Designer Harry Allen’s Brush Vase in White brings back the raw excitement of a blank canvas that I often felt as a child in art class. Of course, that was before I realized that I’m terrible at painting. Even if you are a Picasso of sorts, this vase allows you to put down your brushes and take time to assemble the roses. Your guests will inquire about your eye for design as well as art.

Harry Allen’s Reality Series celebrates a tradition of found art by immortalizing objects that typically pass unnoticed. He dips objects like Rollerskates, nuts, bananas, (even his own hand!), in resin to create a mold. The result becomes art that wins the approval of Marcel Duchamp appreciators. The Brush Vase in White as well as the Bestow Vase/Candle Holder recently featured in NY Times Home and Garden, are both part of this curious collection. For more work by Harry Allen, please go here.

Kirin resides in Santa Cruz, California. She is a Product Developer, blogger, and vintage shop troller. Fashion, art, design, and traveling the world are her true passions as shown through her blog Rakish Beaute.

Stow me, store me, but please don’t throw me away! I moved recently and I could not believe all of the treasures (the word “treasures” is disputable) that I had collected over the years. Some of course, I was able to part with, but others, I could never get rid of. With storage solutions becoming sleeker, more beautiful, and space conscious, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Creative storage solutions are excellent investments because they themselves are conversational pieces. For the sleek minimalist, take a look at the MASH Studios LAX wall mounted shelf. Neutral color, great wood grain details, and creative mounting.

For those envy inducing living spaces with large open walls… what about the MASH Studios LAX bookshelf. I can never get rid of my books and I love to display them. Friends come and borrow them, or give me theirs to read. It is my own personal library. If you don’t want to take up wall space, this can be a great room divider in an open loft space. Separate your eating area from your living area with ease.

I love the concept of modular stacking storage options as well. While these are pictured in an office like setting, I can see these in an industrial kitchen. Display your dishes and teacups and saucers in the open top shelf, put your cereal and flour and pantry items in the closed shelving. A perfect and bright storage option for kitchens that lack built in cabinets.

The next time someone tells you to get rid of your “junk”, kindly correct them about the importance of your “treasures” and pick up any one of these great storage options while adding some great design to your living space.

Kirin resides in Santa Cruz, California. She is a Product Developer, blogger, and vintage shop troller. Fashion, art, design, and traveling the world are her true passions as shown through her blog Rakish Beaute.

Artwork can be extremely expensive and these days buying it can be a fringe expense. Typographic themed products are an excellent way to add some brightness to a neutral room, especially if you are limited by what you can change about a room, like the flooring or the wall color.

DP has some great examples of how typography can produce some POP! in your home. If the majority of your color scheme is neutral, your freedom to choose an accent piece is almost limitless. Strewn across muted bedding or casually thrown on a monochromatic sofa – your eye will be drawn to the bright break in color.

When all you need is love, a simple word can be statement enough. Here is a Columbia Forest Alexander Girard PLYprint. What could be bolder than this?

For some interesting and conversation inducing wall artwork, Keep Calm Gallery, located in London has a wide selection of creative prints. All are printed on recycled paper.

Another company I love has some great silkscreened prints…here are a couple printed on acid free paper. Village is “type co-op” founded in Brooklyn. The union of eleven young type foundries created the great products below.

Thanks, Kirin! To view more of Kirin’s favorite design pieces check out her blog: Rakish Beaute

Things to do when you are not looking at fresh new design: watch literal versions of 80’s music videos.

I am kicking myself now that I see the Gus Design Group Thompson Chairs in walnut. I can’t tell you how long I was on a hunt for the perfect white chairs. For months and months I debated over one chair and the next. I loved the Gus Design Group Thompson Chairs in white and natural but just wasn’t sold on the color of the wood. Now, after having purchased 10 vintage modern chairs off Ebay which I am going to have to strip the material, sand and stain (aka a major project), the Gus Design Group Thompson Chairs in walnut have made it to DP. Aye carumba! I love the contrast of the white and walnut and the shape looks so simple yet sophisticated. Ho hum. Maybe in my next life.

Check out all of the Spring ‘09 Gus Design Group pieces on DP.

If there had to be one tiger masked character riding a bike with a rainbow tail graphic following behind, it would have to be a Sam Flores design from upper playground. His Lowrider Rainbow Bag has to be one of my favorite Sam Flores pieces. The color scheme with the olive, yellow, mustard and green couldn’t have been picked any better. Retro yet modern.

View all of the new upper playground designs on DP.

Whoa, Thomas Paul. I can’t keep up with all the new lighting options! From sconces to pendants to floor lamps to table lamps, to new patterns to the color options. I feel overwhelmed but extremely excited all at once. I am a big fan of layered pendant lamps so his Dexter Pendant Lamp does a number for me, but I also like the glamour of the Marie Table Lamp with the Zinnea shade or the rustic feel and the shape of the Ovis Pendant Lamp with the Trees. As with all of his pieces, I have to simmer down take a deep breath. Thomas Paul is such a master of color!

View all of the Thomas Paul Lighting options on DP.

I have to admit I already have a Qubus Waterproof Boot Vase. Actually, it is an “Allison made it in ceramics class in college” boot vase. It doesn’t look nearly as good as the Qubus boots and it probably doesn’t actually qualify as a vase (since it isn’t lacquered on the inside), but it is a big rubber boot made out of clay. I should take all of this back. It isn’t a Qubus Boot Vase at all. Just a project made to complete a course requirement. Qubus Boots Vases are the real deal and a work of art made my true artists.

View all of the Qubus Waterproof Boot Vases on DP.

I have to profess my love for the Petunia Pickle Bottom Scout bag. No, not for use as a diaper bag (although the features are perfect for it)…when I first laid eyes on the felt bag of wonder I knew exactly what I needed it for: a camera bag!

Look at Ali in action with her deeply coveted bag:

Thanks, Petunia Pickle Bottom. You guys rock.

To round out their already amazing eco friendly baby furniture, Q Collection Junior has now added 100% organic crib sets to the mix. The patterns of their new bedding line are soft and simple, perfect to keep your nursery free of clutter and chaos. If you are looking for something that doesn’t scream “baby” the Galileo print is the way to go. Or, if you want to a “touch of kid” without going overboard, the Elephant Parade print does just that. As with all Q Collection pieces, every effort is made to insure that all of their products are free of toxic chemicals so your baby is surrounded by nothing but the healthiest of environments.

Peruse our Q&A with Jesse Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Q Collection Junior, and check out all of their baby furniture and bedding options on DP.