New Gadgets to Keep Your Cords in Check

Electronics make our lives easier and, let's face it, more fun. But being wired doesn't mean you have to live with a mess of cables. These three items offer fantastic cord control. —Inspectress Gadget

Fancy That!

It was a tiny bit insulting to overhear some aunts whispering during a family gathering at my place, "Why does she make everything so FANCY?" It's not like I've decorated my home Liberace style. In fact, my taste runs more to midcentury minimalism. As it turns out, they were referring to my habit of replacing ordinary household items with finer versions of themselves. It never occurred to me that I was being fancy (or that fancy was BAD); spiffing things up seemed as basic as brushing my teeth. Why not make the items you use and look at every day as beautiful as possible?

For example, who wants to see a jumble of vitamin bottles? It may seem like a bother to transfer vitamins from their original plastic containers to apothecary jars—preferably made of dark glass to best preserve nutrients (as you can see, I'm still looking for the perfect ones)—but, in return, for a moment's effort, you're rewarded with something lovely. And don't cotton balls look great in a big covered jar instead of their original plastic bag?

A New Spin on Clothes Care

View the A New Spin on Clothes Care slide show

Hate dealing with the laundry? These new helpmates, folding surfaces, and storage devices will take a load off your mind. Whirlpool's Laundry 123 Tower ($199 to $329) is designed to sit next to or between the company's Duet, Duet Sport, Cabrio, and Classic washers and dryers. The rectangular structure features a 10-inch retractable hanging rod, two large drawers for stashing detergent and bleach, and a shallow tray for holding dryer sheets or bleach pens. In White, Ultimate Silver Metallic, and Black-on-Black. Another option is the rubberized Laundry 123 Worksurface ($199 to $229), which sits atop your washer and dryer, offering an uninterrupted area to treat, sort, and fold your duds. A supply tray in the back corrals anything from loose change to stain-removal sticks. 866-698-2538, whirlpool.com.

Kenmore's Laundry Plus Storage Unit—which features two pullout drawers and a shallow tray ($199 to $299)—and accompanying Work Surface ($199 to $229) come in White and bold colors such as Pacific Blue, Black Diamond, and Barolo. We particularly like the company's Ironing Station (price to be determined), which launches this spring. It will include a cordless iron, a charging dock, a swing-out ironing board, and two roomy storage drawers. 800-349-4358, kenmore.com. —Inspectress Gadget

What next for Umbra's U+ Studio Collection?

I've been consistently impressed by Umbra's U+ Studio Collection (umbra.com), the funky, more experimental line relaunched two years ago by the Toronto-based furnishings company. And although U+ features work by numerous designers, including Karim Rashid and Michelle Ivankovic, I'm most often drawn to the work of one in particular: Matt Carr, the talent behind many of the line's mirrors and clocks. His style is best described as modern Scandinavian, with sleek lines, unfussy surfaces, and lots of glass, wood, and metal. I was fortunate enough to meet him two weeks ago at the New York Gift Show, where he walked me through his forthcoming pieces for U+, many of which are a departure from his usual aesthetic. Here's a sneak peek of the items, all of which should be available by March 1. —Decor Darling

	PISA BOOK SHELF That's Carr himself standing next to this leaning tower of shelves, which can add storage and a strong sculptural element to any room. Comprising dark wood veneer; designer not included. 63½" high x 12½" wide x 29" deep. $550. Umbra.com.
	TREASURE CLOCK The eclectic timepiece was inspired by a desire to "create a sustainable product that gives new life to discarded toys," says Carr. Constructed from natural birch and second-hand playthings, each clock is unique, and only 200 will be made. Available in white, shown, and black. 15½" high x 15½" wide. $145. U+ Studio Collection; 800-387-5122, Umbra.com.
	CADO STOOL Versatile and sophisticated, this leather multitasker combines seating, a serving surface, and a hidden storage area. Pretty cool. 18" high x 18½" wide 18½" deep. $399. Umbra.com.

 

Organizing Children's Artwork

The wood shop teacher's message on my voicemail was cheery and brief: "Your son Reed's project is ready to be picked up." Picked up? I called Tim back to ask, “Can't my son just bring it home on the bus?” After a short pause, he said gently, "I'm afraid you'll need a van." We did, and now the bench, shown left, lives in my kitchen until we figure out a better spot for it in our small apartment.

Fortunately, most of my children's art projects aren't this large, but they do have a way of accumulating to the point of threatening to bury the entire family. Some can be winnowed out (yes, I admit it; sometimes I throw them away), but favorite pieces deserve a better fate.

Clamshell boxes are great for storing small drawings, booklets, three-dimensional pieces, seashell art, etc. I made a set of boxes for each child. As each box fills up, I just add another one to the set. The art is protected from light and dust, and can be easily retrieved and enjoyed.