This table feels so right for an early morning post. The concept is fun for brainstorming – something we often do my husband and I – or to occupy the kids that come for a visit. Di Wu designed the table with eight slide boards. A duster to clean the chalkboard hides under one board. Simply slide one board and start writing.

One small detail: that coffee has been sitting there too long to please me.

+ Via Yanko design

You might also like these posts

The idea is based on “Eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It is part of an advertising campaign developed by the German communication agency Serviceplan for OAK, a life insurance company.

The calendar is composed 12 plexiglas cylinders. At the start of the month, you fill the right cylinder with apples. Then, you remove an apple everyday to reveal today’s date. I imagine this concept in a family kitchen. The fun factor could encourage kids to eat more fruits every day. Any ideas for a DIY option?

+ photos: Serviceplan
+ via TrendsNow

You might also like these posts

Last November I received an email announcing the new Elan Form Chilewich Case for iPhone 3G and 3GS. I like the placemats from Chilewich. Therefore, I was intrigued by their design. But not long before, I bought a Paul Frank Julius silicone case that got too big after a couple weeks of usage. For that reason, I wanted to give a thorough test drive before introducing the Griffin + Chilewich case.

I love it! It looks great and it stays in place. I selected the light grey, which I think is more feminine than the gravel (dark grey). Do not worry about the pale color. The outer layer is covered with the same woven vinyl that Sandy Chilewich designed for her placemats. If you are looking for an iPhone case, this is one you should consider.

The Griffin + Chilewich Collection is available at the Griffin website, the Apple Store, and the MoMA Design Store.

Griffin + Threadless Collection

But Chilewich is not the only design brand that collaborates with Griffin. Threadless is another one. You can add original art from the Threadless community of designers to smooth, sleek shells designed by Griffin. So far, only one pattern is available in the Griffin + Threadless Collection.

SOURCING:
+ Griffin Elan Form Chilewich Case for iPhone 3GS – Light Gray $39.95 USD
+ photos: Griffin Technology’s Co-op Initiative

You might also like these posts

Jesper Larsson said on Moco Loco that 2009 was the year people started to appreciate imperfection again. I think that it started somewhere in 2007-2008 but that the momentum happened in 2009. I based that on the modern rustic style that we see since 2007 or the rebirth of vintage accessories like you get at Three Potato Four. The important thing is that we agree on the principle.

From my viewpoint, the Appreciation for Imperfection movement was triggered by many elements: the 3R of environment (reduce, reuse and recycle), the rise of handmade products that emerged due to a new breed of talented artists (and etsy), and Web 2.0. People reinvented the production standards when they published on You Tube, their blogs and other user generated content sites.

+ via Moco Loco

You might also like these posts

My eyes caught a kitchen hood that seems to be made for me. I like it in its yellow orange color. Find more unusual range hoods designed by Barriviera Cappe on Appliancist.

+ photos: Barriviera Cappe

You might also like these posts

Sunset magazine is a West Coast lifestyle magazine that I enjoyed reading every time I went to California. I love it so much that I became a subscriber a few months ago. The Sunset gardens are open to the public. The gardens are located at their headquarters in Northern California. I marked it down for my next trip to San Francisco since they are less than 1 hour from there. In fact, I like to go to their Celebration Weekend next year.

If you are lucky to live in a warmer climate, it is not too late to get inspired by these grouping of pots. They would make a statement on your front door. Every time you do a grouping, you must repeat elements. You can vary the heights and shape of the pots but it is usually best to keep your containers all in the same color, same finish.

If you wish to learn the art of pot planting, read:

+ Learn how create a wow factor with a triple decker composition.
+ An easy lesson on selecting pots and flowers that harmonize with the rest of your garden
+ Benefits from experience. Sunset tells you which are the 12 dwarf lavenders that they prefer from all the ones they test in their own garden.
+ Explore fall favorite hues. I love these aqua glass containers.

Putting plants in containers can allow you to rotate the plants that you put inside to create seasonal arrangements. If you are new to gardening, watch this 1-minute video that show you how to plant a container.

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ By Thomas J. Story for Sunset magazine

You might also like these posts

This afternoon I visited Beacon Hill, an old British style, upscale neighborhood in Boston. This is one of the are where the houses are the most expensive in Boston. One think I noticed as we walked around is how, even though the houses have no landing, many front doors felt inviting and elegant.

I paid attention to find their secret. It is simple. They all display flower pots, have a stunning door knocker, hardware and street numbers. They are illuminated by a beautiful light. And more importantly, the homeowners have painted the door a contrasting color. Looking at the lack of space of these houses, it is clear that having little space is no excuse to make a statement.

You might also like these posts

You may have noticed a change to the main navigation bar of At Home with Kim Vallee. There is now a Live section where you will find my tweets and live blogging posts.

What will be these live blogging posts?

It will be made of several things. But mainly, there will be quick links. For a while now, I have been searching at a way to add to the curated experience I am trying to provide you. I wish for great pictures on all my posts here. What do I do when I only wish to provide you a quick info? Until now, I relied on Twitter. But 140 characters is not always enough to deliver the message.  I will use Kim Vallee Live to bring this type of information.

Another usage of Kim Vallee’s Live is when I will attend a conference. You will not have long to wait since I will be at the Social Gaming Summit 2009 that will occur June 23rd, 2009. All day, I will rely what is going on at the session through Kim Vallee Live.

Integrating  Layout

I also wish to point out that my second blog, On the Web with Kim Vallee now shares the theme structure than At Home. Like I said in Live, I am integrating my brand. Each component has its own personality.

Blog Out Loud event  in Los Angeles

One last thing. If you are in the Los Angeles this week, register for the first Blog Out Loud event. It should be a great event for bloggers and aspiring bloggers in the creative sphere. Check out what I have to say about the Blog Out Loud event on On the Web.

You might also like these posts

I am not into coral as a design element but seeing the coral-inspired lamps of David Trubridge may change my mind. Another example of how you can produce something very modern inspired by nature.

Made of pine plywood, the lamp’s outer shell is pieced together from individual pieces which are attached to one another. David Trubridge was influenced by the ice crystals he saw in Antarctica and the similar patterns found in underwater corals. The pendant is shipped in a flat-pack box. Do not worry, the instructions are meant to be easy to follow. It is a repetitive process that you do with a nice cup of tea.

The shown Oval Pendant is called Kina. Snowflake is oval like Kina but made with 6-digit snowflake pieces. The drop or cocoon pendant hanging lamp is called Koura is oval as Kina but is made Coral/Floral is the name of the globe pendant.

SOURCING:
+ David Trubridge Design
+ Coral Pendant 24-inch diameter €419, 31-inch diameter €559 at Le Souk

You might also like these posts

I went to IKEA Friday night. I took pictures of 3 inspiring pictures. The cheapest price of an IKEA kitchen means that you can indulge in a remarkable ceramic wall and countertop surface.

This is the perfect island if you like to entertain. I wish I got the space for it.

The best of the crop goes to this long kitchen. If you have the space, the expandable BJURSTA dining table, which opens up to 260 cm (102 inches) costs only $299 CAD. This leaves you more room on your budget to buy the chairs.

If you are looking for island, models like this red and white costs between $450 to $600 CAD at IKEA. Although I am not too keen on shiny kitchen cabinets I enjoy the overall kitchen layout. AKURUM is IKEA kitchen cabinet series. I especially like the pattern wall. Put an acrylic clear panel in front of the wallpaper for easy cleaning.

You might also like these posts

I secretly crave for a craft room at home. Until we decide to settle in a new home, it will stay a dream. In the meantime, I am taking notes on how others design their craft space.

Vancouver designer Kelly Deck converted a good size spare room into a craft room using affordable, widely available furniture and accessories. The only indulgence was the Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley wallpaper available through Kravet Fabrics in Canada.

The stoneware ASKER containers hung on a long ASKER suspension rail have multiple uses. I am sorry for the lack of product details. They did not specify in the Canadian House & Home magazine the names of the products they used.

One thing that I would change is the storage unit. When you factor in the cost of all the cardboard boxes, that unit is not a bargain. A more practical option would be a base cabinet with drawers in order to neatly lay down scrapbooking paper and wrapping paper. Something like the BRAVAD base cabinet with extra wide drawers seems perfect for the tasks I got in mind.

SOURCING:
+ ASKER container 5-inch $4.99 CAD, 6-inch $7.99 USD
+ ASKER suspension rail 47 1/4 inches $9.99 CAD, 23 1/2 inches $5.99 CAD
+ BRAVAD base cabinet $795 CAD
+ Lights, table, cabinets, storage unit at IKEA
+ Area rug at Pottery Barn
+ Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley wallpaper
+ Via March 2009 Canadian House & Home – photography by Janis Nicolay

You might also like these posts

The best way to reduce the cost of a kitchen renovation is to go with store-bought cabinets. The IKEA kitchens are getting better and better every year. They are cheaper than custom build cabinets.

At IDS 09, IKEA showcased a style I affectionate: the full wall cabinets. I like this kitchen design because it delivers the sleek modern without sacrificing on storage.

A wonderful trick is to mix kitchen series. Here, they combines IKEA’s Nexus oak-veneer with the glossy white Abstrakt cabinets. Through the layout and the selection of materials for the backsplash and countertops, you can provide a look that seems custom-made.

The March 2009 of Canadian House & Home is about sleek organizing your house. One area where families need organization is certainly the kitchen. This year winner of the Kitchen Makeover contest can testify about it. They won an IKEA kitchen coupled with the expertise of senior design editor Erin Feasby.

One design element that is worth stealing is the backsplash. They alternate matte and glossy glass tiles to create a sophisticated texture.

+ Images from March 2009 issue of Canadian House & Home were photographed by Mark Burstyn

You might also like these posts