Proper home lighting affects your mood and, therefore, your well-being. To us, it’s about more than just the glow. It’s about the design (you know how the good stuff gives us goose bumps). We like to think that we have refined taste in chandeliers (no dripping ice, thank you very much), which is why we point your attention toward the Isa by Oly Studio. The solid wood chandelier with turned pendants commands attention. Consider it the perfect addition to your manse.

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New Orleans isn’t the first place you’d think of for chic accommodations within the US, but the city’s boutique hotel Loft 523 is one sexy, sophisticated sanctuary. Located in the cavernous old carriage and dry-goods warehouse at 523 Gravier Street, the soaring spaces are designed with an unabashed edge, and dressed up with modern electronics and other decadent touches. Triple-sheeted Frette linens are sure inspire a good night’s rest.

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When your taste leans toward the contemporary, you will have one heck of a time finding accroutements to fit your nursery. Turn to The Sparrow Crib, Oeuf’s decidedly modern take, expertly crafted in Europe from solid birch and non-toxic lacquer. Use the conversion kit to change this crib into a toddler bed when the time comes. Brilliant!

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, furniture, kids, Modern Living

If your walls are any shade of white or buttercream, we have one word for you: drab! Enter Avalisa Stretched Wall Art, designed by Lisa Masterson. We like to mix and match the collections, while staying within one bold color palette (note the brilliant orange cityscape pictured here).  Each piece of art is handmade to order and the company offers handy tips for making a room pop. For instance, you can buy a 28×28 pattern and put a 12×12 pattern on each side to add more movement or choose one design and get it in multiples colors. The company also offers hand-tufted New Zealand wool rugs and will launch children’s games and crib bedding this summer.

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Humor us for a moment and pretend you were to cut down a tree in Candyland (heaven forbid). It’s likely that the sugary stump would resemble this whimsical Table Slice handmade of 100% virgin wool felt by Zigzign in Denmark. These so-called clices offer a psychedelic twist on table décor. Think of them as a giant coaster to shield your table from fruit baskets, leaky bouquets and beyond. Since the design is made out of wool, it’s dirt resistant, durable and insulating. We’ll take one for every hard surface in the house, thank you very much.

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Screen printed wood art panels will add panache to your place. Silkscreening guru Joe Futschik offers a series of limited edition marine images (oh so modern, oh so graphic) that have been hand printed on wood. The warm and thoroughly unique color combinations make them a must for lovers of unusual art pieces.

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Designer François Clerc, whose name is sweeping London, Taipei and Paris, has introduced Graine De Pot, a special biodegradable pot designed for city dweller gardeners. The seeds? A large range of annual plants. The soil? Compressed and dried. The pot? A biodegradable plastic container that expands. The lifespan? Approximately nine months. You’ll want to plant the seeds this season so your full grown plant can be enjoyed all summer long. Come October, you can toss the remains of the plant (hello compost) and the pot without the guilt.

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Sponges aren’t our favorite invention, since they get stinky so fast, but suddenly we’re digging them again thanks to this handy little invention. C Quoi’s Rigolo is perhaps the most affectionate sponge holder on the market. Made of brushed stainless steel, the lil’ character clings to your sponge like a cross between a barnacle or golden retriever. Best of all, it fastens to walls and sinks with double-sided sticky tape.

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The easiest (or shall we say laziest) way to give your living space a new look is to throw some brightly colored pillows onto an old couch. These imported designs, dotted with Dalias, are stitched onto black linen for a dramatic (and dry clean only) look that’s plenty affordable and sweet, hence the name Whiff of Sugar.

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If your work space is far from stylish, which is often the case for busy corporate cubicle dwellers, allow us to introduce you to Harry Allen. The designer creates desk décor with a twist. This set is not exactly the typical, drab kind found in a typical, drab office setting. It reinterprets the ordinary with a pencil tray, a paperweight, and a business card holder that comes in two sleek shades: white or gun metal.

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, design, gadget hip, Modern Living