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More geometry, and this time it’s for your tabletop (and tastebuds?). The Ori Salt and Pepper Mills feature ceramic mechanisms that grind pepper, salt, and other spices, all housed within a a pentagonal column. The smaller top portion is for turning, and the larger bottom part for gripping. A matt finish gives an easy and comfortable grip.
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The Lumio looks like a hardcover book, but open it up and you’ve got a sculptural LED light. This compact form makes it easy to take with you, especially as its pleated interior is made of water-resistant Tyvek, so it can even venture outdoors for backyard barbecues or short camping trips. I received a Lumio recently to see it up close (and made a little video) and I was quite impressed with the overall quality- plus, there are so many lighting options you can really put it anywhere. Hang it, lay it on its side or back, or attach it to any metal surface. More info below, or take a look at Lumio’s gallery for more pics.
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Do you need a wooden paperweight in the shape of a gold bar? Maybe not, but that’ll change once you open your windows and papers go flying everywhere. The intention behind this design is to remind us all about the value of wood; it acts a clever option to hold a stack of paperwork at bay.

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These concrete and wood lamps by JinSik Kim and YuHun Kim are pretty special; you can position them different ways and group them together in multiples for modular arrangements. There’s the B35° Lamp, the B35°L Lamp, and the B30° Lamo, all of which have polygon shaped bases. Take a look at the images below to see the possibilities of mixing a few together for a stronger statement.
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Nothing spectacular here, just a set of three textured brass chopstick rests that look oh-so-perfect when nestled together in the small package. Could they be a good gift? Maybe. Or something to add to your utensil drawer? That’s more likely, especially if your chopsticks are feeling a little lonely. Designed by Masanori Oji in collaboration with one of Japans oldest metalware manufacturers, Futagami.
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As promised, here are the Shape Mirrors by Bower Studios. Try your best to resist, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you are overpowered by the hypnotic, geometrical shapes that are the Cube, Cyinder, and Fold Mirrors.
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This Stickbulb collection by RUX for is something to be noted. A single, linear LED module is held by a minimal steel base, providing light without the mass usually associated with a table or floor lamp. That theme is repeated with all variations: Vertical and Horizontal Wall Sconces, various lengths of the Linear Pendant, and the Little Bang Table Lamp, just to name a few. Handmade in New York City from sustainably sourced materials, the collection is currently available from YLighting.
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Your broom needs a little love. Trust me, it told me so. It’s sick of being thrown in a closet and left on the floor, like it means nothing to you, and it wants to be held aloft by this Broom Holder, so it’s kept neatly on the wall, at the ready for your next mess. Dare I say this holder is nice enough to not live in a closet? Your decision, but I think it just might be (especially if you have one of Minam’s Barn Brooms).
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You get a double whammy of Bower Studios today. Throw your keys at the target and a magnet will catch them- a simple idea with a fun graphic image, in quite a few color options, I should add. Take note that these color options are limited edition, and Areaware will carry other variations later in May.
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Molded blown glass forms the base and shade of the Bob and Sara Lamps by designer Dan Yeffet. If you’ve not heard of Yeffet yet, just wait a little while, his name will pop up. The two intersecting columns on these two lamps have slight variants in shade- the darker shade at the base- which helps highlight the craftsmanship of blown glass formed into a traditional lamp shape.
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Gah! I didn’t think it possible to admire a cutting board so much. This collection of Shape Boards from Bower Studio (also available from Cooper-Hewitt Shop) has my head in a spin. The blank side is for cutting, the (non-toxic) painted side for a decorative twist of a 3D geometric shape. And, get ready for it, Bower Studio also has Shape Mirrors, but that’s for another post (tomorrow).
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It’s been a little while since a tea towel has been featured, and for all we know you’re standing there with your hands wet from the sink and nowhere to turn. Not to fret, dry your hands on your shirt and then buy a tea towel or two for all sorts of kitchen mop-ups. Piano Nobile’s Starry and Cloud Swirl Tea Towels are just as good as some of the art on your walls (probably), and the designs are printed with non-toxic ink on a GOTS-certified linen tea towel with neon pink edging.
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These look a little similar to Food Huggers, don’t they? (Note to self: try out Food Huggers as coasters.) They do to me, and I wonder if condensation gets caught by the coaster or if the coasters are such a tight fit that condensation simply runs off the side. In any case, a coaster that stays with your drink (and possibly catches condensation) is a good fix for all those cold, drippy beverages that you’ll have this summer.
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If I say ‘beach’ and you say ‘sandcastles!’ then you probably need to investigate these tools by Kid O. Yes, they’re for kids, but you can use them too. You and your little ones can shovel, sift, and rake using the Triplet Toy Shovel and Rake (pictured above/below), or dig and sift using the Scoppi Toy Shovel. There’s also the Ballo Toy Water Bucket with a spherical shape for easier transport from sea to sandcastle.
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Just how fun are these handmade boxes by Danish company nunabee? They would hold all manner of knickknacks, office supplies, accessories, etc., and cheer you up while doing so. If you’ve plenty of bills in that wallet of yours, you could also use it to present a special gift, in a gift-within-a-gift sort of way.
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