We've covered Robert's remarkable renovation for some time now (see The Inside Out: Robert's Mitchell Lama Labor of Love, Micro-Inside Out: Robert's Labor of Love Continues), but we've yet to blog his love of Teema dishware. In his kitchen, on shelves built by hand, he only stocks the entire collection of Teema dishware in white...
Designed by Kaj Franck for Iittala in 1952, Teema was the result of his efforts to reduce one entire collection to its absolute essential shapes - circle, square and rectangle. Our favorite piece is the mug, which we sell in our store, but we like Robert's confidence in going for the whole collection.
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Gorgeous, I love this look and it's particularly well done here, but any advice on accomplishing open shelving while living in quake country? Any non-slip mats that might protect against the frequent mild to moderate quakes? I think we all realize that in a major quake, you're buying new dishes anyway!
Robert,
We're building a house and considering cork for the flooring throughout the main living area. I'm curious to learn which cork you chose to use - poly, waxed or untreated - and why? Also whether you used the floating floor or other cork form? Any help would be appreciated.
Sandy
I love Teema, but I think I lean towards the 24 hr line; after years of searching, I think it is the perfect white dinnerware (dress it up, dress it down, don't dress it at all). Imagine my panic at not being able to find it on their site! I found it elsewhere, but it seems to be going through some changes:
http://www.finnishgifts.com/iittala-24h-dinnerware.html
Monika: Can you fit all your fingers (minus the thumb) through the handle of the 24h mug? I love the Teema line but the handle on the mug fits only three fingers (my complaint about most mugs).
Hello Sandy
Sorry for the late reply, I only just read your comment today.
I originally installed a cork floating floor. It looked great at first but after 1 year it began to split apart in a number of spots and though I hated doing so I had to remove it. Maybe it was just my bad luck, but I would not recommend it unless you have no other alternative. I think it's better to glue something down.
I then used uncoated cork tiles, made by Wicanders, (which I purchased at Aronson's on West 17th Street in Manhattan - a great store, very friendly and knowledgeable staff) I polyurethaned it myself with 3 coats of the most "eco friendly" product I could find (water based Polyureseal BP by AFM Safecoat from Environmental Depot in the Bronx). It truly had almost no odor and has held up well.
I also used the recommended product to glue it down, a contact-cement type adhesive you spread on both floor and tile & let dry before joining them.
So far it's held up really well. I was recently at Aronson's and noticed they don't sell the uncoated version anymore, now they have a style with just one coat which you install and then must add several coats of polyurethane yourself. I think this is actually better and wish it had been available when I installed my floor.
I also tried waxing part of the floor myself but I think this is difficult to achieve unless done professionally. Even though I loved the idea conceptually it looked terrible, and was difficult to keep clean. ButI know that if done professionally it can be very beautiful, though it does need rewaxing every year or so. We ultimately covered the waxed part with carpeting.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions.