http://www.thisnext.com/list/9B0A4654/Whats-What/ http://www.thisnext.com/item/77425B9F/8B2A7698/Scott-Cooner

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 13, 2006

This small Texas-based chain carries over 15 Italian brands, including Acerbis, Baleri Italia, Casa Milano, Dema, Fiam Italia, Flexform, Foscarini, Matteo Grassi, Porada, Tre-Pui and Zanotta. The retail store was founded in 1995 by architect Lloyd Scott and interior designer Josette Cooner. The company carries modern European-designed furniture that ranges from well-known brands such as Poliform to ones still fairly new to the US market like Tre-Pui. Scott + Cooner has retail stores located in Austin and Dallas. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/77425B9F/8B2A7698/ Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:19:30 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/FB5A9D62/F7211340/Jim-Thompson

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 12, 2006

The special silk that hails from Thailand is prized for its great texture and weight, but more so for its gleaming patina. The beautiful sheen caught the eye of Jim Thompson, an American army officer who made Thailand his home after World War II, and who forever changed the Thai tradition of enlisting a local weaver and one’s tailor or dressmaker to custom weave silk and fashion it into clothing.
Thompson, with his discerning eye for beautiful things, inspired local weavers and their families to try new patterns and to use the color-fast dyes he imported from Europe. He also supplied them with a particular silkworm that had an appetite for a particular mulberry leaf, which resulted in a spun cocoon with a very long, inherently textured filament. These coarse strands are what give Thai silk its beautiful slubs, textures, and shine. Before long, a cottage industry emerged and Thompson opened an enchanting—and internationally famous—silk shop in Bangkok. Knowing the power of the American media, Thompson brought a small collection of silks to New York, where he was introduced to Vogue editor Edna Chase, and the rest is history. It was interior designer Billy Baldwin, however, who first used Thai silk in a client’s New York apartment, thus beginning America’s love affair with interiors swathed in Thai silk. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, Jim Thompson, silk, studio, textiles, Thai, Thailand, traditional design, world

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/FB5A9D62/F7211340/ Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:27:55 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/44621796/4E436347/Chelsea-Editions

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 12, 2006

Today, some of the finest Indian embroideries are still produced in Southern Asia. Chelsea Editions is considered the premiere source for embellished fabrics based on eighteenth-century patterns and made in India under the direction of Mona Perlhagen, the company’s founder. Perlhagen works with textile dealers and mills to create product true to historical documents when she’s not sleuthing around for antique textiles to use as inspirations for her own designs. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/44621796/4E436347/ Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:25:53 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/14E7F826/82E6D19C/Crown-City-Hardware

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 11, 2006

Growing up in California, Richard Perris was crazy about movies, and even got himself a degree in cinema. But instead of becoming a producer, he took over Crown City Hardware, the store his grandfather bought in 1936. As a youngster, Perris worked in the store on weekends and became interested in period hardware. "'Bungalow Heaven' is near here, and somebody was always searching for the right knob or hinge," he explains. "So now we specialize in Victorian, Craftsman and Deco hardware and restoration items." Crown City offers a 400-page catalog of the stores’s complete stock as well as a 60-page version that highlights popular items. As for the movies, Perris maintains a connection by providing hardware for sets requiring period authenticity. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: architectural elements, Art Deco, Crown City Hardware, hardware, restoration, studio, traditional design, Victorian

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/14E7F826/82E6D19C/ Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:06:57 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A2FC9476/2C483E3B/Alkemi

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 7, 2006

Solid material composed of at least 60% industrial scrap aluminum. Unique textured and honed finishes in a surprisingly wide palette. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: aluminum, contemporary design, green, kitchen, recycled, supplier, surfaces

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/A2FC9476/2C483E3B/ Fri, 07 Apr 2006 07:50:49 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/ED69952A/270A99D6/PaperStone

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 7, 2006

Solid surfacing material made from paper and plastic resins, both recycled, with an appearance often compared to soapstone. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, green, kitchen, paper, plastic resin, recycled, supplier, surfaces

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/ED69952A/270A99D6/ Fri, 07 Apr 2006 07:46:50 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/45AFA2DD/FFC492AD/Mats-Inc

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 7, 2006

Resilient flooring ideal for high traffic areas made from shredded car and truck tires combined with colored EDPM granules. Customized borders, inlays, colors available. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/45AFA2DD/FFC492AD/ Fri, 07 Apr 2006 07:43:39 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/61881C4C/2F053BAD/Select-Stone

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 7, 2006

Building stones reclaimed from pavements and condemned structures in US and abroad: Yorkshire flagstones, granite cobblestones, hand-shaped stones from 19th-century Montana homesteads. Check website for current offerings. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/61881C4C/2F053BAD/ Fri, 07 Apr 2006 07:40:45 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/31BF9863/C7CE4C6E/Alma-Ston

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Master stone carvers are rare in the US, which makes California especially fortunate to have Clark Mitchel and his company, Alma Stone. Mitchel spends his time carving gorgeous fireplaces, sinks, moldings and other architectural elements; incising letters; drafting; and restoring old stone treasures. Originally a sculptor, Mitchel trained with the best. He learned restoration, sculpturing, drafting and carving techniques during apprenticeships in England and Italy. As for the name, it means "soul" in Spanish, volunteers Mitchel. It’s also the name of his grandmother and his daughter. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: architectural elements, fireplace, restoration, stone, traditional design

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/31BF9863/C7CE4C6E/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:14:30 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/B2B45B60/4CDCACD8/Big-Pagoda

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

The Big Pagoda Company’s feng shui, everywhere apparent in its San Francisco store, is equally evident on its website, which now makes it possible to shop for design-savvy furniture and accessories online. While the Chinese connection is clear, both in antique and contemporary designs, the company also features items from France, Finland, Mexico and wherever else "neat stuff, stylish designs and brainy materials" emerge, says owner Kurt Silver. Offerings include custom furnishings and commissioned art. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, Chinese, contemporary design, furniture, hand-crafted, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/B2B45B60/4CDCACD8/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:12:33 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/60CF9905/53398B72/Welcome-to-Blackman-Cruz

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Acutely aware that the movers and shakers of this world want unique homes, antiquarians Adam Blackman and David Cruz have launched their first furniture collection, BC Workshop. "The way to promote individuality is with antiques and pieces that obviously took a great deal of care and time to make," says Blackman. The BC pieces meet that criterion. At once classical and modernist, glamorous and quirky, clean-lined and decorative, the collection includes seating, tables, lighting and accessories. It can be seen in the West Coast showroom and on the Blackman Cruz website. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/60CF9905/53398B72/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:10:39 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/4169E75D/E1123C8F/Architectural-Pottery-Interior

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Organic forms come naturally to the award-winning planters, urns and other vessels in the Architectural Pottery collection from Vessel USA. Owner Mike Stephenson, a ceramist, says he’s always been a design addict and a collector of post-war modern design. "When I started the company in the early 1990s, sculptural ceramic containers were not readily available," he says. "So I saw an opportunity to start a business in a medium I love." The collection, which is offered in custom finishes, is sold through selected showrooms and design galleries, the firm’s website and its catalog. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/4169E75D/E1123C8F/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:09:16 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/F44B3817/83440DEE/Union-Studio

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Matthew Bear was just a few years out of architecture school when two of his Union Studio furniture designs were selected for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, but he isn’t resting on his laurels. He continues to explore the ways furniture and spaces can interact. He says he believes in a hands-on approach, whether the challenge is designing furniture, interiors or architectural installations. Union Studio’s furniture includes seating, chests, shelving and tables, all dramatically sparse and functional. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, furniture, seating, shelving, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/F44B3817/83440DEE/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:07:38 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A53FDB49/49FA44B2/SILHO-Furniture

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Designers Michelle Johnson and Jason Martin admire the classicism of modern American furniture, but when they designed their own collection of chairs, tables and upholstered pieces, they combined that look with the simplicity of organic silhouettes. "We pared down American modern to its most basic form, or silhouette," explains Martin. "That’s why our company name is Silho Furniture." The light-as-air furnishings are sold exclusively through the firm’s Los Angeles showroom. The partnership also includes interior design and is sought after for custom furnishings. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, bedding, contemporary design, furniture, lighting, modern, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/A53FDB49/49FA44B2/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:06:29 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C6CAC6D8/45FA97A4/Steven-Handelman-Studios

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Lots of companies pulled in their horns or gave up entirely during the recession of the late 1980s, but Steven Handelman Studios expanded. Handelman guessed that America was hungry for honest crafting, and he was proven right. Today, his Santa Barbara firm is a national source of such wrought-iron products as fire screens, chandeliers, ceiling mounts, sconces and outdoor lanterns. "Our products are handmade, and we offer so many options that each product is customized," says Handelman. "Clients love the attention to detail. They’ll often remark, ‘I’m so relieved that somebody gets it’ when they see our products." A catalog is available. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: architectural elements, kitchen, lighting, studio, traditional design, wrought-iron

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/C6CAC6D8/45FA97A4/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:04:42 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/AEF8EB36/3B1755C2/Susan-Fanfa-Design

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

A couple years spent in Denmark contributed significantly to designer Susan Fanfa’s career choice. Originally a fashion major, she became interested in modern furniture, got a degree in industrial design and learned welding and finishing techniques. Her first collection of furniture and lighting was launched in 1999 to great acclaim. She uses luxurious materials in a modern fusion of cool metals and warm woods, and her clean-lined furnishings can be customized. The firm also produces entirely custom furnishings. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, custom, furniture, lighting, modern

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/AEF8EB36/3B1755C2/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:00:04 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DE2A0DE3/83896E8C/Rustic-Furniture

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Diane Ross’s voice lilts when she talks about her life on a Montana ranch. "I climb trees, ride horses and build good furniture," she says. "I’m so lucky." Her business, Rustic Furniture, was launched when she needed money for college. After reading an article about bent willow chairs, she made some and then sold them at a crafts fair. She got her degree in range science and soil (she calls it "grass and dirt"), but it’s with her rustic wood furniture that she has made her mark. Except for pieces she crafts for juried shows such as the Western Design conferences, she works strictly on commission. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/DE2A0DE3/83896E8C/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:58:27 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/B0986846/0E3B5943/Diamond-Spas

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Can a bathtub play Cupid? You bet. One day, Stephanie Bennett, a teacher, designed a bathtub because she didn’t like any of the ones she saw in showrooms. She wanted it made of stainless steel, so she had it specially fabricated. Marriage to the fabricator followed, along with a business partnership and two children. The business is Diamond Spas Inc., which offers custom bath fixtures in stainless steel and copper, including whirlpools, soaking baths, spas, shower pans, and pedestal and vessel sinks. Recently, the DSI Architectural Products division was formed to offer contemporary copper and steel stairway systems. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: bath, contemporary design, copper, sinks, stainless steel, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/B0986846/0E3B5943/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:56:21 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/FC53D7AD/42F635F1/Schoolhouse-Electric-Company

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Offering lighting that is entirely designed and made in America is a matter of pride to Brian Faherty, head of Schoolhouse Electric Company. The company manufactures vintage schoolhouse-style fixtures, so named because they were widely used in schools and libraries from 1900 to 1950. Faherty, a realtor specializing in historic properties, says he loves once-again fashionable schoolhouse lighting because "it isn’t overly ornate, is extremely flexible and provides really good light." The line is sold in two stores, in Portland, Oregon, and New York City. A catalog is also available. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/FC53D7AD/42F635F1/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:54:54 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DB61BF4F/CED47B46/555-DESIGN

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Ask 555 founder James Geier what he likes best about his business, and he’ll say, "developing environments that affect people’s emotions." He and partner Paul Ohadi do that in spades, with their custom designs for the world’s leading retailers, hotels and casinos. Their Automatic contemporary furniture division features their award-winning stainless steel sling chair and ottoman, which are complemented by other stainless steel pieces—benches, club chairs, lamps, folding screens and even a dog kennel. 555 also manufactures pieces for other designers. Automatic furniture is featured in showrooms across the country. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/DB61BF4F/CED47B46/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:53:06 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DDFB0A4E/196E721A/Heltzer-Furniture

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

It would be a challenge to find a man who has more fun than Mike Heltzer. He makes elegant, award-winning furniture, lives and works in a renovated boatyard along the Chicago River, and restores and redesigns yachts. "It’s hard to believe how unconventional my life is now, considering I was originally an attorney with a big Chicago law firm," he laughs. Heltzer Furniture marries modern technology and hand-crafting in designs that integrate metals, textiles, stone and wood. Each piece is finished to enhance, both aesthetically and structurally, its natural characteristics. Collections are available through interior designers and architects. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/DDFB0A4E/196E721A/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:51:14 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/17C1CA8E/A1F44192/The-Workshops-of-David-T-Smith

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

"History is my teacher," says David T. Smith, whose workshops make museum-quality reproductions tailored to contemporary living. Smith thinks the workshops’ furniture and cabinetry are particularly suited to old and new period homes. Originally an antique dealer, he launched his company in 1980 and now employs 45 craftspeople. "Using laptops, we custom-design furniture and cabinetry right in people’s homes," he says. "After crafting them in Ohio, we then send our own team out to install them anywhere in the country." (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: cabinetry, furniture, studio, traditional design

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/17C1CA8E/A1F44192/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:48:52 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/D798E102/466352FE/Branch-Hill-Joinery

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

The Amish traditions of crafting and design simplicity are alive and well in Michigan. Ten years ago, Ann Gordon, a Web designer at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, wanted to buy some "real wood" bookcases and finally had them made by an Amish craftsperson. That was the beginning of Branch Hill Joinery, which produces custom furniture using solid woods and old-time construction methods. "Our furniture and cabinetry designs are largely Shaker or Mission style," says Gordon. "They express the themes of Amish life: function, grace and devotion." (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/D798E102/466352FE/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:40:47 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DA766461/D9AC9880/D-R-Coble-Company

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

One-of-a-kind furniture and accessories, both new and old, are the raw material for the artwork of Dan and Marlene Coble, the husband-and-wife painters who make up D. R. Coble & Co. Their hand-painted objects are snapped up at art and home-furnishings shows and featured at the American Folk Art Museum. Dan specializes in grain painting, which produces furniture that suits contemporary as well as traditional rooms. Marlene favors heartland themes, such as botanicals, small-town scenes, the circus and the cranes that whoop in the marshes behind the Cobles’ Indiana home. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/DA766461/D9AC9880/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:38:45 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/0417804B/4315CCE8/Big-Red-Sun fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Big Red Sun nursery has become an addiction in Austin, Texas. Here, Selena Souders and her partner, Dylan Robertson, have created a verdant oasis of graceful palms, towering trees, indoor tropicals, herbs, garden shrubs, succulents and other botanical beauties. There’s also a shop selling antique and new home décor pieces, including Big Red Sun’s own line of stained concrete and phosphorus-coated steel planters and vases. Another Big Red Sun opened over a year ago in Venice, California. Selena, who honed her skills at the New York Botanical Garden, is a Lucinda Williams fan; the nursery’s name came from a Williams song. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/0417804B/4315CCE8/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:36:56 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/C53F298F/3C38938C/Antique-Appliances

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Purists love Antique Appliances. Here they can find carefully restored 1920s–1960s iceboxes and ranges that will do justice to their Craftsman bungalows, Shaker saltboxes and Prairie ranches. Owner John Jowers started out selling new appliances, but during the winter months, when half the town’s population went to Florida, customers were few and far between. To keep his staff busy, he began restoring and customizing vintage appliances. Business is now so brisk—99 percent of it comes from his website—that he no longer sells the new ones. Customers are from every state in the union as well as Canada and Europe. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: antique, appliances, contemporary design, kitchen, restoration, supplier

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/C53F298F/3C38938C/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:34:49 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/3F0377AC/39FEB68B/Cain-Inc

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Wayne Cain, whose art-glass windows can be found in public places and private spaces all over the world, says he can’t wait for Monday mornings, when he returns to his studio. "I got the sociology and forestry degrees that other people expected of me," he says, "but I wanted to be in a barn in the country, and here I am. For 30 years, I’ve been doing it my way." Cain’s way includes designing and handcrafting beveled, stained, carved, silvered, fused and painted glass windows, entryways, transoms and domes. Styles range from historical to contemporary. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: architectural elements, art-glass, contemporary design, studio, traditional design, windows

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/3F0377AC/39FEB68B/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:32:40 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/B35B6757/76838960/Architectural-Accents

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Before becoming one of America’s premier sources for architectural elements, Charles Nevinson was a busy restoration architect in his native Britain. "In the 1950s, plastic was the with-it look for British retail stores," he says. "In the 1970s, I ripped the plastic from over 50 stores and returned the buildings to their old-world roots." Today, in Atlanta, Nevinson presides over two acres of antiques and reproductions, including entryways, columns, mantels, windows, doors and ironwork. He confesses he doesn’t like the Prairie style, so Frank Lloyd Wright fans should probably look elsewhere, but every other period is overwhelmingly represented. (via Elements of Living)

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/B35B6757/76838960/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:30:38 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/627BB2AE/C286C0BB/Kyle-Bunting

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

As a kid in Texas, Kyle Bunting helped his father make rugs out of cowhides. "It was a way for him to supplement his income," says Bunting. "I forgot about that for many years while I was working in television. Suddenly one night I had a vision of those hide rugs, and in a short while, I was designing and crafting contemporary pieces, using the finest skins from Italy and Brazil. Now we do about 200 custom rugs a year, entirely by hand. I love this work, and my father can’t understand how his little old extra-income venue could become a real business." Bunting’s rugs are sold in the US, Europe and Asia. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, carpet, contemporary design, cowhide, custom, rug

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/627BB2AE/C286C0BB/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:27:53 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/03446C6A/270939C1/Jaeger-and-Ernst

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Walter Jaeger and Craig Ernst are passionate about woodworking. Partners since 1980, they admit they love the entire process of custom-designing and crafting cabinetry and furniture. "Until they’ve worked with us," says Ernst, "people have no clue how much time we spend brainstorming and sketching to arrive at that great design that’ll draw out a smile every time they look around their room." Adds Jaeger, "It’s the character of a room—be it expansive, comfortable, rich, intimate, soft or whatever—that I seek to affect." (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: cabinetry, furniture, traditional design, woodworking

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/03446C6A/270939C1/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:23:33 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/2EC13B51/7F854770/Ben-Owen-Potter

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Periodically, Ben Owen e-mails announcements of kiln openings to pottery devotees, who subsequently descend on his shop in central North Carolina to witness the unveiling of new vases, crocks and more. Might a kiln opening reveal something unexpected? "We’ve had a few pieces that didn’t turn out exactly the way I intended," laughs Owen. "But most work out well." Indeed they do: Pieces from Ben Owen Pottery are featured in prestigious galleries. The artfully simple creations that have been a family tradition for four generations can also be seen online and at Owen’s retail store. Occasionally, Owen crafts custom pieces, such as an extra-large vessel or a centerpiece. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, contemporary design, crocks, pottery, vase

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/2EC13B51/7F854770/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:21:19 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/E91C5A91/82AB678B/Elson-Company

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

There isn’t a hint of Asian dragon motifs in Elson & Company’s Tibetan rugs. These rugs are decidedly modern, yet hand-knotted and crafted in Katmandu by Tibetans using time-honored techniques and high-altitude Himalayan wool. Diane Elson got the idea for her enterprise when she was trekking through Asia and had a rug made as a keepsake to bring home to the States where Elson & Company was born. Today, its collections, which include creations by big-name architects and designers, are available at showrooms around the country or directly from the Washington, D.C.–based company. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: Asian, contemporary design, hand-knotted, rug, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/E91C5A91/82AB678B/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:18:43 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/4F4674D6/7155A7A7/The-Tweed-Weasel-Primitives

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

The folk-art heritage of the Pennsylvania-Germans is in good hands (literally) with Tish Bachleda. A crafter and designer, she makes original rugs, adapted reproductions and special commissions for clients throughout the country. Her crafts and those of others can be seen at the Tweed Weasel Primitives gallery in a beautifully restored tulip barn in Pennsylvania Dutch country and are also available online. Items featured include antique braided rugs, Bachleda’s milk-painted furniture, primitive dolls and animal figurines, local tulipware, and garden décor. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, antique braided, contemporary design, furniture, Garden, rug

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/4F4674D6/7155A7A7/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:16:24 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DEF9D701/10F96CD9/Mul-h

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

A stockbroker can have an eye for great design as well as for financial trends, as Christopher Reiter proves. In 1999, he returned to the US after four years in Jakarta, Indonesia, and created a home-furnishings store that reflects the elegant subtleties of modern Asian interiors. Designs at Muléh (which means "to come home" in Javanese) are often reminiscent of contemporary European styles, but the Asian versions are warmer, notes Reiter, because they incorporate natural elements such as abaca, rattan and recycled teak. Muléh’s wares are sold in shops all over the country and online. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: Asian, contemporary design, furniture, rattan, studio, teak

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/DEF9D701/10F96CD9/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:14:37 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/7EAEB7D2/4988B65E/Andersen-Stauffer

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Alan Andersen and Tom Stauffer specialize in exact copies of seventeenth- , eighteenth- , and nineteenth-century American antiques. Andersen has perfected techniques to simulate centuries-old surfaces, a vital part of restoration work, while Stauffer, master cabinetmaker and joiner, makes sure that every piece is as close to the original as possible. Although their reproduction work is highly respected, Andersen admits that the shop gets really excited when a rare antique comes in. "Recently we worked on a line and berry Chester County highboy," he says. "It was the only one in existence. What a thrill." (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: antique, furniture, restoration, studio, traditional design

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/7EAEB7D2/4988B65E/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:12:26 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/9FA7880D/716899B5/George-Nakashima-Woodworker

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

The legacy of George Nakashima, the most admired wood artisan of the twentieth century, continues in New Hope, PA, where he crafted the bold organic pieces that are sought-after collectors’ items. There, his daughter Mira and several artisans (three of ten trained by Nakashima himself) now custom-design and craft furniture in the spirit of his work. They use mostly American black walnut or cherry, although a limited supply of other fine woods is also available. These include burls in claro walnut, redwood, maple and Oregon myrtle. Mira describes her style as one with more curves than angles—and thus having a more complicated construction—than her father’s, but she still “listens to the voice of the wood itself.” A catalog is available, and the Nakashima workshops hold open-house tours. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, furniture, George Nakashima, studio, woodwork

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/9FA7880D/716899B5/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:10:16 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/EDE879D4/CB2CDCED/John-Houshmand

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

John Houshmand, noted musician, sculptor and builder, has now turned his creative eye to furniture. He mixes large pieces of American hardwoods with glass and steel to produce sophisticated, entirely handcrafted designs. The woods come from his farm in New York’s Catskills region and from sources across the country, but he has also been known to use trees that have fallen by the roadside and are headed for the dump. "We leave crumbly bark on and welcome wormholes," he says. "The idea is to fuse the basic elements of nature with timeless materials and an esoteric design sensibility." (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, furniture, handscrafted, studio

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/EDE879D4/CB2CDCED/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:07:59 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/12342D7F/1724E551/SeaCloth

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

A fine artist by education and inclination, Susan Harris got into textiles as a favor to a friend seeking a special look. The result was 12 designs inspired by the beach and ocean. Enter Deidre Halper, a former marketing executive who visualized Harris’s work as an entire lifestyle brand. Now the SeaCloth collection of textiles and home accessories can be found in showrooms around the nation. In Greenwich, Connecticut, there’s a SeaCloth store featuring table linens, pillows, dog beds, housewares and more. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: accessories, bedding, contemporary design, fabrics, housewares, studio, textile

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/12342D7F/1724E551/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:06:00 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/0B13CC4E/65A6FE70/Lunaform

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

Lunaform owners Phid Lawless and Dan Farrenkopf figure that problems exist to be solved. Winter-cracked garden urns and planters were their particular pet peeve, so they invented a winter-proofing process using steel-reinforced concrete, turning it on a wheel in traditional pottery fashion. Crafting a single vessel takes three weeks (or more depending upon demand), but landscape architects and home gardeners are grateful. Lunaform’s handcrafted vessels in classic as well as contemporary designs are beautiful features in famous public and private gardens throughout the country. (via Elements of Living)

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Tags: contemporary design, Garden, outdoor, planter, steel-reinforced concrete, urn

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PermaLink ]]> fawnellis http://www.thisnext.com/item/0B13CC4E/65A6FE70/ Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:04:42 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A12EC005/7F5BF871/Charles-Shackleton

Recommended by fawnellis on Apr 6, 2006

In a lovely old post-and-beam former wool mill in south-central Vermont, Charles Shackleton crafts furniture out of native hardwoods, while Miranda Thomas creates pottery. All their designs are contemporary interpretations of clas