Hot In The Hive: Police Line Shower Curtain

imageDespite my cheerful personality, I’ve been known to have pretty morbid thoughts and especially enjoy post-apocalyptic movies (sidenote: I totally recommend the comedy “Zombieland”). I also love crime TV shows like CSI and Law and Order: SVU where they definitely use their fair share of police tape from the props closet. So of course I instantly fell in love with the Police Line Shower Curtain from Urban Outfitters. If you’re looking for extra privacy, other than adding a deadbolt to the bathroom door, this could be the easiest and cheapest solution for you. Designed by artist Aleksander Mukomelov, who fittingly designed the uber-conceptual Infinity Bath. At less than $20, it’s a small price to pay to decorate your bathroom and score some privacy too. But don’t blame me if your roommates have a different kind of humor and play the “Psycho” theme song the next time you take a shower!

Price: $19.99
Who Found It: facadeindreams was the first to add the Police Line Shower Curtain to the Hive.

Bring Back The Swingin’ 60’s Into Your Home!

imageHere in San Francisco, which was one of the most relevant places for the 1960’s radical movement, there is still strong evidence of this mod-style, crazy colorful, “flower power” time. Style from the 60’s is most easily recognized with strange, fluid shapes, or angular, geometric ones and whirls of bright colors. Things were proudly done in man-made materials like plastics and rubber, and aimed to look “futuristic” (which, for some reason, meant no arm rests and other convenient comforts). While the Swingin’ 60’s is an era that’s long gone, it’s easy to hark back to a few decades ago and bring the color and style back into your living space. A few simple home accents and accessories, like brightly colored, slick-surfaced furnishings, interestingly shaped lamps and lighting, and other brightly hued, 60’s-inspired items, is all it takes to give your home a radical vibe with a modern twist. Click on the slideshow to see a few of my favorite ways to bring the 60’s back into your home!

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Hot In The Hive: Desk Cassette Tape Dispenser

imageOne of my favorite childhood memories was gluing myself to the stereo and waiting for my favorite songs to come on so I could hit record and put it on my cassette tape. Okay, maybe I’m showing my age a little bit, but I miss those days! Before iTunes playlists or burned CDs, there were carefully crafted mix tapes that were for your listening pleasure or for your #1 crush. Anyway, even though those days are long gone there are plenty of people like myself who wouldn’t mind a small reminder of our history with analog. The Desk Cassette Tape Dispenser is a fun and functional desk accessory I wouldn’t mind having in my office. Be prepared to explain what it is to anyone born in the 90s though. The only difference is that this time it’s probably not the end of the world if the tape runs out in the middle of a song!

Price: $19.99
Who Found It: facadeindreams was first to add the Desk Cassette Tape Dispenser to the Hive.

Bring The Great Outdoors Right Into Your Home!

imageNature is truly amazing with beautiful florals and foliage, sturdy rock structures and the most amazing animals and creatures. Many of us love the great outdoors and enjoy reveling in Mother Nature’s creations. But with busy schedules and instances of poor weather, not all of us can find time to spend outside. An easy solution? Bring the great outdoors into your own home! I’m not suggesting digging a pond in the middle of your living room, or luring in small woodland creatures into your kitchen. A few unique and beautifully made home accessories, like dinnerware, lighting and small furniture, that mimic Mother Nature’s talents are all you need to make your living space a nature loving haven! Check out my slideshow for examples!

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Hot In The Hive: I Am A Stuffed Animal Buddy!

imageSo the other day, I was complaining to my main boy-toy that I wished he could be more comfortable to cuddle with. I told him he should be softer, or “plusher”, if you will. I wished that he would stop fidgeting and moving around or breathing when I was trying to have a relaxing snuggle with him. He told me that I’d be better off getting a stuffed animal. Great idea! Not a problem! A company called, “I Am A Stuffed Animal”, can turn any of us that have a skeletal structure and nerve-endings into soft, pliable stuffed animals that can take on even the biggest of bear hugs. Simply send in a picture of you or your friends’ likeness and have a plush version sent back! Besides making perfect snuggle-buddies, I Am A Stuffed Animal Buddies also make unique and fun gifts for friends and family of all ages, even if they aren’t usually a fan of stuffed animals. Soft, funny and totally one-of-a-kind, I Am A Stuffed Animal Buddy will soon be the only one you’ll need around for a good round of hugs and cuddles … or use it as a doppelganger to blame any mishaps on!

Price: $69.00
Who Found It: Idabone was first to add the I Am A Stuffed Animal Buddy to the Hive.

Neon Accents For A Trendy Home!

imageWho knew that neon would be a trend that would not only make a come-back, but also revamp itself and stay for the long haul. From trendy streetwear, with the likes of Rihanna and Beyonce taking it to a whole new level with neon nails, clothing and accessories, to design house giants like Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana sending the trend strutting down runways, neon has taken over like never before. Why not take the look and add the same pop of color and energy to the home? While head to toe, wall to wall neon is better left to the uber trendy and hip youngsters (and electric eels), take a cue from your closet and add a few neon accents to your living room, bedroom or study to give your place a quick jolt of color and style. Click on the slideshow to see some of our favorite neon home accessories!

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Savant Home Automation Systems

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Savant seamlessly organizes the control of the many elements of a home—lighting, security, A/V, Internet, and even sprinklers—into one handy remote.

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The only Apple-based networking program like it on the market, Savant simplifies the many seemingly disparate aspects of living into one centralized system. From adjusting the heat in the living room while on vacation to checking the weather while watching TV, or simply turning off lights all with a single clicker, the all-in-one solution allows for simple and near universal access.

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With a variety of different touch-screens and remotes, as well as the capability to sync directly with iPhones, Savant customizes their gadgets around each individual household’s unique needs. With multiple tasks automated into one command—”Away” could turn off certain lights and shades, turn down heat, and activate security systems—intuitive interfaces make it dead-easy to navigate features.

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One product, their TrueImage Control wireless touch panel, makes the experience particularly familiar by allowing for browsing through professionally-shot pictures of each room and controlling lighting, shades and other features by touching the image of it on the screen.

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Other future-thinking features include the ability to turn any HD television into a portal for content stored on optional servers or anything (Hulu, YouTube, etc.) online. In addition to such high-tech convenience, Savant helps conserve energy by using motion sensors to switch off lights, closing blinds at midday, and regulating heating and cooling systems based on outdoor temperatures.

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Whether synchronizing just the heating and lights in a studio apartment or managing the multiple elements of a three-story brownstone, Savant effortlessly scales up or down—all thanks to the brand’s commitment to customer service.

Packages begin at about $5,000. Visit Savant’s site for a list of authorized dealers.


Hot In The Hive: F1/F2 Lamp Shade

imageAnyone who’s ever owned a Macbook (or any Apple product, for that matter), has likely fallen in love and surrendered themselves to the iWorld (not a real thing — don’t get excited). Ever since the general public accepted the iPhone as their go-to do-everything phone of choice, I’ve been seeing Apple-related references all over the place, on and off the touchscreen. iPhone app coasters, iChat speech bubble pillows… and now an F1/F2 Button Lamp Shade?! I gotta say, it’s probably one of the cleverest gadget-to-decor adaptations I’ve seen thus far, and it gets the geeky idea across without looking too gimmicky. For $65, it is just the shade itself, but it’s available in either table lamp or ceiling form so you can dress up pretty much any naked Ikea-bought fixtures you may already have in your apartment. Now, if only the light could be programmed with the press of your Macbook brightness key… I’m sure some of you geekier Hivers could figure out how!

Price: $65
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the F1/F2 Lamp Shade to the Hive.

Give Your Home Modern Elegance With Black And White Decor

imageBlack and white is a favorite color combination of mine and is the basis of everything in my closet. I love it so much that I translate it to my home decor as well. The great thing about black and white is that it’s extremely versatile and can be the backdrop to various design styles, but the contrasting colors are stimulating and give any design a modern edge. While a whole houseful of just black and white patterns everywhere would lead to eye seizures, the right touches around the house give your living arrangement an instantly chic upgrade. The stark contrast and sleek lines make the room seem more orderly and clean. Plus, black and white is a classic, and just like in your closet, it’ll never go out of style! Click on the slideshow to see my favorite examples!

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Gestaltkunstwerk Vases

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German artist Markus Linnenbrink recently crafted a set of vases from recyclables, reinventing their surfaces using colorful resins.

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The Dortmund-based sculptor calls his latest work Gestaltkunstwerk; roughly translated, it means “formed artwork” and is a play-on-words of Gesamtkunstwerk “consummate art.&#8221.

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Linnenbrink slathered each piece with generous coats of lacquer finish on discarded bottles to create post-consumer artwork of various shapes, sizes and colors. With prices ranging from $300 to $1,200, the fruits of his labors sell from Artware Editions in Manhattan.
Contact them to order
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