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Update: A+R Store now carries the Plumen ($30), fyi.

Original post:
I saw these lightbulbs in person yesterday at the Temporium, and found them quite impressive. If you’re not familiar with the Plumen, you’ll be glad to know that the Plumen bulb uses 80% less energy and lasts 8x longer than incandescent bulbs. Plus, it looks nice and doesn’t need covering up.

You U.S. folks might be a little frustrated though, as they’re not yet available in the states, but U.K. and European residents can purchase them directly through Plumen’s website for £19.95/€29.95.

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As we are now officially in the summer picnic season, take note of Veneerware® by Bambu. Fully biodegradable, these single use bamboo plates and accessories are the ecological alternative to the paper plate. And, for those of you that prefer ready made picnic kits, there’s a Veneerware Picnic Kit with Navy Tote from Branch Home available for $68.00 (see below).

Made from 100% bamboo and Certified Organic.
Sold in sets of 8.
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Just so you have fair warning, this lamp won’t ship until August. It might be worth the wait, though, considering its modern bent design (powder coated steel) and lower price point. I can’t decide whether the white with the red cord wins out over the all black option; I suppose it depends on where you plan on placing it.

Available in black with a black cord or white with a red cord.
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Sadly, the Penguin merchandise seems to be heading in the same direction of Pantone: oversaturation. However, if you can get beyond the fact that there’s way too many products to choose from, there’s quite a few gems. Many items would be excellent gifts, of course, separately or grouped together. There also looks to be Penguin deckchairs and tea towels, though no retailer seems to have any in stock (shoot).

Shown above: Penguin Set of 4 Mini Notebooks, $10.68
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If you’re in the market for some sharp looking planters, take a look at these stainless steel ones by Shift Design. The window box is available in a 24″ or 30″ width, while the two tiered Cedar Herb Garden is perfect for (you guessed it) herbs. And, if you want to go all out and cover a wall with plants in stainless steel, there’s a living wall unit that you can line up side by side as your budget allows. See below for details.
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This little recycled cardboard basket is inspired by an icosahedron (that’s 20 sides for you non-nerds). At about 8 inches wide, it’s a great size to store all manner of stuff, specifically all those little odds and ends lying around your desk. Arrives flat packed with instructions on assembly.

Size: 8.3″ dia.

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This is one of those products that seem insignificant at first glance, then the actual benefits of of daily use start to make sense. It’s a shoe horn, which yes, is unexciting and boring, even though it does extend the life of your shoes (which saves you money). However, it’s a long shoe horn, which means it’s easier to use. It also has a magnetic wall stand that gives it a home when not in use (it would be smart to install it near your shoes, of course). These little details would possibly make an improvement in your dressing ritual each day.

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Oh, here’s another overseas item that’s just too interesting to pass up. No worries, though as it is available to buy (also through PayPal, if you like). What is it exactly? A pattern sheet, obviously, that you can use to hammer out a pattern in nails on your wall. Connect the dots with string and remove pattern to see an altogether different “Masterpiece”.

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Take a look at the pricing on these wine bottle pendants, not bad for a pop of color, eh? I bet they’d look lovely in a clustered together above a small dining table. (Also, the product description doesn’t state whether the bottles come from a recycling facility, so I’m guessing they don’t.)

Custom crafted in the Meyda Hot Shop in the USA.
Available in various colors, the glass can have either a frosted or transparent finish.

This 9 piece stackable cookware set by designers Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Kasper Rønn is smart. It’s a combination of their 4-piece Carving and Serving Set with the 3-piece Cool Bowl Set, and, as you can imagine, there’s all sorts of combinations to fit your needs. Chill foods, warm foods, or use each piece separately, no matter what you choose to do, you’ll have the right cookware to do it. And, it all stacks neatly away when you’re done.
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I don’t like featuring too many sale items all within a few days, but there are some finds that just have to be shared. So, bear with me… This Code Rug is only $50-$100 off its regular price, but, considering it’s 100% tufted wool and you can get an 8×10 for $499.00, it’s a steal. My living room rug (Mikado) is in need of a changeout badly (note: a cream/off-white rug is not smart when one has pets), and the price on this rug beats the pants off the other $1300 rugs I was considering.

5’x8′ Rug: $299.00 $249.00
8’x10′ Rug: $599.00 $499.00

Chances are that if you need a charging station you have one already, but if by some chance you don’t, this one has a nice handcrafted quality worth checking out. It’s from a shop in Estonia (yes, Estonia), so if you must have it, be prepared for possibly higher shipping costs and replacing the plug/power cord. Also, it has to be said if you’re handy DIYer, you could probably come close to recreating something like this in an afternoon, but I’d say keep in mind that the colors and finishing touches are what make this a charging station that stands out instead of just an ordinary box with holes.
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Whoa. I don’t know about you, but my kitchen drawer could use needs something like this. Currently I have the basic utensil organizers that are available everywhere, but they don’t fit like this custom one; they don’t even come close. Entrepreneur Keith Nielson created this system of modular sheets and dividers that you can trim and reposition specifically to your needs. Each set comes with one BaseMat (food-grade silicone) and an assortment of dividers.

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I’m a little remiss in posting this after the official launch, but as the saying goes, better late than never. Poppin is a new online shop offering great office supplies for pretty decent prices. I’ve had them bookmarked for weeks and now it seems all their products are available to purchase (their website is still in beta, though, so be kind). Whether you’d like an overhaul of your desk supplies or just a few odds and ends, their site is chock full of colorful office essentials (along with the requisite black and white pieces, of course).

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If you need a little coaxing in saving your coins, this Hedgefund Piggy Bank might do the trick. Toss a coin and watch it run laps around the wood funnel top, going ‘down the drain’, so to speak. It’d be great for emptying pockets of change, of course, and one would hope that your savings would see a small spike in deposits. (Also, does it or does it not appear to say ‘hedgefonds’ with an o? Weird.)
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