furniture

As flat-screen TVs continue to evolve, so does the design of furnishings around them--some less successfully than others, as evidenced by the combo TV fireplace. And, as is to be expected, the Italians are leading the way.

Bruno Fattorini is the latest designer to meld form and function with this TV panel from MDF Italia, which BornRich says is equipped to flush-mount plasmas and LCDs in sizes from 37 to 50 inches. It comes in such finishes as anthracite gray and anodized aluminum. This isn't just an updated '70s wall unit in faux oak veneer.

We eagerly await the … Read more

Smart Technology is the innovative new line by Pottery Barn. I couldn't stop laughing when i first saw this over on Cool Hunting... is this the sign that technology has truly become ubiquitous in our everyday? Or have we just redefined what makes something "smart"? Honestly, take a look at this new line of products... classic Pottery Barn styled pieces get more intelligent with the integration of speakers, powerstrips, and holes for cables to come through... Below are a few more pieces from the collection. All of this makes me wonder whether there is a need for the services of someone willing to adapt all of your antique furniture to better house your tech... embedding speakers, powerstrips, wifi boosters, splash pad chargers that work beneath that gorgeous wood inlay?… Read more

Sometimes on Crave I talk about my dream office. This would undoubtedly be a part of it. I think it might be the most beautiful bar ever; yes, even cooler than the inflatable one. This is, like, the iPhone of bars. Crafted out of a combination of brushed and polished stainless steel, it comes with a bottle cooler and a sink that you can connect to your water supply. They really thought of everything.

Additionally, the panels on the front are luminescent, so this is guaranteed to look extra awesome after dark. At the (discounted!) price of $7,365, that'… Read more

It could be all the microclimates here on CNET's sixth floor, or it could just be my co-workers' widely divergent internal thermostats. Either way, a given day here in the office will see some of us shivering and reaching for thick sweaters, while others complain that the place is steaming hot. What's a newsroom comprised of such varying body temperatures to do?

Office furniture maker Herman Miller, it turns out, has come up with the C2, a $300 personal climate control device for just such a workplace dilemma. The company--which notes on its Web site that temperature control … Read more

If you really love Tetris, you're bound to have a lot of books about Tetris. You've also probably got a DVD archive of your greatest Tetris performances. It just goes with the territory.

Odds are, if you've got that many books and DVDs about Tetris, you might as well go all-out and display them on a Tetris-themed bookshelf/DVD organizer.

Courtesy of the handiwork of Instructable user odecom5, the online DIY showcase Instructables has step-by-step instructions on how to build your own Tetris bookshelf/DVD rack.

This isn't some half-hearted production, either. All five of the … Read more

The 'C' in ICFF stands for 'contemporary,' and indeed, you're not going to see any Chippendales or mahogany armoires on the show floor. So it was a tad bizarre to see an old-school Adirondack outdoor chair among all the experimental pieces. As it turns out, however, this chair by Douglas Homer for Loll Designs isn't your average piece of patio furniture. That's because it glows in the dark.

This line of furniture is appropriately titled "AfterGlow," and in addition to the Adirondack, Loll has also designed an ottoman and an armless double seat. These could … Read more

A few months back, the Transport pod created by Alberto Frias gained some serious blog buzz, and with good reason--what self-respecting tech blogger wouldn't want to write about a space-age sleeping pod equipped with speakers and color-changing LEDs that pulse along with the music?

Consequently, while wandering around at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC on Sunday, I spotted one of the cocoon-like Transport pods on display and more or less squealed. Frias himself was there to show it off, and the first question I asked was, "Can I go inside?" I wasn't expecting Frias … Read more

If you've ever spent any time on your sofa wishing you could take it wherever you wanted to go, you might want to talk to Marek Turowsk.

On Sunday, Turowsk set a new world record for "fastest furniture," according to The Sun, a British publication.

The Sun reported that Turowsk hit 92 mph, breaking the previous record of 87 mph for high-speed couches, which was set in 1998 by engineer Ed China.

And no, he didn't set the record by dropping the couch off a building. This was pure horizontal acceleration.

Lest you think this is … Read more

Embedding music systems in household furniture is hardly a unique concept, as we've seen it done in pieces ranging from headboards to fireplaces. But in most cases, you don't sit on the equipment.

That's why we were initially a bit dubious about the "Substage FlatMagic Active Subwoofer," which is described as "the world's first ultra-compact low-profile audiophile subwoofer solution"--meaning that it's thin enough to slide under a living room chair or sofa. Soundmatters, which will soon sell a new version of the skinny box for $399, says it was designed … Read more