Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Indoor-Outdoor Paradise: South American Forest Retreat

Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:00 AM PDT

The magnificent Fresno House in Carilo, Argentina is a sunny modern retreat for its owners, a place between the forest and the ocean in which to let the rest of the world melt away.

Built by Felix Raspall and Federico Papandrea, the shape and characteristics of the home were informed by the site on which it sits. And the site is truly beautiful; the home was built on a sloping lot in a small forest clearing. Trees as far as the eye can see are the nearest neighbors.

Some of the most striking features of this overall-impressive home are the floating staircase bisecting the living room and the ample built-in storage units which line the walls and keep the home free of clutter.

The ground floor of the Fresno House is utterly open, consisting of floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for the best possible view of the surrounding forest. A large terrace and built-in grill beckon those inside to step out into the fresh air.

An outdoor pool and enormous patio likewise call residents and visitors to enjoy the spectacular setting. One could easily fall asleep on the patio’s outdoor furniture…

…If the comfortable second-floor bedrooms weren’t so inviting. The owners must have a truly stellar year-round home to call this incredible house their temporary summer lodging.

    

Shoo, Fly! Designer Smoke Alarms Keep You Safe in Style

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:00 PM PDT

Generally speaking, smoke alarms are not among the objects you want to show off in your home. But the Lento smoke alarm from Finnish design company Jalo Helsinki has been redesigned from the ground up. The utilitarian object has been recast as a far more attractive accessory that seems almost like a decoration rather than a life-saving device.

The most striking aspect of the redesign is the smoke detector’s shape. Gone is the standard nondescript box that is meant to blend into your ceiling. Instead, the Lento smoke alarm is shaped like a colorful fly on the wall. It can attach to a wall or a ceiling in seconds with mounting tape – no tools required.

But the new smoke alarm isn’t just playful and beautiful; it is also easier to use than the ones we are all used to. There is no teeny-tiny button to push in order to test the system, and there is no need to wave a towel in front of the unit to stop a false alarm. These functions are handled by simply pressing on the body of the smoke detector.

Is it possible to turn the usually-hidden smoke detector into an object of beauty? Will buyers choose to attach a stylish fly to their walls rather than sticking with the familiar (but nearly invisible) old design? In the opinion of Jalo Helsinki and the accomplished designers behind this unusual product, safety can be playful and beautiful – and we agree.

    

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