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Friday, Dec 25, 2009
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Glorious objets d'art your design-obsessed friend will not object to.
By Lauren Sandler
This friend's dream room may consist of a single Vitra chair with a photograph leaning up against a wall -- and not a single thing more. No bed, no laundry hamper, no overstuffed couch; just clean lines, and the glorious unclutter of it all. Who would deign to sully this living space with any object at all, much less anything that could invite the same scorn the T-Square barely conceals behind her Philip Johnson specs whenever she visits your house? Buck up! You can shop for this person! And maybe even prove that you have a little taste after all.
Illustrations by Ryan Germick
The design nut is closely related to the neat freak. Offer a thorough cleaning, or be even more specific: Promise that you'll scrub every window -- inside and out -- until you're certain you can walk right through them. Just be forewarned: These Ts might not let you leave until you dot every "I" and wipe every errant thumbprint.
Send your coupon now.
As he unpacked at the beginning of Season 2 of "Project Runway," Santino Rice unveiled a pair of big, name-plate belt buckles that made us frankly a little giddy -- and we'll bet sent our T-Square into a rage of blind jealousy. So buy one here, and for only around $15. You only have seven letters, so use them well!
Even the most pristine home is not immune to the critters of the world. That's why Philippe Starck designed this Dr. Skud Fly Swatter ($12) for Alessi -- in four colors, for any design palate -- so that even insects can die a tasteful death.
After a long day at the studio, who wouldn't want to sip wine, espresso or designer water from one of these insouciant Crumpled Cups, so reminiscent of the plans that didn’t make it past the drawing board? (Set of three, $25.)
Irreverent and retro design guru Jonathan Adler has added these bright needlepoint stockings to his collection, to give Christmas-morning cheer to even the biggest design snob.
Tibor Kalman's iconic 5 O'Clock watch achieves the perfect balance of humor and minimalism, for any hardworking T-Square ($95).
Real Christmas trees are way too messy, and fake firs are not ironic enough to bring true holiday cheer. So we suspect our friends will like these simple, happy Lightrees, from $129 up, in three sizes and a variety of colors (even a very unorthodox orange), that give a witty wink to the holidays, and a nod to clean design.
Eco-design is huge this year, and nothing says organic style like this sleek wooden briefcase, a slender, laptop-friendly carrier made of "ecologically thinned" Japanese cedar ($265).
We don't want to suggest that our beloved T-Squares are narcissists. But with their unfailing faith in their own unerring good taste, it only follows that art generated from the very fiber of their being -- from their own DNA, that is -- would hold undeniable appeal. DNA 11's GlowFrame is an inch thick and resembles a plasma screen, with its quivering depiction of the owner's DNA, in any color scheme your T wants -- she gets to pick out the color after she submits her DNA sample in her gift kit. A 2-by-3-foot portrait runs $990.
This exquisite Vitra chaise looks utterly modern today, but was designed in 1948. The undulating white form of La Chaise conjures the image of a dove. Talk about peace on earth! And for $7,330, that's serious goodwill toward your fellow man.
