So, if you haven’t made cards, and you haven’t picked out any to buy, you are seriously running out of time folks. There aren’t that many wacky Valentine’s Day cards out there – and even less architect based valentines, however, you can still score some unique cards vs. the typical blah hearts blah love deal.
The card above is actually part of a postcard set; oh! my god! i miss you by yoshitomo nara. BUT I love the title card; it’s one of my fave postcards. Nara’s art is all fun, but the OMG postcard is such a nice way to …read more

Ok, I HAVE to do an Offbeat Valentine’s gift guide. That said, strange love rarely comes in structural form, so for now you’re gonna have to make do with some oddball gifts outside of the architectural genre.
Not much says a weird I love you like one of The String Doll Gang from Kamibashi. Some good choices for a super lovable heart day…

Lover Boy

Just a quick heads up. Offbeat favorite, Inhabitat, has their always ravishingly fun Green Gift Guide posted. Check it out and let dreams of a beautiful earth-friendly holiday (and maybe some sugar plums fill your head).

I recently reviewed two killer off grid home books at RiverWired. Both are so good, I’m going to recommend them as perfect holiday gifts for an eco-friendly pal (or maybe as a gift to yourself).
The books:

Both by Lori Ryker; both delightful; both major eye candy for home lovers. Check out the full reviews:

Off the Grid
Off the Grid Homes

[images via Amazon]

Here’s what happens – you pick these up for a kid you know, and all the adults in the house steal these cool irregular blocks away and build neat structures. I know I’d take them. This set comes with 20 blocks in various colors.
$37.95 – Selecta Arcadia Building Blocks
+ The Silly Wagon

The perfect springy chair for your perfectly kooky kid.
Kid’s Spring Chair
+ Cambium Studio – totally innovative furniture design BTW. Check them out!

If you have super speed shipping some of these could even technically pan out as holiday gifts. Honestly, I wanted to do a huge gift post earlier but just wasn’t feeling it. This is the abbreviated version.
How To See
This book is a gem. It looks like something only a select few might enjoy; but really Nelson’s, ‘there you go’ speaking manner and his insight into the designs that swirl in the world all around us make this a book to hunt out and love.

Mint Hug Salt and Pepper Set
A nice stocking stuffer. Great design and it’s functional. Plus come on; …read more

This home is a super fly gift for all the little offbeat kids in your world. The simplicity, mobility, and eco-sensibility of this gift cannot be beat.
Kidsonroof Mobile Home

Kids can take this home everywhere — not true of the typical doll house. Also, not to get sexist but my son who is all boy in the most boy way one can be even likes this house. He told me it looks cool and most doll homes he passes off as, “Girly.” Yes we are working on him never calling things “Girly.” It’s the only thing he does that really frustrates …read more

Functional Art is exactly what you get from The Concrete Studio. Really I was going to suggest the table I fell for as a holiday gift but in fact this table below is likely unique. I realized this after reading their website.
Still, an offbeat table will make a delightful gift for an offbeat someone special.

How The Concrete Studio works is they design specifically for a client. During the design process materials are chosen such as copper, glass, concrete, etc. Supposedly they’re noted for their experience with mixing mediums such as concrete and stainless steel, copper and glass to create one …read more

Today’s offbeat holiday gift suggestion is not a real king mind you but an ultra wacky shelving unit perfect for the offbeat home owner — or anyone who fancies oddball storage solutions.
The King of Siam Shelf is made by mOEbler. I like it as far as offbeat goes but do not like the color (good thing there’s paint) and can’t imagine what I’d do with those tiny extra spaces. How about you?