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This backpack from Ember means business. It’s a 20-liter pack and modular system meant for commute and travel. Add the weather-proof exterior gear pockets on to the minimal pack (padded internal laptop & tablet sleeves) for more room when needed, or leave them off when you’d like a lighter pack. There’s also three styles of external utility straps/handles. Take a look at their Kickstarter page to back the project.
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Now, this is a minimalist wallet. Made from Commercially Pure Grade 2 titanium, the Un-Wallet is very thin (1mm thick) and holds up to 10 cards or 50 bills in total with its slat-like two-sided design. A silky, matte finish hides fingerprints. Nice, isn’t it?
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Enjoy your weekend!

Feeling a little hazy? That’s understandable if you’re gazing into this Fading Mirror by Amsterdam designer Thomas Eurlings, as it has a printed gradient under the glass to give a soft reflection. The smoke-like edging will give you a dreamy, floating image whenever you should happen to pass by… and, good news, it won’t break the bank.
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This little guy looks like he needs to star in a Pixar film, doesn’t he? Inspired by the archetypal miner’s lamps of 19th century, the M Lamp is powered by a rechargeable Lithium long-life battery, and if you’re asking how long is ‘long-life’ you’ll be happy to know that it is rated to “to last 50,000 hours, for up to 2,000 charging cycles with no loss in performance.” Is that impressive, or what? A handle makes the M Lamp very portable, so you can move it around the home whenever you need an extra light.
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If you’re planning on digging in the dirt to plant new flowers and such, you’d better have the right tools to minimize any aching backs. Longer handles will help with that, just like you see with this set available from Kaufmann Mercantile. Fabricated from airplane-quality steel for strength, each tool is handmade one at a time in the same factory since 1964 in New Jersey.
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Yes, the large tag on this Fatboy Picnic Lounge is a little obnoxious, but it’s also a little pouch for your keys, phone, etc. so you don’t lose them at the beach or park (or backyard?). Maybe we’ll just tuck it under the lounge rug so it doesn’t distract us and/or others from all the fun we’ll be having. Four giant pins, a hole in the middle for a sunshade, and an included brush make this Picnic Lounge perfect for a sunny day outdoors. And, when the day is done, roll it up and carry it home with its specially designed strap.
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The above photo initially baffled me, as I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. The honeycomb structure is what caused the confusion, as the Chikuno Cube is normally shown as a black, charcoal cube, and its honeycomb composition is not usually highlighted. If you’re not familiar, the Chikuno Cube is made of activated bamboo charcoal and clay, and with tiny air pockets, the cube absorbs odor; to “recharge” the cube, just set it in direct sunlight for a few hours. The simple wood base gives the cube a home, allowing it to make sense amongst your other things in your closet or bathroom. And, yes, $68 is quite a bit of money to spend on a air freshener, however, I’d argue it’s a much better alternative (both in function and in the looks department) to some of your other choices*.

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Spring is… springing, and if we shall take hints from all the spring newsletters hitting our inbox, it’s time to think about sprucing up our outdoor area. Don’t worry, there’ll be more planters and tools and furniture featured soon, but for now, let’s talk about this Criss Knit Pod/Pouf. It’s outdoor-friendly as it’s made from poly-foam knit (it wipes clean) and a dense poly fill makes it suitable for an extra seat, ottoman, or table- just add a big tray on top. It is very orange, but maybe this year we’ll be a little bit more brave when it comes to color… agreed?
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Ouch. It physically pains me to see blatant rip-offs*. On the left, you have Modfire’s Urbanfire; on the right, Target’s recent Threshold™ Chiminea. Notice that trademark symbol? Not cool. For more information, visit Modfire’s facebook page.
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The Flos 15% off Sale ends tomorrow (March 20), so now’s the time to pick up a Tab T Table Lamp, as it slides in at just under the $300 price point. Designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the Tab T has an adjustable head that gives you direct lighting that’s ideal for a desktop or side table. Choose between shiny black or white.
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You’ve got guests coming over for dinner, but your dining table is looking oh-so-sad and very unadorned, and you’ve not much money to dress it up with a fancy tablecloth. Tablecloths are a bother, anyway, as they need to be laundered and pressed after each use. So, what to do? How about adding some ‘flourish’ with a paper table runner? An ornate black scroll will dress up your tabletop while the kraft paper says ‘Hey, I’m not trying too hard.’ It’s long enough for around 4 separate lengths of an average sized table.
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Hooray! Sugru is now available at MoMA, and that means more people can fix and modify all sorts of things with this magic stuff. Sugru, if you’re not familiar with it already (Simon wrote about it back in 2010), is a self-setting rubber that you can mold like play-dough. It bonds to almost everything and sets into a flexible, water-proof silicone rubber overnight. Use it to make tools easier to grip, mend broken wires, put bumpers on your phone, and more. You may also buy the kit directly from Sugru ($22), fyi.
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Another wireless speaker, yawn… but wait, the very fact that it’s not neon orange or some other outrageous color makes it seem more grown up and mature, and that certainly won’t hurt your image, am I right? Solid walnut wood helps deliver a warmer sound than other plastic speakers, and, with the addition of neutral graphite speaker grills and buttons, you have an altogether pleasing package. The Grain Audio PWS measures in at 7″ long, 2.345″ wide, and 3.125″ high, so it’s the perfect portable size.
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How minimal can you get? Turns out you can go super minimal even when it comes to your playing cards. The Minim Playing Cards by Joe Doucet are regulation playing cards that reduce hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades to their simplest geometric forms. A diagonal line marks the back.
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