When visiting some old churches across Europe, you’ll often be told by guides and history books of engravings etched into the stonework of the walls. One old church I visited still had the engraved graffiti of the Crusaders before they set off for the Holy Land. Then of course you have the ancient caves in France where early man drew animals and hunting scenes. This graffiti table lamp is not as old, thank goodness but it is in its own way a testament to the human love of expression through art, design and imagery.

The Graffiti Table by Studio Italia Design features a transparent crystal diffuser and graffiti-style markings. These provide a wonderful illumination effect when the table lamp is lit. When the rest of the room’s lights are either off or turned low, this graffiti lamp will create a dynamic and exciting accent lighting effect that will enlarge the scope of the graffiti to nearby walls and table tops.

It’s a table lamp that’s ideal for a contemporary living space, whether this be a living room, artist’s studio, home study or a stylish bedroom.

You can buy this table lamp from here: Graffiti Table Lamp by Studio Italia Design.

One can also find the diffuser design in white, rather than black.

The pebble rock clothes hook is an ideal accessory for a bathroom, hallway or basically anywhere you regularly hang coats, robes, towels, hats and scarves. Due to the natural look of the river rock which these stone clothes hooks are made from, the fixtures will merge in with most types of interior décor schemes. Aluminum posts connect the river rock to contoured hardwood backing which attaches to the wall.

As mentioned previously, the stone is real river rock and the complete pebble rock clothes hooks are made by skilled craftsmen in the New England region of the United States. Each rock is different, naturally and so no two hooks will be the same in size or texture.

You can buy these wall hooks from the following location: Pebble Rock Clothes Hook.

By the way, they are reasonably heavy so will not be suitable for light-weight doors.

It’s unfortunate to note that the Sri Lanken elephant is in sharp decline due to hunting and habitat encroachment. At the turn of the 19th Century there were estimated to be 14,000 elephants on the island of Ceylon but now that figure is no more than 3,000, if that. This intricately designed kneeling elephant seat is a respectful interpretation of this magnificent beast which is both stoic in nature and mighty in build.

The kneeling Ceylon elephant seat is made from durastone and has been given a lustrous finish. All in all, this combination gives the elephant seat a marble look which will compliment a wide variety of interior settings. The beautifully intricate swirls on the kneeling elephant’s back add to the mystique and elegance of this Ceylon inspired design piece. It’s sturdy and therefore perfectly safe to sit on if required.

This rich brown-caramel kneeling elephant seat will make a delightful decorative accessory for a room which perhaps has the ambiance of South Asia. Mixed into an interior with colorful Indian fabrics and patterns, this Ceylon elephant seat will provide an extra focal point and seating area for guests and family alike.

You can buy this elephant seat from the following location: Intricately Carved Kneeling Elephant Seat.

Price: $280

How the iittala toikka glassware birds are made is fascinating in itself let alone the marvellously colorful results that can be widely seen. A glass mouth-blowing technique is used to create each individual bird whilst up to five craftsmen work on each glassware piece resulting in a unique design each and every time. The rich colors of the iittala toikka birds are the result of the glass and how it is blown rather than any paint.

Finish artist Oiva Toikka of the Nuutajarvi Glass Factory has managed to hone his skills to produce glass art like a painter with a palette. The iittala toikka glassware birds are quite incredible and it’s no surprise they are a collectors item and highly regarded. You can read more about the making of these colorful glass birds via the link mentioned below.

An iittala toikka glass ruby bird like this one will make a lovely decorative feature in a variety of interior settings. Naturally, a glassware creation which relies on color will go well with a room which is inundated with light, especially natural light. Whether daylight or lamp light, the red glass ruby bird by Oiva Toikka will both capture any light and illuminate the surrounding area with rich patterns and color.

You can buy this iittala glass ruby bird from the following location: Iittala Toikka Glass Ruby Bird.

Price: $195

Despite the look of the spiral base, the Spring Planter is very sturdy whilst also maintaining a slight bounce effect when touched. A full range of house-plants can be placed into this planter, whether real or faux. This contemporary stainless steel spiral base planter is certainly a decorative accent that combines both functionality and fascinating form. It’s eye-catching and grabs the attention in whichever room it is located.

For an existing contemporary interior, this Spring Planter will compliment the modern styles and materials already in place. However, the spiral base planter will also bring a touch of whimsical modernity to a more traditional setting. This is particularly true if you go in for the Bohemian style of decorating and fashion.

You can buy this unusual Spring Planter from the following location: Contemporary Stainless Steel Planter With a Spiral Base.

Price: $48

The Menu Pil Bredahl water jug is the creation of award winning Danish designer Pil Bredahl. A former student at the famous Danish Design School, Bredahl has gained a name as one of the more creative and dynamic of young furniture and house-ware designers in Europe and indeed, the world. Her talent can be seen with this contemporary water jug which combines form with function beautifully.

The slender design of the Menu Pil Bredahl water jug means it will compliment a variety of settings whether on a table indoors or outdoors. A special mechanism in the lid section allows the water to be poured without having to take off, or even touch, the lid itself. When the water jug is placed back on the table, the lid closes thereby preventing dust and insects to fall into the fresh water. The automation of the lid also insures any ice cubes, mint leaves or slices of lemon stay inside.

This contemporary glass water jug will make a great tableware and serving accessory for garden and house parties where a little modern flair is desired.

You can buy this water jug from the following location: The Menu Pil Bredahl Contemporary Water Jug.

It’s had some very good reviews which you can read via the link above.

The small copper indoor watering can has an extra large handle compared to its petite size. This allows ease of use when navigating between plant pots and vases that are either high on a shelf or low on the ground. The long thin spout of the copper watering can allows for extra accessibility to areas that are perhaps out of reach, either behind excess leaves or hanging high above the ground.

As one will note from the photo, the small copper watering can has an aged look which only adds to the character of the plant watering accessory. When not being used to water flowers, the copper watering can with the aesthetically pleasing curved handle can be placed on a prominent shelf or sideboard either in the kitchen, utility room or glasshouse. Alternatively it can be placed in the hallway as a decorative feature, highlighting to visiting guests, the love of plants and nature that will be found in the rest of the house.

You can buy this small indoor watering can from the following location: Small Copper Indoor Watering Can.

Price: $37.50

The Theo Table as seen above has been crafted with stainless steel and wood. This provides a simple design which doesn’t detract from other items of furniture or décor in the interior where it is placed. A visible wood grain can be seen on the espresso veneer surface which adds a certain character to the intelligently engineered Theo Table.

The end table is highly versatile and is designed to hang over the seating part of a sofa or chair if needs be. This allows for easy use without the need to excessively reach over just to place down a coffee cup or asthma inhaler. End tables like this Theo Table are highly regarded for their safety and versatility. It’s small enough to be lifted out of the way easily and manoeuvred for a better fit or function. The particular design of the Theo Table also means it’s highly unlikely to topple over.

You can buy this modern end table from the following location: The Theo Table.

Price: $298

E.W. Godwin was one of the leading proponents of this new style and this can be seen best in his Japanese style sideboard in the picture above. it has since become one of the most recognisable and famous piece of 19th Century furniture and at the time of writing resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It’s interesting to note that Godwin designed these Anglo-Japanese furniture pieces for both himself and for a few contacts of his such as the Mahony family who owned Dromore Castle in County Kerry, Ireland.

In many ways, Godwin and his fellow group of designers were attempting to get away from the ornate historical styles that were prevalent during the middle of the 19th Century. A spirit of the East was born in their work which covered furniture and also wallpaper design which was progressive in nature and found admirers in the form of Oscar Wilde, the Irish writer, and Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.

The sideboard above is highly geometric in form with plain ebonised surfaces which were to have great appeal to 20th Century Modernists. A lacquered wood finish adds to the starkness of the furniture piece and brings the structure of the sideboard to the fore. Japanese leather paper has been added which further compliments the sideboard’s Anglo-Japanese nature.

If you are interested in 19th Century design and how the opening up of Japan influenced designers in Europe, then a biography of Edward William Godwin is certainly a great place to learn more. One such book I recommend is: E. W. Godwin: Aesthetic Movement Architect and Designer.

If you’re looking to add a shot of color to a wall in your home, then this Arabian Nights tapestry wall hanging is definitely worth a second look. As an admirer of color and tonal combinations, I am deeply impressed with the beauty and visual attraction this Arabian tapestry imbues. Light blues and greens, sit together with reds and deep maroons whilst black arches and curves bring the geometric shapes to the fore.

Some of the most beautiful wall patterns can be found in Islamic countries. If you’ve ever visited one of the mosques in Syria, Jordan or Egypt, you will no doubt have been impressed with the architectural and interior art and design. This Arabic tapestry wall hanging will bring a touch of the Arab world to your interior decor. The beautiful colors will compliment a variety of existing interior design schemes. If you have Middle Eastern style vases or sculpture, then this Arab tapestry will make an excellent backdrop.

You can buy this tapestry wall hanging from the following location: Colorful Arab Islamic Tapestry Wall Hanging.

Price: $169.99