Friday Favorites 3/28/2014

March 28, 2014

Karin Lidbeck Brent, Contributing Editor
My husband and I are beginning the planning stage of our Cape Cod home renovation. That means creating folders of inspirational ideas for furnishings and products for all aspects of our ‘new’ home. I’m on the lookout for everything fresh and exciting on the market. So when I saw these AKDO tiles, they went straight into my tile folder.

AKDO’s newest boutique collection called Allure consists of four beautiful mosaic patterns. These mosaics are reminiscent of the detailing found in couture jewelry; they are all hand-channel-set, like gems, and made into beautiful patterns. The tiles are crafted in natural stone and accented with tiny hand cut bits of mirrored bronze, pewter, and silver-toned blends, resulting in a very glamorous look.

With their subtle, glistening surfaces and striking design, I definitely plan to use these in my bathrooms or for my kitchen backsplash!

akdo allure

Photos courtesy of AKDO

Paula Bodah, Senior Editor
I spied this intriguing laser-cut metal fruit basket at RISD Works, the shop of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, in Providence. The artist, RISD grad Lui Kawasumi, has lived in Japan, the Czech Republic, and Turkey, though he has called the U.S. home for the past thirteen years. Nowadays he lives and works in New York City as a product designer, working with a variety of materials, including glass and metal. This piece was chosen by RISD to be part of the February 2010 American Craft Council Show in Baltimore. Although I’m sure it would look lovely piled high with ripe red apples, I’d be more inclined to give it pride of place on the shelves flanking my living room fireplace.

laser cut bowl

Photo courtesy of RISD Works

Kyle Hoepner, Editor-in-Chief
I noticed this pair of framed mirrors through the window at Hudson in Boston earlier this week. So of course I had to pop in and check them out. The scores of overlapping feathers, in what looks to me like zinc-finished iron, appear to have been welded on one by one. Owner Jill Goldberg snapped up the twin beauties during her travels recently. They’re from Studio A, originally, but the design is now discontinued—and Jill couldn’t find any more. Better stop in soon if you want one. I’m sure they won’t last long.