Boys and their toys

Sinterklaas, Christmas and the end of the year. December is by far the greatest month for kids when it comes to presents. But hey, all children deserve to be spoiled once in a little while and that is why we have collected as much as 8 gift ideas for...the boy.

1. Whether they're young or a bit older, boys usually have trouble getting out of bed. In that case the Extra Large Alarm Clock could be the perfect solution for oversleepers. But besides a great Alarm it's also a funny gadget. A BIG funny gadget :)

2. Very convenient and also perfect for girls is the Extra Large Coat Hanger, which has room for at least 5 pieces of clothing. No more messy sleeping rooms!

3. Children have a lot of creativity. We've heard stories of kids who use The Extra Large Back Pack as a great hiding place for hide & seek, others like to put their toys or party clothes in there. Not only kids like this though: grown-ups seem to find it a terrific laundry basket.

4. Extra Large Dice: who wouldn't want to play with them? Games like Monopoly or Risk are perfectly suitable for that, but why not take them on an adventure to outdoor games?

5. Ah, the Baby Ball Chair. We never get tired of this classic and neither will your little guy. This design of Finn Stone is available in various colours and is the perfect chair for every type of child.


Boys will be boys, but in the end they start growing up and become more mature. A nice side effect to that is that they also start doing their homework. And one needs tools to do so:

6. The Extra Large Paperclip is a perfect storing place for books (yes, also comics apparently) and folders. And it's a lot less boring than those desk trays and holders. 

7. AN ERASER. Yes, in capitals, cause it's a huge one. We bet you only need to buy one Extra Large Eraser for the whole school career of your (grand)son. Ok maybe 2, as it depends on how many mistakes he will make ;)

8. The Extra Large XXXL Coffee Mug is multifunctional and can therefore serve as a stationary device. Pencils, pens, paint brushes, markers...You name it, it will all fit in this gadget.

We hope these tips help you to find your boy, nephew, cousin or grandson the perfect present!

See you next time. 

How to hang a picture frame on your wall

We received an email from a customer asking for tips to hang up one of our picture frames. Even though we don’t sell screws, nails and other DIY-materials, we think it can be interesting to show you how the job is done :)

If you want to hang up frames, it’s important to know the surface you want to hang it against:

-Wood allows you to use any screw with the help of a(n) (electric) screwdriver.

-If your surface is bricks steel nails or a plug with a screw do the trick.

-A concrete surface requires a plug and a screw. You have to drill a hole for the plug and then turn a screw in the plug. A light screw is sufficient for every frame.

Now, how to put your frames straight on the wall?

You can do that by using a handy tool, that is a combination of a level and a ruler (a device you can find in most DIY-stores)

This is how you do it:

1. Mesure the distance between the hooks of the picture frame

2. Put the ruler/level against the wall and make sure it’s perpendicular

3. Mark the distance with a pencil

4. Drill a hole and put (a plug and) screw in the wall

Et voilà, you’re done. Enjoy your new picture frame(s) !

5 stylish gifts for Mom

We really don't like stereotypes, but it is known for a fact that most women like to spend time in the bathroom. And why wouldn't they? It's a place where you can relax and take your time to prepare for a perfect day or night.

1. The Memory Box can serve various purposes, but it sure does look good in the bathroom as well. It's the perfect jewellery box as it gives you an overview of all your earrings and necklaces. And a good overview is important to women, as they always want to make the best choice.

2. Coffee in your bathroom? Well, if you're really in a hurry...:) No, the Extra Large Coffee Mug is not only for drinking Morning's Gold, it can also be used for storing products, such as milk cups or...toothpaste and tooth brushes!

3. The times are countless that I - a woman myself - dropped my plastic make-up bags only to find my make-up tools ruined and no longer usable. That is why I really want to recommend the Cuba Box to all the women that love their lip gloss, mascara, eyeshadow, pencils, eyeliner and blush. It's a full wooden tool with different parts, so that you can organise everything very neatly.

4. The very natural looking Andaman Ronda is a very nice decoration object for basically everywhere in the house. In the bathroom it can be used as a storage place for cream tubes, hairwear or cotton pads. Anything, really.

5. You're allergic to pets or you want a little friend for your real one? Or you prefer keeping things clean and hygienic? Our Fox Terrier is a solution to all the dilemmas above. It's made of ceramics and - we admit - is a tiny bit kitchy. But also very very loveable!

One more thing: you should carefully select a present for your Mom. Not only is she one of the most important people in your life and therefore deserves a nice present, she's also pretty good at going mad and during holidays that might be something you want to avoid. So good luck ;)

See you next time!

6 amazing Christmas gifts for Dad

Holidays are coming. Only one more month to go until hysteria in stores will be the natural state of being. If you dread holiday shopping, the world wide web inevitably becomes your best friend. And consequently, so do we :)

In the next few weeks the Smart Living Objects team will give you several great gift ideas for every member of the family. The pater familias – aka Dad - is the first to be served!

Modern men are self-dependent, know how to cook and most of all: like it. Which is exactly why we believe your Dad or husband will be happy with 6 very nice kitchen tools:

1. The Extra Large Saltshaker is an original and handy gadget. It’s the perfect storage box for pasta, sugar or flour. Definitely deserves a spot in ‘his’ kitchen :)

2. Men like efficiency –so do women, but here let’s pretend they don’t :) - and the Extra Large Hot is a wonderful example of how you can manage several things at once. You can put 3 pots and pans on this hot pot stand. Yes, we’re big fans of practical thinking. And so is Dad.

3. Dad never has to worry about not being able to open his beers again. The Extra Large Bottle Opener has a magnet, which allows him to hang it on the refrigerator. A handy tool, that looks good as well. What else can you long for in a Christmas present?

4 + 5. If you or your mom haven’t taught him, he must be a natural tidy man. We encourage that behavior with products that suit tidiness and cleanliness, such as the Loft Napkin Tray Set and our big collection of trays. In the picture the Servo Tray is shown. 

6. On New Year’s Eve every dad will want one of our Extra Large Champagne Corks to celebrate 2013 in style. This stool is not only quite funny to look at, it’s comfortable as well. Now go on, make it happen for him. He will be forever  thankful, which will give you the opportunity to get certain things done :)

See you next time!

Curvy design

Even though a size 6 is still the norm in showbusiness, it’s been noticeable for quite some time now that women are allowed to be somewhat curvy again. Most people see that as a positive evolution, but we’re not here to talk about the image of women in the media :) It was just an introduction to come to the following point: curviness exists in design too. Moreover, it’s one of the trends this year.

Apartment Therapy shows us that especially in European bathrooms rounded edges and circular forms are very popular this year.

The Boston Design Center sees it a bit broader and predicts a very feminine style with soft and curvy lines as one of the new trends for 2013.

And as for Smart Living Objects? Curviness and rounded edges have been in our collection for a while with the Slice and the Ball Chair, but the Bubble Frame and Smooth Frame are new products and now available in our store:

We care about your opinion, so let us know if you think they match the upcoming trend. And if you don't, you may write it in a comment as well :) 

Even though curvy lines and rounded edges are about to rock 2013 design, it’s a timeless style. The famous designer Joe Colombo used it in his designs back in the ‘60s:

  

If you want to learn more about his designs, you should visit the DesignMarkt in Ghent, Belgium this weekend. You can find everything there that Joe Colombo created. A must see for interested fans and big collectors.

If you decide to go, let us know how it was.

See you next time!

And the award goes to...

As soon as I entered the office after my wonderful trip to Boston, Susanne from Marlon (the company that built our website) brought us some fabulous news: Smart Living Objects is nominated for the Usability Awards. That means the organization considers us as one of the 10 most user friendly websites in Belgium. Thank you for making that happen, Marlon!

But we’re not there just yet. We’d like to win the award as well and we really really need your help for that. So please vote for us and help us reach that first place:

And now for something completely different…

As I mentioned before, the trip to Boston and its area’s was very relaxing and I really enjoyed my stay there. And Balldo still does I have the impression, since he visited Fenway Park and was caught sunbathing in Brookline:

Here at Smart Living Objects we just hope he can travel a bit and that he enjoys himself!

October and November are the perfect months to redecorate your house as all designers then show their new creations in magazines and on trade fairs. Find inspiration at INTERIEUR 2012 in Kortrijk, Belgium. It’s a fair with an international reputation, where everyone will find what they’re looking for. Unfortunately we couldn’t be there, but we were very much under the impression of these objects.

Enjoy and see you soon!

The 3 best ways to spend Halloween when you’re not American or Irish

True. Since a couple of years (it must be almost a decade by now), Halloween has grown more and more popular in areas where pumpkins only used to be an ingredient for pie or soup. Europe now also enjoys this mostly American tradition, albeit on a different level.

Nonetheless, Europeans put together some nice creations:

The nice thing about Halloween is that it’s celebrated on October 31^st. On November 1^st many Europeans have the day off and that brings us to the first thing you can do on Halloween:

1. PARTY

There’s always time for a celebration, but when you don’t have to work the next day the occasion is even more special. Invite friends and family to your house, make some excellent Halloween dishes and treat them to your best Vampire’s drink:

Bloody Mary:

Ingredients

-1 1/2 ounces (1 jigger) vodka
-1/2 cup tomato juice
-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
-Worcestershire sauce to taste
-Tabasco to taste
-1 celery stick for garnish
-1 lemon wedge for garnish

Mix it up!
Combine the vodka, the tomato juice, the lemon juice, the Worcestershire sauce, the Tabasco, 1 cup ice cubes, and salt and pepper to taste, shake the mixture well, and strain it into a tall glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish the Bloody Mary with the celery stick and the lemon wedge.

Afterwards, party hardy in the city. And no, it doesn’t have to be a Halloween Party. A club or bar will do just fine :)

2. DRESS UP

Europeans have alternatives to the ‘trick or treat’-game and the nationwide interest in Halloween, but costume parties –my god –we love them. So that’s number 2. Halloween is the perfect occasion to dress up and go totally bezerk :) Find some inspiration with these celebrities, in The Costume Shop or at the Horrorklinik 

3. DECORATE YOUR HOUSE

October is the furniture month. All magazines show the new collections, trade fairs are held all over the world, so if you wish to redecorate your house, now is the best time to do it. And if you’d like to integrate Halloween into it, there are subtle ways to do so. Just ask Martha :)

We came up with our own spooky Halloween creation. The Orange Ball Chair is the lead actor. Have a look and tell us what you think:

Boooooooooh....Spooky, huh?

We know these tips don’t differ that much from what Americans do on Halloween, but here it’s still not as massively popular as it is in the US, which is why we went for the light version. We hope the tips help and if you have any other ideas, we’d really like to hear them. You can write them in a comment below.

See you next week!