Check out these amazing in-ground wine cellars from Spiral Cellars. Designed to stand out (as pictured) or can be built hidden away and completely discreet. With a constant air flow and temperature, they also function as a natural extension to your kitchen panty. When you add this to some of our recent postings, it’s starting to look like a good time to have a drinking problem. Link, photo via doornob.

What is that source - HEMP… yes, that’s right. The Hemecrete blocks are made from renewable hemp (produced in the UK) , lime and water. The material is actually rated as carbon negative and is vapour permeable when used with an appropriate plaster. The material has numerous benefits for energy efficiency, green construction and fire protection rating (which could be a good thing if you have a neighbor or friend who gets confused and lights up a living room wall… )  

Having lived in a fantastic loft fora few years, I have a love/hate relationship with loft living.  I’m in love with the architecture but the practicality of living in an open, hard space is a different story.  Everything echos, hard to install a proper media system, and minimal privacy.  I’ve paid attention to a number of unique projects over the years—and have always lusted after the $110Million Ten Museum Park, a swanky glass tower overlooking Biscayne bay in Miami.  Towering 51 storeys, it’s innovative design was made to take advantage of an unusually small footprint and maximizing views.  Unfortunately, with the incredible bust in Miami real estate, seems as if the developers can’t keep their website up—so a few places to see great pictures:  [ Zilbert ] [ Wikipedia ] [ Old Developer Site ] - Did I mention select residences have private pools above the city!?

Paul Smith - Union Jack in stamps
Series 7 chair designed by Arne Jacobsen 1955. The chair is decorated in 2005 by Paul Smith in a project between Fritz Hansen and the Danish AIDS foundation (AIDS-Fondet). [read more HERE]

While sitting in my small urban garden today with my laptop I came across this amazing concept for bringing nature back into our concrete jungle. Designed by Chooi-leng Tan the “Brick Habitats” are modular brick replacements which provide homes for plants and birds to move in and liven up the most sterile urban space.

No need to settle for a boring old mailbox on your house - The Letterman by Radius is available in a range of colors or in stainless steel. The pothole in the front lets you see when you have mail and the flap conceals a space for your newspaper to protect it from the weather. From Radius or dealers throughout the world starting at approximately $350USD

While searching for a corporate apartment in Miami, I’ve come across some interesting stuff.  Great deals to be had, amazing views, modern decor.  Not that there aren’t some real dumps… but if you’re willing to part with a few coins, you can get something nice. 

Anyway, there are always units in condo buildings that shock me. People that have gone way overboard.

Two of the best today:

Mirador South Beach - For about $880,000 - you can have an incredible rooftop unit ready to add your modern touch. [ SEE IT HERE ]

Another in the same development, actually my personal favorite for a mere $850K—With wild colors and great taste—[ SEE IT HERE ]

Why pick up this new real estate listing… the Clock Tower penthouse in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. It’s a mere 6400 square feet and listed at twice the recorded high sale in the area… but it’s a recession so it must be a deal!

via Apartment Therapy

See a few more images after the jump.

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If you have $2.3mil laying around, this home and a piece of movie history can be yours!

THE BEN ROSE HOME-site of the famous movie ”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings, which can never be duplicated, have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century. Estate Sale Sold -No disclosures! This is an amazing architectural treasure. - via realtor.com

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Here is a neat shelving concept by Benjamin Peter Design. The U*Shelf is made from high-density expanded polystyrene which is lightweight and strong; pieces fit together like a puzzle.  This design concept encourages the user to create various setups for storage.  Easy to change it up if you get bored with it.  I like that!

Riveli is a very functional cocncept that enables you to flip wall panels to create instant shelves and art.  The panels can also be re-arranged to create a fresh new look.

”Mark Kinsley is a native Chicago-area resident with a lifelong passion for all things Design.  He has successfully been involved in a number of different design industries including Industrial, Furniture, and most recently in Lighting Design.” - Deceptive Design

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While visiting Palm Springs this past week - we spent a lot of time looking at real estate and architecture, a sort of evil passion.  Architecture has always inspired me, and what designers and architects do with materials never ceases to amaze me (unless it’s really tacky).  Because my passion is unusual living spaces, I tend to gravitate towards loft living with an industrial and contemporary feel.  While driving down the main drag in downtown Palm Springs, I hurried to a loft development of only 12 units, all for sale.  Depending on your preference—one side of the property looks over a bustling pedestrian friendly shopping corridor (conveniently housing most of the modern furniture stores) or the base of the serene mountainside.  Ranging from the Mid $500s to the Upper $700’s, it’s a relative bargain for a brand new property in a vacation hot spot.  For about $570,000, you get a completely outfitted 1400+/- sq foot, two story loft with high end finishes like Wolf, SubZero, Glass Mosaic Tile, etc.  Until recently, comparable properties would be selling for the upper 700’s without question.  For better or worse, the economic climate has made this property a great find.

Location :  803 N. Palm Canyon - Palm Springs, CA. 

Contact:  Windermere Real Estate (Michael Weitzel) 760-340-9253 [ see website ]

If you are looking for a wall sculpture to light up your life, check out these designed by Foscarini.  The Field Wall Sculptures are simple yet elegant and just look really cool with the built-in accent lighting.

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Here is an interesting sink concept.  The Hidden Tap by Jelmer Moorman features motion sensing technology that allows the water to follow those dirty hands.  The water will also change temperature from hot to cold depending on which side of the sink you position your hands.  See how the sink works via Engadget

I’m a big fan of rings, but hate it when they lose their luster with all the scratches from normal wear over time.  Even platinum needs a buff or polish here and there despite it being a fairly dense metal.  If you are looking for an alternative metal to slap on your finger, try a tungsten carbide ring.  Tungsten carbide is the most wear resistant metal and always maintains a permanently polished luster.  Tungsten is about 10 times harder than 18K Gold, 5 times harder than tool steel, and 4 times harder than titanium.  Tungsten rings will hold their shape and shine longer than any ring on the market; they are literally scratch proof.  I have had mine for quite some time and I love it!  Trust me, you will get a lot of compliments!

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