Matt Credenza from Phloem Studio

Are some wood-grain patterns sexier than others? I don't know, but the patterns on this credenza from Phloem Studio are damn sexy (courtesy 2Modern).

Hey Sneakerheads

Time Out New York has a nice, little article in this week's issue covering some of the more well-known kicks stores in the city.  Check it out here: "Sneakerhead's guide to NYC."

sak for Converse Star Tech

So back in March I posted about a collaboration between Converse and Japanese designer Ryusaku Hiruma (a.k.a. sak).  sak has put out a new pair of handmade leather shoes based on the All Star template, but this time using the star and slash logo (saw these via Hypebeast).  I could personally do without the logo, but what I love about these shoes is the stitched lining around the soles; they give it a real handmade look.  I also love the pattern underneath the shoe.  Converse is killing it with all their collaborations (see the Missoni collaboration I posted about a few months ago).  Hypebeast has a really nice video of Hiruma making the shoes.

Coffee Bench by Studio Beyond

Saw this via Contemporist: a wooden bench made of a number of different vertical pieces that could be rotated up or down to form table platforms or seats.  It was designed by Karolina Tylka for Studio Beyond, and was shown at the Interieur 2010 design bienniale.

Saw these awesome limited-edition Incase iPad/Macbook/iPhone sleeves via Turntable Lab.  They were designed for Incase by the design firm Eley Kishimoto.  The sleeves come in black and magenta.  Eley Kishimoto has some other products using the same designs.  I don't have an iPad (or a Macbook or iPhone for that matter), but I would consider picking one of these up just in case I ever get one.

Book cover for Luka and the Fire of Life

This is the cover for the soon to be released Luka and the Fire of Life, by Salman Rushdie.  I have to admit I've never read a book by Rushdie, but I might give this one a shot just based on how eye-catching the cover is.  An interesting mix of Indian motifs and western style.  What a great drawing for a book cover.

Converse All Star Suede

Converse has come out with these really sweet suede sneakers.  The rubber base is the same as normal All Stars, but the rest of the shoe is suede and one color, in this case black.  Black laces, black toe, even the ankle All Star patch is black.  That's what drew me to the pair when I saw it in the store the other day.  The one thing that never sat well with me about All Star sneakers was the rubber toe; to me, it makes the sneakers look a bit like clown shoes.  Not that that has ever deterred me from buying Converse, but the all suede look is perfect in my book.  There's something about black suede on an All Stars design, like a combination of elegance and street style.