Bonus Bone: Big Ol' Bright Color at Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel is often noted for their clean whites and sophisticated wood palette but they're showing up with some in-your-face color with their latest catalog.

Check out some of the yum proving to be a welcome candy-coating to this dull Chicago winter:

Multicolored Cocktail Napkins, $19.95 for 12

Hogan Rug in Teal, $19.95-$199

Tote Bags, $26.95 each

Henley Floor Pillows, $36.95 each

Newport Dishtowels, $4.95 each

Abagail Throws, $49.95 each

Mini Bowls, $8.95 for 4

For this reason, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Red Leather

I just can't let this Michael Jackson passing thing, well, pass, just yet. Besides the moonwalk, Michael gave us the iconic red leather jacket. In his honor, I wanted to highlight red leather for the home.

Celina Settee, at Artnet

Wilko (Faux) Leather Mirror, at WilkinsonPlus

Yet, after my many minutes a'google, I found that red leather can often appear tragically flawed and/or uncomfortably weird.

Nubo Red Sleeper/Sofa Bed, at Comfyco

Jayne Mansfield & Mickey Hargitay's Office (circa 1950s), from Interior4You

But at design boner, we prefer to focus on the good in design, on the qualities that elevate acceptable into classic.

Red Leather Side Chair, at Alternative Office Source

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare all this (and Michael) a Design Boner.

MJ Photo Credit: Costumes of Nashua

Bonus Bone: Brommo Chairs

BROMMÖ deck chair, at IKEA

Hardwood and I picked up a couple of these bad boys earlier this week. I've always been attracted too them, but thought the strings might get uncomfortable. We gave them a test-sit and found them surprisingly comfy.

AND now I know they're extra cool cause Briggles has a set as well.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

All About INV/ALT

We here at design boner have made a HUGE oversight: we did not (until now) have INV/ALT listed in our side bar. We are flaccid in our embarrassment.

In order to correct the matter, allow us to swiftly introduce Angela Schwab, the designer/bike enthusiast/natural blond behind INV/ALT:

four-eyes

We've only met Angela once, a Denver dinner with discussion of meat + chocolate and custom chrome, but we've since struck up a right jolly friendship. But you don't need to know how we met her (my friend dated this girl who was near BFF's with Angela and he said she, Angela, was a little crazy but thought we'd all hit it off - true), you only need to know that she's rather amazing.

Magnetic Cups

We first noticed her Snap Cups. Then came her Magnetic Cups. We all rejoiced when Umbra picked up her Benta Plates and sad when they discontinued them. One might think she would rest on her laurels or give in the art towel but...hold up...she's already onto something new.

When she's not too (un)busy playing with her no-longer-a-guide dog or discovering/creating the most cleverly pointless websites, you may find her co-authoring the Annoyance Allowance, organizing Pecha Kucha: Denver, GOCCO'ing building blocks, reupholstering a chair, or obsessing over sugar and biscuit shoes.

So we apologize, Angela Schwab of INV/ALT, for not having you in our list sooner. We'd add you to the TOP but that would defy the alphabet and that ain't how we (blog) roll.

Love INV/ALT like we do: Portfolio and Blog.

Bonus Bone: Gula Chair

Gula Chair

I think Tokyo designer, Shigeki Fujishiro, says it best:

"Chairs made for children often
lose its usage as the child becomes older.
By giving it more depth in design,
I've come up with a chair where a child can easily squat,
and an adult can comfortably sit on."

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Couch on the FLOR

A Little of This, at FLOR

I just received the most recent FLOR catalog and flipped through it, mostly out of courtesy, as I'm not currently in the market for carpet squares for the flo(o)r. But - lo and behold! - I found something I wasn't expecting: I fell in love with a couch in a carpet magazine. It's lovely!

From this angle, it's hard to tell if the structure of the sofa (loveseat?) is the perfect accompaniment to the Rock of Beef Bus. I quite simply adore the fabric. I'm a total sucker for nubby tweeds, in earth tones, that are also...[trifecta drumroll]...soft.

But now we have a predicament, one can buy the FLOR tiles HERE but who knows anything about that sofa? Do you think it's a store standard or a custom job? Um, Cost Plus? Room & Board? Anyone...?

Chiasso is Tired

Miami Chair, $798

I'm thinking that when Chiasso designed their new "Miami" Chair, they probably meant to call it "Michelin"...

Click Here for a $20 Rebate on Tires!

Use Your Words: Barack Obama on Unity

"...We have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

- President Barack Obama, Victory Speech (Nov. 4, 2008)

Photo credit: Nibs & Chicago Sun Times

Pooh Boot?

Twill Fuf Chaise Lounger, at Target

Um...not sure brown was the best choice for showing off this chaise lounger. Good thing Target has 14 other colors!

A Perfect Fit

Wavy Entry Bench, at Chiasso, $648

Ha ha ha...it's shaped for bottoms. It's a butt bench!

Regardless of the contours, it still looks sharp. But ha ha ha - it's called Wavy Entry Bench!

Water Hyacinth Pillows at West Elm

Water Hyacinth Pillows, at West Elm

Gotta love that texture. I really like the natural, woven look of these pillows and I'm already using them (in my head) to decorate my imaginary outdoor oasis. Yet I wonder about their comfort level (too scratchy?) and I worry about mixing them with a glass of wine and pantyhose.

Your thoughts?

Swivel Me, Target

Lots of good swivel action at Target right now. Check out the list:

1. Darius Leather Visitor Chair, $300
2. Madison Swivel Office Chair, $130
3. Bungie Low-Backed Chair, $130
4. Brooklyn Swivel Chair, $300
5. Baltimore Swivel Chair, $350
6. Manhattan Swivel Rocker, two for $270
7. Office Star Palomino Chair, $120
8. Tribeca Swivel Chair, $80