Happy Labor Day Weekend!

The staff at Didriks hopes you all enjoy a wonderful long holiday weekend. It is hard to believe that the summer is winding down and fall is quickly approaching. Here are some colorful pieces from Jars Ceramic that are perfect for transitioning your table from summer to fall. Jars France Ceramics have been in production since 1857 in Provence, France. Their mission established by Pierre Jars is to turn every day objects into work of arts. The functional is transformed into the beautiful. Mission accomplished! [caption id="attachment_906" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tanga"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_907" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nenuphar"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_908" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tourron"][/caption]

Giving Knives as Gifts

Cutlery makes a wonderful gift for cooking enthusiasts. However, if you give a knife as a gift make sure you follow this European tradition to insure that your friendship will continue. Tradition specifies that if you are given a knife as a gift, you must give the giver a small coin in return. The small payment ensures that your friendship will not be "cut." If you are looking to give a special gift we recommend Berti knives. These knives have been handcrafted in Italy for over 100 years. The knife maker takes the knife from start to completion creating ...

Customer Favorite – Chilewich Floor Mats

Plynyl floormats from Chilewich are a great addition to any room in your home. They are made of woven vinyl fabric bonded to a flexible, soft polyurethane cushion perfect for indoor flooring. With a great selection of shapes and textures, Chilewich is the way to go. The color selections include dark neutrals, light neutrals, and brights. These floormats are resistant to slipping and curling, comfortable to stand on and are very durable. These attributes make them perfect for areas like the bathroom, kitchen, slippery hardwood floors, and high traffic areas. Here are a few of our favorites: Click here to ...

Jane Thompson’s D/R

Posted on August 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The Boston Globe article on Design/Research’s Jane Thompson is now available online. The article discusses Jane’s new book “Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes.’’

Long long ago, in a galaxy far away . . .

Jane Thompson’s book is a loving scrapbook of D/R and its era. There are brief quotations from people who knew the company in some way — customers, designers, employees, fans. And there are photographs, hundreds of them, of people and products.

Design Research began as a small store in an old wooden row house in 1953. From that tiny beginning, it grew to the point where, more than any other force, it created an awareness and a market for modern design in America.

Click here to read the entire article.

In the Globe article Jane Thompson names her favorite D/R pieces of all time. One of the pieces she selected was iittala’s Sarpaneva casserole. “It addresses the problem of how to cook and serve with the same pot, how to get kitchenware onto the table. It’s highly colored and because of the wood handle, you can lift it from the cooking surface.”

Timo Sarpaneva Cast Iron Casserole

The Timo Sarpaneva Cast Iron Casserole is available at Didriks. As always, shipping is free.

Design Research brought Finnish Modern brand iittala to America

Posted on August 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Look for an upcoming feature in the Boston Globe Arts section this Sunday, August 22nd 2010, about “Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes” by Jane Thompson. The DR store introduced Finnish Modern furnishings from Marimekko and iittala to most Americans. A 10-minute walk from the original Brattle Street location in Cambridge, MA, Didriks carries the entire iittala line and was named as iittala’s “brand ambassador” retailer in association with the event.

Design Research Exhibit, featuring iittala and Marimekko from Finland

A Look at Heath Ceramics

Posted on August 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment

In this video Martha Stewart visits with Edith Heath the founder and driving force behind Heath Ceramics. Edith’s vision was to create beautiful pieces to be used everyday and she has been doing this for over fifty years. Edith has deliberately kept her manufacturing process small scale so the hand made quality of the pieces are maintained. This video gives you a true appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into each Heath piece.