Surface : A design blog

10 Less Than Ordinary Fans to Keep Cool

With the Summer Solstice last week, it's pretty warm out, and that means we're definitely in the midst of fan season. Being a bit tired of the same old designs that we've all seen and probably had since college (come on, you know the types... the floppy cheap drugstore plastic floor fans, or those double fans you close your window over?)... so here are some more aesthetically pleasing options - So you really have NO EXCUSE left to have an ugly fan.

Mid Century Piggy Bank

What better way to save up for all those pricier objects of desire (be it gadgetry, housewares, or anything at all), than in a delightfully retro, yet simply modern piggy bank? As Elsewares describes the piece, "This beautiful piggy bank was cast from a mid-century mold and hand-glazed for an authentic 1950s feel. What's more, each bank comes with real, honest-to-goodness money inside (amount varies)." Yes. REAL MONEY. And no worries, there is a plastic stopper on the base of the pig, so there really is no need to take out the hammer quite yet. Unless you need that more

Father's Day Plasmas/LCDs

So, browsing all of the various options on BestBuy, and randomly searching the internet for wall mounts, we sat there staring at the perfect place for the future 55", and couldn't decide where the cabling would be run if you didn't want to have it coming out from within the wall. So that got me wondering, where DO people hide them? Do lots of homes have their cables exposed in their multitude of colors which probably don't match the paint job on that wall so nicely? Have magical wireless solutions to this situation shown up yet? Do more

Porcelain Memory

Is memory no longer precious? With USB keys being given away as the cheap schwag of the day... cellphones and mp3 players supporting gigs and gigs of data... tiny cards full of data that you toss around your desk as you switch between digicams... What do you use to keep your important data? How do you give them the special storage space they deserve? How about these ? As described on "Mokkatanten sort of translates to 'elderly aunts drinking coffee and bickering' - not quite what the two founders Cora Gebauer and Insa Doan are, who are in fact working in more

Surface: Design starts on the outside...

Welcome to Surface, CNET blogging on design... and no, we're not superficial, but let's be realistic here... first impressions count for a lot, especially when it comes to the products and accessories you surround yourself with... be it in your office spaces, kitchen, living room, and especially the things you wear. So i'm sure this blog will be evolving (and quickly!) but i'll be covering all things great and gorgeous for your everyday, especially those details that complement your tech and gadget filled lifestyles. So here's a quick overdose of what you will definitely be seeing more of soon. (Links to find out more on each product after the jump.)