Lowdown Scandinavian cool
If you're in the market for a modular sofa, check out Osaka-based Teruhiro Yanagihara's Grow (above). The designer, who also works under the name Isolation Unit, has created the attractive couch for interior brand OFFECCT, a Swedish company that's known for its collaborations with international designers. Introduced at the Stockholm Furniture Fair earlier this month, the expansive blue sofa would fill out a room nicely without overwhelming the space thanks to its low profile. Grow is available in two models with an option to have built-in tables on the armrests.
Once upon a time, if you wanted music in the shower, there were cheap, waterproof radios you could hang in the bathroom. Those days are over, courtesy of a number of new mp3-players, including the Juke Tower from Noritz Electronics Technology. Winner of the Good Design Award from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization, the waterproof Juke Tower not only looks good, it's a safe and easy way to access your growing collection of digital music while in the shower or relaxing in the tub. Plug a USB memory-stick in the bottom and a control panel on top lets you play your tunes. The Juke Tower is battery-powered, so there are no loose wires to worry about. The transparent casing (available in white, black, pink and red) reveals an LED clock. The Juke Tower retails for ¥13,500 with a 1-GB USB stick and ¥10,500 without one.