Hey! Shake out some of that Holiday stress, and let me show you a few fab finds that will inspire.
Today we're peeking into my new found love for smart home tech (Hey, Alexa!), along with a stunner of a Canadian designed and made lamp, and of course how could I say no to terrazzo that's this good?
Cheers, Arren
It's true, after being - honestly - too lazy to figure out smart home tech we finally took the plunge and made it happen. The result? After doodling around with it over the last while, I have to tell you we won't be giving it up any time soon.
For us, the all-new Amazon Echo is where it's at. Love the styling, and the boss sound (it's given our old speakers a major run for their money), but the major thing for me is controlling all our lighting. And not just on and off, nope, we're using it to perfectly dim the lights, and even change the lighting temperature from cool to warm with the Philips Hue smart bulb. Magic!
The Echo is also on the ball from a sustainability standpoint. When you add it all up, you're looking at a sweet combo of both 100% post-consumer recycled fabric and aluminum, as well as 50% post-consumer recycled plastic. #amazonpartner
At home with Amazon Echo
This ravishing little number is giving me total ooh-ooh-ahs. Designed by Calen Knauf out of Vancouver, each Stutter Lamp is milled from a solid block of aluminum on a hi-tech 5-axis milling machine. Okay, who else would absolutely looove to geek-out and watch one being made? Form an orderly line, please.
I'm all the simplicity and attention to detail, with smooth curves and an anodized finish designed by Knauf to be completely tactile to entice you to touch it. Snap your very own hand-numbered Stutter Lamp here up on 1stDibs, I do believe you won't be sorry.
The Calen Knauf Studio Stutter Lamp
Speaking of recycling, I'm totally here for a peek at the custom made nightstands of Brooklyn-based jewelry designer, Caitlin Mociun. The tops are recycled from off-cuts from Dzek's fab Marmoreal slabs, the rest of which is now at home in Mociun's kitchen.
Made in Italy and available in two colours, with either a white or black background to the marble composite, Marmoreal is a collab between Dzek and designer Max Lamb, known for his love of working with primitive, old-school design methods in new ways. And, to keep those design-brain wheels turning, it can be used as a surface just about anywhere in the home, as well as for floors and walls. Want!
Photo: Aaron Bengochea