Archive Category: Home & Garden




I, For One, Welcome Our New Furniture Overlords

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden, Pictures on November 5, 2009 at 5:27 am


Voices from the off 1 (2008) by Julian Göthe

Is that an alien being disguised as furniture or is it artwork by Julian Göthe?

This wonderful piece is part of Julian Göthe’s exhibition "Events during Flood" at the Galerie Buchholz in 2008 but just in case I’m mistaken let me just say I, for one, welcome our new furniture overlords: Link

 
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Neatorama Shop » Home & Garden » Ice Trays

Sticky Note Chair

Posted by John Farrier in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden on November 4, 2009 at 3:48 pm


Photo: razy2

The Polish design team razy2 made a chair that’s built like a stack of sticky notes. The Q-Book is composed of sheets of paper, carefully cut, that are attached on one side. If you need something to write on, just tear off a sheet.

Artist’s Website via Make

 
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The 15 Best Man Caves on the Internet

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on November 4, 2009 at 1:04 pm

A man cave is a place for a man to get away from the rest of the family and the problems of the world and to engage in his favorite pastimes. The best man caves get posted to the internet, and BroBible.com selected 15 awesome setups for this collection. Some are centered around sports, some take up the entire basement, and almost all feature an elaborate entertainment center. The garage pictured also has a bar and room for motorcycle parking. Link -via Gorilla Mask

 
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The Secret Behind IKEA Tables: Honeycomb!

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden, Video Clips on November 3, 2009 at 2:17 pm


[National Geographic Video]

Ever wonder how IKEA makes their furniture sturdy yet light? The secret is the honeycomb skeleton inside their tabletops. National Geographic went inside an IKEA factory in Poland: Link

 
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24 Hour Tombstones

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on October 29, 2009 at 9:49 pm

Time is tight if you are just starting to make Halloween decorations, but this one can be ready in a day. Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories has instructions for making your own concrete tombstone! It might not be fancy enough for an actual grave, but it is sturdy and customizable for Halloween. Link

 
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Tetris Chair

Posted by John Farrier in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden on October 26, 2009 at 11:27 am


Image: Gabriel Cañas

Mexican industrial designer Gabriel Cañas created this fiberglass Tetris-inspired chair. So far, it’s one-of-a-kind, so it’s not yet available for retail. Follow the link to Cañas’ portfolio for more odd furniture.

Link via GearFuse | Previously on Neatorama: Tetris Furniture

 
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Das Kapital Money Bank

Posted by Alex in Funny, Home & Garden, Money & Finance, Pictures on October 26, 2009 at 1:47 am


Das Kapital Money Bank – $19.95 + s/h

This one will make Karl Marx spin in his grave (you may be surprised to find where the father of communism was buried. No, not the Soviet Union. Karl Marx was buried in London.)

Behold the Das Kapital Money Bank – a secret storage case shaped like his Das Kapital manifesto. And at $19.95 over at the Neatorama Shop, you don’t have to be the bourgeoisie to buy one: Link

See also: Good Marx, Bad Marx T-Shirt

 
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Neatorama Shop Story: Voodoo Doll

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden on October 24, 2009 at 12:58 pm

The following is a Neatorama Shop Story, a narrative starring the products carried in this blog’s very own online store.

1932, Vieux Carré. The spirited jazz befit the life the old lady had lived. She had been known for curing illnesses, lifting curses and brewing love potions, all without charging. She had gotten along with everyone, even the reclusive nocturnal couple who rented the windowless basement apartment. The procession wound its way back to her grand dwelling on St. Ann Street where we found ourselves at a wake hosted by the deceased’s attractive young niece, Sookie, who had just returned from her studies abroad.

We had only recently taken up residence in the sun-drenched breezy balconied rooms on the second floor. The first floor was occupied by a handsome but shy young pianist. He and the old lady had “adopted” each other some years earlier and had become constant companions, so his absence from the procession had raised our eyebrows and our concern. Later, when we did not see him at the wake, we feared he was bedridden with grief and loneliness, yet our worries melted away like Cajun crawfish croquettes as we eagerly sampled the buffet before us. In anticipation of crossing over, the old lady had written out a meticulous plan which Sookie had followed to the letter, lovingly preparing all of her Aunt’s secret recipes, and placing at the center of the table a voodoo doll toothpick holder. With each miniscule skewer removed by a guest and plunged into cayenne crab cakes, deep fried jambalaya crisps, or gator gumbo gobs, everyone present felt a pang of sadness lift, and recalled in its place a joyous memory of a joke shared or wisdom gained in times spent in the company of the dearly departed.

The jazz band paused as the very house itself seemed to groan and sob a long cathartic wail. Just then, our mysteriously absent neighbor stumbled through the doorway, clutching his bosom. Our hostess looked into his eyes and then down at the table, where a lone stick jutted from the heart of its man-shaped holder. Plucking the tiny toothpick from its hole, she stabbed a soft praline ball and lifted it to the quivering lips of the young man whose hands promptly fell from his chest to his sides and then wrapped themselves around the waist of his savior. The two young people closest to the old lady’s heart would now dwell in each others’, as she had long intended.

We knew it was past our bedtime when our subterranean neighbors arrived bearing blood-sausage-stuffed po’ boys. As we were saying goodnight, the hostess passed us the little perforated person who had served up so much deliciousness and pain. She said, “Please take this. My aunt would have wanted you to have it. She told me that your love spanned the ages.”

Our little friend is now marketed under the name of “Ouch! The Voodoo Doll Toothpick Holder.” We have employed ours on several occasions without attracting the attention of authorities. It has retained its power as a great party starter. We have used it at an acupuncturist’s reception, and have adorned “Ouch!” with ruffle-ended toothpicks to evoke a grass skirt for a Very Brady taboo/voodoo luau. When he is not partying, “Ouch!” makes a nice paperweight and graciously holds our “flags of all nations and eras” pushpin collection (essential in mapping our adventures). Just hanging out with him imparts a comforting feeling that you have a tool with which to control the universe. “Ouch!” does not appear to have been approved for use with sparklers, so we cannot advise in good conscience that you try it. Suffice it to say that it would look wicked cool and the spell would be that much more effective.


Ouch! Voodoo Doll Toothpick Holder, available from the Neatorama Shop for $7.95

__________

The story above is written by the dynamic duo Drs. Ernest and Convalescence Bidet-Wellville (hey, I didn’t name ‘em) of the University of Self-Conscious Consumerism in Olde Busytowne, Connecticut. I suspect they write cover stories for the CIA, so if I’m inexplicably missing the next few days, you know what happened.

 
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Wearable Hummingbird Feeder

Posted by Marilyn Terrell in Animal, Gadget, Home & Garden, Video Clips on October 24, 2009 at 12:00 pm

If you’d like to see a hummingbird’s beak just millimeters from your face, this wearable hummingbird feeder is for you:

Hit play or go to Link

 
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11 Incredible Homes From Around the World for Under $50K

Posted by Queuebot in Home & Garden on October 22, 2009 at 12:05 pm

The worldwide recession has hit a lot of people hard, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Far from it actually, as is the case with property. As the price of real estate has fallen, there are plenty of bargains to be had all around the world! The villa pictured is in Halcyon Hills, Greece.

No doubt there will be a few reading ready to point out the error in the title. Surely, it’s a mistake? Homes for less than 50K? No way! But yet, it’s true. Since the global financial debacle of last year, it’s shocking how many homes are available for sale for under US$50,000, especially in the US where the housing market was hit hardest.

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Arby.

 
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Neatorama Shop » Funny T-Shirts

Rosie the Riveter Bookends

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden, Pictures on October 19, 2009 at 3:14 am


Rosie the Riveter Bookends (set of 2) – $34.95

Here’s something quite neat for your bookshelf: a pair of matching Rosie the Riveter bookends, made from heavy-duty stone resin. The bookends, created by Chris Collicott commemorate the spirit of the machine age and honor the hardworking ladies who worked in war factories during World War II.

You can count on Rosie the Riveter bookends to work diligently in keeping your books organized and neat!

From the Neatorama Shop: Link

 
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Port-A-Pint Portable Beer Glass

Posted by Alex in Food & Drinks, Gadget, Home & Garden on October 15, 2009 at 1:53 am


Port-A-Pint Portable Beer Glass – $7.95

Don’t go unprepared to your next party. Forget those clumsy disposable cups, bring your own portable beer glass. The Port-A-Pint Beer Glass pops open in seconds with a flick of your wrist. From the Neatorama Shop: Link

 
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Bombs Away Shot Glass

Posted by Alex in Food & Drinks, Home & Garden, Pictures on October 12, 2009 at 2:54 am


Bombs Away Shot Glass – $19.95 (set of 2)

The next time you throw a party, make sure you’re well armed. The Bombs
Away Shot Glasses will definitely make your party a (direct) hit. These shot glasses are made from high-quality double-walled borosillicate glass with a frosted interior. And as you can see, it is shaped like the tail fins of an aerial bomb.

New at the Neatorama Shop: Link

 
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A Table Table

Posted by John Farrier in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden on October 8, 2009 at 7:51 pm


Photo: Kamiya Design, Inc.

The components of this table and chairs set by the Japanese firm Kamiya Design spell out the word ‘table’. It’s part of an exhibition at the upcoming Nagoya Design Week, held from October 14-18.

Link via Gizmodo | Company Website | Nagoya Design Week

 
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Stone Cold Ice Tray

Posted by Alex in Gadget, Home & Garden on October 8, 2009 at 4:14 pm


Stone Cold Ice Cube Tray – $7.95

Here’s one for your next party: the Stone Cold Ice Tray that makes ice shaped like the moais of Easter Island! Perfect for your tropical drink.

From the Neatorama Shop: Link | More cool and unusual ice trays

 
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Shopping Cart Chair

Posted by Jill Harness in Arts & Crafts, Gadget, Home & Garden on October 2, 2009 at 10:47 pm

F93U97WF0VAV94G.MEDIUM

It might not be comfortable or all that functional, but this shopping cart chair is just undeniably cool. It can even work as a wheelchair if necessary. Instructables can tell you how to make one of your very own.

Link

 
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The Step-Climbing Garden

Posted by Johnny Cat in Home & Garden, Pictures, Travel & Places on October 2, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Photo by Iwan Baan

Photo by Iwan Baan

Gorgeous design and blending of utilitarian and aesthetic elements.  More photos at link (The Contemporist).

The New York based landscape and urban design office of Balmori Associates has designed the “Garden That Climbs The Steps” in Bilbao, Spain.

Link

 
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M-Cups: Measuring Cups Shaped Like Matryoshkas or Russian Nesting Dolls

Posted by Alex in Food & Drinks, Gadget, Home & Garden, Pictures on October 2, 2009 at 1:11 am


M-Cups Matryoshka (Russian Nesting Doll) Measuring Cups

This is a clever one by Carl Mitsch of Fred Studio: a set of measuring cups shaped like matryoshka (babushka or Russian nesting dolls). They’re cute and functional! And perhaps best of all, they nest inside of one another so they don’t take up much cabinet space. At $11.95 each, they’re the perfect gift for those who love to cook … and who knows, maybe you’ll get dinner out of it, too.

From the Neatorama Shop: Link

 
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Gruesome and Bloody Things to Decorate Your Home

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden on October 1, 2009 at 3:34 pm

We go from cute to downright gruesome. This here is a post by Miss Cellania about furniture and accessories that will make your house into a bloody crime scene over at our pal mental_floss blog that makes me slightly afraid of her. Okay, a lot afraid of her ;)

This one above is the Dexter dining room chairs:

Designer Amy Lau was inspired by the serial killer show on Showtime when she came up with these Dexter dining room chairs. The chairs are decorated with embroidered blood spatters. There are also bloody dinner plates and disfigured flatware to match, available from Spring Design.

Link

(Yes, astute readers will notice that Amy Lau’s blood spattered design was on Neatorama before)

 
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Edison The Grand Lamp, a Giant Table Lamp by Alex Bergman

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden on October 1, 2009 at 3:28 pm

No, that’s not a really tiny woman. Rather, it’s a gigantic lamp shaped like a regular ol’ table lamp. Designer Alex Bergman created this Edison the Grand lamp for Fatboy studio. The large size of the lamp (it stands about 3 feet) is accompanied by the large sticker price: more than $900!

Link

 
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Neatorama Shop » Computer & Office » Road Mice

Why settle for a boring computer mouse when you can surft in style with Road Mice, a wireless cool computer mouse that looks just like the car of your dreams?

Road Mice is available in various Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ford models including the popular Corvette shown to the left.

It's the perfect gift for the auto-enthusiast in your life!

See more Road Mice »

Winestein Beer and Wine Glass

Posted by Alex in Food & Drinks, Home & Garden, Pictures on October 1, 2009 at 3:22 am


Winestein – $19.95

Is that an elegant wine glass or a manly beer stein? Actually, it’s both! Behold the Winestein, a double-walled beer mug with an internal cavity shaped just like an elegant wine stem.

You’ve only got a few more days till the end of Oktoberfest … but if you think about it, every day can be just like Oktoberfest if you have this puppy! From the Neatorama Shop: Link

 
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The Blood Lamp

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on September 27, 2009 at 8:04 am

The Blood Lamp only works once, and you need to add of a drop of your blood to activate it! The idea is to stop and think about how badly you need light before you use it. Designer Mike Thompson created the lamp in order to draw attention to how much energy we waste. Link -via Dark Roasted Blend

 
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Dirac Notation Bookends

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden, Pictures, Science & Tech on September 24, 2009 at 3:18 am

Lenore over at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories blog created this bra-ket bookends perfect for your quantum mechanics textbooks. Dirac would’ve been proud though Heisenberg would’ve warned about the uncertainty of having objects heavier than books that may fall out of the shelf.

Link – via Make

 
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Oops Design Awards

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on September 23, 2009 at 9:23 am

The Oops Awards (previously at Neatorama) are given to the ugliest, silliest, and most useless household products of the year. This year’s winners include the skin collection by designer Nacho Carbonell, which won first prize for the ugliest product. The rest of the winners are …interesting. Link -via the Presurfer

 
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Will Return Clock

Posted by Alex in Gadget, Home & Garden on September 23, 2009 at 2:04 am

What time is it? If you have trouble getting back to your cubicle on time, simply set this Will Return Clock (yes, it looks just like those ubiquitous "will return" signs … but with a clock) fifteen minutes ahead
… That way, you’d never be late!

Link

 
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Judas Cradle as Trendy Furniture

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts, Home & Garden, Pictures on September 23, 2009 at 2:03 am

Back in the middle ages, a popular form of torture is to force a poor sap to sit on a pointy stool called the Judas Cradle. You can imagine what that does to the guy’s backside.

Fast forward to modern times and lo, this torture chair was transformed into an edgy "Stake-chair" by Russian designer Ton Guglya:

Stake-chair and stake-stool for those who like to be «on the edge». Practically it is very comfortable to seat on a glass cube (with round corners and a deepening in the top). Woody structure is actually wooden. If you doubt the historical authenticity of the torture stake — search it on the internet.

Link – via a+.29

 
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Bacon Soap

Posted by Alex in Funny, Home & Garden, Pictures on September 22, 2009 at 2:07 am


Bacon Soap – $5.95 at the Neatorama Shop

Bacon – is there anything it can’t do? Well, thanks to modern technology, we’ve got bacon belt to prop your pants up, bacon wallet to keep your money safe, bacon watch to tell time … and now, we have bacon soap to get you clean!

Take a shower or wash your hands with the only soap that’s infused with the sweet aroma of bacon, and see just how attractive it’ll make you to the opposite sex! Well, maybe not, but at least you’ll be smelling like your favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner food ;)

Link | More Bacon stuff at the Neatorama Shop

 
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Tetris Tiles

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden, Toy & Video Games on September 21, 2009 at 11:28 am

If you recall the Tetris Shower and wanted one of your own, you’re going to love this. A tile supplier in England makes ceramic tiles in Tetris shapes! Pick up to seven colors for the six shapes and design your own video game bathroom or kitchen. For faster installation, they also offer sheets of mosaic tiles with preset patterns. Link -via Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

 
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Best Pool Table EVAR!

Posted by Alex in Home & Garden, Pictures, Sports on September 20, 2009 at 3:08 am

All right. So John Farrier has posted a couple of really cool pool tables. The first one is Deep Green, a pool-playing robot created by the robotics lab of Queen’s University in Canada. The second one is the $200,000 Obscura CueLight Pool Table that creates an interactive image using an overhead projector.

Well, fie! The first two rounds belong to you, John. But in this game of Neatorama one upmanship, I’m compelled regain top dog status and post a pool table to beat ‘em all.

Behold, the Snooker Sofa, created by Accrington upholsterer and UK pool table maker Riley in the 1970s.

Can your pool table transform into a sofa, John? Just look at that beauty and weep: Link

Note: And yes, you may have seen this one round the Net back a couple of months ago, and was on eBay (since then it’s been out of eBay).

 
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Eco-Friendly Steam Dishwasher

Posted by Miss Cellania in Home & Garden on September 18, 2009 at 10:27 am

Washing dishes in a full-loaded dishwasher without pre-rinsing saves water (particularly expensive hot water) over washing by hand. This steam dishwasher designed by Vincent Liew saves even more water and energy!

As the title suggests, this dishwasher uses pressurized steam to dislodge food particles on dishes and sanitize them. A hearty rinse after the cleaning process gives you squeaky clean dishes!

Now for the Eco-friendly part. Since no detergents are used, there is less of “ozone depleting solvents” going around. The water used in the steam and rinsing is collected in the recycling bay and using “Membrane Technology” (read more info on this here), the grime and food particles are separated from the water. The clean water is recycled to be used again for the next wash.

Contaminated water, too harsh for reusing is discarded via an outlet and only then is a fresh load of water consumed.


Link

 
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