Tea Or Coffee, From Freeman Lederman

Fantastic mid-century modern ceramics designed for Freeman Lederman.

Pfeifer Studios

Surrounding yourself in natural elements compliments a modern interior. Wool, glass, linen, ceramic, wood, leather... all of these objects have a warm feel to them that make home a great retreat.

Paige Russell Ceramics

Paige Russell's work is pure of form and color. Her Sprout series has a wonderful modern look and is so usable. She has great talent.

Orbit Plates And Bowls

Add art and style to your entertaining with these hand-painted bone china bowls and plates with complementary decorative black rings. The plates are uniform in size with different ringed patterns (shown stacked). The bowls come nested in three sizes. Catharina Kippel, 2006

Neutrino Designs

With seven scientific diagrammatic patterns to choose from, Neutrino Ceramics have an atomic yet minimal look to them that pops with their red and white color combo.

Botanical Tiles

I love the stark white mixed with organic content of these porcelain tiles by Heather Knight at Element Clay Studio.

Rago Auction

Shopping with the big boys (and girls) for classic modern means shopping at auction houses where only the fortunate can afford to go. Sometimes nice pieces will go for prices that the rest of us can afford if we think of it as a true investment. But whether you can buy or not, looking through the upcoming or past auctions is a treat. You can discover designers and pieces you wouldn't find otherwise and enjoy wonderful examples of designer you already know and love. Here are a few interesting finds at Rago Art and Action Center's last modern sale in November.

Very Cool Finds

From Etsy. Top to bottom: Kolya, Scissor Stitch, C-urchin, Inky Spider, The Odd Gallery, MK Wind.

J. Lohmann Gallery

J. Lohmann Gallery is the home of beautiful objects that you will desire as soon as you see them. Their collection is superb.

Frieze

Designed by Andrew Tanner for Watts Contemporaries, The title for this collection is ‘Frieze’ and is inspired by the interior of Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, London which is described as the ‘Cathedral of the Arts and Craft Movement’. At Bouf

Hisako Mizuno Tea Sets

Hisako Mizuno designs the most amazing tea sets. I just love them.

Flower Power

Flowers as a design element can be graphic, bold and modern and never go out of style. These flower products are from BoConcept.

Circa Ceramics

Circa Ceramics has been going strong since 1999, cranking out hip, colorful and function ceramic pottery. I love the kitch factor of their images and the cool hand painted designs.

Eva Zeisel

Eva Zeisel moved to Russia in 1932 to assist in the modernization of the ceramics industry. In 1936, however, she was caught up in one of the Stalinist purges, accused of plotting against the life of Stalin. She was imprisoned for 16 months, then one day she was unexpectedly led out of her cell to what she feared was to be her execution and put on a train to Austria in the clothes she was standing in. Just as the reason for her imprisonment was never really known, so is the reason for her release. Recently, Zeisel returned to Russia for the first time since her release from prison in 1937. The Lomonosov Factory invited her to participate in a critique of the factory's work and in the factory's museum Zeisel discovered a tea set she'd made long ago. Now that famous porcelain teaset is being produced by special order from Lomonosov on the limited scale of 2 sets per month. The set includes teapot, c/s, 6 cups & saucers, 6 dessert plates. A true museum piece. Also included here are other pieces she has designed in her career. Credits to Unica.

What's Black And White, And Seen All Over

Black and white go so well together. They cyclically make an appearance in the fashion and design world but they never really go out of style. Sticking to a black and white pallet is also a great way to mix modern, classic or ethnic styles because you have the color pallet that ties it all together. Products from Within 4 Walls.

Liz Low Ceramics

Liz Low is a ceramic artist who uses porcelain to create her fine, thin forms. This allows her to shape them in a way that mirrors the movement of water with fluid, asymmetrical contours and undulating folds. They are organically beautiful.

Get Mugged

This is the Cupple Coffee Mug & Holder. It comes in a set of two and is available at Generate.

Orla Kiely

I admit it. I've been coveting Orla Kiely bags for years, and now I'm really in trouble because there's clothing, housewares, shoes.....what am I to do except look and wish.

Four Winds Gallery

While I was away I stopped into Four Winds Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA. What an amazing place. They carry the work of Southwestern Native American artists whether historic or contemporary as well as work by Mira and George Nakashima. I was blown away be the sheer quantity and quality of their collection. Rugs, pottery, jewelry, painting, sculpture, photos and so much more. Of course there is much more than I can cover here so you are just going to have to visit in person. It's worth it.

Conran's Outdoor

The Conran Shop is offering a wider variety of outdoor design this spring in rich designs and materials from this bent wood chair from the archives of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna totheir Porto Sofa in woven rattan in a warm, sumptuous color.
Planters of pierced metal and recycled tire rubber,

and 24-carat gold plated and ceramic tea light holders for warm glows on summer nights.
There is also seating launched at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Ron Arad’s inviting Little Albert chair is made from white polyethylene or the Granito table, made from terrazzo, an extremely durable stone compound.

Whatever your style or material choice you'll find some fabulous options for outdoor space design at the Conran store.