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Ecolect is an online resource of building materials for designers, re-modelers, builders, or anyone interested in using sustainable products. Each material has an overall summary as well as how it’s made, how it’s used, and where to buy it. Keep this one bookmarked for your next project.

Just came across these cute lil wooden owls by designer Matt Pugh. Perfect as a desk accessory, I’d say. Available in Oak or Walnut and a variety of colors.

Dimensions: 10cm x 5cm x 5cm
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The Japanese certainly know how to do stationary right, and this Old Book Vintage Masking Tape is no exception. Amongst many other things, I see it being put to good use for all the vintage and DIY-themed weddings I’ve been seeing more and more of as of lately.

Made in Japan
Size: 15mm ×15m

Originally seen in Readymade magazine.
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You may be inviting your musical friends and family over more often if you had this dining table with a built-in electric piano. I have a feeling that food and drink may not mix well with electronic equipment, so I’m hoping that that the internal keyboard mechanism is shielded from the inevitable spilled wine resulting from an impromptu post-dinner rock session. Of course, very few of you would have these worries once you look at the price tag.

The Pianotable is made to order, available by contacting the designer at georgbohle@hotmail.com.

Designer: George Bohle
Material: oakwood, electric piano
Dimensions: 75 x 115 x 230 cm
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What looks like a small bath tub on wheels is a growing space for an edible garden. It features a special contoured base that drains water quickly and evenly to prevent plants from over-soaking, but also has a central reservoir where a small amount of water collects to keep the soil moist longer. Comes in a Short or Tall configuration, and is priced at $150 and $160 respectively.

Manufactured in Los Angeles County.
Designer: Food Map
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Indie Furniture certainly has hit a lot of the right targets with their new customizable furniture. Rather than selling a completed product, Indie Furniture provides universal shelving joints that ultimately require you to put together yourself with your own provided wood. The benefit of this is that you can customize your shelving to your exact needs, use any type of wood you desire, save a whole lot on shipping, and enjoy the task of putting together your own set of furniture. Customization is done through their online configurator which tells you final dimensions, how many connectors are needed, the cost of the connectors, and how many wood panels are needed—all in one convenient PDF! Brilliant I’d say.

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I’ve never been a fan out of watches without numbers but I’ll make an exception for these watches by Agni Tilla. Operating under the name May28th, she creates one-of-a-kind watches in so many different styles and colors that you won’t have any trouble finding one (or two, or three…) that fits your style. Prices range from $35-50.

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I really love these hand-cast planters by Kelly Lamb. It’s quite an interesting mix of materials and textures; they’re cast in concrete for an industrial feel but have a smooth finish to go well in interiors, and of course adding in plants gives it the final touch. Available in small and large sizes, priced at $80 and $125.

Small Geo Planter: 9.5″ diameter, 8lbs
Large Geo Planter: 15″ diameter, 25lbs

Image via Kelly Lamb

Foldschool is a project from Swiss-based architect Nicola Enrico Stäubli, which provides you with free downloadable patterns to create your own folding cardboard furniture for kids. Just follow the instructions and you’ll have a neat, recyclable alternative to purchasing furniture. Available patterns: stool, chair, and rocker.

Do Kiosk owners Alisa Grifo and Marco Romeny have one of the best jobs ever? They travel the world finding the most interesting and unique products and bring them back to sell in their New York store. Each trip they take results in a curated exhibition at the store, together with on-going products from previous exhibitions. Emphasis is placed on goods that are traditionally used and cultural-specific. High-priced “over-designed” products don’t make the cut. Kiosk is a must visit if you’re in New York, but you can always browse their online shop. There really is no store quite like it.

Official Kiosk website:

kioskkiosk.com

Address:

95 Spring Street, Second Floor
New York NY 10012
United States

Urban bicycle riders want to look good riding and be practical. Translation: no spandex, butt pads, and $4000 carbon fiber bikes. The rise of bicycle ridership has translated into a whole slew of new products catering to these needs including practical and low cost bicycles, fashionable riding clothes, and countless accessories. Traditionally known for their high performance helmets, Lazer has released a new urban-centric helmet which has a great look and features built-in lights, an absolutely necessary safety item for city riding.

We previously mentioned Loll’s fantastic Adirondack Chair, and are quite happy to announce their new COCO chair, a very Eames-inspired modern lounge chair available in six different colors. It’s made from 100 percent post consumer recycled plastic and weatherproof, so don’t be afraid to bring it outside now that spring’s right around the corner.

Designer: Christopher Douglas
Colors: black, chocolate, sky, apple, leaf, white
Material: 100 post consumer recycled plastic, “made from 184 milk jugs”
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Woodcut prints will always fascinate me. The end results usually are impressive enough as it is, but knowing the time and patience to get there just adds to the appreciation. These tree prints by Bryan Nash Gill certainly offer a new kind of woodcut experience, by letting the trees speak for themselves.

Two prints are available, the Locust and the Hemlock, which are $800 and $4000 respectively.

Photo Credit: Ashes and Milk.

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I was quite excited when the first one of these was released, though it was too expensive, had no viewfinder, and no flash. Wasn’t alone on these opinions and Olympus has thankfully addressed all of these issues. While my bank account still can’t afford it, at least it’s much closer to reality.

What’s to like about it? Micro four thirds, smaller body, interchangable lens. HD video. Way too many features too list right here, check out ’em out at Amazon.

Check out dpReview‘s article comparing the original to the newer version.
Photo Credit: dpReview

I swear by my Lacie Firewire Speakers. They’re self-powered, sound good, and look like little smoke stacks. I won’t think twice about buying another set if they ever break. But this new, updated version looks very tempting:
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