Caroline Williamson

Mestizodizenio is a line of furniture from young Argentinian designer Leonardo Puppo. The line focuses on practical designs but with a punch that makes each one stand out. Each piece mixes wood with another color, or even black and white, which gives them their own personality.

Vancouver-based designer Greg Papove has created a collection of furniture that was inspired by your everyday socks and the stories they have to tell. Socks + Furniture is a coffee table, floor lamp, and sofa that challenge one to take a second look at the mundane and not to overlook the simple things in life.

This house located in Hyogo Prefecture in Yamasaki came to us via JA+U (Japan Architecture+Urbanism) and the light-filled, minimalist space is perfect for the often-cloudy location that it's in. Designed by Yo Shimada of Tato Architects, the main part of the home is partially sunken in the ground, which includes the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.

Strala is known for their line of limited edition objects but this year they're mixing it up with their "cult object" line of unlimited pieces. The Ponte table is the first such design and it's a good one. The angular wood frame is made of solid oak and stands out under the glass tabletop. The sharply angled legs are to hold the weight of the glass but aesthetically they really make the table.

Now this is an entryway! Designed by the architectural firm Matharoo Associates, the Curtain Door is most definitely a door like no other I've seen. The massive door is made of 40 sections of thick Burma teak and sits between the entrance's concrete walls. Each section has been carved to incorporate 160 pulleys, 80 ball bearings, one wire rope, and a hidden counterweight.

3D printing has taken design where we never thought it would go in recent years and it has boldly set up shop in the jewelry world. For companies like Toronto-based Hot Pop Factory, it makes the ability to produce affordable and unique jewelry a possibility, all from the comforts of their own home. Architecture school graduates Bi-Ying Miao and Matthew Compeau began their collaboration and Hot Pop Factory was born with its first collection, Stratigraphia.

Brazilian designer Roberta Rampazzo is back with a new table that plays around with perspective. The Illusion Side Table is the result of studying the feet of tables and working with the angles of the legs. By angling two of the legs, the table remains stable but it changes the look completely.

The Cape Town-based firm SAOTA (Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects) is known for their jaw-dropping designs and the Montrose House is no exception. Located up a steep incline at the end of a cul-de-sac, the home overlooks a valley and has views of the mountains and bay off in the distance. This house was made for the outdoors and the views of them through the walls of glass that cover the house.

Networktopia is a piece that was developed over a two-day period by artist Kim Harty. During the demonstration/performance, she dripped hot glass strings onto a platform and slowly built the glass up into mountain-like sculptures. The topographical piece looks like delicately spun cobwebs of silk or sugar.

Were you one of those people back in the 80s that rocked two or more Swatch watches on your wrist because you liked the look? I was! This spil-T-ime Limited Edition 2012 watch from American designer Paul Kweton made me think of that. The double watch faces split the time by separating the hour hand from the minute hand. It kind of makes you look at time in a whole new way, doesn't it?

Death. As much as we hate talking about it, we know it's inevitable. And if you've ever had to plan a service/funeral/memorial for anyone you know the choices are somewhat, well, same-y. The cremation choices are even fewer for both people and pets. You have your standard metal or porcelain jars and your wood boxes, but what if those just aren't your taste? Luckily modern design has hit the urn market and given us new options with companies like Capsule Urn.