Invite Serenity Anywhere with the Elegance of a Wood & Brass Incense Holder

Whenever people think of fragrant aromas, most immediately presume something like essential oils. Of course, those aren’t the only way to indulge your nose, and some people prefer the smoky, woody, and unique scents produced by incense. Compared to oils, however, handling incense can be a bit of a hassle, especially the more popular long-stick variety. Never mind needing to light a small fire in the first place, making sure that the ashes don’t spill or get blown away can induce stress instead of calm. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to fix this situation, and this elegant wood and brass box offers a simple yet effective solution to enjoy your favorite incense sticks safely and peacefully wherever you are.

Designer: Masami Tanaka of Takumi Tokyo

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $199 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Valentine’s Day sale ends in 48 hours!

Marrying walnut wood and brass in a seamless fusion that complements your living space.

You need fire to light up incense, and anything that burns always produces some residue, particularly ash. Regular incense stick holders, simple and portable as they are, barely do more than just hold up that thin, burning stick, leaving you with ashes to clean up, if they don’t get blown by a weak gust of wind and become fire hazards in the meantime. Rin is a simple yet beautiful solution that lets you carry those incense sticks with you, light them up for a few minutes of respite, and never worry about ash blowing in the wind.

The main body of this minimalist incense holder is made of walnut wood and is divided into two tiers. The lower tier has three long nooks that can hold five sticks each for a total of 15. Thanks to the natural properties of wood, each holder will be unique, both in the visual pattern of the grains as well as the texture and color, making each item a limited edition product.

The part that actually holds the burning incense is made of brass, a metal that is popular for developing unique and beautiful discolorations over time. The brass plate is recessed deep inside the wooden box so that the ashes don’t fly off after they’ve fallen inside. A matching brass cover can be used to snuff out the fire and also keep the ash secured inside until you’re ready to dispose of it properly.

The wood and brass elements, while contrasting in nature, beautifully complement each other and blend perfectly with any decor. The light brown of natural walnut brings out the golden yellow of brass, while the oil-painted darker colorway exudes a dapper character with the matching black brass cover and plate. And thanks to its small size, you can conveniently bring a bunch of your preferred incense sticks with you wherever you go, allowing you to enjoy brief moments of fragrant peace when and where you need it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169 $199 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Valentine’s Day sale ends in 48 hours!

The post Invite Serenity Anywhere with the Elegance of a Wood & Brass Incense Holder first appeared on Yanko Design.

This bioethanol brass fireplace brings light and joy with an enchanting and safe fire

Lamps are not an uncommon sight in homes, ranging from big chandeliers to small desk lamps. Regardless of their size or design, they all serve the same purpose of not only bringing light but also adding to an area’s ambiance. Given the setting for most of these lamps, it’s really no surprise that the majority of them use electricity for safety and efficiency. There is, however, a certain charm to watching a dancing fire that can brighten up your surroundings while also offering warmth and comfort. Lighting a fire indoors is, of course, an unwise and dangerous thing to do for many reasons, unless you have this one-of-a-kind brass box that lets enjoy a small yet enchanting flame, whether outdoors or indoors, and never have to worry about the dangerous fumes you might inhale.

Designer: BRASSCENE

Click Here to Buy Now: $203 $239 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Although there’s no getting away from the fact that fire burns, fireplaces that use gas or fuel bring their own set of risks, mostly from the smoke, odors, and fumes they produce. Fortunately, there is such a fuel called bioethanol, which is ethanol or ethyl alcohol made from plant-based raw materials, so it doesn’t produce dangerous monoxide while it fuels the flame. That’s exactly the kind of fuel this distinctive fireplace uses, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. While the fuel is a marvel of science, the fireplace itself is a work of art.

Brasscene, a portmanteau of “brass” and “scene,” brings a beautiful bioethanol fireplace whose origin sounds so far removed from the rest of its kind. More than just metalwork, the craftsmanship that goes into forming this eye-catching vessel is the same expertise that’s used in making musical instruments like trumpets and horns. The same precision machining, brazing, and polishing techniques that make these beautiful products are employed to create an equally enchanting accessory for your home.

The brass bioethanol fireplace’s luxurious exterior adds glamour anywhere you put the box-shaped lamp, whether on a dining table or on a patio. Its stainless steel tank in the middle provides a safe receptacle for the bioethanol fuel that you simply pour inside and light up. It’s as simple as that, no complicated setup required. Glass barriers keep the flame from dancing too wildly, always making it go up, while a matching brass lid is all you need to extinguish the fire by covering the tank. It doesn’t get any simpler than this.

The choice of brass material is genius and creative, as it develops its own unique appearance as it ages, giving it a character that grows old with you. The end result is a beautifully hand-crafted design that can already bring joy and delight just from its presence. And, once the flames start to dance, you will be dazzled by the natural play of light, shadows, and reflections, creating a unique atmosphere that no electric lamp or LED bulb can ever reproduce.

Click Here to Buy Now: $203 $239 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post This bioethanol brass fireplace brings light and joy with an enchanting and safe fire first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lazlo is a handsome ballpoint pen that celebrates the joys of writing

You don’t need complex mechanisms to elevate the ballpoint, as this innovative pen beautifully demonstrates.

It has almost been 85 years since the first ballpoint pen was revealed to the public and patented by inventor Lazlo Biro. Since then, the writing tool has become a staple of everyday life, making writing more accessible and more common. Unfortunately, the proliferation of cheap ballpoint pens has also made both the act and the tool more mundane, taking for granted one of the key accomplishments of human civilization. Every now and then, a new pen appears that reminds us of the unique experience of writing, and the Lazlo is one such instrument that brings back those feelings with a pen whose simplicity and beauty belie the ingenuity inside and the quality writing experience it delivers.

Designers: Odin Ardagh and Noah Bier of Makers Cabinet

Click Here to Buy Now: $68 $105 (35% off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left!

Many ballpoint pens today employ complex mechanisms and components in an attempt to make the writing experience more pleasurable. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect of making the pen more prone to malfunctions and less likely to last a long time. Most of the time, making things simpler is actually the solution, and this pen named after the Father of Ballpoint applies that philosophy but with a special twist, literally and figuratively.

The Patent Pending Mechanism – Diametrically opposed neodymium magnets rotate bi-directionally to engage and disengage the cartridge to create an unparalleled crisp click.

The Lazlo pen utilizes a patent-pending dipole magnetic mechanism that extends or retracts the ballpoint with a simple twist of the knurled top of the pen. There are no springs involved, reducing the chances of the pen breaking due to wear and tear or broken parts. You still get a satisfying snap when you twist the cap, though, and some might even be tempted to use the pen as a makeshift fidget toy while letting ideas percolate in your head. The pen’s minimalist aesthetic makes it a good fit for any stationery or desk theme, but you still have a choice of materials and their corresponding weight. The anodized space-grade aluminum blends well with many laptops of the same hue and is the lighter option at only 40g. The precision-machined solid brass, on the other hand, has a bit of heft at 65g but ages gracefully with a patina over time. Whichever variant you choose, you are guaranteed a well-balanced tool that will feel comfortable and stable in your hand.

A Satisfying, Balanced Weight – The profile is marginally tapered, forming an elegant shape which is both comfortable in your hand and balanced in weight.

Longevity Tested to 80+ Years of Use.

Featuring Schmidt – The Schmidt MegaLine ballpoint refill is a highly sophisticated writing module based on a gas-pressurized system. This enables you to not only write upside down but also in the most extreme environmental conditions.

The Drop Stand.

Unlike most ballpoint pens, Lazlo is designed not just with durability and longevity in mind but also with sustainability. Its all-metal construction means that every part of the pen is recyclable. The steel clip that lets you conveniently carry the Lazlo pen in your front pocket is easily removable, and so is the front cap that gives easy access to the refill inside. It uses widely-available Schmidt MegaLine ballpoint refills, which utilize an innovative gas-pressurized system that lets you write even upside-down. The pen is also now compatible with Euro-Style cartridges, expanding your choices of refills. This means you won’t have to keep on buying new pens just because the ink has run out. Everything about the pen is designed to make it easy to repair, maintain, and preserve, ensuring that it will be around for years.

Even the packaging is made from sustainable and recyclable materials, including the cork drop stand that comes with every pen. You could, of course, also opt for a metal drop stand that matches the pen’s brass or aluminum body. There is also a Lazlo Sheath designed specifically for the pen, made from premium Badalassi Carlo leather that ages well with the pen itself. Whether you prop it up on a stand, keep it in your pocket, or display it in its leather bed, the all-metal Lazlo ballpoint pen will look striking in its simplicity, serving as a visual reminder of the simple joys of writing with a good pen.

Click Here to Buy Now: $68 $105 (35% off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left!

The post Lazlo is a handsome ballpoint pen that celebrates the joys of writing first appeared on Yanko Design.

Whack-It: A Handle-less Hammer for Hard to Reach Nails

Because nails often need to be driven in hard-to-reach places at inopportune angles, the Whack-It makes it possible thanks to its compact, handle-less design. Made of solid brass, the Whack-It is available in two sizes (1.5″ x .75″ small and 2″ x 1″ large) and is capable of whacking whatever, whenever.

Currently an already-funded Kickstarter project, small Whack-Its cost $22 and large ones $32, with a combo available for $54. That’s a savings of $0 – what a steal! I just bought a whole bunch of them for stocking stuffers this holiday season. I imagine they’ll be perfect for cracking nuts or threatening a relative that starts talking politics at Christmas dinner.

You can either use your own striking force to hit things by swinging the Whack-It or smacking the back of it with something else (I’m thinking a hammer). My wife just suggested I buy one to knock some sense into myself. I think she was kidding. I take that back; I don’t actually think she was kidding; I only hope she was kidding.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Adorable Tape Measure designed to look like a chameleon with an extending tongue is a great example of nature-inspired design

Animated movies have been my escapism since childhood – and Johnny Depp’s masterpiece Rango is the reason I am referring to this chameleon-inspired measuring tape as adorable right now! The chameleon’s camouflaging capability is in focus here too, as this EDC hides the measuring tape in plain sight.

Look at those details!  The huge, bulby eyes, detailed scale texture, the ridges in the back, and the proportion of the overall design makes this a perfect fit for stationery enthusiasts the world over. Adding to the quirkiness of the design, the tongue of the chameleon is a measuring tape that extends up to 2 meters in length. The body of the chameleon measures a tiny 1.9 inches, making it perfect to hang onto your keychain for daily use. The body is made from brass and manganese steel, giving it a nice weight and a solid overall feel to the design.

Speaking of the inspiration, the designer says, “The chameleon is one of the most charming creatures in the animal kingdom. It has survived for hundreds of millions of years under the law of the jungle with two unique techniques, which are color changing and tongue swiping. The chameleon is one of the most controversial characters in human society. The chameleon’s tongue punch is a powerful punch that pushes the limits of known vertebrate muscle capacity. In ancient Greek civilization, it was known as the “Khamaileon” lion of the earth.” Fun facts to impress anyone who questions your choice of stationery!

With nature-inspired design fast becoming a trend, the brass chameleon measuring tape is a collectible you want to get your hands on. And you know, this little lizard will not blend into your surrounding clutter. It is an EDC designed to stand out!

Designer: Coppertist.Wu

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I’ve never seen anything quite like how this unique pocket-knife opens and closes





You’ve got sliding blades, switchblades, even complicated blades triggered by linkages, but what Koss Workshop’s latest creation does is quite unique. The knife, literally titled ‘Weird Folding Knife’, sports a split handle design and a couple of linkages that allow the blade to slide in and out. The blade comes with a slot too, that keeps it aligned as you open and close the knife… and it’s entirely made from scratch using scrap metal and a fully-equipped metal workshop.

The Weird Folding Knife practically changes its entire silhouette as it opens and closes. The two-part handle separates to make way for the blade when closed and joins together seamlessly turning into a grip when the blade’s open. Made more as a hobby-piece than an actual knife meant for daily use, the Weird Folding Knife doesn’t come with a locking mechanism. Rather, it exists as a one-off proof-of-concept of how a knife’s handle could split apart to accommodate its blade. You can just see the GIF for yourself below.

The Weird Folding Knife comes with a two-part polished-brass handle and an 80mm W1-7 High Carbon Steel blade. When open, the entire knife measures 203mm, and when closed, is about the same length as the blade. What’s also rather clever about how the knife closes is that it manages to conceal the blade’s cutting edge between the two-part handles, making it safer.

Koss’ work of art, unfortunately, is only one of its kind, and got snapped up pretty much instantaneously by a passionate customer the minute it hit the Etsy store. However, the knifesmith’s pretty meticulously documented the entire knife-building process on his YouTube channel. View the entire process behind making the Weird Folding Knife in the video above. The video’s rather generously time-stamped too, so you can conveniently skip to the parts you find more interesting!

Designer: Koss Workshop

Turn this flat metal disc into a bowl with your bending powers!

Ever wanted to feel like you were a bender from Avatar or had some crazy powers like the Avengers? Well, you can pretend to have that but it will only be limited to the bending of this brass disk called Push! Fundamental Berlin runs on the philosophy of creating homeware inspired by the mathematics of nature and we are here for it.

Push is a flat brass plate that can be molded into a bowl, a shallow dish, or simply even used as a coaster. What makes it unique is that you can bend it to suit your needs. Apply the slightest bit of pressure and turn it into a tray for your accessories or an alternative for your fruit basket! The flexible disk can turn into a vessel and is actually delivered to you in a letter envelope. It is space-saving for your shelves or tables as you can easily reverse its shape and put it back, or, you could use it as an accent piece when you have guests (I would say swap that plastic toothbrush holder for Push or maybe use it as a candle stand!).

True to the company’s philosophy, Push is a combination of mathematical geometries and the quality craftsmanship that is available in three different metal finishes – brass, steel, and blue. It also comes in different sizes and sets – a large 24 cm diameter (Push) a medium size 15 cm diameter (Push Solo), a bubble shape (Push Trio), and a set of three small round bowls, one in each color (Push Mini). Level up your home decor game as well as your bending skills with this minimal, elegant metal disk!

Designer: Fundamental Berlin

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This ‘accidental’ lightning-bolt design detail doubles up as the cabinet’s handles

With an instant, eye-catching lightning-bolt-shaped fracture running along its front, lined with precisely machined brass all the way from the top to the bottom, the Halsey Fracture Cabinet in Walnut is a simple box with a stand-out detail that totally sets it apart. Designed by Piet Houtenbos, the Halsey Fracture features two doors with uneven jagged cuts that don’t line up when they’re closed. Instead, they provide enough of a gap to slip your fingers through and open either of the doors without needing any handle. The design was arrived by a rather pleasant accident during its computer modeling process in the early iteration phase. Houtenbos immediately saw potential in the error, transforming and coddling the curves into functional elements with high visual recall.

To make sure that the fracture looks deliberate and classy, Houtenbos even gave it a chic brass lining, not only allowing the wood and brass combination to absolutely shine through, but also ensuring you get the smooth cold touch of metal when you go to open the cabinet’s doors. On the inside, the cabinets come lacquered in a deep Wescott Navy hue to really bring out the lightning-shaped detail.

Designer: Piet Houtenbos

Bathrooms Equipped with Brass Instruments Instead of Sinks and Urinals

If you have a flair for the musical and want to redo your bathroom, you might want to do what this guy did. This is Redditor marc_urzz’s step-uncle’s bathroom. The highlight of the space is the tuba he repurposed as the sink.

If you think this is unique, here’s a shot of three tenor horns that were converted into urinals by someone else. It’s too bad these aren’t all in the same bathroom. I personally want to take a dump in a trumpet, but so far my lack of bathroom instruments have not made this possible. When you have a brass band bathroom, taking a poop is like smooth jazz and you’ll feel like Pewey Armstrong… or Deuce Ellington. Okay, I’ll stop.

If you know someone who has a bathroom like this, never put an instrument to your lips when offered one. You don’t know where it’s been. Well, in this case, you have a pretty good idea I guess.

[via Boing Boing via Geekologie]