Minimalist automobiles

For over 20 years, the Swedish-designed Playsam line of wooden cars has been a favorite with kids – and their fathers. (No worries: girls can play with them, too!) The classy little auto was named a Swedish Design Classic in 1998 and honored in 2005 on a postage stamp. Zinc Details has a whole fleet of Playsam cars ready for the holidays. Kids – hide them from your fathers!

What a way to celebrate!

Zinc Details already carries many of the unique products available through Charles & Marie, including the inside-out champagne glass. Brings a special perspective to toasting the New Year or a best friend. $69 each glass.

Call it – head or tails?

Ever wonder what happened to the rest of the moose? Here’s one answer in these head-and-behind coat hooks from Charles & Marie. Also available in hippopotamus and giraffe. $59 the pair.

Get trashy…but in style

The Vipp 13m is the ultimate in step-on trash cans. One gallon/4 litre capacity. Made of stainless steel with baked-on finish, it’s unquestionably the last trash can you will ever have to buy. Liners available. Available in white, cream, blac, and stainless. $225.

Geneva Complete Multi-function Sound System

The Geneva Sound system is made for an iPod, but it also plays CDs and has built in FM Radio, as well. Simple and sophisticated in design, and the sound system in just unbelievable! The Geneva Sound System Model M is a complete, multi-function stereo system in a single wood cabinet. It's a tabletop size that is nonetheless capable of room-filling sound. Its four speakers are independently powered by a 100 watt digital amplifier, with sound accuracy unmatched by any product of its size. The sealed, wooden chambers feature ported bass for rich, powerful lows. Available in white, red, and black lacquered finish. 14.2” w x 7.8” h x 10.6” deep. $779.

U-Do-It Lamp

Extraordinary in its form, the Norm 69 holds a special place in the Norman-Copenhagen legacy. As the first product launched in 2002, this stunning lamp comes in 69 pieces that anyone can assemble without the use of any tools or glue. Designed by Simon Karkov, the lamp lends extraordinary light to any space. Available in 4 different sizes: Small: 16.5"dia, Large: 20"dia, X-large: 23.5"dia, XX-large: 30.5"dia

The Eames’s favorite bird

Charles and Ray Eames augmented the interior "collage" of the Eames House with numerous objects brought back from their extensive travels. The figure of a black wooden bird -evidently one of their most prized samples of America folk art - stood in the centre of their living room for over fifty years. Also seen as an accessory in many of the Eames's photographs, the bird figure comes from the Appalachian mountain region of the eastern United States. Based on the original 1910 artifact and in cooperation with the Eames Family, Vitra is now producing the first series of this figure. $209 each.

Put it on a cork!

Three small friends, robustly built, stable, individual in character and lovable in appearance, that's the Cork Family by Vitra, designed in 2004 by Jasper Morrison. Whether as side-tables or stools, the three different brothers benefit from the advantageous properties of such a natural material as cork. Cork is light, enormously tough and has a pleasantly soft feel. 13" h x 12.25" d $407 each

A Classic Turns 50

Iittala celebrates the 50th anniversary of the appearance of this lovely tinted glassware by Kaj Franck. Described as “the conscience of Finnish design,” Franck epitomizes Finnish modernism. His clear and softly tinted glasses, pitchers and bowls are sturdy and durable, intended for daily use and designed to last a lifetime. Real beauty, Franck maintained, could only be found in the practicality of use. Available individually and in sets at Zinc Details.

Pass the Port, Please…with the Barbara Carafe

Designed by Nina Jobs for Design House Stockholm, the Barbara Carafe features a colored ball that serves as the lid- which is then placed underneath the carafe when in use. The ball has a ground surface to keep it from rolling. Mouthblown crystal. Available with black, clear or amethyst ball at Zinc Details.

Artifort – Dutch and Distinctive

Dutch furniture design and manufacturer Artifort takes no back seat to anyone when it comes to unique ideas. A great example is the Tongue Chair by Pierre Paulin, which challenges the parameters of domestic ergonomics. Comfortable, too. Browse the Artifort collection at Zinc Details.

Listen! The trees are talking!

Actually, they are, thanks to the wooden Magno radio by Indonesian designer Singgih Kartono. The Magno combines the most current MP3 player compatible elecronics with sustainably grown woods. AM/FM radio with shortwave reception. Ebony wood casing and knobs. Uses AA batteries. Available at Zinc Details now.

They’re Back – Tam Tam Stools

2008 commemorates the 40th anniversary of Henry Massonet’s Tam Tam stools of the late Sixties. The stools are a classic, simple and economical solution to casual, contemporary seating. Tam Tams also serve well as seats or small tables for children’s rooms and play areas. The removable top allows a child (or a resident grown-up) to have a secret hiding place for small treasures.

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Le Corbusier

Le Courbusier Le Grand, the spectacular visual biography of one of the greatest architects of the 20th Century, is available at Zinc Details. 768 pages and over 2,000 images and documents, many of them previously unpublished. Le Corbusier was the creator of some of the most important and impressive buildings of the last century, but also an accomplished painter, sculptor, furniture designer, and urbanist. Letters in “Le Grand” reveal his intimate relationships with the likes of Picasso, Leger, and Josephine Baker. By the editors of Phaidon Books, intro by Jean-Louis Cohen.

Milano Salone 2008

“The Salone del Mobile Internazionale” is the International Furniture Fair of Milan, the largest and most anticipated trade fair in the world. It is renowned as the leading exposition for new products by furniture manufacturers and designers and is covered by most leading design periodicals.

At the show we saw many exciting new products, emerging young talents and had a chance to meet design superstars such as Philip Starck, Jasper Morrison, Ron Arad, Arik Levy, Boroullec brothers and Tokujin Yoshioka.

During the week of Salone there were as many as 413 events, exhibition and parties happening all over the city. It was simply design overload! Here's snap shots from Salone 2008.

Salone 2008

Ceramics from the Summer of Love

Well, they could be. Aldo Londi produced these ceramics between 1950-1970. They have so much of the 60s aesthetic (think the credits for James Bond films of the set from Laugh-In) that they could have helped prop up a Peter Max poster. Great retro vases re-produced by Flavia. Available at Zinc Details.

Rugs with a punch line

Former San Franciscan Dan Golden is producing a line of rugs, made in New York, from a series of his very sardonic cartoons. The rugs are made from New Zealand wool that is dyed in Georgia and tufted by hand in Long Island City. The cost at $120 per square foot reflects local labor conditions and attention to ecology, says business partner Ford Lininger. Golden and Lininger both graduated from San Francisco State more than a decade ago in the drawing and painting program.

“I thought the cartoons would be great on rugs,” Lininger said.

The rugs have proven popular overseas and to people with contemporary homes who want a unique piece. Golden’s rugs are available through Zinc Details.

(From an article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Laura Thomas, March 26, 2008.)

The Best Folding Bicycle - EVER!

Strida - the first completely new bicycle geometry in 95 years. Inside a triangular frame of lightweight aluminum, power is transferred to the rear wheels via a silent clean Kevlar belt. Handlebars are mounted horizontally, so the rider can sit comfortably upright with an excellent view of the road. The genius of the triangular frame is that it can fold. In five seconds, you have a light, compact form that you can easily wheel before you, stow in a closet, load in your car or take on the train. With no external grease or oil to soil your clothes, Strida makes daily commuting fun and practical. Now, instead of being snarled up in traffic, you can ride wherever you want, then fold up your transport and take it with you. Designed in England. Now at Zinc Details.

Riding the Strida is Channel 5's Liam Mayclem, who had just finished interviewing Zinc Details' Vasilios Kiniris for an "Eye on the Bay" segment. Deal was, he had to ride the bike. Problem was, we couldn't get him off!

Not just dinner, but A dinner

Give your table the easy aspect of “A Dinner” rather than just “dinner,” with PlateBowlCup, the first complete Alessi tableware collection. Designed by Jasper Morrison, the Alessi collection lets you “eat in, like you eat out.” Complete place settings, along with glassware and utensils, are available at Zinc Details.

Your very own hanging garden

Plant your favorite greenery in Treille, a system of cylindrical vases horizontally aligned and connected by nylon belts and lacquered metal braces. Plants find easy support to grow vertically – up or down. The pre-assembled set hangs from ceiling or woodwork. Perfect as a room divider.

Designed by Ronan & Ewan Bouroullec. From Ameico.

27.5” L x 86.6” H. Hanging brackets included.

Missoni – fashion-forward fabrics with an Olympic history

Bath towels and bedding drawn from the world of fashion. That’s the home collection from Missoni. The rich mosaic of fabrics and furnishings express a mood that’s modern and contemporary. Zinc Details is proud to bring you the freshest ideas from the Italian firm that’s always been steps ahead. Missoni got its start designing track suits for the Italian Olympic team.

Now they can help you medal in your bath or bedroom.

SENZ Umbrellas – they’ve got your back

Tired of getting soaked (and looking dorky) because the wind turned your umbrella inside out? SENZ umbrellas are your answer. They’re aerodynamically designed for superior protection and to withstand winds up to 70 mph without inverting. And the SENZ unique long profile keeps the rain off your back.

Available at Zinc Details. $65

The Senz umbrella from the Netherlands is the winner of multiple European design awards. More to the point, it works!

ZD gang

Heres a current photo of our lovely staff at Zinc Details-- waiting to serve you! We just finished celebrating our buyer's 10th anniversery!

New Artist at Zinc Gallery

"Warped Architecture" - new work by artist Verda Alexander at Zinc Details, March 5-April 30
Verda Alexander, Little Blue City, wood, paper, tempera. At Zinc Details, 2410 California St., San Francisco, Mar 5-April 30