I'm attracted by shiny objects

I've been syncing to a mid-century vibe for the last couple of days and I came across some neat hardware on the site, Satellite.

Satellite is a division of the lighting and hardware purveyor Rejuvenation, and Satellite is where they put their campier offerings that don't quite jibe with the more serious note Rejuvenation's usually aiming to strike.

When you see the whole collection and the layout of the Satellite website, it does strike a more whimsical chord and there are times when that's a welcome thing indeed. Who am I kidding? I love this stuff. I think my favorite thing about doing what I do for a living is that I get to wallow in whatever styles strike me at any given time and I never have to make a decision or live with the results.

I think this is the coolest door knob I've ever seen. 

And if that weren't enough, this door knob coordinates with these Art Deco knobs and pulls.

This cabinet knob reminds me of Sputnik.

And this my friends, is the mailbox I've been waiting for my whole life.

That's just the hardware, get a load of their lighting. Chrome is back kids. Believe it!

Check this out

I've been teaching myself how to use the new SketchUp 7 Pro for about the last week and I'm really blown away by it. Really. Download this thing today! Go to the SketchUp website and try it for yourself.

Hand blown glass sinks. Wow!

Glenn Randle is a glassblower and his North Carolina-based studio, Fire Dancers Glass, makes some of the most beautiful vessel sinks I've ever seen. Glass vessel sinks are not difficult to come by, but I can tell you that I've never seen colors this saturated and rich in a vessel sink before.

His sinks are functional art glass, there's no better description.

His "standard" size is between 15 and 16" diameter and between 5" and 7" deep. The sinks are drilled for a standard 1-3/4" drain and their bases are machined to a 4" diameter to allow for a stable installation. He offers a lifetime warranty on his sinks and he'll also make custom sizes and colors, all you have to do is ask him.

Fire Dancers Glass, the website, is also his catalog and you can see his current collection there.

Glenn also makes what he calls Ribbon Vases, speaking of art glass. The depth and organic feel he achieves with these vases is remarkable.

Here's close up of the side of a Ribbon Vase. Gorgeous stuff Glenn, just gorgeous.

Jonathan Adler has new stuff...

And the emperor has no clothes. Awful, just awful.

Viking toaster recall

This is a $300(!) Viking Toaster.

This is a $40 toaster from Hamilton Beach.

This is the recall notice for the $300(!) Viking toaster.

Why oh why would someone buy a $300(!) Viking toaster in the first place? They are made similar Chinese factories as the $40 workhorse from Hamilton Beach, only the Hamilton Beach toasters aren't being recalled. If you have one of these Viking toasters hang you head in shame because you've been had. You've been had and now you have a $300(!) electrocution hazard sitting on your counter.