Are You Sleeping? . . .
Even Brother John should be able to get a good night’s sleep in this modern yet elegant bed designed by Philippe Starck for Cassina.
Starck, one of the leaders of the Punk movement in France who is known for his avant-garde designs, created the Petit Frere Jacques bed as a tribute to nuns.
The solid appearance of the bed is softened by cocooning backrests and screens that suggestively recall a nun’s habit. Starck was schooled in a convent.
Some of Starck’s more notable works include the Art Deco interior renovations at the Delano Hotel in Miami Beach and the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles.
An industrial designer who has an eclectic style, he also has created teakettles, sunglasses, three-legged chairs and crystal vases.
The Petit Frere Jacques bed in beechwood ($3,330) is available at Modern Living, 8125 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 655-3898, and at Devan, 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla, (619) 551-0405.
Lasting Blooms
For all you need to know to grow your perennial favorites, Larkspur’s latest videotape will put you in the bloom.
Four professionals from Northern California show and tell all about planting, soil, climate needs and propagating.
Michael Bates, a native of England who has a garden in Sonoma Mountain, starts off the video, showing his exquisite bounty. Bates, a consultant, shows how to grow a traditional English-style garden, including mass plantings of several perennials.
Rounding out the coverage are Daria and Bruce Shanks, who own and operate perennial plant specialist Cottage Growers of Petaluma, and Sarah Hammond, a lifelong gardener who established the original Smith & Hawken nursery in Mill Valley.
For information or to order the videotape (about $20), call (800) 772-4884.
Boxing Up
With the picnic season in full swing, keeping foods fit to eat is a concern.
One way to keep sandwiches, soups and other fare cold or hot is the Thermal Lunch Box, which was inspired by the Japanese-style bento box.
The lunch box ($59) keeps each of its four containers insulated. Foods will stay at a desired temperature for as long as six hours.
The lunch box, which has stainless steel hardware and a shoulder strap for easy toting, is available at the Container Store, Metro Pointe, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2333.