Licor Cafe

This set is called the Licor Cafe and it was designed by Thomás Alonso to specifically hold the hand made liquor made by his father, Enrique Alonso. Licor Cafe is the name of the liquor, and also the set to honor the special beverage his dad has been making for many years. The set consist of one bottle and five glasses to serve five friends around the table. Each friend can pick the glass of its choice, but none of them have to worry: Each glass holds the same quantity of Licor Cafe. The licor is a traditional recipe from Galicia in North West of Spain, Licor Cafe is made from Orujo, coffee beans and sugar. 

I think that the Licor Cafe is a beautiful set, and is perfect for serving or just having out as decoration. The thought behind it is really beautiful, and the fact that the designer wanted to honor is father is precious! I like that the materials he chose is as natural as glass and cork, and the little note on the bottle is a nice little detail that creates a whole in the set. My most favorite thing about the Licor Cafe is that all of the glasses have different shapes, but contains the same amount of fluid.  

If you would like to see more pictures of Licor Cafe or read more about the designer, you have to visit www.tomas-alonso.com.

Boxes

Look at these fun Boxes I found! They are from Fabrica Features and are distributed by Seletti. What I think is the really fun part about these boxes is obviously the prints and graphics that are on the lid of the box. Each box has different pictures and figures on top, that represent what you are storing in that box. For example: A box with a camera on it, is storing photos. A box with kitchen appliances on it, is storing cooking recipes. A box with a suitcase on it, is storing traveling things. Pretty genius, right?

I really love these boxes, and the idea behind it. I like that it is so simple, so easy and yet so beautiful and creative! What better way to remember where you put things, than to have different prints to represent them on top of the box? You'll never have to open a million different boxes to find that one thing you were looking for again. I would like to own these in every kind they've got, and I would have them on display so that everyone could see how cool they are. I guess because I love graphics, these really appeal to me.  

Each box is made out of metal, and has a print on top of it in either a pretty color or in just black. You can get them in so many different styles and prints, that you are bound to find one that you like. I think that we have so much stuff just cluttering up our homes, and we just put them away in a closet or in a drawer.... Or worse, let them lie around for everyone to see. Why not put them in a pretty box, so that you know where your stuff is, it helps you organize better and it makes your home clutter free!

If you like these fun boxes and want to see more variations of them you have to visit www.fabricafeatures.com.

Pano Candleholders

These porcelain figurines are the Pano Candleholders and they are designed by Gonçalo Campos and Maria Bruno Néo. They are produced using a unusual technique, and the material that is used is actually cloths. The name "Pano" is the Portuguese word for "cloth". By using the cotton fabric as the temporary structure to hold the porcelain form in shape, the designers then burn the fabric away and leave only the delicate porcelain behind. "Not using the typical mould creates the great opportunity to make individual pieces in a very efficient way, but still keeping their uniqueness. It's also very special the dynamic brought by the texture and appearance of the fabric that in turn shapes the porcelain." says the designers. 

I think the Pano Candleholders are very beautiful and not to mention unique! I like the small "knitted" details that are placed around on the base, and also the soft finish of the structure... It kind of looks like the fabric is rapped randomly around the candles, but I'm sure that the designers have chosen the position of the cloth very carefully! The grey-ish white tone on the fabric will match anything in your house, and this is not a decoration that is hard to find a place for. If I were to be the lucky owner of these pretty candleholders, I would use them day and night.

If you liked these candleholders and want to read more about them or the designer, you have to visit www.goncalocampos.com.

Family Tea

This tea set is called the Family Tea and is a tea set that is a family, or a family that can be a tea set. It is designed by Paula Benvegnú who is an Argentinian art director and product designer. The tea set is inspired by the idea of family genetics and lineage and the search for a new way to tell a family's story. She created 30 ceramic mugs with a tea kettle based on her family tree. “A common code we are all born with and that will continue appearing in all our defects and virtues: grandfather’s eyes, father’s birthmark, maternal great-grandmother’s white skin, grandfather’s hooked nose… the links are invisible but they are always there… The investigation is based on the imperfections and particularities we all have that we have inherited from someone.” says Paula. 

I really like the concept and the idea behind this tea set, and also the colors the designer has chosen for the mugs. The different shades of sea-green is just breath taking, and the small wooden detail on the tea kettle is the icing on the cake in my opinion. "The tea set represents the family as a whole, and each piece a family member. All of the pieces share the same color palette, however, upon being passed down from previous generations, the tone and quantity of color that each mug shares with prior iterations changes, along with other defining details, but they are still recognizable as belonging to the same set. No two mugs are the same, just as no two people are the same." says Paula. And for one last little detail, she added the family seal and a little spoons with each person's name and birthdate... A really beautiful way to honor your family and ancestors!

If you would like to learn more about the Family Tea or the designer, you have to visit www.paulabenvegnu.com.

The Green Hanger

This is The Green Hanger, and it is made in Australia from 100% recycled cardboard. The hanger is an eco coat hanger that is fully recyclable and biodegradable, and is made only from recycled materials. If the plusses for eco-points isn't convincing enough, this hanger is very thin and makes it easy to stack and store. Your clothes will not tangle on this, and the hanger can hold 4kg across the shoulder of the hanger. It also comes in kids-sizes as well as adult. If you would like to read more about this Green Hanger or read more facts (before you decide if this can replace your old plastic/wooden ones) you have to visit www.greenhanger.com.au. 

Cork Peg

These small and practical pegs are designed by Canadian design studio Molo Design, and they are called the Cork Pegs. The pegs come with a magnetic mounting system, that makes it easier to mount from the wall. Cork Peg is a simple display and storage solution, that can be a great asset to your home, your garage or your work-place. You can hang anything you want on the Cork Peg, wether it is a sweater, small tools or supplies or bags, as long as it doesn't weigh more than 2,2kg. 

As you can see from the pictures, you can hang what ever you want from the Cork Pegs, and they are really practical in use and also visually interesting. Imagine using an entire wall for the Cork Pegs, and decorating by hanging your favorite stuff on the wall? I think that would be a total eye-cather and a great way to "store" your things. The design of the peg is very simple and clean, but that is a good thing so that you can have many of them on your wall, without it looking cluttered and messy. Imagine if the peg looked "too much" without anything hanging from them? That wouldn't be a well-functioning peg...

If you like the Cork Pegs and want to read more about them or the designers, you have to visit www.molodesign.com.

Furo

This is the Furo and it is designed by Fernando Brizio for Materia. This is an object that really does not have an important function, but a fun one! It makes a beautiful pattern with colored pencils, and it is a great crayon-holder that looks really good. It explores the idea of a main cork centerpiece whose purpose and function is enhanced through the use of legs. Furo is made out of agglomerated cork and you need colored pencils to use it. The measurements are 255mm x 286mm. 

For more than a year ago the portuguese cork manufacturing company Amorim approached Experimentadesign for a collaboration in designing a product. They wanted to make something to bridge the gap between the raw natural material and user, by creating objects for everyday use. The companies chose ten portuguese and international designers and studios based on their creative processes, playing close attention to their functionally and relevance. It was first presented to the public on the occasion of Milan Design week 2011. 

If you would like to read or see more about Furo or the designer, you have to visit either www.materia.se or www.fernandobrizio.com.

Cloud

This smart puff-like object is called Cloud and is designed by UK-based Duncan Shotton. Cloud is actually a key-holder that easily fastens to the wall. Embedded magnets secure two sets of keys beneath the cloud to represent falling rain. Each cloud measures 97mm across and can hold items up to 220g. You can only get them casted in matte white jesmonite, so that the cloud can resemble a real-life cloud as much as possible. 

The cloud comes in this cool little box and is ready to be hung on the wall and holding your keys for you. This is a smart object that has an important purpose, and highly decorative at the same time. I would like to have this in my hallway, and its a lot cooler than an ordinary key-holder or a bench to put them on... It is simple, minimalistic and familiar, and I really like the idea of the keys representing the rain falling from the clouds. 

If you would like to read or see more of the Cloud key-hanger or the designer, you have to visit www.dshott.co.uk. 

Bike Shelf

This bike hanging on the wall is actually a shelf and it is called Bike Shelf and is designed by Chris Brigham for Knife and Saw. The San Francisco-based designer got the inspiration for this shelf after visiting several friends living in small spaces in New York. He noticed that their bikes were always in the way, in the hall or leaning against another piece of furniture. Chris Brigham realized that there were no intelligent solutions to the problem.

This shelf is made out of solid walnut or ash and is suspended from a square steel rod mount. The Bike Shelf management system provides a compact storage solution for bicycles while its flat top surface acts as a shelf for keys, books or bike accessories. I think this idea is so genius, and a great solution to a problem that a lot of people have. Why not find something that looks great and is functional at the same time? (A specially if you own a cool, yellow bike that you wouldn't mind hanging on your wall...)

If you want to see more or read more about the Bike Shelf or the designer, you have to visit www.knifeandsaw.wordpress.com.

Soji

Soji is a series of daily use items and it is designed by japanese design studio Mute. This series consists of Sara (plate), Hako (stacking case), Wan (bowl) and Tutu (canister), and each piece is made from Sen (castor aralia) and is produced by Unomatudo.  

The design studio Mute believes in producing products that are ordinary tools used in daily life, and not creating for decoration or solely for use on a special day. They want to design something with high function, something usable but something beautiful that you still can use without being afraid of damaging it. What is the point of owning something that you can't have the joy of using? The trick is the impeccable quality and materials that are durable. 

This is a series that exhibits the natural beauty of the wood in which they are made, and takes great pride in old japanese carving traditions. The series is made with by Yamanaka who is famous for its carving wheel called Rokuro, and it is also treated with Yamanaka-shikki (japanese lacquer ware) which focuses on the technology of making great wooden objects. I would say that Yamanaka has succeeded!

I think that the Soji series is not only beautiful, but also very practical. Mute has done well with the idea of not considering the visual part of it, but also the practical part. I like that you can stack them and keep them as a group so that you can enjoy them with each other while not in use. The beauty of the natural wood is undeniable, but I like that they have used red as a pop-color as a bright contrast on some of the pieces of the series.  

If you would like to see more from Muto, you have to visit either www.unomatudo.co.jp or www.mu-te.com.

Coffee Hanger

This is the Coffee Hanger and it is designed by Milan-based Amir Alizade. This is not a very practical function other than that you can hang it anywhere you can hang your clothes, but this is a very creative idea and a fun way to keep your coffee mugs.

These cups are made out of ceramics and have a hook in the place where the handle should be. The hook is made out of steel and has the same design of a hanger. I don't know if you can get these mugs in other colors, but you can get them in either blue or white. 

If you want to read more about this Coffee Hangers, you have to visit www.amiralizade.com.

Analog Group

This is the Analog Group and it is designed by Jonas Damon. Jonas is the Frog Design's Creative Director, and he came up with these three brilliant pieces to use with your Apple products. This is how he describes the idea- and building process of one of the pieces:

"Last summer I had some fun with my iPad, and built a wooden housing for it that was shaped like an old cathode-ray tube TV set, complete with the bump in the back. It found a nice following online, and also served as inspiration for a two other objects like it, rounding out my ‘Analog Group’."

This first one is called the Alarm Dock and it is an iPhone cradle that resembles an old-school flip clock. This is also a dock for your iPhone, so that you charge it while it works as a clock for you. You just buy a flip clock app for your phone, and it will look like the picture above. Love it!

This is the Radio Dock and it is a housing for either an iPod or an iPhone. It resembles an old radio, and is a portable dock. You just load your songs into your pod or phone, and the speakers in the wooden radio will work just as well as any other dock. Genius!

This last one called CRT and is the housing for the iPad. It is inspired by the old cathode-ray tube TV set, and I just love how Jonas Damon has taken such new and modern technology and put them together with familiar and classic pieces that once were high-tec electronics! I love, love, love the Analog Group, and I would love to own this series one day.

If you also love the Analog Group and want to see or read more about it, you have to visit either www.jonasdamon.blogspot.com or www.designmind.frogdesign.com.