The Cultivated Home

Tea time, there’s something so civilized about sitting down with friends and a fine cup of tea.  Now, thanks to the incredibly talented English designer Christine Misiak, you can really sip in style. Misiak won the Peter Walker award for most innovative product design in 2007 with these remarkable tea set collections. The sets are funky and fabulous, and inspired by the idea of taking flea market finds and infusing them with both color and style.  Check out a few of our favorites:

Original Recycled Tea Sets : These creations are crafted from old recycled metal sets found at flea markets nationwide.  They’re available in a wide range of colors and styles.

New Handle Tea Set : These are composed of recycled metal sets as well, but have been given fresh handles made from new materials.  The resulting juxtaposition is funky, interesting, and truly appealing.

Recycled Misiak Doilies : To keep with the theme of her tea sets, these machine-crocheted cotton doilies are made of recycled material and are reusable for any occasion.

New/Old Tea Set : These sets combine vintage and modern aesthetics, with old school, ornately styled handles, but a brightly colored, lacquered finish.  The result is a sophisticated and complicated set, appropriate for most decors.

Need to add interest to your living room, or spice up a closet? An easy way to add pattern, color and excitement to any space is to cover the walls with beautiful wallpaper. Companies today are coming out with fabulous traditional patterns as well as innovative and graphic modern styles. We love the products from Walnut Wallpaper. They have a great selection to choose from and a fabulous gallery to help inspire you to update any room.

Before you place your order for wallpaper the most important thing you need to do is buy enough to finish the entire job without re-ordering. Most wallpaper differs between dye lots and you want to order enough paper in the beginning to ensure everything will match. Continue Reading

We’re obsessed with the new studio/store, Partners & Spade. And not just moderately obsessed, it’s more like we are drawing pink hearts around their name. It begins with the innovative storefront which is essentially a modern aviary containing a dozen brightly colored live birds. The interior of the shop contains some of the coolest items we’ve seen, which vary from a transitional collection of art and found objects.

They produce products, film, books and even “backdated confidence trophies” so you can feel good about yourself once again. Currently showing artists Mike Mills and Maira Kalman, we were blown away at their amazing collection of products. Without a doubt, this store is a must-see, so stop by 40 Great Jones Street, NYC.

So, it’s a bit early for this, but we are going to reveal our favorite store in Manhattan. It might not be a secret to everyone, but BDDW is one of the most elegant and successful new furniture design stores currently in NYC. Their incredible work is showcased in a large, loft-like store tucked away on Crosby Street. Once inside, you can see up close the absolute skill and craftsmanship of the designers and mill workers. BDDW builds and designs all of their work locally in Williamsburg, with hand rubbed finishes and traditionally joined domestic hardwoods.

This handmade American furniture offers dozens of classic pieces, such as the Lake credenza and dresser, as well as innovative pieces such as their 19′ wood slab dining table. Their aesthetic allows these pieces to work in almost any home and will surely retain their value over the years. While their lead time is approximately 10-12 weeks, it is absolutely worth the wait. Located at 5 Crosby Street or at 212.625.1230.