I love the idea of a cuckoo clock in my home. It’s sweet, whimsical and takes me back. I’ve considered purchasing one for some time, but while I love the old fashioned tradition of the clock, I am not too fond of the old fashion designs.

Italian company Progetti has designed a line of contemporary cuckoo clocks for Barbero Design that give you all the charm of an old fashioned cuckoo clock but with modern style and technology. And much less noise.

These clocks aren’t just beautiful, they’re smart too! There is a built-in light sensor which automatically switches off the sound during the night and the volume is adjustable. Made of wood and pvc with battery quartz movement, these little guys range from $306 to $549, depending on the different designs.

The above image is the “nonsparatesulcucu.” See below for the “Auckland,” “Gazeebo,” and “Kalimero” designs, respectively. These and more fantastic options are available Unica Home.

Such an item in your home will have you singing in the rain as you’re sure to have sunshine on a rainy day. No sir, no one will be raining on your parade with this umbrella lamp. Purple rain.
I couldn’t quite integrate that last one into the cheap pun, but it has to be here.

The Umbrella Lamp by Pablo Designs is a whimsical take on photography lighting integrated into your home. Photographers go to great lengths to study proper lighting arrangements for a scene, but it is often forgotten that good lighting can make just as drastic a difference in a home environment. Not only are several points of different lighting in a room convenient for different tasks, but spot lighting can also greatly enhance a rooms’ ambiance and highlight interesting features and decorative objects.

This lamp is fully adjustable and is fitted with a removable, washable lycra shade. The shade also comes in different colors of silver, plum, black and ice blue. It is available in three sizes:

1. Small table lamp: 13″ diameter, 18″ height
2. Large table lamp: 15″ diameter, 24″ height
3. Floor lamp: 20″ diameter, 55″ height

Available at Modern Essentials, ranging from $110-190 depending on size.

Hello dear WS readers. Miss us? Sorry for the long break in new posts, the holiday season proved pretty hectic. Here’s trying to slow things back down a bit:

A nice change from gnomes and flamingos, this garden sculpture won’t embarrass you in front of your neighbors. Made of a repurposed WWII helmet and recycled machinery parts, it’s creator, Fred Conlon, enjoys employing materials used in war for more peaceful measures. This little guy is intended to stay outside and rust over time, which is apparently part of it’s charm. He’s available at Uncommon Goods for $100.

One can only assume this inspiration came from a barbershop chair. Believe it or not, this Hydra Table table has been around for 11 years now. Designer, Gary Gianakis was inspired to create it while living in a small space and needing functional furniture to serve multiple purposes. In it’s lowered position, the piece can serve as a coffee table or raised for dining. The wide, sturdy base easily allows for the significant height adjustment without compromising stability. It’s not only highly functional, it’s also very attractive.

Of course, I keep thinking that if I had this in my house as a kid, I’d totally use it as a seat on which to cut and style my dolls’ hair. And then I’d attempt to glue it back on her head once I’ve completely mutilated her. But I digress…

As it’s name implies, the Hydra Table employs a hydraulic pump to smoothly and effortlessly raise and lower the wide half-inch thick glass top from a range of 17 to 25 inches in height, locking in any desired position. Various customizations include different glass shapes and sizes, polished or brushed chrome base, larger height adjustment range, and optional wheels.

The design has been so well received in the furniture industry that a demand for variating designs (see images below) has arose. Prices start at $1300. Please see Hydra Designs for ordering information and other options.

Never thought you’d see a special article devoted to a matchbook, did you? Well this blog is just chock full of surprises! Ok, so it’s $25 for two matches, but that’s not the point. This is just a representation of the fact that even something as simple as a matchbook can find its place in the art world.

Designed by Tobias Wong who, according to Unica Home, “captures the mood and soul of an entire city” because if you light the only two matches in this book, you change the entire skyline. I don’t know if I’d go that far in stretching the depth of meaning in this concept. Especially since this same guy created a 5-speed vibrating ottoman with a 12-inch fur-lined hole! But it’s an interesting piece and so I thought I’d present it to you.

Now you can go Google that ottoman. You know you want to.

On yet another trip to Aruba, I saw these oil lamps in a beautiful but unnecessarily overpriced and over hyped steakhouse L.G. Smith’s. OK, so I’m not reviewing the restaurant, just had to put in my two cents about it… Anyway, I thought the lamps put such a beautifully sleek and modern spin on an historic and almost forgotten item that I even took a picture with one (see evidence after jump) hoping to one day discover the makers of this product.

Who would have thought that I would stumble across this very item completely by accident when I saw the company advertise on my very own blog! (Turns out those ads can lead to some pretty neat stuff!) This oil lamp is one of several that Glass Dimensions offers.

They have some other beautiful designs, but this one in particular is designed by New England glass blower and founder of Glass Dimensions, David Perkins. It’s called Lexington Oil Lamp – Style C and it retails for $74.00. For $89.00, you can get the Anniversary Lexington, which you can have engraved with whatever special names and dates you like.

I’m just excited at how randomly and unexpectedly I came across an item that struck my fancy 2 years ago, and right here on my blog at that! It was just fate for me to bring you this breaking story.

Isn’t this the most elegant end table you’ve ever seen? No? Well screw you, it’s my blog and I think it is! This Maple Taffy end table is one of many such structurally delicate and intricate designs by woodworker D. Hurwitz who has been honing his craft since he was six years old. I was so impressed with his style that I’m sure to blog more of his pieces in the future, which is a much greater honor than all the awards this man has received in recognition of his work!

As it’s name implies, the table is made of Hard Maple wood with a Birdseye Hard Maple Top (see image after jump).

Many of his pieces have been on display in various galleries and exhibits throughout the world, but you too can exhibit such a stunner in your home. It retails for $2400, but you can get it at Wood Artists Gallery for only $2100. Aren’t you glad this blog exists to find you such discounted prices?!

Do you want to get your kid a rocking horse, but hate the horse part of it? Well then this is for you. This sleek, ultra modern toy is one you’ll be proud to display in your sleek, ultra-modern pad. Created by Dutch designer Chris Slutter whose work, according to his website:

“…can best be described as a search for the simplified form through design, and the ongoing investigation of how the process of design affects the final product.”

I’m not sure I fully understand what that means, but apparently that’s how his work can best be described. So this is an object of high design by an up and coming new architect/industrial designer. All fancy-shmancy talk aside, it sure is perty. If you’re into that whole “unfurled paperclip” thing.

Chris is currently seeking a US importer so you’d have to contact him directly if you want this bobbel rocking horse. Prices are also not listed on his site so you’d have to contact him for that too.

Via Baby Gadget

There are pop-up books and then there are wired pop-up books! Using 3mm LED bulbs your guests well never see this one coming as they reach to lazily flip through the pages of this coffee table book. The cover is bound with linen and it’s available in the traditional lampshade (above) or the Parisian street lamp (after jump). I’ll take both.

Available at Unica Home for $95.00

These little salt and pepper shakers aren’t just adorable and modern, their main intent is to symbolize how mankind is to embrace its differences. Designers Alberto Mantilla, Anthony Baxter and Scott Henderson of Mint Inc. went to great lengths to convey this idea and put it on the market without sacrificing the quality and integrity of their prized creation.

The story goes that the three aforementioned, highly successful designers behind Mint Inc. struggled to sell this product (their first) to contemporary design companies such as Umbra without much luck. Some such companies proclaimed the shakers to be too cute for the sophisticated ultra modern line, while others wanted to manufacture the idea on their own terms with a significant reduction in product quality. Well, the three amigos were confident enough in their product not to succumb to such disappointment.

Finally, the Museum of Modern Art offered to buy the rest of their line for their exclusive MoMA store but was reluctant to accept these shakers for the same reasons the previous companies refused them. Alberto, Anthony and Scott offered an “all or nothing” deal, however, refusing to accept the terms without this quintessential item from their product line. MoMA succumbed to the demands and was proven right to have done so as the “Hug” Shakers quickly became their number one selling item!

Now isn’t that just as heart-warming as the product itself? Let me get a collective “AWW.”

Available at Follow Function for $25.00.