float

The Hasegawa Wallmount is a gorgeous shelving installation that could very well qualify as art, were it not for its sheer utility. It can display everything from a library of books to fresh flowers. The wallmount is part of Iola Design's "floating line," as the wall mounting hardware is concealed from view. The unit measures 73"H x 83"W x 10"D. The unit is made of laminated bamboo and is available in three finishes, natural, toasted brown and walnut. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to modify the natural if you really wanted to go with black or white. Price: $1,625.

With gray smoked glass on the top and clear glass at the base of the legs, the Smoke Table lives up to its name because it does appear to float in mid-air. It is a low coffee table, only 15.75-in. off the ground, but that doesn't take away from the dramatic effect that it has on a room. This piece would look best in a fairly modern room, perhaps one without too much extraneous furniture, to maximise its visual impact. Price: $1,794.

The $1.5 million floating bed is probably not in the cards for most homeowners, but if you have your sights set on a bed that isn't floor-bound, the Fluttua could be a much better option. The bed is almost suspended between a wall mounting and a single support in the center of the piece, which is visible from low, but certainly isn't from standing height and could be concealed completely with a long comforter. No price was available, but it's bound to be less than $1.5M.

[via SciFi Tech]

Considerably safer than any real one you might find floating in a fog bank in the North Atlantic, BloggingBaby cited this Inflatable Iceberg as one of the best pool toys you can have. The iceberg measures 20' x 14' x 14' and is made of commercial grade PVC, with commercial grade valves that allow for relatively quick deflation and long-lasting inflation, though an electric pump is recommended. Once side has a 14' climbing wall, while the other offers a smooth slide down to the water. There are only two drawbacks. First, the iceberg takes up the majority of most non-olympic pools and prevents the pool cover from fitting properly. Second, the bikini girls are not included. Price: $6,000.

These floating pool lanterns from Horchow will look equally good on a warm summer night and a cool winter one as they cast ethereal reflections across any water's surface. They have the shape of a "traditional" lamp and a refined look, but each one is a single piece, measuring 9" across rising 9.5" above the water, though the lamps are actually 21.5" long, overall. The lamps get their glow from a rechargeable light bulb, which will glow for up to 8 hours at a time, and can move about freely, unconstrained by wires or another power system. Chargers for the light bulbs are sold separately. Price: $399 each.

The Float Table is an unusual table offered from Bernhardt Design. It is constructed from two angled pieces of quarter-cut anigre veneer. The pieces are supported and separated by two brushed stainless steel brackets, giving the impression that the two pieces of wood are drifting apart, only just held together. Different colors of finish are available, to match the wood to your decor, but the rectangular tables all measure 48" x 25" x 16.25." Price: $3,296.

I recently became aware of the Float Glassware collection when several new pieces drew my attention. The collection was designed by Todd Macallen and Stephanie Forsythe for Molo Design. Each piece is handmade of pyrex-type glass, making it resistant to both very hot and cold liquids. The glasses have an outerwall that suspends an inner cup, making any liquid appear to be floating in air. The above 28-oz. "animal soup" bowl ($119) features a small chicken that is raised above bottom of the bowl and appears to float above soups or snacks that are served in it.

More pieces from the collection are after the jump.

We've seen a few interesting beds lately, but the basic design of a bed doesn't vary too much from one to another; a frame and a mattress are standard. If you really want to have something different, maybe the magnetic bed designed by Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars is for you. The one-of-a-kind bed floats above the ground, anchored with a few tethers, can support up to 900kg and costs $1.5 million. The only catch is that it doesn't look that comfortable, but hard, flat things are good for the back, right?