CONTENTS Battle of the Box Sets Entertainment Gadgets Gear Style Interiors Furniture Kids Books Revel in Relics Kitchen Food and Drink Body Frivolous

BY RICHARD MARTIN AND LAUREN RUBIN Salvage 'n' Shelve When literary environmentalists discovered that reading their beloved books meant killing trees, publishers responded by printing on recycled paper. But the thorny issue of storing books on wooden shelves remained--until now. With a recycled bookshelf ($240, Salvage Works Furniture, 1520 NE Alberta St., 493-0623, open by appointment; also available at a holiday sale Dec. 4-6 at the Snake & Weasel, 1720 SE 12th Ave., 232-8338) green-minded readers can place their tomes on handsome units made from salvaged materials. Local craftsman Preston Browning culls scrapped linoleum, wood, hinges and doorknobs from the Portland homes he works in as a carpenter. The reworked bookshelves often incorporate weathered wood panels, polished linoleum and antique molding. These shelves allow us to expand on an age-old adage: Reading--and recycling--is fundamental. (RM) For the Birds A 19th-century cathedral is the ideal nesting spot for a canary--especially if it doubles as a decorative table for that hard-to-fill spot in the corner. Even if no one you know has a bird, this birdhouse table ($1,395, Stars Northwest, 305 NW 21st Ave., 220-8180) would make for a magnificent piece in any room. Standing more than four feet tall and crafted from teak and wire, it's an intricately carved reproduction of a European church and looks like something straight out of a Brontë novel. With four delicate latch doors, a hidden drawer and five majestic rotundas, this gift would make anyone sing. (LR) A Table Made of Coffee? It's one of those philosophical enigmas: If the table is not made of coffee, why is it called a coffee table? Freud might think the nomenclature has something to do with repressed memories of childhood longing for a mother's percolating lap. That's probably not what Charles and Ray Eames were thinking in 1946, when they designed the molded plywood coffee table ($555, Full Upright Position, 1101 NW Glisan St., 228-6190), a masterfully simplistic and artful item that's acquired the nickname "the dish"; the slightly recessed top rests on four legs that jut out at the slightest angle. Conceived in the early post-war era as a table that could be mass-produced (and mass-purchased) by a function-over-form-minded public, the Eames piece has taken on a slick retro look suffused with a postmodern edge. Available in natural or ebonized ash, this is one coffee table that overcomes any etymological concerns. (RM) Surf in Style A battle takes place each night in homes across this great nation, an emotional struggle between man and sofa. "Why can't these cushions be more luxurious?" thinks the avid couch surfer as he settles in for a night in front of the tube, shuffling around in a vain attempt to find a soft spot. Ah, but he'd be more comfortable on a seven-foot, aubergine velvet couch ($1,999, Guilt, 226 NW 12th Ave., 219-9554). This one-of-a-kind sofa will inject so much life into a living room that even a TV junkie will prefer to settle in with a book and relax in the stylish fabric. This and other reupholstered sofas ($800 and up) make perfect gifts for those who've settled on a futon or garage-sale throwaway. In fact, some may find they won't want to share the space with their dog, because a sofa can be man's best friend. (RM) Treasure Chest Remember rummaging through Grandma's old hope chest in the attic and finding pictures of her first love, reading her diaries and dressing up in her clothes? Well, hope chests aren't only for grandmas, and not everyone is going to inherit one. Give that treasured lover or daughter of yours the perfect vessel for storing memories--a rustic pine trunk ($190, Cotton Cloud, 1916 NE Broadway, 335-0758). Made from ponderosa pine and sealed with hearty iron latches, the trunk smells like freshly chopped evergreen. Before you start wringing your hands about all the pristine wood cut down to make this furniture, relax. All materials used are recycled. (LR) "Excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable..." Sounds like an exciting evening ahead, but what if these words were coming from your couch instead of your lover? With Quick, a new line of furniture by Natuzzi, couches that change clothes (Hip Furniture, 1829 NW 25th Ave., 225-5017) are becoming a reality. Quick sofas ($1130) and chairs ($875) come with zippered and Velcroed covers that are a cinch to remove. Unlike standard-issue slipcovers that give couches wrinkled elephant legs, these superior covers supply a smartly tailored fit. Each piece of furniture comes with one slipcover, but additional covers may be purchased separately. Colors include crimson, winter white, indigo and pale yellow. (LR) Father Time A clock crafted by Dr. Seuss isn't too hard to imagine: It would be a bit lopsided, vibrantly colored and far kookier than any cuckoo clock. A timepiece built by Oregon's own Gideon Hughes looks much the same. Inspired by the bedtime stories he tells his children, Hughes built a grandfather clock that bears no resemblance to staid walnut monoliths. The outhouse grandfather clock ($9,750, Twist, 30 NW 23rd Place, 224-0334) is a functional and fantastical work of art likely to amaze kids of any age. The clock is made of milk-painted beechwood and ersatz "found" objects such as a rusted roof, textured shingles and random screws. Looking at this clock is even better than watching Dr. Seuss videos. (LR) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published December 2, 1998