Bocci 22 Wall Outlets

Let's face it. The traditional, rectangular wall outlet is pretty boring / ugly by today's standards. Thanks to Vancouver-based Bocci, you can outfit your home with their minimalist 22 series flush-mounted wall outlets.

Here's how they work:

First you buy any of their mounting plates which come in single, double side-by-side, and double random (shown here) versions. Then, you choose from any of their components including power, phone, cable, data, and LCD display.

Next, attach the component to the mounting plate to and connect the component to the appropriate box in the wall.

Finally, fasten the wired mounting plate and it's ready to be plastered over for a completely flush mounting.

To access the wiring after plastering, they made a simple tool that allows you to pull the component out from the mounting plate.

For more details on how the installation looks, check out this post over at Grassroots Modern.

Prices for the outlets will vary but I've heard people picking these up for as little as $10 each. For more information on purchasing these outlets, check with your local Bocci dealer here.

BeoTime Alarm Clock

BeoTime is the latest home innovation from Denmark-based Bang and Olufsen.

What is it exactly?

It's a tube shaped alarm clock and remote control (for BeoSound and BeoVision products) designed to help make waking up in the morning a better experieince.

The 15" tube has a square navigation panel in the middle, 3 backlit display panels to show the time, an alarm button at the end, and a built in motion sensor to keep the screens oriented correctly.

BeoTime was designed by Steffen Schmelling. Here's some excerpts from an interview with Steffen:

I decided that I did not want BeoTime to look like a conventional alarm clock. I wanted to inspire and surprise, create an experience. I was looking for metaphors and ways of communicating the experience of waking up in the morning of being in control, but in a pleasant casual way. I thought about words like fantasy, transition, dream, mystery – and came to think of the fantastic opera by Mozart - The Magic Flute – and from then on it all came together in my head.

The visual identity is simple and easily communicating the experience. The physical form is a combination of a baton that controls and a musical instrument that gently whispers wake up.

I wanted BeoTime to be detached from technology – as it works with three ordinary batteries, it is easily accessible, you can place it casually on the side table, loose it between the pillows or fix it to the wall - whatever suits you best. It’s simple and unpretentious; it solves its task without any fuss. And still it is a beauty.

Expect these in stores this month for $375.

Saving energy with the Belkin Conserve Power Strip

When travelling in Europe, most of the hotels I stayed in had a large rocker switch by the door. When you leave, you turn off the electricity for your room (saving energy / money). I love this idea but installing a similar system in my apartment would be way too expensive.

Until now.

Recently, Belkin released their Convserve Surge Protector that allows you to turn power strips on and off from a single wireless switch. Note the plural power strips - you can have several strips controlled by one switch mounted by your front door.

The surge protector itself has 8 outlets (6 controlled by the switch and 2 always on) and the spacing between outlets allows you to easily connect larger power adapters.

In July 2009, the Conserve was recognized in I.D. Magazine's Annual Design Review in the consumer product category. The Annual Design review has been around since 1954 and recognizes the best in product, furniture, graphic, and environment design.

Jesse Ashlock, Editor-in-Chief at I.D. Magazine had this to say:

"Belkin's Conserve Surge Protector provides an intuitive, user-friendly means of reducing environmental impact, extending the company's enviable track record of designing simple solutions to improve the quality of our everyday lives."

Still not sold? Maybe the price will convince you. The Conserve is available for $35 at Amazon and that includes one power strip and wireless remote.

Taxi posters from Antrepo

I just came across these great Citycab posters from Antrepo. In each poster, there's an overhead shot of a taxi from New York (shown left), Mexico City, Istanbul, and London. The posters are limited to 100 copies and are numbered and hand signed. At 18.9"x26.8" each, they would make a great addition to your wall.

Here's a bit about Antrepo:

A dose of minimalism and efforts for changing the perception is maybe the simplest definition for Antrepo Design Product.

Antrepo is a multi-disciplinary design consultancy and creative communications agency, that is adept brand identity and development, art direction, printed matter and interactive design. Also It produces a fresh design object for better tomorrow like posters, industrial object, fonts etc.

At the base of Antrepo are New formulas created by the Antrepo Team.

They are available for $30 each or you can pick up the entire set of 4 for $80.