Bamboo. Good stuff: grows fast, absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, at least as strong as most woods, looks great. Tradtional keyboard and mouse: plastic from petroleum, ugly, non-renewable. Bamboo meet keyboard and mouse. People, meet the Bamboo Keyboard and Mouse Combo from Micro Innovations. $40 BUY...
OK. Technically, they're re-used. Old asparagus jars made to withstand heat make the perfect vehicle for lights in these lights by Etsy producer tbDsf. Somewhere between the modern and the steampunk aesthetic. I think they speak for themselves. $185 BUY...
I was looking at these the other day - they've made it to the mainstream (though the price is still a bit high). This is a fan. No blades. From the makers of the giant suck: Dyson. Basically, there is a small fan in the base, that when blown into the circular blade will seriously get the air moving. The beauty is no blades. Which means...
These pendants from graypants are handmade in Seattle, WA of repurposed cardboard boxes. They are unique looking and cast a really cool light. They are coated with a No-Burn spray (it's green, don't worry - no VOCs, Class A Fire Rating) so you won't burn your house down. We like the "Jupiter" series because they look like flashy planetary...
Apple does a good job of making a good looking computer. But sometimes it's kind of fun to spice things up a bit. If you're a young skatepunk, you can plaster it with decals of truck manufacturers and whatnot, but for us grown ups (who still feel a need to assert our individuality), we want something with a little more...
Remember that old bowling alley on the main street of your hometown that closed a while back? Well, imagine if those old alleys didn't hit the landfill, but instead ended up IN your kitchen table. Or desk. Or coffee table. That's what's going on at Counter Evolution - they are taking back those old alleys and putting them in...
This 12-sided planter from Woolly Pockets takes a softer approach to the floor planter - and sports a new and different look. Made of recycled bottles and also being breathable, these planters can allow the roots to be aerated. The Brian has zippers so you can fold down leaves to expose more topsoil to air or sun. Comes in brown, black,...
These LED lights provide a nice warm glow, inside or outside. After a full recharge, they will stay lit for 8 hours, so you can hang out until the wee hours with your friends if you like. Safety? They are cool to the touch and won't (like candles) leave soot marks on your walls (or your lungs). Expensive? $50 for 2, $80 for 4 or $150 for...
These hanging terrarariusm (terraria?) from Roost are perfect mmStuff material. Handblown (recycled) glass. Comes with sisal rope. Works great with air plants (pictured) or you can fill yourself with dirt and moss and whatever plants you like. Small: $48 Large: $64 BUY...
Maps of different cities stylistically glazed onto plates. Very interesting. Very worldly. Each is 12" and made with porcelain The sets include: • Collection 1:Berlin, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Cairo. • Collection 2:New Orleans, Washington DC., Las Vegas and Dubai • Collection 3:New York, St. Petersburg, Brasilia, Melbourne •...
Awesome way to chill all summer long. If you have a pool, this is a no-brainer. Imagine the things you could do on this. Just imagine... Good stuff, right? Yeah. Made by Neoteric Luxury, it's a (heavy duty weather resistant) wicker-wrapped steel frame, so it can handle the weather, and the wrap around top will protect some of the...
This light from Propellor Design is meant to fit right in on the west coast. Made from reclaimed Douglas Fir (or Doug Fir as we said in Portland), technically it's biodegradable. But God knows why you'd throw such a beautiful think in the compost bin. The twig poking out the bottom is where the lamp gets is name: a wind-downed Arbutus...
Here's a cool idea: cards that grow. Postcardens. Think of all the cards, sent and received, that end up in the garbage, bringing only a momentary laugh or smile. Imagine if you could send a card that endured. Here's a great idea by London based A Studio for Design. The postcarden folds out into a 3-D landscape. You sprinkle a little water...
I hate doing laundry. OK, so it's not that bad, hate is a strong word, but I am prone to procrastinating it as long as I possibly can. Which means I end up having baskets - or worse, Wall-E like piles - strewn about in my closet and bedroom. Enter these laundry carts. The best part: they're big. But even more, these are manufactured by the...
Reclaimed wood is all the rage these days, and for good reason. It's environmentally sound (no new trees downed), it's usually quality wood (from back when 2 x 4s were actually 2" by 4") and it looks great. You can buy reclaimed wood furniture from places like Environment, but it'll cost you. Ever wonder where they get the reclaimed...
Restoration Hardware is producing these reproductions of industrial revolution era gears. Very Victorian/Steampunk-ish way to decorate your home and add a bit of manliness to any room. A good balance to all the new Woolly Pockets you've bought. Gears are patina'd (is that a word) iron and taken from from old sewing machines, steam...
Yes, that's really the name of the company. Sorry kids. But the fans they manufacture (including the Element, pictured) are awesome. And yes, they are big ass fans. The Element puts out some serious wind: a single Element fan produces more air than 26 standard 52" fans at 1/4 the energy cost. That's pretty great - assuming you have a large...
Don't you think it's about time your books had some fun? Like good ol' playground fun? Let's be honest, they've just been sitting there patiently and quietly while you've been watching John Stewart. They didn't nag you or make you feel guilty or anything. You should get them this see-saw bookshelf by BCXSY. If done correctly, you can get it...
This little Grobal (and the even littler Grobal Baby) is made so that even the most seasoned plantards (apologies to Sarah Palin...oh, nevermind) like myself can stop killing plants. The reason being is that you can't over or underwater your plants. You simply keep water IN the reservoir and the pot handles the rest by drawing water (and the...
This Japanese line of WASARA bowls are made of 100% non-tree renewable materials: bamboo, sugar can fiber and reed pulp. When you are finished (they are a limited use item), they will biodegrade and can even be composted. The bowls are food safe and can be used to serve hot or cold foods, or just to display non-food items. There is a whole...
We are really starting to like this Roost design company. They bring the outdoors in. Like these wall-mounted shelves made from rustic wood (actually made from colonial era railroad ties in India). So...they are teak or another hardwood that has been revived and polished. Wall mounts included. $36 for the small (7"), $54 for the...
This little ceramic do-hicky from designer Ron Gilad, the VaseMaker, will turn anything into a vase. Made from ceramic with a flat base and a small vase, it can be placed on top of anything that will (ideally) hold water: a real vase, a beer bottle, a cup or can, whatever. Stick a stem or two in the miniature vase on top. The result: a little...
This reclaimed wood trend is great: environmentally sound because they're using wood that would otherwise be bound for the trash heap (or papermill). The Dylan Desk here is 90% reclaimed pine with a raw finish. We think this particular desk/table is awesome with the sawhorse-like leg stands. It would make a great desk (of course), or...
So back in the day, for those (like myself) who don't remember, Thrifty Drugstores (now Rite Aid) were the bastions of all things ice creamy. Think of the counters filled with beskirted girls and rough and tumble boys sipping root beer floats and living their Norman Rockwell-ian lives. Back in those days, if you were to order an ice cream,...
Have a custom TOPO coffee table built. Designer Scott Franklin will create matching plastic inserts where you like (molded over stones) that add depressions on your table where you can put small artifacts, sand, or plants. Very unique and fun accent. The white color makes your topography stand out more. Great conversation...
This chandelier from terrain is, simply put, sweet. It has an interesting old world, almost medieval feel, but at the same time a solid modern post-industrial presence. Fits in with the steampunk aesthetic, but would make a grand centerpiece to modern architecture, Spanish motif and older turn-of-the century homes. Plan on having an...
Here's a way to make unique art- a piece that could only exist if you and/or your loved one were here to create it - and you don't even have to be an artist. DNA art. You will be sent a DNA test kit. When you're done, you send it back. They will send you an art piece (you can choose the color and configuration) from your DNA test that shows...
These little wooden bins, old grain measures from Chinese mills, are the real article. 8 inches across, 5 inches high, they can be used as planters, centerpieces, or little storage bins. At only $18, they're relatively cheap way to add some rusticity, authenticity, natural feel to any home. Note: they are NOT watertight (they did hold...
OK. So the idea that these are used chopsticks is a little gross. BUT, they are single use chopsticks and once you get over it, you can be happy (and with any luck feel a mild sense of smug superiority) that these chopsticks would otherwise be sitting in some landfill somewhere. Plus, they are sanitized at a high temperature/pressure and well...
Tillandsias, aka "air plants" are a genus of plant in the Bromeliad family. These plants are what is known as an epiphyte or aerophyte, meaning they can grow without direct contact with dirt or water. That's right. As crazy as it is, these plants are able to absorb their needed nutrients through their leaves. In the wild, tillandsia...
As many advantages there are to living in Los Angeles (well, Santa Monica, technically), the possibility of having one's own house and yard is smaller than in other places - unless you sell a few screenplays. Which we haven't. Yet. But until then, we grow our own vegetables and herbs on our patio and now, thanks to NatureMill, we can still...
We'd never even heard of wall flats before, but basically they're just tiles that you fasten to your wall - they can be used to add texture to any room. This particular one is braille patterned. They look great plain (white) or you can paint them. Even better: these are made from 100% bamboo pulp, a renewable resource. They are...
This little planter serves as a reminder that no matter what man does to pave paradise (apologies to Joni), nature will always keep growing up and around us. The single-minded nature of plants: grow and thrive. Designed to look like a manhole or shower drain, sprouts will come up through the drain. Concrete base with a steel lid. A simple...
La Gardo Tackett is a potter/designer who was based in Southern California (at least his studio is here). His "architectural pottery" featuring pots that were stacked on one another, situated in metal scaffolding and otherwise architected was all the rage in the 50's, even having been featured in the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958 where he...
OK. So maybe the title is a little megalomaniacal, but seriously how cool would it be to have a fireplace...when you don't have a fireplace? This little sucker will do the trick. Made from 18/10 stainless steel with a slate base, it's two buners burn paraffin lamp oil. It will provide light as well as heat. The base is 10" x 14", making it...
These kits include the test tubes, nutrient-rich gels and seeds to grow your own orchids...in vitro. Because of the gel, it requires no experience or botanical expertise. When your little buds have gotten ready to be their own plants, then give them a pot of dirt...and watch them bloom. Great science experiment for kids to watch, or...
I'll whip myself up a nice juicy skirt steak, some potatoes and a side of veggies - a man's meal. Then when I'm done, I'm going to pop open the hood on the old 4 banger and see if I can't get her humming a little better. What's best: I can use my silverware to do both. That's right, this 18/10 stainless set has a box wrench, a pliers and an...
Turn your world upside-down with these planters from designer Patrick Morris. These planters are simple in design - they just hang from the ceiling or a shelf or whatever. But from a functional standpoint, they offer even more: the plants use 80% less water and they are self-watering, meaning even the most forgetful person can keep their...
These lamps available from the Art Institute of Chicago's Web site are designed by Italian designer Achille Castiglioni. They are simple stands with 40 watt monofilament bulbs. The bulbs have been sandblasted in one place to prevent the bulb from glaring in your face while you're working. The anodyzed aluminum bases serve as spools to roll...
Roger Wood is a clock maker in the old tradition, based in Toronto, who builds unique crafts that highlight a certain classicism with a whimsical nod to futurism. He has numerous clock designs, including his "exploding clocks" series, all of which appear as if they have exploded out some gears but continue to slog on through time. The one at...
A simple little concoction: 5 glass jars with a metal stand that can be stood on a table, bookshelf or windowsill, or turn the rack and screw the base into the wall (the glass containers will shift into position, follow the link to see an example). A fun (and cheap: $25) way to add some greenery (as in the picture) or light (candles),...
These are cool. Tim Wetteveen's Etsy.com store, The SteamedGlass Studio has a lot of great terrariums (terreria? Whatever. Our latest fancy.) made from old lightbulbs like the one at left ranging from $35 up to $200. Has a built-in magnifying glass and a small LED light for nighttime illumination. Just needs light and a little...
There is this new design going around - we call it Millenial - that features some elements of steampunk, some elements of science lab, and definitely large elements of nature. You've see it in store windows everywhere. Sticks. Rocks. Erlenmeyer Flasks. Old National Geographics. Whatever you call it, we love it. We hope it sticks around for...
We love this whole movement towards the analog aesthetic. Sometimes it's steampunk, sometimes just classic, sometimes it's hard to really make a distinction between the two. They call it "new-stalgic", but we're not on board with that term... That is certainly the case with the Crosley Solo radio. It definitely has that old tube radio look,...
This hardware store in Portland is awesome. Portland is actually a great place for hardware, oddly enough. Hippo. Chown. But Rejuvenation Hardware has stuff that is new. Which is to say, always in stock. Stuff that you really can't find anywhere else - including these really cool steampunk-esque pendant lights. This particular model...
OK. So it's a little wonky. But it will look great on your Thanksgiving table. And it's green. Why? Well that requires a little info about wine barrels... To the best of our knowledge, the only truly sustainable wine barrels are the French ones. The French realized long ago (remember, they've been making wine for 700 years so they have a...
OK. So we admit, we have no landlines. Not a one of us. But if we did, we'd get this one for sure. Look at that cool steampunk look. And it's less than 50 bucks. Truth be told, it'd be good to have a landline in case the whole H1N1 thing plays out as they say it might. You know. Power goes down, but phone lines are still up... Or maybe...
Tubes. This old technology was basically murdered by the microchip which is faster, more efficient and more scalable. But there is something so cool-looking about them. They put to mind diodes and cathodes and anodes. In guitar amplifiers, they're still the preferred technology because of the way they deliver a warmer tone. The Nixie tube...
Let's face it, these little wine racks are really more for showing off than they are for actually storing wine. OK, so we remember reading somewhere (though conveniently can't recall where) that the average amount of time from store to mouth for wine in the U.S. is something like 30 minutes...basically as long as it takes to get the swill...
What could be more hipster and ironic than John Deere plates? Nothing. Seriously, what would be more fun than to have a dinner party with 12 of your closest friends, serve them some amuse bouche, a glass of Oregon pinot noir, a cheese plate with Époisses de Bourgogne, Maytag blue and Comte, then bring out your coup de grace entree: rack of...
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