Take one part space-saving ingenuity, mix in one part of absolute craziness and the result would look something like the Ermitaż, a concept house scheduled to be built in Warsaw, Poland by the Centrala architecture firm. Measuring an astonishing 52.4 inches at its widest point, this crazy idea actually does not meet building Polish codes and will thus be created as an art installation.


via tecca.

One of the most exciting announcements of the year was unknown startup Lytro’s bold entry in the highly competitive world of photography with a radical new technology that allows you to refocus your pictures after you take them. It sounds like a crazy person invented it, but click around on the picture to see for yourself:



And now courtesy of the Hello Tomorrow exhibition at La Cité des Sciences in Paris, we have our first images of Nikon’s newest camera iterations. Chief among them is their attempt to duplicate Lytro’s unique breakthrough by photographing multiple viewpoints “to capture the atmosphere of a scene.” Does this offer a glimpse of what Lytro’s final product will look like? Will this concept design ever see the light of day or produce any results? Stay tuned!



via wired. nikon. lytro.

Despite all the doubtful commenters pointing out design flaws, you really have to love the idea of this minimalist record player. It has everything you need including volume controls, motor and speaker (an audio-out might be helpful) with the wiring held elegantly inside the copper piping housing. View the designer’s original concept drawings (along with spiteful comments, over at Yanko) if you are feeling creative, otherwise this is likely as close as anyone’s getting to this.

The NoteSlate is a new low cost tablet that doesn’t offer web browsing or e-reading, but gives you the the look of real paper and the option to save your work, or share it via Wi-Fi or USB or SD Card. It’s a “back to basics” product that is more about simplicity than processor speed and glossy screens (their words). A ridiculous 180 hours of battery life and affordable $99 price tag makes it much easier to take the plunge on something unknown.

From designer Singgih Kartono, a couple of very cool, classy desk sets made from real hardwood (Mahogany and Sonokeling wood sustainably harvested, of course) and handcrafted in his hometown Indonesian farming village. The Desk Set (pictured right) includes a Tape Dispenser, Stapler, Letter Opener and Pen/Card/Envelope Holder. If you’re feeling playful, his Toys for the Soul set are enhanced versions of his childhood favorites - Yoyo, Spinner, and Hole-Stick - each made to endure for generations.

Great as a gift for yourself or a friend, we’ve got a range of new toys and accessories great for any occasion. First up is Francois Dallegret’s amazing fractal pattern generator, the Atomix (pictured above, left) followed by the newest creation from David Weeks, the Cubebot - made from sustainably-grown hardwood with elastic band muscles that will withstand generations of play. Another fun collection of wooden sculptures/ totems/ hiding spots are Karl Zahn’s Animal Boxes, available in 6 different shapes and seen below in Llama, Walrus and Rhino.

If you aren’t into the whole burial thing consider sitting on your loved ones mantle in this stylish Ghost Urn… who says death needs to be boring! Here’s to hoping I last long enough for this to go into production!

Here in the middle of the holiday frenzy, it’s important to stop and remember exactly what this time of year really means for you and your closest friends and family: cheap, funny, somewhat useful but mostly just ridiculous gift ideas! Seen over at Brookstone, they are calling the Pillow Remote Control a “fun way to watch TV, and a real conversation starter.” Well, so much for romance I guess, skip the movie and get right to the pillow talk!

Living in a small space is always challenging when you attempt to incorporate holiday decor and the like into your home. Here’s a clever idea to make a vintage collectable aluminum tree shine while minding your space.

Retro 4’ Evergleam Aluminum Tree [large selection on eBay]+ Stainless Steel Blomus Planter [available at puremodern.com]

Go simple, go small, and give it some height with a stainless planter.  To make your tree shine during the day, consider placing your aluminum tree next to a window with plenty of sun. For nighttime, a color changing LED base light will do the trick. To top off your holiday season, refer to previous post “Mini Yule Log” and enjoy your holiday!

Just because you’re obligated to buy a gift for someone, doesn’t mean you have to get them something boring. We’ve got cool, stylish gift ideas for everyone on your list that won’t break the bank. Here’s a few selections from our Under $50 category of gifts over at Modern Gift Store.



First up, for the young entrepreneur or business professional, how else to put your their best foot forward than a super-sleek business card case designed by a legend like Frank Lloyd Wright or Harry Allen. Pictured above is Wright’s Robie House Card Case alongside the Blueprint Business Card Case by Acme Studios. We even offer the matching keychains as well!



The best gifts are oftentimes something that is both fun and functional. We feature something unique for every room of the house, and that’s no better evidenced than with our modern line of kitchen accessories, such as the Salad Servers (pictured above) from Black+Blum or Ferm Living’s charming set of Thermo Mugs.

For a casual contemporary accessory, we offer an elegant line of homewares that are sure to blend into any modern setting. Seen below, the Lightstone Candle Holder and Curve Candle Holder Set from Nuance, and the Floral Bird Cutout Bowl by Torre and Tagus.

When you think about the holidays, nothing comes to mind except great food, great company, coziness, and burning wood (and a gin+tonic for that inner holiday warmth). At least, most would think =)
Luckily, I found some alternative solutions to give me the above said satisfactions.

Inner Warmth
Gin, a great spirit that just screams holiday + it’s classy. I’m hooked on this nice beverage to relax with thanks to PJ. These fun gin+tonic cubes, designed by Jason Amendolara for Fred & Friends, are sure to be a hit at your next party (when you need to sink a rough day of work). [Available at PureModern]

Burning Wood
I came across these cool wood incense blocks from a friend and had to get the whole set of scents. The burn time is not long, but just right for a subtle scent of burning wood to linger throughout your home. These mini yules are available in Pinon (Pine), Juniper (Gin), Mesquite, Cedar, Alder, Fir Balsam, and Hickory. [Get them at Incienso de Santa Fe]

It feels odd crediting this idea to someone. After all, I’m pretty sure that I came up with the idea for a crumpled map along with anyone else on the world who’s ever tried to fold one. However, full credit is due to Emanuele Pizzolorusso for the (brilliant) idea of printing a map on the waterproof and virtually indestructible Tyvek material. via.

Now here’s a clever way to disguise an expensive SLR camera for anyone who doesn’t also own a pair of scissors. The Cloak Bag has some obvious safety advantages, good for traveling and taking high quality photos in sketchy areas. Seems like it has some other slightly disconcerting uses that I don’t care to mention. Fair to say there’s probably two distinct markets for this. via.

Just kidding! Find silly prank gift boxes for your friends and family at Prank Pack. The joke is probably on us however, with similar devices already available for smartphones, it’s most likely only a matter of time before this is a reality. via.

Maybe not the first, but definitely one of the best Instructables for a miniature BBQ grill, this time made from a tin of Altoids Sours and a couple of old fan grills (might want to double check they’re not laced with arsenic or something). It just requires a small amount of fuel - the directions suggest a single briquette - and you’ve got a killer campfire accessory! Warm up buns, marshmallows, or whatever. Just don’t ask me to build it.