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By Tracy Bulla -- Home Accents Today, 7/1/2008

Japan’s Hidden Treasure

Hida Sangyo, a Japanese furniture atelier, in collaboration with industrial designer Enzo Mari, will debut a new eco-chic furniture and accent collection in the United States for fall 2008. The conceptual Hida Collection blurs the lines between past, present and future and is crafted from Sugi wood, a sustainable material also called cryptomeria japonica (Latin for Japan’s Hidden Treasure). “I am pleased to be a part of the collaboration, as the traditions embraced by Hida, as well as their global mission, are similar to my own,” Mari said. “For me, each design must be utilitarian, functional and do justice to the materials used as well as to those involved in making them.”

The Golden Apple

Viktoriya Braginsky deconstructed an ordinary apple and then reassembled the fragments into the extraordinary,

the sculptural Slice vase and votive from Nachtmann Crystal. Braginsky, a student at Parsons The New School for Design, was challenged to design an innovative and functional glass object within the confines of existing technology as part of a special product design course. Nachtmann chose Slice as one of the winning concepts and put it into production. “I was inspired by taking an everyday object — like an apple — breaking it apart, and reworking it into sections,” said Braginsky. “The result was like rearranging matter — it gave new and unexpected meaning to accepted forms.” $15, votive; $45 vase

Flora & Fauna

Stationer Mariella Designs releases a series of limited edition prints. Vibrant renderings of an enchanted garden come alive in designs such as Orient, Summer of the Dragonfly and Garden of Eden. Each print is printed on recycled paper with soy inks and comes with a matte frame. $28 retail

Parisian Pleasures

Interior designer Charlotte Moss has launched a new home fragrance collection with Agraria that echoes the romantic allure of Paris’ most artistic district. Left Bank blends topnotes of fresh lemongrass and crushed pink peppercorn blossoms with frankincense, patchouli and cashmere wood. Left Bank debuts in the Perfume candle with pagoda-inspired lid, travel candle set in keepsake box and Airessence diffuser, with retail prices from $55 to $105.

Not for Nought

Designed by Tracey Sawyer, The Nought Collective’s hand-knotted Nepalese rugs capture the ephemeral movement of light and shadow on metal and wire. Lush combinations of cashmere, silk and wool depict these contemporary reflections in breathtaking monochrome. Each design is Rugmark-certified.

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