Cork fabric @ Branch

Branch has started selling these soft cork bowls made from cork fabric. Since I haven’t seen one in person, I’ll let them tell you more:

This is one of those products that amazes those who see and feel it. Since you can't do that online, we'll do our best to describe it: it's smooth, warm, and pliable – almost leather-like – though it's made entirely from cork.

Specifically, this bowl is made from two layers of cork sewn together. This gives it an uncanny structural integrity, allowing the form to hold its shape, the sides to be folded over, and even withstand regular machine washing.

And pretty, to boot.

Images from Branch.

Playbutton = huh?

This product keeps showing up on green fashion and design blogs, but I’ll admit, I don’t know what is considered “green” about a limited-content MP3 player. The design is cute, and it’s a charming throwback to the mix tape, but how is this greener than downloading MP3s to the player you already have or even buying a CD (plastic, but no electronics)?

Am I missing something? If you’ve got a different take on this, please leave a comment!

Via ecouterre

Vintage suitcases rock the house

How retrosexy are these? The BoomCase is a boom box made from vintage suitcases. Just plug your tiny MP3 player into these and boom-boom-boom...
More pretty pictures (and buy your own) on their website.
Images from BoomCase. Via TreeHugger.

Getting More From Less

I don’t know if this is really a less wasteful design, or if the costs are as competitive as they say, but the floors sure are stunning.

Bolefloor is using technology to cut the boards more efficiently, in hopes that following the wood's natural shape and keeping some of the knots and curves will mean you have more useful square footage. The result is really pretty and organic.

Images from Bolefloor. Via Fast Company.

One robot that won't be part of the uprising

Robots + wooden toys? Just adorable. I especially love the moody interchangeable heads. Why are you so sad, robot?

Via inhabitots

Ply-tubular!

Found on Core77--What if instead of making the little cardboard tubes that go inside each toilet paper roll, you used that same technology with wood veneer? Wonder no more, it's Plytubes!

Laminates + glue = awesome. Click through for some furniture pix, and don't forget to check out the sewn joints.

Images and details from Core 77.

Discovered En Route...

I was trolling Craigslist in search of the elusive new dining room table when I came across a posting for refurbished Thonet chairs. The tiny photo grabbed me. What was that? Maps? Printed on the chairs? And are they sitting in the sun on the Embarcardero?
Turns out they are vintage maps of SF. I had to know more. Following the yellow-brick-links led me to their creator, En Route Studio, which is now my latest lab crush. You know I'm a sucker for a good furniture rescue. Here we have mid-century furniture reupholstered with custom silk-screened fabrics. I'm in love!
Since I don't even have the money for knock-off Thonets, much less Thonets repurposed as works of art, I thought I'd do the next best thing--share them with you. Enjoy!

Images from En Route Studio.