By Our Hands We Live

I LOVE this photo. Such an awesomely accurate statement. Rachel Boston used her blog, {CutPasteRepeat} to collect pictures of people's hands after a day of work - doing what they love.

In her words:
By Our Hands We Live
So, recently, I've noticed how disgusting my hands are becoming. But in a good way! I'm getting cuts and scabs and calluses and burns and I'm loving every minute of it. It made me want to see other artists' hands! Thus, {"By Our Hands We Live"} was born.

This is a {2modern} find.

Before & After Chair

This before and after chair project was a recent favorite of mine from {Design*Sponge}. Absolutely beautiful work! I love the contemporary colors and stripes with a traditional floral design with the hint of wood grain coming through. I think I just got inspired to do something like this to my dinner table and chairs...

Pet Beds!

Here are two very different kinds of pet beds, both awesome in their own ways. I love the simplicity in design and the patters of the {wall mounted pet beds}, but I also love the vintage traditional look of the {DIY pet center} transformed from an old secretary desk.

Abstract Paper Sculptures

Amazing handmade paper sculptures by {Charles Clary}

AND THE WINNER IS...

#4 - Lexsea Mann - CONGRATULATIONS!

The winner was selected using {Random.org}

Here is her selection and reason for picking it:
"I loved the {Alessi - Mediterraneo Kitchen Jar Collection} with the red coral pattern over the clear, crisp jars. I inherited my mom's sand collection (little jars filled with sand from all over the world) that I keep in the kitchen. I think these jars with the whole mediterranean, ocean-feel would look great next to these smaller glass sand-filled jars. Plus, I love keeping my kitchen looking neat and contained... and these would be perfect to keep something I use often in."

Here are some of the other items selected by readers:

Thanks for entering and thanks so much to {AllModern.com} for this opportunity!

AllModern.com GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello all - I am happy to announce Traditionally Modern Design's first opportunity for a GIVEAWAY! The gracious people over at {AllModern.com} would like to give my readers(US and Canada residents only)an opportunity to win something from their site that is worth up to $70.

Here is what you need to do to enter the random drawing:
1. Check out {AllModern.com} and pick one item you would like that costs no more that $70.
2. Comment on this post with a link to the item you chose with a good explanation as to why
you chose it.
3. Post a link to this blog or specifically about the giveaway on any social networking sites you may be a part of and then comment here that you did so
4. Subscribe to the RSS fee of this blog and/or become a follower
5. Be sure to leave a valid email address with your comment or email me with your contact information - info.tmdesigns@gmail.com - so I can let you know if you win :) If you choose to email me with your contact information, please include the username that you left a comment with.

All those that I feel have a well thought out reason for choosing the item you chose will be entered into a random drawing which will be held in 10 days - October 5, 2009 and the winner will be announced that evening.

{AllModern.com} has a wide range of {contemporary furniture} and decor by hundreds of designers and well known brands,for any room of your house. Take a look around and I look forward to seeing what you all find!

MoMA Store ~ Espresso Set

Check out this great {Espresso Set}, by the Felina Sok-Cham, the winner of the student design contest through {MoMA Store}. This can be used to serve espresso or even appetizers and desserts. I especially love this because of how much Armenian coffee my family drinks and serves to guests. I always hated carrying a tray full of cups and saucers that would always slide around and sometimes spill. This seems like a great solution with the plates/coasters essentially locked into their place on the tray. This was found via {NOTCOT.org}.

Ligne Roset Boutique

For years I have been checking out all kinds of concept designs on the web and was excited to hear that {Ligne Roset} opened a new boutique {concept store} (unfortunately far away in Austin, Texas). They are known for their keen eye for talented designers and recently partnered with French designer {Philippe Nigro} to produce his new line of upholstered furniture called Confluences. Ligne Roset is one of the world's leaders in luxury contemporary furniture design and introduced its first concept boutique. They will provide superior quality and design for every aspect of modern lifestyle, from living to entertaining. Consumers will receive the instant satisfaction from their purchases - being able to take them right out of the store. The store layout will evoke a gallery-like atmosphere. Aside from the modular seating by Philippe Nigro, I loved the concept hanging light fixture.

A Foreigner Feels at Home

After having moved to New York 5 years ago, from South Africa, Bradly "feels at home as a foreigner". To cope with homesickness and carry on his South African pride, he keeps importing mementos from back home. After having a stylist go to work in his one bedroom, 800 sq ft, condo - he is very happy with the finished product. The overall style is mid-century modern with eclectic African influence. Everything works so beautifully together - I especially love that he has straight-edged clean elements mixed in with interesting organic objects. There is a great balance of color and texture throughout. He was inspired by the eclectic style of luxury boutique hotels that started opening up in South Africa in the mid 90s - they were mixing urban elements with local flavors - standing out from the rest. When he first moved to NY, he only had a suitcase of clothes - since then having built a beautiful home for himself on the Upper West Side. Furniture are about the only things that are not from South Africa - each time he goes to visit, he comes back with bits and pieces of home - lamps, photography, home accessories, and knick-knacks of all sizes and shapes. During his 5 years in this condo, he renovated and expanded the kitchen and main closet of the apartment, closed off extra closet doors and created a solid living room and dining room area. After all of this and many good times - he is selling this place and moving on. I wish I lived in NY - I would love to live in this condo! This was a wonderful find from {Apartment Therapy} today.

I Love You, West Elm.

Can I please just own everything from {West Elm}? I really don't have much more to say other than, I just received their new catalog and found it dangerously tempting - along with the emails I get from them a few times a week regarding sales. I should probably take myself off their mailing list during these terrible economic times...but wait...tax return money put to good use?? Ok, ok i'll stop with utter nonsense...I love you West Elm, that's all I'm trying to say!

thomaspaul Designs

I found this designer, {Thomas Paul} on the {blog} by {2Modern}. 2Modern works to recognize the works of designers who are supporting our local economies and keep all manufacturing in the US. Thomas Paul graduated from the New York Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in textile design. He got started as an intern for DKNY and then moved on to work for many other designers. All of this eventually led to the creation of the thomaspaul pillow collection, launched in 2001. The line has steadily expanded into other categories, with the ultimate goal being to have products covering every aspect of a home and all including thomaspaul patterns.

Fun Trivets!

I found these really awesome trivets today on {re:modern}, in their section of gifts under $30. They are modern and have a cozy feel to them. Being that they are die cut from industrial wool felt, which is naturally heat resistant, it is perfect to protect any surface. These are from {bookhou} - a really great source for modern handmade designs from Toronto, Canada.