Object of the day: making kitsch look classy

They're kitsch and kind of silly. But also kind of brilliant.

These ceramic indoor animal-shaped planters are new in at Urban Outfitters. Some of the homewares at UO can be a little studenty and these could, of course, fall into that category (there's also a pink plastic flamingo in the new indoor garden range...). 

Nothing wrong with a pink plastic flamingo, of course, but full-on kitsch isn't everyone's look. I'm drawn to kitsch objects like a magpie, but don't want to go the whole hog style-wise, so I also like to give such things a grown-up twist. The trick is to make like a fashion-savvy coat shopper who replaces their high street buttons, because it's all about context.

One of these planters will effortlessly add a design edge – and a quiet flash of confident wit – to a room instead of a kitsch one, when simply contrasted with the most grown-up, minimal and neutral tabletop or shelf arrangement you can muster. It'll also look surprisingly expensive.

Trust me. This is how people get away Phillipe Stark's gnome tables (pictured above in Living Etc., left, and Architectural Digest Espana).

Urban Outfitters, £15 each

Object of the day: Urban Outfitters' zig zag rugs

Remember that monochrome rug I wrote about last year? It was one of Ikea's very popular items and, as such, was quite a palaver to track down.

Now Urban Outfitters has got in on the act (but with more colours, see below). And they're way cheaper than the Ikea version...

...However, that is because these ones are lightweight cotton and as such are – yippee – easily washable. But will – boo – fade, which I discovered after washing mine. Still looks good though. And they come in green or pink (pictured below) and lilac, navy and grey too, as well as various sizes.

The prices are: £69 for the large rug, £35 for the medium, £30 for the runner and £15 for the little one. From Urban Outfitters.

Post by Kate

House porn Thursday: a space-saving NY loft with space for three generations

There's so much to love about this hallway, featured in NY Magazine's ever excellent Design Hunting section, edited by Wendy Goodman. 

The Manhattan apartment was redesigned by its owners specifically to accommodate visiting children and grandchildren. And it's done some very clever things to maximise the available space, as well as making it flexible, depending on who's staying.

Photo: Frank Oudeman for New York Magazine

Hence the nifty fold-down hallway beds. Ingenious. And the combination of the bare brick walls – love the fact the building's structure has given it a row of nooks, on the left – with sleek white fittings, that fantastic, colourful runner on the floor and, importantly, good lighting, makes it so much more than a corridor.

Here's a glimpse of some of the living area. Concrete and bare wood (especially in that incredible clock): top combination.

Photo: Frank Oudeman for New York Magazine

But you need to check out the soundproofed TV cube – check out the full story and slideshow at Design Hunting.

Get the look

Contemporary starburst wooden clock, £94, Jazzitupinteriors.co.uk
Wooden disc clock, £34, Jazzitupinteriors.co.uk (both clocks come in walnut or oak)

Recycled rag runner, £20, Not on the High Street
Rug, £40 (down from £70), Urban Outfitters

Faux sheepskin rug, £10, Ikea (for the sheep lovers among you – if you prefer the real thing, they also sell those for £30), Ikea.com; Olive green 60s/70s swivel arm chair, currently £60 (auction only), eBay.co.uk

There is also some info half way down this makeover post about how to get concrete surfaces without the weight and without quite so much expense.

Post by Kate

Tasty textiles at Urban Outfitters

The Grayson Perry TV show and exhibition of his new work, The Vanity of Small Differences, inspired by Hogarth's A Rake's Progress, and exploring class mobility, have helped to put tapestries into the spotlight this month.

And it's not just Mr Perry who's fond of this format. The trend hit the catwalk this spring, and now it's coming into our homes – thanks, in part, to Urban Outfitters who have a range of wall-hangable works of woven art.

Peacock and Tree tapestry throw, £35

Mexican Rose tapestry style throw, £18 (down from £35 in the sale)


And it got me browsing some of the shop's other textiles... and they have so many great designs right now. Keep this up and Ikea's flagship department will be feeling the heat...

Rose stripe rug, £35

Smoke tea-towel, £16, by La Cerise sur le Gateau, aka Parisian designer Anne Hubert, who also wrote The Left Bank Look (Watson-Guptill), a lovely-looking book dedicated to inspiring DIY and customisation.

Rainbow stripe rug, £60

Zig zag curtain panel, £18 (down from £35)

Reversible kaleidoscope quilt, £95

Old-school sound systems

This weekend, my youthful lodger looked at my music corner (below) and commented: "Stuff for playing music was big in the olden days, wasn't it?" 

And he wasn't even looking at the admittedly chunky record player, which really is quite olden-days (read more below) but the amp and CD player above. "Yes," I thought, smoothing a wrinkle in my face, "and that's what makes it so brilliant." The equipment was once a prominent and important part of music enjoyment.

The record player, which has flashing lights that go on and off in time to the music, is possibly one of my favourite possessions, though it has a troubled past, but the ex-boyfriend involved in that story probably wouldn't thank me for airing it here (it should have been his, you see). I found it in a charity shop in Penzance and amazingly it worked. I took it to an enterprising repair man who cunningly wired it away from its internal speakers (very tinny, as you'd imagine) and gave it the facility to be plugged into my amp (bought, along with the CD player, bought in a ritual ceremony at Richer Sounds).

So when I saw these new music playing gadgets at Urban Outfitters, I came over all nostalgic...

Crosley Stereoluxe speakers, £190
Isn't this iPhone/iPod dock and AM/FM analogue radio a beauty? Perfect shade of 1950s pistachio green (which would go well with my newly painted stairs). Shame there's no digital hidden amid the old-school stylings (I need my BBC6 fix) but then you can always listen online via your phone, if you have a good tariff of course.

Boombox, £260
This has a nice bit of function hidden inside its 80s New York hip hop stylings: the flap where you'd once have stuck a cassette will take your iPod, and it also has a remote control. Most importantly, it has two 15-watt speakers. If only it really would play old tapes though... I have two big drawers full of the things that I haven't listened to in years. If, like me, you could do with the real thing – try the Vintage Cassette online store.

Crosley portable Tweed turntable, £160
This gorgeously boxy, totally portable turntable is a bit more modern beneath the 1960s exterior: it has USP capabilities, meaning you can spruce up the sound of your vinyl by plugging this baby into your Mac or PC. Though that warm, vinyl crackle is a big part of a record's charm so I'd be tempted to leave it unplugged for playback – but it will revive dusty old records if, of course, you're old enough to have any dusty old records...

Urban Outfitters mini bunny lamp

I've long hankered after the big version of this lamp. But what I really need is a lamp for my dingy hall, which lacks plug sockets. 

The bunny, I always thought, would look excellent –  but having to get a socket wired in by an electrician specially was a bit of a barrier. So I stalled. And occasionally clicked onto websites, chiefly Caravan (where it costs £40), selling the wonderous item just to sigh a little bit at its beauty.

So how excellent to discover that Urban Outfitters are now selling mini versions of the same light and – ta-da – battery powered ones. For just £8 a-piece. Charming in a slightly different style to their big brother or sister, but charming all the same I think. And for that, I think I could justify a row of three on a shelf, lined up. What do you think?

TODAY ONLY Urban Outfitters are also having a one-day 20% off discount. So get shopping, I say...