Thursday, January 28, 2010

polaroid.mirror

Simple and unique, the Polaroid Mirror is a convenient desk accessory that mixes American icon with self-vanity. Available for $23 on Design Boom, the mirror will keep you "fresh-to-death" after hours at the desk.




Tuesday, January 26, 2010

clamp.lamp

There are plenty of attractive lamps available but kudos to the desk lamp that doesn't take up limited desk space. The Artemide Talak Clamp Lamp is an attractive and slim lamp that clamps to the side of your desk, saving you from accidentally knocking your $457.60 lamp off the desk or competing for space. Unlike most modern lamps, the Artmide Talak Clamp Lamp doesn't use LEDs but instead utilizes an energy efficient T2 fluorescent light source. Designed by Neil Poulton, the lamp can be adjusted vertically and horizontally, rotate 360 degrees, and uses die-cast aluminum, polished chrome steel, and white matte powder for a coated finish.



Thursday, January 21, 2010

edgy.comfort

These chairs have been getting a lot of coverage on blogs for some while, and being lukewarm on the overall design, I decided that the edginess definitely prevails over my hesitations on the basic form. The Divine Lounge Chair from Ventury Paris, found on Late Mag, is simple at first glance but the legs give the chair understated greatness, contrasting simplicity with French elegance. If you're interested in buying one or two new lounge chairs, Ventury Paris asks you to contact them directly. If you want your home to be stylish without outlandishness as a means, these lounge chairs will achieve your ends.






Wednesday, January 20, 2010

designer.lighting

Lighting is something that is particularly fascinating because of the endless designs, illusions, concepts, colors, and effects. While on Trendir I came across these light fixtures by Punto Zero. Whether a stand alone item or stationed in the wall or ceiling, Puntozero's fixtures are sculptures of art in their own right.





dog.bed

A pet isn't necessarily for everyone, but these dog beds could be for every pet. Found on Late Mag, each bed gives a touch of personalization with your choice of color for the cushion and acrylic. Available in three different sizes, the Mija Bed from WOWBOW ranges from £690.00 (about $1,110) for the small to £1400.00 (about $2,250) for the large. The beds are available in six different color options for the acrylic and seven for the cushion, providing enough options for any room scheme. Additionally, WOWBOW offers accompanying "dining tables" that range from £155 (about $250) to £290 (about $470), depending on the size, allowing you to get a complete and matching set.






Tuesday, January 19, 2010

contemporary.closets

There has been a rising push for larger closets whose improved spaciousness provides better organization and makes wardrobe decisions easier. The following closet by Spazzi offers glass walls, plenty of space, extra light, and seating to admire your collection. Found through Trendir, the Spazzi website offers a small gallery showcasing their work.


shower.cubicle

I've featured a doorless shower in the past but my main complaint was a lack of steam to keep you warm. The Revolution by Carmenta not only eliminates this problem but takes it to the other extreme. Offering a shower, dry sauna, and steam bath, you won't need to worry about the steam escaping. Available in four different sizes, the shower was found on Tendir with more information available at the Carmenta website.












Monday, January 18, 2010

warm.towels

Sometimes nothing beats a hot shower but getting out can be a drain. Ha, get it? To make the transition a little easier and a lot more luxurious, a modern electric towel rack/warmer is a great addition to the bathroom. The first towel rack is the Amba Heated Towel V-2346 Vega Hardwire and comes in at $1,997.50 while the Glascia by SKOPE doesn't offer a listed price. Despite only showing concept photographs, the SKOPE website gives contact information to find the closest store if you'd like to see it in person, suggesting the final product has been actualized.




Sunday, January 17, 2010

steel.straw

People are always trying to match drinks with themes, but too oft they forget to match everything else. The Stainless Steel Straws will fit any sheek gathering and at $12.99 for a pack of four, it still makes a social night at home cheaper than going out. Reusable with "years of drinking fun," the 9" straws are available at After 5.




custom.font

If you like typing more than writing but enjoy the personalization of your own handwriting, Fontifier merges the two to make an inexpensive hybrid. For $9, you can print a character template, fill in the letters with your own handwriting, scan it back to your computer, then preview and buy your new font, allowing you to save it in your computer settings and use anytime in any application. If you'd rather stick to the work of experts, buy the Periodic Table of Typefaces for a practical reference that doubles as art.


ink.calendar

The Ink Calendar by Oscar Diaz is a fun concept to change your perception of time. According to Dezeen, the calendar "enhances the perception of time passing and not only signaling it." As the paper absorbs the ink, the dates are highlighted throughout the entire month until it's time to update your wall art. Each month comes in a different color corresponding to the weather and mood of each month, ranging from deep blue in December to red in the summertime. It's probably not fun to change your calendar each month, but like a good timepiece, it's going to take a little manual labor to keep the clock ticking.






Saturday, January 16, 2010

tube.chandeliers

The Neoline Chandeliers by Boa Design, found on Dezeen, are fixtures using borosilicate glass tubes. Specifically designed with hotels and restaurants in mind, a big enough room could accommodate the fluid lines and modern touch. They're not available at the retail level but I'm sure the right price can guarantee you the unique home addition.




d

maserati.grancabrio

The new Maserati GranCabrio, found on Luxist, is a beautiful new convertible available for $135,800. I'm not going to list all the features, since the available customization, powerful engine, and advanced technology seem to come standard (that is, limitless) once you reach the six-figure club, but Maserati's own personalization options are available through Atelier Maserati. If you like the curves and looks, I'm sure the car's handling and features will only complement the aesthetics.




Friday, January 15, 2010

acrylic.furniture

Acrylic furniture (in particular, seating) isn't always the most practical option, but it definitely has an aesthetic appeal. Available from Spectrum West, you can buy one or two pieces of acrylic furniture to add a splash to your current collection. The table on bottom runs for $1,925, a lot cheaper than most quality modern designs but still denting the pocketbook.






periodic.font

The Periodic Table of Typefaces lists 100 of the most popular fonts, acting as a unique gift or a great bedroom addition. Is font really this important? Read Typeface Designers Wrestle With the World of Pixels by the NYTimes and hear about the difficulty in creating a new font or read about the outrage when IKEA dropped Futura. Helvetica, one of the most famous fonts, has it's own movie and was featured in the MOMA for it's bicentennial birthday. Go to Squid Spot to see multiple links for various designs and a link to print your own copy.


Thursday, January 14, 2010

glass.bag

The Unzipped Glass Bag is its own "designer bag," taking the simple-everyday and turning it into a point of conversation. Whether you use it for a fish or food, or a variety of other uses, the glass bag is a great addition to the office or home. Available for $27.50 on PureModern, it was designed by Liz Goulet Dubois for Fred Studio and features hand-blown borosilicate glass.




bugatti.pen

If your quest for modern has you shunning the classics (see Mont Blanc), then this Bugatti Pen by Ferrari da Varese is your best bet. According to Luxist, the pen is "crafted of aluminum, and then coated in nickel, sterling silver, palladium and platinum", features an 18-kt gold nib coated in rhodium, and displays a sapphire glass window in the barrel. The pens, both roller ball and fountain, will only have 499 produced and be available for $15,000.


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

alessi.vacuum

After you're done eating your homemade bread (made possible by the previous two posts), you need to make sure to clean up the mess. Alessi's handheld vacuum cleaner is available for $169 and has a fluid design that features 18/10 stainless steel. The mess might not be aesthetic, but the dirt collected runs perpendicular to the machine that grabs it.


kitchen.scale

To make the bread that prompts the beard bin purchase, you may want a kitchen scale that can accurately measure the precise weight of your ingredients. The electronic kitchen scale from Alessi is available for $169 and offers gram-by-gram measurements with inch-by-inch design.




bread.box

As much as I like fresh bread, I don't have the time to knead and let rise, knead and let rise. The few times I've baked from scratch I didn't have a place to store the left overs... so I ate them. With a modern Bread Bin from Morph, you can store your homemade or bakery bread, or simply remove the bag your store-bought arrived in. Available for $89.00 on Generate Design, the wood block serves as a cutting board, making eating as easy as storing.


wine.aerator

The Vinturi Wine Aerator and Tower add a dramatic flare to a routine glass of wine. Enhance the flavor of your favorite wine or make box juice feel classy. The actual aerator and tower are sold separately for $39.95 each  or you can buy them as a set for $69.95 on the Vinturi website.




Monday, January 11, 2010

crystal.globe


"I personally believe... that U.S. Americans are unable to do so... because... uh... some people out there in our nation don't have maps... and... uh... I believe that our education, like such as in South Africa and... uh... the Iraq, everywhere, like, such as... and I believe that they should... our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S... uh... or, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries... so we will be able to build up our future... for our children."


Enough Said.
Desktop World Globe by Replogle Globes.





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Sunday, January 10, 2010

cigarette.case

Like a good wallet for your money, every good ciggy deserves a good home. This cigarette case by Stelton offers a sleek and modern design to personalize your little habit. Making cigarettes as cool as they were in the 50's, the case is as convincing as a vintage Phillip Morris ad.


skiff.reader

Pushing e-readers into their next generation, Sprint's new Skiff uses LG's "metal foil" technology and features Wi-Fi, a 11.5 inch, 1200 x 1600 pixels touchscreen display, built-in speaker, 3.5mm headset jack, and USB 2.0, according to Unwired View. Unveiled at CES, the reader will run on Sprint's 3G network but lacks color, something CNN reports the Sprint team is working on. The release date and price are still unavailable.