Grain is a design studio based in Bainbridge Island, Washington that is dedicated to social and environmental responsibilities. They introduced two new houseware collections at ICFF this past weekend: the first is a line of hard goods that includes the Dish Table, which was inspired by hand carved African stools, new stitched mirrors, and new candle stick holders. The second is a natural dye collection of cotton pillows and woven towels. 

Italian firm Digital Habits updates the average wall mirror well beyond version 2.0, offering users an opportunity to check their hair first, then charge their iPhone and control their playlist with a swipe of a hand afterward. The reflective motion detection design is also open source, which means those with the tools and skills could build their very own OPEN MIRROR...

Based in Brooklyn, Travis James designs and builds original pieces that, while having a very modern edge, are also warm and inviting. His furniture captures the eye and the imagination.

The name evokes both a place and a state of mind, and so goes the same for the newly opened hybrid shop tucked in the verdant hills of Echo Park (owners Rachel Berks and Marisa Suarez-Orozco also operate a graphic design business from within) where a curated selection of home, fashion, and personal wares span from the roughly hewn to precisely fashioned, natural to neon, worn to polished. Like the name implies, the diversity of color, pattern, and texture is wildly "other"...and wonderful.

At first I thought this was a futuristic-style doorway illuminated by LED as a visual indicator for an entrance/exit. But upon closer inspection of the photos (and description) from this IKEA Hackers project, the light-framed passageway revealed itself to be a dramatic reflection of style...

Architects Tania Garbe and Ida Polzer want to mix good design with good stewardship. Their new webshop, Design With Benefits, offers unique, high design accessories that are socially and environmentally conscious. We're talking radios from an Indonesian plant that teaches former farmers craftsmanship skills and jewelry made from a salvaged historic Frank Lloyd Wright roof. Fun stuff!

Michael Shaikin, owner of Ottawa-based The Modern Shop, wants to bring a fresh take on modern design to Canada. As the former owner of a vintage resell shop, Michael certainly has the retail chops for this venture. And with an eye for great designs from Europe and the US, he has style covered, too.

While you prep your space for our new My Bedroom Retreat contest, here are some clever and colorful DIY projects by way of the Netherlands to freshen up your boudoir. 

Illuminated mirrors are beauty and brains in one. Even lighting makes your morning routine shorter and more precise. Whether you're a quick shave and moisturize kind of guy or a hair and makeup kind of girl, lit mirrors will make it snappy. Plus, there's something to be said for starting the day with a conquer-the-world ego boost that comes from flattering light. More

A full-length floor mirror leaning against the wall of a home - like this one in Liz & Joe's Cute & Crafty Coach House - serves dual purposes. First, and perhaps most importantly, it allows you to check yourself before you head out to face the world. Secondly, a strategically placed mirror can help make a room appear larger. Get the look with one of the mirrors we've rounded up in the list after the jump. More