Harry and Sal's Design Blog

MEREDITH: Hello out there in Harry and Sal land. My name is Meredith and I have a little site called The Acme Sharing Company which is a place to find family activities that teach kids about giving back. SO, needless to say, I don't get to blog about my favorite yummies; toys, books, gifts, furniture, etc. Now, here is my chance, thank you Sal!

In honor of Sal's heritage, I wanted to share with you the most fabulous Lizzie Allen wallpaper. I think these palace guards would work in both a traditional playroom or a super funky modern nursery. Being an anglophile and all around wannabe Brit, I am thinking that, for me, this might just be overkill since I have already hung Union Jack flags in my son's room in lieu of curtains. God Save the Queen!

Labels: 2008, Kids, Meredith, Textiles, Walls

posted by Meredith Alexander at 2/20/2008 0 Comments

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SAL: There's a lot of hooplah in the press right now about having a green Christmas - see the NYT article Jolly Green Christmas about the green evangelists set to sabotage the joy of giving for all and sundry. I'm thinking green this Christmas for sure, but I'm also not going to be dogmatic about it - show by example rather than by tirade is my motto. So with that in mind I've been saving all my Anthropologie tissue to use as wrapping paper, I'm avoiding vacuum-packed toys, and I'm on the lookout for gifts that are green and cool. Vivavi is run by the Josh Dorfman who many of you may know as the author of The Lazy Environmentalist. They have a lovely range of eco-friendly furniture that's really beautiful. Perhaps a bit pricey for Christmas gifts, but there are some home accessories that are reasonable - such as these hemp Birch Accent Pillows for $100 from Loop Organic.

Labels: Gifts, Green, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 11/26/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: If you're in Sydney over the weekend (Nov 17 & 18) make sure you get to Signature Prints for their sale (Showroom Sale, Unit 2, 3 Hayes Road Rosebery). Florence Broadhurst wallpaper & fabric remnants, lampshades, ottomans, cushions, fashion & accessories will be reduced by 50 - 70%. They've also got stuff on sale by Shona Joy and Eclettica - two fashion labels. I've never heard of either of them but fashion isn't really my thing!
From the email they sent me it looks pretty cool.

Labels: Furniture, Harry, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 11/13/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Just a quick one dear readers as I muddle through the final throes of stomach flu - ick! But here is something to inspire us all. Rose & Radish has to be one of the cutest sites out there with a delightful selection of homewares. Here is a lovely pillow from ShowPony, simple and elegant. Showpony have a store on Etsy also that has a good range of their lovely prints. Each pillow is unique, and handmade from organic, fair-trade cotton. Thanks Meredith for the tip!

Labels: Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 11/06/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: What a great idea to give art as gifts? Now let me just get on the phone to my husband... Something local today, these modern quilt designs are from LA-based Murge Designs. They have a great selection of bedding for your baby as well as great matching aprons and pot holders.

Labels: Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/30/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: A friend (thanks Meredith!) put me on to the wonderfully eclectic collection of homewares and oddities available from Silverlake-based Reform School. The site is wonderfully designed (by the same folks that gave Design*Sponge it's fabulous new look) and just a joy to browse through. These dolls/art pieces are made by Shelly & Mary Klein of Kstudio. The mother/daughter team has put together a wonderful selection of pillows and home accessories that use only sustainable materials. LOVE that. I also really like Shelley's paintings. More Reform School goodies below.

Labels: Art, Kids, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/24/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: This is a quickie. It's late and I really should be doing other work! I just had to post Marimekko's latest fabrics. I love the colours here. Those browns and blues in Iiro A. Ahokas fruit bowl are wonderful. Plus they are 100 percent cotton. I have absolutely no idea what I'd do with either of them - I just like them. They also brought back Kristina Isola's 2006 leaf pattern in a new brown colourway (top) which sits beautifully with the newer Autumn collection.

Labels: Harry, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 10/21/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Following on from Harry's recent post on cool bedding for kids - I had to share the cool duvets and sheets over at Boodalee. I particularly like the Circus print pictured above. However at $135 for a twin duvet set it's not the most thrifty of options. For those of you on a tighter budget such as myself, I hate to say it, but Ikea again has some really fun designs. I got the Barnslig Rand set for Oliver's room last week.

Labels: 711, Kids, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 9/25/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: For those of you inspired by Harry's post about SF artist Joom and his gorgeous pillows you'll be pleased to hear that the husband and wife team that make up design firm Ankasa are branching out. Having started out sourcing exquisite fabrics for haute couture houses such as Oscar De La Renta, Escada and Vera Wang, Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia started Ankasa 2 years ago to expand into the world of home decor. Their signature products have been available at a bunch of stores across the country, but they have just opened their own flagship store in NYC. So next time you're in town, check out their range of pillows, throws and bedlinens - classy.

Labels: Floral, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 8/15/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I stumbled upon the super cute array of prints available at Marimekko for the first time today. Their designs span everything from tableware to kids bedlinen, bathroom towels to office accessories and it is all simply gorgeous. They have their own stores in Finland, Sweden and Germany - but the good news for us is that their products can also be found in Australia (thinking of you Harry!) and here in the US. Hooray! Funnily enough all three stores in Los Angeles are on W Third St which Harry has been telling me I have to check out. Next time I get some free time without the little ones - Inago, OK and Plastica here I come!

Labels: 711, Floral, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 8/09/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I am a huge fan of these custom pieces you can find at one of my favorite stores in Santa Monica - Weego Home. The sliding door features a fabric panel that you can swap in and out depending on the mood you want to achieve for your room. If you want to change it again you can do so yourself, the fabric is just held in place by simple clips that are easy to remove. The pieces featured in the store use some fairly monochromatic designs which are striking, but I love the idea of combining them with some of those exquisite Purl Liberty fabrics we wrote about a while ago, or some of Aussie designer Florence Broadhurst's wallpapers - check out her book for inspiration.

Labels: Furniture, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 8/09/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Personalized stationery is all the rage right now and there are some cute designs we've covered in the past. Rock, Scissor Paper has a wide range of styles to suit every taste, from the pretty, to the eclectic, to the whimsical and I love them all. Run by sisters Heidi and Susie, Rock Scissor Paper designs can be found on everything from aprons, to notecards, to scrapbooking kits, to coasters - all done in their uniquely funky, retro style.

Labels: Crafts, Sal, Stationery, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 8/01/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY I'm having a Missoni moment. There's something about those colours and patterns that is just pure joy to have around. I know these beach towels are expensive but if you're like us you'll have them for years so spending a bit now is well worth it. (They are also much cheaper than a Missoni dress!) I found these at Top 3, a very cool Sydney design store. But you can also get them at New York's auto.

Labels: BedBath, Harry, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 7/30/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Continuing on the theme of table accessories, there are some novel approaches beyond conventional napkins, placemats and tablecloths. A favorite local store of Harry and mine here in Venice, that also has a great online presence is the Japanese boutique Tortoise. They have a collection of Japanese hand dyed cloths called Tenugui that can be used for a multitude of purposes. In times past they served as everything from a bandage, to towel to handkerchief. You could use them for napkins, or just use the fabric for accent color in your home as these are really beautiful designs.

Labels: 711, Dining, Japanese, Kitchen, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/24/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Are your table linens looking a little sad and in need of a refresher? Mine certainly are, my flea market finds and Cath Kidston splurges are starting to look a little tired. I've been thinking about the Dwell Table collection and was pleased to find the entire range available at Design Public. I do like the muted colors, but at the same time I hope to see new designs coming out with a bit more color and vibrancy. That neutral palette is very in right now, but I like a bit more color. On a related note I'm not quite sure what is up with Kidston, her Brentwood store has closed down and the US site is under construction. You can still check out her very pretty designs however on the UK site.

Labels: 711, Sal, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/21/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: My two favourite streets in Los Angeles for walking, eating and shopping are Abbot Kinney in Venice and Third Street in West Hollywood (the blocks between La Cienega and Fairfax). One of my all time faves on Third is Zipper. The owners, Steve Saden and Elizabeth Cashour, describe it as a modernist general store and, in 1993, they were one of the first to open on Third. I love their eclectic design eye (and the bowl of chocolate covered sunflower seeds by the cash register). This delicate spun metal nest and porcelain egg is just lovely. A little sculpture for your bookshelves. And at $30 it's not going to break the bank. Best spot to eat? Try the recently opened and very French Little Next Door ... delicious baguettes and excellent coffee (the wild mushroom Eggs Benedict is also amazing). Enjoy!

Labels: Ceramics, Dining, Eats, Furniture, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 7/14/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I've been looking around for some modern bedding recently, trying to get away from the plain white classic look, which is my comfort zone. I've written about the lovely prints at Amenity before, which are gorgeous, and there are some striking designs out there from Jonathan Adler and West Elm right now, but those are a little too geometric for my taste. Trust Dwell to come to the rescue. I adore the Choiserie Pearl duvet set pictured above, it's unique, but accessible. Perfect.

Labels: 711, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/30/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: No, this isn't a print. Although I guess you could frame it. It's a teatowel and I do love a good teatowel. It must to be absorbent - I hate the ones that just seem to shift the water around. And it's a plus if it also looks good. These cotton French ones look absolutely luscious. A perfect injection of colour into an all-white kitchen. At $18 they wont break the bank either.

Labels: Dining, Kitchen, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 6/29/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: I think I'm becoming a little obsessed with rugs recently, it's becoming a fetish. Ah, so soft, so smooth, but I digress... Thanks to Design*Sponge for highlighting the new selection of Thomas Paul rugs at Velocity. The one pictured above is called the Love Birds Tufted Pile Rug and comes in two color combinations: Corn and Cream - above - and Powder and Cream.

Labels: 711, Floor, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/22/2007 3 Comments

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HARRY My good friend and cousin Jules (actually she is married to my cousin so I guess she's my cousin in law) sent me this link. Jules is an interior designer and has a great eye. She also just renovated her house and I'm hoping when I get back to Sydney she'll let me post some pics of the redesign on this blog. In the meantime check out this great kids bedding designed by Anki Spets.
In fact I really like this whole site - Design Public. It's so nice to come across a group with such a consistent contemporary aesthetic. I just wished I lived in San Francisco so I could take advantage of their factory outlet.

Labels: Kids, Textiles

posted by cerentha harris at 6/20/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Amenity's Spring/Summer range is now in and it is beautiful. Simple botanical prints in monochromatic striking designs. All the bedding is organic cotton and at 320 thread count you're not skimping on the luxury. I especially liked the Cream & Cocoa Organic Willow duvet - cosy!

Labels: 711, Textiles

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/18/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Pretty pretty pretty - that's all I can say. I'm only just discovering the range of interesting fabric designers out there that you can purchase from directly online. Purl's collection of Liberty-inspired prints are simply divine. Also check out their Childrens, and Japanese collections. Via Oh Joy.

Labels: Textiles

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

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