furniture

Exoticism and the high-end audio aesthetic ought to be a natural combination, but that's rarely the case. There are exceptions, and when I find them I'll cover them in this blog.

Walking down Crosby Street in SoHo in Lower Manhattan with a few friends, we spotted a trendy shop, BDDW. The window display featured brilliantly designed furniture.

Once inside, it wasn't just the furniture that dazzled, there were quite a few vintage motorcycles on display! Looking further I came upon one of the strangest looking turntables I've ever seen. BDDW was definitely not your average boutique … Read more

With the IKEA aesthetic taking over so many homes, you might be yearning for furniture that reflects your mood. Literally. The interactive Mood Chair by U.K. designers Aether & Hemera "changes color in response to the colors that its sensors perceive from the environment and the users."

Is it accurate? We're not sure. But we give the artists props for reminding us of mood rings from our adolescent years.

Aether & Hemera play with LED lights, fiber optics, projections, and UV lamps, creating installations that explore light and its power to trigger a sense of identity … Read more

Made of particleboard and ABS plastic, the Lack rack comes in a variety of painted colors (and "birch effect"); it's 21.3 inches wide and deep, and 17.75 inches high. Ikea doesn't present the Lack as audio furniture; it's a side table, but audiophiles all over the world have used it to support their prized possessions. Build quality is surprisingly sturdy.

Granted, the Lack won't handle macho 100-pound high-end amplifiers, but it'll be just right for a CD player stacked on top of a cool running receiver or integrated amplifier. Or get … Read more

High-back, leather executive chairs that let you lean backward are really cushy (and expensive), but you can achieve the same effect and not (totally) burn a hole in your wallet with the $500 Attitude Chair.

Unlike conventional seats, this contraption by Deger Cengiz is fitted with two additional legs. In normal upright position, these legs won't touch the floor. But as you lean back, they roll out to replace the two front legs that have just been lifted off the ground.

We're assuming the pair stops at a fixed angle to prevent you from tipping over. While you … Read more

Room Arranger offers to help users by setting up a virtual room or rooms. While the controls require a steep learning curve, many users may feel that the exciting results are worth it.

This program definitely requires users without prior design experience to make a trip to the online Help file. Here, users will get a better idea of what the confusing icons and command buttons, which are scattered throughout, do. Designing a room was surprisingly simple after we got a feel for the program and did a little experimenting. Users choose the dimensions of their room and can even … Read more

Live Interior 3D Pro is a full-featured interior-design application designed to help you plan and visualize redecorating and remodeling projects, in both 2D and 3D. The most impressive improvement in version 2 (which also splits the application into Standard and Pro versions) is the ability to edit 3D objects directly in Live Interior 3D using Google SketchUp. You can even export entire projects to Google SketchUp format, with import and export support for Google SketchUp 7.

The 3D models that you can create--both as QuickTime movies and QTVR virtual-reality "walkthroughs"--have gotten better, too, with improved lighting and … Read more

Yikes. If this is the future of armchair living, gimme a Fatboy Hammock anytime. Designer Eduardo McIntosh's post-apocalyptic vision of an Autonomous Living Unit looks like a hot seat custom-made for the dystopian future of John Connor (Christian Bale).

According to McIntosh, this proposes a way of putting all the functions of a home into a single chair, and is intended to be installed in derelict buildings and deserted housing projects. Though why he reckons a recliner comprising a sinister tangle of speakers, wires, tubes, and dangling light bulbs could serve the basic needs of 21st century man remains a mystery.

But since this was designed as "a somewhat satirical project," if you didn't get, well, you got it. The concept contraption was exhibited at New York's d3 as part of the "Future Cities: Past, Present" exhibit in April. More images after the jump. … Read more

Some things look description in the eye and say: "Go on. Take your best shot. You ain't got nothin' on me."

Which is why I would like to offer you a TV spot for the Red House furniture store in High Point, N.C.

It has already been viewed by more than 600,000 people on YouTube. And it is, it is...well, I think it would be best if you tried to add the words to finish the thought, as I have been temporarily paralyzed. I am not sure if it's fright, shock, disgust, or … Read more

We've tested a lot of sound bar speakers for CNET, but none as ambitious or expensive as GenevaSound's Home Theater system. It's a 2.1 channel virtual surround system with an all-digital 700-watt amplifier, seven speakers, and integrated 12-inch subwoofer.

There's also a CD player, radio, and an iPod/iPhone dock. Considering its $3,999 list price, you might expect this super-size home theater to include a Blu-ray player, or at least a DVD player, but you're on your own. Your TV can be placed on the cabinet or wall mounted.

Oh well, the GenevaSound … Read more