Save the World: Get Green Appliances

If you have an old refrigerator, you’ve probably debated in your mind whether or not to keep it until it dies. The decision is a really a no-brainer as new appliances are sleeker, quieter, more functional, and more importantly, energy efficient. Manufacturers are motivated in part by legislation introduced in … Read More

A Design Fiend’s Dream Vacation

While living in London in the late ’90s, I went to a chair exhibit at the Design Museum, which was curated by the Vitra Design Museum. The London exhibit was extensive and ultimately inspired me to finally visit the actual Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. I’ve since … Read More

The Rugs Don’t Work. Yet Sometimes They Do.

Rugs are like bad relationships: In the beginning, they get lots of attention, but over time, they tend to be forgotten. Eventually, they just get walked all over. When designing rooms, I put ample effort into choosing wood or stone flooring and often overlook rugs as a design element. Yet … Read More

Knock it Off! Part 2

Last week, I talked about the popularity of modern classics, whether authentic or knocked-off. You can visit here to see part one of my crash course in classic furniture design. This week, I present part two. Arco Floor Lamp (pictured above) Designer: Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Italy Year: … Read More

Thin-Crust Laptops

The netbook craze is spawning ever cheaper – and tinier – computers, but as laptops downsize, performance often falls by the wayside. The ultra-light, high-performance machines described below, however, make no compromises – and they’ll make the average netbook look like a a child’s toy. The Credit Card Adamo by Dell: … Read More

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