Tchochkes

Don’t throw your junk in my back yard, my back yard, my back yard…

When I hear the name Back Yard  it takes me back to so many yard sales, flea markets and places to rummage.  I grew up scavenging in places like these and today I still have the treasures acquired on these outings.  This store has all sorts of interesting finds, from old watering cans to colored glass bottles and even lawn art.

A bottle collection is a great way to add color to a light filled windowsill or shelf.  Finding them one at a time or in groups is a good start.

I have been searching for a source that carries side boards, this longer then wide table has so many uses and is a great accent piece in hallways and behind sofas.

Here’s the lawn art, what a cute little squirrel; but the blue painted ladder in the background really captures my collectors heart! If you are not one for the nitty gritty of the find, Back Yard in Kefar Vitkin has already done the dirty work; all you have to do is get there.

Moss Online is a store that features high end luxury goods which cost an absolute ridiculous price. However, they would cost even more if you bought them in Israel, and they ship here. So, if you feel like taking advantage of  the strong sheckel / falling dollar, and you are in the market for something insanely priced but exclusive as well - this would be the place for you.

Honestly, I while I love their goods I have to admit that I think it’s downright silly to pay… well, you’ll see that rant after I show the item…

Tord Boontje makes a stunningly beautiful chandelier, there is no denying that one. He also charges an arm, a leg, half of a head of hair, and an ear for them. The small pink Blossom chandelier above, made from Swarovsky crystals, costs $22,500. A lamp that costs more than a new small car. A small lamp that costs more than a small new car. And the lamp doesn’t drive.

I love decanters. Crystal decanters filled with exotic liquers - or pretty colored Koolaid for all I care. I don’t drink liquer or Koolaid - and both have such nice colors. As this is a decanter from Moss it is crystal and designed by Rudolf Eschler in 1934.  Because I know you’re wondering, it cost $525.

This ridiculous looking chair is made out of clay on metal skeletons. As clay is fairly easily broken I would recommend using this more as a conversation piece than an actual chair. Plus it doesn’t exactly scream comfort.

Moss takes themselves quite seriously. Their description of the chair: ‘Clay Furniture address the issue of form-giving in industrial design, revealing, literally, the designer’s ‘hand’ in this intimate process, today normally concealed through the use of a computer (but there, none-the-less).’

Really. Gosh, I feel so enlightened and arty suddenly. I think I’ll go put on some glasses and a black turtleneck.

This silly red chair was designed by Maarten Baas and costs $2,900

The rant begins here: Stop reading if you are not interested.

The Witches sticks above cost $770 and are made in an artists something or other by underprivilaged people in Guatemala. The price of this item pisses me off. The average salary in Guatemala for a non-urban area anywhere from $13 - $14 a month to $100, depending on how rural and run-down the area.

‘The average income for families in San Andrés is about 700/month/household (about $94).  In villages around the town of San Andrés, the average income drops to about $13-40 per month/household.  Conditions in surrounding villages are much more severe as they usually lack running water, electricity, stores, and most importantly, employment’

Let’s say that they are paying an artist to make this by hand and it costs them about 1 month to make a set (this is extremely unlikely). Let’s say they pay this artist around $50 for the work. Let’s even say that the wood is rare and expensive - another $20 for materials. Where do they get off charging $770 for 6 kitchen utensils? I don’t care if it’s a Tord Boontje - someone is making far too much money off of this and I can guarantee you it isn’t the poor sod in Guatemala. I am all for helping the underprivilaged and giving work to those in need. I just think they would be able to sell more and give those same artists more work if they priced the item in a range that doesn’t alienate your typical consumer.

Plus they look like they just stepped out of Hogwarts, literally. He even calls them witches kitchen. Please.

What are those two semi-posts at the top of the bed where the headboard should be? ‘Look, it’s the bull-horn bed!’

My midnight searching for entertaining furniture led me to Marom Furniture, located in Haifa. Their site is packed with all sorts of goodies to make you giggle, and a few cute items thrown in so you actually have a reason to go and buy.

The sofa above was another item that left me tilting my head slightly to the left with a perplexed look on my face. I’m almost afraid to imagine the person who would buy such a thing. No. I’m not almost afraid - I am afraid.

I could do another rant here over how to make a proper bed… not to mention the swags of fabric everywhere. Is this bed in a bedouin tent?

The bed is made well. The pillows are in place, the sheet is back, it looks inviting. However, that back wall looks awful and completely overpowers the bedroom set. Also, where are the bedside table lamps? Paint the back wall something pale, but not white - and add some light colored accessories, please!

This is more like it. I have no idea what those things are on the dresser. But nevermind that. The bed is made nicely with cute accent pillows. The bedside tables have lamps on them. The floor is good and the back wall, while being a rather depressing color, is nice and goes well with the set while not overpowering it. This is a bedroom set I would actually drive up to Haifa to get a better look at.

Before I decided to feature this store, I thought to myself “everyone knows this place”  but this may not be fact. I think habitat is a store worth sharing.

This is a relatively large store with a modern flair. The first time I saw habitat I was in London. I believe it was a branch of Sir “Terrance Conran’s” design empire.

If you are into modern stuff, you may be able to find the item at habitat here in Israel. I keep seeing these plexiglass chairs all over the place…

 I moved on from plastic furniture a while ago, but it seems like it is still in fashion. I do love this fiberglass (reinforced plastic) bodied rocker shown here. I guess it’s a case of different types of plastics for different folks!

 B.Knit carries a line of monochromatic bedding and a small line of clothing to match. The collection looks very Italian, but the line is “Made in Israel”. You can visit their new store that just opened up at 238 Dizengoff street here in Tel Aviv or one of their other outlets shown on their website.

Their blankets are exceptionally nice. I love the weaves and texures…

If subtle is your look, then B.Knit is the place for you.

The first time I saw Tel Aviv twenty years ago, I said to myself “what a plain and kind of ugly city”…

Since then I have fallen in love with this “town”. Did you know that Tel Aviv has the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world? There are between 4,000 and 5,000 buildings in this style, which started emerging here in the 1930’s.

Bauhaus Center, located in the heart of Tel Aviv at 99 Dizengoff street is great gift shop. They carry a wide variety of whimsical products that are all somehow connected to the era of Bauhaus.

I am usually not one for minatures, but these are just soooo darn cute!

And then they have these lamps… I am not sure I see the Bauhaus connection here, but I think they are clever and if addded to a room would make good conversation pieces.

Overall, Bauhaus Center has a lot to offer in the Bauhaus style for small, medium and large gift items, it definately deserves a visit!

Imagine an online store in the world of Salvador Dali, where picture frames bend with corners and shirts cover tables. details - produkte + ideen is a store for the surrealist in all of us. Katrin Sonnleitner, of sock on a rock fame, sent me an email letting me know that she’s selling a puzzle doili (below) there.

The tableshirt (above) is by Fernando Brizio and costs 128 Euro’s. I would put a long thin vase with a single flower in the center of the neck.

The product selection is not especially wide. Mainly small tchochkes and some chairs. All of the pieces are clean and have a dramatic irreverent appeal.

Up the cups (below) are by the Icelandic designer, hrafnkell birgisson. I just looked at his main site, and this guy has done some very neat stuff. I hope to get some jpegs of his work, so I can write more about him soon.

The prices are what one would expect for small runs industrial design by artists. This is not your Philip Stark at Target, this is your future Philip Stark before he or she becomes a household name. The pieces have been well chosen and the style is consistent. Everything had a functional value set into the design.

Yvonne Schroeder did the corner frames (below). The prices start at 198 Euro’s.

What a great way to show off a panoramic picture.

Mind you, The Pecker by Patrick Frey & Markus Boge, (shown above) had the best name and simply had to be mentioned.

The shop is in English and German, and they ship worldwide. The shipping cost depends on the weight of the item.

Ride the wave to Vietnam…

Eshkar is a unique shop specializing in products from Vietnam. This fun little shop is in the heart of Neve Tzedek at 31 Shalom Shabazi street.Their diverse selection of tableware, textiles and small gift items are definately “off the beaten ethnic path”.

They don’t have a website…you just have to go there!!!

Sus-Ets (horse tree?) in moshav Kfar Haneged does custom cabnitry as well as in stock product. The designs shown on their website are awsome! The basket feature in the background cabnitry is a clever idea, what a fresh way to use this trend.

This island on the left is perfect for family gatherings and parties, doesn’t everyone always end up in the kitchen?

The party continues in the bathroom with this beautifully designed vanity on the right. I love the towel storage underneath the counter top for easy access.

If you are looking for custom crafted cabnitry (say this ten times fast!), then I think this place is worth a visit.

The family owned business, Kastiel Furniture and Accessories has been around since 1942. Recently relocated in South Tel Aviv at 36 Alfasi street; this impressive, newly renovated Bahause style building is well worth a visit.

If you like the outside, you’ll love the inside. There are room after room of absolutely beautiful things.

Specializing in high end cutting edge furniture and accessories, this is the place to see “what’s in style now”.


These three oversize mirrors are on display at the entrance. The intricately carved unfinished wood frames are truly amazing.

The unfinished wood theme continues with the frame on this chair.

I think the combination of fine upholstry fabric with unfinished wood is a refreshing concept ( I am sure Shira would love to see it painted!) .

This table is another example of raw wood, Kastiel has a few really impressive pieces in this theme.

These carved wooden sculptures would be a nice accent in any room…

But the thing that I love most is this customized work area. Here you can sit and thumb through swatch books, product books, color swatches and all things design related. This place is serious about it’s clientelle.