March 6, 2013

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This beautifully made coffee table has been created by Australian designer David Cummins. The piece is inspired by mid-20th century modernist aesthetic, which is a bit of a fetish of mine. I also like the small size of the table – only about 47 inches long and 16 inches wide. But in spite of its modest proportions the piece boasts ample storage, thanks to two generous drawers. A perfect little piece, that can lend an air of class to any dwelling. Bridge coffee table is handcrafted from solid Tesmanian Blackwood and finished with natural oil and wax.

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March 5, 2013

This stunningly minimalist small apartment in Thiseio, one of the oldest neighborhoods in downtown Athens, has been built by architect Werner Maritsas. Initially the tiny 32-square-meter space was divided into four rooms and a corridor. So, some serious wall breaking had to take place. “With the first look at the house, I realized the potential,” – says Werner. – To open all the space, to lighten the main area by allowing more natural light in and leading the view to garden was, for me, the only solution. In this spirit I’ve opened completely the house to the garden creating an indoor/outdoor effect and replacing the old light well walls with two floor-to-ceiling windows,  creating a more or less dual-light aspect.” Nearly all functional elements in this home exist in the form of built-ins. This approach eliminates visual clutter and creates unity of the surfaces, essential in a small space. Watch the video by Fair Companies to get the tour of the apartment and hear the history of this amazing reno. Also check out Werner’s website for the compelling before-and-afters.

March 4, 2013

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A few days ago I was talking about the alternatives to a traditional wallpaper. Here is one, that is as fool-proof as it can get – Tempaper. The idea for Tempaper was born when a group of set decorators for the film, television and entertainment industries decided to create a peel-and-stick wallpaper that was affordable, easy to install, and just as easy to uninstall. Because it’s self-adhesive, you can use the paper not only on walls, but on any smooth surfaces in good condition, such as doors, cabinet faces, ceilings, and paneling. Genius! It even comes in the DIY Art variety – a peel-and-stick wall covering that is blank and ready to take paint, crayon, pencil, marker, pastel and just about anything else. Perfect for kids and artsy adults. To install Tempaper remove the backing along the top edge and roll it down your wall, pressing with your hands to smooth it out as it sticks. No glues, pastes, water or brushes are needed. To take it off just pull from a corner and let it rip. See the video after the break for a demonstration. Available for purchase here.

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March 1, 2013

– Definitely backing up this great Kickstarter project – Connex modular wine rack.

Shaking dogs pictures. Enough said.

– Amazing – a pen that allows you to draw in 3D space.

– This transforming house is all kinds of awesome.

The world’s most expensive Starbucks coffee drink.

– Think your home is small? Look at Hong Kong’s illegal microapartments.

– Very clever. Can You See The Meaning of Life poster.

How To Tie a Bow Tie – lovely tutorial and a fun animation. And yes, bow ties are cool.

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

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Wooden Carpet by German design studio Böwer is an interesting invention. Comprised from wooden segments, attached in various patterns to a sheet of durable textile, it can be arranged as a three-dimensional piece or placed flat on the floor. The beauty of this concept is in its versatility. You can really let your artistic flag fly and create different 3-D forms that can work as seating, lounging or sculptural objects. And if you are not blessed with a beautiful parquet floor in your apartment – this carpet can give you that missing wooden fix. Lovely. The carpet comes in four patterns and fabric choices.

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February 28, 2013

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These patterned paint rollers made me look. Clare Bosanquet, the artist behind The Painted House Etsy store, created a number of beautiful retro designs, resembling old sun-bleached wallpaper. It’s still rather unclear how to do corners evenly with these textured rollers, but I love the idea overall. Everything that frees us from applying (or, more importantly, removing!) wallpaper gets thumbs up from me. Check out Clare’s website for more ways to use these rollers.

(via chictip)

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February 27, 2013

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I’m quite taken by the elegant simplicity of this object – Tilt by London-based design studio SmithMatthias. This beautifully crafted timber ladder is designed to store and display things. Thanks to various attachments – shelves, bags, hooks, caddies – it is easy to change the look and functionality of the piece. The bars are perfect for storing shoes, clothes, towels and other garments, making Tilt wonderfully useful in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and entry rooms.

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February 26, 2013

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There is one European habit I can never give up, no matter how long I live in the U.S. – and that is the need for espresso. A day just isn’t complete without this fragrant heart accelerator. That’s why I understand every bit of thinking behind Piamo – a portable espresso maker by Lunar. This clever piece is envisioned to work in the microwave, which makes it a perfect contender for travel, office and, yes, tiny apartments with limited counter space. The principle is simple – just fill in water and insert an espresso pad or ground coffee, stack it, flip it and place it in your microwave for 30 seconds. The pressure from the steam will extract the flavor, filling the cup with strong espresso. Watch the video after the break to see the product in action.

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February 25, 2013

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Spinny cabinet, created by Joe Colombo for the furniture brand B-Line, adds a new twist to a familiar idea. Each of the twelve drawers of this piece can spin 180° (hence the product name). The drawers range in height, allowing the piece to fit many different storing needs. And thanks to the swiveling mechanism, you can see the contents of each drawer easily. No more clutter, festering in the dark corners! Spinny comes in the variety of colors and two versions – one with steel framework and base on swivel wheels and the other anchored to the wall.

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February 22, 2013

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– What if milky way were visible in New York. Amazing photo collages.

The Eames house needs your help.

– Funny and adorable squirrel feeder.

– That’s how they cut ice in Japan.

– If you haven’t marveled at this super dry material – you should, it’s amazing.

Moon hoax not – the video that proves that in 1969 it was easier to land on the moon than fake the footage.

– A new brilliant marketing move – interactive mannequins.

– And something for the senses – Cabin Porn, a blog dedicated to cabins.

Have a pleasant weekend, guys!