We first began offering offering Jan Harman’s Smoke House Incense Burner some time ago, but now with the Cottage Incense Pot from our new collection of Pull + Push Products, at Pure Modern we have now effectively cornered the market on tiny incense burners made to resemble houses.

It’s no secret that I love retro, hence many of the products we offer at PureModern.  But while staying with my family for the holidays, retro really sunk in.  I’m old.  While helping my mother with the laundry, out comes this ... this… towel.  It’s the towels that I remember using as a child.  I thought for a second, “Wow, my mom is stylish—cool towels”.  Then.. I think… “Wow, those are the towels I used to use… I’m F’n OLD!” Unfortunately I’m about to carbon-date myself - I was just reminded that these towels were over 35 years old.  Though it does go to show you that if you keep your bell bottoms, skinny jeans, polka dotted ruffles and and brown shag carpet, everything will come back into style at some point.  (Except poodle dresses). 

This cute and fun product, designed by Yoshiyuki Kashiwagi and Koji Yano of 83 Design, just made me smile when I came across it.  The keyholder is made from rubber and is available in different colors.  Smiles means no losing keys!  [via Designspotter]

People show their teeth when they smile. ”KEAT” is a product that will give you a brief excuse to receive such a smile.  It can be stick on doors, refigerators, or wherever you please, to stock your key, a cute key stand was born.  While it lacks expression on its own, a smile will appear once you put your key in.  Your key will never beamed is placed, as long as you check on it’s smile everyday.  A small and friendly fellow that will definitely make you smile.

Looking for shoulder or airplane rides?  Check out their chairs… =)

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Spotted on the Wake Forest University campus in North Carolina and Makezine - the Periodic “Table” of Elements has never looked this good. I’m sure a few students wouldn’t mind retaking their Chemistry exams on this piece. Hopefully one day it will be the standard in all classrooms…

A retro take on a kitchen essential.  Designed to look like the good ole’ fashioned stove top burner, this trivet by Eric Janssen adds a bit of funk and kitsch to your cooking area. 

Somewhere between useful and completely unnecessary you will find Paulo Oh’s concept for the ”Hang On Outlet.” Maybe it’s my fascination appreciation for all things power-strip-related that’s keeping me from realizing how ridiculous this actually is. Of course, this would never even get considered if we had simple on/off switches on our outlets...

Today’s example of style over substance - the Defendius Door Chain from the Art Lebedev Studio. It’s a door chain/ labyrinth maze combination that certainly looks interesting posted next to your doorknob. Probably most effective at keeping visitors locked inside. But it could also maybe confuse an escaping robber long enough for the police to arrive.

Here is a great idea for an elegant bookshelf, from Korean designer Shawn Soh. A steel shelf in the form of a tree adds a unique bit of form to this centuries-old function. The bookshelf is no longer just big rectangular furniture. Which means I may have some work to do around the house. (via)

A couple of very interesting pieces from Dutch designer Richard Hutten. Pictured first is the 3 Minus 1 Table, which gives a new take on traditional office desk drawer placement. The second is a simple table for children, but I’m not sure any kids would be able to fully appreciate either of these. They get all the best toys as it is. (via)

Don’t waste any more of your valuable kinetic energy, instead focus it into the Murakami Chair, an incredible rocking chair + lamp combination. Your energy is stored in a battery pack which allows for regular use of the light. But don’t get out your wallet just yet - it was created by Rochus Jacob for a recent Green Life Competition from Designboom. Someone get this designer a grant.

Here’s an amazing idea for all the storage freaks out there. The Treasury Table by Lucie Koldova keeps all your belongings in place and allows you to easily identify drawer contents before you even pull the latch! It looks a bit like my current Ikea desk except with drawers all over the place. Sounds like time for an upgrade..

Retube - Designed by Björn Claßen of Germany, recycled truck inner tubes are used to create fashionable accessories. [seen via Designspotter]

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David Pier of Lux-Delux Design transforms the tradional coffee cup with style and ergonomics.  This genious masterpiece is The Ultimate Coffee Cup.  It’s a cup you grow to love over those cold or lazy days.  Who doesn’t like to get all cozy with a warm cup on a bitter cold morning?  I like this idea of letting the cup mold to you; not you to the cup.  Cups can also be easily stacked or arranged especially if space is an issue.  The Ultimate Coffee Cup comes in two sizes and are available in white or color glazed.  Slightly imperfect cups with tiny cosmetic flaws can also be purchased for less. 

Other Features:
• 8 oz.(237ml) and 12 oz.(355ml) sizes
• Lead-free
• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Superior ergonomics
• Made of the finest translucent high-fire vitreous porcelain
• Saucers double as heat-retaining lids and enable artful stacking

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A really beautiful idea you would love to see at someone else’s house. Heat tested for fish safety and watertight. Yes this could be a nightmare to clean, but if you’re concerned with that, just add pebbles to make it a Zen garden or just maintain a low number of fish. Perfect accent to this hideous acrylic toilet seat embedded with sea shells we left at our old apartment. The Moody Aquarium Sink by Italbrass is possibly still available here.

From the MoMA’s ”Design & the Elastic Mind Exhibit”, Moritz Waldemeyer’s ”Pong Table” allows you to play a game of pong directly on the surface. With two track pads and 2,400 LED lights embedded in the Corian tabletop, it’s the most realistic interpretation of pong yet! Well, aside from tennis, ping-pong and other “real” activities.