Sapien book case

Oh, the books. How they pile up. And up and up.

Here's a bookcase that retains that theme yet organizes with a modern flair. It's the Sapien bookcase designed by Bruno Rainaldi and available at Kasala. Just 14 inches of floor space is needed to turn a mess into a library stack.

The 38-inch-tall unit has six shelves and holds about 35 books ($149). The 80-incher holds 14 shelves of around 70 books or so ($195). Each shelf can be removed. When it's filled, the bookshelf itself seems to disappear.

Kasala's Seattle store is at 1505 Western Ave.; on the Eastside, check out the Bellevue store at 1014 116th Ave. N.E. www.kasala.com.

A New Spin on Lighting
 
There's something so old-school yet so 21st-century about these lamps that makes them a perfectly tasteful pairing of retro and modern. The bases are hand-spun aluminum, made one piece at a time and finished in rich tones. The finishes, with the multicolor look and shimmer of dupioni silk, are tints developed over the years by Babette Holland Design. They bring to mind those metal tumblers from the 1950s. Prices range from $300 to $350. Find them at Asian Style, which is celebrating its 10th year in business this month, 915 Western Ave., 206-628-3099 or www.asianstyleonline.com.

By the Numbers

Wallpaper-by-Numbers

It's wallpaper. It's art. It's a chance to really make a room your own with paint-by-number wallpaper designs by United Kingdom designer Jenny Wilkinson. Wallpaper-by-Numbers comes in two designs, a flower pattern or a dog sitting in a planter. One roll (20.5 inches by 10 feet) costs $99 with a set of acrylic paints, $67 without. Shipping for either is $10. Wilkinson also accepts commissions, you know, if a dog sitting in a planter isn't your idea of high style. The scale is a little larger than typical paint-by-number sets. New designs are on the drawing board. This you've got to see at www.paint-by-numbers.co.uk or the U.S. agent www.2jane.com.

Sit, Stay in a Modern Way

Sometimes a room cries out for a chair that sits quietly in its corner yet makes a bold statement. For just such cases consider the Artifort ribbon chair available at Chartreuse International in Belltown. The woolen fabric stretches over the round forms in the piece designed by Pierre Paulin. It has a tubular steel frame with horizontal springing. The base is a lacquered high-frequency pressed wood and is available in silver-gray, red or white. The chair, made in The Netherlands, costs about $5,500, the ottoman $2,800, depending on the fabric grade, and both come in a rainbow's-choice of colors. Chartreuse, at 2609 First Ave., specializes in ground-breaking works of 20th-century designers, respective reissues and new modern design. It has a variety of items from the usual Alessi assortment to high-end, hard-to-find vintage pieces. Contact the store at 206-328-4844, 1-877-328-4844 or www.modchartreuse.com

Creature Comfort

It's a rug. It's a light. Yes, it's both. The Flos Baby Zoo carpet series is a kid's corner of comfort. The 100 percent wool rugs are tinted with vegetable dyes for brilliant tones that actually glow in the dark. Each design has a 6-inch circle incorporated into it. A low-profile LED night light sits in the circle, illuminating the rug in either blue or amber light. But wait, there's more; in addition to the owl, 39 inches by 59 inches, there's a kitty, whale, camel, cheetah and sahara creatures. Most of the designs come in a light or dark version. The light, which is turned on/off by pressing the lamp body, includes a recharging station. The light's blue or amber color is selected through a switch on the bottom cover. Prices range from $490 to $775. Look for the Laurene Leon Boym designs at Surrounding, a lighting, interiors and accessories store at www.surrounding.com. Stores are in Los Angeles and Plymouth, Minn.

Aura pendant light

A Warm Glow With a Twist

Here's a light that will elevate your home's design but won't bust the budget. The Aura pendant from Resolute is part of the 2004 collection from Seattle's Resolute. The warm honeycomb shape is made from printed Polycarbonate plastic with hardware and accessories in a silver finish. Imagine one in a foyer, two hanging from each side of the mantle or three over a dining-room table. The light, by local designer Brent Markee, is $104 and available in Seattle though Current, 629 Western Ave., Seattle, 206-622-2433. The Resolute showroom is at Ninth Avenue and Lenora.
 
Art, Shaken and Stirred

Attrezzi mixer, Michael Weems signature series

For anyone who still has not indulged in one of the many high-grade counter-top mixers or blenders out there, behold even more entries. The first thing these two mix is cooking and art. Jenn-Air is offering a limited edition (500 of each, only) Michael Weems Signature Series Attrezzi mixer and blender. The artist calls the bronze appliances with amber-frosted-and-etched glass pieces "an affordable piece of art." Each piece is signed by the artist. So, what happens if you break Weems' work? "That's a problem," says Jill Spiekerman, in public relations for Maytag Corp., Jenn-Air's parent company. But, the mixer also comes with a stainless-steel bowl. A portion of the profits will go to Share Our Strength to battle hunger and poverty. The mixer is $359, the blender is $199, and they are available online only at www.jenn-air.com. Check out the work of Weems, a Baltimore glass artist, at www.michaelweems.com.

Rebecca Teagarden is assistant editor of Pacific Northwest magazine.