Awesome Living

The Ionic Ashtray promises to eliminate cigarette odor by giving smoke particles a negative charge and drawing it to its positively-charged dome. Whatever, it’s only $20 and looks cool.

If you can’t get enough of this year’s Olympics, Christina Bjorn’s Lighthouse torch keeps the flame alive. This modern oil-burning lamp is made out of porcelain and aluminum.

Bedol’s Water-Powered Clock is so elegant that we can’t help but smile. Using water and a bit of salt, the clock extracts electrons from the solution, serving essentially as a fuel cell.

It’s tough not to like Christian Lorenz’s sci-fi and fantasy-themed art. The scenes are imaginative, colorful, and often thought provoking. Gallery Nucleus carries several of his prints.

Carlo Mollino’s classic Cavour Writing Desk was designed in 1949, but its swank cantilevered design and sleek profile are timeless. The 1/2″ thick glass rests on a streamlined oak frame.

Schulte Design’s Kitchen Workstation is a butcher block on one end and a laptop work area on the other. The milk glass panel slides away to reveal power ports and a document tray.

Isay Weinfeld’s Mobile Bar is sort of like a rolling keg. Situated on four casters, the unit features sliding drawers and multiple cubbies for holding all your bottles ‘n booze.

Sony’s new RHT-G500 is ideal for tight living spaces: it incorporates a 3.1 channel surround system right into the TV stand. It includes three HDMI inputs and is designed for 32″-40″ flat panel TVs.

If you’ve already given up the futon and recliner for the missus, you can still make one last stand with Fernando Akasaka’s Cowboy Junkie stool. Includes removable jumping saddle and stirrups.

The first few times we saw the Nemo LED Chain Lamp we classified it as a concept, it looked so good. Powered by four LEDs, the lamp is 2.75″ retracted but extends up to 22″ in height.

Kai Chen’s bath safeguard is a waterproof silicon gadget that measures the temp of your water. It’s a safety device, but we think it’s also perfect for guys who like their water just shy of scalding.

We like West Elm’s Cadman Workstation for its modularity; mix and match three different-sized units. Also slick: powder-coated steel frame and frosted (or silver-toned) glass.

Outback Chair Company’s Wave Hammock adds a bit of swank to outdoor lounging. Beneath the all weather wicker is an epoxy-coated aluminum frame which supports up to 350 lbs.

There are tile saws, and there’s the Gemini Revolution XT. This heavy duty cutter includes a 10″ sintered diamond blade that can make straight or curve cuts without wandering.

Doubling as an artsy sphere when not in use, Michiel van der Kley’s Globus is actually a work station. Rolling on casters, one half is a leather lined seat, while the other has a pull-out tabletop.

Damian Evans’ Index Chopping Board is an awesome way to keep those meats and veggies separated while you’re prepping. Includes four polypropylene boards and a sleek ABS case.

Karim Rashid is one of our fave contemporary designers, so we’re glad his sleek OmniMount PRISM50 TV Stand is not only available but affordable. Fits up to 55″ flat screens.

Graffiti doesn’t get much respect as an art form, but it looks pretty cool as furniture. These pieces are by industrial designer Luis Alicandu, who is also an editor at design blog MoCoLoCo.

Lee J Rowland is an aerospace engineer who makes really, really cool furniture on the side. His Ripple series of tables are made from chrome plated steel using 3D CNC machining.

It seems a bit tacky, but BackDrop’s inflatable headboards can quickly transform your bedroom at half the cost. Included: a microsuede, twill or faux leather slipcover and air cushion.

TAK Push Pins have a U-shaped channel and dual headed pins that make them ideal for hanging Xmas lights. They’d also be great for managing (relatively thin) wires and cables.

Linda Horn’s Teak Wood Chaise mixes the organic and artificial on two fronts: materials and form. Teak contrasts with aluminum while its curvy, ergonomic design sits on a stark, angular frame.

Normally sedate tea time turns swanky: Sorapot’s curved stainless steel frame forms both handle and spout, with a clear pyrex cylinder to keep an eye on your tea. Available brushed or mirror polished.