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guest // 07 May 10 // Lifestyle Shopping

10 Nationally Coveted Products Made Deep in the Heart of Austin

Does the rest of the country know just how full of talent Austin is? In short, yes. The evidence is in the increasing number of Austin-designed products showing up in blogs, magazines, and homes across the nation. We gathered a list of 10 items that you may have seen in stores around Austin, your favorite national design magazines, or even your very own home, and all of them come from Austin!

Hip Haven Bullet Planters (pictured above)
Durable molded fiberglass bowls in powder-coated steel or chrome stands make up Hip Haven’s clever Retro Bullet Planters. Available for indoor or outdoor use, designer Kelley Sandidge knows what Mid-Century lovers want. That’s why her fun bullet planters have been featured in national shelter magazines and are sold in stores around the country and locally, like Sanctuary on Bee Caves Road.

Paloma’s Nest
A collection of ceramic dishes, bowls, tiles, ornaments and other decorative items are handmade by Austin’s own Caroline Colom Vasquez. Known for a simple white color palette and stamped sayings like “laugh often” and “patience”, these delicate pieces are favorites of many throughout the country. Browse through her entire catalog at her online Etsy store.

Mod Green Pod
Environmentally-conscious fabric lovers around the country love this great local fabric and textile company co-founded by Austinite Nancy Mims. Featuring fun patterns, bright colors and even fabulous wall paper, you’ll love how good you feel when you purchase Mod Green Pod’s fabric, which is printed on 100% certified organic cotton grown in the United States. See the fabric in person at local upholstery company Spruce.

Scarlet Fig
Another great local fabric company offering clever patterns and bold colors, this one helmed by local Austinite Laurie Wisbrun. Several of Laurie’s designs were recently licensed by Robert Kaufman Fabrics and her debut collection, Tufted Tweets, will be in stores in May 2010 followed closely by her second collection, Urban Circus, to be released in Fall 2010.

Ref-use
Adam Edwards and Nicholas Petersen go dumpster diving—literally. What first started as an interesting design for a chair made out of old wood scraps, has turned into a line of recycled and stylish furniture that most recently includes tables, shelves and even flooring. You can find Ref-use pieces in local stores like Eco-wise and in stores in California.

Verokolt Furniture and Design
Veronica Koltuniak, who for years lived in Los Angeles doing set design and interior design for clients like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Jeff Goldblum and Matthew Perry, happens to create amazing, one-of-a-kind, revamped furniture, too. Also the designer behind Austin’s popular 24 Diner, you can see some of her work in person at Threshold Furniture.

August Morgan
Vintage needlework is made cool again with Kate Hersch’s transformations. Creating pillows out of vintage needlework she finds around the globe, throw pillow lovers all over the country appreciate her fresh take on needlework décor. Find some of these neat pillows at By George in Austin, Barneys NY, Lost and Found in Hollywood, Room Service in LA, Elizabeth Bauer in NYC, Mason in New Caanan, Room Service in Chicago, Spruce in Memphis.

Architects & Heroes Interiors
Architects & Heroes, a local lighting company, doesn’t just make great-looking lights for interior spaces—they’re the leading designers of counter balanced “pulley” lights. Led by CEO Palmer Earley, these lights are functional and gorgeous, and you’ve probably seen them in a national shelter magazine. Architects & Heroes lights are sold in stores all over the country and even in some international locations, too!

Square Feathers Decorative Pillows
Ron McIntyre’s gorgeous throw pillows are another decorative item making waves nationally. Known for pairing contrasting textures like fleece and jute fiber, you’ll love these versatile, modern and hand sewn throw pillows. See them in person at local store Sanctuary.

Deco Dots
While not quite a player on the national market yet, these clever Deco Dots deserve a mention. Amy Mosier has created an eco-friendly décor element using repurposed plastic bags. Only limited by your own creativity, deco dots can be used with floral arrangements, accessories and more. See them in action at Austin’s Collectic Home and Sanctuary.

By Adrienne Breaux