Unique and Fun gift ideas - Buy now, Buy here

RECYCLED GLASS BOTTLE PLATTERS
Made from 100 percent recycled glass, these wine bottle-shaped platters will provide a lovely backdrop to the cheese, crackers, fruits or vegetables you serve at your next wine tasting party. Each piece undergoes an 8-hour process to emerge as a one-of-a-kind platter. These striking platters also shed new light on candles, give spoons a rest and make for an interesting butter dish. Choose from cobalt blue or green. Spreader included.


RECORD COASTERS
Made of labels cut from the center of classic vinyl records, these hi-fi home furnishings will be a hit with any music lover. The discs are sealed so moisture won't seep through to the surface. Comes in a set of six assorted labels packed in a clear, round case.



SASSY HOROSCOPE TILE
A great birthday gift for the astrological junkie who can't get enough or the zodiac novice who wants to know more, these amusing clay horoscope tiles list a myriad of not-so-flattering qualities for each sign. Easily hung on the wall.


GLASS WATER FAUCET
Have that one room in your house that's thirsty for style? This glass and metal faucet sculpture is sure to quench that thirst. Eyes will make double-takes as the flowing glass "water" will confound your guests.


WHATEVER CLOCK
What time is it? What time does it have to be done by? What time are you supposed to be there? Sometimes, you just have to say "Whatever." There's no need to fall in lockstep with the regimens of the bustling bodies outside: With this "whatever" clock you can reject their meticulous punctualities and chronological obsessions, and just say that one word that can answer all their questions. The "whatever" clock can be mounted on any wall.


GLOBAL WARMING MUG
Sure to be a topical topic of conversation, this mug shows off the adverse effects of that annoying global warming. Just pour in a hot cup of coffee, and the ocean starts to spread across the continent as ice caps melt and water levels rise. A pleasant reminder to take care of the planet and knock down your carbon dioxide emission.


JAMES THE BOOKEND
Never fear, James is here! This handy, rugged man of a bookend will keep your favorite tomes in place while providing a clever visual accent to your bookshelves. Constructed of durable natural rubber in your choice of red or black, James is just the guy to protect your volumes of Russian classics and contemporary poetry.


REINDEER WALL CLOCK
Delivery of all those presents requires promptness, so reindeers have to have a real knack for precise knowledge of the time. Handmade from recycled kitchen pieces, this guy has just that knack, and he adds cheer and timely information each time you catch sight of him.


LIGHTMARE LED WATCH
Don't let it's sleek blank face fool you. With the press of a button, the Lightmare Watch swirls to life with a flash of red lights displaying the time. The Lightmare watch with plastic strap is set up similar to a round clock face, but with a large inner dot as the hour hand and small outer dot as the minute hand. The four small LEDs at the center represent the single minutes between each of the five-minute increments, and the two very small dots in the bottom center represent AM or PM.


PLAYMATE CHESS SET
Even if you can't tell a pawn from a bishop, you'll get a kick out of this cheerful chess set. Beginners and grandmasters alike will have a hard time keeping a straight face while playing with the kooky molded rubber pieces. The colorful grinning men seem to enjoy every move as they jump from dot to dot on their mod playing board. A great way to introduce kids to the game. Chess has never been this much fun! Carrying case included.


PERIODIC TABLE SHOWER CURTAIN
Learn while you lather! Why waste time mindlessly staring at white tile, when you could be refreshing your memory on the atomic number of Rhodium? Looking every bit like the poster from your 3rd period Chemistry lesson, this vinyl shower curtain adds a colorful touch of "class" to the bathroom. A fun way to help kids study - or a clever decoration for science fans - this waterproof curtain is the ideal companion to the shower's blast of H2O. Rinse before installation.

First Rotating Skyscraper

Dubai is now experience a constantly changing skyline. The Underwater Hotel and the Islands shaped like palm trees have been featured in this blog before. This time it’s yet another wonder. “A Rotating Skyscraper, dancing to the tunes of the wind “ Truly amazing.
Read the whole story
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/wind-power-rotating-skyscraper/

Design Tip- 06

Try a New Hue
Ready to take the plunge and saturate a room in an exciting new hue? Before committing to expensive upholstery or fixtures, try living with it in small doses first. Decorative pillows and throws can provide good clues in the living room while a new tablecloth can serve the same purpose in a dining room or an eat-in-kitchen. In a bedroom, the same can be accomplished with a new set of sheets. The bottom line: Start slowly and work up to the level of color that you're comfortable with.

Undeniably Extravagant

Hansamurano is a milestone in bathroom fitting design. Chrome, glass and an entirely new and innovative water experience turn it into a unique expression of modern bathroom culture. In order to experience Hansamurano in an even more fascinating they offer you an electronic variant. Hansamurano E functions using the most modern of non-contact sensor techniques. When the hand nears the sensor, positioned in the middle of the glass bowl, the water begins to flow. The water flow ceases automatically after an individually adjustable time or as a result of a renewed disengagement of the sensor.

Wish I had that !!!

Matlo

Terra cotta water vessel with diatomite filters, brass tap and enameled tripod stand. The terra cotta cools the water by up to 14 degrees through a natural evaporative process.
Designer: Doshi Levien

Fengshui tip for the day

Yin colors

Blue:Blue color according to Feng Shui has yin energy. It is calm and soothing. This color has great significance in Feng Shui as it reflects love as it heals and relaxes. Blue creates a feeling of peace and trust. Since it is the color of the sea and sky, Feng Shui associates it with adventure and exploration. Navy blue is the color of intellect and wisdom. So consider using these colors in a bedroom or in a study. Also bring it in the form of wall color, art, or decor items.

Design Tip- 05

Cooling Off
Just as warm colors can raise the temperature of a room, cool hues can drop it by a few degrees. Think of solarium, surrounded with windows, that's almost too warm to appreciate. Or maybe a second floor office or attic-bedroom where the heat consistently rises. In these cases and others like it, cool colors can come to the rescue, especially those on the lighter side. In the blue family, consider the color of the sky. Or look toward the colors of the Caribbean-in their palest from at the water's edge and gradually getting darker as you move farther out. To take another cue from Mother Nature, consider assorted greens, as well. Leafy greens have springtime-fresh appeal, while celery shades are more subtle. In all cases, through, couple the cool colors with at least a touch of icy white; it not only will give you a crisp finish but will also provide more chill to the space.

Top Trends in Home Design: Rooms Without Walls

Outdoor spaces have become an exciting way for homeowners to combine the pleasures of nature with comfortable living areas.
People are extending the comfort, convenience and pleasure of their homes into the great outdoors, and the result is the popular trend called the “outdoor room.” Yards, gardens, decks, patios, porches, sunrooms, gazebos, courtyards, balconies, terraces and even rooftops are being transformed in this fashion.
"The line between the house and the outdoor space continues to disintegrate," said Julie D. Taylor, author of Outdoor Rooms. "Many designers are using the same, or similar, materials both on the interior and exterior to extend the house to the outdoors. It breaks down the barrier and gives a feeling of a larger house."
According to Dominick Tringali, CEO of Dominick Tringali Architects, part of the reason homeowners are paying more attention to their outdoor rooms is because of another trend: downsizing. Today, many homeowners are seeking quality (over quantity) of square footage, making better use of the space they do have, and looking to connect the inside and outside areas. "People are downsizing homes, but they’re making the house more usable," said Tringali.
The possibilities for outdoor rooms are almost limitless ― from large and spacious to small and intimate; from a simple patio-sized eating and grilling area to a grand multilevel deck complete with cocktail bar, fountain, spa and pool. No matter the size, scale or budget, the goal in creating an outdoor space should be "to create a retreat that nurtures your personal lifestyle," said Anne Dickhoff, author of Outdoor Rooms II. "Don’t be led by the latest trends; create a space that reflects your individual taste and accommodates your favorite activities."
Architect Marc Whitman agrees. "I think color, materials, the way things are laid out ... all those things are important in creating a space that you want to go out to and be a part of,” said Whitman. "You want to really focus on what the feeling is overall and pick the colors and the materials that are going to create that feeling."
In an outdoor room, the "walls," can be an extension of the home’s exterior walls or formed by trees, shrubs, hedges, planters, fences, privacy screens or lattice panels. Outdoor "flooring" can be as simple as grass, pebbles or stepping-stones, or as elaborate as wooden decking or tiles installed on a concrete pad. Ceilings may be outlined by tree limbs, vines, pergolas, arbors, retractable awnings or permanent roof structures.
When it comes to outfitting the outdoor space, design experts recommend blending a variety of natural materials to enhance what Mother Nature has already provided. "There’s an inherent beauty in wood, in metal, in stone, and the imperfections create their own beauty. And by putting many of these together, you get a juxtaposition of textures and colors, and this creates, so to speak, a symphony," said Lori Naritoku, architect and designer, whose rooftop garden in Laguna Beach, Calif., contains a metal and cloth gazebo.
Plants add shade, texture and a sweet scent to a space. Besides favorite flowers, try fragrant plants like dwarf citrus trees or herbs. Visually, it’s important to consider the container as well as the plant; for a natural look, choose clay or stone or lighter resin designed to look like stone, and add splashes of color with painted pottery.
Elements that stimulate the senses are also natural components of an outdoor retreat. Some examples include fireplaces, fire pits and chimeras; ponds, waterfalls, fountains and wind chimes; outdoor lighting, hanging lanterns and candles; and fluffy pillows, soft throws and nubby rugs
Article Source : STIR magazine

Design Tip-04

Turn up the temperature
Do you have a north-facing room that seems to have a chill even during summer? Or one with minimal windows, restricting the amount of sunlight that it gets? Without touching the thermometer, you can raise the temperature of a room with color. Just look at the warm side of the color palette and use it to your advantage. Consider yellow, for instance. In its most vibrant form, it can add visual warmth to even the coolest space. To take the concept a step further, consider red. Not only does this hue have the ability to add heat but it provides plenty of drama, too. Likewise, the orange hue that you associate with the fruit is only one of the tints and shades you can use in a room. In pale cantaloupe colors and cinnamon shades, it adds an element of excitement. And in the form of peach or apricot, this color is perfectly suited for a living area. The latter two hues, "cosmetic colors" naturally complement skin tones, adding a warm glow to everyone in the room.

Get you free gift!!!

Design Tip- 03

Strokes of Genius
TOO OFTEN, A ROOM'S PAINT COLOR IS CHOSEN from a 1-in. –wide paint chip and the results are disappointing. There is a solution, though. Once you've narrowed your choices to two or three, buy a small amount of color. Then, go to your local do-it-yourself center and purchase pieces of foam core approximately 2 ft. square for each one. Paint each piece of foam core one of the colors, then prop them all against one wall of the room and study them at different times of the day. Move the pieces from wall to wall, as light can affect each one differently.

K House

Photography: Peter Bennetts Copyright: ARM 2007

Beginning with the letter ‘K’ was not entirely arbitrary as our client’s family name begins with it. By cutting the K in half and rotating the two pieces, the house emerged as a composition suspended along the maximum building height envelope to achieve the best sea views. Under this we projected its shadow to form the ground level accommodation. The plan is simple, the ground floor cut into the sloping site with entry off the carpark to two bedrooms, bathrooms and home cinema, then up to the long living, dining and kitchen, all facing north and open each end, east to the sea, west to the garden. The kitchen joinery, pantry wall, big sliding door and enormous ceiling-high bookshelf ‘K’ are painted brilliant, glossy red. The main bedroom and another bedroom are also at this level, with a spiral stair to the library above. This is a shiplap weatherboard house in the tradition of the seaside shack. It has bold, legible forms and an easy livability belying its extreme derivation in the shape of that K.

Holiday Shopping

Use the link above to get your free Gift !

Design Tip- 02

Tablescaping
The first rule of any successful tablescape (an arrangement on top of any flat surface) is that the number of items doesn’t overwhelm the available space. A large collection of family photos works fine atop a grand piano but will likely crowd an end table.
Once you have determined the amount have space available, pare down items to an odd number. This will make the arrangement less static, encouraging eye to move from one place to another. Then play with the arrangement itself. No matter what kind of accessories you are working with, an informal approach works the best. Start by placing tallest item in the back. Then work your way forward gradually, ending with the smallest piece in the front of the area you are working with. For a well balanced look, make sure that heights go up and down from side to side and from front to back. If too many objects are of the same height use some antique books to life them up.
Finally don’t cluster things too closely; little breathing room will let you appreciate the accessories better.
Once you have created the perfect tablescape make sure to take a picture of your tablescape and keep it handy. When cleaning day rolls around you or whoever is doing the cleaning can achieve the same perfect design!

Lace Fence

The Lace Fence is an interior as well as an exterior product. Each fence is unique in its design by its craft and assembled patterns. The patterns come in a variety of themes, showing how something which was meant purely functional can also be decorative.The design, quality and density of the patterns are flexible. Meaning that for each application we always create according to its function. For example to prevent climbing on, to hide or enhance it’s surrounding, to deal with harsh weather or to give an unique custom made look.
Company website: www.demakersvan.com