Sophisticated Modern Playhouses Inspired by Danish Design

Hard to believe but the little house you see above wasn’t meant for adults, it’s for children. These miniature homes are from Smart Playhouses and were inspired by Danish design. They definitely remind me of my days in Copenhagen. Scandinavians know how to enjoy their leisure time, in fact, I often received lectures from Danes on how Americans needed to work less and enjoy life more. Not only are these little playhouses indicative of Danish design; modern, functional, simple, but they look an awful lot like the summer homes so many Scandinavians own. Unlike Americas obscene McMansions, Scandinavian families normally have a smaller second home they can escape to on weekends or long summer holidays. They homes are usually very modest dwellings with minimal amenities. Anything obnoxiously elaborate, especially for a second home, is considered by Scandinavians, to be in poor taste.  Oh how I miss Denmark!

These little houses make me want to be a kid again. Or just a very small person! :->I so wanted a playhouse when I was a kid. I remember one family down the street from me had a pretty elaborate tree house, I was so jealous of those kids!

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BUILD: A Short Design Documentary

Inflatable Furniture Could Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

I am moving to a new apartment on Saturday and as excited as I am to relocate to new digs, I find myself absolutely loathing the packing process. So many heavy, poorly packed boxes now line my hallway, it’s hard to imagine how all of them will find their way to my new place! If everything I owned could be packed flat I imagine I would probably move myself and save  a bundle on moving expenses. This is exactly the problem designer  Jy Yeon Suh was trying to solve when he designed his inflatable furniture and housewares. Made from sturdy fabric the line called Bojaki , uses a series of buckles to bind the  pieces suitable for sitting. The line is not just fun but is also a practical solution to the high costs of shipping.

OK, I’m sure it’s not just me, doesn’t the little rocking stool look like he’s smiling?  All kidding aside, if we all used  inflatable furniture we could reduce our carbon footprint. Using less gas, less trucks on the road would certainly help the environment.  And imagine the massive benefit nomadic people would gain from simply deflating their household into flat, easy to move pieces!

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Hush Privacy Pod Provides Relief To Those Seeking Respite From Urban Living

City living can be tough! Sure it comes with nice perks. Rich culture diversity, world famous events, unrivaled people watching, not to mention you can get a hot dog at 3 in the morning on a Tuesday. But with all the niceties, come the not-so-niceties: very little space to call your own, deafening  noise pollution and learning to co-exist  with 8 million people who are nothing like you. That’s why, as any city dweller will tell you, everyone needs there own little comfort station, an oasis if you will, from  the urban din. Enter the Hush Pod, your own little womb of serenity.

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There a Difference Between Snarky and Rude

I’m a fan of snarkiness. I identify with the Urban Dictionary’s definition of a snarkoleptic, “One whose snarkiness regularly manifests itself so naturally and fluidly that snarky comments could be delivered even from the depths of beta sleep.” That is so me. But I am a firm believer that  there is a difference between being snarky and being rude.  Case in point. While shopping my local Home Depot this weekend for packing tape, I asked no fewer than 4 employees where I might find such an exotic item. Most looked annoyed that I had interrupted whatever delicate thought they had grasped onto during their laborious task of stocking shelves but one guy, taking items out of a shopping cart, didn’t even lift his head to acknowledge my presence. He answered my, “excuse me sir”, with a sharp, “I can hear you”.  As if to say, “WTF do you want?”.

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Could This Three Wheel Scooter be the New Hip Urban Ride?

I usually ride my bike to and from work during the summer. I find the morning ride over the Brooklyn Bridge and the evening ride home, gives me a more energy then a double espresso from Starbucks (and a butt you could bounce a quarter off of). And you just can’t beat the view, although I could do without the tourists. But come late July, the weather in New York City becomes so unbearably hot and humid, riding your bike is about as much fun as taking a spin class in a sauna. On those days I take the subway, which comes with it’s own degree of unpleasantness. So I’ve been looking to invest in some type of motorized transportation to get around this urban metropolis.  I’ve thought about buying a car but looking for a parking is just no fun and I really like the sensation of riding a bike. The wind in your hair and the freedom of weaving in and out of traffic jams and the ability to squeeze into a sliver of available parking space,  gives me satisfaction no car can replicate. I’ve been researching Vespas, but that requires training, more specifically a motorcycle license, and rightfully so. But what about a lighter, sleeker version of a Vespa? Something more akin to a Segway but without the balance issues or geeky label?  Could this ride exist? Well, not yet. But soon, in the not to distant future, I  may be able to plug in my Three Wheelie Scooter at night and make my commute through the urban jungle in the morning.  That is if designer, Hyun-Seok Kim’s, aptly named Three Wheel Electric Scooter ever hits the assembly line.

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