Four times Oji

So yesterday I was out scouting kitchen gear for a feature I'm working on (tho' don't ask me the name of the mag, they're currently going through a name change) and stopped in at one of my favorite-est stores, Mjölk, where John told me all about their upcoming - and very first - exhibition, called Masanori Oji Life On The Floor. The whole shebang opens on the eve of Oct 21st, with a chance to meet the Japanese designer, whose sense of craft is, well, gorgeous (have a look here at some of his work). One of the coolest things about the exhibit, before it even starts, are the four posters John and Juli had designed by Sali Tabacchi. Take a look below, wouldn't they look fantastic all framed and grouped together on the wall? Oh and for more of John and Juli from Mjölk, take a look here for an HGTV.ca house tour of their cool space above the shop (it's well worth a look).

Beautiful little things

I love the famous quote by William Morris - “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Wonderful words, though putting them into practice is quite another matter, but hey, luckily John and Juli at Mjölk have it covered with these beautiful and useful cast brass objects by Tokyo-based designer, Oji Masanori. Mjölk carries all of these trivets, bottle openers and perfect little sets of chopstick rests housed in wooden boxes, as well as more covetable pieces (take a look at everything by Oji Masanori right here).

Guest blog / Jenn Hannotte: Feeling cross?

Jenn Hannotte: My favorite new store in Toronto pandering to my want/need/can't have tendencies is Mjölk. Owners John and Juli offer an amazing selection of clean-lined, pale-wooded, Scandinavian and Japanese pieces from the classic Børge Mogensen 2226 Spanish Chair (take a look below, and if anyone out there is wondering if I'd like a gift, the answer is yes: I'll take two), to this gorgeous Hiroshima extension table by Naoto Fukasawa and a set of Arne Jacobsen cutlery to go on top. They also have affordable design objects, like this gorgeous Grass Vase by Claydies for Normann Copenhagen as well as adorable things for the Scandi-wanna-be baby like this cool/odd Norwegian Lice Onesie. But the one thing I really went to see and covet was the Pia Wallén Crux Blanket. It's so soft, so simple and so PERFECT. It's also all-wool, made in Sweden, and $850... Now, I don't like a little thing like price to get in the way of instant gratification, so I headed off to Etsy in search of some Swiss cross inspired textiles and found this coffee sack burlap basket with a cross screenprinted on the front by Brin and Nohl It'll be perfect for toys, magazines, or even small storage in the bathroom. Okay, it's not a blanket, but it's a wee bit more in my snack bracket.

Below you'll see snaps of the 2226 Spanish Chair and the Grass Vase, plus a couple of inspiring shots of the Crux Blanket in action (via Door Sixteen). For more of Jenn's take on style click here.