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Call us nitpickers or details people, but it's the little things in life—and in the food world—that get us excited. Whether it be an off-the-wall menu item, a particularly stylish bathroom or a restaurant's signature scent, we get stoked on the minutiae that makes our dining scene unique. Consider this the sacred space where we feel safe to express our current obsessions and openly explore our favorite things.
This week, it's notNeutral's new monochromatic Lino coffee mugs for Smithsonian.
What it is: If you drink craft coffee, chances are your lips have graced one of notNeutral's porcelain cups, which were made specifically for Intelligentsia in 2008, and have since been adopted as industry staples throughout L.A.—and across the globe. The white pieces are ergonomically designed to retain heat, deliver maximum flavor, and nestle comfortably in your hand, making them the ideal vessel for a well-sourced cup of Joe. Their sleek design is a real stroke of genius.
notNeutral—which is actually a offshoot of an architecture/design firm called Rios Clementi Hale Studios—has a local showroom next-door to Cafe Gratitude on Larchmont, where they sell unique housewares and tablewares with a playful yet functional sensibility.
Their shop is chockers full of swoon-worthy items, including their cityscape plates that feature an aerial grid view of the world's great cities (including our own!), and the aforementioned signature Lino line. Soon they'll also carry their new line of black-and-white Lino coffee cups, which are being created in partnership with the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. There are four different prints that come in a set, pictured above. And they are adorable.
Why it's rad: The four unique monochromatic mugs feature bold geometric designs from artists Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser made during the early 1900’s Wiener Werkstätte era. They're super mix and match friendly, and would go well with any sort of colorful statement piece or plain white dinnerware. When photographed with your morning coffee and brekkie, they make for a perfect Pin, and sip for that matter. (Hey, if it's good enough for Kyle Glanville, it's good enough for us.)
How much it'll cost you: A set of 4 dishwasher/microwave safe mugs will run you $68.
Where to find it:You can pre-order the mugs online here, or visit their store on Larchmont for more awesome items. (They will ship in one-two weeks when the line officially launches.)
