Eva Solo Bird Feeder
$135

Strolling through the park last weekend I found myself giddy from the sweet chatter of birds returning from their winter grounds; it is Mother Nature’s quintessential soundtrack to the onset of spring. I was instantly inspired to jump online to do a little research on cool, stylish birdfeeders. What better way to add some life to your patio or terrace than with some pretty little feathered friends snacking on seeds?

First, I must confess that the word “birdhouse” initially makes me shudder–insert image of the cheesy little wooden houses hanging from my aunt’s patio. But today there are SO many beautiful, sculptural and downright chic birdfeeders that will not only attract birds (and sometimes the occasional squirrel), but are also sure to illicit a compliment from style-savvy friends.

Here are a few of my favorite picks. Choose one or buy several and hang them in a row. The different colors and shapes will create the effect of a quirky, stylish sculpture collection.

Egg Birdfeeder
$135.00
Uncommon Goods
It doesn’t get much more elegant than this modernist feeder, shown above. Despite the gorgeous sculptural silhouette and stunning blue color, the egg’s shape and slippery surface help keep squirrels away!

Porcelain Plate Bird Feeder
$75.00
Uncommon Goods
Ok…I admit that Uncommon Goods has an excellent selection of cool birdfeeders, including this clever shape (above), designed by Marcel Wanders, that is a cheeky version of the human dining experience. The little dinner set up comes with a tiny slanted roof for shade and protection.

Popoutz Birdfeeders and Seed (set of 3)
$25.00
www.dwr.com
Made from recyclable polypropylene, lightweight and super simple to assemble and fill, this funky set (red, black and clear) includes a pack of insect-flavored birdseed. All they require is a simple piece of string and a place to hang! Perfect for those who like to keep it simple.

Windowpane Birdfeeder
$69.00
www.smithandhawken.com
There is always room for something a little more classic in our style repertoire, and this beauty, inspired by paned windows, is crafted of solid brass with a black-bronze finish that will weather with style and grace.

“Lunchbox” Birdfeeder
$84.00
www.branchhome.com
Designed by Amy Adams of Perch! in Brooklyn, NY, this follow up to Adams’ very popular Perch birdfeeder offers easier access for larger birds (very democratic of her). Choose from whatever color of ribbon suits your fancy (light blue, brown or orange) and then hang from the nearest wall, fence or tree.

–By Kate Bailey

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OK, so I have a little problem: I’m a bit obsessed with ceramics. Especially ones with unusual glazes and arresting profiles. I can’t get enough, yet I already have too many to fit in my petite home. But, really, that’s the beauty of pottery. You can always find more room for it! If you run out of tabletops, place a few on a bookcase. If you run out of shelf space, sit them in your windowsills. No more ledge space? Get an artful planter for the floor. And on and on it goes. To me, a piece of pottery is like sculpture–but with more use value.

So you can only imagine my excitement at discovering Teco. Designed by acolytes of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School, these strikingly modernist vases were originally produced between 1899 and 1920 by the American Terra Cotta & Ceramics Company (i.e. TeCo). Now, the Prairie Arts Studio (run by husband-wife team Bryan and Lisa Kelly plus Lisa’s brother, Eric O’Malley) is putting a select few back into production. Slip-cast formed and glazed by hand, the seven shapes come in six retro-ish hues.

Check ‘em out here: Teco Art Pottery Collection, through Prairie Arts. –Jen Renzi

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Here at GlamNest, we are a bit obsessed with bedding: plush, ultra-refined linens, organic floral-print pillowcases, mod graphic duvets–count us in for anything fabulous that inspires a comforting, snuggly, and preferably 9-plus-hour sleep. (Some would argue that I have an unhealthy attachment to sleep; I would counter that sleep is the only thing that keeps me healthy when totally stressed out!)

My current obsession? Nancy Koltes Fine Linens. I pass her Manhattan boutique (one of seven across the country) often, popping in to marvel at the beautifully squishy beds, piled sky-high with pillows and poufy-plush duvets, and thinking comforting thoughts. Textile designer Nancy Koltes, who produces her exquisite products in Italy, can always be counted on for lively conversation and an insider’s view of the industry, including the impact of extra-thick mattresses on linen manufacturers (everyone had to resize their sheets!) and the thread count marketing myth (note: luxury is less a matter of threads per inch than the quality and treatment of the threads themselves).

Last week I checked out some of her newest designs and fell for the restful blues and soft pinks of the Asian-inspired Dogwood (Italian-made percale duvets and shams) and two pretty Madras prints–Joy and Gypsy–made from supersmooth chambray in warm citrus hues. Just writing about it makes me want to sink into a deep, dreamlesss sleep….zzzzzzzz…

Ooops! Dozed off there for a sec. What was I was saying? Ah, yes–Nancy Koltes. Check out both her retail and wholesale websites (a great designer resource) for more comprehensive info, including helpful linen-care tips that are applicable to anyone who wants to ensure the comfort and longevity of their sheets: Never ever use bleach, don’t overdo the detergent and–this is key–do not fry them in the dryer or you’ll bake any lingering detergent right in.*

(* FYI, this last point is especially important for eco-obsessed clean freaks, who spend a gazillion dollars on organic cotton sheets, over-soap them, and dry them on a high setting, thus ensuring a not-so-healthy snooze in a detergent bath–not a good idea for anyone with chemical sensitivities!)

–Jen Renzi

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So, you’re officially obsessed with design. Now, where can you go buy the coolest, most exclusive limited-edition objets and get the skinny on must-see exhibits so you can stay a few steps ahead of everyone else? Read on!

1. Charles & Marie

This site bills itself as “global lifestyle navigator,” so of course I was a bit dubious when my mad-genius designer friend (and 100% Design Shanghai curator) Tobi alerted me to it. But it’s exactly as advertised. You will waste a lot of time here. Brilliant blogs on food, fashion, design, etc. Global listing of eating/shopping hot spots. Fab home accessories. And–this is the best part–a section called “soupe du jour,” which sells only one item a day, starting at midnight. (Today’s pick [top] is the clever 2 Carat Cup, with a “ring” for a handle.) Plus: an invite-only VIP section where you can hob-nob with other members and get the chance to snap up limited-edition design objects. So deliciously exclusive! (Here at GlamNest, the only thing we love more than a high-concept website is a secret design society.)

2. 20 ltd

So simple, so smart. True to its name, 20ltd sells just 20 design objects, exclusive to the site and produced in extremely limited editions. Like Charles & Marie, 20ltd emphasizes that it’s a design community, not just a store. But, of course, it sells great stuff: A swooptastic chair by Based Upon, Bisazza murals, china collections by Marcel Wanders and Barnaby Bradford, Christophe d’Aboville’s groovy suede pillow for David Hicks (below), and exclusive fashions, too.

3. The Curated Object

I just discovered this site and I’m already hooked. Devoted to the decorative arts, it has a comprehensive international calendar of design goings-on (like the Mint Museum’s cut-glass show, below), great reviews of said shows (with tons of photos, just in case you can’t see in person), and a bazillion links to indispensible design resources. I even love the shout-outs from esteemed designerati on the site’s left-hand nav! It’s a juicy gallery guide–and so much more.

4. Deeply Madly Living

Awesome, expensive furnishings and accent pieces (pistol paperweights, gold brick pillows) curated by a jet-setting couple–he’s a former investment banker, she’s an interior decorator. This insanely decadent metallic-leather couch pretty much sums it up:

5. Decorati

Founded by a New York designer, this new site offers one-stop shopping for all things pertaining to home decor: access to portfolios of top interior designers like Amy Lau to Thomas Fuchs (plus links to purchasing select items depicted) and hundreds of top manufacturers’ online catalogs, from Clarence House to Atlas Industries and Studio Printworks. And the whole thing is smartly searchable by style, room, or keyword. Shopping and inspiration rolled into one.

Check it out. –Jen Renzi

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The London-based Israeli designer Ron Arad has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Italian manufacturer Moroso. Their first collaboration? The 12-piece Spring collection, launched in 1991–the avant-garde designer’s first production pieces. They’ve since dreamed up a number of other intriguing creations together, including the delightfully satisfying Misfits, which launched at Milan last year. Misfits is at once cleverly high-concept and wholly functional: it’s actually made of six separate units with sinuous seats that don’t quite fit together–very silly/fun–and that can be reconfigured into various arrangements. Genius!

A hotly anticipated retrospective of Arad’s work opens next summer at MoMA, but you can get a little taste of things to come right now at Moroso’s Soho store, which is currently staging an installation charting their 18-year collaboration. Now that’s a fit. –Jen Renzi

via Apartment Therapy and the New York Times

Two more configurations:

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