Friday Favorites 11/25/2011

Cheryl Katz, Contributing Editor
In our studio, one of our design heroes is the late Tibor Kalman (along with his very talented wife, Maira). Suffice it to say this man wasn’t afraid of designing anything–from Talking Heads album covers, wall clocks, watches and paperweights to magazines and museum exhibits. To him, design was one big stew.

When I first saw Dan Golden’s New Age rug collection for Odegard, I was infatuated. When I read his bio, I fell in love. Here was someone who, like Kalman, believed in the mash up of it all–cartoons, videos, furniture, lighting and, now, carpets. Hooray!

Hand-carded Himalayan wool carpet design by Dan Golden for Odegard

Paula M. Bodah, Senior Editor
It doesn’t take much to make me happy, sometimes. I’m easily cheered by the sight of a bright new throw pillow on my ancient old easy chair, or by smoothing a colorful new cloth over my dining table when I’m having guests. That’s why I’m delighted to have found Hen House Linens and its spirited collection of things for the home. Hen House specializes in kitchen-y  things–aprons, potholders, table linens–with toss pillows and guest towels thrown in, in colors and patterns so varied I figure I could buy myself a little dose of cheer any time the mood strikes me. Hen House sells in home boutiques all over New England as well as online.

Hen House designs its linens for mixing and matching, like this Infinitely Round Navy tablecloth and Scrolling Lemon napkin.

Photos by Lee Kriel, courtesy of Hen House Linens

I’m planning to set my holiday table this year with this placemat and napkin in Grand Fleur Silver.

My hostess gifts this year: ten-inch cocktail napkins in sets of six, tied up with a little saddle-stitched ribbon.

Kyle Hoepner, Editor-in-Chief
There are people in this world who can make wood do things you’d swear wood couldn’t do. One of those people is Irish furniture maker Joseph Walsh. Proof? Take a look at this dining table, called Enignum II. Work by Mr. Walsh is on view through January 27, 2012, at the Oliver Sears Gallery in Dublin, in case you’re headed in that direction sometime soon. Walsh’s pieces are also available in the U.S. through Todd Merrill’s Studio Contemporary in New York.

Joseph Walsh: Enignum II dining table (2010); burr olive ash and olive ash with white oil finish; photos courtesy of Joseph Walsh Studio