Nosing around in strange closets

Come on admit it. You're like me. You like to stalk other people's homes whether on real estate websites or house tours on blogs. Part envy, part curiosity, part "education" but always 100% voyeurism, taking a sneak peek into someone's home is a guilty pleasure. Tate from Strange Closets has fabulous house tours. Every Thursday he takes us on a snoop through some of Chicago's most creative and livable homes. Real people with real style .... OK real people with buckets of style and panache. Check them out here. Oh did I mention the interviews with Chicago's design movers and shakers as well?

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

Everyone loves a contest. Especially one involving amazing prizes. Ed and Doug of Swank Lighting have signed on as a sponsor of Material Girls blog virtual design contest. Inspired by Metropolitan Home Magazine's collaboration with SHOWTIME on Met Home's SHOWTIME House Contest, Material Girls have launched a wonderful competition that you can all be part of. Swank Lighting is pleased to provide promotional assistance and the prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

First prize is a pair of Swank Lighting Lamps valued at $2,190

Second prize is a pair of Swank Lighting lamps valued at $1,600

Third prize is a pair of Swank Lighting lamps valued at $900

So check out Swank Lighting's post or Material Girls' post for all the details about the contest. Looks like alot of fun!

Is it storage?...or art?

Furniture that acts as storage for all your junk belongings can sometimes be boring. I came across a line of eco-friendly furniture at 2Modern by Iannone Design that had me just smitten. It's furniture with a kick. They have such beautiful detail they would act as pieces of art. The design on the coffee table in the fourth photo? That's about 1600 hand inlaid wood dots!!!! WOW. You'd never see any of this end up on Craigslist. Me likey. Alot.

Welcome scandinavian.modern

Jo and I would like to welcome the folks of scandinavian.modern, based in Winnipeg, as our new sponsor. I just love being able to promote Canadians who know a thing or two about great furniture. If you love the mid-century variety, you MUST check them out. I have never seen so much gorgeous rosewood in one place. I think I've changed my mind about teak - rosewood is just stunning!!! Here's a bit about their shop:

"We hand pick and make available primarily original, vintage, mid-century modern, Danish and other Scandinavian furniture. We admire and stock pieces from such designers as Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Børge Mogensen, Kai Kristiansen, Arne Vodder, Ole Wanscher and Hans Olsen. We also stock pieces that may not have been designed by a well known designer but were crafted by elite danish cabinetmakers and are unique and showcase scandinavian functionality and appearance."

Here is a little peek at some of the (*drool*) items they've got in stock. LOOOVE the first one pictured - it's a table and a planter!

Offi, at 2Modern

I was poking around the 2Modern site this morning, and came across the furniture line Offi. "Offi & Company, based in Emeryville, California, was born out of a love for great design. Offi satisfies this passion by creating simple, beautiful and practical furnishings that address the modern urban lifestyle. OFFI products are created to be multifunctional, comfortable, and at home in any modern home in the world." Their furniture is for sure modern but I love how the majority of the items have curved lines, that removes the typical harshness of most modern pieces. (And as an avid fan of Karim Rashid, I was pleased to see that some of their products are designed by him). They also carry kids furniture and it's incredible. Most of the items are marketed as easy to put together and something kids would enjoying helping with. Brilliant! Here's a taste of what you'll find at 2Modern from the Offi line: