Design Notebook

On the Cutler edge

Two pieces of plywood bent in just the right way by Jim Cutler of Cutler Anderson Architects can be yours in the form of a chair, now available from Reveal Designs. The internationally recognized Bainbridge Island firm originally designed the chair for Grace Episcopal Church, also on the island. But Reveal saw big appeal in the little piece and put it into production. It is called, appropriately enough, Grace, and sells for around $450. It is available with and without arms (stackable without arms), and in a variety of woods. See it and Cutler-designed hardware at reveal-designs.com, 914-220-0277. Keep checking for an expanded line. See work by Cutler Anderson at www.cutler-anderson.com.

Looking for a museum-quality interior? Decorate with honest-to-goodness scientific artifacts. One-of-a-kind ancient fossils from olden dinosaur times can now be had for home décor — for a price, of course. The Trammell-Gagné showroom at the Seattle Design Center works with a private company out of Germany and another in Southern California to get specimens. Fossils for sale have included an infant ichthyosaur (dolphin) from the Jurassic era, 180 million years back. The price for the 2 ½-by-5-foot-sized stone? $58,000. There are other more affordable offerings. Examples include an ammonite (large snail shell) for about $15,000, and smaller fish and plant plates from the Green River formation in Wyoming (between 35 million and 50 million years old — youngsters in the fossil world) for less than $7,000. You never know what one-of-a-kind artifact will roll in next. Trammell-Gagné (www.tgshowroom.com/) is open by appointment at 206-762-1511.

By the numbers

Sometimes the right address is everything. Sometimes making your address look like the right address works, too. Do that at www.customhousenumbers.com, where the motto is "Any Font, Any Size." Think of your home number as its signature. For example, four brushed, stainless-steel numbers 6 inches tall and ½-inch thick in way-cool Neutraface (à la architect Richard Neutra) by Apollo Marconi cost about $200. Numbers come in stainless steel or aluminum with a variety of finishes, colors and sizes (up to 48 inches and 6 inches thick, for making a REALLY BIG statement) and from a choice of 35,000 or so fonts. Really. Mounting hardware is concealed. You can also get a hold of Custom House Numbers.com by phone at 888-868-3567.

What a Turn-On

They're so ethereal yet friendly they just draw you to them. But what these crystal eggs do is draw water. The hot- and cold-water knobs in the Opus lavatory set strike a grand pose with their simple elegance. The set, which includes the smooth spout, is available in chrome ($1,230), nickel ($1,300), matte nickel ($1,500) and lumin ($1,555).

Waterworks gives the business of home water use a Zen-elegant quality. Words of watery wisdom from the company's Web site: "In the right surroundings, you leave part of yourself in water. The water leaves part of itself in you." The Seattle store is at 2030 First Ave., Suite 100, 206-441-9300. Check out Waterworks at www.waterworks.com.

Between the sheets

Some days you know you should have just stayed in bed. Be better prepared to hunker down all day with a new bedding line from Design Within Reach. Like the best dress, this bedding goes from night to day with ease.

Yes, yes, you can start with the 500-count Egyptian cotton sheets in "nature-based colors" ($478 for queen) and top off with an alpaca throw in Dove, Grass or Pearl ($278). But the exciting news in the "I'm-just-gonna-stay-here-all-day-and-read-trashy-magazines-and-watch-Oprah-and-eat-ice-cream" department is the Utility line.

Now that's the spirit. Utility and high design, or "Purposeful products designed to address how the bed is used during the day, while protecting the more intimate sleep layers," according to the company. There's the Quilted Tweed Bed Mat ($228) so kids/dogs can play on the bed. The Bedside Saddle ($98) provides a place for "important bedside items," including eyeglasses, a water bottle and the remote control. The Large Support Bolster ($348 queen) spans the width of the bed for "a functional alternative to excessive decorative pillows" and support for reading, working or relaxing. Its little brother is the Small Tweed Bolster ($128) for leg, neck or back support, or it can be used as an extra prop while working on the laptop. And, finally, the Pillow Envelope ($118 full/queen) is a pocket for sleeping pillows, keeping them clean for night-time use. Check out the line at www.designwithinreach.com or at the local stores: 1918 First Ave., Seattle (206-443-9900) and in Kirkland (425-828-0280) at 126 Central Way.

Rebecca Teagarden is assistant editor of Pacific Northwest magazine.