Harry and Sal's Design Blog

HARRY: I am always forgetting to bring my various bags to the supermarket. But Envirosax can fix that. They've bundled five bags together and folded them up into a handy pouch that fits in the glove compartment of the car (or a large-ish handbag). I figure buy 2 packs - one will always be in the car. And they come in great colours and patterns including a new organic cotton, hemp and linen range.

Labels: Green, Harry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 1/10/2008 0 Comments

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SAL: Meredith, Meredith, Meredith. This dear woman is going to kill my pocketbook with all the fabulous links she is sending me! I'm probably one of the last to sample the delights of Small Magazine. I'm not even sure where to begin to describe it, only that it has some divine inspiration for kids design. This month is the style issue. Small is original and unique with a distinct point of view and the photography is wonderful to boot. It was through Small that I came across the work of Bella Sera (above). Wonderfully quirky hand-sewn clothes for kids. Enjoy!

Labels: Kids, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 1/10/2008 1 Comments

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SAL: Art + Social Conscience = Very cool gear. Such is the ethos behind the folks over at Partofit.org and I can't disagree. Whether you're drawn to the social responsibility part, or just the hyper cool graphics part - there's something here for you. Encouraging civic discourse and making activism fun. Wear the shirt, make a statement. Can't wait til they get more designs!

Labels: Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 1/08/2008 0 Comments

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The New York Times had a great piece today on trends of 07, about which ones will endure and which will pass. Personally I will not be sad to see the demise of the cowhide rug or the decorative antlers - but those were never my thing. Check out the slideshow to see which of your 07 purchases may be destined for the "oh that's so last year" raised eyebrow. Geometric designs and baroque mirrors beware! What trends of 07 will you be glad to see the back of? And is blue really the new black?

Labels: Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 12/20/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: I recently got an email about Tonic - a website that is devoted to selling cool design t-shirts and sending the proceeds to Africa. I've always been a bit cynical about fashion forays into saving the world. These people look like they've got it right. Check out the Net Tee. A shirt covered in butterflies in the shape of Africa. The sale of each Tee buys 3 mosquito nets. It's worth having a look at the website, which is cleverly designed, even if you don't buy a shirt. I think they'd make great Christmas presents.

Labels: Christmas, Gifts, Harry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 12/09/2007 1 Comments

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I asked a few of my most tasteful girlfriends recently to suggest some of their favorite jewelry designers to share with you all. Beth pointed me in the direction of Susan Fleming (below). Her website profiles her work incorporating different Japanese paper, which is pretty, but I've recently seen Beth wearing some of Susan's more recent pieces with semi-precious gemstones which are even more lovely. Look forward to seeing some of those of on Susan's website soon.

A couple of folks recommended Becky Kelso (below) - semi-precious gemstones in classic settings- stunning! You can't buy anything at her own website, but online jewelry boutique Ylang | 23 (thanks Mickie!) has a small selection. Ylang |23 has an interesting range of designers well-worth checking out.

Liseanne Frankfurt now has her own store on - yes you guessed it Abbot Kinney. Unfortunately you can't view any of her pieces online, but you can download a PDF of her catalogue. Her chunky, burnished silvers and gold aren't cheap, but they are exquisite.

And lastly, my own personal favorite, Sonya Ooten. My husband has a habit of going to Sonya for birthdays and holiday gifts and I consider myself a very lucky woman! Her designs are beautifully delicate and you can personalize each piece to use the gemstones that mean something to you.

Labels: Christmas, Gifts, Jewelry, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 12/01/2007 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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SAL: Apologies dear reader for the lack of posting. I had to zap back to the UK for a flying visit. Although I was only there a couple of days, I did manage to get in some shopping - of course. :) Well, the holidays are only just around the corner! In Neale's Yard I fell upon a very cute store called Octopus. Unfortunately they don't have a website up yet. The theme of the store is pop-arty bright colored accessories and homewares mostly made by a company called Pylones. Pylones have a decent site and it seems I'm not the first to fall upon their eccentric designs. Check out more fun below.

Labels: Furniture, Kitchen, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/18/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: A friend (Thanks Char!) put me on to the delightful kids goodies available through Aussie online retailer Evie Lala. The shoes particularly are adorable - but the sizes are limited so hurry on over. To boot (get it? groan!) these are all of course for sale in Australian dollars which is still a bit of a bargain. The site also uses Paypal - I LOVE Paypal - makes it all so much easier. This may be a very sexist remark, but having a baby girl to shop for is such a danger. I've bought these booties and these super cute baby leggings for Lola in the last two days!

Labels: Kids, Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/10/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: If you have a passion for homemade indie designs, this is one site you will have to bookmark. Cutique is a directory of the delightful and the divine, focusing on apparel and accessories with a small selection of homewares. Here is just a small sampling of some of the cool gems I discovered there.

Labels: Sal, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 9/29/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: This is just a quickie (got to get my son to school). I'm doing a column for Good Weekend magazine called Favourite Things. I interview well known Sydneysiders about their favourite things. Simple idea, but it turns out to be really fun. One of the names that has come across my desk is Remo. Locals will remember the design store that once graced Oxford Street...I still remember those great fine white cotton t-shirts. Remo brought taste and style to Sydney and now Remo Guiffre brings that same style online. The website's been going for a while but he keeps adding stuff AND he ships to the US. Check out the Dinasour Designs gear (pictured above) and his great t-shirt designs. I love the site too. It's quirky, just like the store was.

Labels: Harry, Kitchen, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 9/24/2007 1 Comments

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HARRY Moss, New York's best design store, has opened in LA...finally. Unfortunately, we left a few days before the 3500 sq foot Melrose Avenue store opened. But Sal, I am sure, will be beating a path to their door. Murray Moss was recently the subject of a very interesting Vanity Fair piece. And the LA store opening certainly got a lot of press. What I love about moss that it holds design up as art. Murray Moss and his partner Franklin Getchell value good design. Plus they've got a cool blog. And - yeah yeah yeah - I know the stuff is expensive and the shop is intimidating (at least it will be if it's anything like the NY version) but I don't care. LA, here is your chance to wander among the best the globe has to offer in way of design. Relish it. Now if only I could convince Mr Moss that Sydney would support such a store...

Labels: Art, Furniture, Harry, Jewelry, Lighting, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 8/12/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: NASA launched another space shuttle on Wednesday...so where's the link to design? Well, the astronauts are using cool pens. (You're just going to have to bear with the geek in me every so often). I remember space pens as a kid and thinking how amazing they were. You could write lying on your back (whoever writes like that - other than astronauts?!) I hadn't thought much about them until the Endeavour launch got all that press this week. So I did a bit of research and they were designed by Paul Fisher who came up with the sealed and pressurised pen in 1967. It can write at -20 degrees F or 250 degrees F, underwater or at any angle (yes, even upside down). Plus it just looks good. South Willard sells them on West Third Street in Los Angeles (Sal, another reason to get down there). Or got straight to the source - you'll probably find out more about Paul Fisher than you would like, but the range of pens is huge. Perfect for all the personalised stationery!

Labels: Harry, Stationery, Style, Vintage

posted by cerentha harris at 8/10/2007 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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HARRY: My husband and I just went tie shopping (don't ask, boring story) and let me tell you there aren't great ties out there. I wish I'd gone to etsy first. Designer Bethany Shorb takes waterbased inks and silk or microfiber and designs these cool ties. I wish she'd do some stuff for me (although I am tempted by the metallic gold poppy ties...very Annie Hall).

Labels: Harry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 7/27/2007 1 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: 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: When I saw this t-shirt on A+R I thought it was just cool, then I noticed that they were giving away $2 for every shirt purchased to Medecins Sans Frontieres and I realized it was so much more than that. Designed by Marten Lindquist, you can also find the design on a limited edition poster. A clever and somewhat subversive take on something we're all familiar with - the gas gauge - sweet. Take a look through their War and Pieces collection for some more good-statement making gear.

Labels: Art, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/12/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I've been looking around for a new pair of sneakers recently, no easy job as I'm sure you would agree. I had a browse around Zappos, which was a little intimidating - that site is GREAT if you know what you're looking for, but not so good at highlighting what's cool for neophytes like me. Then I went to the Puma online store. I'm not sure what it is about the brand sneaker websites - but the Converse site is the same. Last time I was at Converse I somehow ended up with three versions of the same shoe, and people, I like to think I know what I'm doing. So when I was presented with the Korean-BBQ-create-your-own-shoe motif when looking for a new pair of Pumas, let's just say I didn't hang around. Exasperated I made my way to Vivre for some haute-style R&R. The biannual luxury style catalog is now online giving us design wonks a brief moment of insanely expensive clarity. But I finally found me some cute sneakers, although at $235 I may have to frame them instead of wear them.

Labels: Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/07/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Stumbled across Neighborhoodies after we saw Ratatouille yesterday (GREAT film). I love their DIY kids stuff and they will also customise adult t-shirts and hoodies. You choose your own words (font, colour, size, placement on shirt) and viola...it's yours. Sal - we should do a harryandsal hoodie!

Labels: Kids, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 7/05/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: How great is this ring? I love it. And I love the designer, Kiel Mead's, website. Very cool stuff. The Brooklyn-based designer has taken a piece of twine and somehow cast it in sterling silver (or gold). Clever, witty and pretty. What more could you ask for. You can buy this ring through the online store at Cooper Hewitt. This site is well worth a good trawl through. Check out Tobias Wong's Chanel-esque bullet proof rose. (I know Chanel did camellias but this looks like the kind of thing she would have loved).

Labels: Jewelry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 7/01/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: You heard it here first people - it's the IT accessory this summer - the Panama Fedora hat - recently spotted on a host of it-girls, from Keira Knightley in London, to Cameron Diaz touring Machu Pichu in Peru. Believe it or not, it is a small town in Ecuador, the town of Montecristi, that has the reputation of producing the finest quality hats. However, if you're not really up for traveling that far, a fine selection can be found online at Brent Black.com

Labels: Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/25/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Just a quickie - check out this baby suit from rock poster artist Leia Bell (via super cool Babywit). I LOVE it. Makes me want to have another baby...3 kids?! Maybe not.

Labels: Art, Kids, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 6/15/2007 1 Comments

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HARRY: Sal inspired me to look around for some cool baby stuff. I stumbled across Polly Tod. You choose the image and then match it to a t-shirt. I love retro robot (it also comes in a onesie for really little ones). I also like the Liz Taylor and Warhol soup can. I'd seen the ABCD take on ACDC around but these guys have got lots more. Check out the political ones - Bill Clinton for First Lady is soooo good!

Labels: Kids, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 6/14/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Alright, I'm going to stop after this one. But this little piece is divine. It's designed by Laura Baxter. Love the way the twig sits on the thread and the little 18k blossom. It's a shame about the pic. All her stuff is slightly out of focus. Annoying. But still you get the idea.

Labels: Jewelry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 6/13/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: For those of us who spent time in Europe in the 80s... come on, I know you're out there! The Espadrille. along with the somewhat classier Supergas, cannot help but conjur up those long forgotten lazy summers spent hanging with the locals. Check out these cool little numbers, new in at Basic French - together with the cute little tote that comes with them - Oh La La!
http://basicfrenchonline.com/htm/product_info.php?products_id=100

Labels: Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/12/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I first came across Zutano's gorgeous prints at Babystyle, but only recently discovered their own online store. Only the toddler range are available at their store though, for the baby range you'll need to check out the list of online retailers that stock them. Check out the delightful plush toys, I especially liked Minzi Mouse.

Via Lola via Print & Pattern

Labels: Kids, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/10/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Necklaces are like shoes - it doesn't matter what size you are they always looks great. Etsy offers up so much choice I get a bit overwhelmed but there's a lot of good stuff and their search function helps weed out the rubbish. I always find myself looking at jewelry around my birthday (in the vain hope my husband might be reading this). I love both of these necklaces (click on the images to get to their pages) - and neither are expensive. Although I also had a trawl through Frank Gehry's stuff for Tiffany...mmmm. Love the simpler ones there too.

Labels: Jewelry, Style

posted by cerentha harris at 6/10/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I've known Sonya Ooten's work for a while now and every holiday, birthday or special occasion my husband uncovers yet another gem (pardon the pun) amongst Sonya's impressive and truly delightful jewelry. Take a look at her new fishnet designs (above) or check out these adorable crochet earrings. If you find yourself in Larchmont Village in LA, stop by the Gem Bar and Sonya will work with you to create a piece unique to you, with your choice of stones.

Labels: Jewelry, Style

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/01/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: I've noticed the obsession with coral is morphing into sea urchins and coral used as a texture rather than an overall shape. Interesting. I've already blogged Muehling's cool coral stamped plates. Check out these rings from Australian designers Dinosaur Designs. Oh Joy posted DD's coral inspired bracelets but I really love these rings.

Labels: Jewelry, Style

posted by cerentha harris 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</