For some people, a discarded hot-water heater is just that — a discarded hot-water heater. For Cave Creek, Arizona landscape architect, horticulturist and sculptor Jennie Curé, those old metal cylinders represent opportunity. Curé recycles the old appliances into rustic fountains, containers, sculptures and bird baths at her Eden West Garden Gallery Studio, embellishing them with tile, stains and other materials. Custom designs are also available. Cave Creek, AZ; (480) 595-8616 or www.jenniecure.com.
John Black's Pendulum collection for Councill reflects a convergence of styles from great furniture-making periods, including French Empire, Biedermeier, Regency and American Federal, that work in settings ranging from traditional to modern. Included in the recently debuted line is the LaLonde dining table, shown here, a relaxed interpretation of the Louis XVI style. The round top of sunburst walnut veneer is supported by six turned fluted legs, each accented with 24-karat gold leaf. Available through Hoff Miller, Denver, CO, (800) 335-0132; Robb & Stucky, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 922-0011, www.robbstucky.com; or www.councill.com.
Here are two small books from 2007 that fit neatly into everyone's design library. Micro: Very Small Buildings by Ruth Slavid examines teensy architecture, ranging from post–Hurricane Katrina cottages in New Orleans and a park bench that opens clam-like to shelter the homeless in Australia to sphere-shaped retreats suspended in the pine trees of British Columbia. Adam Mornement's Extensions chronicles additions around the world, including an airy penthouse atop a 1950s apartment building in Stuttgart, Germany and a bedroom cube suspended within a Parisian apartment. Available through Laurence King Publishing, www.laurenceking.co.uk.
Albuquerque, New Mexico designer Damian Velasquez of Modern Handcrafted Furniture offers up his Don't Fall Down dresser, made of hand-stained maple with a brushed-steel frame, powder coated with a clear finish. The dresser can be used in a bedroom, as a buffet for a dining room, or for office storage. The piece is 46.5 inches tall and is available in 10 colors, including red, shown here. The dresser is part of the permanent collection of the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Albuquerque, NM; (505) 884-5200 or www.modernhandcrafted.com.
Industrial Designer Parquet is made from parts of the tree generally ignored by other flooring forms, resulting in a look that features a wide color spectrum and pattern. The durable flooring is suitable for high-traffic installations, including shopping centers and restaurants, as well as residential applications. It's available in a 0.4-inch thickness with tongue-and-groove fitting or industrial 0.55-inch or 0.87-inch glue-down tiles. It also comes in a 0.375 real wood veneer with cork backing and clicking system. Available through Handwerk, Las Vegas, NV; (702) 882-5632 or www.handwerk.us.
John Hutton Textiles' new B's fabric is a modern twist on the classic French bee motif, showing the bees in full flight. Available in sugar or honey colorways, the textile is a jacquard woven in cotton and rayon, suitable for upholstery or drapery applications and in general contract use. Available through Carter Didlake, Inc., Denver, CO, (303) 794-4722; or www.johnhuttontextiles.com.
John Black's Pendulum collection for Councill reflects a convergence of styles from great furniture-making periods, including French Empire, Biedermeier, Regency and American Federal, that work in settings ranging from traditional to modern. Included in the recently debuted line is the LaLonde dining table, shown here, a relaxed interpretation of the Louis XVI style. The round top of sunburst walnut veneer is supported by six turned fluted legs, each accented with 24-karat gold leaf. Available through Hoff Miller, Denver, CO, (800) 335-0132; Robb & Stucky, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 922-0011, 
Here are two small books from 2007 that fit neatly into everyone's design library. Micro: Very Small Buildings by Ruth Slavid examines teensy architecture, ranging from post–Hurricane Katrina cottages in New Orleans and a park bench that opens clam-like to shelter the homeless in Australia to sphere-shaped retreats suspended in the pine trees of British Columbia. Adam Mornement's Extensions chronicles additions around the world, including an airy penthouse atop a 1950s apartment building in Stuttgart, Germany and a bedroom cube suspended within a Parisian apartment. Available through Laurence King Publishing, 
Industrial Designer Parquet is made from parts of the tree generally ignored by other flooring forms, resulting in a look that features a wide color spectrum and pattern. The durable flooring is suitable for high-traffic installations, including shopping centers and restaurants, as well as residential applications. It's available in a 0.4-inch thickness with tongue-and-groove fitting or industrial 0.55-inch or 0.87-inch glue-down tiles. It also comes in a 0.375 real wood veneer with cork backing and clicking system. Available through Handwerk, Las Vegas, NV; (702) 882-5632 or 
