Dog Days of Summer.

Haute Couture Ceiling Fans.

I like the advertising campaign launched by Ellington Ceiling Fans. Their concept, based on the idea of "elevating style" combines with the notion of comparing their fans to high fashion. As their latest advertisement states, "High fashion means more than creating something beautiful. It means creating something unique. And with each of our fans, you'll find our attention to detail rivals even the most haute couture gown. So go ahead, transform your ceiling into a runway." The photographs are a beautiful execution of this clever idea.

Nude Table.

Similar in look to a piece of abstract art, William Earle designed the NUDE TABLE for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art which represented the table exclusively until now. The cast aluminum top hovers above three, solid hardwood, pivoting legs which allow the owner to play with their configuration. The top of the table is grey and the legs are available in red, light blue and black. It is available from Velocity Art and Design.

Urn Planter by Ore.

August is right around the corner, however, I could not let it get further into the summer without introducing one of my favorite outdoor/indoor planters. The Urn Planter by Ore was designed in 2006 and is hand crafted in Salt Lake City, Utah. This flexible outdoor/indoor planter has the ability to complement many styles of decor. This versatile planter comes in a natural rust, bronze powder coated, silver powder coated or rust powder coated finish. perfect for holding flowers or any other item that you want to display. The planter shown here stands on a column that is 32" high. It is available from Unica Home.

Truth or Lie?

Designer Stefano Giovannoni has designed the Pino Funnel for Alessi. An international character with a long-standing pedigree in texts on pedagogy and psychoanalysis, Pinocchio is now a long-nosed funnel, the smiling Pino: truth or lie. This whimsical plastic funnel in the form of Pinocchio's face, runs around $18.00 and when not in use, it would be great fun to hang decoratively on a kitchen wall.

High Style Outdoors.

This chair is guaranteed to add some high style to any protected outdoor setting. The strong, simple lines of this shield back design make an impressive statement. The finish is weather resistant wrought iron in black, gold and silver. This Bel Aire Chair is available from Currey & Co. Barstools and a matching table is also available.

Bar Bowls.

Elegant and simple. Moser's Bar Bowls are a hand-cut treasure for something like cocktail-party nuts. Standing just 4 1/2", the bowl was first produced in 1934. "Ice bottom" is the name given to the square cut base to describe its rich proportions.

Homme Dining Table.

The Homme Dining Table from Berman Rosetti is definitely an interesting twist on the typical. I love the simplicity of this table and the fun play on balance and symmetry. The table is available in many different sizes and wood finishes and can even be made with extensions to make the table larger as needed.

Ripple Chair.

It's definitely interesting to look at and perhaps a good deal of fun. Moroso, Italy produces the Ripple Chair, designed by Ron Arad. This chair recalls the traces made in the sand by gentle sea waves. This chair can stack four high and is made of reinforced polypropylene and steel. I certainly like the imagery associated with this chair and would not mind seeing it in some funky boutique hotel.

Organic Baroque Chair.

This memorable chair from the 20th-century has been reproduced by Baker Furniture. According to Baker, Tony Duquette first conceived the Organic Baroque Chair while serving in the Army during World War II. Duquette finally realized the design in the 1960s, creating the entire piece from wrought iron. Baker recreates the steel frame by first heating the steel strands and forming it into its sensuous, organic form. The chair's frame opens up with back and arms curved out, randomly joined by connecting steel members. The seat is constructed in a sunburst pattern - forming a natural seat - and is supported by curved legs joined by steel cross members before terminating into a straight steel feet. The chair is appointed with a single seat cushion and is offered in Verdigris Paint or Pearl Paint. Circa 1965. The chair will run around $10,900.00.

Bong Table.

Trickery can sometimes be fun. Such is the case with Cappellini's Bong Table. This classic shaped orb is actually made of fiberglass and not white marble. It only looks like it weighs a ton. It's a great accent piece for almost any room.

Matthews Fan Company.

I love the Duplo-Dinamico ceiling fan from Matthews Fan Company. This Most Excellent number is shown in polished chrome with metal blades in decorative cages. A simple and very attractive look.

Poschiavo Spaghetti.

Not only is this spaghetti packaged in a simple and stylish way, it is also quite exceptional.Poschiavo pasta is imported by South End Formaggio in Boston's South End. This unique pasta is from Switzerland in the canton of Grigioni in an area called the Valle di Poschiavo which is just north of Valtellina Italy.

According to the Formaggio Kitchen website, "This pasta is made by the Fisler family who have run Molino e Pastificio Poschiavo since 1900. Their pasta is made using hard durum wheat and to our eyes, it is ground a bit more coarsely than our other pastas as it develops a beautiful tan color and a slightly more rustic texture These pastas also have a very nice nutty flavor to them."

Maze Desk.

Sometimes navigating through life may feel like a journey through a maze. What a better way to celebrate the intricacies of life than with the Maze Desk from Lorin Marsh. This desk features a wood frame leather top with a drawer perched on an iron base.

Upper Class.

For those traveling Virgin Atlantic Airways in style, they may now experience the new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London's Heathrow Airport. Admission to the Clubhouse comes at a hefty price: an upper-class ticket on one of the airline's flights, between New York and London will run around $2,200.00.

The experience starts with the aesthetic of the space - a mid-century, space-age swinger stylishness that the airline is well known for. Dozens of caramel-colored Eames lounge chairs, Arne Jacobsen Swan chairs, and classic Eero Aarnio hanging Bubble chairs assert that this isn't reproduction chic. Every attention to detail was maintained in creating the space and no expense was spared. This is a space that is designed to make you forget that you are even at an airport. There is a full-service restaurant, the Brasserie, and the Cocktail Bar. If you want just a quick bite, there is the deli, where you can pick up a made-to-order sandwich.

If you have a few hours to spare, this clubhouse offers a lot more than just beautiful furnishings and food. There is a Clubhouse spa which includes a dry sauna, steam room, whirlpool and showers where you can get an assortment of treatments, including massage, manicure, pedicure, or wet shave. Next to the spa is a Bumble & Bumble hair salon. This is what I call true Upper-Class service!

Reading Lamps.

I am fond of these two reading lamps. The graceful curve of the steel with brass finish and glass shade lamp above and the straight, clean lines of the Bill Sofield for Baker brass and alabaster base lamp. The lamp above is available through Plantation Design and the lamp below from Baker Furniture.

Happy Independence Day!