Ad Categories: Home and Garden

In the don’t-really-need-it-but-want-it department, I spotted these cute little cases at Paper Source. Prices range from $8 to $42, depending on size. Cute for an office, kid’s room, or whatever. Just cute. Nuff said.

—Gina Bazer

So I’m flipping through the new CB2 catalog that just arrived, okay, (they obviously got the memo that bright yellow is the color of the year—it’s all over these pages), and came across some wack room set-ups that have me all kerfuffled. I can’t figure out what’s going on in this living room scenario—there’s a rotary phone, receiver off the hook, no phone cord. Was someone having a chat with her imaginary 1970s friend when she smelled fire from the kitchen? (“Hold on a sec, Willie, I’ve got cookies in the oven!”) And what’s that for dinner on page 11—a big plate of raw squid tentacles and about three pounds of lemons? Mmm, chewy. Just the thing after a hard day at the office. You’ll need a lot more than that wee carafe of pinot grigio to get the taste out of your mouth. Don’t even get me started on the bathtub full of glass balls and pearls…maybe that ugly tie-dyed shower curtain inspired the set dresser to light up one of those funny cigarettes. Don’t smoke and style, people. My head hurts.  

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

As he installed my new pedestal sink the other day, my handyman mentioned that in his spare time, he makes hubcap clocks in a workshop out of the basement of his Beverly home. Interesting, I thought. Later, I looked them up on Etsy (under the shop name All Gearhead) and they are pretty darn cool—great for a teenaged boy’s room, dad’s home office, or any space that needs a little found-in-the alleys of Chicago grit to give it some edge. I like the 1960s Volvo one, shown above (he’s got four of them, $30 each). And wouldn’t you know it, his wife is on Etsy, too—with a slightly daintier offering: hand-silkscreened organic pillows that she designs and makes herself under the shop name KarenBucinaDesign (also $30). I’m a fan of the zebra print. Oh, and I like my new sink, too! The Bancroft from Kohler, which I found at Lowe’s.

—Gina Bazer 

While I was waiting for the barista to finish my Americano at the Coffee Studio (medium, black, extra shot, per favore) the other day, I checked out the small selection of java-related merch opposite the counter. This “I am not a paper cup” is fun and, I think, practical. It’s an insulated thermal porcelain cup with a flexible rubber lid, made to look like those take-out cups from all the delis. It’s eco-reusable, $20, you can fill up the inner chamber with hot water to keep your beverage warm longer, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Makes a latte sense.   

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

I was admiring some of my friend Kelly’s art at a cocktail party she hosted, and was surprised to hear her admit that some of the framed pieces I thought were pricey prints are actually just sheets of gift wrap. She found them at the Old Town stationery and gift shop, Greer, got some inexpensive white frames at a Hobby Lobby or a Michael’s or some store like that, and voilà—a clever, changeable gallery. Elum Designs “Winter Solstice” was my favorite, and it troubles me that someone would crease and tape it up to wrap a present. A sheet of the recycled, matte paper is 22 inches x 34 inches and will set you back four bucks. Clever, Kelly. 

—BRADLEY LINCOLN