Still Novo Design

Barrel Crate

We love Still Novo Design’s barrel crate. Made of recycled oak from discarded French wine barrels, every stave is individually sanded back to its original wood and creatively reinvented. As no one barrel band is ever the same, each piece might show natural imperfections, slight variations in color, grain & dimensions, all adding to the uniqueness of every item. The design allows you to contain, store and easily carry bottles of either beer or wine (dimensions vary accordingly) or it’s a great organization tool for your recyclable bottles. Plus, the crates can be stacked one on top of the other. StillNovo says. “We love the fact that we are able to help the environment by recycling the raw material and to turn it into an object of ‘practical elegance’ at the same time.” We couldn’t agree more!
www.etsy.com/listing/59285557/the-barrel-crate-recycled-wine-barrel

Alarm Dock

It doesn’t get more simple than this: a perfectly carved wooden base that you slip your iPhone into and connect to charge. No speakers, no electronics – just a beautiful chunk carved from sustainably harvested, new growth, beech wood.
We downloaded a basic flip clock app that turns the whole thing nostalgic.

Available at Kuhl-Linscomb
or www.areaware.com

Photography by Gabriella Nissen

Saddleback Leather

Quality and construction marry perfectly in this Indiana Jones-worthy briefcase by Texas-based (and Texas-sized) Saddleback Leather. The leather bags boast indestructible structure and generous proportion. Few men can walk past it at 002 headquarters without stopping to admire it. (Yes, it’s that great.) Available in a variety of shades, the rich dark leather satchel carries an heirloom-level quality without the heirloom price tag.

The craftsmanship makes the pieces truly luxurious and they will outlive you…your children, their children and so on. There are no breakable parts like zippers or snaps; they are lined with super-durable pigskin, stitched with industrial marine-grade thread; and formed from as few pieces of leather as possible to reduce seams which weaken bags.
 
Long story short, Saddleback founder Dave Munson scoured local markets, while volunteering as an English teacher in Mexico, for a bag to hold lesson plans but tough enough to endure the rough-and-tumble life in Juarez. Failing to find what he needed, he commissioned a local leather maker to craft the perfect bag – and Saddleback Leather was born. Nothing is quite that simple; for the whole story and videos of the bags in action being attacked by a crocodile in Australia or shark diving in Bora Bora, visit www.saddlebackleather.com. Munson’s whole story is worth the visit.

Photography by Gabriella Nissen

Saddleback Leather

VITAMIXblenders

Vitamix blenders have been around since 1921 and professional chefs have been using them for decades. Considered the Bentley of blenders, once you’ve experienced the power behind a Vitamix, you’ll never be able to use a regular blender. The fourth-generation,American-operated business strives for perfection which is evident in the incredibly well-made blenders.

The blenders are BPA-free with all the parts made and researched in the USA with the exception of the motor, which is sourced in Sweden and used only after extensive engineering test found them to be the most efficient. what sets Vitamix apart is a switch allowing maximum speed delivery to the blades at any time rather than stepping through lower speeds building to the max. Exceptional smoothies made with all sorts of greens are blended to perfection, as are soups, peanut butters and even almond milk.

For more information, contact local distributor Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram. kristina@rawfullyorganic.com

Photography by Gabriella Nissen

Corbett Alter-Ego Sconce

Theres something timeless about “peace, love and rock n’ roll.” Doesn’t matter how old or young you are, the phrase has transcended movements becoming a sign of the times. Corbett lighting immortalizes the words in their sleek Alter-Ego sconce finished in polished nickel. All that’s missing is the Stones, Grateful Dead or Jim Morrison’s LP spinning in the background.
www.corbettlighting.com

Life Books

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Juliana Franco showed big interest for the fine arts and marine biology at a young age (as well as attention to detail and how things work). “When I was very little I told my mom I wanted to be a marine biologist because I loved to watch National Geographics.” After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York and working with various photographers, Franco ended up in mostly corporate photography, high-end jobs. “One day I got a call to become a corporate photographer for a very important financial institution in Houston and I have to admit I was thrilled. I was wrong. I became a person who decided to live in the comfort zone just by receiving a good paycheck. My goal was forgotten. Fortunately, when Life Books became part of my life, I started dreaming again.” In 2008, after her Swings exhibition in New York, Dileg Productions owner Ricardo Cadavid loved her idea, partnered with her, and Life Books was born.

What is Life Books? And what inspired you to create them?

Legacy. My inspiration was to become a storyteller, capturing images that allow people to embrace priceless moments or individual passions. Suppose boats are your passion. The Elite Book will embrace every aspect of it. Every detail is captured especially the human aspect that having a true passion generates. Or perhaps you want to capture priceless family moments, like a family trip to Paris or any other activity enjoyed with your loved ones. The Family Book is the answer. No posing, just authenticity.

What makes them special?

It’s not just about taking photos. A certain level of communication with my clients is necessary to understand all the factors that fluctuate and identify them individually or as a family to conceive a concept for the book. My art director in New York, Ricardo Cadavid, is the creative touch and a script is generated, revealing any important aspect and enhancing it. The most important element – human essence, along with a pristine printing quality hand crafted in Italy and finished with a luxurious presentation – assures a unique and authentic product for legacy.

Who is your client?

Any individual who has a story to tell about a real, true passion or sharing precious family moments and understands that to develop either one of my books, Elite or Family, money will not be an issue.­­­

Tell us about your travels…

Traveling has always been a learning experience; now it means Life Books. Paris was fulfilling and exciting – capturing the attention of a three-year-old girl enjoying Degas with her mother at the Orsay. Recently I made another Family Book in Spain at Marbella in the zone of Andalucia. Very modern architectural concept and high-end interior design, yet my family book was the catalyst that brought everybody down to earth. A reminder that without the warmness of a family a beautiful house is meaningless.

by Carla Valencia de Martinez | Photography by Juliana Franco

Hästens

Hästens has been ahead of the green movement by about 159 years… Back in 1852, when Hästens started making beds, they knew then, as we do now, that natural is always better. Both for comfort and Mother Nature. Hästens, still run by the same family since the 19th century, uses only all-natural materials in their beds including the finest pure flax, wool and cotton, carefully selected pine – growing at a natural pace for maximum strength – and genuine, hypoallergenic horsehair. The idea is that you sleep better naturally in a natural bed.

A tradition of master craftsmanship is still handed down to each new generation of bed manufacturers. Quite literally by hand. Each bed perfectly hand-made, whether it’s the sturdy bed frame, the precise stitching of the fabric or the flexible stretch fabric with the Hästens emblem woven in, you will see details working together to create a bed for life. No machine can surpass the skills of their master craftsmen. This is why a 25-year guarantee covering spring or frame breakage is standard practice.

Beds start at $3,000. For more information, visit Kuhl-Linscomb, Houston’s exclusive Hästens representative.

Tumi Vapor, International Carry-On 2 Wheel

No matter how seasoned a traveler you are, there’s nothing like traveling with good, dependable luggage. It also helps if such luggage looks sharp.

Tumi’s Vapor collection is as functional as it is sleek. Although the protection of a hardside case is always enticing, in most designs it only adds weight. But Tumi’s is surprisingly lightweight and easy to maneuver. Vapor is constructed from a super-light, triple-layer, high-performance alloy of ABS and polycarbonate. The compact, two-wheel carry-on is ideal for those who travel internationally and domestically. The Tumi Vapor Collection is a Travel + Leisure 2011 Design Award Winner for Best Luggage. We love how sexy the bronze version looks.