A Room of One's Own
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Now that I’ve had a few months to settle into my new place, I think it’s about time I start sprucing up my room a little more. I’ve been making do with the furniture the previous tenant left me, which is perfectly serviceable, but definitely not anything I would have chosen for myself. Even just tentatively dipping a toe into the world of interior design and home furnishings yielded a gaggle of insanely cool products, so today I wanted to get your guys’ takes on some finds that I’m seriously considering purchasing. What do you think? Should I go for it?
Hold the Phone
RECYCLED VINTAGE LAMP MADE FROM 70S PHONE - ILUMINADOS
My room is unfortunately equipped with ugly, unflattering overhead lighting, so my first order of business is to acquire a nice lamp to provide some sorely-needed mood lighting. I’m really leaning towards these amazing recycled lamps from Spain-based Etsy store Iluminados. Designer Juan Chacon rescues vintage knick knacks — everything from rotary phones to old radios to wooden shoes — and breathes new life (and light) into them with the addition of an Edison bulb and some clever rewiring. I’m especially besotted with this bubblegum pink phone from the 70s; the visible filaments add so much warmth and the flexible cable cord allows you to reposition the bulb to your liking.
Table Talk
Such a personality-packed lamp deserves an equally quirky table to stand upon, and these squiggly side tables from Flot Studio are impeccably constructed and impossibly cool. Besides the fun little amoeba shape, I was really struck by how beautifully the natural texture of rough cut cedar and oak ply contrast against the vibrant lacquered stand. Each table is a one-off, handmade by Flot Studio owner Alex, and I think if I were to commission one I might ask for a dandelion yellow, or maybe a zingy chartreuse — both colors go so well with pink, I can’t decide!
Light as Air
COLORFUL AKI MOBILE - ANNETTE RAWE MOBILES
What if I just went ahead and bought an enormous mobile and hung it above my bed? Haha jk, that’d be crazy… unless…? 👀 Alexander Calder is one of my favorite artists, and these works from German artist Annette Rawe pay homage to his famous mobiles while still incorporating her own distinct style. I also stumbled across a shop that churns out pretty faithful Calder reproductions, but personally I’m quite taken with Rawe’s invigorating use of color and materials — instead of metal painted in primary colors, her mobile’s feathery shapes are crafted from slips of Japanese paper coated in varnish in all colors of the rainbow. The entire structure feels wispy yet animated, tenuous yet ebullient, poised to spring into a lively dance at the slightest breath of air.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!