Categories / Design and Interiors

Eero Aarnio space age Mushroom stool

Mushroom
A piece of art or a useful piece of household design? The Mushroom Stool by Eero Aarnio is probably both.

Amazingly, this stool dates back to 1962, a good 10 years before this kind of pace age look became fashionable. Two sizes available (small and large), both in white, black, red, wine red, light blue, blue, yellow, green, orange, disco silver and disco black. And with the stools being plastic, you can use them indoors or out.

Not cheap though, £517 for the small size and £591 for the large.

Find out more at the Skandium website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Guzzini reissues 1970s Massoni Lounge Trolley

Massoni
Looking for an affordable classic for the living room? Look no further than the Massoni Lounge Trolley.

Designed for Guzzini in the 1970s by Luigi Massoni, this self-build unit still looks sharp today and remains useful as a drinks trolley or occasional table once you’ve slotted it together (a job that should take seconds rather than hours). And it even comes in its own gift box.

Available in red only, the trolley is available for £117.95.

Find out more at the Forma House website

Categories / Homeware

Keep Calm And Carry On porcelain mug

Keep_calm
The Keep Calm And Carry On print (which we broke first in June 2006) continues to be big news, with a stream of related images and merchandise following its success. And in 2008, it’s showing no sign of slowing down, with the Keep Calm And Carry On Mug now hitting the shelves.

It’s faithful to the original poster, with a red print on a white porcelain mug and a message that’s sure to offer some reassurance when it all goes wrong at work.

Available online, it retails for £7.95.

Find out more at the Ochigo website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Red Hot Phones launches the Batphone

Batphone

Superhero in our spare time? Or just needed in an emergency? Whatever the reason, you can now get a Batphone for your house.

OK, it’s not a real Batphone, but it is ‘inspired by’ the one in the 60s TV show. Which means you get a flashing light instead of a ring (although you can opt for one as well) and you are not able to ring out – the keypad/dial being replaced by that light.

It’s available in the US, priced at $112 (around £55).

Find out more at the Red Hot Phones website

Categories / Books

London’s Dead by Ed Glinert

Londons_dead_2
Looking for some morbid bedside reading? Look no further than London’s Dead by Ed Glinert, described as ‘a guided tour of the capital’s dead’.

Featured within the vintage-style sleeve are some of the most notorious and intriguing fatalities committed in the city’s ancient streets – from the famous and infamous to unsung heroes and tragic victims, from well-known resting places to undignified graves and a fascinating variety of sticky ends besides. From accidental, hoax and pre-planned deaths through to death while dancing and laughing, not to mention death by hanging, knifing, drinking, drowning, disease, explosion, poisoning and strangulation. The easily shocked need not apply.

There’s also a look at London’s Victorian graveyards, cemeteries and churchyards, alongside less official burial sites – like unmarked holes in the ground and concrete flyovers. If that’s entertainment for you, the book is out in hardback in March, priced officially at £12.99 (though Amazon are doing pre-orders for much less).

Find out more about the book at Amazon.co.uk

Categories / Film and TV

Star Wars Mighty Muggs

Muggs

Is there any end to the long line of Star Wars-related merchandise? Obviously not – and here’s the latest batch – the Star Wars Mighty Muggs.

These cutesy designs are not ‘mugs’, but ‘Muggs’. Or in other words, these are not cups, buy vinyl toys, showing the Stars Wars characters in a new cartoon-like style and complete with appropriate weapons (were applicable).

Take your pick from Boba Fett, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Darth Maul, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, all six inches tall and all strictly limited edition (although how many, we’re not sure). The Muggs are £9.95 each.

Find out more at the Firebox website