Reading goes Nu-rave

Upstart company Interead's new COOL-ER e-book reader makes reading look positively nu-rave. It's aimed at people who are non-tecchy. It's also launching an E-book store says Reading-based CEO Neil Jones. Eight different colours in eight different languages, the COOL-er was launched as Jones realised demand for the Kindle outstripped available supply and that there was still room in the market.

Salone preview

Established and Sons have JUST released a picture of Matali Crasset's Open Room No. 1, this is still a prototype and they have got seven days to put together the final version for Salone next week. It also might come with a rug. There is an integrated light, shelves and filing cabinets that can be arranged accordingly.

Leica Editions

German Leica M8 cameras have recently undergone stylish makeovers with the "White", "Safari" and collaboration edition with astronomically expensive French leather goods doyenne Hermes

Only 500 units of "Safari" are in production so get ebaying. The colour was inspired by the olive green paint used on the M cameras supplied by Leitz to the Bundeswehr (Germany army) in the sixties and the originaly hard to find Leica R3 Safari.

Hermes x Leica

Clinical "White" Leica

Come Dine With Me

Lots of people steal from restaurants. Unlike the poor coffee spoon thief/diner that was victim to chef Tom Aiken's wrath back in '04, most people don't get caught. British restaurant chain Canteen's must-have offering is a table - only the more advanced shoplifters among you need apply. Designed by new design group Very Good and Proper.Go legal and buy it from it's sole stockist Twenty Twenty One

Get trolleyed

Beautiful hand-made wooden kids toys by German firm Sirch who also make beautiful sleighs.

Do put all your eggs in one basket

Japanese company Tamanohada's soap are all completely natural and don't have that all too common astringently artificial pong. The packaging is to die for.

In case you hadn't realised they're not eggs they're soaps!

Love the very graphic signage on each individual soap

An individual soap

Sweet Cubism

Toronto-based Ninutik make the most stylish maple sugar products in Canada.

Maple sugar cube

Make sure no-one in the house mistakes it for cheese (although it will serve them right for not asking your permission first!)

Have your cake and eat it...

Washing up is now oh, so fun thanks again to Sam Hecht's
Industrial Facility

Slice of sponge cake anyone?

50 Scent

New soy wax candles from a series of three by Baxter of California. Packaging is by Marc Atlan who injected the pazzaz into the Comme des Garçons, Helmut Lang and Yves Saint Laurent packaging.