swiss.army

Found on The Fancy, this Prehistoric Swiss Knife from Jay Mug is an awesome concept. If the designer starts selling this awesome toy, gift, and, arguably, tool, I'm down to buy.

spinning.tops

Tobyšlo's Spinning Top Diamond Collection is the latest modern reimagination of a classic product Found on MocoLoco, the tops symbolize opulence in shape and offer an embedded diamond; symbolism vs. actuality, depending on your budget. Three students at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague designed the piece and price is available on request.

modern.dolls

It's amazing that this is already my second doll house I'm posting on my blog. Doll houses aren't something I traditionally associate with modern design but designers have been pumping out some neat toys. The Bennett Doll House by Brinca Dada, found on The Fancy, is a lot more practical and realistic than the previously featured A Doll’s House for Clementine. I suggest checking out Brinca Dada's website for two additional house designs for sale, along with a furniture set and wooden people. The price on the Bennet House is TBD but their other houses are $149 and $299, suggesting the doll house will be within the range of rational and affordable.

henge.pong

The HENGE Outdoor Ping Pong Table, found on The Fancy, is a rough and industrial table that will survive all the elements. The company is an approved vendor for the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department and recently donated a table to the Tompkins Square Park. I'm not sure if government affiliation enhances or diminishes credibility but HENGE had professionals guarantee that the return bounce on this unique surface is the exact same as indoor tables. I'm sure it'd be fun to have an authentic experience transported outdoors but you better own your own shipping company if you're not in New York.

black.jack

The Monochromatic Deck of Cards from Gent Supply Co. is an awesome set that outstrips other modern interpretations. Found on The Fancy and available for $16.50, it's not surprising that both black and white editions are currently out of stock.

foosball.table

This foosball table is almost too perfect to use. Found on The Fancy, the table -- simply called "11" -- features "atmospheric lighting" and chromed metal players. Perfect for adding pizzaz to the game room, you might need to sacrifice a few other games in order to pay the €48,500 price-tag. With the company based in the Netherlands, the table is not a last minute gift. Hand-production takes 12 weeks but the final product is one of a kind. If table games spark your interest, check out the previously featured Lux Minimalist Foosball Table and Puma Chalk Ping Pong Table.

cb2.robot

This robot from CB2 is made from antique-finished recycled iron and features a salvaged meter in lieu of heart. While the meter doesn't tick, the arms move and each $19.95 robot is unique. I previously featured the Flying Saucer Bowl Set by Museum of Robots and the two would go together well.

third.dimension

I've always been a huge fan of coffee table books (see Room With a View) but this book breaks the mold. Found on Uncrate, 3DD: A 3-D Celebration of Breasts is fairly well defined in its title. Available for $19.77 on Amazon, a review notes that the website only provides simply cardboard glasses. Bought for an extra $10 on the 3DD website, you can buy straight from the source and receive the same plastic aviators shown below.

Updated: 28 February 2010
Buy the 3D Glasses Necklace by Design Glut to complete the set. Designed by Liz Kinnmark and Kegan Fisher and found on MocoLoco, the jewelry piece is one part of their new collection.

dumb.bells

Unlike most exercise equipment, the stainless steel Menu Magnetic Dumbbells should not be stowed when not in use. The two dumbbells look great  when intertwined but equally aesthetic when apart. Each piece weighs one kilo (about 2.2lbs.) and could double as a paper weight. I previously featured Menu's Steel Shoe Horn and the two have a very similar appearance, though completed unrelated purposes. Nonetheless, the dumbbells are available on panik-prefers for $180 and come in handy when time is too limited for the gym.

bob.sled

While every other company is producing their annual ornament, Porsche Design recently released what's becoming their annual event: sleds. Last year they produced the Aluminum Sledge for about $440 but the Porsche Design Bobsleigh (found on Uncrate) for roughly $265 provides an alternative that leaves money for hot cocoa after the event. I can't imagine the hill will feel much different but you'll definitely find yourself uncommonly worried about nicks and scrapes.

three.dimensional

The holiday season is coming up and vacations/celebrations equal new big-budget films. With Hollywood doing better this year than last and 3D movies proving wildly successful, it was inevitable that designers would take advantage of the opportunity. Found from a WSJ video, you can now look great while watching a movie (when no one -- absolutely no single person -- is looking at you). Designers are coming out with their own high-end 3D glasses that range from Armani Exchange's $58 aviators (available in December) to Gucci's $225 (better?) aviators (also available in December). Oakley falls somewhere in-between with their $120 rendition of their popular Gascan sunglasses (which normally run $90 for non-polarized). Not featured are Calvin Klein's 3D sunglasses with styles distinctive for both women and men, and Oakley's special edition Tron sunglasses for the upcoming movie premiere on December 17th. Unfortunately, your ticket price will still include a premium for the cheap plastic glasses you don't take but maybe in the future the charge will be separate, thereby adding justification to the splurge.

doll.house

A Doll's House for Clementine was designed by TDO Architecture and commissioned by Wallpaper*. The house was designed vertically to accommodate easy interaction at all levels and the home effectively creates a "mini modernist world." When closed, the doll house becomes a gently luminescent lamp which counteracts the space lost for an unusually large toy. While not available for sale, the doll house gives an interesting base concept for the design of future creations.

white.cracker

These white nutcrackers from West Elm benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The small white nutcracker runs $29.00 and the "oversized" is available for $59.00. West Elm will donate $5 and $10, respectively, and the decoration adds some festive, if not monotone, spirit for the upcoming holidays.

ping.pong

The Puma Chalk Ping Pong Table popped up on Uncrate the other day and it seems the shoe company is joining the ranks of Audi and Porsche in breaking their own boundaries. Puma already has more than 300 pairs of mens shoes for sale on their website so why not take advantage of the designing resources and branch out into product design?  The $3,900 table was designed by Aruliden and features a ceramic chalk top that allows players to keep score and/or doodle. Cooler yet,  the net is made of a steel chain-link. The storage underneath is convenient, the wider net practical, and the overall aesthetic beautiful and modern.

bocce.ball

Chanel comes out with a range of outdoor sports gear each year and the latest is their futuristic bocce ball set. There's little information on the Chanel website but the translucent bocces make a beautiful collection perfect for a beautiful day. I know I'd be a little scared to roll them across the lawn into each other, but on the flip-side, this set is stunning enough to replace golf as the new game of business deals.

ultimate.friend

FAO Schwarz has been offering a Make Your Own Monster Kit for a while but today I discovered the Toy Travel Agency and thought they were the perfect match. The FAO Schwarz kit costs $249.99 and provides all the materials to design your own stuffed animal. Simply mail the materials back and your 20" monster will return in 8-10 weeks. On Luxist.com, I discovered a nice complement to your unique friend where a small fee will get your stuffed animal a full-fledged vacation. The trips range from $120 - $200 and photographers capture your pet at some of the world's most famous landmarks. Whether you want to pay extra for the incense and candle massage is up to you, but by this point you've probably spent about $400 on your animal so you might as well go all out.

sterling.bank

Sometimes you need to spend money to save money - as is the case when buying a nice new wallet or safe - but Tiffany's Rocket Ship Bank is a reverse hybrid of the two, not nearly as convenient as a wallet nor secure like a safe but redemption is found in craftsmanship and design. The sterling silver bank measure 9.5" high and makes a great present for oneself or another if you have $1,975 to buy a house for your coins. The bank was found on Silver-Rockets.com, a neat website dedicated to embracing "the fantastic aspects of spaceflight, as well as the realities."

retro.camera

I want an SLR but its bulky inconvenience will keep the camera at home on most occasions. In pursuit of the perfect camera, I found the Pentax Optio I-10 on Uncrate.com. For $300 the Pentax brings retro styling into the modern 12.1-megapixel camera. Available this month, the camera features a leatherette front panel and a 5x wide angle optical image stabilized zoom. Its abilities aren't spectacular but if you want an inexpensive option that sets you apart, the Pentax has it all.

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.

zontik.games

Zontik Games offers luxury entertainment for everything from gambling to board games. Their website is a general recommendation if you're looking for a present that says more money is better fun, but price tag aside, their products are attractive and made with incredible quality. Some products, such as the leather Rubik's Cube for $155 or the Swarovski Crystal Dice Set in an Alligator Case for $95, are within reach - others, such as the dominoes ($10,290) and checkers ($8,790) sets designed by Deuce, take a larger investment. The dominoes set features leather dominoes in optional colors, silver-plated brass pins to open and close the magnetic doors, and a case of waxed ebony pear-tree or black-lacquer beech. The checkers set also features leather pieces available in optional colors as well as silver-plated brass accents and a magnetic closing. The board is available in black-stain varnish, waxed pear-tree, or ebony with pear-tree or bone inlays.