The air starts to smell of spring, bringing the anticipation of summer and beach grilling. And this product by Spanish design company RS Barcelona is a good way to prepare for the upcoming fun. Mon Oncle portable grill is small enough to be stored away without cluttering your space. I love the vintage flair and leather straps that are both cool and useful. Mon Oncle is perforated with tiny holes that allow air to flow easily, making it more powerful without overheating. The piece comes in gray, blue and green.
(via design-milk)
Organization nerds will appreciate this. Created by Seattle based studio Three by Three, these silicone organizers are perfect for busy people who don’t have a lot of space. Small and unobtrusive, these dry-erase planners can be attached to any smooth surface – wall, fridge, mirror, even window. They come in weekly, monthly, vertical and horizontal varieties. Each piece is easily cleaned and reattached. The planners can be supplemented by double-sided silicone sticky pads that hold small notes, staples, stamps and other lightweight items.
Plug Divider System by Estudio Ji gets a massive thumbs up from me. A rolling vertical unit that incorporates narrow slide-in shelves can function as a room partition or a desk accessory (or both). Perfect for zoning small spaces, the piece is light, both structurally and visually. I like how versatile it is. With the ability to support many different configurations, the Plug divider can be used virtually in any room. Designed by Jorge Frías Montes and Irene Zurdo Prieto. Made by hand in Spain.
(via mocoloco)
Another coat hanger caught my eye this week. This multifunctional piece has been envisioned by Portuguese-born and UK based designer Gonçalo Campos. In the Wallmonds hanger he created a solution for keeping things at hand, in a simple and elegant way. The wave-like curves allow you to hang your clothes and accessories, and the frame can house your mail, phone, keys and other small items. The hanger is made from birch plywood and treated with natural olis. Sold here.
This streamlined clothing rack, aptly called Line, is definitely a looker. Created by design studio Apartment 8 for home interiors brand Schönbuch, the piece appears more like an art object than a utilitarian item. Line features a pull-out hook for larger things like outerwear and a series of smaller hooks in the middle, for your bags, scarves etc. When not in use, Line folds completely flat, allowing flow even in a tightest areas of your apartment. The hanger comes in 44 colors, so it should seamlessly blend with any decor.
Here is an idea – instead of trying to fit all our pots and pans inside the cabinets, why not create pieces beautiful enough to display. The Hook cookware collection, designed by Karim Rashid for italian brand TVC, is meant to be out in the open. As the name suggests, each piece features a hook allowing us to hang it on the wall. There are several colorful options to choose from, so the kitchen never looks boring. A lovely aesthetic approach to saving space.
Here is a modern take on a hot water bottle. Designed by Masahiro Minami, this ceramic piece is an attractive and functional idea for emergency heating. The material is smooth, pleasant to the touch and safe due to its relatively low heat conductivity. The ceramic hot water bottle is easy to store, heat and reheat. A perfect way to keep warn if your power goes out.
(via yankodesign)
If you are blessed with a proper workspace at home – that’s fantastic for you. If not, check out this clever item by San-Francisco based studio iSkelter. Slate Mobile AirDesk is cut from a block of pure, renewable bamboo. It is ultra lightweight, strong, and it absorbs the heat from your laptop. The studio’s tagline “hand-built in America by people who give a damn” seems especially appropriate for this product. The curves, air ventilation, and docking station are chiseled, hand-sanded, and polished by hand to achieve the flawless look and feel. Nice. Available for purchase through Etsy.
Holiday food prep can be tough and stressful, but nothing takes the edge off it like the right tools. Consider this beauty – Epicurean Modular Cutting Board, versatile enough to prepare any meal, yet able to fit in the dishwasher and be stored easily. The piece is inspired by restaurant chefs and consists of two interlocking panels. One side of each panel is smooth, which creates a large flat prep area when they’re both used together. A juice groove sits on the other side of one panel and a bread surface on the other. Because the two parts of the surface are independent and two-sided, you can join them together in a variety of configurations to handle whatever tasks are at hand. Each piece can also be used alone. Perfect! A great gift for a cook on your list. Available for purchase here.
This serving and carving set by Norm Architects is a real lifesaver when you need to through an elegant soirée. Comprised of four stackable components, it allows you to cover several entertaining scenarios. Use the bamboo cutting board with its discreet center opening to allow liquids and juices to drip down into the tray and not onto the table. Place the cooling pad in the black melamine tray, then place the white porcelain dish on top to attractively keep foods chilled while serving. Or use the tray and dish separately for handling larger culinary presentations. When not in service all four pieces are compactly stacked within the serving tray for maximum space saving. Very clever. A great gift idea too. Available for purchase here.
