Steam Punk Espresso Maker

Looking for the ultimate espresso maker?

Speedster-Espresso-MakerHere’s a behemoth called the Speedster by Kees van der Westen. The chrome-plated beauty is a gearhead’s dream– complicated, aerodynamic, an homage to the complexity of modern life. Um… well, maybe. It’s essentially the antithesis of the simple Presso coffee maker we featured back in October.

This steam punk machine will set you back just under $8,000. But it includes a free T-shirt.

Maybe you’d prefer a more modest espresso maker?

Forecast: Wine Showers

Cheap Plonk Never Tasted So Good.

On Glass Aerator

Wine snobs insist that wine must breathe to achieve a proper taste. To this end a vast array of contraptions and protocols have been devised to aerate your favorite vino. These rituals are usually bulky, messy and/or seem to take all weekend. Most of us just don’t have time for all that fuss. Besides- how much better can it really taste?

Then we were introduced to the Wine Shower.

Continue reading “Forecast: Wine Showers”

The Dollhouse Goes High Tech

Roominate is a building toy for girls dreamed up by Stanford engineering students, Alice Brooks, Bettina Chen and Jennifer Kessler. After a successful launch via Kickstarter the techie doll houses are now available and selling like hot cakes!

The playsets are intended to teach girls about math and science. More circuit board than ironing board. So along with the usual furnishings each room includes wiring and a generator to run the lights. Clever!

Learn more or purchase at Roominatetoy.com

Indiana Treehouse

The Indianapolis Museum of Art wanted something a little different for the concession stand in their nature park. The Swedish firm of Visiondivision complied.

Incorporating a 100-foot tall yellow poplar as a horizontal beam they designed a building that functions as shelter, playground, light fixture and monument. The design is called “chop stick” and it has become a huge attraction for the museum.

More at  Designboom