Harry and Sal's Design Blog

SAL: My love-affair with Muji continues. We're planning a trip back to the UK in May and I know a stop in at the Muji store in Covent Garden is in order. The underwear and socks I bought last time are still super comfy and look great. What caught my attention today tho was this laptop bag - I've been looking for something new for my Mac Air (yes I couldn't resist) and I really don't want anything floral. I have the Incase Sling Pack. But it's way too big for me - I'd love the style if it was half the size. Any suggestions anyone?

Labels: Bags, Sal

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 3/20/2008 1 Comments

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HARRY: My friend Liane sent me a link to ecorazzi. It's a fantastic blog...kind of like Who Weekly for people interested in all things green. I love it. They posted these cool bags from Gooc made from recycled canvas tarps. Clever. Stylish. Good Christmas gift...

Labels: Bags, Christmas, Gifts, Green, Harry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 11/22/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Every time I go to the supermarket these days I've been cursing myself for not having got around to buying some reusable bags. So today I got moving and bought a couple of these stylish designer totes from SKN now available at Amazon.com. I bought a set for myself and one as a Christmas present for somebody - what a great gift idea! Via Shefinds.

Labels: Bags, Gifts, Green, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/19/2007 1 Comments

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HARRY Trawling through etsy I cam across this gem. I love this particular colour orange and also the graphic quality of the illustration. Plus it's $28. What's not to love. If you don't like orange it comes in lots of other colours (the dark red is pretty amazing). It's designed by a San Francisco artist called Joom. I've been looking for pillows for the kids rooms, our bed and the couch. Not sure where this would go...Of course, etsy.com has an overwhelming collection of pillows. Ruth's Crafts has a strong selection of retro pillows and Modern Art Everyday has some cool cushions covered in a simple branch pattern.

Labels: Art, Bags, Harry, Seating

posted by cerentha harris at 8/13/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Following up on our previous posts about the media frenzy generated by the I'm Not a Plastic Bag, I've been keeping my eye out for some other reusable grocery bag options. Delight.com are currently featuring these super-cute bags by Envirosax (dig the name!). They come in a range of colors and roll up in a handy pouch. Other supermarket bags I've seen just don't seem to be big enough, they assume we are nipping round the corner to the local store rather than hauling the weekly shop from the supermarket. Envirosax come in a set of 5 and each bag holds the equivalent of 2 supermarket bags. Hey - if it's good enough for Cameron!

Labels: Bags, Green, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 8/03/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Whole Foods supermarket in Union Sq launched a product today that came with a celebrity-enthused hype not seen since, well, since a couple of weeks ago really and the launch of the IPhone. OK, perhaps I exaggerate, but the fact remains that there has been a lot of buzz about the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" bag. Whole Food's noble effort/green marketing gimick is designed by accessories designer Anya Hindmarch in collaboration with the We Are What We Do organization. It is a cool bag, and I'd certainly fork over the $15 to make a statement and save a plastic bag or two from the landfill. However, it looks like I'll have to wait for the LA debut, it's only available at select Northeast stores, oh and Ebay.

Update 7/22: Looks like plastic bags as we know it may be on their way out. SF is considering banning their use in supermarkets.

Labels: Bags, Green, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/18/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: I've long been a fan of treehugger.com. Their design and architecture coverage is excellent. I stumbled across this cool chair on their site today. It looks so soft and inviting. The Danish designers at Komplot used industrial felt made mainly from recycled plastic bottles. Another cool blog, Dezeen, has written a lot about this chair and has some great pics. And another green note - the NYT's finally stumbled on Anya Hindmarch's cooler than cool cotton bag (Sal has also covered it in the post above). It took Whole Foods selling them for the NYT's to pay attention. We hate to gloat but we blogged it in May and back then I felt like we were a little late!

Labels: Bags, Furniture, Harry, Seating

posted by cerentha harris at 7/18/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I've been looking around for a laptop bag of late, I upgraded to a 17" Mac and my old laptop sleeve, cute as it is, just wasn't cutting it. Target has some really cute designs and Etsy has some adorable prints for something different and eclectic, but it was this Angela Adams number at Design Public that really caught my eye. I actually ended up getting the tote as opposed to the formal laptop bag - just to have something a bit more flexible. For more ideas check out Oh Joy's recent post on laptop bags - there are some great ideas from her readers!

Labels: Bags, Floral, Sal

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/14/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Another great non-plastic bag. I came across this linen one, from Swedish designer Lotta Jansdotter, on Greener Grass Design. The simple leaf design reminds me of those beautiful round-leaf eucalyptus trees (does anyone know the name of these gems?) Jansdotter has repeated the same pattern on a runner, place mats, napkins, coasters and porcelain plates. She's also designed some lovely stationery. Check out the journals with their sweet pale green sprouts.

Labels: Art, Bags, Dining, Stationery, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 7/13/2007 2 Comments

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SAL: Harry metioned a while ago the renaissance of the coin purse and I think she's on to something. Check out this adorable little number available at UK indie-craft emporium Betty Joy. There's matching canvas shopper bag too if you really want to go crazy.

Labels: Bags

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 5/31/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY OK, I know I'm a little late. I just discovered Room & Board. They aren't close by so I ordered a catalog. And there stuff is great...and affordable. Love these trays. But also check out the armchairs. Nice design, great fabric for under $1000. I'm searching for the perfect armchair to go with our Case Study couch. We've decided you actually can over-Eames. The Quinn might be the answer (who comes up with these names!). In the meantime I think I need one of those trays...

Labels: Bags, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 5/25/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY What do you get for $12.99? A really cool bag/home office from Target. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a Target addict so you will have to bear with me and these posts (I promise Target isn’t paying me a cent). I love the navy patent leather mixed with the crisp cotton canvas. And it fits my laptop, note book, camera and cell phone. It’s a portable home office as well as a handbag.
Other cool bags: leaf print bags from UK designer Orla Kiely...love them. I also cover this striped canvas tote with a snap closure and inside zip pocket from Art Effect.

Labels: Bags

posted by cerentha harris at 5/23/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY Bring back the coin purse. The nice thing about the latest spate in mini purse design is they also fit a neat clutch of credit cards, a lippie and maybe even a cell phone. I came across the purse above on etsy. It’s by an Australian designer Anna Laura and costs a a very happy $12. You'll find other lovely ones at The Curiosity Shoppe (love that they have matching pot holders and neckties!) for $20. And there's a stripy leather one from Anthroplogie with an old fashioned kisslock closure, $38.

Labels: Bags

posted by cerentha harris at 5/23/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY Say ciao to all those plastic bags you drag home from the supermarket…and the paper ones. It seems paper is NOT better than plastic when you factor in the logging, pulping...all that stuff that goes into making paper.What to do? Go canvas. Celebs have embraced the reusable bag with Anya Hindmarch's cotton tote. She's scrawled I'm Not A Plastic Bag on the side, just inc ase you were wondering (available in the US in June). Her website has some interesting details on creating an environmentally friendly product and the impact this bag has had.
My feeling is this is just the beginning. Sydneysiders have been using their green Coles supermarket bags for a few years now. Designers are catching on. Expect to see a lot more of these earth friendly totes. I especially love the one above from Kozyndan.

Labels: Bags, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 5/23/2007 0 Comments

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