We were thrilled to see our products in Bright Bazaar “Decorating with Marvellous Monichrome” blog Post. Thank you, Will!
Bright Bazaar: Decorating with Marvellous Monochrome
Posted on Categories Featured In
Month: October 2015
Give Yourself a Spa Treatment
Posted on Categories Featured In
Autumn seems to scream responsibility, doesn’t it? No matter how old you are, the back-to-school season brings a sense of stricter schedules, busy days, and focused evenings.
Sounds like a bit of relaxation might be in order.
But who has time to hit the spa this time of year? Since you’re as busy as you are in need of a massage, we’ve designed the perfect solution: make your own washroom into an oasis of indulgence. Close the door tight, crank up some mellow tunes, and follow these tips for pure zen action in your very own home:
Set the Spa Scene
Candlelight and good smells are the hallmarks of any spa, and your mellow-at-home zone shouldn’t be any different. So dim the lights and set some Haus Scented Candles aflame. With fragrances derived from goodies like rose, bergamot, cassis, oak moss, and tonka bean, you’ll change the mood instantly.
Next, fill your Object Boxes with some delicious bath salts. Whether you’re pouring in simple epsom salts or Peruvian pink salt blended with water from the polar ice caps, these containers will add a tone of stylish sophistication to your bath scene.
Pamper Your Gorgeous Head…
Now let’s get down to the business of your facial. Pack the following into your Nest Caddy:
1. Binchotan Charcoal Facial Soap
Crafted of Binchotan charcoal powder and natural extracts, this facial soap exfoliates, moisturizes, and absorbs impurities to restore the tone and texture of your skin.
2. Binchotan Charcoal Washcloth
With ultra-fine powder of Binchotan charcoal blended into its fibers, this cloth absorbs odors and removes toxins and excess oil from your skin.
3. Homemade Face Mist
Spritz on some refreshing face mist, like this rose water variety from those clever gals at A Beautiful Mess
…Down to Your Freshly Smoothed Toes
After you’ve soaked to your heart’s content, it’s time to get down to the business of your little tootsies.
Derived from volcanic rock, pumice’s natural exfoliant properties are perfect for smoothing the roughest spots on your feet. Slather a Binchotan Pumice Stone with decadent Swedish Dream Soaps for the ultimate in pedi pampering.
Now dry off with a Logan Towel, slip those smooth feet into some soft Linen Slippers, and tuck in for a cozy evening.
You deserve it.
Nobuhito Nisigawara Makes Handmade Handsome
Posted on Categories Making Modern, People
We’d been looking for a line of USA-made ceramics for some time when we came across the work of Nobuhito Nisigawara. As soon as we discovered his line of functional, casual ceramics, we knew our search was over.
Nishigawara designs and produces beautifully informal ceramics with a clean-lined, handmade aesthetic. This simply gorgeous look stems largely from his background: born in Nagoya, Japan, Nishigawara fuses the tradition of Japanese artisan ceramic production with his work as a contemporary artist and his formal education in North America.
The result: a show-stopping look for your everyday table.
If we weren’t already in love, what we learned next would have sealed the deal: every single object from this line is hand crafted in Nishigawara’s studio in Orange County, California. Which means that every piece is uniquely one of a kind.
“My inspiration is also what drives me to continue the tradition of handmade ceramics,” Nishigawara told us recently. “I am inspired by the Japanese Mingei movement, an arts and crafts movement that focused on creating objects by hand that are affordable with the intent to be used.”
“With my line, I focus on simplicity in design,” Nishigawara explained. “It’s important to me that the dinnerware does not visually overpower the food.”
Mission accomplished. But even so, we can’t help but call these pieces yummy.
Designer’s Eye: Inspiration for Sonia Knit
Posted on Categories Designer's Eye, Making Modern
Robert Segal, Co-Founder/Designer about his inspiration for the Sonia design:
“I was inspired by artist and textile designer Sonia Delaunay, who was amongst the avant grade movement of the 1920’s- 1930’s in Paris. I love how she applied her bold abstract painting style to fashion. Delaunay really transcended pattern that enveloped the human form and dresses. Her style had great spontaneity and rhythm bringing the geometry to life, which is not easy to do. Her style was a forerunner to that of Marimekko later in the 1950’s.”
“I became aware of her work through a book given to me by family friend and designer Torben Orskov when I was in high school. It was a real eye opener for me and own work at the time. Seeing how a painting could adapt to a textile and that form and color could be the strong message behind a design. I always had a desire to make a pattern that captured this feeling and in this case of the Sonia design, I used cut paper to make the composition/ color blocking effect. The final outcome was Alicia and I creating a bit more structure and composition for the knit blanket. As a blanket, I love how it can read differently just by the way it is folded or draped on a chair.”
Unison Staff Picks, Part II: What We’re Loving This Fall
Posted on Categories People
Unison employees each chose two fall products from our catalog that they are really crushing on.
Discover their favorites here — and get to know a little more about the people in our office that love sharing modern home designs with you!
Epicurean Slate/Natural Muddler
I have been searching for a good looking muddler for years and here it finally is! Most muddlers are not very appealing to the eye and not only does it have a clean design, but it’s made by Epicurean. I’ve owned and used Epicurean products for the last 8 years and they are all still in really good shape. The drinks will definitely be flowing in my home with this great muddler!
Falcon Enamelware Black Prep Set
How do you not love Falcon? The prep set includes 5 bowls, 1 colander and is now available in a sleek black. The prep set is great from cooking to baking, in addition to the bowls making the perfect popcorn bowls for me and my kids on movie nights!
Color Block Burgundy Throw Pillow
I’m in love with the Color Block Burgundy pillow collection. The deep rich color of the burgundy is a complimentary contrast to the natural linen and can easily go from holiday festive to every day casual.
Lunda Indigo Plates
I love how the Luna Indigo Plates are unique in each piece due to the reactive nature of the glass allowing playful sophistication. They are a fun expressive gift or for your own dining pleasure.
Coil Terracotta Tall Vase
I love the rustic, yet modern quality of the coil terracotta vase. The contrast in texture and surface is great, exposing a bit of the technique and process of how it was made. I think it can work well with a wide range of floral arrangements or even alone as a great accent piece.
Slab Black Mug
I’m a sucker for a great mug and the Slab Black Mug from West River Field Lab is now on the top of my list. It has a great weight and feel in the hand, especially how the handle meets the mug with a slight dimple at the bottom, perfect for holding. I love the exposed matte porcelain at the bottom in contrast with the sheen of the glazed black. You can dress it up for a fancy brunch place setting or keep it casual with your everyday morning cup of coffee.
Epicurean Sandwich Board
I love all the products from Epicurean, especially the items in black. This board is the perfect size, and it doesn’t matter what kind of food you serve on it, everything looks good on this board. And I like that it’s made in Minnesota, the state where my US adventure started last year.
Grid Table Linen
Actually stripes are my ultimate favorite, but the Grid pattern is a very close second. The pattern is simple but not boring and it is easy to combine with other colors and patterns. I’m already very pleased with my Grid bedding, but more Grid textiles are always welcome.
Lyngby Vase
The oblong shape of the Lyngby vase is the perfect vessel for any style of flower arrangement. Originally released in 1936, the fluted lines are both elegant and modern. Through this simple, thoughtful design the beauty of the porcelain really shines. I love the Lyngby story, it is so beautiful once you hold one it’s iconic status is unquestionable.
Kubus Candleholder
I love the graphic qualities of the Kubus, the strong architectural lines are timeless. Kubus is functionalism at it’s best, it looks just as good in today’s aesthetic landscape as it did in 1962. Pair with Ana tall stripe tapers for added drama or go all black for a chic graphic statement.
How to Accessorize Your Couch
Posted on Categories Featured In
What’s something big that most of us have in common? Couches. We all have them. We all use them. We all love them – albeit for different reasons.
And many of us also share the silly habit of letting our couches fade into the neutral background of our homes after a while. But there’s no excuse for this, thanks to one of the most simple, versatile, and striking home accessories known to man: the throw pillow.
We at Unison happen to be obsessed with these sofa-top essentials. And this time of year, we’re particularly apt to break out a new set of pillows to dress up a room, celebrate a holiday, or freshen familiar spaces for the cold months ahead.
Take a look at how our 3 new interchangeable pillow collections – classic black & white, natural tones & linens, and holiday – bring new personality to a neutral gray couch:
A great collection of throw pillows can do more than make a couch inviting. It can liven up an entire home.
We recommend that you start your browsing here:
Aerial Black, Dots Black, Aerial White
Dots White Linen, Color Block Burgundy, Sailor Black Linen
Tiles Gray , Grid Red Knit, Gingham Royal
How to Choose & Hang the Right Artwork for Your Space
Posted on Categories Get Inspired
Are your walls crying out for a little color? A blank wall is a huge opportunity to transform your space. Before you get out that hammer and nails and start decorating, keep a few tips in mind from Unison co-founder Alicia Rosauer.
Think Big
Don’t be afraid to go bold! Our Whale and Neon Heart posters have been customer favorites since we launched them. They are simple, large and a statement in a space. Plus, they work well in a salon-style arrangement (many pieces grouped together, almost collage-like) and act as the strong anchor point.
Choose Colors Wisely
It’s tempting to be a color matcher and find pieces that will work with what’s already going in the room. But really, it’s not about total color matching. Instead, it’s about finding that one alluring color in your room — it could be the color of your window treatments or even the color of those pillows on your couch — and finding a piece that resonates with it. That’s the way to pull everything together without going over the top.
Play With Proportion
Art should cover 2/3 or 3/4 of the wall. If you’re working with smaller pieces and have a narrow wall space to fill, the 2/3 is best.
Hang Strategically
A good rule of thumb is to hang art 62″ from the floor (measured from the middle of the piece). This seems to work for anything — with the exception of really large pieces!
Do you have any tips for choosing and hanging artwork? Share them with us in the Comments!