I am in awe of the showroom-turned-installation that glass artist Helle Mardahl created for 3daysofdesign. I never tire of Zen-like showrooms that are made to resemble real living spaces and place the products in place, but Mardahl has truly made the concept her own. In her own words, “The exhibition invites you to experience the life of an adventurous female traveler who lives in the most luxurious grand suite.” Throughout the journey, we get to see where this fictional character sleeps, how she eats with her dalmatian dog sitting next to her, and what she hides on her dressing table (spoiler alert: it's a dildo). It's quite a story, and each room showcases and illuminates Mardahl's delicious candy-colored glassware. I wish more brands would use this storytelling style to introduce their products, but let's not forget that Mardahl was a pioneer.
2. New Brand Alert: Syd Kyn
Let's be honest, Syd Kyn is a brand you'll be seeing all over social media from now on, but we wanted to make sure you knew about it first, readers. Founded by Alicia Polmanteer Frizell, this new home goods brand just launched with a few items, including magnetic wooden trivets (that stick to metal cookware for easy moving) and reusable paper towels. It's the latter that I was drawn to; the scalloped borders and earthy colors are so refreshing in a sea of poorly designed reusable paper towels. I can't wait to see what the founder comes up with next.
As a mother of three and a longtime editor at Design Milk, the intersection of design and kids is a space that really excites me. Especially at this time when my kids are all under the age of five, I love seeing how designers are reimagining early childhood play. Studio Eggi was one of the brands I discovered in February and just launched on 3daysogdesign. Founded by Elisa Kim, the brand debuts a terrazzo-inspired play kitchen made from recycled post-consumer plastic. Tired parents (like me) love play furniture like this because it fosters creativity and allows caregivers to take a break while their kids spend hours playing in their fantasy worlds. The table's contemporary design is so much fun, I can easily imagine using it for days on end.
4. Maximalist delight: Parvum Opus
I'm currently redefining my style preferences. I used to be pretty Scandinavian modern, but now I lean more towards “coastal grandma meets graphic designer” style. However, every once in a while, I get a maximalist streak that makes me want to buy something really bold and graphic, like these handmade, hand-marbled shadow boxes from Parvum Opus. The color combinations and unique patterns don't match with anything in my house, but I still really like them.
Last but not least, we want to talk about a powerful collaboration between female founders. Molly Fitzpatrick, founder of Dittohouse, designed these vibrant dinner and cocktail napkins for Tortuga Forma, founded by Andrea Hill, and they're already selling out. While most napkins only have a design on one side, or the same design on both sides, these napkins have a design on both sides, expanding the possibilities of tablescape design with one product. Depending on how you fold them and place them on the table, they'll look different every time. Genius!
