Gone are the days when we only had off-white or gray washer and dryers to choose from. Just like many other home goods, such as KitchenAid mixers and Le Creuset pots, that come in a wide variety of classic and seasonal colors, washers and dryers are starting to appear in fun palettes, too. Since they're a necessity for most homes (and a luxury in small spaces), it's great to explore how they can add a nice pop of color as well. More

Hug & Hide Mirror
• $14.99
• FAO Schwarz

Babies are such divas and can gaze at themselves for hours (or minutes, which are hours in baby time). These mirrors are soft for holding but also stand on their own. Not into the lamb? There's also a monkey and an owl.

Haier MW-BQ8S Mini
• About $157.00
• Haier

You can forgive me for somehow missing the Haier MW-BQ8S Mini at CES 2012 earlier this year. The 26 x 28 x 38 cm compact washing machine is about the size of a medium sized kitchen waste bin (photo for size reference), so it's easy to mistake it for anything but a washing machine. Inside, the top loading MW-BQ8S washes smaller items with an "ozone sterilization" mode with three washing programs. No word yet whether this space saving, apartment dweller-compatible models will hit US soil, but you can import them for under $160 before shipping fees...tempting for an apartment dweller without laundry on the premises like myself!

Mention the word "spreadsheet" and my immediate response is first ,"YAWWWN", then "please get that away from me". For is there anything that induces instant gravitational downward force upon the eyelids than the typical Excel spreadsheet? App developer Josh Leong is looking to change the spreadsheet experience to something more intuitive...dare I say, even fun to use. More

As a decidedly pragmatic personality I would like to point out to you that, with this second weekend of August, summer is casually drawing to a close. Before it's time to settle into our autumn routines, we should take this chance to enjoy the last gasps of summer. From outdoor events like Chicago's Vintage Bazaar to Portland's Wave of Light event, there are plenty of one off sales and events to enjoy this weekend. Check it all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and send us your own sale or event. More

Trends in appliance colors come and go. Remember those avocado green appliances of yesteryear? Since stainless steel has been the trend in modern kitchens for the past few years, we're wondering what's next. Maybe Whirlpool's new white ice? More

Orbit is a concept washing machine for the year 2050, an entry for Electrolux Design Lab, imagined by designer Eliea Hovi. The space age design does away with soap and water altogether, cleaning clothes using sublimated dry ice at high pressure (CO2 reacts with the dirt in the clothing and breaks it down), with a levitating drum using magnetic levitation. More

It's only just the first week of July and already we've experienced heat waves across the country. You've probably heard about it from your Twitter and Facebook friends. You've probably also noticed the rise in articles about whether air conditioning is a saving grace or just plain bad. Living in the midwest I've experienced the extreme swings of heat and cold, nonetheless, I know where I stand on the issue — what about you? More

After spending another sweltering weekend in my flat I knew it was time to replace the once-trusty window AC unit that had become not-so-trustyworthy. As I began a search for a replacement I tried to figure out just how many BTUs I needed for the space, wondering whether I needed an upgrade... More

Full infographic over at Domo Blog.