Four Fun and Fabulous Finds For The Family This Holiday Season.

A selection of new items that would make great gifts for everyone in the family, even the pet. Cigar ashtrays, pet bowls, glasses holders and a very cool ride on toy for the toddler.The Ashtray Factory:Ceramic cigar ashtray designed by Ramon Middelkoop and Chris Koens for Invotis OrangeModern Pet Bowls:Phorm Dishes by Unleashed Life are great looking dog bowls of cast resin with a stainless steel

The Nest. A New Smart, Savvy, Sensing, Stylish Thermostat For The Home.

This modern looking, smart thermostat, the Nest, has been getting a lot of coverage on design blogs and in the news recently - and with good reason. In addition to being great looking, the technologically advanced thermostat saves energy, learns from your behavoir and is wi-fi connected so you can even program it from a downloadable mobile app when away from home.NEST PROGRAMS ITSELF AND SAVES

How About A Green House For Your Dog or Cat? Modern Indoor Kennels / Planters.

The Kokon Kennel and the K-Bannette Kennel are indoor homes for small pets that are modern, ecologically friendly and double as decorative planters for flowers and greens. Created by Sebastian Haquet and Thomas Lanthier of Pousse Creative, the small pet homes can function as stylish modern hideways for dogs and cats or as litter boxes hidden from view. They come with flower pots or planters in

Product Pick of the Week: The Barcelona Bird Pavilion by Monique Engelund.

Designer Monique Engelund designed this stunning birdhouse and feeder for menu, inspired by the famous 1929 Barcelona Pavilion, designed by the legendary German architect Mies van der Rohe.above: Meis van der Rohe's 1929 Barcelona Pavilion.In keeping with van der Rohe’s spirit, it exudes geometric simplicity and is made of an extraordinary material: robust and durable acacia wood from sustainable

A Power Pig with 17 Snoutlets (and the Design Process behind it.)

Russian design studio Art Lebedev is always designing clever items, some as concepts, some as produced items. One of their latest concepts is something I wish would come to fruition. Check out the design process and final protoypes of their Power Strip Svintus with 17 snout-plugs (or Power Pig with 'snoutlets' as I like to call it.)Task: to play up a conventional piggy. Svintus power strip is a

A Brush With Design. Functional and Stylish Toothbrushes from Yumaki.

Clearly oral care can be cool.The other day I came home to some boxed goodies and in a small package postmarked from Vietnam were some fabulous toothbrushes! I tried one and sure enough, it were both comfortable and effective. Gentle on the teeth, vivid to the eyes, Yumaki stylish toothbrushes are made from 100% recyclable PP material with 100% nylon bristles imported from Japan and crafted in a

The 'Utter' Mouth Pot or Vase by Thelermont Hupton.

These fun tabletop vessels are made of fine earthenware and measure 160mm x 100mm tall. The opening is that of a human mouth, compllte with parted lips and teeth.In the words of the artist:"The Utter pots, using the form of a mouth, are a literal manifestation of the concept of objects ‘talking’ to the user.The finished piece is humorous and edgy. The parted lips of the female mouth may even be

Matti Walker designs another Modern Humidifier, the Anton for Stadler Form. Aromatic, too!

Designer Matti Walker is no stranger to creating modern mini humidifiers. Having previously designed tabletop humidifiers Oskar and Fred for Stadler Form (he also has fans and purifiers to his credit), Anton is yet another one - only this one smells as good as it looks. The Ultrasonic ionic humidifier has an aroma diffuser built into it.above: Fred (left) and Oskar (right) are two other small

Blood Concept. Four New Unisex Fragrances Based On Blood Types.

Founded in Italy by Giovanni Castelli and Antonio Zuddas (shown below), Blood Concept is a collection of four different fragrances dictated by blood types.The website says "Filled with legends and meanings, blood is soaked with mystery‚ fascination and respect. it’s the most tested and studied part of human body and it guards a multitude of secrets that reveals our inner and unique way of being.

Five Fabulous Finds For Friday from Fish Bowls to Flash Drives to Fire Lamps.

From flash drives to fishbowls, here are five new items on the market that are guaranteed to bring some cheer into your life.The Fishscape fish bowl:By Aruliden for Gaia and Gino.Made of hand-blown glass and manufactured by Gaia & Gino in Turkey.$140buy it here at Conranor here at Unica HomeAvanti Kids Chair:A beautiful walnut wood chair from Data Modern Furniture made to children's proportions