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Spectrum Candles

Published by designy things

Founded by architects Jean and Oliver Pelle, PELLE is a Brooklyn-based design practice that produces sculptural lighting fixtures, furnishings, and accessories that merge architectural practice with craftwork. The Spectrum Candles are a set of 12 lightly scented, soy wax candles that are individually hand-cast in PELLE’s cone-shaped Sugarloaf candle molds. The set comes in either dark red to cream (Red Currant) or black to white (Dark Rose) spectrums, with each candle producing a stronger scent as the color darkens. As the candles burn (up to 25 hours), the scents can combine and pools of colored wax interweave to create an new color experience. The makers highly recommend using a liner or candle dish to collect wax runoff and to protect your tabletop. $336, set of 12 or $28 per candle.

All images courtesy of PELLE.

SMEG Small Appliances

Published by designy things

Italian kitchen appliance maker SMEG has collaborated with the renowned Italian design firm Deepdesign to create an affordable line of retro kitchen accessories to coordinate with their line of ’50s-style inspired appliances. The new line includes a stand mixer, a 2- or 4-slice toaster, a blender, and two kettles in a range of colors from polished stainless steel to pastel pink.

The kettles are available with an auto shut-off at 212° F or with a temperature setting from 122° F to 212° F that will be available in the second half of 2015. The blender, which is also available in the second half of the year, will come with several pre-set programs.

Images courtesy of SMEG.

Monkey 47 Gin

Published by designy things

Now available in the U.S., Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin has won several awards not only for taste, but for its unique bottle design, including an iF Award for Packaging Design, a Red Dot Award for Design, and a German Design Award for Packaging, among others. Commissioned for Black Forest Distillers, the bottle is the reincarnation of an old pharmacy bottle with brown glass to protect the contents from light. Brand owner Alexander Stein designed the purple hand-drawn label, which resembles a stamp from the Victorian colonial era.

Monkey 47, which is a rare-batch distilled, craft product, is currently one of the most expensive gins on the market. Distilled from 47 handpicked botanicals (including the gin’s special ingredient, lingonberries), Monkey 47 is macerated in a combination of pure molasses alcohol and soft natural spring water from sandstone wells in the Black Forest.

Images courtesy Monkey 47.

The New Misoka Toothbrush Doesn’t Need Toothpaste

Published by designy things

Misoka might not look extraordinary, but it might just make you rethink your entire teeth cleaning routine. Planned to be launched to the European market during Milan Design Week next month, Misoka is a new concept by Japanese designer Kosho Ueshima, created in collaboration with the mineral nanotechnology company Yumeshokunin Co. Ltd. in Osaka, that uses a coating of nanosized mineral ions on the bristles to clean teeth. According to the manufacturer, the ions move in the water while brushing and pass from the bristles onto the teeth, removing stains, coating them, and keeping them clean and shiny all day. Unlike traditional bristles, Misoka has tapered bristles at both ends to better clean and massage the spaces between the teeth.

Misoka means “last day of the month” which serves as a reminder that the toothbrush should be replaced every month, after which it deteriorates and loses its effectiveness. While Misoka has already been available in the Japanese and Asian markets since 2007 (with two million of the first generation sold), the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) brush been redesigned into a more fluid shape for its European launch. During design week it will be presented inside Water Fountain, an installation based on the theme of water. So the question remains, just because you can now brush your teeth without toothpaste, do you want to?

Japanese designer Kosho Ueshima.

All images courtesy of Kosho Ueshima and Yumeshokunin Co. Ltd.

Tanssi Tableware Collection from Iittala

Published by designy things

New from the iconic Finnish brand Iittala, the Tanssi tableware series features illustrations by Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi. The group of dishes, plates, mugs, and other decorative pieces were inspired by Haapaniemi’s visual designs for the Finnish National Opera production of The Cunning Little Vixen, a Czech opera by Leoš Janácek that premiered in January 2015. The story, which looks at the co-existence of animals and humans and the eternal circle of life, comes alive on tableware shapes created by Finnish designer Heikki Orvola. Reflections from both ancient Oriental and Slavic imagery, as well as traditional stories appear in the drawings of deers, badgers, vixen, and foxes. The earthy color palette coordinates with all current Iittala glassware, including the brand new desert color now available for the Aalto vase.

All images courtesy of Iittala.

Coolbox Toolbox

Published by designy things

The Coolbox might appear to be a normal toolbox at first glance, but this useful tool is more like a portable workstation for the construction site, boat, or garage. First of all, Coolbox features a 20v rechargeable lithium polymer battery to run small power tools on the go or to charge your devices (via two USB ports built into the front panel). It also has a built-in, marine-grade 40w Bluetooth speaker built into the front, built-in LED lighting mounted internally and externally, and an LCD clock that will also display the battery level. Add to that some less techy, but still quite handy, conveniences like a retractable 12 foot extension cord, dual handles, wheels, a 20” x 12” dry-erase board on the inside lid, and a tablet stand, and you have the smartest toolbox on the block.

While the Coolbox is crowdfunding on indiegogo (until March 12th), you can get one for the special price of $169 (61% off the $299 retail price), with an estimated delivery of June 2015. That timing might make it a great Father’s Day or graduation present for that handy person in your life.

All images courtesy of Coolbox.