ALEX BOZIKOVIC
From Friday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2009 12:59AM EDT
MIXED MESSAGES
"Welcome" is a nice message to greet your guests with - but what about door-to-door salespeople and that annoying neighbour who just won't leave you alone? Thanks to a bit of clever design, the Come In/Go Away doormat ($45) from Suck UK is the perfect weapon. Turn it one way to welcome guests, the other to make your wrath known. Available at Generate Design.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUCK UK*****
A ROCKIN' CHAIR
When it comes to cheap-chic
furniture, lounge chairs are often the weak link. After all, it's tricky to make something large and comfortable while keeping the price tag small. But IKEA's new Lillberg rocking chair ($159) does the job, with its generous
cushions and sleek birch frame. Even the textiles are trendy: The optional black-and-white graphic cushions bring some fall flair.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IKEA
*****
JUST AN ORDINARY BOOK
We all have grand keepsakes that mean a lot to us. But what about the humble objects that are also near to our hearts? In Taking Things Seriously (Princeton Architectural Press, $18.45), editors Joshua Glenn and Carol Hays give serious thought to the "totemic object" - and deliver a fascinating set of personal stories and bold images that reveal just how powerful a leftover towel, a dried artichoke or a cheap ceramic frog can be.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PRICETON ARCHITECTURAL PRESS
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