Scandinavian designers have got it. They know exactly how to create and manufacture a piece of furniture that does what it’s supposed to but looks beautiful at the same time. Neither form nor function is better than the other. Both work in tandem in Scandinavian design. The Around Coffee Table from Muuto, designed by Thomas Bentzen, is full of the basic thesis of Scandinavian design. By Bentzen’s own admission, the table is functional, simple, and meets the human need it was designed to be attentive to. Continue reading →

Like a brand new bird cracking its shell or flying off from its nest, Lampe Oiseau is a brilliant pendant design that seems to symbolizes the pull of home and the appeal of leaving. The outer surface of the pendant is completely smooth like the calcified exterior of a shell or freshly-fired pottery. Inside is wood resembling the leaves, twigs, and sticks that birds collect to form the skeleton of their nests. Continue reading →

In this age of multi-purpose devices, smartphones and the like, there should be no reason why we still have two trash receptacles, one for waste and one for recycling. The Basketbin by Konstantin Slawinski was designed to simplify our disposal, combining food waste and recycling into one utility. Continue reading →

While they may be the least obviously glamorous styles of design, the Mid-Century and Danish Modern habits are superior to any frilly competitor. The Council Chair is just another example of how these two techniques rival anything, because they are whole, without any confusing additives and adornments. Continue reading →

Now that I’ve seen the Hollow-Core “Connect It” Desk I can honestly say that Brookstone has succeeded in every way with nerdy design. The Connect It Desk is tailored for interfacing with digital devices. A section of the desktop opens to reveal a special spot for cameras, smartphones, or tablets where they can connect to integrated power. Cables are kept orderly, and devices are kept out of your way – the perfect solution for uncluttered small spaces. Continue reading →

Designed by Konstantin Slawinski, the EL is a shapeshifter if it is a piece of furniture. Combination bookcase, table, cabinet, drawer, and counter, it is a chameleon of a desktop utility. The EL’s sectional module gives you the ability to shape and reshape the pieces to whatever configuration you need. Continue reading →

I love this concept and its realization that varies for each individual. Nikola Saric dresses spaces, much as a suit clothes us in our very own personal style. Particularly he dresses the walls which define the boundaries of rooms. Wallsuit attempts to redefine your lifestyle by crafting your personal story for your home. Continue reading →

While I was raised on the ball-shaped, black Weber charcoal grill, I will argue that I should have been raised on the Artisan Wood-Fired Pizza Oven and Smoker from EcoQue. There is plenty of enjoyment from turning barbecue chicken and hamburgers on a charcoal grill, but as my appetite for diverse dinners increases, the impressive pizza oven and smoker is all that will satisfy me now. Continue reading →

Let us begin with a lesson in aesthetics. There is a German term that refers to an ideal work of art. Gesamtkunstwerk, hopefully I still have your attention, is a completely realized artistic vision. A painting that reflects everything the artist imparted through the brush. An unveiled skyscraper the architect has complete confidence in. And for famed Danish designer Finn Juhl, it is the FJ Panel System. Continue reading →

Hovering like a UFO from the ceiling, the Juicy Pendant is a smooth teardrop of a light designed by Salto & Sigsgaard. Consisting of a wire, cone, and shade section, the pendant distributes diffuse illumination like the classic icons of Mid-Century lighting. Continue reading →