Thoughtful material expression can be so utterly gorgeous.  Check out these pieces from Rosendahl – simple details that give just the right amount of edge to the products. 

Grand Cru

This Grand Cru oak cutting board is beautiful.  I love the little thumb notch for ease of carrying.

opus beerI also really like the simplicity of this beer glass.  The glass isn’t overly thick.  There is just enough of a rim on the glass to prevent small spills after every sip.  And the shape is designed well enough to give the beer room to breathe (or whatever it does.  I’m not a beer drinker), without being overly designed.

monkeys 

And how could you not love these monkeys!?  Look at that belly, that smile.  Made of teak and limba, I’m sure they get a fine patina with age.

rocking horse

This rocking horse is simple and well designed.  It would look perfect in any budding aesthete’s room. 

Find your local dealer here.

[all images via Rosendahl]

I obsess over details.  Mostly those of the architectural sort.  I can’t help it; my first foray into real-world architecture was with details.  It’s all I can do to enter a space and not stare at the joints between materials, alignment of minutiae, etc.

For all this obsessing, I seem to rarely come across gems.  Today, I found one: the Ravine Residence by Ontarians Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Ravine Residence

The difference in stone sizing on the facade is darn near perfect, with the larger size at the forefront accentuating the difference in planes.  What initially drew me in, though, was this detail in the living area.

Ravine Residence

It’s a bit difficult to tell for certain what the effect is on the exterior, but it appears to create a stopping point for the stone of the facade – separating the massive plane with a long, thin void.  The effect on the interior is quite nice, washing the wall with light and giving an airiness to a room that might otherwise start to feel oppressively heavy in its upper portions.

Ravine Residence

The material choices of the exterior lend a comforting warmth to the hard modern lines.  Check out the rest of the project at the links below.

[via ArchDaily | photos via A-Frame]