The Modern Materialist

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• BookNerd: The Perfect Nightstand

  When I came upon this nightstand design online, conceived by Josefin Hellstrom-Olsson, I almost creamed myself. Sadly, I am still unsure if this is a one-off, or something that I can max out my credit card for. Luckily... Read More... Posted May 07 2008, 09:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: storage, bedroom, furniture

• Five Ways I Burn Off A Bad Mood

  [Photo Via]  I've always wanted a punching bag for those Xanax-worthy moments, but due to space constraints I: Drive far and fast, with an up-tempo song blowing my eardrums out. Hoop dance. Power walk. Hug the cats against their will. Well...as it doubles as home decor, I'm considering this: Read More... Posted May 06 2008, 03:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, DIY

• Twisted Dresser

  This is pretty twisted. Johnny Egg created a dresser that looks like an average classic dresser, right? Well, it's anything but average: Read More... Posted May 06 2008, 02:30 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: home decor, furniture

• I’ve Goth Your Coffin Couch Right Here

  Coffin Couches, much to everyone’s shock and surprise, creates couches out of coffins. The disturbing part is, they claim that they are made from recycled coffins, which is creepy beyond belief. More info from beyond the grave, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 28 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: furniture, living room, couches

• Concepts We Wish Had Succeeded

  Design By Rose  Rose Cobb of Design By Rose Designed the Books-to-go shelving, pictured above, in 2002. Meant to be a remedy for those who move — either their home or their room layout — frequently, Books-to-go included a screw-like handle for securing books during the moving process, and skateboard wheels for easy transport. They were also easily stackable. Read More... Posted Apr 15 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: storage, furniture, design

• Things That Drive The Cats Crazy

  laser pointer crumpled paper cat dancer curling ribbon this fish tank coffee table, potentially:   Read More... Posted Apr 14 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, coffee tables

• The Sweet and the Low: Round Tables With Pizzazz

  [$3,038, Boca Do Lobo]  When I first stumbled upon these tables online, I was way excited, because they reminded me of Tord Boontje's Bon Bon tables, and I am in love with everything Tord Boontje. Plus, these tables are even more vibrant, utilizing my favorite bold purples and greens. I was momentarily panicked when I couldn't find a price online, but the designers quickly responded to an e-mail query from me. Then: Read More... Posted Apr 11 2008, 04:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, Sweet and Low

• Time To Take a Stand

  The apartment I currently live in came with a lot of stuff. I mean, a lot of stuff. The previous occupant had moved out of the country, and just left most of the furniture in her apartment. Turns out, she has really nice taste, and so I ended up keeping most of everything that she left. This included the one item that is NOT so nice, the TV Stand. I’ve kept it because I didn’t want to bother with buying something new, and it pretty perfectly fits my current TV. But, the door is starting to break off, and the fake wood is chipping, so it may be time to replace the whole thing. Find out more, after the jump...    Read More... Posted Apr 10 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: furniture, Television

• Covert Operations

  My Top Five Spots For Hiding My Turbo Glider Vibe my special toy drawer that safe behind the portrait hanging in the hallway a vibrator cozy beneath the couch cushions Read More... Posted Apr 03 2008, 02:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: storage, furniture

• Me and Brocade Home are On the Same Page

  [$425, Aton]  What's even better than a cut-out clay illuminated table that projects curlicued shadows and flashes of light throughout whichever room you place it in? Read More... Posted Apr 01 2008, 05:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design

• The Sweet and The Low: Barstools

  [$660-$770, DWR]  Remember a couple weeks ago when I posted about this lovely, but high-priced barstool from DWR? Comments suggested the comfort and design of the stool was worth the hefty pricetag and while that may be true, I'd argue comfort and good design doesn't have to cost quite so much. In fact, I can prove it:   Read More... Posted Apr 01 2008, 10:00 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, The Sweet and The Low

• Trend Watch: Hand-Painted Furniture

  [$325, Room Service Home]  Ever since my friend Nicole furnished her home with a collection of shabby chic, hand-painted pieces — which in turn made me feel as if I was living in a freshman dorm room by comparison — I've been wanting in on this style. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2008, 09:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Trend Watch, furniture

• Just the Two of Us

  [Laurie Beckerman]  Brooklyn-based designer Laurie Beckerman — fairly new on the scene but no less talented for her rookie status — is about to become your new favorite creator of must-have furniture. Read More... Posted Mar 24 2008, 02:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: furniture, design

• The Sweet and the Low: Combination Desk/Hutch

  [$3,799, Room Service Home]  Guys. I had a flippin' decorgasm when I saw this thing. Hard core. I mean, not only is it in that gorgeous antique white I'm so into, but it offers the chance to store work stuff and display more of my books. In addition to the drawers and adjustable shelving, the unit also has lighting, the better with which to keep you awake while you work and show off your stuff. I can't afford this right now (and perhaps not ever). If I do decide to upgrade my desk area, I could always go cheaper: Read More... Posted Mar 21 2008, 03:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, Sweet and Low, desk

• Happy Hour: Bar Stool

  One of my favorite things about happy hour is bellying up to a bar on a comfy stool. Booze just tastes better when it's being sipped — or guzzled — from the comfort of a bar stool. I even have my very own bar stool that I shipped from Chicago when I moved here to New York. It's red and leather and has this cool woven back and I just love it.  I'm not so sure, however, about this stool. On one hand, it does look pretty cool and swanky and I like the little foot rest. On the other hand, it's over $600 and it looks about as comfortable as a porcupine's ass. What do you guys think? Worth the money or no? Take the poll and see the results after the jump.   Read More... Posted Mar 20 2008, 05:00 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: home decor, furniture, Happy Hour

• Refurnishings: Black and Red Lounge Chair

  If it seems like I've just figured out how to embed a poll and I've gotten a bit poll-happy, you're right; I have! Remember when you first got TiVo and you started recording everything on TV just because you could? It's sort of like that. Eventually the novelty will wear off a bit and I'll just record my favorites, so indulge me in the meantime, will you? I've got a new poll regarding this vintage lounge chair and ottoman after the jump. Go on now, take a peek. Read More... Posted Mar 19 2008, 12:30 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, eBay

• Pet Product: Cat Cocoon

  [$330, Velocity]  I don't have children, but I do have cats, and lordy how I wish I could spoil them rotten. As things stand, though, they're lucky if we even take the cat dancer out for a spin.  If I had the means? I would invest in a cat cocoon. Made out of corrugated cardboard (my cats' favorite material, especially when you rub in a dash of catnip), it acts as both scratching post and hiding place, and looks pretty darn mod in the process. Free samples welcome! ;)   Posted Mar 19 2008, 11:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: eco-friendly, furniture, green, Pet Products

• Too Cool For Your Gossip Rags

  [$695 maple / $795 walnut, In House Furniture] My mom started things off with Highlights, eventually pandering to my latent teen girliness with mags such as Teen, Seventeen, and YM. After that, I didn't need any sort of encouragement to start snapping up subscriptions myself, and it's since become an obsession (there's even a filing cabinet involved). After the jump, please vote on which of my subscriptions I should display most prominently when I eventually buy one of these nifty Circle 3 Magazine Tables: Read More... Posted Mar 18 2008, 02:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: storage, furniture

• Pet Product: "Pounce" Cat Tree

  [$179, Branch]  For those who cater to their cats to the point of foregoing furniture for themselves (me), there is the "pounce" cat tree which, when you look at it, can also double as a piece of modern sculpture. So don't beat yourself up over getting rid of the couch just so Fifi has something better to dig her claws into.   Read More... Posted Mar 17 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: eco-friendly, furniture, green, Pet Products

• Sofa: Perfect for Round-Robin Games of Patty-Cake

  [$16,200, PlushPod]  This sofa could also be used for seances. Or family meetings. Or extreme footsie. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2008, 03:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, sofa, living room

• Do-It-Yourself: Blox-Made Furniture

  [$59.95 for case of 20, Bloxes]  Jaime over at Design Milk was just blogging about her inability to stop blogging about bloxes. And I feel the same way. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, DIY

• Multitasking: Sofa/Bed?

  [$4,800, PlushPod]  Okay. This is almost as cool as that time my almost-husband and I went to IKEA and we found this bed with an armrest in the middle and I suggested that we buy it for our new condo because it would be nice to be able to put a barrier down between us when he wanted to "get with me" and I was tired and, heck, I don't like sharing a bed anyways, and then he yelled at me and said we would never purchase such a bed. Ever. (He was against the bunkbeds, too.) Read More... Posted Mar 10 2008, 01:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, sofa, living room

• Refurnishings: Very Expensive Table

  Things you can buy for $4,250: A used car 6 or 7 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes Breakfast, lunch and dinner for 4250 starving children in Africa Or this1972 dining table. Hey, it has two leaves [$4.250, eBay] Posted Mar 05 2008, 12:30 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, Refurnishings

• The Sweet and the Low: Adjustable Coffee Tables

  [$695, Dania] It's not often that a $695 item can classify as a low item on the sweet and low scale, but when the upscale version is over $1,400, anything under a thou seems like a steal. Especially considering what you're getting. Read More... Posted Feb 29 2008, 01:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, living room, coffee tables

• Refurnishings: 1950's Table Lamp

  Constantly reinventing itself, this lamp is kind of the Madonna of lights. Without the Kabbalah bracelet. Or the affected british accent. Or the 25-year music career. So, basically nothing like madonna except it has a bunch of different looks and can do an impressive backbend, which, let's face it, is probably the secret to their success. [starting bid $24, eBay] Posted Feb 25 2008, 03:30 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: home goods, furniture, Refurnishings

• Refurnishings: Milo Baughman Sofa

  If you've ever dreamed of having a sofa so long you can lie in the middle of it, stretch out your arms and point your feet and still not touch either end, now's your chance. It doesn't hurt that it's a handsome Milo Baughman sofa from the 1950's that's still in good condition. Shipment to Manhattan is available, but can anyone in Manhattan actually fit 100 inches of sofa into his or her apartment??  [starting bid $275, eBay]  Posted Feb 22 2008, 04:00 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: furniture, Refurnishings

• I've Fallen and Will Never Get Up

  [$1,255, hive]  I sat in one of these once. Read More... Posted Feb 21 2008, 02:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, office, chair

• Refurnishings: Eames Era Bench Chair

  I'm not crazy about the fabric on this thing, but that's easy enough to fix. The shape and design of the bench, though, is really unique and lovely. Imagine how cute you'd look sitting on it it with your sweetie, side-by-side eating ice cream cones and making shy sideways glances at each other. Until one of you drips ice cream on the new upholstery and ruins the day. Nice going. [starting bid $24, eBay]  Posted Feb 20 2008, 01:00 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, vintage, Refurnishings

• A Sofa Fit For a Queen (Or For That Spoiled Little Princess You Always Knew You Were)

  [$1,949, High Fashion Home]    It's so difficult to find a couch that is both smooshy and in keeping with your stunning design sensibilities. And I have no idea if the couch above is smooshy. But it's definitely attractive. With its button-tufted, roll-armed, Old English look, you could probably convince passing strangers that you're wealthy just by having it in your living room. Or sitting room. Or library. Or whatever it is you stinking rich people call it nowadays. This particular style is also available in a deep mahogany hue.   Posted Feb 19 2008, 09:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, sofa, living room

• Refurnishings: 1970's Barcelona Chair

  The Ebay description of this beautiful early 1970's Barcelona chair explains that the chair "COMES TO YOU DIRECTLY FROM THE MANSION SIZED HOME OF A CENTRAL FLORIDA MEDICAL DOCTOR'S ESTATE," just like that--all in caps like it's being yelled from the rooftops. So y'all, if you've ever wished of owning a chair that once belonged to a CENTRAL FLORIDA DOCTOR (who lived in a MANSION SIZED HOME, no less), now's your big chance!!!  [starting bid $395, Ebay]  Posted Feb 18 2008, 10:00 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: home goods, furniture, Refurnishings