Archive Category: Home & Garden
Insulation Made from Mushrooms.
Two years ago, Eben Bayer was given a college assignment to create a sustainable insulation. Since he grew up on a mushroom farm in Vermont, he immediately gravitating to growing mushrooms as eco-friendly insulation. He and colleague Gavin McIntyre used a “fire-retardant board made of water, flour, oyster mushroom spores and perlite, a mineral blend found in potting soil” to create their now patented “Greensulate” technology.
The former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates expect the product to be ready for development in about a year. Link [abc news]
Melting Wall Clocks.
Cincinnati artist Hilary Wiezbenski designed these melting wall clocks, reminiscent of Salvadore Dali’s Persistence of Memory. Clocks can be ordered in several shapes and many colors, and you can have your clock embellished with an ant or fly if you like. Link -via J-Walk Blog
Fatlamp.
NEXT architects made a truly unique lamp: a "slow glow" lamp (aka fatlamp) that uses a bulb filled with fat - turn on the light to slowly melt the fat and the lamp gets gradually brighter!
Human CD Holder.
Your CDs seem like a big load to the little man in this clever display case. In addition to the â€lifting man†case, you can also get a “pushing man†case. Link -via Dump Trumpet
Jay Shafer’s Tiny Tumbleweed Homes.
Bucking the trend of bigger is better, Jay Shafer started a company specializing in designing and building small yet functional homes:
… since 1997 I have been living in a house smaller than some people’s bathrooms. I call the first of my little hand built houses Tumbleweed (top left). My decision to inhabit just 100 square feet arose from some concerns I had about the impact a larger house would have on the environment, and because I do not want to maintain a lot of unused or unusable space. My houses have met all of my domestic needs without demanding much in return. The simple, slower lifestyle my homes have afforded is a luxury for which I am continually grateful.
This one above is called the Vardo, inspired by gypsy caravans and shepherd wagons, that you can build for about $4,000.
Link - Thanks Katia (good luck with the mortgage!)
The Library Bathtub.
Like to read in the tub? Well, check out Swedish artist Malin Lundmark’s "Library Bathtub": Link [Flash, click on Design and scroll down] - via BB-Blog
MeBox: Designer Cardboard Box.
MeBox is not your plain ol’ boring cardboard box: it has a grid of perforated discs that you can punch out to create text, numbers, or symbols! Link - via Think.Bigchief
Squirrels Torch Man’s House. Twice.
Here are some squirrels that definitely deserves the controversial catapult treatment previously posted on Neatorama:
If you think Alan Turcott has bad luck, just think of the squirrels in his neighborhood.
For the second time in eight days, Turcott’s Blue Island home caught fire when squirrels knocked high-voltage wires loose from a utility pole and onto his three-story house, fire officials said.
Star Trek Home Theater with Real Props.
We’ve featured Gary Reighn’s Star Trek home theater before, but he has since updated it to include real props from the recent Star Trek auction:
Previously on Neatorama: Star Trek Fan Went Bankrupt and Got Divorced Turning Home into Spaceship | Christie’s Auction: 40 Years of Star Trek
Will Vanden Vos’ Flip Clock.
Modern Flip Clock by Will Vanden Vos. Dutch Designer Will Vanden Vos has reinvented the flip clocks of the 70s. Link - via Technabob
DIY IQ Light.
IQ Light was first designed in 1973 by Danish designer Holger Strøm. The light comes as a kit of many interlocking modules that you put together to form a sphere.
Here’s a particularly pretty one: a Mexican-style IQ Light that you can make yourself: Link
Gold Man Pee Funnel.
Ladies: Tired of dirty toilets? Can’t get your man to lift the toilet seat up? Don’t get mad - get him this Gold Man pee funnel instead!
Link - via Random Good Stuff
Dog Cage by designGO!
Now that’s a dog cage! Created by designGO! studio: Link [Flash, you'd have to hunt around for it]
AUR, Robotic Desktop Lamp that Follows You Around.
MIT Media Laboratory researcher Guy Hoffman created this robotic desk lamp called AUR that can track its user and set "mood lighting" too!
Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] | AUR website - via Mr. Future
Home vs Visitor Bed
To keep up your score on crazy nights. In the end it’s just a game… Link via Blog Your Mind
Pool Table + Entertainment Center + Bar = “The Executive”
What do you get when you combine a pool table with an entertainment center and a bar? This Heiron Smith creation called "The Executive": Link - via Smidigt
Cardboard Stool.
Here’s something ironic: it can be quite expensive to live like you don’t have any money. (Case in point: How to Dress Like a Mac - almost $160!)
Add this one to the list: a set of soft stools made to look like cardboards ($465!): Link - via Gizmodo
The Weirdest Tunnel
A very weird looking tunnel that runs straight through a house.
Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage Bed.
Got a little princess in your life? Daddy’s little girl will go absolutely nuts for this AMAZING pumpkin-shaped fantasy carriage bed, inspired by the fairy tale Cinderella.
Oh, and what’s $47,000 if you can bring sweet dreams and a little smile to your daughter’s face?
Link (Don’t miss their entire line of fantasy-themed beds) - Thanks Tiffany!
Pretty Pink Jar for … Leeches!
From wikipedia section on the medical uses of leeches [wiki]:
The leech has long been used in medicine, although today its use is mainly limited to limb reattachment procedures instead of the wide-ranging medical use in the past. Leeches have proven highly effective at preventing venous congestion after the surgical re-attachment of fingers, toes, ears and other parts of the body. The word leech either comes directly from or was influenced by the Old English word for "physician", l[ae]ce, which is related to Old High German lahhi and Old Irish liaig.
And where would you keep your leeches? In a pretty pink jar, of course.
Found at Medical Antiques (fantastic site of old medical equipments - worth a look-see) - via Scribal Terror
Reading Lights.
They’re reading lights. Get it? Link - via Smidigt
Pantone Mug.
Designers and graphic artists will probably appreciate this: Pantone Mug by W2. This one to the left is Red 168C, £8.
Unfortunately, they can’t yet ship outside of the EU.
Link - via Think.BigChief
Pug with Velvet Bag Lamp.
Like the dog, this "Pug with Velvet Bag" lamp by Dietlind Preiss is so ugly it’s great! Link (with additional images) - via BB-Blog
Psycho Shower Curtain.
Either place this shower curtain facing away from the tub as a funny, decorative piece. Or, face it into the tub. When your “victim” takes a shower and pulls the curtain closed, they will get a frightening surprise. A hilarious prank to play on unsuspecting guests!
Link -via J-Walk Blog
Robot Face Piggybank.
The Banpresto Face Bank piggybank robot will literally eat your money in order to save it!
Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] | Product page at strapya-world - via Gizmodo and Tokyo Mango
The Abduction Lamp.
Lasse Klein designed the Abduction Lamp. I want one! But it’s not yet available. The cow or a human will be an add-on accessory. Link -via Cynical-C
Turning Beer Bottles to Solar-Powered Water Heater.
Chinese farmer Ma Yanjun wanted his mother to shower with hot water, so he invented a solar-powered water heater out of … beer bottles!
Ma’s invention features 66 beer bottles attached to a board. The bottles are connected to each other so that water flows through them.
Sunlight heats the water as is passes slowly through the bottles before flowing into the bathroom as hot water, reports China Economy Network.
Ma says it provides enough hot water for all three members of his family to have a shower every day.
Graffiti Chair for Kids.
Here’s another one for "start ‘em young" category: Factum Graffiti chair. Link
Stainless Steel Mess Tray.
For just $18 you can get 3 stainless steel mess tray, so you can eat just like at boot camp (or prison - wait, do prisoners eat from steel trays?)
Link - via The Windowshoppist
Rent-a-Labyrinth.
Psst! Wanna rent a labyrinth? You can rent this replica of Chartres labyrinth from the Labyrinth Company: Link - via Coquina Daily
