ShapeMaker is a set of 25 blocks constructed out of rubber wood by UK firm Miller Goodman.  They are printed with wonderfully colorful geometric designs and every permutation yields fantastic designs, shapes and creatures.  These are exactly the kind of toys I want my children playing with, as not only do they stimulate the mind [...]

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Inspired by a similar post by a friend of mine. 1. What is your name? 2. What is your favorite food? 3. What is your hometown? 4. What is your favorite color? 5. What is your favorite movie? 6. What is your favorite drink? 7. What is your dream vacation? 8. What is your favorite [...]

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The American Institute of Architecture just announced the winners of their 2009 Housing Awards.  These represent the best and brightest examples of home design throughout the country over the last year.  Here are the homes I’d choose myself, photographs courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.  If anyone knows of interior shots, send a link in [...]

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Randomly reading the New York Times this morning I ran across this article about a young couple and their hip Noe Valley renovation.  Jay Shapiro, a skateboarder and bassist for local band Space Vacation, and Claire Bigbie, interior designer and RISD graduate, have totally transformed this Victorian space into a perfect home for SF youngsters. [...]

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Do you think eye candy belongs on a web site or other user interfaces, or is it just marketing polish?  Stephen P. Anderson covers this question in an excellent article titled In Defense of Eye Candy.  He (correctly) suggests that visual stimulus is more than just a clever gimmick.  Here’s an excerpt: Below is a [...]

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Ever since we moved into our new place with its absolutely amazing kitchen remodel, we’ve been spending a lot more time behind the counter.  However, though we have about four times as much storage capacity now, I’m still fairly zealous about acquiring as little cookware as possible of as high a quality as we can [...]

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Every suburban kid dreams of having a treehouse in the backyard.  A sanctuary away from siblings, parents and, most of all, chores.  Even well into adulthood, I still think treehouses are cool. Apparently some Germans do too.  Baumraum (German for “tree space”) has created some absolutely wonderful modern treehouses.  While I’ve seen a few amazing [...]

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Finally, a home to showcase that fits my style and doesn’t break the bank.  Renovated by the architectural firm of Buff, Smith and Hensen, this cute 1600 square foot home sits in the hills outside of LA.  Exposed wood ceilings, plenty of natural light through perfectly situated windows and a neutral palette make this home [...]

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Here’s some more absolutely stunning architecture on the market in the Bay Area.  Designed and owned by architects Ana Cecilia and Alfred Quezada, this home exudes style and modernism while still keeping very much in touch with its local surroundings.  I freely admit that I am a sucker for exposed redwood, especially when mixed with [...]

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A combination of two of my favorite things: typography and architecture. This is why despite poor quality furniture I continue to love IKEA. (via I Love Typography)

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