It’s getting hot out there…really hot if you live on the East Coast, blazing hot if you live on the West Coast, and, unless you are situated in the far reaches of Alaska, then you know that the next few months bring very little reprieve. What’s a girl to do?
Central air conditioning is only truly necessary in areas where the damp, muggy heat can quickly turn you into a sopping mess, within five minutes of getting dressed. For the rest of us, those who live in drier areas, a swamp cooler can often provide help, but they are not exactly stylish and can quickly ruin your decor.
My favorite alternative is a cool (no pun intended) contemporary ceiling fan. Not heavy, ornate wooden styles from the ’80s, but rather the latest renditions from some very talented designers. Many of the newer models are Energy Star certified, which means that you are helping to maintain a greener earth.

Cirque Ceiling Fan
G2Art.com
Price Upon Request
A gorgeous, sculptural piece with large and small blades and low energy consumption.

Artemis Ceiling Fan
G2Art.com
Price Upon Request
Winner of the Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum, the organic blade shape creates zero noise. The fan, designed by Mark Gajewski of G Squared, is crafted from recyclable materials.

Pensi
ModernFan.com
Price Upon Request
Spanish designer Jorge Pensi created a fan with minimal design and incredible performance. Part of the collection from The Modern Fan Company, the Pensi model reveals curved molded blades and an optional light.

Acero Fan
$345.00
RestorationHardware.com
Another winner of the Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum, this retro-industrial style fan also includes a reverse direction to recirculate warm air during the wintertime.

Rocket Remote Fan
FanWorksOutlet.com
$653.00
I am a big fan (sorry I had to…pun intended) of retro design, so this is definitely one of my favorites. 1950s styling meets modern amenities such as remote control and integrated lighting

–By Kate Bailey

Technorati Tags: fans, stylish fans, ceiling fans, chic ceiling fans, Modern Fan Company, Restoration Hardware, G2Art, smart ceiling fans

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

Confession: I’m not very “techy.” So, I admit it, when it comes to audio equipment I pretty much base my selections on looks. Judging from some recent introductions, I must not be the only one with this criteria. Lucky for us visual folks, not only do these sound machines look fabulous, but they do a pretty good job in the technology department as well. What’s even better, there’s a little something for everyone—radio lovers, vinyl fanatics, iPod devotees, and, yes, even those of us that still like a good CD.

Happy listening…

Phonofone II from Charles & Marie

This ceramic beauty caught my eye from across the aisle. Designed by Tristan Zimmermann of Science and Sons, the Phonofone combines the nostalgia of an old-fashioned gramophone with the tricks of modern equipment. Using your earbuds, it functions like a low-amp speaker for your iPod; not the best speaker you’ve ever had, but definitely the best looking. It’s also a sure conversation starter.

Available in white and in a limited edition black; starting at $500. Visit Charles & Marie for more information.

Tivoli Audio NetWorks Collection

Using the internet through either Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections, this handsome box gives you crystal clear reception of any radio station anywhere in the world. It can also access your audio files from your computer and it’s compatible with MP3 players. As you expect from Tivoli, the cabinet is made from furniture-grade wood in three beautiful finishes: cherry, walnut, and wenge.

Available at Tivoli Audio, from $600.

The Crosley Keepsake Turntable

Disguised as a vintage record player, this nostalgic turntable is actually much more. Of course, it plays all of your favorite 33, 45, and 78 RPM records, but it also easily converts those recordings to CD and MP3 formats. It’s really the best of both worlds.

Available from Insound, $134.99

MAGNO Wooden Radios

I immediately fell in love with these radios. Designer Singgih Kartono combines MP3 compatible electronics with sustainably grown woods for a collection that is, in my mind, simply irresistible.

The MAGNO radios are available through Areaware, starting at $250.

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: technology, radio, turntable, music player, MP3, music, audio, gramophone, phonograph, iPod, speakers, Singgih Kartona, Tristan Zimmerman, Science and Sons, Tivoli Audio, Areaware, Crosley, Charles & Marie, sustainable, modern design

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

A confession: For the first 22 years of my life, I swam competitively–basically a twice-a-day, 365-day-a-year habit. Which should give you some indication of my infatuation with water. Nowadays, sadly, you’ll find me freestyling quite rarely; New York City pools, with few exceptions, are mostly crap and I can no longer tolerate the havoc chlorine wreaks on my skin and hair. Basically, the only chance I get to splash around is when my mom coerces me into her flume-style watering hole.

Thus I must indulge my fondness for aquatic immersion elsewhere–i.e. superlong, searingly hot showers and the occasional soak. So you can only imagine my excitement when my friends at Kohler called with a tempting offer: would I be interested in taking their new Fountainhead VibrAcoustic Bath for a spin? Um, YES PLEASE!

The gist: Designed to coordinate with the company’s curvaceous Fountainhead suite of products, the tub has a series of vibrating transponders below its intriguingly swooping acrylic form. These give off an oh-so-slight massage directly to your body, but also ripple through the water, too, so you get a double dose of pulsating waves. The system is paired with chromatherapy and music–so you can “feel” your tunes while you’re chilling out. (You can even hear them underwater!)

The verdict? I’m a convert. Because despite my love of water, I’m usually not so keen on bathing–all you do is sit there, fidgeting, wanting to read a book or something. Not with this cool unit; the waves and soothing tunes and massaging vibrations conspire to encourage full-on bliss. It didn’t fully undo the effects of two recent all-nighters, but it came real close.

The product launches this summer, so you may have to wait a bit to check it online. In the meantime, visit Gizmodo for another take. I apologize that I’m not as uninhibited as those crazy kids, who posted a (nekkid!) video of their own try-out session, but they have much better abs than I do. –Jen Renzi

Technorati Tags: Kohler Fountainhead VibrAcoustic Bath, at-home spa tubs, chromatherapy bathing, high-tech bathrooms

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

Anyone looking for a perfect match in cyberspace should bypass eHarmony and Match.com and head straight to California Faucets. The company, renowned for its comprehensive collection of solid-brass fixtures and hardware, has just launched an online tool that lets you build your own custom design, mixing spouts and handles of varying styles in a choice of 25 tough-as-nails PVD finishes. Pair a swooping modernist waterfall spout with more classically articulated handles, or mate two subtly different strains of a more historicist look.

Apparently, there are 2 million combos at your disposal, and–as in real life dating–some couplings are better suited than others. For kicks, I mixed a really traditional spout with super-streamlined handles and vice versa (expecting such pairings to look totally schizo) and was surprised to see just how many such arranged marriages totally worked—a testament to the designs’ smart proportions.

Addictive fun aside, the virtual faucet creator is a helpful tool for navigating the murky waters of choosing bath fixtures—something few of us think about until we absolutely must, and then we have no idea what we’re looking for. The tool thinks like we do: you pick one design and then say to yourself, “Gosh, if only the handles were X-shaped instead of flat levers…” Click and voila! Or you fall in love with a certain profile, but want a slightly warmer finish—click from satin brass to 24-karat satin gold.

Alas, you can’t buy directly from the website, but you can save or print your chosen design and trot over to one of California Faucet’s dealers. Many popular finishes are stocked for quick delivery, but even the more esoteric ones typically ship within 2 weeks.

Talk about a turn on. —Jen Renzi

An example: so, first I took the above and changed the finish….

Then I swapped out the handles for something a little different, and opted for satin brass:

Here’s another design I played around with, mixing spout and handles from two different collections…

And lastly went for X-shaped handles and changed the finish to something dark and moody:

Technorati Tags: Customizable design, modern bath hardware, contemporary faucets, traditional bath fixtures, California Faucets

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

I discovered a fabulous new kitchen contraption the other day while noshing at my favorite local coffee shop (called, appropriately, Local): Fagor’s portable induction burner. This mini countertop unit is suitable for any size cookery—petite enough for small spaces, but also a great auxiliary burner for larger kitchens, too. Embarking on a renovation and wondering whether to spring for a full-sized built-in model? Give this little guy a go first.

In case you’re unacquainted with induction technology, here’s the scoop: the glass top heats up via an electromagnetic current; only pots made of iron or steel will conduct heat. This is also why induction burners are cool to the touch—you can put your hand or even a piece of paper on the cooktop and it won’t feel hot. Plus, it works superfast (Local warmed up a cold pot of soup in 1 minute) and is energy-efficient to boot.

I’ve been keen on induction since I first heard about it three years ago; although popular throughout Europe for many decades, the technology is only just now catching on closer to home. But since I rent, rather than own, my kitchen, splurging for a built-in induction cooktop was never an option. The beauty of this unit is that it’s relatively affordable (under $200), takes up no room, and can even follow you to your next abode. Hot stuff. —Jen Renzi

At Sur la Table. Also, check out Fagor’s website for a great slideshow primer on how induction works.

Technorati Tags: Fagor, induction, Sur la Table, kitchens, cooking

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook