apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We have a system. After thinking about it all weekend, we have come up with a 7 category, 1-10 point system for evaluating House & Home empirically. Admittedly, they are on a roll, scoring above 9 pts for the second week in a row. (Photo: Kathleen Day-Coen)

The big news is that Williams-Sonoma is entering the home furnishings fray in a big way, introducing a high mid-priced line of classic furniture SOON. This is interesting because it threatens to either glut the market or create a boom with up scale shoppers who are tired of the short term quality of Pottery Barn and the lack of sophistication at Crate & Barrel. Priced between these guys, Room & Board, and Restoration Hardware and the more expensive Ralph Lauren or Martha's new line of furniture for Bernhardt. This article is a must read: Custom Made Comes in a Catalogue, while the Williams-Sonoma slideshow is an excellent comparison of furntiure and prices from all of these stores.

- Williams Sonoma launch announced (WashPost)

In terms of design inspiration, check out this little tempest in a teacup as Minnesotans cry for and against experimental modern architecture planted in their midst by David Salmela and Tim Alt, with Coen & Partners on landscaping. One can understand the resistance to these new buildings, but boy do they look beautiful from the dark, rear ground floor West Village apartment. (Photo: Peter Bastianelli Kerze )

Jackson Meadow Project
MoCoLoco on Salmela and Coen
Mayo Woodlands website

Also good is this closeup and interview with jewelry designer Ted Muehling. Hidden away down at 27 Howard Street (end of Crosby by Canal), Muehling has a quiet fame for his jewelry, so it is surprising to discover that he is originally trained as an industrial designer and had designed things such as a crystal tortoise shell for Steuben (right) as well. This is a very nice, short portrait that shows the modesty and playfulness of this man.

- NY Mag review
- Ted Muehling on display at Moss

OTHER GOOD STUFF

- Cool lamps used over a bar by Adam Tihany (Photo: Andrea Martiradonna)
- Tihany website
- Gardening: What is destroying my dill??
- Solar energy put to the test in Maryland
- The Currents Slideshow
- Highline discussion forum
- Update on Venice Biennale: set for Sept. 12