spring is here and the garden is on the mind. Whether it’s thinking about how fabulous our tulips look or fantasizing about our future vegetable patch—we don’t have to keep...

When we first saw these wooden napkin rings from Kim Seybert, we fell in love. The wooden jewels in rich natural tones cut to mimic gemstones are irresistible—at $77 for...

Met Home Editor in Chief Donna Warner is live blogging all this week from i Saloni via Twitter! Check out some of her latest finds and insights below, and to get all...

One of the best things about decorator showhouses is the wealth of stories they generate, from color trends to up-and-coming artists to ideas on displaying art and objects. They also...

In his famous poem on the subject, Robert Frost concluded that there is something that doesn’t love a wall. That something is NOT art. Art loves walls. And most people are...

These lovely dessert plates or coasters are perfect for your macaroons or a cool glass of lemonade. From Thomas Paul’s new line, these decorative delights go beyond Paul’s classic animal and...

What’s next in modern design? Attending i Saloni is the best way to find out. Metropolitan Home Editor in Chief Donna Warner and Deputy Director, Design News, Arlene...

We’ve gone ga ga over this gorgeous children’s chef set. Intricately crafted from 20 types of hardwood and finished in a nontoxic linseed oil, the 15-piece set—which includes a...

We are always looking for excuses to relax—and teatime is one of our favorites. Though to really enjoy the break, a bag of Lipton dropped in a mug is not going...

Spring is said be the perfect time to organize, but a little extra incentive is always appreciated. Thomas Paul’s paper holders with their cute patterns and strong solid hues are...

Of all the glories at the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, I covet just one thing—the white porcelain cachepots in designer Juan Montoya’s elegant living room.

...

I love maps. I always have; an atlas has always been one of the most used books in my library. When flying in to Los Angeles, to me there is nothing...

This spunky bottle opener catches every removed bottle cap before it falls to the floor with a hidden magnet. Now that’s a good party trick! Plus, we love the colors...

Barbie is celebrating the big 5-0 this year, and high-profile product designers like Jonathan Adler (who designed the "Dream House," above) and Philippe Starck have created swanky, stylish memorabilia to mark...

From great show houses come incredible ideas. The newly opened 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House is a prime example of what’s percolating in the minds of some...

No matter what you seek, we think this topical pillow is just what your living room is looking for. The typographical design was inspired by the top Google searches from 2005...

With this offbeat tray, you’ll have all the ice you want, in both senses of the word. Each mold creates six faceted gems. Dazzle up the punch bowl, or just add...

These blossoming wire candleholders are so cheery and charming we may even throw an outdoor dinner party in their honor. How cute would they be if paired with bud vases of...

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a dachshund. Her name is Schuyler, and here she is now, reminding me it’s been five minutes since she’s been fed (her stylin’ plaid...

The Kips Bay Designer Show House opens today, and its rooms broadcast one major trend loud and clear—purple. Be it mauve, lilac, lavender, plum, amethyst, grape, bordeaux, heather, or...

This week I have been very busy working on a project out in Malibu (I know, my life is tough); it is currently one of my favorite projects. It is a...

This pasta server-cum-cheese grater is the start of a streamlined kitchen. Measure pasta through the hole on the end, cook until al dente, use the fork-like server to dish some up,...

Finally, a gift bag with a lifespan and charm that lasts more than five minutes. No matter what you put in it, this charming floral tote is a gift in...

Gloria Vanderbilt is back on the radar—and it’s about time. Though she no longer has anything to do with the jeans-and-perfume label that made her a household word back in the...

Though not for purposes of sketching, we’ve always wanted a drawing mannequin. It would make such a sassy bookend or sculptural display on a side table. And in a painted ice-blue...

Hang it all! Swedish designer Camilla Diedrich wows us with Westwood, a wallpaper with high-fashion attitude. Her serpentine design mixes baroque ornamentation with a touch of punk attitude. Colorful swirls look...

If, like us, you feel it's near impossible to find unique gifts that don't cost a fortune—run, don't walk, to one of our favorite haunts, Greenwich House Pottery, which is in...

After hunting for a sofa for eight months, I was starting to think the chubby rectangle was the only style available. Massive upholstered blobs dominate the marketplace—but I knew...

This super trivet is ready no matter what you dish it. The footed accordion base adjusts smoothly to hold dishes of almost any size and shape. And its heat-resistant melamine handles...

A must-have for the kitchen or garden, these twist-on spouts transform plastic bottles into perfect watering cans and picnic pitchers.

Top off a plastic...

In researching Met Home’s new book—Glamour: Making It Modern (coming soon)—I had an occasion to chat, mostly via email, with dozens of the best designers working today. And...

Ready for a change? Tire of a look easily? Shy with bold color? Well Ikea has got the perfect answer. With these sweet shades at just $5, you can grab...

We love this set of twenty flashcards—aptly named “Know Your Corbusier”—featuring a photo and designer’s name on one side, and an iconic piece of furniture on the reverse.

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