Eco-chic pillows
The New York Times once called Atlanta’s Mimi Tin “a designer on a roll” after she created a line of sushi-styled ottomans and poufs. Recently, the Burma-born creator rolled out Sushi Street, her new eco-collection of playful pillows.
In her Midtown studio, the colorful pillows are made by hand from eco-felt, which is recycled from plastic bottles. Inspired by global pop culture, the graphic pillows feature popular phrases, text lingo, icons and emoticons.
Pillow sizes range from 9-by-12 inches to 22 inches squared and are priced from $27.95 to $49.95. Custom sizes, colors and words are available upon request. To order, visit www.sushistyle.com. To learn more, visit
Style
Bright idea
Atlanta’s Crawford Bray learned to appreciate art in many forms at an early age. He studied painting at age 6 and danced with New York City’s Metropolitan Opera.
With a sharp eye for design, Bray began his career in interior design working with New York-based Howard Kaplan. He later served as director of the antiques division at Jerry Pair, which has a showroom in Atlanta.
With his background as a buyer, designer and merchandiser, Bray decided to start his started his own line (Crawford Bray Design) of unique home furnishings and reimagined objects, including lighting.
To create his sophisticated sconces, Bray uses new and antique elements. He reworks antique, wrought iron spikes into a sculptural pair of sconces ($850 at Atlanta Made, 1187 Howell Mill Road).
With crystal spikes, he creates a pair of scones ($1,700 at The Mercantile, 1430 Dresden Drive) that add an elegant focus to a home or office wall. The custom shades and mounting pieces are made in the greater Atlanta area.
For Bray’s sconces, check www.mercantileatlanta.com and atlantamade.us. Or visit www.crawfordbraydesign.com.
Wood matters
Kentucky-born woodworker Michael James Moran is not a tree hugger. But he deeply appreciates a tree’s beauty and highlights the wood in his clean, modern designs.
Using traditional techniques and craftsmanship, Moran — with the help of his partner Celia Gibson — builds each unique piece, including benches, cabinets and various tables — one at a time in their studio workshop in Charleston, S.C.
While more than half of Moran’s furniture is commission work, he was delighted by the regional and national response to some of the company’s limited-edition pieces, including the Charred Collection.
In the Charred line, Moran uses a wood-burning technique to give the furniture boards a dramatic texture, pattern and blackened color. For example, a two-drawer bedside table made from charred loblolly pine is $1,250.
Other one-of-a-kind pieces are lamps ($300); benches and coffee tables ($1,000 and $2,000); cabinets ($3,000 to $4,000); and dining tables ($5,000 and up).
To order, visit www.moranwoodworked.com or
Woodworked Furniture.
Best of the South
Do you have favorite finds from around the South that you give as gifts, buy for your home or rave about to friends? If so, please share them with us. Send your suggestions to: lljerkins@gmail.com. Please include your name and contact number. Also find more Southern-made products, featured in the AJC, at Southernfinds on Facebook and on Twitter @southernfinds1.
