Speaking of camouflaging your home tech, check out this fun update for unsightly cables. For flexible cables, there are tons of solutions for wrapping them up to hide them, but what about the old school ones that have a fixed shape? You know, the ones you find in old apartments and lofts that ruin the perfect look you’re going for.
Well, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Try jazzing up stubborn cables with cute decals like these from PA Design. I would probably paint the cord the same colour as the wall as well, so that is blends in. Let’s be honest though — this is definitely a project you can do at home to save a few bucks and have fun with your space.
We all know stealing music is lame and I’m an avid iTunes user — I like the option of purchasing songs without having to buy the whole CD. Unfortunately bricks-’n'-mortar music stores have suffered because of this availability.
With the holidays fast approaching, I was in the mood to search for tunes to add to my Christmas playlist and I heard about a brand new digital download site. HMV Canada has finally joined the tech world and created a site for you to browse and download music, similar to iTunes (although still in the Beta stage). The benefits of the HMV site is that you have a longer preview time of songs, and it creates a mini-playlist of recently browsed songs. And like iTunes, most songs are $0.99 a download, with the current chart toppers selling for $1.29 each.
I’m really glad HMV decided to do this, not only because I had a blast working at the stores throughout my high school years, but because HMV is a British corporation that invests largely in the Canadian market and not within the US. Even though I love Apple, I’d rather support a company that gives back more to the Canadian economy.
Check it out at hmvdigital.ca
Okay, so I know I’ve been on a Twitter kick lately, but how sweet is this cocktail napkin? I just couldn’t resist! I think I’ll stock up on these and bring them at out at the next Style at Home get together — we’re always tweeting our exciting ideas for upcoming issues. These cuties are available on Etsy for only $5 US per pack of 30.
Want to follow the Style at Home editors on Twitter? Read on to see what each of our editors are tweeting about.
Natalie Bahadur, senior web editor: Our resident Twitter-er on everything that’s happening on styleathome.com
Laurie Grassi, executive editor: She’s got all the goods on the hottest eco items for your home and lifestyle
Brett Walther, associate design editor: Let Brett hook you up with info on the latest and greatest finds in the world of homewares
Lauren McPhillips (me!), senior editor: I’m a tech gal, but only have a love for the cool and stylish goodies
Margot Austin, senior design editor: You’ll love all of the great design inspiration that Margot offers … plus pics of her adorable French bulldog, Lulu
Jane Francisco, editor-in-chief: Meet our new editor and follow her tweets on an exciting life in the magazine world
I spotted these adorable (said in a French accent, btw) earbuds on our senior web editor Natalie Bahadur’s desk and I fell in love upon first sight. Mixing music, tech and glitzy style all in one? Doesn’t get much better than that folks. Here’s what Natalie had to say about them:
“I adore anything that’s got a touch of bling and these earphones from chicBuds are fantastic! They’re so girly and stylish and are adorned with Swarovski crystals, which instantly takes them from ordinary to extraordinary. But they’re not just about form; they’re big on function too. The earphone wires are rolled onto a retractable wheel (also adorned with crystals!) that keeps them from getting tangled. And as I’m sitting here listening to my iPod, I’m amazed at the sound quality. Crisp, clean, clear. Perfect.”
Check them out for yourself (chicbuds.com) — tons of colours and designs to pick from!
I’m a bit of a label snob when it comes to my electronics — I love displaying the logos on my Sony DSLR, Flip Mino camcorder, and especially my iPhone, iPod, Airport, and iMac (yeah that’s right, I just name-dropped).
Check out these seriously cool MacBook adhesives from iamhuman. With a sweet slogan selling “human individuality for non-human objects”, the company lets you jazz up your laptop while still displaying that sweet Apple logo. The graphic prints go for a cool $30 US and the wood grain one is $35 US.
Available at iamhumannow.com.
If there are two things I learned this weekend, it’s that: a) I love Boston, and b) if ever in Boston, the Copley Square Hotel is the only place to stay. Located in the Back Bay area of the city, the Copley Square Hotel is one of Boston’s oldest hotels (built in 1891), but the interior is nothing short of modern chic. The building’s re-opening in January 2009 after a year of renovations shows a hotel with exquisite attention to detail and comfort as a main priority (seriously the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in).
Along with all of the fab comforts that the hotel offers was the great selection of tech goodies found in the rooms. For such a historic hotel, I was surprised to find complimentary WiFi available in every room, not to mention a sleek LG flat screen TV. Even the Sunbeam iron was the best I’ve ever used! However, the coolest thing was the iHome iPod speaker dock on the bedside table. The hotel had thought of everything I might need to feel at home – music, TV, Internet. If it wasn’t for the fabulous city waiting outside its doors, I might have just stayed in the hotel the whole time!
For more information and to book reservations at Boston’s Copley Square Hotel, please visit their website.
Although our laptops, mp3 players and cell phones have been created with super sleek design at the forefront for the past few years, gadgets like GPS devices have been quite standard looking – black, square, and matte. TomTom has taken the first leap towards making design a key factor in their GPS production, with the introduction of the White Pearl.
Although the technical features of the White Pearl aren’t much different from TomTom’s original GPS’s (they’re awesome to begin with!), the appearance itself is enough to make me want one. With a pearlescent casing and a swirl print that subtly carries on to the corners of the screen, this GPS leads all others in the right design direction.
Currently available in the UK. Check back at Tech Style and the TomTom website for North American release dates.
With cute and colourful tech-cessories available for pretty much every gadget, it’s only expected that we’d find a way to jazz up your earbud headphones. Just clip these on to instantly update your mp3 earbuds, and you’re ready to keep on rockin’ in the tech world!
Price: $10 US per pair
Available at: Nothingelegant, on Etsy
It seems these days that technology is moving at the speed of light. You buy the latest iPod and then a couple of months later, that puppy’s old news. How’s a gal to keep up?
If you’re not ready to let go of your outdated tech-cessories, why not wait until they turn vintage? On a recent scour through the Etsy site, I found tons of fab vintage tech goods that may not work half as well as today’s products (or may not work at all), but gosh-darned-it, won’t they look cute sitting on your bookshelf or countertop.
Here’s a few of the fierce finds I stumbled across on Etsy — keep in mind they sell fast, so you may have to do some hunting of your own.
- Cooler than cool 1950s typewriter, $210 US, PoeticHome.
- Mod 1960s GE clock, $32 US, AquaVelvet.
- 1970 Polaroid Swinger Camera, $20 US, VintageEyeCandy.
- Circa 1948 Hamilton Beach mixer, $74 US, AuntMaryGraceshouse.
- 1960s Imperial record player, $95 US, Thrush.
- Vintage Italian Marble phone, $45 US, TheRubyKitten.
A little while back, I blogged about the ridiculously fantastic gold-plated Mac goods from Computer Choppers. I didn’t think anything could match the over-the-top bling of a gold Macbook with diamond logo detailing, but ColorWare has stepped up to the plate with a simply chic and more affordable alternative.
Whether you’re a Blackberry fanatic or your iPod is an extension of your arm, ColorWare doesn’t discriminate between brands — or colours. With a vast array of hues to choose from (in a luxe metallic or sleek lacquer finish) and options of what shade you want on each part, ColorWare pimps your tech gadgets with a durable coating, elevating them to new levels of cool.
You can buy your colour-personalized gadgets straight from the company, or US customers can mail their own in and pay for custom work (tip: if you know someone with a US zip code, use their address to get around international restrictions!).
Check out the ColorWare website for more info and pricing.
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