Accessories

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

Areaware

When he's not crafting objects, product designer Harry Allen is a serious practitioner of yoga. His Om incense holder is a polyester-resin cast of his own hand, held in a meditative mudra. It measures 4 by 4 by 9 inches and is white. 95 Spring Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10012; 800-783-5683; areaware.com. circle 689

Cake

This young Brooklyn firm brings affordable options to the high-end tabletop market; customers can enjoy products that play boldly with form, space, and light—without breaking the bank. The Node Bowl is available in 8-, 113/4-, and 131/4-inch-wide versions, in white porcelain or brilliant chrome (and, soon, in cast-iron and several bright acrylic shades). 160 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231; 718-797-9180; cakellc.com. circle 690

Vilagrasa

Since 1956 this manufacturer has made straightforwardly functional items for everyday use; they just happen to be designed by some of the foremost architects, artists, and designers in Spain. Pascual Salvador's Neo is a lightweight, highly adaptable aluminum display system that can be wall-mounted or stand free on detachable bases. Through Magnuson Group, 1400 International Parkway, Suite 100, Woodridge, IL 60517; 800-342-5725; vilagrasa.com. circle 694

Studio Lilica

The curvaceous Astro Mobile makes a big statement with a featherweight presence. The 8-by-21/2-foot piece, made of semi-sheer flame-retardant fabric stretched across a fiberglass frame, weighs in at only three pounds, so it hangs lightly from a single suspension point and moves with just a breath of air. It's available in more than a dozen colors. 4390 Lynd Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006; 626-447-5079; studiolilica.com. circle 691

Twentieth

Designer Mattia Biagi was so transfixed by the bubbling spectacle at the La Brea Tar Pits that he made it the inspiration for an entire home collection. A highlight of the line is the Tar Candelabra, which is, simply, a bronze candelabra dipped in tar. Each piece is unique; these measure 11 inches high by 7 inches wide. 8057 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 323-904-1200; twentieth.net. circle 692

Domus Design Collection

The name is clinical, but the ds-9084 25 line has personality to spare; each of these graphic stools, designed by Zurich-based interior decorator Iria Degen, is hand-woven with strips of cowhide. Each is available in a 24-by-16-inch or a 24-by-24-inch size. 181 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 212-685-0800; ddcnyc.com. circle 693

Danish Crafts

The cherished Danish virtues of understatement and flawless design live on in Louise Hindsgavl, who handcrafts each and every porcelain cup and saucer in her collection. Using a combination of techniques (throwing, modeling, molding), she creates whimsical narrative motifs, including Landscape with Bear and Landscape with Rabbits. Amagertorv 1, 1st Floor, 1160-DK Copenhagen, Denmark; 45-33-126162; craftscollection.dk. circle 695

Laura Spector

The Narcissus wall mirror, true to its name, invites long, self-loving gazes. Oriental bittersweet vines are cast in aluminum and woven together to form the frame of the 34-inch-wide mirror. The piece's delicate countenance belies its sturdiness. Available in finishes of copper patina, gilt, silver, and rustic natural. 786 Westport Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06824; 203-254-3952; lauraspectorrusticdesign.com. circle 698

Chilewich

This designer's myriad woven-vinyl and spun-Vynyl table and floor mats are known for their versatility and durability; her transparent, open-weave Woven Lattice placemats and runners are no exception. Each provides subtle texture and interest without a lot of maintenance. Placemat is 14 by 19 inches; runner is 14 by 72 inches; both available in gold, silver, turquoise, orange, and green. 44 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016; 212-679-9204; chilewich.com. circle 696

Nature Maker

Planting a tree is fine if you've got plenty of dirt and a few decades to watch it grow. This manufacturer offers a bold alternative: artificial trees made of steel tubing and a proprietary synthetic bark that mimics the look of the real thing. The massive specimen shown at right—nicknamed the Gaylord Oak—is 25 feet tall, with a canopy measuring 50 feet across; some of the creations on offer can soar up to 12 stories high. 6225 El Camino Real, No. 110, Carlsbad, CA 92009; 800-972-1889; naturemaker.com. circle 697

Anthro

Space-challenged urbanites, take heart: wall-mounted eNook has arrived. The flip-down work space, fashioned from HDF, protrudes 71/4 inches when closed; when open, it provides a 30-inch-deep, 35-inch-wide mini-desk that holds a laptop, mouse, and notepad. The back panel becomes a bulletin board. It's available in three wood finishes, with four fabric selections for the panel. 10630 SW Manhasset Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062; 800-325-3841; anthro.com. circle 699

Manuel Revert

Pillow talk takes on a new dimension with the Words collection. The bedsheet sets come in six bold graphic styles each with its own color/word combination. The 210 cotton thread count means the sheets are more than just a good read. Pol. Ind. IP3, Paseo de la Havana 6, 46890 Agullent, Valencia, Spain; 34-96-291-8100; revert.net. circle 703

Denyse Schmidt Quilts

The mistress of machine-quilting merges swatches of vintage fabrics with Pantone-hued cottons for the DS Works Special Edition collection. The fabrics come in four colorways, ranging from sunny tangerine/poppy to sunflower/dandelion, each available in twin and queen sizes. 165 Bennett Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605; 800-621-9017; dsquilts.com. circle 700

Vitra

Jasper Morrison's penchant for malleable, resilient natural cork has resulted in Cork Bowl, a 24-by-5-inch solid untreated dish that's perfect as a tabletop fruit receptacle, as a bedside magazine holder, or even as a decorative element on its own. 29 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10014; 212-463-5750; vitra.com. circle 702

B&B Italia

Dutch wunderkind Marcel Wanders's celebrated whimsy is on full display in his Couples pillows, which pair five original fabric-screen motifs (Ethnic, Minimal, Asian, Pop, and Sixties) with a contrasting cotton-linen-blend fabric from B&B's own collections. Each cushion is available in 231/2-inch and 153/4-inch versions. 150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10155; 800-872-1697; bebitalia.it. circle 701

Umbra

The ingenious and aptly named Conceal is a bookshelf in the most minimal sense possible. The 51/2-by-51/4-by-51/4-inch powdercoated-steel unit invisibly grips the cover of a single book, which in turn can serve as a base for stacking up to 15 pounds of reading material. 1705 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212; 800-387-5122; umbra.com. circle 708

Rexite

The Nox line of brushed-steel accessories is a perfect embodiment of this manufacturer's reputation for merging sleek design, sure-handed practicality, and a bright sense of fun. The newest addition to the collection, the Nox Ipso coat rack by Raul Barbieri, is 67 inches tall, with a 15-inch base. 7 Via Edison, I-20090 Cusago, Milan, Italy; 39-029-039-0013; rexite.it. circle 704

Modernica

Richard Harvey looked to the human anatomy when he designed the Vertebrae wall- or ceiling-mounted screen. Each section, or "vertebra," is made from super-lightweight injection-molded plastic; the individual sections are then assembled on a wood base in custom sizes for any space. 7366 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323-933-0383; modernica.net. circle 705

TableArt

Jane Scott spotted the prototype for these creations in a market in Saigon; now the fiberglass-and-lacquer Jane bowls—produced in Vietnam—bear her name. Each bowl measures 11 inches across and comes in mint, blue-gray, or deep red. 7977 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-653-8278; tartontheweb.com. circle 707

Greystone Home

The graceful spires and minarets of Ottoman Turkey are the inspiration for the Anatolia collection, which includes the 31-inch-tall, hand-blown-Murano-glass Damlasi carafe. While this piece is available only in blue-green, a 25-inch-high version is offered in amber. Carnegie Hall Tower, 152 West 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10019; 866-473-9826; greystonehomecollection.com. circle 706