the trend
Rock your table Among the pale and pretty tableware showing up for spring and summer, Z Gallerie has updated the golden-bronze Pebbleware dinnerware pieces it introduced this fall in a color called "antique turquoise" that evokes the colors of beach glass. The pieced-glass items have a lustrous sheen and mimic the uneven texture of river rocks; they are available as a 13-inch charger and 11.2-inch dinner plate, plus a salad plate, cereal bowl, assorted serving and accent pieces (pictured). Think of it as semi-functional artwork -- they are not dishwasher- or microwave-safe. Sold in sets of four, about $52 to $80, at www.zgallerie.com; they can be purchased individually at the retailer's Woodbury Lakes location, 9020 Hudson Rd., No. 403, Woodbury; 651-702-0094.
KIM YEAGER
Shoe biz Who says a pile of shoes on the back-door rug can't be a home accessory? A new line of tennis shoes in Pantone's signature colors is too fun not to mention. The "09/63" Collection is named for the date that Pantone, the color standards provider for the design industy, introduced its color matching system. It collaborated with shoemaker SeaVees to produce the sneakers in seven vintage colors: Pantone numbers 274, 322, 391, 170, 433, 587 and 427. (Or, for nondesigners, specific shades of purple, teal, lime, orange, gray, yellow and buff.) Sized for men and women, at $125 a pair at www.pantoneuniverse.com/portal.htm. Pantone is also paying homage to 1963 another way: It produced only 1,963 pairs.
KIM YEAGER
