I can't get enough of the Bridge faucet from Water Décor, a stunning bit of modern design that won Most Innovate Product for the 2005 DPHA awards. The discrete knob on top of the vertical cylinder controls the water temperature, while knob on the diagonal piece controls the pressure. Water Décor sells The Bridge in a variety of finishes ranging from $988 to $1,267.

[Via Trendir]

Filed under: Decor

The Bridge contemporary sink faucet originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 21:06:49 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Friendly Vac from Friendly Robotics is a robotic vacuum cleaner like the Roomba, but with a much higher price tag. The autonomous vacuum is equipped with multi-dimensional proximity sensors and stair sensors to avoid walls, obstacles, and tragic stair accidents, can tell the difference between hard floors and carpet, and has three cleaning modes including a spot clean mode for trouble areas. The Friendly Vac's achilles heel may be its size: Unlike the diminutive Roomba, it's 13 inches tall, which will prevent it from getting under some short-legged furniture. A Trendy Home sells the Friendly Vac for $1,600.

[Via Cribcandy]

Filed under: Gadgets

Friendly Vac robotic vacuum cleaner originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 20:04:54 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Love your home theater but just can't seem to produce enough popcorn for your guests? A1 Popcorn Machines sells a professional-grade popcorn popper with contemporary silver-and-black styling. It'll pop four ounces of popcorn at a time at about 96 ounces per hour and costs $374.

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets

Home theater popcorn popper originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 19:00:19 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Journeys

The Caribbean for connoisseurs originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:33:45 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Erik over at Gadling points us to this New York Times article about how hip new hotels are turning off some travelers, particularly those who are there for business. While Starwood Hotels' W chain (whose furniture you can buy online) has proven so successful with young urbanites that's it's launching another trendy brand called aloft, the Times spoke with a few travelers who were less than pleased with the booming dance music in the lobbies, the funky furniture in the room, and service which is often less than stellar.

How important is style to you when choosing a hotel room?

[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Journeys

Hip hotels push style over substance originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:02:34 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Out here in Iowa it's an unusual year when we don't see snow by early November, but it's a fact that the true ski season doesn't start until much later. But if you're eager to get out on the slopes, MSNBC has a guide to twelve resorts for early season snow. If you insist on natural snow, they say, your best bet is heading west, and their first destination is Alta and Snowbird in Utah, followed by spots in Wyoming, Colorado, British Columbia, and California. If you're okay with artificial snow, you'll have a bit more luck in the East, such as Killington in Vermont and Sunday River in Maine.

[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Journeys

Top 12 early skiing spots originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 17:30:07 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While I think they may have gone overboard with the name, the Pen of the World As You Know It is a nice writing implement for the world traveler. Designed by Jac Zagoory, the Pen of the World has an enamel inlay of the world wrapped around its shaft and comes with an Atlas statuette to rest on. If you already have a favorite pen for writing about your travels, you can buy a pewter Atlas pen holder on its own, or a matching pewter business card holder. Uncommon Goods sells the Pen of the World with holder for $50, the pewter pen holder for $75, and the business card holder for $85.

[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Writing Instruments

Pen of the World As You Know It originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:34:51 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon.com and Condé Nast Traveler have put together a slick Well-Traveled Wish List for the holidays. The list is a little novels-and-movies-heavy, in my opinion, but their travel book, gadget, and accessory picks are spot-on. They've got you covered for finding your way, keeping yourself occupied and in touch, and those just-in-case scenarios.

[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Journeys

Condé Nast Traveler's Well-Traveled Wish List originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 14:30:19 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though may not be for everybody, I can't get enough of the Moschino watch by Yoox. Its green plaid strap and stainless steel face which could almost be mistaken for a buckle are just the right combination of funky, whimsical, and charming, and it comes at an appealing price tag of around $157.

Filed under: Apparel

Yoox Moschino watch originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 13:30:32 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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design*sponge is reporting that Design Within Reach recently presented a challenge to Boulder architects to "create a doghouse with dimensions not exceeding 3 cubic feet, that was under $1000 and used at least some recycled or 'green' materials." Inspired by the book of the same name, the Barkitecture resulted in 11 entries which were auctioned off to benefit the Boulder Human Society. The five winning entries are on display this weekend at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Filed under: Decor

DWR's Barkitecture modernist dog house challenge originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 12:32:25 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Gadgets, Wings

SAS/Widerøe offers in-flight PSPs originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:30:10 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, with your Chiasso house numbers next to it, does your front door look a little bland? Mod it up with this door knocker by Cutler Anderson. Made of very solid-looking stainless steel and designed to be inset into a wooden door, this is one hefty knocker. Available from Amadon for $332 with oil-rubbed bronze and brass versions coming soon.

[Via design*sponge]

Filed under: Decor

Cutler Anderson door knocker originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Nov 2005 07:06:38 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's not very much innovation in the towel bar arena. Designers might add a curve here or an ornamental flourish there, but in the end it's just a bar that sits on your wall, mostly obscured by a towel. Dornbracht spares us from the monotony by doing something new: hanging it from the ceiling like a trapeze. In addition to spicing up your bathroom aesthetics a bit, the Float towel bar actually serves a function: since your towels don't hang against the wall, they also dry faster (and, I imagine, helps reduce mildew a bit, too). Mezzanine sells the Float towel bar for $95. Now if only it were heated.

[Via design*sponge]

Filed under: Decor

Float hanging towel bar originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:02:12 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While I don't know if you could beat the Briva In-Sink Dishwasher for style and space-saving, the Danby Countertop Dishwasher certainly has its perks, namely price and ease of installation. Similar in size (and appearance) to a microwave, it connects directly to your sink faucet, heats the water to 158°F and can wash up to four place settings at a time. Amazon.com sells the Danby Countertop Dishwasher for $150.

Filed under: Gadgets

Danby Countertop Dishwasher originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:15:01 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoArt has a knack for creating stunning furniture out of aircraft parts, and we are no stranger to their amazing work here at Luxist. I'm currently in love with their First Class Chair, a love seat crafted from an authentic first class airline seat. You can choose your First Class Chair "from a collection of your favorite commercial aircraft" in several colors and styles. Each First Class Chair goes for $1,500.

[Via Boing Boing]

Filed under: Decor, Wings

MotoArt First Class Chairs originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:07:30 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC News is reporting on the recent auction of an original poster for Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis. One of only four copies known to exist, the poster went to a U.S. art collector for $690,000. According to London's Reel Poster Gallery which sold the piece, the sale has set a new record for posters of any type, toppling a poster for the 1932 Boris Karloff classic The Mummy which sold for $452,000 in 1997. The Metropolis poster, which was created by art deco artist  Heinz Schulz-Neudamm, measures 7 x 3 feet and is said to be in pristine condition.

[Thanks, Lana!]

Original Metropolis poster fetches $690,000 at auction originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 20:06:17 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via Engadget]

Filed under: Gadgets, Services

Voce, the luxury $500-a-month wireless service originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:03:07 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese advertising company Brand Incubator sells perhaps the most unique iPod dock we've seen yet, one carved from solid stone. I don't have the geology chops to tell you what kind of rocks we're talking about here, but they come in two varieties: "Wabi," which weighs 3.75 lbs. and "Sabi," which tips the scales at 5.75 lbs. Both are USB 2.0 docks with audio connectors, but "Sabi" also has an S-Video connector. According to Boing Boing only two have been made so far and, at their $2,500 price tag, neither have been sold.

Filed under: Gadgets

Carved stone iPod cradles originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 18:06:47 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our pal Thomas over at Engadget found little to be excited about at the parade of iPod-attachable speakers with wimpy single-digit wattages, so he was, like me, refreshed to see the new Geneva Sound System, a pair of serious stereos with built-in iPod docks and some outstanding design. There are two models, L and XL, which drive 100 and 600 watts respectively, and come in white, black, and red. They're not available yet, but should cost $600 for the L and $1,075 for the XL.

Filed under: Gadgets

Geneva 600-watt iPod Sound System originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:30:05 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Be on the lookout for the artworks below," says the FBI's Art Crimes Team, which has just published a list of the Top 10 Art Crimes. I'm not sure where one is likely to spot these stolen works of art unless one is, in fact, in the business of buying stole works of art, but I suppose it can't hurt to keep an eye out anyway. Topping the list is the 7,000-10,000 items looted in Iraq in 2003. Also present are Munch's The Scream and The Madonna, famously stolen at the Munch Museum in Oslo last summer, two Renoirs, a Rembrandt, two Van Goghs valued at $30 million, and a Caravaggio valued at $20 million stolen in 1969.

[Thanks, Lana!]

The FBI's Top 10 Art Crimes originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:36:49 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marc over at Engadget points us to the latest claimant of the Most Powerful Laptop title, the Orca 9098 from CompAmerica. The Orca boasts some impressive specs, including a P4 processor up to 3.8 Ghz, dual hard drives, a choice of three different high-end graphics adapters, and a 17-inch display. It even has four speakers and a subwoofer built in. Marc points out that similar specs can be found on boutique laptops, but the Orca 9098's $2,150 price tag is competitive.

Filed under: Gadgets

CompAmerica Orca 9098: "The Most Powerful Laptop on Earth" originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 14:32:17 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wouldn't it be great if when someone called you while you're driving, their number would show up on the rear-view mirror? Well, what a coincidence-that's what Seecode's Bluetooth hands-free mirror kit does. This gadget replaces your existing rear-view mirror and provides complete hands-free functionality, plus a heads-up Caller ID display. As far as I can tell it only shows phone numbers, rather than names of callers you have in your phone book, but this still looks like a great, useful gadget. Price and availability are currently ambiguous.

[Via Engadget]

Filed under: Gadgets, Wheels

Bluetooth hands-free caller ID mirror originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 13:31:28 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony, which is in the midst of a bit of a PR problem right now, is auctioning off a series of VAIO FJ notebooks customized by celebrities. Five laptops, painted by the likes of Jessica Alba, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo, will be touring Sony Style stores until January 9, at which time they'll be up for bidding on eBay. Sony will match the proceeds, which will go to American's Second Harvest.

[Via Engadget]

Filed under: Gadgets

Celebrities pimp Sony VIAO notebooks originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 16 Nov 2005 12:31:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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El Ultimo Grito isn't a lamp, it's a modern lamp shade. The aluminum shade has a single slit along its side designed to slip over an ordinary $5 Home Depot hanging bulb. It has a powder-coated interior available in red, blue, or uncolored, and it looks like installation takes all of two seconds. $121 over at Plushpod. Grito, by the way, is Spanish for "shout."

[Via Cribcandy]

Filed under: Decor

El Ultimo Grito designer lamp shade originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 20:06:03 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I, for one, am a firm proponent of furniture resembling processed meats, and to that end I present the Bulldang seat, a "modular armchair-sofa" that bears more than a passing resemblance to links of sausage. Not enough to make one queasy (or hungry), but enough to get a kick out of as you uncoil and recoil it to form a sofa or an armchair. The brainchild of Hirohiko Kamiya, multiple 30-foot Bulldang seats can be attached to on another, making the possibilities for filling large spaces with meat-furniture endless. Plushpod sells the Bulldang seat for $2,380.

[Via Cribcandy]

Filed under: Decor

Bulldang modular armchair-sofa originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 19:03:35 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I recall reading somewhere that bathing in pineapple or grapefruit juice could improve the health of your hair, but Sonaki's Vitamin C mist shower seems like a much more reasonable proposition. The shower head has an attached Vitamin C filter which Sonaki claims will filter chlorine out of your water, reduces skin irritation and rashes, and "eases use beauty [sic] such as shampoo and conditioners" for "soft, lighter, brilliant hair." Sonaki's Vitamin C mist shower starts at $100 and includes two Vitamin C filter cartridges which last 3-6 months each. This is the second Vitamin C filter we have seen recently, does this qualify as a bona fide trend?

Filed under: Gadgets

Sonaki Vitamin C mist shower originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:02:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC News is reporting that a Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner which flew from Hong Kong to London yesterday has set a new record for longest non-stop passenger airline flight. The flight, which lasted 23 hours and spanned 12,500 miles, beat out Boeing's own previous record, set by a 747-400 on a London-Sydney flight in 1989. Boeing hopes to encourage airlines to offer more non-stop flights to save fuel and reduce layovers, and also, I'm sure, to woo them away from the new long-haul Airbus A380.

Filed under: Wings

Boeing breaks long-haul flight record originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 17:30:23 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elite

[Via Luxury Housing Trends]

Filed under: Decor

Elite custom home theater seating originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 16:30:05 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USA Today is running an article on the latest holiday trend, one that I had absolutely no idea about: upside-down Christmas trees. Apparently they're popular for their smaller footprint and their higher under-tree gift capacity, and stores like Target and Hammacher Schlemmer are making a killing on the inverted artificial trees, which sell for between $300 and $600. The article goes on to quote a Christmas tree expert who says that it's in fact "a pagan thing," and that "if they thought about it, they wouldn't turn it upside down." Pagan or not, it is pretty weird, but I can see how it might be a practical for smaller spaces.

[Thanks, Lana!]

Filed under: Decor

Upside-down Christmas trees originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 15:34:28 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It doesn't get more down-home than corn on the cob, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer through without attractively-designed utensils. German designer Carl Mertens created these stainless steel corn on the cob holders so you'll never again have to suffer through a delicious cob of corn with mundane old yellow plastic holders. $29 for a set of four at Unica.

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets

Carl Mertens designer corn on the cob holders originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 07:12:43 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shovel? Ice chipper? Salt?! What are you, living in the stone age? If you're not removing your snow wth actual fire, why bother? The Bare Blaster is a propane torch designed specifically to blast through the ice on your sidewalk and driveway. It has a 31-inch reach and also works for weed control. $40 at AutoSport, propane not included.

[Via productdose.com]

Filed under: Gadgets

Pyromaniac-approved snow and ice removal originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:08:34 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I can think of no reason to choose the US Modular Monstor USB drive over any other USB drive except that its chrome case looks strikingly like a Zippo lighter which, combined with its singlar ice-blue LED, makes it look lke the sort of USB storage a secret agent would choose. No word on prices yet, but the Monstor drive comes in 2, 4, and 6GB capacities and has a USB 2.0 interface.

[Via Street Tech]

Filed under: Gadgets

US Modular Monstor "Zippo" USB drive originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:35:28 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ooh, pretty. Vivre sells these very distinctive Orian "mushroom" cufflinks hand-blown from Murano glass. Sure, they don't light up, but they're definitely eye-catching. They're available in blue, emerald, red, and white and cost $65 per pair.

[Via productdose.com]

Filed under: Apparel

Hand-blown Murano glass cufflinks originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:06:06 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One day every single tool you'll ever need will be stored in a tiny pocket-sized multi-tool, but for the time being you'll have to carry around three or four to keep yourself covered in every situation. For office crises there's the Troika Multi-Office Tool, which has ten functions: stapler, hole punch, carton-opener, flathead and phillips screwdrivers, nail file, tape measure, pencil sharpener, and LED light. The Troika 10-in-One tool is a steal at $25.

[Via productdose.com]

Filed under: Gadgets

Troika Multi-Office Tool originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:00:29 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stacking chairs are a must-have if you frequently find yourself hosting any kind of event, but the usual sort tend to range from drab to hideous. Hive sells Konstantin Grcic's stunning update to the classic stacker, called Chair One. Chair One's geodesic design looks like it was plucked from either in a cockpit simulator or Dr. Evil's lair. Available in red, white, or anthracite (pictured), Chair One costs $294 each, which means you can expect to drop a few grand if you want to get a decent stack going.

Filed under: Decor

Stacking chairs for supervillain garden parties originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:09:18 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes you don't even know you've got a problem until someone shows you the solution. Brabantia makes a line of trash cans whose "exclusive" brushed stainless steel exteriors it advertises as "smudge-proof." They also have a handy foot-pedal to flip the top and a removable plastic inner bin for easy cleaning. They come with a 10-year guarantee, and it's not every day you see a product guaranteed against smudges for 10 years. Available from Gracious Home in four sizes, starting at $50 for the 5-liter bin and going up to $120 for the 30-liter version.

[Via Cribcandy]

Filed under: Decor

Brabantia "smudge-proof" trash bins originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:34:35 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Northern Lights

[Via Cribcandy]

Filed under: Decor

Northern Lights cedar barrel saunas originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:31:21 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Personally when it comes to chocolate I'm a lot more interested in the "eat" than the "show," but not so for the heroes of the New York Chocolate Show which is going on right now at NYC's Metropolitan Pavilion. The event was kicked off last night with a chocolate fashion show which paired fashion designers with chocolatiers and pastry chefs. Though you missed the models, the dresses will be on display at the Chocolate Show until Sunday, and the Chocolate Show web site has pictures from the runway.

[Via Gridskipper]

New York Chocolate Show originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 15:32:45 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following the success of their NYC Day a couple weeks back, our sister travel blog Gadling is doing another one of their fantastic CityScapes features, this time blogging all day today about beautiful Prague. So far the day is shaping up nicely; don't miss How to Buy a Beer in Prague.

Filed under: Journeys

Gadling CityScapes: Prague originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 13:30:01 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though intellectually I know that the one-screw installation of the average wall-wart smoke detector isn't exactly arduous, my interest can't help but be piqued by Snapalarm, a novel twist on the smoke detector from Danish design group Dyberg-Larsen. The compact egg-shaped alarm snaps onto the cord of any hanging light fixture without any tools. Available (as far as I can tell) only in white, Snapalarm costs about $28 and they do ship to the U.S.

[Via design*sponge]

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

Dyberg-Larsen Snapalarm originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Nov 2005 12:32:40 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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