Yanko Design » General Gifts

Biker Bags

Radhika Seth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:31:06 +0000

Carrying a purse or bag while riding a bicycle has been restrictive thus far. What I mean is that either you end up carrying a backpack or have those geeky baskets in front of the handlebars. Revolutionizing the way we carry our stuff is this absolutely fashionable set, simply called the Handlebar Bag & Bike Rack Bag. What I love is the way it hooks onto the bike, and then simply comes off as an elegant bag; loops, extra straps, and attachment clips detach and can be hidden.

Designer: Po Campo [ Buy Handlebar Bag & Bike Rack Bag ]

The Bike Rack Bag is available for $160 at the Yanko Design Store

The Handlebar Bag is available for $92 at the Yanko Design Store

Book Of Lights

Radhika Seth — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:29 +0000

First glance you can pass this off as a book of matches, but that isn’t what the “Five Minutes” is all about. A book of 10 small candles that comes handy in many everyday situations! Why, I can think of 3 situations right this instant: 1) When you bring in the cake but forget the candles. 2) Emergency lights-out. 3) In my travel bag, right next to pocket matches and paper-strip soaps! How many tricky situations can you come up with?

Designer: Poketo [ Buy it Here - $6 for 4 packs at the Yanko Design Store ]

The 5 Minute Candles (4-Pack) is available for $6 at the YD Store.

Awesome Cuteness In A Cup

Radhika Seth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:58:12 +0000

On the lookout for something super cute, delicate yet functional to add to your walls? I’ve found you the right stuff! Hookmaker Teacups add grace where it is lacking; it holds your knickknacks and trinkets, and has a hook for you to hang your keys. I’d like to hang a bunch of these together, just for their dramatic effect.

Designer: Kegan Fisher [ Buy it Here - $30 on the Yanko Design Store ]

The Hookmaker is available for $30 on the YD Store.

Just What I Need For My iPhone

Radhika Seth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:24:31 +0000

For some odd reason, Apple has decided to keep the charging cord for the iPhone pretty short. When you compare it to the Nokia or Motorola chargers, the wire is a teeny-tiny tad! Not that long wires are a help, but either ways, you never are going to be happy with wire lengths! The solution lies in cool accessories like this MI-O Cell Phone Cradle. Keep the phone close enough to the socket and wrap the charger wire, neatly around the expandable wings! Happy Happy Wires!

How does it work?

Position device between electrical outlet and handset charger.
Insert charger cable into small opening on either side of platform to securely hold handset in place.
Coil charger cable around expandable wings on device base.

Designer: Cagnina Design [ Buy it Here - $4 on the Yanko Design Store ]

The MI-O Cell Phone Cradle is available for $4 at the YD Store.

Tea Time, Modenn FLO Review

Long Tran — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:43:20 +0000

Love me a cup of homemade tea, don’t you? I haven’t heard much about this Canadian brand Modenn but one of my favorite design studios (OHM) designed it and were kind enough to send me one for review. Hands down it trumps any generic tea set and it was a good excuse to put aside my Sorapot (which isn’t a tea set) and steep the traditional way. Hit the jump and come join me. I gots me a story to tell.

Mmm nice hot freshly made tea. Nothing better than that, well maybe except for freshly made hot chocolate but that’s besides the point. The Modenn FLO Tea Set consists of a pot, creamer, and sugar pot. It’s strikingly modern. Every curve looks as if the smoothest hands guided each arch into place. Everything is beautifully bezeled, from the lid to the handle. I believe the set is made from white ceramic porcelain because even the blackest of teas didn’t stain it – a problem I’ve had with other white tea sets.

Okay but my LOVE LOVE LOVE feature is the spout. Why? I wish I captured this on video but it’s elegantly formed to give you one continuous stream of liquid, sort of in a high arch. Basically the set not only looks good but makes you look good. I totally looked so PRO moving the stream from cup to cup and without spillage. As soon as you set the pot down, the stream stops. No dribbling or running down the neck.

Mmm this tea still tastes good. Epiphany! I could use this for hot chocolate too! Stay turned kids as I try and figure out where you can purchase one. This would be a fantastic holiday gift. HINT HINT.

What we loved:

Beautiful organic minimalist design
High quality white porcelain doesn’t stain or crack
Nicely weighted when pouring
Price point is on the money ($80)

What could be improved:

Include a spoon
Include a couple tea cups

Designer: OHM (Buy it here)

Are You Levitating Your Globe

Radhika Seth — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:57:08 +0000

Still not mastered that art? Something wrong with your magnetic field I suppose! But rest assured this Levitating Globe won’t let you down by losing its magnetism and rolling off. Simply because the built-in computer chip at the base of the unit, constantly keeps adjusting to atmospheric changes, ensuring that the globe remains suspended. Quite neat! It comes with a US 120V power supply and spins real neat even when levitating!

Designer: Cram [ Buy It Here ]

Elaborate Kitchens Really Need to Be Smart Dressed

Radhika Seth — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:15:54 +0000

Must it always have to be about kitchens with lack of space? Can’t we for once focus on showing off smart products on counter-tops or wall mounted goodies! I vote for a change in perspective and say that stuff like the SmartSpace Dry Food Dispenser be on the forefront. It’s good to hold pastas, breakfast cereals, pulses etc, plus you can let your creativity get the better of you and fill it up in a very decorative way with color-coordinated dry snacks and beans.

The wall mounted version or the counter top dispenser ooze with style and detailing. For instance the dispensing knob looks cute and works like a tap, dispensing 1 ounce of food with each turn. The measuring cup at the bottom also measures out contents with accuracy.

Designer: Zevro [ Buy Wall Mounted or Counter Top ]

Wall Mount

Counter Top

Gorgeous Helen

Radhika Seth — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:06:59 +0000

Helen is Gorgeous and who am I to dispute that! Whoever said women are jealous of each other and can never praise each other’s beauty…..ermmm was right! The only reason why I praise Gorgeous Helen is coz she’s not an actual person, but a set of lampshades for your wine glasses. Wicked me! Anyway, this creative piece of parchment shade comes in 3 different styles: illuminating imprints of pleats, pearls and fringes. Light up some candles in the glasses and team them with these shades to make an impression!

Designers: Anke Rabba & Katrin Kuchenbecker for Dekoop [ Buy it Here ]

Mighty Wine Tree

Radhika Seth — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:12 +0000

Inspired by the mighty Sequoia, the Wine Tree by Kendall LeCompte is for the true wine connoisseur. Experts differ in opinion on how one should store wine but you can’t go wrong with this. Just look how elegant and compact it is. The smaller version holds 10 bottles and the bigger one takes 17. Not a wino? There’s a mini version too that holds 7 bottles.

Designer: Kendall LeCompte [ Buy It Here ]

A New Look At The Carafe

Radhika Seth — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:02:05 +0000

Venice is host to some of the most spectacular glass factories in the world. A place where exquisite mouth-blown pieces are created every single day. I found new respect for this industry when I visited one such factory and saw how they artistically breathe life and form into a blob of molten glass. Featured here is the Barbara Carafe Vase, a beautiful mouth-blown piece with modern sensibilities. A colored crystal ball doubles as a seal and a tactile magic ball to the carafe.

The crystal ball deliberately features a cut (grind-ed) surface, which stops it from rolling-off. If you choose to use this piece as a vase, then place the crystal ball under the carafe in its little cubby – just a nice splash of color.

Designer: Nina Jobs [ Buy It Here ]