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Modern-twist: Designer

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It's a rare housewares designer who can really call themselves an inventor, but Kat Nouri and her collaborators at SF's Modern-twist deserve that moniker. The company's small housewares line is so far limited to softwares and tableware, but each piece is not only an attractive example of modern organic style, but also uses form or material to solve a problem in an unusual way.
 
 
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Vinotagz, for instance, which are meant to be used to distinguish guests' wineglasses at a party, come in a small plastic box that perches on the neck of a wine bottle.
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And like many of Modern-twist's products, the vinotagz themselves are made from silicone, which makes for a handy write-on/wipe-off surface for cocktail party notes: the vintage... or the phone number.
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If you break bread with a note-taker (wine, recipes) or a doodler, the coasters and placemats made from the same material will bring unexpected utility to your table settings.
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We're also impressed with their PJ pocket pillow, which is basically origami writ large. This soft fabric box, which comes in a variety of subtle prints, uncoils to reveal a hollow interior that's perfect for storing PJs -- or whatever else you want to keep hidden in your bedroom.
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(The hide box is a smaller version, perfect for stashing a tooth that's awaiting its fateful meet-up with the tooth fairy.)


Modern-twist's innovative product line is actually the collaborative effort of a group of Bay Area and PNW artists and designers brought together by Kat Nouri, who has a background in manufacturing and knows how to take their prototypes and make them real. The current roster includes Amy Ruppel, as well as Sheila Tobin Metcalf and Ewald & Tajbaksh Architecture.

A detail that completes the picture: One percent of the company's profits go to 1% For The Planet.

Tags

Designer, babies & children, bedding & blankets, pillows, decorative & office accessories, plastic, rubber & high-tech

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Comments (8)

This stuff is awesome--but HOW THE HAY AM I SUPPOSED TO BUY STUFF? I have searched all over the website in futility. What stores carry it? Can I order online? The website appears to be incomplete. How can you not tell admirers how to buy?

posted by Shannon on 2007-01-31 13:40:01

want to echo shannon's comments above. i'd love to have one of the pj pocket pillows. i assume i can buy one somewhere here in san francisco?

posted by tara on 2007-01-31 18:59:11

Just incase you are frustrated locating where to buy our products..Our products were just released to specialty retailers all over the US and overseas at the NY Gift Show. The products will be in stores the first week of April..due to high demand..they are taking pre-orders. We will post a list of the reatilers within the next week.. thanks for your patience. We are so excited that what was once a vision has become a reality..thank you for your patience.

posted by kat Nouri on 2007-01-31 19:18:31

I had serious problems with your website, even just trying to send you feedback through your Contact Us page, the site really needs work so you don't lose potential business.

posted by To Kat Nouri on 2007-02-01 08:59:19

We love this entire line, and will be adding it to our website in the next few days for pre-orders. Congrats Kat!

posted by John from Velocity on 2007-02-02 13:27:05

you are going to be incredibly successful with these products!!! i really, really want those vinotagz and one of those table runners.

posted by christina on 2007-02-02 14:17:42

I love the idea of the pocket pillows. I'd like to see them even larger and in solid colors for living rooms and the office.

posted by Elaine Vigneault on 2007-02-03 22:26:27

hey, I found the placemats at lekkerhome.com https://www.lekkerhome.com/Pages/16276_p.asp

posted by joshua on 2007-10-13 12:17:35
view joshua's profile

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