We are definitely not strangers to hot radiators here at unplggd. Not hot temperature wise, but in a damn that's hot, I like the way that looks kind of way. We have rounded up some interesting examples of ways to stay warm before, but Trendir has brought our attention to i-radium. This company has combined two of our favorite elements into a sculptural heating package the is both pleasing to the eye and comforting for the body.... More

I think that most of us take it as a given that we will use dishwashers to clean up our dishes. I've had a few, but I have to say that I rarely use dishwashers. Most of the time, immediately after using dishes, I just clean them up. It takes a few minutes, but it's pretty efficient. Naturally, this means that we've got dishes drying on our dish rack all of the time, but at least it gets the job done. More

We all have refrigerators. The trouble is that the basic design hasn't changed in about 100 years. Most of the fridges that I've had were pretty similar. They hide away food so that it doesn't go bad. There isn't much more to say about this, except that it's possible to improve upon this. That's why I think that Celsius is a really good idea. Celsius and other fridges with glass doors enable you to see exactly what you have in your fridge to make sure that food doesn't go to waste. More

If you're anything like me, you never look forward to ironing. I imagine I could take great pleasure in the chore if I only had the resources (money and space) for the ridiculously awesome Miele Rotary Iron. As an owner of a Miele Pisces Canister Vacuum I know that this is quite possibly the best iron money can buy. And if you don't care about an over-the-top device to help you with your laundry, you should at least check out the amusing press photos... More

Outlets and swtiches don't tend to get much love when it comes to style innovation. Things like the Bocci 22 unfortunately are few and far between. While there is a definite 'designed in California' vibe to these everyday home fixtures from SDESIGNUNIT, in actuality, Korea is where these are coming from. Light switches, thermostats, outlets, and the security monitor are all tied together with a minimalist soft square design language that reads more iMac than Honeywell. Ok, everything except for the remote, which has a unique feature all its own.... More

We are big fans of Braun's industrial design. The Dieter Rams Braun that is. The simplicity and minimalism of Braun has been credited with inspiring many of Apple's design....and now we see some of the same design DNA in the Stand Cleaner. More

Ceiling fans—as ugly as the world of HGTV and TLC design shows would have you believe they are—are necessary here in the south. With sweltering summer temperatures, running the air conditioning on full blast around the clock would result in a utility bill charge with more digits than we'd like to see. Turning a ceiling fan on can help spread cool air all around your home and actually keep you as comfortable as you'd be if you turned the AC down 10 degrees. But unfortunately as a renter, you might have to go without a fan and just deal with the installed appliances you're given. Until now... More

We let our sewing gene fade several years ago. With an old sewing machine collecting dust, we're ready to get back to it. For those new to sewing who area also eager to stop wishing and start doing, we're hoping the experts out there can chime in about what machine is best. We rounded up a few below -- thoughts on these or other brands/types out there? Advice wanted! More

The Greener Gadgets Conference, which happens in New York on February 27th, is hosting a design competition through the 20th. They've compiled fifty concept products that you can vote for on their site. The ten most popular designs will be awarded at the conference. A few of the designs have already shown up on Unplggd, including the Blight Venetian shades, the ReCompute, and a printer that uses old coffee and tea as ink. After the jump we roundup our ten favorite ideas submitted to the GG competition. What are your faves?
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For most people, it seems like washing machines haven't changed in 50 years. Sure they're more energy efficient and green, but basically, it's the same type of machine. Back in the day, people thought that by the year 2000, everyone would fly to work on their jetpacks on in their hover-cars. This hasn't happened and it looks like washing machines will stay the same for the next few decades, that is until some kind of future tech will revolutionize the way that we wash. However, it's still possible to improve the idea. More