10 Items that I find, compelling, interesting, sexy or well-designed
Speedy Le Mans - Playsam
A pretty fancy toy car, made of ABS plastic with rubber mouldings, I like it because it embodies a historic era of motor racing in a romantic but playful way.
Saab 001 Concept Car - Playsam
Modeled after a Saab concept car from 1949, it's billed as an "executive toy", priced at upwards of $100, a very special wooden car and definitely not for kids. The production Saab 92 it inspired ended up looking a little awkward and dowdy, but Playsam took its striking silhouette and turned the form into something stylish, and even a little cute.
Elephant Light - The Design Establishment
I really like this elephant room lamp because it's made in such a nice way. I think it's wonderfully appropriate for kids not just because of its soft glow, but also the friendly, almost dream-like, shape.
Nesting (?) Mugs - Cibone
I like these mugs because I don't like how conventional mugs sit in our kitchen shelves. These look like a very efficient way to store lots of mugs.
Tempura Dipping Sauce Bowl - Cameo China
This is a little sauce (anything really) bowl we have at home, and surprisingly, we found it in a cheap Chinatown restaurant supply store, where you expect the items to be more functional than stylish. It's just so simple and elegant and the little bit sticking out doubles as a handle.
Minta Touch Kitchen Faucet - Grohe
This is our kitchen faucet at home. It extends like a shower head so you can direct the spray, but it retracts to live within the faucet almost seamlessly. You probably wouldn't even think to pull at it. Also the pressure activated spray pattern toggle is such a simple and useful feature. I will be unhappy if my future home doesn't have something like this.
Pagani Huayra Ignition Key - Pagani Automobili
This is the key for the Pagani Huayra "hypercar". I think it's beautiful because it's a fresh take on something that hasn't changed much over the history of the car, the humble car keys. It looks like it would be as comfortable on a mantle piece as it is in your pocket, and the lack of a seam between the front and rear halves is just amazing. Though, I have to say it's a little unfortunate how it looks like it's crashed into the dash when you're using it to drive.
Smart Watch - Pebble
I saw a guy wearing this watch on the subway one day, and promptly had one of those "Where'd he get that?"moments. This is the Pebble Smart Watch, launched on Kickstarter. I like it because of its minimalist design, different colours, and the ability to customise its faces to suit your mood.
Gear Clock - Kikkerland
There was another clock I was looking for when I stumbled across this one. I like it because of its interesting take on an otherwise conventional appliance. I also like its slightly geeky/nerdy aesthetic that seems to complement the mechanism of how it works.
Framing/Finish Hammers - Douglas Tool Company
Being a mechanic you come to appreciate a nice tool when you can get your hands on one. Although this isn't a hammer for mechanics to use (or misuse), I appreciate the level of design that's been put into it. The head has some interesting detailing, reasons for which you'll see below, but it has that un-fussiness and cleanliness of design that I appreciate.