5 original Xmas decorations

Our office is currently very busy with preparing the new collection and we can hardly wait to show you what we we've come up with for the next 6 months. But for now, we just want to drown in the warm and amusing Christmas atmosphere. So let's have a look on cool, surprising design and decoration that was specially developed for the greatest holiday ever!

Greeting cards are a very important part of the end of the year festivities, but it's sometimes hard to find original ones. Akimbo, however, really got the picture:

Now, your Christmas tree is probably already decorated, but in case it hasn't or there's still room for some extra balls, you should definitely consider Seletti's Pantone Xmas Balls:

On Design Milk - one of our favourite blogs - we found these cute round wooden blocks with which you can build 3 snowmen. These Stackable Snowmen from fruitsuper design are made of 12 different parts that you can mix and match:

We're pretty sure you have bought most of your gifts. But you still have to wrap them, don't you? That is why we browsed the web looking for original and cool wrapping paper. It's so cool that people might not wanna unwrap their gift in order not to damage it :)

This Robot Wrapping Paper is excellent for children. Available at Not On The Highstreet

In that same online store you can also find - among other unique wrapping papers -  this adorable Christmas Reindeer Gift Bag:

We have looked and looked for particular Christmas furniture, but were not able to locate any on the web. And then we came to senses, cause Smart Living Objects has a chair that will do just fine as Xmas decoration:

Tadaahh: Santa's Little Helper, aka the Ball Chair Red with Dots.

Voilà, our Xmas hunger has almost been satisfied.

We wish you a very merry Christmas!
See you next week.

Amazing gifts for your Grandparents

In less than 2 weeks we can finally unpack all the wonderful Christmas gifts we have been collecting so far. But we bet a lot of you haven't finished their Christmas shopping and so here we are with our last gift ideas! This week we're going to show you what you can buy for the Grandparents.

1. Grandparents love their children and grandchildren the most and when they can't see them in real life, they always want to be reminded of them by pictures. So if you buy them for example the beautiful Surin Frame and you put in a nice photo beforehand, Granny and Granddaddy will be very pleased!

2 + 3. Smoking is a bad habit, we want to be clear about that. But people who do smoke will definitely like our Extra Large Metal Ashtray and the Extra Large Petrol Lighter because they're original and funny, yet functional. And you can always use the petrol lighter for other things to light than a cigarette. Huge candles for example :)

4. Playing cards with normal cards is fun. Playing cards with the Extra Large Playing Cards Set A4 is hilarious! And very convenient for people who have a bit of difficulties to see clearly. 

5. The Banco Box is a beautiful handmade accessory that is perfect to store many different things in: jewellery, cigars, tea or coins...It doesn't matter, Banco will look after it :)

6.  Made from full cork this Tribe Table looks very good in classic and traditional interiors that have a high 'cosy factor'. Your Grandparents will adore it! And so will you, which will result in more visits. Everybody happy ;)

Looks like we're done here.
We wish you the best Christmas ever and hope all your wishes will come true.

See you next time!

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!

The Four Seasons, the Holiday Inn, ...

The weather is fickle and temperatures are sinking. Days are getting shorter and the air is filled with that typical smell we associate with one particular season. Yep, autumn is no longer on our doorstep, it has entered the house and is now serving itself tea. But we have to admit, it can be one beautiful interlocutor. Look at the fall in all its glory:

Still, no matter how nostalgic autumn may be, here at Smart Living Objects we prefer summer to every other season. And that’s why one of co-workers is such a lucky bastard. She’s going to the Walhalla of Indian Summer: the North East of the United States.  Look look look:

Now that you know our preferable season, it's time to tell us yours and the reason why. Is it winter because you love to get presents at Christmas? Spring because you get a kick out of jumping up and down when the birds start to sing? Or Autumn because you like it so much that you can sleep one hour longer that time of year? Those are all valid reasons, you know :) No, we’re very curious about what our readers think. You can share it in a comment.

Now back to our colleague. When she gets back (if she gets back might be a better expression :) ) she will write her adventures on the blog. Apart from that, we’re also very curious about what she’s going to bring us. Would it be something from the Boston Design Center ? Or a gift from the Design Museum? Let’s wait and see…

So we don’t know which souvenirs she’ll bring us, but she already has a present for a US citizen. We just don’t know which American yet. Life’s full of surprises :)

You see, we’re launching a new competition, entitled ‘Who has Balldo? Smart Leaving Object’.

Balldo is one of favourite gadgets from the Extra Large collection. He’s in fact a major golf ball with a big sense for adventure, which is why we picked him to go on a world trip. To make that happen we need your help. As soon as you get Balldo, you have to take an original picture of him and put it on our Facebook page or send it to our email address. After that you have to pass him on to someone else. In March 2013 we will pick a winner. To read all about the competition, visit the Smart Living Objects website. 

 

See you next time!

We fly high…

True, we work hard. But sometimes it’s time for a celebration. There doesn’t always have to be a reason, but in this case there definitely was. Yesterday Piotr, our very nice colleague, worked 10 years at XLBoom – the mother company of Smart Living Objects - and just having shared a bottle of Champagne to commemorate that occasion would have been, well…a little cheap. So of course we decided to call in the big guns. We started off in the morning with homemade cheesecake and pie. Most of us already had a nutritious breakfast, but then again, it’s way too early for new year’s resolutions :)

At noon, we all had a delicious lunch (with champagne of course). Look for yourself and judge:

The party really started at 13h30. Our bosses gave Piotr a fake assignment. He was supposed to pick up a parcel at the airport of Antwerp, but once he arrived there he was welcomed by a pilot who took him on a half hour helicopter flight above Antwerp.

Like every normal person, Piotr felt a bit scared when he was about to enter the helicopter but afterwards he was as happy as he could have possibly been. A super gift!

We’ll see you next time!

We’re so excited…

Since Monday afternoon the Smart Living Objects webshop is officially open. And to our own surprise - one can never be modest enough in these things - we had our very first order that very first day. Quite the challenge by the way, as our Irish customer ordered the longest picture frame of our collection: the Horizon Frame with 9 pictures. Apart from that, you can’t blame her for having excellent taste :) We will get that parcel there undamaged. Have a look at the result of our packing skills:

So now that the first order has been placed and packed, billions can follow. We’re absolutely ready for it. And if we’re going to drink Champagne to each and every one of them, even better:)

It’s been a while since we went window shopping (well, it’s more browsing shopping in this case), so it’s high time for an update on the design front.

Vitra created 3 night clocks that we really adore and that have a similar style as many of our own products:

We really like the sleek yet somewhat humouristic design of these clocks. We’d love to have them next to our bed :)

The Battery Recycle Box of pa design is a very cool gadget that really matches our Extra Large collection:

Finally, even though it’s already going on, it might be interesting for design adepts to pay a visit to the London Design Festival. Everybody who loves beautiful objects can visit this trade fair until 24^th September. Attendees also have a chance of winning gorgeous purses and shoes. Take a chance!

See you next week!