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Stuck in the city? Fake tropical island!

2006-07-31T20:57:00.000+02:00

This is too silly to resist: a fake little tropical island with a hammock. Perfect for that stinky little backyard or the not so little balcony facing a brick wall in the city. You know what more is silly? The price: USD 8280! Well, well...

To come: fake shark head sticking up from the floor

Going blinds

2006-06-16T21:39:00.000+02:00

Curtains have always had a strong presence in Sweden. In contrast to countries like the UK where the standard MO seems to be to show as little as possible of the inside, presenting a nicely framed interior using curtains has been the way to go in our country of (or lack of) Nordic light. I keep coming back to one of my favorite topics and here I go again: the professionalisation of the private sphere. What I mean by that is when products or behaviors from the professional sector start appearing in our homes, for example the espresso machine or the full-size steam press for the pants. This time it's happening to the curtains. More and more - me included - is looking for something else to frame our windows with. We have huge windows in our living room and we were reluctant to lose our view with traditional curtains. On the other hand we wanted to be able to bring down the direct sun light to a minimum some days. We decided to use a typical office solution with large white vertical blinds that filter the light and shield the room from heat. Told you: office -> home. I know, you'd think that it'd look kind of sterile but I think it looks clean and modern. There are a lot of niche sites, like those all about blinds and even blogs, helping along this trend that I think is here to stay.

See? Not sterile!

Wall paper? No, wall graphics

2006-06-04T05:01:00.000+02:00

Considering how much space our walls represent in our homes, it's odd that we don't pay more attention to them. It's like the walls in an art gallery where our furniture is the art (I wish!). Well, the folks over at Blik is helping us out today with their slick wall graphics. In true modern individual spirit you can design your own graphics. Before you do, check out their wall decals with featured artists.

Don't run around in circles, let the walls do that instead

Google announces free version of 3D modeling program

2006-04-27T22:40:00.000+02:00

Nowadays Google is all over the place - and guess what - now they're knocking on your door. At least your virtual door. Google recently aquired Sketchup which is a simple 3D modeling tool you can use to model your home additions, interior or why not your whole house. True to their business Google then provided us with a free version of this tool. I think it's a great idea. Now people all around the world can make models of their homes or any building and place it on Google Earth. Come on, let's build Earth version 2 - only better.

Apartment 3D model from the SketchUp Gallery

Wallpaper for singles

2006-03-29T18:15:00.000+02:00

Single? Feeling lonely in your dull apartment? Don't worry, there are other solutions to your problems than to give up the advantages of your single life: the single-tapete. If you're in a hurry there are ready-made singles waiting to populate your walls and if you're into a more personal touch you can send in your own image.

The Christine wallpaper helps you get dressed in the morning - or not.

Bemz covering the IKEA after-market

2006-03-15T18:54:00.000+01:00

Do you think all the business is over when IKEA has shipped sofas to all corners of the world? Well, they seem to think so. You ever tried to buy a new cover for your one+ year old IKEA sofa? Yep, me too. An empty stare from the IKEA staff was all I got. Fortunately there are people picking up this after-market over at Bemz. And the covers are even _nicer_ than the original ones. They'd have to be, because the IKEA I know would not let anyone make money on their stuff if they could avoid it. I know a company that was supplying a product to IKEA and suddenly IKEA started to manufacture the exact same product and dropped the supplier like a hot potato. It was a very small company so a legal battle was probably out of the question. So, Bemz beware.

Now you can bring your sofa when visiting the Stockholm Archipelago.

Watch TV while taking a shower

2006-02-26T09:38:00.000+01:00

Sometimes you gotta go when...you gotta go. But don't worry, there's people in the world constantly working to meet your every need. You no longer have to miss a second of your favorite show. I'm talking about TV in the bathroom! Now you can watch Baywatch and shower at the same time. You'll feel like you're part of the action. Or...you could just get a DVR and watch everything later, but hey, what's the fun in that? The guys over att AquaVision have even found a way to keep the screen steam free.

10 basic principles when decorating

2006-01-28T19:18:00.000+01:00

Ok, it's time to get busy. HGTV.com comes to our aide with a 10 step guide when decorating your home. Now, this web may not represent the peak of modern design and style, but this is about the basic principles - you add the style. So if you like to refresh the basics how to get it right, take a look at this short and handy guide. You can drill down in every step to get an example from a designer.

Warning to style sensitive people: HGTV.com may contain cheezy images like this one.

Lord Of The Rings Furniture

2006-01-24T22:37:00.000+01:00

I know a lot of you folks out there enjoyed the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, as did I. Peter Jackson put a lot of effort into the incredible environments in the films and I think a fair amount of people got inspired by all the costumes, gears and interiors. I can see why it would be a good idea to try to re-create that, and perhaps make a buck or two, selling it to LOTR fans.

Over at Middle Earth Furniture they're making a pretty decent effort to capture the LOTR spirit in their products - and it's not just about churning out copies of furniture as seen in the films. If you're into LOTR, take a look for yourself.

The Rohan & Gondor Coffee table, I kid you not. Imagine our heroes kicking back with their tired feet on this baby.

Exceptional Woodworking

2006-01-22T17:14:00.000+01:00

Following up on the previous woodworking post, I just wanted to share some more inspiration that I stumbled upon when I was checking out the web of the talented woodworker James Krenov, who used to live here in Sweden. He's well known for his delicate cabinets and his gentle approach to the material.

On his web there's a link to the Pritam & Eames Gallery and I recommend you stopping by their display of some top notch crafted furniture.

This chest with drawers really blew my mind. Not to mention the coat rack to the right.

Woodworking hotter than ever

2006-01-14T13:13:00.000+01:00

We've seen more and more pro equipment moving into the domestic domain the last couple of years. It's not just picking up an ordinary coffee maker when your old one gives up it's last breath (after the one-year guarantee + one day). Oh no, you have to read up on pressure numbers, coffee and water qualities in order to wrestle down the big stainless steel monster of an espresso machine and drag it home to your cave. The same goes for the whole household. You need to hammer down a couple of nails? Why not go pro and buy that nail gun? Need to lift something in the garage? Well, that new overhead crane you installed may come in handy some other day - who knows? Life's an equipment sport.

So, now you've got all those tools. What to do? That's why woodworking is so hot right now. Think about it. You got the tools and can get the palpable satisfaction from working with your hands creating something after a day of pen pushing at the office (bit pushing, nowadays I suppose). Let me start you off with a woodworking plan to make a fine Finger Joint Jewelry Box. Good luck! Not that I think you need it - since you got the tools for it!

Hmm those finger joints look tricky...I think I'll need to get a band-sawing machine

Enter the Hive

2006-01-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

Time for some design shopping, folks! Style and business don't seem to mix very well on the web. For some reason stores on the web usually are butt ugly and confusing, but let me point out one of the exceptions. Hive is clean, lean and has a mean stack of classic design products. Just browsing the categories waters my mouth (and makes my credit card run and hide). Ah well, in another life, maybe.

One of my favorites, a re-make of the 1966 "Joe" chair. Perfect for the lawn.

The wallpaper making a comeback

2006-01-06T14:04:00.000+01:00

Remember in the 70's (oops tell tale phrase), when wallpaper patterns were bold and colors hammered the daylight out of your senses? Since then we've seen wallpapers becoming more and more anonymous, even replaced by paint. However, a few years ago we saw bits of patterns showing up on one or two walls in our homes. Now again patterns are bold, but they enhance the room rather than completely occupying it.

Maybe it's time for the total comeback for the wallpaper? New York Times has an interesting piece about new designers putting the cool back on paper. Take a look and be inspired.

Wait a minute...someone tore up my wallpaper! It's the design, man! Oh, ok...cool

Hamster's lair gets my vote in coolest room top list

2006-01-03T22:21:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the other side of the New Year! Hope you made it through the holidays fairly unharmed. Let's start off 2006 checking out futuristic e-homes over at Wired. Many times so-called "e-homes" are nothing more than a poorly integrated home entertainment center and perhaps some remotely controlled dimmers, but in this article you can find a couple of solutions that are genuinely original and well integrated.

My favorite is the Aspen house on a plot developed by Mr Hamster Face himself, actor Michael Douglas. It's surrounded by beautiful mountain views, which it flaunts shamelessly in bath- and bedrooms (I would've used the two-layered glass with liquid-crystal to add some privacy). All tastefully packaged in natural materials. If you're looking for the tech stuff check out the plasma screen that is swiveled out from a closet by a robotic arm - or the tennis court sized server room!

HELLOOO NEIGHBOR! What's up? Not much...taking a shower...

Discardia

2005-12-18T16:58:00.000+01:00

The concept of Discardia is very appealing to me. I remember in my younger days when I moved from one apartment to another, about 6 or 7 a year, that my pile of possessions became smaller each time. Finally I moved abroad and the pile disappeared altogether. I felt a great relief and a few of my friends could enjoy my books and records (yeah it was the LP era). Of course this feeling didn't have a name back then.

Nowadays when concepts don't exist if they're not branded, the concept is known as Discardia. Metagrrrl.com is a nice place to talk about this phenomena.

I must admit though, that I apply Discardia in a different way nowadays as well. I still don't like having a lot of stuff in my way, but I do enjoy great empty spaces. That could of course be considered a kind of possession...and hey, Kjell, I want my LPs back.

See that smile? I could be you.

Stockholm Furniture Fair

2005-12-17T14:00:00.000+01:00

For us up here in the North it's about time to saddle our polar bears and queue up for tickets for the big interior event of next year - Stockholm Furniture Fair, 8-12 February 2006. For you guys living in other parts of the world I can only say: come on over - or keep dreaming about the famous Nordic light (non-existent this time of the year, to be honest) playing with the clean lines of top notch design at the fair.

Be there and be squared?

Guest of honor at the fair is Naoto Fukasawa, who's designs are easy for admirers of Scandinavian design to relate to. I can recommend you to have a look at some work he's done for ±0.

Nope, it's not superglazed doughnut. It's a Fukasawa Humidifier.

HGTV how-to video guides

2005-12-14T23:00:00.000+01:00

Over at HGTV.com there's stuff going on I tell you. If you get over the first ALL-POSSIBLE-CONTENT-IN-YOUR-FACE shock caused by the typical US web design of the first page, there are some interesting how-to video guides to help you out when improving your home. The videos are nicely packaged and allow you to step through them in your own pace. I had to see the masterpiece Installing a Tin Ceiling, which no doubt had to be some sort of horror flick. Well, I admit I watched with growing horror as the merry couple in the video began to nail some ornamented tin pieces to their ceiling. The result was a hideous tomb looking room, but the video was very educational.

Who said you have to live in a church to have your own tin ceiling? Well, I'll say it now: Yes, you'd have to live in a church!

IKEA Walkthrough

2005-12-08T21:21:00.000+01:00

I'm an avid gamer. So there, I said it. In the gaming community there's this thing called a walkthrough. When you're so stuck in a game that you're half-way through the window holding your gaming console over your head enjoying the fact that the console at least is going to hit the street before your head does, a walkthrough is what you need. A walkthrough is a guide published by a fellow gamer that has passed all the levels of the game and has written down the experience to walk you through the game, step by step.

I sometimes wished I had a walkthrough for real life situations. Well, finally here's the IKEA Walkthrough. Although not so practical it's sure to bring a smile of recognition to the face of seasoned gamers, or people like you that have enough imagination to think of a day at IKEA as a game. Enjoy!

Go! Capture the flag!

Intimidating furniture

2005-12-05T22:09:00.000+01:00

That oversized desk not so impressive any more? Time to redecorate your office with some intimidating furniture. I recommend the Harkonnen Capo aluminum chair from the H. R. Giger furniture line. I can't guarantee that this chair won't rip the soul out of your body or suck the marrow out of your bones when you're seated in it.

Would you interrupt the guy sitting in this chair? Yeah, call Ripley.

Floating homes

2005-12-04T16:17:00.000+01:00

On lazy Sundays such as this with the sun never showing, the rain killing off the the last of the white crisp snow we where blessed with a couple of days ago, my mind often drift away to other places, other climates. What could be more fitting than this utopian creation of the floating home, Trilobis 65. Of course, if you parked one of these babies in these waters around here, you'd only see a couple of meters of muddy, murky water and perhaps a grey dead bottom. Nothing like the tropical water environment shown in the illustrations of Trilobis 65 (65 by the way - there are 64 other models or what?). Anyway, enjoy the thought of you sitting in "the underwater observation bulb, an intimate and mediative place".

New addition to the pick-up line collection: "Hey baby, let's go home to my bulb"

Your classic getting dog eared? Go repro!

2005-12-03T15:11:00.000+01:00

Everyone loves an original piece of design furniture, but let's face it: it's a piece of used furniture. Sometimes in mint condition, but most times not so much. The other day I stumbled across a nice store on the web that sells reproductions of old design classics. I have no idea how they handle the business but they have nice picks of design. With these repro babies you could even let your kids play around with your Mies Pavilion Lounge Chair. Well, maybe not.

These marshmallows do NOT go into the fireplace

Inspiring Flash film showing off IKEA kitchens

2005-12-01T21:45:00.000+01:00

In my mind IKEA is not exactly edgy in it's communication with customers. However, today I saw a Flash film on the Swedish IKEA site that made me turn my head - or rather - turn the kitchen! Hurry over to this page and let the film load. Then click the image and drag it to the left or right. You'll see what I mean. Niiiiice!

Not so edgy logo

David Delthony Sculptured Furniture

2005-11-30T21:31:00.000+01:00

I have a weakness for organic shaped furniture. Now, how about organic shapes made out of all natural material? David Delthony has taken furniture carpentry to a new level with his series of sculptured furniture. Check them out here.

The age lines in the wood adds to the warped feeling. Scotty, warp 5, please!

Eurobad '74

2005-11-20T00:02:00.000+01:00

You must stop by at Eurobad '74 to see a hilarous collection of distasteful interiors from 1974. It's not only extremely painful to see each image because of the interior per se. The staged situations in the images often contain an under-current of disturbed behaviour, for example the kid lifting a woman's skirt or a nude in terrified fetal position on the washbowl.

A stable-kitchen? Are you kidding me? I can smell the horse from my goddamn computer!

Room with a view - or rather, three rooms but still one view

2005-10-30T23:40:00.000+01:00

Understated web mag Moco Loco has spotted an interesting project by designer Colani. It's a small house with a view shared by a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom - but not a the same time! A cylinder in the house is divided into these three spaces, and the cylinder rotate on your command so that the space of your choosing is exposed to the view. Sounds nice in theory, I think, but when looking at it more closely I feel that the three spaces were made smaller than necessary. And forget about using two of the spaces at the same time. If your looking for that austronaut feeling, it's a gem though.

2001: Live the film.

Now, if you're looking to give your life a more sophisticated spin I would recommend Curitiba in Brazil instead. There you can make the whole apartment rotate - independently of the other apartments.

If you jog real slow you can make a lap in your round apartment standing still.