Item Of Note: Ikea's affordable Hemnes 3-drawer dresser

Up until recently I was using a kitchen island as a counter top in my bathroom and for awhile I had noticed how cluttered and messy the bathroom was looking due to the towels and things on the exposed shelving on the lower part of the kitchen island. Had I not had so many items and so many different colored and differently designed towels perhaps the exposed shelving of the kitchen island may not have ended up looking so untidy. I purchased a 3-drawer dresser in a red stain (the Hemnes 3-drawer dresser from Ikea) as a way to clean up the look of the bathroom and get it to look the way I wanted it which is tidy, eclectic and charming.

Item of Note: An oval ottoman/table for an affordable price!

An ottoman/table was something I always imagined having, I had seen it used in so many beautiful ways, as a living-room table even as a center sitting piece in a walk-in closet! It had eventually become a piece of furnishing that I always wished I had but never could afford. Cost Plus World Market now has an ottoman/table that is more than affordable, $99.99 (on sale from $199.99)!

Not only can the Mulberry Lucille Oval Ottoman be used as an ottoman or for sitting but also for storage! Now that is one versatile furnishing.

Cost Plus World Market sale items tend to go pretty fast so if you're in the least bit interested get in on it fast! Click here for more details on the Mulberry Lucille Oval Ottoman @Cost Plus World Market. Save yourself an empty-handed trip and remember to call your local World Market first to see if they have it in stock.

Item of Note: Copper Dial Thermometer

For as long as I have known him, my husband has had a thing for thermometers, specifically the kind that gives you a reading on the weather. Since I have known him he has bought a total of three thermometers, all of which, in his mind is not the one he was looking for; they were either too inaccurate, simply, the thermometers were inconvenient in some way or other. Living with him I have come to realize that being a perfectionalist is hard in a world where everything is made by man, who is, in a word, imperfect.

Browsing Terrain one day, I came upon their new copper thermometer. Beautifully designed and said to be highly accurate this German thermometer is the first thermometer I have had an interest in and when I introduced it to my husband actually peaked an intense interest in him as well, especially the "highly accurate" phrase. 

While I cannot say that this is the perfect thermometer (that is a rather bold and rare statement) I can say that it is nearest to the perfect thermometer that I have yet to come across. And of course it is absolutely beautiful too, which simply goes to show that a thermometer does not have to be unattractive, which unfortunately they usually are.

Take a more detailed look at the Copper Dial Thermometer @ Terrain

Item of Note: Swallow Wall Clock

How cool is this Swallow Wall Clock from A+R by designer Griffin Yang of Haoshi Design. A Dozen flying swallows in the midst of different movement in flight makes up the the numbers of the clock. The concept and the detail in the design is absolutely unique, lovely and peaceful.

23.6"h x 23.6"w x 4.7"d

Handmade resin-cast swallows

Take a look at Haoshi's Swallow Wall Clock @ A+R

Item of Note: tld Desk

The tld desk designed by Jannis Ellenberger and available at CB2 is noteable for it's unique design that concentrates on the bare minimum; this truly is a simple desk perfect for a person who is trying to maintain a simple life in this craaaazy world.

tld facts:
Priced at $399.00
Measures 49.75"w x 24"d x 38.5"h
Materials used are solid oak for the frame and an oak veneer top

Tld desk features a hook-on drawer that is engineered wood and steel and also a hook-on shelf made of steel. Both hook-on shelf and drawer are powdercoated white.

Item of Note: Engine Room Wall Clock by Apt2b

Engine Room Wall Clock @ Apt2b, $35.00
15.5"across, 1.2"deep

This wall clock reminds me of the film "The Hudsucker Proxy" set in the 1950's, largely filmed in a towering building adorned with a large, old, gold clock (such as the one pictured above). The vintage-styled Engine Room Wall Clock detailed with actual moving gears gives a sense of invention and the old history of it, in the background imagination and dreams can be felt when you lie your eyes on this unique piece.

Item of Note @ West Elm: Owl Mug

I have a thing for mugs.  I try not to have a thing for mugs because what am I going to do with a  collection of 100 mugs you know what I mean?  However, the  West Elm the Owl Mug is too cute to not talk about.  The owl mug with beautiful dark autumn colors against the white base screams morning coffee, and I do love my morning coffee.

Owl Mug - Autumn Branch $8.00 (sold individually)
Porcelain, measures 3.25" diam x 4.25"h

View other items @ West Elm

New Noteworthy Item @ West Elm

This traditional-wood turned modern bench literally made me go "Oooo~", something no doubt Jonathan Adler would eye as well.  The dual colored frame and leather handwoven seats of the Source Bench at West Elm is definitely a user-friendly decorative choice.  Whether you are placing this piece at the dinner table, family room, entry way or even mud-room you will sure to be jazzing up the area with a little bit of eye candy that can give a whole lot of character via color and design.

Available in red and white

Measures 49"w x 14.7"d x 35"h

Source Bench @ West Elm

Item of Note: Anthopologie's Potbelly Bookends

Anthropologie's online exclusive hand-carved from pine wood Potbelly Bookends.  Perfect for your kitchen workspace lined with cookbooks and things.  At 8"h x 9.5"h x 7"d x 8"d these little porkers are big enough to be noticed and the best part?  Paint to your liking to accent your kitchen colors or leave as-is for that raw farm feel.

Potbelly Bookends $148.00 @ Anthropologie

Notable new Cake Stand at A+R

Jansen+Co's Cake Stand @ A+R

Fun, functional, contemporary cake plates that can high-light your dessert with its own pop of color.  These porcelain plate and stoneware pedestal are produced by 6 year old Dutch design house Jansen+Co., founded by Anouk Jansen and Harm Magis where the goal is to produce products that are fun and functional.  Fun you can see it is, functional?  Even more so.  With the separate pedestal and cake plate you can collect all or a couple and mix and match to your liking.

Item of Note: Barranca Rug, Square by Anthropologie

Barranco Rug, Square

Corner tasseled rug square rug made of wool and cotton measuring 6' square.  

Now imagine how you can tie the room together with this one.

Item of Note: Heavy-Weight Tape Dispenser

Heavy-Weight Tape Dispenser @ Design Within Reach

No more ugly plastic tape dispensers from your local drug store.  Very often, mostly during Christmas time, I have thought to myself how ugly the scotch tape dispenser was.  Very often, mostly during Christmas time I have struggled to wrap gifts simply because the tape dispenser need two hands to be dealt with, it is with this bitter spirit that I bring to you today's Beautiful Abodes' Item of Note.

• 3lb cast zinc body that's heavy enough to permit single-handed use.
• The forged stainless steel blade cuts effectively over years of use.
• Now $45.00 from $60.00.   
• Dimensions:  2"h x 4"w x 3"d
• And... beautiful enough to keep on your desk.

Item of Note: Chroma Armoire & Console

We are of course familiar with the term "color-blocking" when it comes to fashion, but furnishings?!  C'mon!  It really makes me wonder why I hadn't seen this sooner.  Anthropologie takes color-blocking to a whole new level with it's newly out Chroma Armoire and Chroma Console, the vintage and retro choice of colors with a modern twist makes for one... strike that- two, very lovely pieces.

Chroma Armoire

Chroma Console

Items of Note @ A+R: Toilet Bowl Brush & Modern Fish Bowl

Normann Copenhagen & Jozeph Forakis' Ballo Toilet Brush
Plastic Material / 19.7"h x 8.66"w

Unfortunately, there are simply some things you can not do without... such as, the toilet brush. Ick!  But perhaps a nice toilet brush just might do the trick, A+R's Ballo Toilet Brush by Normann Copenhagen and Jozeph Forakis centers their toilet brush design around the concept of balance and surprise, making the experience fun?  Or maybe just plain different, for a change.  Next time I decide to brush clean my toilet I will surely be envisioning the Ballo Toilet Brush concept and design in my bathroom, if anything, I'm sure the design is much more modern than my current too common Bed, Bath & Beyond toilet brush.

Gaia & Gino & Aruliden's Fishscape Fish Bowl
2.5 gallons / 8"h x 12.8"dia.

Another A+R Item of Note, the Fishscape Fish Bowl by Gaia & Gino & Aruliden.  Pebbles and plastic plants are so 1990 and there probably isn't a simpler way for your pet fishies to adjust to the 21st century than to get a hold of one these modern and minimalistic Fishscape Fish Bowls, a hand-blown glass container with mountain ranges.

Anthropologie vintage items gone gadget friendly?

As a lover of all things vintage I get unusually excited when I see stuff like this... and by this I mean vintage items that are user-friendly to today's gadgets.  This of course means that I do not need to turn my carefully vintage decorated home into a modernized sleek flat to suit the looks of today's gadgets, but that I can keep it the way I like it and simply add vintage items that are gadget friendly.

The USB Typewriter.  How can you not appreciate or fall in love with a restored vintage typewriter than you can plug your iPad into and use as a keyboard?  But that's not all... Unplug the iPad and feel free to use as a regular typewriter as well- 2 for 1!  I know if you didn't love it before, you love it now.  Typewriter case is also included along with instructions, iPad stand attachment, USB cord and additional ribbon.

USB Typewriter, Royal @ Anthropologie

USB Typewriter, Underwood @ Anthropologie

Even use as a regular typewriter!

iVictrola, Upside Down @ Anthropologie

The iVictrola is even before my time, not that I'm that ripe, but still I find it fascinating, even more so now that you can dock your iPhone, iPod or other music player and listen to your music through the vintage Magnavox horn that sounds your music acoustically.  Okay, so you have to be a real vintage fan and a real fan of sound to appreciate this beautiful item.  I know you guys are out there... well, here it is.

The horn is made from carved American walnut

New Notable Item @ West Elm: Glass Jar Pendants

I saw the new glass pendant jars at West Elm and thought they were simply fabulous!  Just had to share these unique urban-styled light fixtures that come in two different shapes and tints.

Glass Jar Pendants @ West Elm