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With the weather being so damn cold, there’s never too many mentions of anything that will keep you warm. And, goodness, a lukewarm cup of coffee or tea is just not acceptable when your fingers or toes are freezing, especially when an appropriate receptacle can keep liquids piping hot for hours. This Menu Kettle Thermo Jug by Norm Architects keeps contents hot for very long period of time: “a beverage at a temperature of 203°F will, after 6 hours in a full jug in a 75°F room, still be 172°F hot.” Impressive, yes? (Especially in a very long/boring meeting, when all that’s keeping you awake is caffiene.)
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Quick, what is the item above? I bet you have some good guesses: a fancy torture device, a cocktail muddler, a writing implement… but all of those are not the case. It’s a bottle opener, a “rotationally symmetrical bottle opener cut from solid brass” to be exact. Nice, right? Designed by Luke Smith-Wightman and available at FAO Shop in the UK.
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The Slide Hook houses spring-loaded hardware to keep your towels or apparel in place. Slide items into the opening to hold, and, to release, just give a simple tug. This ensures minimal effort on your part- let’s not call it laziness, we’ll call it ‘being efficient’- yes?
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Planning any big trips for 2014? Map your journey with these bright red pins on this flexible (and 100% recyclable felt) PinWorld map. Designed by Italians Emanuele Pizzolorusso and Alessandro Maffioletti, the map is available in two sizes: standard and mini. Each includes 15 pins.

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Feeling a a bit dull and boring these days? Don’t worry, it’s just January, and I’ve got just the thing for you: a Phoenix Feather Pen. I double dare you to take it to all your meetings and pretend it’s the most normal pen in the world, and even use it out and about to take simple notes at restaurants and bars. Prints inspired by from Memphis to Warhol, all with a useful ballpoint stem.
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Polar vortex, pshaw! No cold will bother you when you’ve got this Cross Blanket from Pia Wallén wrapped around you. Especially because in Swedish folk art tradition, the cross is a strong symbol for hope, so you’ll be doubly optimistic whenever you wrap it around yourself (note: the smaller size could be appropriate for a little one’s crib/bed). Or, if you really want to spend some dough and have the larger, wool version, the original Crux Blanket is available as well.
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How cool does this chandelier look? Pretty cool, right? Now, what if I told you I made this guy with my own two hands? Yep, I finally got around to making a DIY Lindsey Adelman Chandelier. And, yes, it was difficult at times- more than a few swear words were released into the ether- but so well worth it. Details below.
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A clock radio? What, is it 1985? That’s what you’re thinking, but, trust me, this one has all the bells and whistles that you’d want, without the pesky overview of emails and appointments your phone flashes at you every single time you pick it up. Also, did you know that looking at a bright screen at night to check the time can disrupt your sleep? Smartphones are full of small catastrophes, aren’t they? So, rethink that 1985 reference and pay attention.

DesignWright’s Titan LED Clock Radio has the LED display within the speaker grill, which softens the numbers to a pleasing glow. Yes, there’s the AM/FM settings, snooze bar, an auto-dimmer, six recordable radio stations, electronic volume, a telescopic antenna, and an MP3 amplifier, but all you really care about it that it looks cool.
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My goal is eventually to have no paper magazines arrive in my mailbox, but until the powers that be agree to deliver all periodicals via that magic device called the iPad, I’m stuck with a stack to file away (or recycle) every few months. That’s where this portable holder comes in to save the day- the handle makes it easy to carry from room to room and it keeps your ‘to-read’ pile all in one place.
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If you’re a fan of Josef Albers, you’ll want to consider this rug, Homage to the Square. It’s adapted from his 1951 oil painting and, surprisingly, not terribly expensive. Don’t worry, it’s produced in association with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. If the price tag is still much higher than you want to spend, take a look at a less expensive, similar style rug at the end.
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Did you know Eero Aarnio designed this citrus squeezer? Do you care? You should, because you never know when a brightly colored lemon squeezer will come in handy, and you’re not the type to just buy any ol’ squeezer. Also, just for fun, let’s play a quick game. Which of these three chairs did Eero Aarnio design?
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Before the holiday break, my home’s recessed can lights looked like a sad sack of characters past their prime: their springs that had lost their ‘spring’ and the plastic trim had yellowed, giving the appearance that the lights were much older than their dozen years. My home is pretty modern- it’s a very open plan, loft-like townhome- and the lights just weren’t cutting it. Plus, we (my husband and I) wanted to upgrade to LEDs, so we bit the bullet and decided to purchase new lights.
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It’s coooold out, so how about a hot cup of tea? You might have seen several cast-iron teapots, as they aren’t too hard to find, especially considering all the variations on the traditional Japanese cast-iron pot. However, this Ciacapo fella is something surprising with its bold silhouette. Yep, it’s cast iron, so it will keep your team warm for hours (multiple cups at your desk, anyone?) and, for bonus points, it’s heavy enough to use as a door stop- if for some reason you need to use it as such. Expertly crafted, it’s more than fit for a modern kitchen and will last through years of casual, everyday use.
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Need a small container or two to hold those odds and ends? Check out these powdercoated, geometric Wall Pockets. They’d work well in the entryway for keys and mail or around your workspace to catch pens, pencils, and other supplies. And, yes, it’d be better if the mounting hardware wasn’t visible, but remember, each pocket is $9.
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Another calendar for your consideration… and yes, we featured it last year, but you could probably use a reminder, right? Postalco’s wall calendar has the year laid out in a list format, making “elusive time visible,” as they say. There’s space next to each day to notate important events with extra room at the bottom for reminders, plans, or ideas.
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