Bruno is probably the smartest trash can in existence. Sleek and minimalist, it is filled with amazing tech: it has built-in charging and filter, hands free sensor, it even alerts you when it is time to take out the garbage or buy garbage bags. But the beast feature of all is the integrated vacuum, allowing you to sweep the floor and automatically deposit debris directly into the trash bag. Neat! See the piece in action after the break. Available for purchase here.
Here is a new exciting Kickstarter campaign that has arrived just in time for warm weather and outdoor fun. Leano, half picnic mat, half lounging chair, all awesome. This instant portable seat is cleverly designed from waterproof fabric and wooden frame. The backrest is created via two wooden pegs, and your own bum acts as a counterweight. Brilliant and simple. The piece is lightweight enough to carry around, so, whenever you find yourself in a picturesque outdoor location, you can roll Leano out, pull the backrest up, and start lounging. Like a boss. Available for purchase through Kickstarter.
– The best of Hubble photos. Mesmerizing.
– This instructional photography infographic is amazing.
– Adorable oil diffuser. Cumulus.
– I’m not the biggest fan of insects, but this nature video is awesome.
– How to pull out car from a frozen lake. Watch.
– Want! Hand-tattooed iPad keyboard.
– Fascinating article about a man who drank cholera and launched the yogurt craze.
– Speaking of living small. A tiny model village in Gloucestershire.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
This is why I love technology. The little things… Bed Light by e3light makes your floor illuminated as soon as you get out of bed, adding safety and ambiance to the space. You can use these sensory lights in other rooms as well, even in the closet (especially, in the closet). Available for purchase here.
Every time spring arrives, so does my obsession with barbecued food, and with it, my quest for finding a perfect compact indoor/outdoor grill. These two serious contenders, Caliu and Terra, were created by the German design duo Bahí & Güell. Aesthetically appealing as they are compact, both pieces can be used in the tiniest of spaces. Assembled and disassembled in minutes, they can be stored neatly till the next grilling season. The Caliu model, which is a slightly bigger one, comes with several very clever attachments. Watch the video after the break to see them in action.
Remember Urbio? They came up with a new, even more user-friendly line, called Perch. The principle is the same as the previous system, only now the panels can be attached to the wall via damage-free Command Strips. Perfect for renters and power drill challenged. The storage containers vary in size, allowing you to build many configurations. Watch the video after the break to see the installation.
Architects Braden Caldwell and Michael Chen of MKCA studio (the creative force behind such brilliant project as Partywall and Unfolding Apartment), unveiled a new inventive New York micro dwelling. Five to One apartment contains the necessary functional and spatial elements for living, working, sleeping, dressing, and entertaining, plus kitchen, dining, and bathing spaces, all within 390 square feet. This was made possible thanks to a motorized sliding storage element, that glides from one end of the room to the other, revealing and exchanging spaces between daytime and nighttime zones. As the moving volume pulls away from the wall, it opens a dressing room zone with built-in dresser drawers and clothing storage. Fully extended, the space for a queen-sized fold-down bed is created. The TV set rotates 180 degrees for viewing from the seating area, or the bed and dressing rooms. When the bed is closed the bedroom space is returned to the living and working spaces of the apartment. A pair of white sliding doors open up either the desk or the entertainment area. A dedicated dining area, large enough for four people, was created adjacent to the living room. In spite of the modest size of the place, the kitchen is quite spacious and contains generous storage. The crisp whiteness of the walls and other structural elements of the apartment contributes to the illusion of a much bigger space.
Photography by Alan Tansey
Kitchen that is the size of a luggage? Yes, please. Perfect for studio apartments, this creation from Ana Arana provides an island for cooking and eating anywhere in your home. All essential components of a traditional kitchen are stacked in one small and versatile piece. Here is how designer describes it: “As a response to this growing trend of compact changeable lifestyles Gali is a revision of the kitchen. It is an essential part in the house but sometimes it occupies a space that not everyone would use in the same way. Gali is the intention of letting each individual distribute their space as wanted, having everything necessary to cook when needed but allowing the living space to embrace new possibilities.”
– Hilarious. Fake self-help book covers.
– This versatile table by Offi is all kinds of awesome.
– A big collection of cooking techniques vids (via swissmiss).
– Fascinating and beautiful. Life of Cats at Japan Society Gallery.
– OMG, finally. A USB charger in a coverplate – no wiring.
– The Leviathan. An amazing sci-fi short.
– What Happens When Lava Meets Ice? Wow science.
– Stunning wave photography by Ray Collins.
Have a sunny weekend, folks!
This studio in Manhattan, NY, is only 340 square feet. Designed by Allen + Killcoyne Architects, it is an epitome of pragmatic approach to space. In spite of its modest size, the place looks airy, all thanks to the clever color scheme and thoughtful space-saving accents. The kitchen is angled around the bathroom unit, and it actually boasts some counter space – a true luxury in shoebox living. And so is storage, which is also plentiful here. Floor-to-ceiling closets and multiple built-ins take full advantage of the ceiling height. See more photos and a floor plan after the break.
