D2S Editor Favs: Week of December 10, 2007

  Favorite Video

We love Todd Oldham and his Handmade Modern video series. You'll enjoy watching his Charles and Ray Eames Essay if you're a fan of mod furniture.

  Favorite Pushing-the-Envelope House

Above is the BEFORE picture of a 1930s wooden country cottage in Frankfurt, Germany.

And here are the AFTER exterior and interior pictures for the newly renovated house. Meixner Schluter Wendt Architects incorporated a new architectural envelope around the old frame and used the original as a furnishing highlight within the new structure. Absolutely stunning.

  Favorite Family Giving Idea

In this season of giving, D2S editors encourage your family to make a donation to the International Rescue Committee, doing great work all around the world, particularly for people who don't have homes. Founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein, the IRC is the charity leader in effectiveness, giving 90 cents for every donated dollar directly to benefit people in dire need. Check out their leadership team, which reads like a Who's Who of world leaders, celebrities, and captains of business and industry.

  Favorite Hot Appliance

UK-based Fagor came out this year with the niftiest new laundry system, their DrIron. It's the first ever drier and ironing machine. Clothes come out wrinkle-free due to a unique moisture extraction system. Clothes last a lot longer when you don't have to iron them, too.

  Favorite Last-Minute Gift Ideas

There are hundreds of artist-made, blown-glass holiday ornaments at The Artful Home website. Support artisans and deck your halls at the same time.

  Favorite Antique

We drooled over this c1885 silver-plate Egyptian Revival revolving warming dish from One of a Kind Antiques.

  Favorite Auction Item Worth Fighting Over

Rago Arts and Auction Center recently had their Jewelry/Great Estates sale, and this Steuben Gold Aurene two-handled vase and compote with calcite exterior caught our attention (among other delights).

  Favorite Office Furniture Contest

We love the funny contest Steelcase is putting on right now. The winner of the "What's your uncomfortable office moment?" contest wins one of their Leap chairs.

D2S Editor Favs: Week of December 3, 2007

  Favorite Home Art Find

At last we've found an artist who can create an interpretive portraint of your pet! We see so many literal, photographic portrait painters, but New Jersey-based Judy Henn is definitely the Picasso of the pet set. We love the way she often adds gorgeous furniture and paintings-within-a-painting into her portraits, too. Her featured artwork at New York City's toney Kipps Bay Show House also puts her on top of our Design Favorites this week.

  Favorite Movie to Buzz About

Sketches of Frank Gehry is a Sydney Pollack documentary that takes architect icon Frank O. Gehry's sleek curves and mod angles from sketch to 3D model to construction and then to finished work. You'll find some wonderful residences in addition to his public triumphs like LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall.

  Favorite Big-Bang Chair

The Five-Legged Zeus Chair is a gutsy, over-the-top wonder from Oscar de la Renta's cool collection of indoor and outdoor goodies for Century Furniture.

  Favorite Kitchen Appliance

Whisk away bad cooking odors with the ingenious Gaggenau VL 051 Telescopic Swivel Ventilation System. The height of the vent adjusts to accommodate just the right pan height and automatically centers and telescopes down into the cooktop when you're done venting your little heart out!

  Favorite Tufted Chair

The Thomas Pheasant Collection for Baker Furniture has stylish, Greek-inspired pieces, like this comfy, tailored, tufted Moderne Wing Chair.

  Favorite Book

Order an advance copy of landscape architect Steven L. Cantor's upcoming (June 2008) Norton book, Green Roofs: In Sustainable Landscape Design. A fascinating and important subject for our times!