Caroline Williamson

Helsinki-based designer Erkko Aarti came up with a way to beat the long, dark months that last throughout the winter in Finland. It's called LYHTY - a tent-like space that can be placed in public spaces or even somewhere in your house. The structure has light built into the frame to make the inside (and the outside) glow.

You might remember when we posted about this in concept form a couple of years ago. Well, now it's a reality and it's even better than we imagined. Designed by Christopher Duffy for Duffy London, the four-poster table suspends eight chairs and a light from its frame. For anyone who wants to put some fun into a boring business meeting or some excitement into mealtimes, the Swing Table is the way to go.

Andrea Rekalidis' design, Plant The Fence, takes the iconic picket fence and scales it back to be almost sketch-like. At first glance, it looks like a graphic cartoon drawing of a fence but then you realize it's actually a real fence. In place of wood, a row of metal gridded "planks" line up to be planted directly in the ground or into pots.

Located not too far from Budapest, this modern farmhouse is all about simplicity and incorporating points from old Hungarian peasant architecture. Designed by Budapesti M?hely, the H House is built using modular square units that are laid out in sets of two in a row. One side acts as a hallway with smaller closets and bathrooms incorporated and the other side of units are the individual rooms.

Inspired by rocks lined up on a beach, the Isola collection was designed by the Italian duo, Gumdesign, for both Giovannetti Collezioni and Sacerdote Marmi. The collection consists of seating and marble tables, all with bright yellow metal frames.

Nothing has made me want to bust out my markers and crayons more than this Bill Murray coloring book. Belly Kids sought out 24 illustrators to design images of the beloved Bill Murray and compiled them into this ridiculously fun coloring book entitled Thrill Murray.

Located in scenic Carmel, California, the Caterpillar House is a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom dwelling that implements many sustainable features as it curves along with the rolling land it sits on. Wanting a modern ranch with strong horizontal lines, the client also desired a home that connected seamlessly with the outdoors.

Terrariums are made for people with black thumbs (i.e., me). Not only are they easy to take care of, they are beautiful to look at. They're like little worlds contained in a miniature glass greenhouse. Luckily they don't have to be just a glass globe or a jar anymore with options like these from æther.

Built by Yoshihiro Yamamoto Architect Atelier (YYAA), this house is located in Nara, Japan in a neighborhood developed in the 1970s. Sandwiched between lookalike prefabs and traditional Japanese homes, this modern residence was designed specifically for the homeowners, which happen to be a young couple.

Built for the architect himself, Slip House was designed as an adaptable prototype for learning about sustainable design, as well as ways to build affordable homes. Designed by Carl Turner Architects, the design is made up of three stacked boxes that are "slipped." The top floor, which houses the living area and rooftop access, is covered in milky glass sheets.

During Helsinki Design Week, I visited Habitare 2012, a furniture and design fair that drew about 57,000 people over the five days it was open. There was such great work on display including a large amount of student designs and work by Finnish designers.

Hill House is located in Melbourne, Australia, where lots are narrow, requiring architects to think outside the box -- and the team at Andrew Maynard Architects did just that. The owners of the home wished for a modern update that included reorienting the entryway and an outdoor space that actually got sunlight. The also needed the home to provide adequate space for their three growing children.