Alphabet Wall Hanging

• $50
• Graphic Spaces

Alphabet posters are great, but perhaps you'd like something three dimensional. This handsome version appeals to your inner typographer or wood nut.

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. 

Interior designer Jessica Spencer recognizes that there are two kinds of home decorators — those who need a little design hand holding and those who have their own definite vision. Alchemy Design Studio is a destination for both. Spencer offers both remote design services as well a full web shop stocked with furniture and accessories.

Everyone has his or her go-to stores for specific needs, whether it be furniture, fashion, or tech gear. And when it comes to accessorizing my desk area, I'm always on the hunt for accessorizing my work area with designs which range from classic to those with an element of playfulness. Here are five favorites I've bookmarked during my online window-shopping sessions...

Sheex Bedding

• from $199
• Bed Bath & Beyond

Ok, I had my doubts. I am a natural fiber guy. For the past few weeks, I've been sleeping on Sheex, a "performance fabric" turned into sheets AND.... they're sorta great. Once washed, they're silky soft, cool, snuggly and cozy, totally like a natural fiber. I recommend giving them a spin.

What are they made of? "Performance Fabric" means that they're made of poly based fabrics of the same type used in Nike, Under Armour and Adidas sportswear. You know those stretchy shorts you love to run in? Well, here there are as sheets. Invented to two women's basketball coaches in 2007, the idea was simple, if it feels good and regulates temperature better than cotton, why wouldn't it make better bedding?

This is what they say: "Temperature and sleep quality are closely related. The human body experiences a slight drop in body temperature right before falling to sleep. Traditional sheets trap heat and can disrupt sleep. SHEEX performance fabric breathes better, allowing your body to do its job naturally.

Testing conducted at the North Carolina State University Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort demonstrates that SHEEX performance bedding holds a proven advantage over cotton in enabling and maintaining optimum conditions for sleep.

Sleeping better and longer has been shown to lead to improvements in important areas such as heart rate, mood, weight loss, energy levels and even athletic performance. A commitment to improving your sleep quality is about more than just sleep itself – it's a commitment to improving your overall health and wellness so you can perform at your peak each and every day."

It may be Monday but I'm already thinking about the weekend. With Memorial Day coming up in a few days, my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of summer grilling and weekend parties. That means it's time to shop for new summer entertaining essentials, starting with a fun modern grill.

The Poler Camera Cooler Bag
• $65.00
• West Elm

Who doesn't love a 2-for-1 special? Designed with dual purpose in mind, the Poler camera bag is first and foremost padded for safely toting around a DSLR, lens, with extra room for an smartphone and tablet. But the insulated carrying case can also work as a lunch bag (though they warn, not at the same time with your photo gear). A very handsome and handy little number for work and your lunch break, and a lot more affordable than my aspirational recommendation, which likely inspired this design.

We're plenty familiar with Derek Chen and his work. In addition to being profiled on Apartment Therapy, he was also one of our Fall Color Judges back in 2007. While he's making the rounds to promote his newest project in collaboration with Newton Vineyard, he sat down to answer our Meet the Maker survey.

Landscape Dinner Set

• $42
• My Sweet Muffin

This set makes me think of summer camp dining halls with a designer twist. Playful and smile-inducing. Designed by Barcelona-based DOIY.