Midcentury grace
THOUGH IT may sound like an urban garden emporium, Outside Downtown was conceived as a showroom for midcentury furniture that “is a little less precious, for homes at the beach or in the country,” co-owner David Serrano says. Paved in limestone and scented with Santa Maria Novella potpourri, the space distinguishes itself from the flagship Downtown store with a mix of European antiques and vintage American pieces. The faux bamboo coffee table shown here ($3,800) and John Hutton’s mid-1970s Thebes club chair (sold as a pair for $15,000) mix with the fresh, pale patinas of bleached wood and gesso coatings. California artisan designs are well represented here by the 1940s bronze torchiers ($22,000 for the pair) and a contemporary hammered iron table with petrified wood top ($3,600) by craftsman John Baldasere. 735 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 854-1880; www.downtown20.net.
--
INNOVATIONS
The hose takes a stand
Scott Nadeau, owner of the Ten 10 furnishings gallery in Silver Lake, was an avid gardener in need of a clean and simple way to store hoses in the yard. His solution: the Ten 10 Hose Jockey, a powder-coated steel device that stakes into the ground, has an attractive perforated shelf for holding garden tools and allows nozzles to drain. The design shown here, built for free-standing spigots and able to hold up to 100 feet of hose, is $125. A wall-mounted version for faucets attached to homes is $75. Available through Ten 10, 1724 1/2 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 663-3603; www.ten10site.com.
--
SALE
One very hot item
As part of summer reductions that run as high as 75%, Restoration Hardware is offering its three fire pits for less than $300 each. The minimalist Del Mar, shown here, has been reduced from $379 to $259; it has a mesh screen for burning firewood, can double as a grill for charcoal barbecuing, and coordinates with a marked-down line of outdoor furniture. The Classic Garden model, distinguished by its copper bowl, has been reduced from $399 to $279. The neoclassical cast-aluminum Antibes model, also $279, comes with a cover that transforms the fire pit into a coffee table. www.restorationhardware.com.
--
FINDS
Cubular, dude
Go configure: Created as a multifunctional home furnishing module, Bjorn Rust’s System 69 is made from a lightweight, water-resistant polypropylene material that is ideal for parties and poolside. Each piece ($604) can be used as a dining chair or, tipped on its side, as a stool or low nightstand. A pair can be stacked together to form a coffee table, as shown here, or stood on end to create a 40-inch stand with two cubbies. Ford Brady has begun taking orders for spring delivery. 720 N. Figueroa St., L.A.; (213) 620-1066; www.fordbrady.com.
