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Last week was Design Week in New York, which means thousands of design-heads trek all the way west to the dreaded Javits Center for ICFF, then spend the rest of the week at smaller design events and showrooms complaining how the show has lost its mojo. People like complaining, and for that alone ICFF is providing a public service. I, too, thought it was pretty ho-hum except for two designers. Virginia Sin has a clever new sconce system that packs flat (less expensive shipping) and that allows customers to mix tile bases with a variety of shades, including a paper-thin cork shade. Cool.
The other highlight was Tala, a business I wish I’d thought to start. Tala makes high-quality specialty lightbulbs. Such as wobbly shaped Edison bulbs. Cute round E26 bulbs. Even oval bulbs. Take a seat before you look at the prices. These are bulbs for fixtures where the bulb is part of the fixture’s presentation. Tala also makes lighting, and I was pleased to see that they released an updated version of Muse, their portable lantern, in new colors, including “claycourt orange.” I’ve had this lantern on my wish list for Ojai, but was waiting for the update!
I stopped by Apparatus Studio, which is the closest you may ever get to feeling like you’re in a Bond film. It may also be the closest you ever get to seeing how billionaires shop. I like that they let non-billionaires like me make appointments. This year they had a “peep-show”:
Not to be outfoxed, The Future Perfect and Dudd Haus hosted a show of 120 nightlights made by artists; scroll down to see the catalog. I had two favorites: this Victorian era-inspired glass cube by Alexis & Ginger, and this ramen light by Warren Young (for $10!).
My friend Jojo and I also stopped by Afternoon Light, whose entranceway, designed as an homage to the old Halston offices (see up top), nearly upstaged the show. There are smart developments happening in tile finishes. Get ready for stripes from Parmatile (not on their site yet). I finally got to try out the RAD Furniture x Studio Sam Klemick chair that pops up on Instagram design accounts every few days, and I’m happy to report that its cozy and chic factors are aligned. There’s a company called Dimwit making dimmers that look like pieces of candy. And houndstooth showed up in a new way.
All that browsing and hoofing required a hearty lunch from Daily Provisions. This is my avocado toast with its bacon roof:
Yours in Bond and bulbs,
Amanda
Before I left Ojai, I made some kumquat preserves, a recipe I learned from my friend Genevieve Yam, a senior editor at Serious Eats. She’d halve the kumquats and blanch them 3 times before simmering them with sugar. I shortcutted a bit, but next time I’d halve the kumquats, a good task to take on while listening to, say, Famesick. Here’s a loose how-to and some tips on how to use them (including dropping them on top of the Maialino Olive Oil Cake):
A few months ago, a company called Typical reached out to see if I wanted to try their towels. I was skeptical: the colorways seemed too Instagram-ready, their sales pitch was about the towel being stretchy. Who needs a stretchy towel? “It’s a subtle innovation, but it fundamentally changes how a towel feels and performs,” wrote Sean, their head of communication. The company was started by a co-founder of Herschel Supply Co., maker of high-quality backpacks. I was just curious enough to say yes.
I used the towels for two months. I had guests use them. Kara, who works with me, tried them, too. Everyone liked them, especially those with long hair—having a little stretch helps hold a wrapped towel on your head. It also helps hold it around your body and makes it easier to dry off your back. The towels are thin but not ungenerous in feel. They also dry swiftly. The only issue I had was that the towels in darker colors felt less absorbent, so I asked Sean if dyes changed the nature of the textile. “You’re right that it comes down to the dyeing process,” he explained. “Darker colors require more dye and higher heat, which slows down how quickly the fibres can take on water straight out of the packaging.” It’s not a drastic difference, but keep it in mind if you’re choosing colors.
Last year, I did a towel round-up. My only edit would be to add Typical to the list.
Every year, founders Karuna Scheinfeld and Mae Fatto of the B-corp fashion brand Four Objects send their Work Shirt to women whose work inspires them. This year, they teamed up with my friend Libby DeLana, a creative director and the author of Cold Joy—and I was one of the lucky ones on their shirt list.
With the shirt was a note from Libby, “There is a photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe that I keep returning to. She is standing in the New Mexico desert, wearing a plain black shirt with the collar buttoned to the top, the fabric loose and honest against the landscape. She does not look like someone who got dressed. She looks like someone who got to work.” It’s a beautiful work shirt, soft but mildly structured. Four Objects uses chemical- and plastic-free fabrics from organic mills and Japanese deadstock. I plan to cook and write in mine. I thought you’d like to know about the brand, which was new to me.
(By the way, you may be thinking that I was paid to write about the towels and shirt. Or that I write about anything people send me. I can assure you I do not. The great majority of the foods and products that are sent unsolicited don’t get coverage. I only recommend products that I like and believe in.)
Now that we’re on the edge of June, here’s a preview of what’s ahead: I’ll be covering more on renovation budgets, organization (I recently helped to clean out my sister’s house and have lessons to share), and fun design stuff, like every wallpaper we chose for the Ojai home—a big departure from our Brooklyn apartment. Have a great weekend!
