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If you read your news online, this laptop bag might be a good way to give tradition a nod while camouflaging your laptop. Designed to look like a newspaper folded in half, it’s fully lined in black satin so it’ll keep your laptop nicely protected. It’s maybe a bit more expensive than a plan ol’ laptop case, but good tech ‘fashion’ is hardly ever cheap.

By mitemite
Each newspaper print is unique to each bag.
(for Macbook Pro)

Also available through mitemite’s online shop for € 60.

All you do is freeze a little water in this carafe (on its side), then once it sets, you fill the rest of the carafe up with water and watch the ice slowly release. It’s a smart idea for streamlining the cold drink process.

Designer: Officeoriginair (Ivan Kasner and Uli Budde)
Materials: Polycarbonate bottle; silicone top
Size: 11.2″ t x 3.3″ w x 3.3.” d

If you’re interested, there’s a video about it too…
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Well, this sort of idea for kitchen storage would certainly motivate you to keep your shelves tidy. The balance of industrial and natural materials (wood, marble, etc.) makes for a pleasing picture, I’m just wondering about those sliding panels. Would they get in the way, or just act as strategic screening for the untidy areas?

See Dwell for complete slideshow.

If you’re looking for a bit of black-and-white pattern (always a good choice) in a hallway or entryway, hopefully you’ve got enough money to drop some on this rug by Marcel Wanders.

Designed by Marcel Wanders for Moooi.
Made in the Netherlands.

If that price is too rich for your blood, might this black and white ‘contemporary’ rug suffice?
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Yes, an umbrella made from cork. Really. Cork is naturally water-resistant and eco-friendly (as it is a sustainable resource), so it’ll keep you dry and happy.

Designer: Sandra Correia
Made in Portugal.
Cork with cotton lining, a metal frame, and a wooden handle.

Take a look at this gem of a bathroom. The wood floor of the shower extends into the outside patio, and with that huge pivoting door, the indoor/outdoor divide is blurred nicely.

(Here’s a previous post on pivoting doors, with these two resources listed for hinges:
ePivots and Rixson)

Whoa. Check out this bench by Frank Cresencia. The form focuses on the space “between the bench and the floor of its environment, not the surfaces of the piece alone.”

Inked Walnut, Stainless Steel
20″h x 53″w x 24″d

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Yeah, how much do you want this? Because this is the sort of thing that once you have, you’ll wonder how you managed without it, unless you always-always-always sit at a table to eat, of course (in which case, this might change your life). The double chambers allow two types of food to be balanced ‘ergonomically’ while eating without a table. What part of that isn’t great? Less mess fumbling around with your food is always a good thing, no doubt about it.

Designed by Thomas Both
3.2″h x 9.3″w x 4.8″d

$25.00 at SFMOMA MuseumStore
$25.00 at UncommonGoods

Has spring officially sprung? I’d say so, and it’s got me daydreaming of afternoons at the park. I’m not a huge person for picnics, but this set by Swedish designer Carina Ahlburg has me reconsidering. Check it: plates, cups, tableware, with one big bowl for storage and/or serving, for four people.

Designer: Carina Ahlburg
Tableware is in stainless steel.
Material: Melamine.
Height 4.3″ (11 cm), 9.4″ dia. (24 cm)

Do you remember the Do-lo-rez Modular Sofa? Well, here’s a carpet to match. Normally I’d say stay away from anything too ‘matchy-matchy’, but I think we all know in this case it’s entirely permissible (if not advisable?).

Designer: Ron Arad
Brand: Nani Marquina
Do-Lo-Rez 1: 1840 x 2760mm
Do-Lo-Rez 2: 2070 x 2530mm

Just add elbow grease. If your place is a pigsty and you’re short on the basics, this kit would be a convenient thing to get. Of course, you could get some of the items yourself and maybe save a few bucks, but that’s up to you. It’s also worth noting that this could be an excellent housewarming gift.

Contents: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, Distilled White Vinegar, Spray Bottle, Tarpon Natural Sponge, Microfiber Dusting Cloths, Cleaning Rags, Natural Cleaning Solutions Booklet

This wallpaper is sort of a subtle crazy pattern… from far off it’s subtle, but up close it’s all nicely weird. Just what you need for an entryway or powder room.

designed in Brooklyn by Julia Rothman
Double roll measures 27″ X 30′.

Kris posted the JUXTAPOSED: Religion from Mike and Maaike back in October of ’07, and I can honestly say I’ve never stopped wanting it. And now, as if to torture us further, they’ve created a second series focused on “seven of the world’s most seminal texts on power” which is offered in a numbered, limited edition of 50.

“2,451 pages 2,390 years 2,251 wars 432 revolutions 90 empires 7 books 1 shelf.”

Approximately 60lbs.
36″ W x 5″ H x 8″ D

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Hand cranked music boxes, they’re not just for monkeys in red hats to dance to anymore… uh, right? This music box brings to mind the vintage versions, except it’s small enough to keep handy. Have a listen to what it sounds like on youtube:‘Valser d’Amelie’.

The nice illustration/graphic design on the package is by Maria Helena of the 2.2 design studio.

About 1.6″ x 2″ x 0.8″
Material: Metal, Paper
Available Tunes: ‘Are you lonesome tonight’, ‘La vie en Rose’, ‘My Way’, ‘Valser d’Amelie‘ (listen to it on youtube)

Instead of doing lots of little posts on each individual cork bowl I’ve come across, I’m going to do one big one covering the ones I’ve bookmarked so far.