Kebo, A Beautifully Designed One Handed Bottle Opener Epitomizes Form as Function.

Another beautifully designed houseware seen at this year's International Home and Housewares show is the stainless steel Kebo one handed bottle opener by architect and industrial designer Rush Dixon of Rush3 Product Design Studio.




Inspired by the Theodore Low bottle opener from the 1930s, this modern interpretation offers better seamless functionality and classic styling that will last for generations.





Cast of stainless steel and polished to a mirror finish, this device exudes quality, artistry, and timelessness. Kebo (derived from "Bottle Key"), is an ideal gift for anyone with an appreciation for fine craftsmanship and of course, fine beer.



Each Kebo comes in its own cool retro packaging- a keepsake tin, so no gift wrapping necessary.




all images courtesy of Rush3 Studios

$24 USD, buy it here

Bob, The Sleeping Duvet Dog and Granny - More Trompe L'oeil Bedding From Snurk.

I love Snurk Bedding - as you can tell by the not one, but two previous posts I wrote about their trompe l'oeil bedding.


above: Snurk's first bedding design, the Homeless Duvet

above: the Laundry Series by Snurk appears to have various clean whites tossed upon the bed

The Holland-based company designs duvets and pillowcases that are made in Portugal of 100% high quality soft percale cotton. Digitally printed with photographic images that mislead the eye, they are designed to be color-fast, even after multiple washings.

Now, they've added two new designs since my last post on them - 'Bob' and 'Granny', shown below.




BOB
Bob is the best kind of dog. He's cute, cuddly and curled up atop your bed. He doesn't need baths, or treats- or even walks. He'll keep you company morning, noon and night with no worry about fleas.




Bob's photo shoot:


GRANNY
Granny is a digital photographic print of a crocheted cover. Complete with the coziness and homemade look of an afghan hand crafted by your own grandma.






The Snurk designers with Granny:


100% soft cotton
digitally printed, color-fast, even after multiple washings
printed on the front with a white back
not suitable for the dryer
easy-care
produced in an eco-friendly manner
washable at 40°C



Buy Snurk bedding at Design 3000
or direct from their website at Snurk

Modern Furniture Made From Volcanic Rock by Maffam Freeform of Latvia.

The Manu series of products from Maffam Freeform, a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, is made from Volcanic rock (basalt) fibers bonded with eco-resins. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade.





The furniture collection is designed for the outdoors but can also be used in large indoor spaces. The seats, tables and other products in the collection are waterproof, sturdy, environmentally friendly, unbelievably light, and distinctly innovative due to the properties of basalt.









The company, Maffram Freeform, offers hand-made furniture for garden or terraces, as well as stylish design objects. "I wanted to find and think of something unique. Something new and I did it," says designer Raimonds Cirulis. He is the first person in the world to make furniture from basalt fibers.





The designer has managed to develop 17 types of design objects. The furniture is light, but stable, and has the unique basalt lace pattern. Two identical objects are impossible to make, because every piece of furniture is 100% hand made.




Uniqueness lies in two important aspects. Firstly, basalt absorbs all kinds of harmful rays - ultraviolet, radio, electromagnetic, mobile phone, even the earth gravitational radiation and X-rays, emphasizes the designer. So people are protected when they are relaxing in basalt furniture from many things which can negatively affect them. Secondly, basalt is unusually durable - even stronger than fiberglass. Therefore the furniture will last for generations.

"This furniture not only takes a practical, utilitarian function, but with that comes story of its unique design and mysterious volcanic origin. Every product have it’s personality," said SIA "Maffam Freeform" project manager Karlis Parsonoks. The company focuses on three main customer groups - hotel, leisure center, restaurant owners, people who are able to pay for a unique design, interior design showrooms.



Note: The Manu Nest suspended chair will soon be available in the two sizes shown above.

Maffam Freeform is a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, creating unique items from basalt fibers bonded with eco-resins – true synthesis of art and technology. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade. More than 10 freeform pieces are included in the 2011 Maffam Freeform collection, with new items added monthly.


Maffam Freeform