insights 63

Nice travel (camera) bag from Kellymoorbag.com.

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Wireless outdoor speakers…but not theft proof.

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Plug and play patio ponds…so simple.

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Got $18.5 million lying around? This could be yours but note I live next door or it would coast $22.75 million.

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I’ve always loved these classic, simple wooden tools…now Martha can show you how to paint the handles.

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Automatic grill cleaner. Just in time for Father’s Day, I mean really?

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Architectural Digest is featuring this little get away on Long Island. From the Jazz era.

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Roll up mud guard. Another Kickstarter concept.

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No keys…just a smart phone. Another design by Yves Behar and Jason Johnson.

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Umbra introduces a wooden spoon that doubles as a stylus.

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Need a visual clue as to where you left your keys?

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Fast Company’s codesign.com is featuring this strainer-b0wl. This would be great for spinach or mac & cheese.

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What once was an WWII air base…

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At age 70, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has resigned. Read the whole article here at dezeen. Where is his yellow shirt?

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I had not heard of this company. But the offer some wonderful outdoor furnishings: Kingsley-Bate.

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New twist on the skylight.

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New sink from Blancoamerica.

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A solution called Walhub by upwell design.

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A fun new textile named “Bavaria” available through maharam.

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Tempting. The Pick camera for $60.

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Crab door knockers…and many other hard to find items at this location.

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Nice blend of materials, forms and colors…this line called “acrobat” is by Eva Craenhals.

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Bird house for cubist. This would look striking in your backyard given that nothing in nature is truly flat, or square.

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Great for the backyard where you don’t want caps lying around for bare feet to discover.

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The Bella Diamonds series available at JCP.com. I don’t know how easy these would be to clean, if the are thermal so bread bags don’t melt if they tough them, if there is any semantic function being hinted at or what…but there was something refreshing about this product line.

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We witnessed a lot of these in our local parade of homes…the sliding barn door (not the little Lego home).

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Good article on the importance of well placed lighting in kitchens.

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Remember the childhood song “there’s a frog on a bump on a log in the hole of the bottom of the sea…”

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Just in from the land of dreams…Porsche, built to order.

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And in almost complete opposition, consider the simplicity of these product from farmhousepottery.com. Do you know how hard it is to make something complex, simple?

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Sustainable wooden speakers for Peerless.

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From the “why didn’t I think of that file”. The doughnut float, with sprinkles.

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Backyard watering system…hydro-robotics.

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The new MacBook Air with a new Intel process called the “Haswell” and 12 hours of battery life.

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New theater-hotel by BCHO Architects.

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New Lego blocks enable addition of iPhones to your favorite stories.

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New sideboard at Normann Copenhagen.

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A candle in the dark. Balance Associates, Seattle.

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Mini iron for those on the run… and it’s not an app.

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Just a bunch of dots right?… the power of your mind and it ability to connect what it is seeing with what it has seen before.

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Writer’s retreat. Pure Michigan.

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Design Milk found this broken heart first aid kit. Of course one would need to insure its contents are always fresh just in case.

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The garage to a architecturally controversial house designed by MVRDV.

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Faux wood is getting more and more believable. And in some applications it makes good sense as indicated here at BHG.

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Giant beehive or chest of drawers? Built in China and designed by AZI architects.

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I believe I have mentioned him before, but from our “designers you should know something about” file: Jasper Morrison as featured at design boom.

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Even Prince Charles takes some heat when getting involved in residential development.

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Homes with indoor ponds. I love this idea be we have cats.

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New but rustic kitchen collection. Best of both worlds.

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The mail box and the bird house. Ether provide a safe place to explore design options but in this instance they are combined.

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More than just a GE Spacemaker.

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Almost like a redesign of the mousetrap.

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Briefcase unicycle. To funny.

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I just ordered one of these from OfficeMax.

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Cyclops lamps.

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If you think about the things in your office you are most “intimate with” you will probably conclude its your chair, and the organizers. I have been waiting for someone to design and offer a nice, warm wood collection of these. My day has come.

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No wonder Krispy-Kreme sales are down and the average American weight is up.

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Architectural Digest has this article on a true American Revival found in Virgina.

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Proof that age is just an attitude. These parents built a slide into their library for their kids.

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Thanks to this article at homedit.com I now know this special space in a home is called an “inglenook”.

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The e15 Bureau. Nice balance of mass, volume, weight and color.

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Wonderful little item. Notice the tiny little tail feather detail?

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I don’t know if this is a good thing or bad…offices with a view.

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I’m told…this is good advice.

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This is an Airstream. From Apartment Therapy’s small is cool 2013 contest.

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Nice collection of home offices found at Residential Architect.

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The “Ball” Guest chair.

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Overade’s folding bike helmet…a crowd sourced project from France.

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The NanoLeaf LED light bulb.

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The Stilo hand shower by Gingers.com. A unique shape for a shower head…more like a wand.

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The  new blender-do-all chef machine from Kenwood that can also cook while it does the other stuff.

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From the Lindal Cedar Home site. Not often to you see this color combo…in this order right? Usually it’s the cabinets that are wood and the walls white. Pleasant change and nice warm feeling.

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This…is a cake stand from Williams-Sonoma.

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You may have heard about this on NPR, a team at Harvard has developed micro robots. Dezeen picked up the article and has video footage of them in flight.

KBIS what’s hot in kitchen and bath report.

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Yanko Design is featuring a stroller they claim you will love. Did you ever see the movie Boy in the Bubble?

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Sherlock Holmes must have left this one behind…a new “time machine”.

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At a time when there is so much hard to hear news in the world, this article on our most colorful cities is a nice change.

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To further blur the distinction between furniture and architecture…and form vs. function. This dwelling could fuel a long debate.

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Fish Creek Studio; Jackson Hole, Wyoming by JLF Architects.

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The Dragonfly…according to Architectural Digest, will be available for charter starting this summer. Sorry, I have it the first week of August.

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Undeniably stable…apartment therapy has this cohesive collection of stools for you to check out.

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A new eco-tooth brush that allows you to keep the handle and toss the top. Much like a shaver. I have read about mountain climbers and backpackers who are perhaps a bit fanatical but would cut their tooth brushes off to save weight…now it’s a marketable trend.

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Yes…even a humidifier can be a thing of wonder.

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Cork and cork screw side table from Goncalo Campos Studio.

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impactful. Color saturation used to define space. The Designer Pad has more on this dwelling.

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Pine…the commodity wood…used here so tastefully. Proof again that it’s how the material is applied, not always the material that makes the difference.

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I didn’t know this, and just found out thanks to the Kohler Blog…but March 22nd is “world water day”. Being one who grew up in an area so dependent on the Great Lakes I thought this was worth mention.

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You have some dripping rain wear?…design milk found the impressive coat rack for you.

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And yet another pine ceiling…this must be the post for it…found at FreshHome.com in an article about island get a way’s.

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The updated porch swing from Paola Lenti (price available upon request…)

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I had guessed the plumber ran out of material but apparently I was wrong…this is available at a store in Miami.

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Keep an eye out for this light…I bet you will start to see it in a lot of “sets”. The Zeppelin light by FLOS.

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The “Weave” cupboard by Lukas Dahlen…the Danish continue to do wonderful things with wood.

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The Schoolhouse extension cord…this site is full of wonderful period pieces.

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The new Mercedes-SLS AMG GT Coupe…the gull-wing is back. I saw one of these the other night the dealership in our area…the picture does not do it justice, but it still isn’t a BMW Z8 or an Aston Martin 007.

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Michael Graves Design toaster. I was not that long ago he did a whole line for Target…but now this is available at JCP. Nice blend of semantics, architecture and some of his signature details.

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The Kohler Tresham line… the offering actually includes what they call “furniture”.

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The updated Whirlpool Duet… the original updated… with “adaptive technology” that senses the type of clothing it is cleaning.

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HGTV is featuring this home that contrary to how it looks is jam-packed with “smart” technology.

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Hillary Farr… “designer to know something about”.

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Kind of interesting… Airwicks is now offering a line that smells like your favorite National Park?

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Destijle inspired tables at designboom.

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A nice collection of bike accessories.

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From Germany of course.

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Proof they are growing in popularity… the omnipresent hedgehog.

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Sabrina Soto’s The High/Low Project… pretty helpful.

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“Bouy” floating dog toys.

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Until now you may have always associated simplehuman with stainless steel.

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This is a fun site… poppin.com.

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Minwax now has a wipe-on water based stain in a tube…perfect eco solution for the small projects.

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Great source for drum lights… but a bit pricy.

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And if drum lights are not your thing… how about these solar mason jar lights?…

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The team at FLOR’s blog Musing, has this article on adding greenery to your room to make it more livable… and the pet doesn’t hurt… well done.

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BHG and Pantone team up to propose the “spring hues” of the year.

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Yanko Design is featuring this new concept for the Dolli Camera.

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Talk about a room with a view… this apartment is overlooking Newport Beach.

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This…is a bottle opener… available at tag2u.com.

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Simplicity that could not have been simple to do.

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Accurately labeled “blissfully cottage bedroom”… proof that it doesn’t take much to pull off a very comfortable and successful space.

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Even Huggies is getting into the design thing… these are being promoted in a “designer tub” but note that I found this in a Canadian magazine so I don’t know if they are available in America.

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This is a pretty cool idea… a threat whistle case for you iPhone 5…glad it isn’t just another app.

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So… my daughter pointed this out… Target seems to be chasing Anthropology with its Threshold line, and JC Penny’s is chasing Target.

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Hand made.

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design insights: 59

The do all table trick.

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Some of these are a repeat…but follow this link to view some simple and clever shelving.

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Yes…this could be your back yard…but if you want to dream of others romantic places…check this out.

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I am opting to broaden the vernacular with this blog to include more than “modern”…in reality there are great things going on regardless of which style is your favorite. So…with that in mind, how about this classic French home’s pool?…coming home after a long day at the desk and diving in would be a complete day restart.

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All right…so maybe this one is only relevent if you live in Michigan…but here are some DIY projects that emphasis the use of “raw birch”.

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Wood in bathrooms is always a spooky proposition…but the effect is so inviting…see more here.

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Need some custom stickers?…try this site.

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I am not familiar with the Frank Lloyd Wright house but it’s on the market.

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Trend Hunter has collected images of several battery-powered scooters…so long blue smoke.

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Of course…tired of you spoon sliding around the rim or leaving a stain on your whatever?…lock it into place with this nice detail…like a fly-fisher’s drift boat provides a place to stand…so does this mug.

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Nice collection of, and celebration of the simple things.

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Rebirth of the leather suite case.

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New (to me?) watch company…Void.

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He’s back!

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Amazing before and after.

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The Dolphins get re branded…I guess I never knew the original had such an attitude…but I like the new one too.

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I was told not to play with my food…but maybe if I had I would have been an architect…or perhaps a city planner.

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design insights: 58

The extra room upstairs…the attic. Remember the forts we had has kids? And the intimate spaces that attics create, you wonder why anyone would build a house with 10′ ceilings. This article at FLOR’s Musing has several other images.

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Home Design Ideas has a nice collection of kids play rooms…one of the common themes is a lot of natural light. Truth and youth.

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Some wonderfully crafted elements from a studio in London.

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Fritz Hansen’s site.

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A new natural option for breath spray…“hello” products.

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Amazingly cleaver…a bathtub that articulates just to save water.

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A different way to look at skateboards…trendhunter.com.

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To be honest…I’m not sure how to say the name of the country this building is in but it reminds me of all the aged white birch trees I have come across while traversing through the northern woods.

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Large impression…small footprint…house in Japan.

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Interior Design Magazine “find”…the Diana Collection?

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Hidden secrets…a “cupboard” by Jean-Michel Frank for Hermes.

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Rethink the packing…make it part of the product. An article one of my fellow bloggers at EasyClosets forwarded onto me (Thank You).

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New tables…“blush” by Spell.

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The Blastmaster…let it rock and let it roll.

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On the border between the land of super simple and why didn’t I think of that…this idea from homedit.com.

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An exercise in truly understanding your materials…this “low rider” is discussed at designboom.

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Dwell just posted some very nice reminders that spring…is in fact on it’s way.

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Note to the readers…I am experimenting with some alternate news feeds. Google is shutting it’s down so bear with me as we make the transition.

Thank You.

design insights: 57

Non-handed table…wait…aren’t most?…this one is part of a series found at trendhunter.com.

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The new ad from BMW for it’s new run-flat tires…found at adsoftheworld.com. Wonder if they make flip-flops for kids too.

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A new house in The Hampton’s designed by Abiboo Architects was inspired by the pivotal motion of a Swiss Army Knife.

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Airberg…a new line of sofa’s that were inspired by iceberg’s for Jean-Massaud…how often does one actually see a iceberg?

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The REK bookshelf…by Reiner de Jong.

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Thin, small foot print, bamboo end table & magazine rack…found at The Shop.

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Designmilk is featuring this article that presents several nice spaces with just enough “accent” color to not dominate and allow the occupants to still have a voice…well done.

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Surprise…this is a Capital One office…so much for the gladiator thing.

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Not Chicago’s “chrome bean”…but equally as fascinating. This reflective pool of ideas is in France and designed by Fostner + Partners.

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Cordless water heater concept…if the cord were not coming out below the handle, this unit would be disguised well on your counter. Designed by Di Tao.

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From an article on “tiny houses” at gizmodo.com. Some…no way…some so sweet.

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Limited edition Maharam sofa by Hella Jongerius for Vitra. Designed to mimic the landscape of the Dutch Netherlands. It looks even better in the bigger photo.

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Pininfarina introduced this concept car at Geneva…no windshield…but it does come with crash helmets. It’s name sake Sergio Pininfarina has designed many, many cars that you would recognize, including many Fiat’s and Ferrari’s. This is about the close as you can get to riding a motorcycle with 4 wheels…and what it would feel like to be a dog with your head out the window.

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New location for rental units…this one called “the balancing barn”…I thought you were suppose to get comfortable and relax when on vacation?

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Meile (appliances) is introducing a new line of “bright white” to contend with the classic stainless steel…this is a sweet line of solutions.

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Put your pet to work…no batteries needed.

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The new Jaguar F-Type…the first 2-seater they have introduced in a long time.

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The internally illuminated sink…why not?

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A new line of clothing called Yosemite by James Perse of Los Angeles.

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Looking more like a weapon…the “citrus reamer” from neatlysmart.com.

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The Fridge Locker…as seen on TV!

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According to the Sherwin-Williams newsletter “Stir”…pastels are making a come back…just in time for Easter.

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A new clothing factory in Kanakapura…making what was once a sweat shop industry admirable again.

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Archidose is giving you the chance to voice an opinion on modern vs. traditional vernacular.

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Even the smallest of details…the strike zone on these match boxes by Shane Schneck becomes the element of beauty.

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New “lapel lamp” from Snow Peak…great for reading, fly-fishing or dining in the dark.

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Wonderful building designed by Carney Logan Burke Architects. This is the headquarters for the Rockefeller Preserve in Moose Wyoming. More here at designboom.

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design insights: 56

Just when several of us are feeling the first desires for spring gurgle up within our sole…the team at FLOR’s Musings blog finds this resort to share with us…in any weather this would be a great view to wake up under.

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“Bead lights”…by Marz…something you could fashion with the kid’s toys now that they are off to school.

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Nike uses 3D printing to protoype it’s new football shoe…seen here at codesign.com.

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New calendars by Block Design.

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Ceramic dog lamp…found at Dog Milk…it might be haunting to have this on your nightstand staring at you all the time but at least it is one terrier that doesn’t bark.

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Wonderfull series of simple architectural graphics by Andre Chiote.

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Fasinating traffic circle by Llublijana’s Enota. It also incorporates a water feature.

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Nice, warm and modern interior…I love the use of the little white figures through out the space. I found this artice at Home Designing.com but this design is by  Steve Leung Designers.

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More on the iWatch…this take is by Tolga Tuncer.

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Having a bed shapped like a rocket is one thing but this duvet takes it to the next level…outer space?

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Super simple “black desk”…maybe to simple…by Sigurd Larsen.

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The National Journal has some incredible photos of our White House.

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More here.

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Finally…a bottle opener iPhone case..a app they couldn’t figure out until now.

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Switch…the new bluetooth speaker.

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Traullit Dekor’s new wall tiles…at their site you can even create your own designs.

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Coke Light cans by Marc Jacobs…creative director.

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Simple form to match the simple setting…all leads to a simple life. Nice to come home to. A design by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects…I can’t figure out where this dwelling is but it appears to be somewhere in Europe with a view of the sea and the site I got the image from is ArchDaily.

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“Hillside Sideboard” for Arlex by Claesoon Koivisto Rune.

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A friend of mine at work showed this to me…a very memorable way to illustrate how much water the average person uses…without even knowing it…everylastdrop. Click on the link and watch the numbers add up.

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Yet another cool school…makes you want to be there…which is perhaps the idea. This one was designed by Arkitema Actitects, is located in Fredrikshavn, Denmark and the article on the space is at archdaily.com

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Homedit compiled a nice collection of unforgettable home offices…this one may be application specific but it takes formed plywood to a new level…wonder if it ships in one box?

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New way to conserve water…one of those “why didn’t I think of that” ideas by Kaspars Jursons.

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Wall dresser by Jacob Granat.

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I don’t think the birds care but this is a house with a view. The Pip-Pip bird feeder by SMD-Design.

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Somethings in nature are just so perfect, you shouldn’t even go there. A new height in GM foods.

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The GAF Viewmaster for the current centry. A 3D viewer for your iPhone by donya.

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design insight: 55

Presidents Day highlight…your own lovable USB drive found at Gizmodo. Just what you need…a president in your pocket.

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If any of you have ever camped and concluded that there is room for improvement and efficiency…here is an idea that might help. From mycampkitchen.com.

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Great concept for small spaces…like a cottage. Wouldn’t it be cool to be sitting at the breakfast table with a few others at your retreat, and see these doors swing open and the occupant peal out? Pinerest.

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Double-bladed-chopper-salad-tosser-thing…by Truedeau.

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Real Simple magazine has some good ideas for re-purposed common items.

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Designboom…super simple bike lights that are held together magnetically by kibisi.

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Sherwinn-Williams newsletter Stir has an interesting article on questions that help you understand your client.

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Graphically stricking…this building found at archdaily, has a very excentric design story…one that I can’t follow but it does make for interesting photos. Designed by Aires Mateus.

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Design semantics: a giant camera house found at designboom and designed by mA-style.

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A nice alternative for backyard illumination…a nice balance between the old rice paper ball and bare lamps. The Zero light.

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Beautifully geometric glass house…you provide the Windex. Found at Homedit, located in the Netherlands and designed by Hans van Heeswijk Architects. There are some surprisingly nice spaces in this dwelling.

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Folded metal boxes…modular and stackable in landscape or portrait fashion. Designed by Henriette W. Leth and available for $100 each at Normann Copenhagen.

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Designboom is featuring this “child’s innovation center” located in Valencia. The interior (although photographed prior to occupation) seems a bit sterile. Designed in a collaborative fashion by M2 distribución.

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Designed to specifically hold a MacBook Pro and an iPad…this new bag is from San Fransisco’s Crumpler.

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Designboom has a nice story and video clips on Porsche‘s 50 year celebration of the iconic “911″. What is so wonderful is that given a choice, I don’t know which of the two above I would choose.

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Pet crash dummy…tested by the people at sleepypod for their pet carriers.

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Swivel chair & desk combo. The designer calls it #006 SideSeat by Studio Makkink & Bey. Available from Proof.

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The team at FLOR’s musing came across this…an alternative to a steep stairs…now fill your arms with a big bale of laundry and give it a go.

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Just think of the aftermarket created to address the popularity of the Apple products…this one is pretty cool. available in several different colors at urban prefer.

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And speaking of Apple…how timely…first photos of the iWatch they are working on. Found at Yanko Design.

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design insights: 54

Great quote from the actor that played the role of “Hawkeye” on M*A*S*H. Hawkeye is also the name of my favorite book characters from the story Last of the Mohichan’s by James Fenimore Cooper and illustrated by N. C. Wyeth.

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A new “boutique” hotel for the Asian Pacific Group by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. The article at archdaily.com makes the point that this structure contends with the set back codes in a creative fashion. Taking in the view from one of the projected terraces would also make you feel like you are not just stacked up in a big block above, below and beside others.

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An exhibit from a photographer that has a unique eye…Ethan Pines.

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Yanko Design found this gadget called The “Mango” for you iPhone 5 (mango for you apple). I want one for my iPad…but…

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Kid’s scooter…available at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) store.

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Coated maple kitchen knifes….bringing a new level of warmth to what is traditionally a “cold tool”. Behance has the link to the source The FDRL in Canada.

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This reclaimed loft space highlighted at homedit and designed by sudio q-bic, illustrates a cleaver use of spent skids…but I also like the simple shelving that helps define the function of each zone.

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Although I can’t find it on their website…this concept for a pencil sharpener called “twist” is designed by Abhishek Anupam won the reddot award.

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Shay Alkaly’s “Raw Edges” piece…presented at the new DC International Design Festival by Established & Sons.

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One click poll.

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Valentine’s Day Special. This article by Architectural Digest features some tasty designs for chocolate stores. This one is for Royce in New York.

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The Contemporists found a cool “snuggie”…designed by Kumeko.

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The combination of the natural lighting, the setting and the architectural design of this place featured in Contemporist by the architects Tact, considering the rigidness of the forms that are used…I’m just wanting for my invention to show up.

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This website has an entertaining means of teaching you men how to thin down your wallet.

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Public Bicycle (the other company that Rob Forbes from Design Within Reach started) posts an event at Mission Bowling Alley.

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Surprise…the new Bugatti “Gangloff” concept car by Pawel CzyZewski, as featured at Yanko Design is actually a retro…and a member of the massive VW brand family.

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The team at the Designer Pad found this tastefully executed floating shelf desk thing designed by Dario Antonioni. The expression of the material as part of the design is reminiscent of the early Eames formed plywood work.

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A good source for face jewelry…Lookmatic.

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Hafia House by Pitsou Kedem Architct. So simple an organizational system yet so at home in this dwelling.

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The Quarry Bookshelf by Shawn Henderson. Thick…thin.

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Foldo light by Tinkk-Studio…the lampshade is functioning as both the lamp shade and the light.

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What makes true love (or a good ad campaign)…according to Tiffiany.

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One path leads to another at homedit.com.

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This exercise in simplification only works with brands you know…that…is power.

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After a long stance defending turbo diesel as the future, designboom is highlighting VWs new e-Bugster. Wasn’t there a period when we all had electric bug zappers dangling in our back yard?

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Looking for a nice place to partake in a special Valentine dinner?…how about The Fog City Dinner.

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Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels…Los Angeles, California. With just a little imagination, the lighting looks like celestial being drifting through the space, hovering just above you.

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