Best ideas of the week

Our Friday column, "Best ideas of the week", has been one of the blog's most successful. That only goes to prove that we are sick and tired of the same old, same old things and looking for something fresh. However, many readers come to me to ask where to find those featured products. Sometimes, there simply isn't a link I can connect you to: great ideas seems to simply flutter on the internet... If I happen to know where to find them, though, I'll post the link to the stores. If you enjoy this idea, please let me know in the comments.

Bikes are cool, bikes are trendy, bikes are a clean way to travel. However, cycling at night can be dangerous. How about a reflective tape glued to your wheels, in order for the others to spot you? It even frees you from wearing radioactive coloured shoes. 

Time are uncertain... times are violent. Sometimes, an honest chat with the burglar can be an effective way to save your home. If you don't have the guts to have that talk face to face, this door mat might come in handy. 

If you own a smartphone (who doesn't, by the way) you know that one of it's biggest issues is the short battery life. People went on to create the juicer, in order to save us from situations where a socket is not available. However, it looks and feels like a brick. The charge card works in the same way but has the size of a credit card and can be easily hidden in your back pocket. 

No need to travel to the Ice Hotel in order to sip your drinks from a cup made of ice. Now, all you have to do is to put a tray in the freezer with some water inside and enjoy your polar diversion. Notice the straw, though: you don't want to glue your fingers or lips, do you?

Have you ever had a fish tank? Have you lived through those despairing moments when the energy goes out and you don't know how much longer your fish are going to live? The No Clean Aquarium is the solution to this drama. It filters the water automatically, without the need of power or special chemicals, and throws the "garbage" away through that tiny faucet. 

Those paper tags the airline gives you just self destruct the moment a gentle worker throws your bag with lots of love in the baggage claim. Your own tags, protected by an elegant leather cover, are the safest way to get them lost (come on, nobody reads that!). The safest way to take your own bag home is to be straight forward with your message. 

This tiny device, called the Doorbot, has just been launched. A camera is installed on your door knob and the images it records are sent to your mobile phone. Now it's easier to know who's at the door, even if you're not at home. 

That's a great idea if you enjoy an al fresco meal. Have you ever tried to place a glass in a pic nic mat?

Savino is the evolution of the cork. Once you open a bottle of wine, it has a short life span, even with the cork on. Now, you simply pour the contents of your bottle into this decanter and your wine is safe for much longer. 

Best ideas of last week

Style Tuesday: Sofa, Bed or Cocoon?

At a first glance, you might not notice anything out of the ordinary with that sofa, created by Stephanie Horning. The Camp Daybed, however, is the materialisation of two trends that are proving to be very strong to the near future and will certainly be part of our lives in a couple of years: solutions for small apartments (because the spaces are shrinking as the prices rise) and the cocoons (hibernating inside comfy closed spaces give us a feeling of protection).

The Camp Daybed work in the following way: during the day it's just like a regular couch. At night, however, the great idea comes to life. Instead of unfolding like a regular couch, it opens a zipper and you can sleep inside the mattress. The solution is ideal for people who regularly have guests over, for those who live in tiny places or even if you have those days when you just want to disappear...

Other posts from Style Tuesday:

Design news

Eco Monday: Cykno Bike - Electric and Vintage

The electric bike is already a reality in the big cities. Ideal for those looking for a more eco friendly transportation, who wishes to arrive prim and polished to their next appointments, it's popularity has been growing at a fast pace. Until now, all the models available resembled a ordinary bike. The big innovation came during the last Design Salon in Milan.

The Cykno Bike was created by the engineer Bruno Greppi and the designer Luca Scopel. It's structure is entirely made of carbon finer and it takes four hours for the batteries to be completely charged, giving the rider an autonomy of 60 km. The differential is in it's vintage design, that resembles and old motorbike. All the orders are custom made and the owner has to wait a few weeks to get their hands on the new toy.

Other posts from Eco Monday:

Organic accessories

Coffee Gardens

Best ideas of the week

Another Friday upon us: let's take a look at the best ideas of the week?

It might not be big enough to accommodate Santa Claus but now everyone can have their own fireplace.

Let's be honest here: those string from the tea bags are not very attractive. The little butterfly resting in the cup's rim gives it some charm.

It's already depressing to look at your empty plate. The message only adds to that feeling.

A true adventurer won't have the time or the space to carry to much stuff. This jacket/backpack eliminate two problems at once.

Hello people from the natural food's craze. We all know how annoying it is to slice a banana. Thankfully, here comes an easier solution.

The truth of the matter is that we all own way more empty wine bottles than chandeliers at home. That's why this cork made of wax is a genius solution.

Let's take a moment to envy the babies: they're the only ones with the possibility of laying down on economy class.

If you live in a rock'n roll house, you deserve a rock'n roll table.

From the "dark humour" series: funny gadgets we wish we had at home.

Last week's best ideas

Best ideas of the week

While you plan your weekend activities, it's time to take a look at the best ideas of this week.

Ahhhhh, the modern world. Instead of a folded newspaper on the breakfast tray, a support for your tablet. 

I don't know how it's done. I don't get how it's possible. The fact is that this chair projects the image of a wolf in it's shadow and is truly amazing. 

Do you feel embarrassed to step out the door wearing this umbrella? Do you prefer to face that storm that insisted on arriving the minute you finished blowdrying your hair?

Ok, this one is only valid for blondes but still worthy of mention. This piece of chalk helps you try the pastel coloured hair with almost no effort. 

Why would you have a gnome in your front yard when you can have a whole zombie gnome army instead?

Do you think that the image of Humphrey Bogart lightning his cigarettes in the rain is the picture of cool? Obviously, you never tried to light a cigarette in the rain. The box of matches above swears to pull that trick under any harsh climatic conditions. 

 

With a simple swiping of that roll, your paint will have the look of a wallpaper with half the effort and price. 

How elegant is that? Instead of tiring your fingers writing your return address in the letters, this gadget simply embeds it on the envelope. 

The purpose of that wedding ring is self explanatory. 

The shirts are perfectly arranged while the hem of the dresses are swiping the closet's floor. Say it never happened to you? This is a great example of simple, yet brilliant solutions. 

Best ideas of last week

Style Tuesday: Trends for the home

Dressing your home is just like dressing yourself, isn't it? Some people prefer to stick with the elegance of the classics, some enjoy the dramas of romanticism. Yet, there are some that can't help themselves around novelties, especially when design is included. Are you part of that crowd? Well, today's posts (and I'm thinking about keeping the subject every Tuesday) is for you.

I'm prett sure you're familiar with the Eames chairs. The transparent and white versions of it are already darlings of interior decorating. Now, they came up with a wooden model, with metal feet. The lines are exactly the same as it's older brothers, the only difference being the materials.

Are you happy with your furniture but could add some energy to your surroundings? Try colour! Keep an eye on Pantone, always concerned about informing us about the "colour of year" for segments as different as makeup and wall paint. Now they came up with a line of duvet covers and sheets, all in their latest shades. 

To read more about design

Modern carpentry

Textured walls

Best ideas of the week

So what that today is not a working day? The best ideas of the week cannot wait to be shared. Let's get down to business.

I thought that it only me with that eternal problem: where to rest your dirty knife. Shall I put it on the edge of my plate or over a napkin? The issue is solved with a knife that can stand on it's own feet. 

Really, I have no idea of how the technology behind that mug works. What happens is that while you pour  your coffee, the little doll starts to open her eyes to face a new day. How cute is that?

Until today, my dream closet used to have a huge vanity table. Now, it has a vanity table decorated with those lights. Whimsical...

So you spend your entire year thinking that life would be better if only you were in Paris? Maybe this wallpaper with images from the city can help with your blues. 

Who said that bookcases have to be dusty and boring? While the cleaning responsibilities are all yours, this polar bear helps with the cool element. 

Because, you know, our messages may change from day to day. Right?

A wicked though... to carry that bag while passing through the insufferable security on the airports. I'll send you a postcard from Guantanamo.  

I know, this beach trolley is as ugly as hell. Let's agree that it's practical, though...

A cute and simple way to enhance the look of loose wires. I need to confess that behind my working station, I'd need as many leaves a Botanical Garden. If you are more organised...

That's simply the best idea of the month. I believe the idea behind that ice cream lock is to prevent strangers to dig into your ice cream. If you're a uncontrolled night raider, though, it might be good to ask someone to change the code.


Best ideas of last week