Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

We're on vacation playing outside.

Robin Rice Photo

Pirate Kite from Gray Label

I am excited to introduce you to Gray Label; organic apparel for the little minimalist. Gray Label is an Amsterdam based label designed by Emily Gray, for babies and kids aged zero-six. This unique denim kite in the form of a pirate ship is made in Bali by father Made and his two sons.

Niels Cosman's Acorn Pods

Niels Cosman

Raw Stairwell

Artist, Leonard Baskin

Leonard Baskin was an illustrator, writer, sculptor, graphic artist, wood-engraver, printmaker and teacher. Here are just a few of his works.

Party Underfoot with Morris Etc.

Visit Morris Etc. for bright, striped, Peruvian rugs. These are vintage, one-off creations. Each is an heirloom piece, a foundation to be moved from room to room, house to house, floor to floor. Weeks of meticulous hand looming goes into creating every rug.

Made a Mano

The Made a Mano company designs and sells tile, sinks and countertops. These tiles are so fantastic to me because they mimic wood but can hold up so much better.

Photographer, Heidi Lerkenfeldt

Interior inspiration from photographer Heidi Lerkenfeldt.

Izola

Inspired by old world utilitarian objects that were built to last, IZOLA has carefully curated a whimsical collection of bathroom accessories that combines functional every day staples with antiquity. The result is a series of useful items which are made with great care and attention to detail, including shower curtains, shower rings, soap, soap dishes and bamboo toothbrushes. Shoe brushes, candles and flasks will also be available for late 2011.

Badass Bunks

Supermarket Sarah

I can't write a blog about the art of display and neglect to mention the talents and vision of Supermarket Sarah. Sarah has mastered the art of the online retail wall. She composes goods from various designers, new and vintage, and arranges them on a wall. Hover over the wall, find an object you must have (like these faboosh 'heels on wheels'), and buy! The presentation is clever and the objects are very fun. You can also find her goods at Selfridges in London.

Megaphone

'Megaphone', a passive amplifier by italian studio en&is, is a speaker-like system which reverts to traditional methods of sound distribution. a ceramic form, simple and organic in shape, is gently contoured and designed to amplify and optimize sound output. a thin wooden frame props the body off of the table, increasing the vibration of the object and maximizing the emission of sound. designed for use with the iPad and iPhone, the amplifier - which was recently presented at salone satellite during milan design week 2011 - allows users to play their music aloud in a way not dissimilar from that of a gramophone.
Images via en&is

Freemans Comes to the Mission in San Francisco

Refinery 29's Katie Hintz-Zambrano writes, "Today marks the highly anticipated opening of Freemans Sporting Club and Barbershop, a much loved New York import now located at the corner of Valencia and 18th Street. We got a look at the space over the weekend, and boy is she a beauty! All decked out in warm woodsy tones, the open, vintage-inspired space features a row of five antique barber chairs, an old-fashioned shoe-shining station, a large waiting area with an oval-shaped, custom-made bench, and a shop-in-shop that will feature the natty clothing and accessories of the much-obsessed F.S.C. label (ie: dudes rejoice!). To find out more about Freemans' move out West, we caught up with Half Moon Bay native (but N.Y.C. resident) Sam Buffa, who runs the barbershop with his brother Jonah, who just happens to live across the street. '...All the decor is antique except for the waiting bench, which we had made. The whole back bar of the barbershop and all of its fixtures were made in 1893 for the World’s Fair in Chicago. It’s all mahogany and has a Victorian feel and it won the gold medal for hand-carving!'" $40 for a haircut and walk-ins only. Rejoice!

Images by Gina Esposito

Designer, Benjamin Hubert

Lights and furniture from U.K. designer, Benjamin Hubert.

Ron Hamad's "Surrender" Exhibition

The Robin Rice Gallery announces “Surrender”, an exhibition of photographs by Ron Hamad. An opening reception will be held on May 4th, 2011 from 5:30 to 8:30pm. The show runs through June 19th, 2011. Ron Hamad's second solo exhibit at Robin Rice Gallery invites us to contemplate the cycle of life in a new way. Inspired by his own recent near death experience, Hamad set out to capture the beauty that exists in a world that continually ebbs between permanence and impermanence. This new collection of landscapes, still lives and figurative studies expresses what happens when one surrenders their own fear of death and embraces life.