Author: modculture

Categories / Design and Interiors

Original BTC’s Verner Panton-inspired Doma lighting range

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Doma

If the designs above look a little familiar, chances are that you're thinking about the Verner Panton Flowerpot light fittings, a classic of both ceiling and table lighting from 1969. But this is actually a different design – the Doma lighting range by Original BTC.

Designed by Peter Bowles of Original BTC, it certainly hints at the Flowerpot, but puts its own 1930s-style spin on things with a ceramic shade, chrome stand (for both table and floor version) and a enamel-style base or ceiling rose as a period finishing touch.

John Lewis is the best place to look for Original BTC on the high street, or check out the Original BTC site for more details. Prices range from £147 to £211.

Find out more at the Original BTC website

Categories / Art and Photography, Bags

Acme Made Bowler retro-style camera bag now available in the UK

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Bowler

Some months back, we featured the Acme Made Bowler, which was available in the US, but frustratingly not available in Europe as far as we could tell. Well, here's some good news for fans of the bag – it's now available in the UK, courtesy of Jessops.

If you missed it first time round, the Bowler (as the name suggests) is a vintage bowling-style bag, but one that's designed specifically to hold and protect your photography kit – digital SLRs in particular. Not only does it house your pro-style cam, it also has small pockets for all your extras, like storage cards for example.

But best of all, it just looks great – and doesn't necessarily have to be used for photography gear. Available now from Jessops, it sells for £32.

Find out more at the Jessops website

Categories / Travel

Retro retreat: 1960s-inspired Hotel Sax vintage design hotel in Prague

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Prague_hotel1

It might look like a fairly classic (and unassuming) update of a 14th century building from the outside, but once inside, you can lose yourself in the space age world of the 1960s-inspired Hotel Sax vintage design hotel in Prague.

Not just the lobby, every room in the hotel has an original appearance that uses predominantly 60s design, with a bit of 50s and 70s also thrown in for good measure. Or if you really want to go upmarket, check into the design suite, which offers both a bedroom and living room overlooking the old town, plenty of space for up to four people and of course, as much vintage design as your eyes can take in.

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Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Ghetto Blaster key chain and iPod speaker

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Ghetto1

It might look like an unassuming little novelty, but the Ghetto Blaster key chain is actually a useful but of portable audio.

Yes, most of the time, this particular 80s-style 'briefcase' just looks like an interesting chunky key chain, but wire it up to an iPod (and presumably other MP3 players) via the headphone socket and it can 'blast' out your tunes in its own distinctive way.

See over the page for an image of it connected to an iPod. If you want one, it;s new in at Urban Outfitters, priced at £16.

Find out more at the Urban Outfitters website

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Categories / Design and Interiors

Laura Ashley 1930s-style Brandon fabric armchair

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Brandon

We featured the leather version of this some time back, but as the fabric-covered Laura Ashley Brandon armchair has both a very different look and a more appealing price, we thought it was worth flagging up.

Like the leather version, this is pure 1930s style, complete with some period-style cloth upholstery to go with those 30s curves and high armrests, along with some wooden feet supports.

Take your pick from four fabrics, with all variations now in the sale – selling for £400.90, down from a previous price of over £630, which makes it something of a deal.

Find out more at the Laura Ashley website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Pac-Man 30th anniversary Zippo lighters by Banpresto

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Pacman_zippo

To celebrate 30 years of one of the most famous arcade games ever created, Zippo has created a range of Pac-Man lighters in conjunction with Banpresto.

The designs are all a variation on the Pac-Man theme (like the one above), with the characters attached to a classic Zippo lighter that works pretty much like every other windproof Zippo in the world.

But before you run out to your local tobacconist, there are a couple of problems. Firstly, the lighters aren't available until November and secondly, it looks like they might be Japan only. Which probably means hunting around import and auction sites to get one. Hopefully that will not be the case – we'll keep you posted.

Zippo website

Via Akihabara News