Home & Style

Design Scout: Wood Accents

These sleek pieces naturalize interiors without sacrificing urban polish.

Singgih Kartono Desk Set
T-shape joints and two-tone hardwood give these Indonesian-designed and -constructed office accessories a retro feel, but the smooth lines ensure a look appropriate for the modern-day work space. The set includes a tape dispenser, stapler, envelope, and a pen/card holder.

$75 at designpublic.com.

Pablo Duo Trash Can
Our respect for the wastebasket rose several levels when we came across this internationally minded piece. Made from Finnish birch by a Venezuelan-born designer, the Duo wastebasket is designed to resemble a blooming flower. Anybody else think it looks like a tulip?

$52 at lumens.com

 

Areaware Magno Wooden Radio
We know, we know—no one listens to radio anymore. Good thing this 1950s-style knob electronic transforms itself into an iPod speaker simply by attaching one little cord.

$195 at shophorne.com

City in a Bag
Though Muji, our favorite Japanese retailer of all time, sells these adorable wooden blocks as a children’s gift, we think they’ll look great scattered on bookshelves and coffee tables. Truth be told, there’s not a set for DC just yet, but recent Washington transplants and world travelers alike will appreciate the Tokyo, London, and Paris options. (Tokyo is pictured.)

$14 at muji.us/store.

Inhabit Living Even Steven Light
The best thing about this skinny lamp is that it’s completely customizable. Add, subtract, and rearrange the orange and walnut layers any way you please to create everything from a squat desk light to a full-length floor lamp.

 $218 at bobbyberkhome.com

Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.