My favorite garden gate, at The Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I’d love to have one of these at my house, but with all the crime lately, someone would steal it and turn it in for scrap metal:

Well, it seems everything Artecnica is catching my eye this month, even if I cannot seem to ever spell the company name correctly on the first pass! I’m a wicker FREAK, and even I never would have thought to put it together with a recycled scooter tire in a million years!

Tires are pretty much the bane of the planet’s existence. When Lake Lanier was so empty during the drought last year, way too many of them were discovered dumped in its basin. Have you ever seen a tire fire on the news? They rage on for days. I say, whatever uses we can find for used tires, go for it.

While I’m not sure how I would truly use this as a bowl, I picture a bunch of them arranged into some fabulous composition on a wall. A straight line of them would be great in a loft space with high ceilings, and a random arrangement on a smaller wall would be very graphically striking.

Here’s the rest of the scoop on what makes them green, and also how they help to alleviate poverty in Vietnam:

transNeomatic is designed by Estudio Campana and handcrafted by skilled artisans from rural Vietnam. Through Vietnamese non-profit organization Craft Link, Artecnica collaborated with Hai Tai rattan weavers and Hmong women weavers to create each piece. Disadvantaged Vietnamese youths were also enlisted to assemble the totes, providing them with artisan training and a framework by which they could establish sustainable livelihoods.

transNeomatic is a conceptually innovative container bowl crafted from a repurposed scooter tire and natural wicker. Each tire is thoroughly steam-cleaned and finished in an eco-friendly sealant. transNeomatic comes with an optional handwoven hemp cover that slips over its rubber base. Each piece is packaged in a reusable drawstring tote.

Big news. To celebrate the launch of DwellStudio’s new table collection we’re giving away FIVE excellent prizes to FIVE of our most excellent readers. You’ve got FIVE days to enter (see a pattern here?) but you’ve got to be in it to win it. Prizes will be awarded at random.

The Goods (i.e. Things You Can Win)

Prize #1: Set of 4 Color Field placemats in Ink

Prize #2: Set of 4 Woodblock napkins in Ink

Prize #3: Mosaic Runner in Sun

Prize #4: Set of 4 Gate coasters & set of 4 Gate cocktail napkins, all in Java

Prize #5: Woodblock apron in Lake

How To Enter

Simply take a looksee a the new DwellStudio Table collection and tell us your favorite in the comments below! Couldn’t be easier.

Entries will be accepted up until midnight PST on Saturday, July 18th and the five winners will be chosen at random and announced on Monday the 20th. Have fun and good luck.

N.B. Winners will be chosen at random and contacted via email (read: make sure we can contact you at the email address provided.) Prizes will be awarded randomly so unfortunately we cannot accomodate preferences…but doesn’t that make it more fun anyway?

Where do you go for online house tours the most? I tend to browse The Selby for artistic inspiration, Apartment Therapy for the people who are just like you and me, POINTclickHOME for some American magazine style, Living etc. for that Euro flair and W for total fantasy. While it’s really hard to pick a favorite, the one I find myself anticipating new features from the most is New York Social Diary. I am currently dying over Izhar Patkin’s living space, and the interview that goes along with it is superb. Here’s a teaser; I highly recommend you check it out here A.S.A.P.! Here’s a teaser:

These NYSD features always seem to have the greatest outdoor areas as well:

all photos by Jeffrey Hirsch for New York Social Diary

You don’t have to live in the Bay Area to score amazing design on the cheap. Check out the Design Public Outlet and browse fresh new design at 40-80% off. All with nationwide shipping.

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