bltd

I love this simple wooden block light with its vintage style bulb. It’s a nice study in contrasts. Keep in mind that it doesn’t come with hanging hardware, but that’s easy to get (a small hook or something from the hardware store would work).

Made from a solid piece of olive wood, this light is stunningly simple in form and function. Featuring a vintage style Edison carbon filament bulb that gives off a warm orange-ish glow and allows you to see its beautiful glowing filament. This light will plug into any standard wall outlet, and comes with a 13ft black or white cord attached for easy hanging anywhere in your home.

Olive or Walnut wood.
Dimensions are: Approx. 5″ long – 2 1/4″ wide without light bulb. Bulb adds another approx. 4-5″ in length.

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While these might not be the most masculine-looking set of headphones, they do appear super light and comfortable and won’t fall out like standard iPod earbuds when you’re exercising, which you do no less than three times a week, right? Plus, the bead-like earpiece would all but disappear, and androgyny is in style nowadays, trust me.

Orange or Pink.
Packaging: Foil/Clear giftbag
Earphones ball diameter: 0.5″

Modular systems can offer much needed versatility to your home, and this system does so with a distinct mid century flair. A half drawer unit plus half seat (not shown) would be ultra handy in a entryway, and the look of the two-2 drawer units on a double base (shown at top) could look very nice as a bedroom dresser or console. The only drawback is it can get a bit pricey when you start adding up the costs.

White or Ebony.

Single base (26″ wide x 17″ deep x 9″ high): $195.00
Double base (59″ wide x 17″ deep x 9″ high): $395.00
2 Drawer Unit (32.5″ wide x 17″ deep x 15.5″ high): $800.00
Tray unit: $150.00
Tray Seat Cushion: $195.00

These handmade glass icicle candleholders are an elegant way to celebrate the winter holidays, especially if you’re not the deck-the-halls-and-bring-out-the-dancing-santa type.

Designer: Mehtap Obuz
Dimension: 5.5 in. Diam.
Price shown is for set of 2.

We’ve added another new member to our team. A big welcome to Mark Robson, who will be a contributing writer for BLTD. With his extensive travel experience, he’ll be sharing his knowledge on interesting places and things. We’re really looking forward to what he’ll add to the site.

Either of these two rugs certainly have enough character to carry a room. The texture, color and pattern all combine into a quirky rug that (in my opinion) further proves Patricia Urquiola’s ability to stretch creativity within the home. These two rugs sort of remind me of woolen scarves, but in the absolute best possible way.

Designer: Patricia Urquiola
Materials: Yarn composition: 100% new wool.

Magnas Rectangular 5×10 MR2 Rug (left): $3125.00
Magnas Rectangular 6×8 MR1 Rug (right): $2910.00

Hmm. Any guesses to how useful this is? As Unplggd mentioned, it sort of looks like a netbook’s keyboard, which makes me wonder if you traveled often, wouldn’t you have a netbook or laptop with a integrated keyboard? Despite my reservations, it is indeed smaller than a traditional keyboard and would be easier to cart around for use with whatever device you choose.

Super Tiny Multimedia Keyboard is 56 keys and 12 hotkeys keyboard. It is tiny, slim, portable and functional that you do not have to worry about bringing those traditonal, big and heavy keyboard when you are travelling. USB Retractable Cable

Available in either black or white
Dimensions: 170 x 80 x 15mm (approx.)
Weight: 150g

[via Unplggd]

With this desk accessory collection, maybe tidying up your workspace wouldn’t be such a chore. I like how it’s a modular sort of thing, so you can add on the extra parts you need.
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As you might have noticed, we’ve added a new member to our team. A big welcome to Simon Yuen, who will be a contributing writer for BLTD. We’re excited to see what new finds he’ll bring to BLTD, as he has some interesting things featured on his own site.

A Grand Designs episode was on the other night featuring two eco houses squeezed into a rather narrow plot in South London. The plan was to build two identical homes, selling one to finance the other in hopes of living mortgage free. Even though the owners ended up way over the original budget (as most builds do on the show), the outcome was spectacular. Despite the small footprint, the use of oblique windows and skylights opened up the space and maximized light, all while maintaining a keen sense of privacy. Plus, seeing as the home owner was also the owner of a joinery/carpentry firm, he was able to construct the houses himself alongside his team, and, as a result, the craftsmanship was impeccable. It was altogether inspiring. If you’re planning on building on a small plot of land, you might want to check it out.

other bullet points: grass covered roof, constructed using sustainable materials and high performance glass and insulation, low impact piling foundation system, rain-harvesting system

list of materials and sources used here

architect: hampson williams, architecture
homeowner’s site: Talisman Manufacturing

Whoa, talk about a steal of a deal. Snap this 6-piece wine set up as a thoughtful gift for that friend or family member that loves playing host, or maybe for yourself if you plan on throwing some holiday get-togethers. If you or the giftee prefer something of the stronger sort, consider the 5-piece shot glass set or 4-piece martini set.

6-piece set: four 9 oz.; 4″H wine glasses, one 52 oz.; 3.75″dia.x16.25″H decanter and one 3.5″dia.x3.75″H funnel.

If you ever run into the who’s-going-to-water-my-plants-while-I’m-gone conundrum, check out these Plant Nanny Stakes. Most plastic bottles will fit (reusable points), ensuring that your plants get just the right amount of water while you’re away. There’s also stakes to fit wine bottles if you have more of those to use/reuse. Or, even better, take a look at the Self-Watering Probes (5 pack for $23.95), which sound strange but would work well for long term holidays since they work with a larger water reservoir.

Put those plastic bottles to use, they should do more than just come from an evil plastic factory, hold water, and get tossed into a landfill. Keep it around, and put it to work. Just connect the Plant Nanny Stake to the bottle, shove the stake deep into the soil of your ever thirsty plant, and watch the water level slowly lessen as the the plant takes only the water it needs to be happy.

$4.95 price quoted is for one stake.

Three 4 packs for $41.95 available through Amazon.

Partly why this table is inexpensive is that it’s painted wood veneer, and if you’ve ever had anything of the same, you know there’s a good chance of the paint finish chipping or dinging the minute you pick it up. But, that said, if you’re not needing something super durable (i.e. kid proof) you might consider snapping up one or two for side tables. Plus, who knows, maybe this table will exceed expectations.

Made of matte painted wood veneer
Available in black, orange or white.
W: 15.5″ x D: 15.5″ x H: 15.5″

This card case has been back ordered for what seems like forever, but as stock should arrive any day now, you might want to put in your order if you’re planning on gifting one. The craftsmanship looks to be impeccable.

Masakage Tanno’s father was a talented craftmen from Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. He followed in his fathers footsteps and opened his own wood shop; work studio MIYABI. These gorgeous hand-crafted business card cases are impeccable. Made from Japanese Oak (light), Paduk (red) or Walnut (dark), each case has a magnet embedded in the wood to close them shut. The hinges and detailing are of Kurogaki wood (Japanese Persimmon).

4.25″l x 2.5″h x .5″ d.

I like the idea of grouping a few of these cups together as a birthday or anniversary present, or, as the retailer also recommends, as a house warming gift with numbers of the new address.

Numbers 0 through 9 available.

Material: Chinaware
Designer: Takuya Hoshiko
W 4″ x D 2.75″ x H 2.75″

Also available: £13.60