The Modern Materialist

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• Danny Kuo: The Interview

  Howdy there! Last month, we took a look-see at Danny Kuo's  stairCASE design, a taller bookcase that made it possible to reach the highest shelves. And I could definitely use those extra one or two shelves. Thoroughly impressed, and went ahead and got an interview for you guys. Read More... Posted Oct 09 2008, 11:54 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, Interviews

• Designers We Love: Cristina Toledo

  I had never heard of Cristina Toledo's work before seeing this post on her  "punished, to the corner!," a storage space that can be mounted in any corner of your room. It was recently shown at an exhibition — The Inhabitable Space — in Valencia, Spain.Intrigued by the way in which she manipulated small spaces top her whims, I went to her online portfolio to check out more of her work. After the jump, more of her ingenious designs, plus the above storage space in action. Read More... Posted Oct 09 2008, 10:01 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, concepts

• Get Your Glam Cam

  As a serious photographer (aaahahahahahaha), I chafe at the thought that a DSLR could be made more valuable and attractive with a bit of bling. As a lover of all things sparkly... Read More... Posted Sep 26 2008, 09:10 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: gadgets, design, tech

• Studio1Thousand: The Interview

  Last week, we determined that Studio1Thousand had created a chandelier worth selling your soul for. This week, I get to pick the brains of the design team behind the constellation chandelier. A Q&A, courtesy of Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn, the mastermind behind the magic: Read More... Posted Sep 25 2008, 09:10 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, lighting, chandeliers, Interviews

• Chandelier Is Out of This World

  I've had a fixation with LEDs and fiber optics ever since my parents presented me with a Lite-Brite at the age of god-knows-what. Which is why I love blinkies and twinkly things. It's been awhile since I've posted about chandeliers, but Studio1Thousand has managed to design something that blows away all the other lighting fixtures I've lusted after: Read More... Posted Sep 18 2008, 12:26 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: design, lighting, chandeliers

• Electrolux Designs Continue To Impress

  Just the other day, I posted about the Flatshare Fridge, one of the design finalists in the Electrolux Design Lab competition. Now I've just seen a photo of one of the other finalists' designs, and am duly impressed:   Read More... Posted Sep 17 2008, 03:54 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, kitchen, design, concepts

• Cute or Creepy? Headless Animal Lamps

  The Teddy Bear Lamp above creeps me out, but perhaps there's something to this headless animal lamp, um, "craze." Because I find the one below somewhat elegant... Read More... Posted Sep 17 2008, 02:02 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Lamps, design, lighting

• Concept: A Taller Bookshelf

  I have two bookshelves and, as the books pile up, am in desperate need of another one. No room, though. If I could swap out the two I have with this one, though... Read More... Posted Sep 17 2008, 09:29 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: storage, furniture, design

• Concept: Playing With Your Food

  Nope, not this one. Fortunately, the catapult spoon is more than just a concept. But if you really want to go wild with your unwanted peas, you might have to meet with the designer herself:   Read More... Posted Sep 16 2008, 10:29 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design, concepts

• Concept: Flatshare Fridge

  The only thing roommates are good for is sharing the rent. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Frustrating things past roommates have done: filled up our shared room with sorority-related crafts given me and other roomies the silent treatment gathered friends together in our living room in the early a.m. to bang pots and pans. (They were recording this. Because it was art.) smoked indoors pregamed for hours on end with double shots of vodka and loud hip-hop, always leaving the bathroom a shambles with glitter makeup and strands of hair lost their keys, then having to buzz for me to let them back into the apartment at 3 a.m. spilled various foodstuffs, leaving them on floors and countertops to solidify had party in our living room, in which guests became drunk enough to think that leaping into pile of garbage bags outside my bedroom was a good idea I don't miss this. Product that may have helped?   Read More... Posted Sep 12 2008, 02:42 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: kitchen, design, concepts

• Childhood Entertainment Makes Viewers High

  What was your favorite Disney movie when you were still wee? I know, it's tough to choose. But it's hard to beat a movie with a flying carpet. Want to make your childhood dreams a reality?   Read More... Posted Sep 09 2008, 01:20 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design

• "Hero" Worship

  How to create the proper shrine to my two favorite newsmen?   Read More... Posted Sep 04 2008, 05:56 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design

• Dance Lessons: The Two-Step

  The Evolution of My Dance Skills: became the toast of all wedding receptions at the age of 5, with my mother as my dance partner took ballet lessons in elementary school; I lasted one year...long enough to bourre across a stage in an itchy flower costume took tap in high school, in order to prepare for the school musical; the musical was changed (which was fortunate, as my tap skills were horrendous) turned 18; suddenly began wearing short skirts and tight tank tops, and going college night at Doc's; perfected the "sway" and the "butt wiggle" took belly dancing at the age of 27, and then hoop dancing at the age of 28, and was awesome at both; the hip-hop dance class was a bit more challenging, and I lasted for the duration of one class For those who want to instill the love of dance in their future children: Read More... Posted Sep 03 2008, 09:24 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, Accessories

• Concept: Photosynthesis Solar Charger Blows Us Away

  Meet the PhotonSynthese...just about the most gorgeous gadget charger I've ever seen. Its 54 photovoltaic panel-leaves soak up juice from the sun and charge your gadgets. The only problem? Read More... Posted Aug 29 2008, 10:56 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: gadgets, design, concepts, tech

• Concepts We Wish Would Succeed: Double Rocker

  Why does the younger generation always have all the fun? Why oh why can't I have a cushy rocker like this one? For a return to childhood, cross your fingers that Brian Lee's Double Rocker concept becomes mass-produced:   Read More... Posted Aug 27 2008, 01:03 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design, concepts

• Let's Start a Fire Together

  There are so many skills I did not master as a Girl Scout, among them tying knots, starting fires, and socializing with my peers. It's nice to see that some things get easier over time. Read More... Posted Aug 15 2008, 09:25 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, concepts

• Skateboarders Possibly More Badass These Days

  If you own a skateboard and are thinking that you can't possibly get any more badass, you are so, so wrong. Read More... Posted Jul 31 2008, 03:57 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: design, toys

• Designers Who Rock Our World: Keep It Cartesian

  Who are they? Four students studying environmental design at the University of Manitoba. Why do they rock?   Read More... Posted Jul 31 2008, 01:45 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design

• Equation: A Chair + Some Flair

  Read More... Posted Jul 31 2008, 11:23 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design

• Concepts We Wish Would Succeed: Vaka Squeezable Lightbulbs

  So what's different about these Vaka-designed concept lightbulbs, aside from their vaguely globular, West Elm look? Read More... Posted Jul 23 2008, 12:36 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: design, lighting, concepts

• The Cutest Stools Of All Time

  It's cute enough that these stools look like teacups, but wait until you see this: Read More... Posted Jul 18 2008, 09:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: design, concepts, stools, teacups

• How Do You Spell "Flatware"?

  A few days ago, we showed you some melted silverware (above) from designer Kathryn Hinton, but totally missed these totally rad pieces: Read More... Posted Jul 11 2008, 05:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: design, concepts, silverware

• A Virtual Masterpiece

  The ways in which artwork has evolved over the centuries, especially as we move into the digital world, are telling. After all, who needs Michaelangelo's David when you've got something a heckuva lot less unwieldy, like this: Read More... Posted Jul 09 2008, 02:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, computers, design, tech

• Nothing But Neon, From Trashy to Classy

  [Photo Via]  One time, for a Decompression party, I ordered a trillion (or so) blinkies and pinned each and every one of them onto a long, gray skirt of mine, so that I sparkled in the darkened dance party room. I have a thing for sparklies, and twinkling lights, and that part of me wants a bra like the one pictured above. The other part of me is horrified by the inappropriateness of such a garment (prude) and, for that part of me, I'm happy to have found Rhyme and Reason. Read More... Posted Jul 08 2008, 05:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, design, tech, Apparel

• Some Light Bondage

  There is a thin line between pleasure and pain.   Read More... Posted Jul 08 2008, 11:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: design, Accessories, Apparel

• Tac Tac Toe vs. Mirrors

  I will totally admit that I love Tic Tac Toe. There's no really good reason, it's not like it's the most variable game in the world. But it's a fun distraction that you can play super quickly. Well, thank you Peleg Design, for creating the most awesome version of Tic Tac Toe ever: Read More... Posted Jul 03 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: design, games

• Equation: Trash + Flash

  Read More... Posted Jul 03 2008, 11:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: design, equations, label

• Concepts We Wish Would Succeed: Iga by Damian Kozlik

  I swear to you. The laser-cut look of this chair is not the only aspect that has me so intrigued. The Iga, by Damian Kozlik, has a surprise component: Read More... Posted Jul 02 2008, 02:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, design, concepts

• Designers Who Rock Our World: Alice Wang

  Alice Wang is a design student from from Taipei, Taiwan. Her online concept portfolio is a treasure trove of cleverness, in which she uses products "to illustrate human behaviours, social taboos and social trends." As far as concepts go, we sorta wish all of these would succeed. Some highlights after the jump: Read More... Posted Jul 01 2008, 12:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, concepts

• Splurge: Spend More Money On a Watch Than I've Ever Had

  To celebrate its 150th anniversary, luxury firm Boucheron has decided to create unique objects in collaboration with international brand names. And so they present Richard Mille's "Hommage à Boucheron," pictured above. A fine specimen, sure, but you don't have to rely on this limited-edition model to own a piece of Richard Mille steampunk goodness. Read More... Posted Jun 27 2008, 09:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, design, watches