Steampunk art, fashion, design and mods are seen by some as a reaction to today’s generic, plastic gadgets that all look the same until one gets very, very close - practical yes, pleasing no. So polish up that monocle, bring on the brass and banish cookie-cutter clutter as Steampunk artists find thirteen more ingenious ways to redesign and refashion the world by hijacking hi-tech back to the future (past)!

(image via: Geekologie)

How to take a keyboard from ergonomic to phantasmagoric? Start with an IBM M-15 Ergo Keyboard (shown below), drink one bottle of Absinthe and retire to the laboratory. The result may look a lot like this steampunkified deck commissioned by a young lady seeking to express her unique sense of circa-1879 sensibility.

(image via: Geekologie)

The elegant (and probably very heavy) keyboard features violet-tinted LED lighting, etched brass Acanthus leaf patterns on the sides and a cushy burgundy wrist pad. Smoking jacket and cigarette holder optional.

(image via: The Steampunk Workshop)

Headphone design hasn’t changed much in the past century, with the exception of earbuds and, of course, mass plasticization of components. While light weight is always welcome, cutting out the fat has also meant curbing originality. Not so with the vintage-look headphones created - on a budget, yet - by Steampunk artist Molly “Porkshanks” Friedrich and displayed at the Steampunk Workshop.

(image via: The Steampunk Workshop)

This illustrated tutorial shows how to retrofit & gentrify most any old pair of headphones with modern parts. Classic look outside; classy sound from inside. It’s a great way to bring past and present together without involving a wormhole.

(image via: Nicrosin)

Love it or hate it, the Bluetooth earpiece is here to stay - and it’s looking less futuristic everyday. Should that trend continue, the logical result would be the Steampunk mechanical aural communication device. Though the garish and gearish earpiece above is non-functional and just for show, sooner or later some basement inventor will craft one that will make you look like a Victorian Borg. You WILL be assimilated, so have a spot of tea in the meantime.

(image via: Unplggd)

The cellphone is one of today’s most universal mod cons, and it sure does look it. Granted, phone designers have a small space to work with and a barrage of tech tools to implant within. That’s what makes the Steampunk Cellphone above so special - it dispenses with GPS, texting capability and other things that the average E.T. (English Telecommunicator) wouldn’t phone home with anyway.

(image via: Unplggd)

Arthur Schmitt’s wooden wonder runs, as it were, on punch cards - something this writer hasn’t used since Mr. O’Grady’s math class back in ‘72.

(image via: Modding Forums)

Making a Steampunk Mouse that functions as it should is a much simpler proposition since a mouse is a much simpler device. Even so, the elaborate brass & leather mouse shown above looks as luxurious as a Faberge Egg, and rightly so as it was crafted by a Russian devotee of Steampunk. Or “Stimpank” as the Siberians say.

(image via: Modding Forums)

Filimon, the creator of this mouse-terpiece, administers a forum on “Modding of the outlying devices” that claims to be registered in the USSR - now that’s retro.

(image via: Modding Forums)

The attention to fine detail is unmatched, even down to the braided connecting cord and exquisite USB connector, packed in a custom made faux-gilded box. Putin on the Ritz, indeed!

(image via: Etsy)

Form following function is not the Steampunk way, and the gear-licious pocket watch above is a perfect example. The $43.00 watch is for display only as it’s likely the owner is already wearing a digital ticker on his/her wrist.

(image via: Etsy)

Glass, gears and an optional chain complete the classic look of this very watchable watch. Does the all show, no go nature of the device make one a pretender? It doesn’t matter - now you have Brass In Pocket while listening to it on the radio.

(image via: Time Tapestry)

Vianney Halter makes a variety of industrial styled wristwatches that DO work, even though they often resemble turn of the century pressure gauges more than actual chronometers. The trio of “Antiqua” models above are variations on the same multi-dial theme.

(image via: Time Zone)

Vianney Halter also crafts watches for Harry Winston, with the Opus 3 shown above. Timelessly styled, if we may say, the Opus 3 features a platinum or rose gold case and a 53 jewel movement.

(image via: Nerfnauts)

Flaunting Steampunk regalia may be cool, but it could also have an unwanted side effect - attracting the eyes of covetous have-nots. That’s where the Steampunk Nerf Maverick comes in mighty handy. So what if it only shoots Nerf bullets; nobody wants the business end of this bronzed blunderbuss bearing down on them.

(image via: Frank Buchwald)

Let there be light! Not just any old light, Steampunk styled old light! Frank Buchwald’s machine lights evoke a sooty air of industrial revolution tempered with a dash of Wellsian space drama.

(image via: Frank Buchwald)

Buchwald crafts his fully functional illuminators - “lights” somehow just doesn’t cut it - from quality materials such as burnished brass & steel, textile cables and unusual yet non-custom bulbs. The result: stunning fixtures that Tesla himself might use to do a little, er, light reading beneath.

(image via: Instructables)

A little light music? Well, the latter is on tap thanks to The Ambiance Enhancer, a dashingly deco wrist-mounted MP3 player designed by someone with a very un-Steampunkish name: Porkshanks. The player began life as a SONY MDR-006 player but with a little sheet brass, brown leather and… well, Porkshanks goes through the process step by step for those who seek to follow the trail she’s blazed.

(image via: Polapix)

Sometimes it takes just one component to turn a gadget from mainstream to Steampunk. In the case of the above desk clock, it’s Nixie tubes. Seriously, the tubes are in the case. Anyway, Nixie tubes are finicky beasts that demand special care concerning their power supply - probably why they’ve been replaced by LEDs and LCD displays. Finicky or not, the tubes lend an antique aura to this clock that complements the old camera it’s built out of.

(image via: Dark Roasted Blend)

Perhaps the most outstanding example of modern technological blandness is the digital calculator. Hailed as a wonder in the 1970s, they evolved to be smaller, lighter, and to run on miniature solar cells instead of batteries. This is good, no? No… not to those who appreciate all things Steampunk.

(image via: Dark Roasted Blend)

Andy Aaron is most definitely one of “those”, and his delightfully retro Aaron Adding Machines are the antithesis of today’s sleek, near-disposable pocket calculators. Aaron cranks out less of his creations in a year than Sharp stamps out in a couple of seconds. This IS good, because each unique device displays the hand-built luster and “use what you got” tooling that make Steampunk design so appealing.

(image via: Dark Roasted Blend)

Toggle switches, ball chains and vintage components come together in a quiet riot of richly antiqued brass and distressed wood. Some of Aaron’s calculators are so cumbersome they have massive grip handles by which to lug them about. It might not be easy to take these machines anywhere, but it’s certain you’ll never take them for granted… which is really the essence of what Steampunk design is all about.

We live in the future.  With robots and machines doing all sorts of things that used to require the human touch, we’re living out the dreams of our sci-fi-dreamer parents and grandparents.  Robotics are so pervasive in our everyday lives that we often don’t even notice when an awesome new piece of technology is unveiled.  These robots are some of the weirdest, most clever and helpful to come along recently.

Humanoid Ever-1 Android

(images via: Chosun and Geekologie)

Ever-1 is a Korean android that is able to move its upper body, speak, and make facial expressions.  It can even make eye contact with the people near it.  Although it can’t move its lower limbs, it can be used to read to children or provide information in a public setting.  The singing, fully moving Ever-2, the follow-up android, was introduced in late 2006.  Ever-2’s face was noticeably less real-looking…and sort of creepy.  The Korean public protested its doll-like visage and the Ever-2 was eventually given plastic surgery to look more like Ever-1.

Big Dog from Boston Dynamics

(image via: BotJunkie)

If you’ve ever visited the internet before today, chances are you’ve already seen video of Boston Dynamics’ Big Dog in motion.  Still, it bears a mention because, overplayed though it might be, it’s still pretty amazing.  The gas-powered hydraulic quadruped moves in an eerily animal way and can easily adapt to its terrain, as well as outside influences like icy pavement and a guy kicking it.  Just like a real dog.

Artificial Mouse

(images via: AMouse)

We’ve known for a long time that animals with whiskers boast superior navigational and balance skills. Their whiskers act as extensions of the animals’ sensory systems and allow them to get around with grace. Researchers have grabbed on to the power of whiskers and developed a number of robots meant to mimic the navigational skills of rodents. The AMouse (Artificial Mouse, of course) was built by researchers from the University of Tokyo in Japan and the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Real mouse whiskers were used. The eventual practical applications of the technology will be for performing repair work in tight spaces, detecting hazardous gasses, exploring confined surroundings, and chewing open every box in your pantry (we’re guessing on that last one).

USC Robota Dolls

(images via: NowPublic and Android World)

The Robota Dolls from USC may look a little…terrifying. They’re reminiscent of lots of misguided childhood robotics experiments, not to mention that whole Chucky thing. But Robota dolls have a significantly more beneficial use: they help autistic children learn to react to facial expressions. They can also be used for a variety of other learning games and activities for handicapped children.

Robovox

(image via: Bot Junkie)

In what is definitely more like art than science, Martin Bricelj’s eight-meter-tall Robovox is poised to become the new annoying loud guy at the party. The robot is transported around the world and placed in various public places, then people can use their mobile phones to send text messages to it. The robot will then read out the messages, effectively making that one person’s voice heard in the crowd. Which is all well and good until everyone gets an eight-meter-tall robot to do their talking for them.

Real Transforming Robot

If you grew up in the 80s, you probably remember watching the Transformers cartoons and wishing they were real. If you saw the recent Transformers movie, you’ve probably spent a lot of time wishing they’d just go away. But we promise, this real transforming robot is much cooler than either of those because it’s real. The WR-07 Robot was created by Himeji Soft Works in Japan.

T-Rot Robotic Bartender

(image via: Chosun)

In 2005, attendees at the APEC forum were greeted by a rather robotic bartender. No, not the kind who says “mm-hmm” and looks disinterested no matter what you say - an actual robot. The “T-Rot” can recognize speech, fetch items it’s asked to get, and pick up delicate items thanks to its incredible synthetic skin. The skin can detect different pressures, just like human skin, and adjust its grip accordingly.

Waseda University Flautist Robot

(image via: Waseda University)

Waseda University has been developing a flute-playing robot since 1990, but the most recent version, the Waseda Flutist No. 4 Refined IV (WF-4RIV), has taken the media by storm. This amazing mechanical man can play a perfect rendition of “The Flight of the Bumblebee” with mecha-lips and mecha-lungs.

Cockroach-Controlled Robot

(images via: Concept Lab)

The last two robots on our list have a crucial feature in common: they’re operated by pests. We can’t say that a cockroach-driven robot is the scariest thing we’ve ever seen, but it just doesn’t seem like an awesome idea. Give a perpetually abused but practically invincible bug a robotic vehicle and let it run loose? Yeah, nothing bad could come of that.

Rat Brain-Powered Robot

(image via: Geekologie)

But even more amazing is this robot that runs on rat brain cells. The cells are still alive and trained to perform the tasks of moving the robot around. The research centers on eventually disrupting the memories of the brain cells to simulate Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. This will help researchers study how the brain deals with such disruptions.

What could be more basic and functionally unchanging as a sink? To demonstrate the danger in this assumption, here is a look at how sink designers are abandoning the generic, water-intensive styles of old in favor of new designs heavily influenced by the natural world, technological innovation and the desire to conserve water. Here are 16 designs that certainly create a splash (sorry, had to be done).

(Images via: Kanera)

Gone are the days when sinks were ruled by right angles and flat surfaces. Today it’s a more natural, water-weathered look that designers seek to evoke. The surface of the Kanera E 1 itself looks liquid, a scoop of modern material (ceramic) that holds water just like a seaside rock pool - and thankfully deep enough under the faucet to prevent any tidal surprises.

(Image via: WMD London and Design Milk)

The Follo also goes for shallow-curve basins (perhaps in this case a little too shallow) and an aesthetic that looks like a cross between painted planking and upholstery. This design has only recently been unveiled by designer Will MacCormac so details are sketchy - will be interesting to see how it actually functions.

(Images via: Gore Design Co.)

What happens when water erodes a softer, more porous material? Gore Design Co. have evidently been studying this intently, as their eye-catching concrete Erosion sinks demonstrate. As with the previous two sinks, there is an ecological message at work: “you do not need to use so much water”. The terraced sides of this bowl will fill up in no time.

(Image via: HighTech)

Taking inspiration more directly from Nature (and thumbing its nose at the myth of the manifest Coriolis effect) is the Ammonite Sink, named after the extinct marine animals that have left such bewitching fossils for us along the shorelines of the world.  It is again fashioned from concrete to a variety of widths, and will give you hours of fun chasing dropped bars of soap out of its depths.

(Images via: Nothing Design Group)

Where the previous sinks took inspiration from the effect of falling water on stone, the Origin Sink is more interested in the river itself. Lift a stone and the source gushes out and winds its way down to the end of its journey, a plughole capped by another stone. Sidestepping queries about just how snug-fitting those stones will have to be, it’s a relaxing change from the roaring torrent of most sink designs.

(Images via: Axolute)

It’s a magic trick within a sink. Where does the water go? Wave your hand underneath to demonstrate the lack of plughole - but don’t let baffled onlookers too close, or they might see the water draining away horizontally into the wall. The “Horizontal Integrated Siphon” system is a neat and stylish way to hide the plumbing and put a sink into the narrowest of spaces.  (And it’s a great party trick).

(Images via: Maja Ganszyniec)

Thinking along the same lines is designer Maja Ganszyniec with the Plugless Sink. Once you’ve finished with your bowl of collected water, tip it backwards into the spillway and you’re ready to go again. It is designed to force to to dispose of the water yourself, and thus gain an appreciate of how much you’re sending down the drain, along with a distinctive modern-yet-retro vibe.

(Images via: Gessi and Graff)

There’s no mistaking these sinks as anything but modern. With the impressively severe-looking Rettanglo sinks, gravity does all the work as water is delivered vertically from the ceiling (at, we would hope, a sensible pressure). Bending this concept a little is the Graff Luna basin, a three foot long faucet like a sword or the rib of a ship, delivering water into a bowl. The only forseeable problem is explaining to guests what it really is before they experimentally try to tug it off the wall.

(Image via: Homeclick)

The cutting-edge modern sink isn’t content to just deliver hot and cold running water. Take the Moody Aquarium Sink from Italbrass. It’s all the rewarding work of a fully-functional fishtank, coupled with the decidely odd sensation of washing your hands in it. The soap dishes on either side of the watertight main basin conceal entrances into the tank, allowing feeding and maintenance, and the whole structure is mounted on an integrated chrome finish brass stand. What do the fish make of it all?

(Images via: Coco Reynolds and Gaiam.

If space is at a premium in your house and you are keen to double up on your appliance functionality, the Ladybird and the Toilet Sink should catch your eye. The former has a detachable top that converts it into a cosy bathtub - certainly not one to stretch out in, but a gem of space-saving economy. The latter uses the clean water that rushes into your commode with every flush, diverting some of it through a faucet in the top and saving the need for a separately-plumbed tap. A thumbs-up for water economy, and perfectly hygienic.

(Images via: Antoine LeBrun)

Finally, some sinks that aim to prove that electronic technology has a place next to running water. The dazzling and ambitious Brandt Aion is a garden that washes your dishes. Open it up and use the cooking and draining surfaces, and when you are ready, shut it down and an automatic dish washing cycle will start (digitally indicated on the front of the unit), using vegetable soap that is created by the plants in the lid. Meanwhile, those same plants help scrub the air in your kitchen. Truly ahead of its time.

(Images via: WET and Gizmodo)

Washing your hands at the Meltdown sink is a treat for the senses. As the water runs, internal speakers play soothing music (perhaps something by Wet Wet Wet?) and the body lights up, projecting images onto the underneath of its recyclable Polyethylene surface. If you are so impressed by this light and sound display that you lose track of time, you may want to fit an iSave Faucet Counter - it monitors and displays the amount of water running away. As with all the sinks featured, it’s there to make you rethink something as simple as washing your hands.

Whether polished obsidian, bronze or metal-backed-glass, we have been gazing at our reflection for thousands of years. And while mirror mirror on the wall still holds true in most cases (we have yet to think of a better place for it), designers have never been more playful at exploring new design concepts in mirror-making. Here are 16 unique examples of new mirror designs that one would expect to find lurking with Alice in Through the Looking Glass.

Images: Daniel Rozin.

Whatever a mirror is made from, it has to be reflective, surely? Not if you think laterally. Daniel Rozin’s creations get around non-reflectivity by interpreting the image from an outward-facing camera and converting it into subtle changes in an array of small side-lit objects - in effect, pixels. The result is mirroring made from wooden blocks, wooden pegs, ball-bearings and even lumps of trash.  See the wooden mirror at work here (Quicktime required).

Images: Will Gurley.

Converting the humble wall-mirror into something rarely seen outside a funfair, the Flect Magic Mirror warps and contorts when you run the magnetic “magic wand” over it. When you have finished twisting your reflection hither and thither, remove the wand and the mirror springs back into shape. All the fun of “breaking” a mirror without the seven years of bad luck.

Images: Philippe Starck and Juanco.

What else can a mirror be? Here are two designs that reflect on this problem. Philippe Starck evidently believes that it can be a set of shelving that subtly encourages you to tidy up after yourself. Juanco’s mirror has a built-in tape measure, neatly stepping around the need for another person in the room when you want to check exactly how tall you are in your new shoes.

Image: Get Organized!

Seeing yourself head-on is all very well, but hair-styles wrap around. A sensible alternative to awkwardly working a hand mirror behind your head is this 360 Degree Mirror - except it’s only 180 degrees, and surely they’ve got their reflections mixed up there? However, no denying it is a great concept.

Images: Claire Requa Design and Iggloo.

One theme, two perspectives. On the left we have the Chandelier Mirror, adding a touch of Phantom of the Opera to your decor. And on the right, its mirror-image, the Mirror Chandelier - a pendant lamp that wouldn’t fail to stun if it was surrounded by candles or positioned to catch firelight.

Images: Afroditi Krassa and Domestic.

Convention dictates that a mirror is a single unbroken surface. Evidently these designers don’t hold much truck with convention. Afroditi Krassa works with mirrored sculptures, working mirrors into images of her design to hold images of yours. Alternately, this mirror from Inside IDSland appears to be cascading gently off the wall like a giant, feather-like Slinky.

Images: Bytrico and Artecnica.

For traditional single-surface wall mirrors, there are two directions to go. The Wipe Mirror goes down the quirky route, simulating what you’re forced to do when the mirror’s too fogged up to be useful. The stunningly clean-lined Dog Head mirror from TranSglass® seeks otherworldly sophistication, looking less manufactured than CGI-rendered.

Images: Soner Ozenc and Oregon Scientific.

Mirrors for the geekily-minded. A tribute to the maddeningly addictive puzzle game by Alexey Pajitnov, the Tetris Mirror will have you whistling that theme tune as you brush your hair - and Oregon Scientific’s grandly-titled Mirror Weather Station will be able to tell you the likelihood of whether you will need a coat to two decimal places.

Images: Physorg and Lumisource.

So what is next for mirrors? Most likely, they turn into windows. Thanks to nifty technology developed in Japan, what appears to be simple plate glass can become a mirrored surface at the flick of a switch, via the introduction of either oxygen or hydrogen into a layer between glass sheets. As well as a breakthrough in the techniques of keeping sunlit buildings cool, it’s a whole new world of mirrors. Although we cannot be sure, we are presuming the Allure mirror is one such example - from a few feet away it appears to be an array of glowing lights, but get within sensor-range (around 18 inches) and suddenly there you are, staring right back…

Wallpaper (at-home, not on-screen) isn’t what it used to be, but we bet you never thought it could look THIS good! New ideas and revolutionary techniques have allowed artists and designers to bring two-dimensional surfaces to life. What’s on YOUR wall?”

(image via: The Future of Things)

Light-emitting wallpaper owes its appealing luminescence to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) embedded in the wall covering. Tiny, thin and cool, LEDs allow wallpaper designers like Jonas Samson of The Netherlands to create innovative wallpapers that double as light sources - they can even be adjusted to provide as much light as needed or desired.

(image via: Sawse)

Interactivity can liven up wallpaper in a hurry, as these color-changing papers by artist Shi Yuan illustrate. Heat rising from a wall-mounted radiator causes a berry bush to bloom while above right, the warmth of one’s hands add color to a previously monotone background.

(image via: The Future of Things)

Wallpaper can also be made sensitive to touch, responding to gentle pressure with an audible response. At least, that’s the case with so-called “smart paper” developed by Page Four, a research project at Mid Sweden University’s Fiber Science and Communications Network in Sundsvall, Sweden. Paper Four, as the wallpaper is called, contains touch sensors and special speakers that are imprinted into the paper using conductive inks made with silver particles.

(image via: WallStreetFighter)

If painting wallpaper with silver sounds expensive, then you might want to consider papering the walls with actual money - dollar bills. Most people have noticed a dollar or two taped to the wall of a business establishment; supposedly the first dollar they ever made. What would happen if another dollar was added every time a transaction took place? he results can be seen above at (clockwise from left) the No Name Pub in the Florida Keys; McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola, Florida; and from the great state of Arizona: the Oatman Hotel and the Tortilla Flat Saloon. Seems like these places have money to burn, though a fire at any one of them would see a fortune go up in smoke!

(image via: Duncan Wilson)

Notes of a different kind make up the above wallpaper, Pixelnotes from artist and graphic designer Duncan Wilson. The wallpaper is made up of four layers divided into individual squares resembling sticky notes. The notes can even be written upon and detached, exposing a different colored note from the layer beneath. As notes are removed, a pattern begins to reveal itself.

(image via: Nhatkyviet.com)

The above wallpaper from a Vietnamese website is an exceptional example of trompe l’oeil, a style of art that translated from French means “fool the eye”. The artist (sadly uncredited but possibly Canadian) uses lighting, perspective and proportion to add a third dimension where before was only blank, flat space.

(image via: Daniel Heath at The Shopfloor Project)

If the trompe l’oeil look seems somewhat old fashioned, then the iconic hand-printed wallpaper above is even more so. Called “The Greatest Show On Earth”, artist Daniel Heath uses circa 1870 Victorian imagery interspersed with portraits of famed circus promoter P.T. Barnum - the effect is reminiscent of currency down to the color choices: blue, green and sepia.

(image via: Wallpaper from the 70s - Surreal)

Also from the seventies - the Nineteen-seventies that is - are these retro-cool wallpapers that shout out the essence of the Me Decade. Offering a variety of patterns ranging from Romantic to Surreal, these wallpapers gone wild remind us that like it or not, the era of disco isn’t quite dead yet.

(image via: Wallpaper from the 70s - Abstract)

Above are a few more samples of ’70s wallpaper, these are from Wallpaper from the 70s’ Abstract collection. Was the nation suffering from a decade-long psychedelic flashback, one wonders?

(image via: Amazing Illusions)

The originators of Warping Wallpaper were at least inspired by counterculture themes; how else to explain wallpaper that makes you feel like you’re high, even if you aren’t? Created by Surrealien - an appropriate name if there ever was - these dizzying wallpapers tend to be more artistic than practical.

(image via: Amazing Illusions)

Above is another eye-challanging Surrealien design; they’re from Germany by the way. According to the website copy, “Our product dissolves limits between architecture, wallpaper and hangings, with the wallpaper functioning as sensitive gobetween. So it’s time to: Warp your room!” And, presumably, your mind.

(image via: Monster Munch)

Mountain yetis, blue whales and a stark forest that just might be magnified mold are the highlights of the selection of wallpapers from Pottok shown above.

(image via: Monster Munch)

Each style is hand silk-screened on recyclable paper using water based inks.

(image via: Pottok Prints)

Pottok also provides what only can be described as outdoor wallpaper” that, in the case of the Montalban Theater on Vine St. in Hollywood, completely covers the building’s exterior. Pottok’s lead artist Geoff McFetridge isn’t saying what the inside of the theater looks like, but it would be no surprise if the wallpaper’s pattern was “brick”.

Wherever you hang your hat (or coat), that’s your home. No modern dream home is complete without a dazzling, eye-catching coat rack - and there is plenty of options to choose from. Here are 18 coat racks that are unafraid to hang up traditional designs and do something a little more creative and unexpected.

Images: tc studio and elsewheres.

It is not hard to see how the designers came up with the idea for these metal wall-mounted coat rack hooks. If you want your hallway to look like the aftermath of a Godfather-style disagreement, these Knife Hooks (which are screwed into the wall rather than stuck in) will be ideal. And for a slightly less intimidating take on the same theme, you could try these wall-mounted Dart Hooks, held firmly in place by their screw-head tips.

Images: Die Electric and Bouf.

Here is a hook with a message - namely, “Turn The Lights Off When You’re Done”. Keen to wean the modern world off its electricity supply, designer Scott Amron has created a range of fun way to encourage people to reach for the Off switch, including this fully-working Light Switch Hook. Similarly multi-purpose, the Shed Hook is designed to hold your keys, bags, mail and gloves as well as your coat.

Image: Desu Design.

When not in use, the Symbol Coat Rack lines your wall like a colorful LED-dotted appliance, encouraging you to concoct some appalling fable about having computerised your whole house when visitors call by.  If they want to hang their coat, your lie is found out: each of the colored strips cunningly slides out into a hook. Also available in monochrome aluminium, if metal is your thing.

Images: Cooper Hewitt Museum and Design3000.

Maybe you feel coat racks are too regimented and get in the way of your creative urges. In which case, why not try building one? The Ivy and Häkeln racks come in modular form, and it is up to you to decide how and where they spread out over your hallway. Wind them around your existing furniture, paint pictures, spell out rude words - it is completely up to you.

Image: Stolenwood.

Half Wild West and half Indian Rope Trick, the Catching The Wild coat rack is a startling sight. It’s constructed from steel and polyester rope formed into a remarkably convincing lasso. If you feel like all your coats are starting to get away from you, this is just the thing.

Image: Etsy.

But however startling a floating rope is, it is nothing compared to this. The gruesomely-named Dismembered Baby Doll Coat Rack doesn’t seem content to wait for your coat - it is reaching out to snatch it from your grasp. This is not a piece of furniture to accidentally put your hands on when the lights are off, unless you are of a highly serene disposition.

Images: Artful Home and BanalExtra and TFTS.

It seems there’s a coat rack for every profession. For the gardener, the Late Autumn rack provides a reassuringly familiar sight (with no danger of accidentally stepping on the wrong end).  Writers are bound to take note of this Oversized Pencils rack. And for those with a penchent for driving cars or spreading their inner workings out over the garage floor, the Gear Stick Coat Rack should elicit a grin of approval.

Image: Vitamin D(esign).

At first glance, it looks like someone has taken an axe to this coat rack - but look closer. Beautifully carved from maple, the Coat Range is in fact a line of mountain peaks, the natural grain of the wood adding a subtle sense of perspective. Crafted from excess cut sheets of week, these Grand Teton inspired pieces of furniture provide a scenic view to hang your hat on.

Images: VivaTerra and Design Within Reach.

The best designers know the value of imitating nature. With the Entwined Root Coat Stand, the intention is not to stray too far from the original material, leaving it up to the coat-owner to work out where the hooks are. The Twist coatrack is a much more regular and predictable double-helix arrangement, yet still highly evocative of intertwined branches (the prongs themselves are are beech, while the binding is steel and plastic).

Image: Unless.

Yet half the fun is finding wholly new designs - and it’s unlikely Nature will be coming up with something like the HangUp rack anytime soon. Fashioned from sustainably grown hoop pine plywood, this rack comes complete with recesses for hats, gloves or shoes - and a hint of traditional Japanese architecture.

Images: Garsnas and Notch Design.

And finally, two racks that are unashamedly modern. Notch Design’s Toda has a series of sinuous fold-out pegs complete with a central hole to thread your scarf through. And the gloriously minimalist Buss 4562 is a tiny-footprint (or the wall equivalent) coat rack in stained or lacquered birch studded with stainless steel hooks and knobs. You may want to label it for the benefit of guests!

What makes art or design both amazing and green? Sustainability is a factor, but so is style - and the degree to which something is integrated with its environment. From transforming green boxes to rotating dome homes, creative eco-art to exotic eco-landscapes and dizzying tree houses to dazzling tree sculptures, here are twenty of the greatest (and strangest) works of contemporary green art, architecture and design. Click the thumbnails below for more images and information:

Halloween has come around once more and geeks worldwide are rousing themselves from their basements and consoles to enjoy the best Friday the 31st has to offer. It takes a lot to scare, excite or even impress a geek, however… geeky Halloween pumpkins and costumes don’t just have to be good, they’ve got to be BLOODY great!

(image via: StudentHacks, Cybernet News and Didomenico)

Geeks come in all shapes, sizes, sexes and sub-genres, but computer geeks are probably the most well known. The skull, er, skill-fully carved pumpkins above cater to the tastes of classic computer geeks with (clockwise from above left) Pi, Firefox, Linux and Windows. Note that the Windows pumpkin features a few security patches that haven’t stopped worms from appearing. At least we can be thankful they DO work against Trojans.

(image via: Walyou)

Mommas don’t let your Apples grow up to be pumpkins… unless you’re a Mac user. The quartet of Mac pumpkins above display various degrees of expertise, much like actual Mac users.

(image via: ForeverGeek and iPhone Matters)

Once the sun sets and trick-or-treaters begin to make their rounds, geeks may feel reluctant to leave their work- or play-station. Wearing a comp costume eases the pain of separation. Even so, you can take a geek out of the basement but you can’t take the geekiness out of the geek - as in the socks & sandals style of the Human Palm above left. The Human iPhone on the right at least has an excuse for wearing this literally over-the-top costume - he’s a kid.

(image via: Technabob, Kotaku and GayGamer)

From computers to computer games, and our number one gaming character, Mario! It helps potential pumpkin carvers that Mario is cartoonishly drawn to begin with. Even so, the Mario pumpkin carvers whose work is shown above definitely have their game on.

(image via: Geekadin, Loonygamers and Infendo)

Mario costumes are an annual favorite as well, though some get a little too deep into the game. That means you, Game Boy Boy!

(image via: Kotaku and MikeWebkist)

Space Invaders is another classic arcade game that, thanks to its clunky big-pixel design, lends itself to geeky pumpkin carvers intent on recapturing their mis-spent youth.

(image via: TechRepublic)

Speaking of arcade games, they make great Halloween costumes. The theme that is, not the actual arcade game itself… well, too late. Give the guy above props for building a working laptop into his Pacman costume so that other games such as Q-Bert can be played. Er, easy on the joystick please.

(image via: Innergeek, Make, World of Star Wars and Kreative Kassie)

Geeks also love sci-fi, maybe even more than games & gaming. Not just ANY sci-fi either - Star Wars is the focus of legions of ubergeeks. The selection of Star Wars pumpkins above is highlighted by Jabba the Hutt and one very mean Death Star.

(image via: EvilMadScientist)

Let’s not leave out Brit-geeks and their fave obsession, Doctor Who. The Dalek pumpkin above doesn’t look all that scary, but it does excel in geekiness as the constructor has outfitted it with a rotating turret top and drive wheels. Pop in an MP3 player and you’re set to “Exterminate!” the neighborhood kiddies.

(image via: EvilMadScientist)

The four shots above show the evolution of a store-bought pumpkin into a dastardly Dalek, while the video below shows the finished creation in action as it invades the builder’s kitchen floor.

\”Exterminate!\” Daleks invade English kitchen, presumably in search of Spam…

(image via: Ufonies and Dan Coulter)

Star Trek also has its share of geek adoration - they don’t call ‘em Trekkies for nothing - and the enterprising designers of the Dan Coulter”>Spock pumpkin above went to a lot of tribble (trouble, even) to get the fine details just right. It may not be logical, but that’s just how Halloween is.

(image via: Xanga, Jake and Kenna and How Stuff Works)

To close, we honor not a subject of geek interest but an interesting geek: Napoleon Dynamite! One would need some sweet pumpkin-carving skills indeed to create the designs shown above. Maybe they used nun-chucks.

(image via: Entertainment Earth, WORD and Extras For Moviess)

Trick-or-treaters too have taken to dressing up as Napoleon - Dynamite, not Bonaparte - but you really have to be a movie geek to get the Kip Accessory Kit and go out as Napoleon’s suddenly streetwise brother. The same company makes a Pedro accessory kit consisting of a wig, a mustache and a bolo tie. You provide the accent. Sweet!

(image via: Violet Eclipse)

And that wraps up Geek Halloween (Did you mean: greek halloween) for another year. Hmm, “greek halloween”… wonder what Google is hinting at?

Everything wears out sooner or later and aircraft are no exception. What becomes of these winged wonders once their airborne adventures have ended? Some are merely abandoned; transforming from “I soar” to eyesore. Others take on new life through recycling. Here are 15 well-grounded examples.

(image via: Treehugger)

Some parts of disused airplanes are costly and/or difficult to recycle, especially the cylindrical fuselages. Design firm LOT-EK has proposed using more than 200 fuselage sections from old Boeing 727 and 737 jets to build the startlingly beautiful New Jalisco Library in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, front view shown above.

(image via: Noticiasarquitectura)

Mass-produced over several decades, decommissioned 727 and 737 jets lie scattered across the American west in sprawling “parks”, so recycling several hundred fuselages would help put a dent in the stockpile.

(image via: Superuse)

Designed to withstand extremes of temperature and pressure over years of use, retired aircraft have been used to create some very offbeat homes. Such is the case with Jo Ann Ussery’s jetliner home, formerly a Continental Airlines 727. Ussery paid just $2,000 for the scrapped jet though subsequent expenses were 14 times that amount. The unique home features a Jacuzzi in the master bathroom and one of the original lavatories soldiers on in its original function.

(image via: Airport Journals)

Above are some interior photos of Jo Ann Ussery’s far-from-plane home, which she graced with the name “Little Trump”. The rooms seem bright and… is that wood paneling on the living room wall?

(image via: Max Power)

With so many decommissioned jets just lying around, it just makes sense to put them to use and a company named Max Power is doing exactly that. The Tennessee company offers “Airplane Homes” starting in the upper $200,000 range. According to Max Power’s president, Thomas Bennington, “The structure is built to carry up to 173 people at over 600 mph and in temperatures of -70 degrees F. It cost millions of dollars to build. We are offering it finished and delivered at prices that compare to conventional homes.” Bikini model not included.

(image via: Max Power)

Unlike other homes, buildings or structures made from aircraft parts, Max Power uses virtually the entire structure of a Boeing 727 jet. When mounted on a sturdy concrete and metal support pole, the jet is free to swing into the wind like a weathervane. Needless to say, a minimum of one acre of clear land is required for the installation.

(image via: Inhabitat)

There’s just so much one can do with an entire jetliner, but when it comes to the accessories and accoutrements, well, the sky’s the limit. Take these snazzy refurbished airline trolley carts by German designer Stephan Boltz. With the Bordbar collection, Boltz retains useful features of the carts including locking wheels and doors that open 270-degrees, then adds style with the buyer’s choice of panel treatments.

(image via: Trendhunter)

Airplane seats, both military and commercial, are also a favored choice for recyclers. Original seats are built to rigid specifications and among other things, use fire-resistant materials in their construction. Moto-Art offers a number of recycled, refurbished and re-worked airplane seats to the public including ejection seats from F-4 Phantom fighters (right) and B-52 Stratofortress bombers (left). Just the thing to get you through - or out of - that deathly boring budget meeting!

(image via: Bornrich)

Of course, you’ll want to stick around if said meeting is held around MotoArt’s spectacular DC-4 Conference Table. The table is mounted on dual-aluminum I-beam legs and displays red LED lighting along its polished aluminum leading edge. Coasters are highly recommended.

(image via: ZDnet)

The above desk is built similarly to the conference table but is smaller, perfectly sized for the office desk pilot. Some may consider it pricey at $12,000 but how many execs can say they spend the better part of their work day behind the wing of a Lockheed C-130 military transport plane?

(image via: Trendhunter)

Back home, the suggestively named Mile High Bed - possibly used because Boeing had dibs on “Dreamliner” - is crafted from a pair of DC-9 rear stabilizers that act as side rails with a C-130 cargo jet’s wing flap section for a headboard.

(image via: Trendhunter)

A night-time view of the Mile High Bed shows the built-in red LED lighting to best advantage. Please return your flight attendant to the upright position.

(image via: e-Potpourri and Cool Green Gadgets)

Those seeking to add an atmosphere of power to their room might consider a glass-topped table made from aircraft engine components. The coffee table above left is made from a cluster of polished chrome F4 Phantom fighter jet afterburner cans while the table to its right is centered by a polished chrome engine nacelle.

(image via: ZDnet)

Wheels can be recycled as well, as the above table made from a used Boeing 707 wheel demonstrates.

(image via: Uberreview)

Jet engines and their housings are even more plentiful than entire airliners, so it makes sense that they would take on new lives in different incarnations. Take the Jet Engine Reception Desk above. Polished to a metallic gleam on the outside and outfitted with storage drawers on the inside, the 100-inch wide cowling once saw service attached to a 747 jumbo jet but now acts as the ultimate power desk. MotoArt also stocks a slightly smaller desk fashioned from a DC-6 engine.

(image via: Rush Faster)

Seatbelts are another aircraft component that are available in quantity and were built to a high standard. All The King’s Men of Melbourne, Australia, have recycled airliner seatbelts into stylish laptop bag straps. A little spit & polish (well, less the spit hopefully) is all that’s needed to give these veteran lifesavers a new life on the ground.

(image via: ZDnet Photo Galleries)

The DIY recycler-cum-artist can find aircraft graveyards to be a rewarding resource. Just ask Todd Lappin, who sourced the side window panel from a 747 to give his living room a somewhat “airy” look. Not all storage facilities sell to the public so be sure to ask!

(image via: Marquette Turner Luxury Homes)

Last but not least, if hanging a piece of an airplane on your wall just isn’t enough, then why not go whole hog and buy an aircraft - at least a chunk of one - to BE your living room! That’s what the seller of a 19 square foot section of a former Boeing jet is hoping for. Included in situ are 4 “two fully-equipped airplane toilets, a kitchenette, storage lockers, and onboard in-flight video equipment.” If this isn’t the coolest home theater set-up going, then what is? Best of all, unlike real working jets you can choose your own movies, serve good food and even light up a cigar if you so desire. Flying the friendly skies was never this much fun!

Considering we spend a third of our lives occupying them, it is surprising bed designs have remained so stable throughout history - until now. Here are 18 groundbreaking beds that are straining to free themselves from convention, predictability and even gravity.

Image: Le Beanock.

Its origins lost in antiquity, the hammock has been a popular and practical alternative to terra firma sleeping arrangements for thousands of years. Le Beanock’s contribution to this tradition is scale: slung between walls on a series of heavy-duty chains, their double-sized (but presumably only one-person) hammock is an eye-catcher, a room centerpiece and a sheer joy when it is time to sweep the floor.

Images: Max Longin.

But other modern beds also aren’t keen on being grounded either. Take the Bed Float - not only can it be fully dismantled in a jiffy (with part of the bed frame forming a carrying case), it is also designed to look as if it’s touching the ground as little as possible.

Images: Lago and Yanko Design.

Similarly overcome with the urge to levitate are these two beds. Joel Hesselgren’s vision is of bed legs that also double as side tables, in a modular design that can be divided into singles or doubled up and expanded as need be - “a bed that grows with you”. Lago’s Fluttua bed aims for a David Blaine trick: from the right angle, there is nothing but air under this bed.

Images: New York Times and Shawn Lovell Metalworks and Casket Furniture.

Children like their beds to look like anything but beds (for example, pirate ships are popular) but this habit is not just confined to the kids. The Okooko bed looks almost seaworthy, albeit in a Columbus rather than Blackbeard style. The Tree Bed - part four-poster, part Lothlorien - can’t make up its mind whether it is a bed or a bird’s nest. And the Casket Bed seems perhaps a little too perfect for those with an angsty, gothic-revival obsession with creatures of the night.

Image: Private Cloud.

Another design trend happily carried over from our childhoods is the cradle. Private Cloud have taken the concept and thoroughly updated it with more than a splash of style and pupil-dilating beauty.  Rollers can be fixed under the leg-arches to allow safe rocking to and fro, or to lock the whole bed in place - and the whole piece can double as a comfortable (and stable) lounge-chair.

Image: Lomme.

If you thought Private Cloud looked modern, the Lomme will be a revelation. This egglike bed comes equipped with a “light therapy” alarm clock, a massaging viscoelastic memory foam mattress and a control unit that is a specially modified iPhone. (At this point, you will be correct in assuming the Lomme isn’t cheap). With muting acoustics and a distinctly calming aesthetic, the Lomme seems guaranteed to give you a trouble-free night’s sleep, wherever you are.

Images: Come Up To My Bedroom exhibition and Architonic.

Some beds have something to hide. All that’s lacking from this wicked-looking mousetrap-style bed (created for an exhibition, not for sale) is a box of chocolates as a lure, and possibly some kind of first-aid kit. The Pump It bed, on the other hand, could not look less innocuous…since until it is inflated, it’s just a corner of your carpet. An ideal solution to the problem of friends inviting themselves over for the weekend.

Images: Lectus and Techeblog and Tovdesign.

As much as minimalist is a pure and beautiful thing, maybe there’s such a thing as too minimalist. The classic-lined but somewhat severe Lectus Stripe Bed is a masterpiece of pared-down design, but just how comfortable is it? The Foetal Position Bed is even more demanding: you either lie in exactly the correct way, or you fall off - there is no middle ground. Taking constraint one step further, the Hold Me Bed is arguably the safest in the world, as you’d have to work extraordinarily hard to roll off it.

Images:  Trendhunter and Metronaps.

Yet it is not just the design of beds that is changing - their function is similarly in flux. As evidence builds that power napping has a profound positive influence on concentration and energy levels throughout the day, business of the future will have to find suitable furniture for corporate napping programmes. Here are some beds that are ahead of the curve. The two Cocon Napping Pods (the first reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s Alien) and the stunningly hi-tec pod from Metronaps seek to tackle sleepiness with the sturdiest of modern technology…

Image: Nappak.

…while Nappak is keen for a quickly, easily inflated solution to the problem!

As architects struggle to balance aesthetic appeal with practical considerations, many are finding the best way to create bold, interesting, even mind-bending features is through the use of optical illusions. In effect, our own eyes are being used against us - and nobody’s complaining about the results!

(image via: Sacred Sites)

The use of optical illusions in architecture isn’t new; in fact one of the most outstanding examples is the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, constructed over 25 centuries ago. Curiously, the many subtle techniques (called entasis) used by the Parthenon’s architects don’t make the structure look like something it isn’t - instead, they correct the viewer’s perceptions so that the temple looks as it should. Slightly wider corner columns, pillars that curve inwards