Drastic desk changes
Hopefully you're still keeping your New Year's resolutions, and if one of them was to pay more attention to the little things in life, such as your desk space, then the latest from Japanese stationery brand Craft Design Technology can help fulfill those good intentions. Released as part of the brand's autumn/winter collection, "Drastic Change Series," this classy line of leather desk accessories includes a memo-pad case (¥7,800), business card case (¥8,500), and a pen sheath (¥6,800). Each item is available with contrasting exterior/ interior color combinations — hence the "drastic" naming — of white and black, black and white, and brown and green.
Anyone who has suffered from and lamented the lack of adequate insulation in a typical Tokyo abode will know that standard space heaters are normally large, white and unattractive. Idea International's new mini heater, however, is quite different. The Bucket ceramic fan heater is ultra compact so that it can fit easily under any desk and features an attractively simple outer shell that won't ruin the aesthetics of a room, even if it's put on a bookshelf for storage. The "bucket" handle also doubles as a stand, which allows you to angle the heater just right so your feet stay nice and toasty. Priced at ¥6,825, the Bucket heater is available in red, orange and white.