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Articles Written by Katie

Katie

About Katie: Katie has been a product and textile designer, an art restoration specialist, and an interior designer/merchandiser. Her interests are focused on finding well designed items that improve daily life as well as reading fiction and making stuff. (View Profile)

 
 

All Dock

You’ll be happy to see this charging station, trust me. Yes, it is streamlined and altogether unoffensive to the eyes, which is a definite plus, but a handsome face only goes so far, right? Well, the All Dock has 2400mA per USB exit, and in terms all of us can understand, that means it is SUPER fast. Your phone can be recharged nearly 80% in less than 1 hour, and it’s compatible with nearly all devices. Charge, dock, and store any and all your devices in one spot. There’s several sizes and finishes available, and keep in mind that there’s a mere 15 days to go for funding if you want to get on board now and receive one at a discounted price.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $39.00 - 149.00
Available from: Kickstarter

Gus Modern Transit Bench

How’s this for an alternate (and affordable) version of the Nelson Platform Bench? This Transit Bench by Gus Modern has a slatted wood top with powder-coated, tubular steel legs, and the dimensions make it perfect for an entryway landing pad or a living area coffee table. For anyone who’d like to mix things up and not pay through the nose for a design classic, this bench would be a good bet; the black ash with black steel legs is especially sleek.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $488.75
Available from: YLiving

Hex Mirror

Maybe you need a little hexagonal mirror for your bathroom? Or what about an empty hallway that could use a wink of light bouncing around? Perhaps a lonely wall needs an equilateral kind of friend to keep it company? You’re sure to find the right spot for such a perfectly sized mirror, and if you don’t, just send it over to me and I’ll give it a home. Designed (and sold) by DANIEL EMMA.
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Purchase Information:

Price: AUS110.00
Available from: DANIEL EMMA

Rhino Shield Screen Protector

As someone who has dropped an iPhone while walking in San Francisco experienced a shattered phone screen, this screen protector looks like it could be worth the price. After all, the guy in the video is using a hammer to show off the impact protection. You can’t really argue with a hammer, can you? And, speaking from experience, $25 isn’t a bad price for insurance against a screen or phone replacement, as those usually involve waiting, sometimes in a line in a busy store, for waaaay too much time. Rhino Shield screen protector is available for various phones as well as tablets.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $24.99
Available from: Rhinoshield

Kammok Thylacine

If you’ve ever been cold on a camping trip, you know the importance of an appropriate sleeping bag. You don’t want something too bulky or heavy to carry around all day, nor do you want to spend the night shivering and mentally kicking yourself that you didn’t bring a warmer option. Kammok’s Thylacine™ line is a great solution to this problem, as their bags offer a patent-pending Variable Warmth Technology™ (which translates into an ‘interchangeable baffle system’) and Customfit™ size adjustments (you can tighten areas to prevent cold spots). Watch the video below or visit Kammock’s Kickstarter page for more info.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $125.00 and up
Available from: Kickstarter

Printsagram Greeting Cards

Combine your Instagram photos with the traditional method of keeping in touch: greeting cards. You might think handwritten cards belong in a museum, but you’d be wrong. Why not show off your mad skills when it comes to taking photos with your phone? Friends and family are sure to be impressed, and possibly treasure your card as a keepsake, maybe even frame it (!).
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Purchase Information:

Price: $25.00
Available from: Printsagram

Mirror House

Reflective glass entirely covers the facade of this private villa, providing camouflage and privacy during the day. At night, one can only assume the home lights up like a lamp, but it’s nevertheless notable for its minimal approach and detailed treatment. A compact and simple floorplan allows for an open feel despite the relatively small square footage, and the use of birch multiplex panels throughout the interior contrasts nicely with the shiny, glamorous facade.
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More information:

View Mirror House here

Source: ArchDaily

Swing Arm Wall Sconce

If you need/want an inexpensive, simple wall sconce, get a load of this matte black steel light designed by Lime Studio (and available from CB2). Not bad, eh? A swivel arm gets light right where you want, making it perfect for a bedside reading companion. And, if you have some time, take a look at Lime Studio’s other products- they show a lot of promise, especially if other items will lean towards an affordable price point like this lamp.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $79.95
Available from: CB2

Menu Kettle Thermo Jug

With the weather being so damn cold, there’s never too many mentions of anything that will keep you warm. And, goodness, a lukewarm cup of coffee or tea is just not acceptable when your fingers or toes are freezing, especially when an appropriate receptacle can keep liquids piping hot for hours. This Menu Kettle Thermo Jug by Norm Architects keeps contents hot for very long period of time: “a beverage at a temperature of 203°F will, after 6 hours in a full jug in a 75°F room, still be 172°F hot.” Impressive, yes? (Especially in a very long/boring meeting, when all that’s keeping you awake is caffiene.)
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Purchase Information:

Price: $69.95
Available from: AbodeModern

Pivo

Quick, what is the item above? I bet you have some good guesses: a fancy torture device, a cocktail muddler, a writing implement… but all of those are not the case. It’s a bottle opener, a “rotationally symmetrical bottle opener cut from solid brass” to be exact. Nice, right? Designed by Luke Smith-Wightman and available at FAO Shop in the UK.
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Purchase Information:

Price: £28.50
Available from: FAO Shop

Slide Hook AS-1

The Slide Hook houses spring-loaded hardware to keep your towels or apparel in place. Slide items into the opening to hold, and, to release, just give a simple tug. This ensures minimal effort on your part- let’s not call it laziness, we’ll call it ‘being efficient’- yes?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $20.00
Available from: Wintercheck Factory

PinWorld Map

Planning any big trips for 2014? Map your journey with these bright red pins on this flexible (and 100% recyclable felt) PinWorld map. Designed by Italians Emanuele Pizzolorusso and Alessandro Maffioletti, the map is available in two sizes: standard and mini. Each includes 15 pins.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $44.00
Available from: A+R Store

Nerd Chair

If the name’s not enough to make you look twice, take a close look at the seat and back join. There’s some pretty precise curves involved and a rather appealing humbleness in terms of scale and treatment. This chair used to be only available in the UK/Europe area, but now all of us in the states can order one without paying extra overseas shipping costs. Designed by David Geckeler for Muuto.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $499.00
Available from: A+R Store

Pheonix Feather Pen

Feeling a a bit dull and boring these days? Don’t worry, it’s just January, and I’ve got just the thing for you: a Phoenix Feather Pen. I double dare you to take it to all your meetings and pretend it’s the most normal pen in the world, and even use it out and about to take simple notes at restaurants and bars. Prints inspired by from Memphis to Warhol, all with a useful ballpoint stem.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $30.00
Available from: Cooper-Hewitt Shop

Friday Links

  • MinutePhysics: What to do when it’s really cold outside
  • Linda Rodin’s home
  • Earliest evidence of ancient dentistry.
  • How to Be Powerful, Likable, and Female: Learn From Jenna Lyons via @wendymac
  • How to Knock Off a Bag
  • This Guy Used A Groupon To Give His Kitten A Photo Shoot At J.C. Penney And Oh My God It’s Amazing
  • A Little Coffee May Be Good — Dare We Say Healthy? — For Body And Brain
  • Stay warm and enjoy your weekend.