When your entire house measures a mere 200 square feet or less, there’s usually no room for an abundance of normal-sized appliances. If you’re thinking about making the jump to living tiny, you’ll want to start by considering which items you can’t live without — and how you’ll slot them all into your floor plan.

Most tiny house residents find a few basic appliances to be absolute essentials: a water heater, a cooktop, a refrigerator, and a heater or air conditioner. Whether you decide to add on an oven, freezer, washing machine, clothes dryer, microwave, generator, electric ventilation system, and/or various additional kitchen gadgets is up to you.

Your setup will also vary depending on whether you plan to be grid-connected at all times, fully off-grid, or somewhere in between. For flexibility, many people choose appliances that are capable of running on propane or DC power as well as AC power.

Sized just right for tiny homes and versatile enough for most applications, these five essential appliances are a great way to jump-start your shopping list:

Atwood 3-Burner Cooktop

Drop-in gas cooktops are affordable, attractive, and easy to use, and you can find them in both two and four-burner models. This one from Atwood, measuring just 16 by 20 inches, runs on propane and doesn’t require connection to power for ignition — just use a lighter or a match. If you really need an oven, too, similar models include one without taking up too much more precious space.

SMETA 3-Way Refrigerator

Available in sizes ranging from 2.1 cubic feet to 9.4 cubic feet, this off-grid refrigerator can be hooked up to grid power, run on a solar panel system, or connected to a propane tank. The larger models include a freezer, and while they’re still not full-sized fridges, they hold a lot for their size. Dometic is one of the best-known brands producing refrigerators like these, but many tiny home residents say the lower-priced SMETA is just as good.

Mirage Ventus 12,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split

Diminutive wood or propane-powered marine stoves are a popular choice for heating tiny houses, and they can offer a lot of cozy ambiance, to boot. But a more versatile option, if you have the electricity to spare, is an energy-efficient ductless mini-split air conditioner and heater combo. The condenser can be mounted to the tongue of your tiny house trailer while the indoor unit is mounted to an interior wall, high up out of the way. Models like this one from Mirage make temperature control easy throughout the year and use a lot less power than a conventional A/C unit.

Camplux Tankless Propane Water Heater

On-demand hot water is a beautiful thing. This tankless, space-saving unit by Camplux runs on propane, offers a digital temperature display, and puts out 2.64 gallons per minute. While a lot of similar compact propane water heaters must be used outdoors for safety, this one comes with a horizontal venting pipe, exhaust fan, and safe electronic ignition system. Even better, it actually doesn’t look half bad hanging on the wall.

LG Compact Washer/Dryer Combo

Few people have time to wash their clothes by hand these days, and laundromats aren’t so fun either. If you really want the ability to do laundry in your tiny home, a combo washer/dryer is the way to go. LG’s 2.3-cubic-foot model gives you almost the same capacity and all the same functions you’d get from standard washers and dryers in a single package measuring 24” x 33 1/2” x 25 1/4”. Is it a bit of a luxury in a tiny house? Yeah, but it’s worth it.

Top image via New Frontier Tiny Homes

The post 5 Appliances You Need in a Tiny Home first appeared on Dornob.

A new product called the Heatbox aims to appeal to people who want the health and savings of a home-cooked meal on the go without bringing a microwave into the equation. Even people who work out in the field, far away from office kitchens and power outlets, can enjoy hot meals within minutes.

The Heatbox is a self-heating rechargeable lunchbox that uses steam to reheat food within eight minutes, no matter where you might be. More compact than the average lunch cooler, it features an outer container and a removable inner food container. You just pour a little water into the “moat” between the two, press a button, and wait eight to twelve minutes for it to warm up. You get up to three uses per charge, and as a bonus, you can also use it to charge your phone.

The minds behind the Heatbox add that “unlike the alternatives, Heatbox truly makes you independent when it comes to eating. No more hassle, limitations, or expensive/unhealthy takeout. Finally take control of what you eat, where you eat, and when you eat.”

The ability to heat up your meal anytime, anywhere is definitely appealing, and its use extends far beyond work lunches. You could take it on picnics, road trips, and hikes, or even bring it to sporting events. Of course, the design also lends itself to being used in less-than-desirable places, like on public transit and inside other confined areas. It also makes us wonder whether or not it would just encourage the same co-workers who normally microwave offensive-smelling lunches to do so at their desks instead.

For now, it seems like you’ll still want to stick it in the fridge at work or keep it in a larger insulated bag if you need to keep certain ingredients from spoiling. An accompanying app gives you a little control over the temperature, allowing you to add extra time if you like your food hotter than average.

If you’re eyeing that wooden lid wondering whether the whole thing would just empty its contents into your bag on your commute, don’t worry: the company says it’s spill-proof, and includes an optional “cooling sleeve” to provide extra protection just in case. On Kickstarter, where the Heatbox is currently crowdfunding, a video shows the double-sealing mechanism put to “the most scary test known to lunchboxes… SOUP!”

The project has already well surpassed its initial funding goal, but rewards are still available for pledges of €129 or more (about $143 USD), so act quickly!

The post Self-Heating Lunchbox Warms Your Food Anytime, Anywhere first appeared on Dornob.

“The Original Blanket with Sleeves,” the Snuggie, has become a bit of a cult classic despite how ridiculous people look while wearing it. Because, let’s face it, everybody likes to be comfortable. A new product called the V-Blanket is not exactly more fashionable than the Snuggie, but it does offer several useful functions that make it a sort of Snuggie for outdoor adventures.

Sure, you can curl up with a V-Blanket on the couch, but where it really comes in handy is at sports games, on road trips, or while camping. It’s a waterproof heated blanket and cape in one, and you can use it in a variety of ways. Sit on it like an ordinary waterproof outdoor picnic blanket, sit under it for warmth, or wear it like sweater.

The blanket cape’s Kickstarter page reads: “During the winter, the weather changes fast and becomes cold. We know all the people need something easy to take with them that’s convenient to use. So, we came up with the idea of the heated throw and called it V-Blanket. The product can keep up a human’s body temperature but also generate heat to help people get warm.”

The V-Blanket is a portable battery-powered heated blanket, with heating material woven in with ultra-fine carbon fibers so the wiring is imperceptible to the wearer, distributing heating evenly. This helps it stay flexible, too, so it doesn’t feel stiff when you’re wearing it or have wires that are uncomfortable to sit on. Turn on any of its three adjustable heating zones with the press of a button, and enjoy a toasty 85-degree blanket in just 30 seconds.

The interior is lined with cotton twill to trap the heat, and the exterior is 100-percent waterproof, so you can rely on it even in rain or snow. A built-in USB port allows you to keep your devices charged, and there are even two LED lights built into the chest and back of the cape, either for visibility while cycling or walking after dark, or for reading and completing tasks without needing a separate flashlight.

The V-Blanket’s creators add: “Unlike traditional heated blankets, which are notorious for bulky components and tangling cords, V-Blanket works at a non-hazardous 5V low voltage that can be powered by any type of USB external battery pack. It also has a built-in female USB-A connector to charge your mobile device while keeping you warm and cozy. It is ideal for outdoor sporting events, untethered use on the couch, or chilly airplane cabins.”

“V-Blanket is incredibly lightweight and packable. It measures 54.5 x 38.5 inches when laid flat and weighs just 1.5 pounds. It compresses into a stuffed pack that measures 14.8 x 7.9 inches. With V-Blanket, you are always prepared for unexpected weather on vacations and holidays. V-Blanket is both machine and hand-washable, so you can just throw it in the washer with no worries. It can also be spin-dried at a low temperature.”

The V-Blanket is available in khaki, purple, or green. For an extra $10, you can add on a pretty nice feature: making the hood heated, too. You can learn more and pre-order one for yourself at Kickstarter.

The post Move Over, Snuggie: the Heated Convertible V-Blanket Cape is Here first appeared on Dornob.

Passive solar design is a no-brainer — yet the conventional way to deal with building facades that will be subjected to the hot, unrelenting sun is still just to insulate them, add some blinds, and plan to use a lot of air conditioning. It’s high time more architects and builders consider the ways the sun’s energy will affect a structure, and integrate some simple features that will make its interiors far more comfortable all year long.

Often low-tech and low-cost, passive solar techniques reduce energy costs and maintenance by tailoring designs to the climates around them. Orientation of the roof, windows, and facade with the position of the sun in mind, proper ventilation and insulation, shading, and thermal mass all make a big difference in interior temperatures.

The latter comes into play in a big (and beautiful) way in a new home by Manoj Patel Design Studio. Located in Gujarat, western India, the modern home uses clay roof tiles in an unexpected fashion, displaying them along the east facade in a pleasing pattern. What’s more, 40 percent of the tiles are reclaimed from the waste of other construction projects.

Clay is known for its thermal properties, retaining much of the energy it absorbs to cut down on the need for mechanical heating and cooling. It’s also highly durable, non-toxic, long lasting, and recyclable. Clay tiles on a sunny facade can absorb a lot of heat during the day, releasing it after dark when it’s cooler.

This isn’t the first time Manoj Patel Design Studio has experimented with clay roof tiles. Previously, the designers cut v-shaped clay tiles to create a wavy pattern on the facade of a house in Vadodara, India.

The architects add: “Here the ratio of 40 percent of waste clay tiles at free cost and 60 percent of new clay tiles at 10 INR per piece were collected, cut into six to eight one-inch wide parts, fixed in with [a] chemical solution against the available perpendicular surface of wall at 45 degrees, and crafted into a customized series for obtaining an everlasting beauty… Furthermore, the layering of th[ese] horizontal and vertical clay tiles is [based on] sun’s movement from south to west throughout the day as per Indian context, which keeps the area shaded by reduction in temperature.”

“An illusionist display is casted on the uniform surface of the wall through these angular patterns, which transform the solid form into more organic mass. Thus, this dwelling carved out its own character through contrasting red-colored earthy textures and volumetric masses, becoming a distinguishing dwelling among the surrounding street.”

In 2017, Manoj Patel Design Studio won a first place RTF Sustainability Award for its modular plantable screens made of clay tiles, which can be added to surfaces outside homes in places that receive a lot of solar exposure. Not only can you establish a vertical garden within these tiles, but you can also tuck lights into them for a look that’s even cooler after sunset.

The post Clay Tiles Bring Passive Heating to New House in India first appeared on Dornob.

If you’re prone to muscle pain, you probably have an arsenal of massaging tools in addition to a packed medicine cabinet. Electric massagers, rollers, acupressure balls, and other self-massage tools address different kinds of pain and soreness in different areas of the body, and they aren’t always interchangeable. It’s not that they aren’t useful, per se, but when you have a lot of them, they’re kind of annoying to organize, store, and take on trips.

The ability to combine several tools in one definitely helps, as long as they still perform all the necessary functions. A new offering called the YOGGI Ball claims it can do just that. Billed as an “all-in-one, whole-body massage system,” the small handheld device looks like a standard peanut-style vibrating massager but transforms on demand.

“Imagine a foam roller, massage ball, peanut, [and] massage pillow all rolled into one. Because that’s exactly what we did… Designed in partnership with leading physiotherapists, YOGGI Ball delivers targeted treatment and deep healing to be the most effective therapeutic solution. Simply, it’s the next best thing to having your own personal physiotherapist with you 24/7.”

It’s not just a device that you roll on yourself or press against your body. It also heats up and vibrates. Made from medical-grade silicone, the massager has three speeds of massage functions for eliminating knots, reducing muscle cramps, increasing blood flow, and promoting joint stabilization. The creators recommend using it for the trapezius, neck, hamstring, hips, feet, lower back, thighs, calves, or anywhere else you tend to feel stiff and sore.

Developed in collaboration with a physiotherapist, the tool aims to offer three major qualities that other massagers often can’t compete with: affordability, portability, and ease of use.

“YOGGI Ball’s ergonomically designed attachments target your primary and secondary muscle groups through versatile rolling, pressure, and pinpointing therapy techniques. It’s the best of both worlds: automatic and manual therapy to hit deep into sore muscles, painful trigger points, and stiff joints. To instantly switch between massage functions, simply snap and twist attachments using the Quick-Lock System. With just a couple of clicks, you can switch between dual ball rolling massage, targeted single ball massage, deep trigger point release, and heating and vibrating therapy.”

The YOGGI is essentially a modular device that includes four components: two balls, an acupoint handle, and a central connector. They can be used together or alone, in “pointball” form for targeted rolling, “acupoint” form for hard-to-reach trigger points deep in muscles, and “dual point roller” form to target large muscle groups like a foam roller would.

All of these combined functions make it pretty powerful, especially considering its small size. If you’ve ever tried to jam a foam roller into your luggage, you’ll appreciate the fact that it can just slip into your everyday bag so easily.

The YOGGI Ball is currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter. Check it out to back the project and receive your choice of early-bird discounted packages as a reward. The most affordable rewards offer the “pointball” alone, or you can get the entire roller kit alone or in larger quantities for fitness studios.

The post Take a Whole Body Massage System on the Go with the YOGGI Ball first appeared on Dornob.

Cue the Heated Razor: the first-ever innovation to come out of industry titan Gillette’s new GilletteLabs premium division. After completing a highly-successful round of crowdfunding at the end of 2018, this hot new product officially made its public debut last May via luxury shaving retailer The Art of Shaving. The Dornob team recently got the chance to put one to the test first-hand, and we’re happy to say it did a pretty good job of living up to the hype.

From the moment you first glimpse the Heated Razor’s sleek black packaging, it’s pretty apparent that it was designed to be a class act. This message translates outside the box, too, thanks largely to the razor’s wireless magnetic charging dock, which keeps it propped up on your bathroom countertop like it was suspended in mid-air. Pair that with the bright strip of light that runs up its handle whenever it’s on or charging, and you’ve got a decidedly modern new toy on your hands.

Even better, the Heated Razor runs about as smooth as it looks. It’s true that it only offers one major feature over most conventional blades — heating — but it does give you a surprising amount of control of that feature. Press the power button once to activate the thick gold warming bar underneath the razor’s five total blades. No need to wait around after turning it on, either, as this bar is ready to go in less than a second. After that, you’re free to start enjoying an ultra-smooth shaving experience the company likens to “the comfort of a hot towel.”

When it came time for me to try out the Heated Razor, I was immediately impressed by how easily the blades seemed to glide over all the contours of my face. I credit this to the incorporation of Gillette’s patented FlexDisc into its design, which gives the cartridge a refreshingly wide range of motion. And as someone who constantly finds themselves running their regular razors under hot water to achieve some semblance of the same effect, I think it goes without saying that I was quite pleased with the heat, too. If the initial temperatures was ever too hot for me — though to be completely honest, it never was — all I had to do was hold the power button for a few seconds longer than normal to switch to a lower heat setting.

After about a month of using the Heated Razor, it finally came time to recharge. This too was ultra-easy. Just stand it up on the charging dock for a few hours, make sure the dock’s actually plugged in, and you’re good to go.

I still use my Heated Razor to this day, and I have no plan on going back to my old shaving routine anytime soon. Of course, it is a luxury item, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not the $200 price tag is worth it. But if you’re as tired of getting cut by cold, uncomfortable razorblades as I was, it’s definitely something to consider swiping up.

The post Product Review: GilletteLabs’ New Heated Razor first appeared on Dornob.

Greenhouse design principles are becoming increasingly integrated with home solar heating strategies, the heat of the sun drawn in through expansive windows and then trapped within super-insulated interiors. This particular greenhouse building also references the aesthetics of its inspiration, with glass on all sides selectively shielded by interior layers where privacy is desired.

Shaped and structured like an industrial greenhouse, this design by architects Verdickt & Verdickt features exposed steel supports, broadly spaced windows and a barn-shaped a-frame configuration all very evident from the exterior. Once inside, however, modern furniture, clean lines, and white walls and ceilings contrasted with black floors and granite countertops all give this a sleek minimalist look

In some ways, the interior design aesthetic is a natural extension of the bare-bones exterior but is nonetheless a radical departure from what one expects to find within a greenhouse. Because it is constructed using prefabricated metal parts and standard industrial-sized windows this home was also relatively inexpensive to construct (as well as being cheap to heat of course).

“The realization of a budget-friendly home with maximum experience of space on a plot with traditional urban development regulations formed the basis for the concept of a greenhouse house.”

“Age-old trees, the last witnesses to a parceled park zone, characterize the site. The green location and the development of a new typology for affordable homes bound by traditional building codes form the starting points for the concept of a greenhouse house.”

“This ready-made freely divisible steel structure, enclosed with a curtain wall of conservatory profiles, forms the archetype of the living box. The hull forms a qualitative continuous space across the different building layers, the further interpretation is free. Through a detailed detailing, a thorough standardization, a very low K-value, the integration of ecologically responsible techniques, minimal use of materials and maximum spatiality, a sustainable home is created for an affordable price.”

The post Solar Greenhouse Home Design first appeared on Dornob.

The stuff sack’s crowdfunding page reads: “Does this sound familiar? Your evening meal still warm in your belly, the campfire now turned to red smoldering ashes. You fall asleep with a peaceful smile on your face, just to [be awakened] suddenly at 2 A.M. by the shivering cold. You become restless, your teeth begin chattering, and you just can’t get warm! You’re miserable, freezing, rolling in and out of pitiful sleep knowing this is going to be a long, dreadful night.”

“There are options for getting warm. But so few of them actually include SLEEP. Now, imagine the same scenario. Only this time when you wake up cold at 2 A.M., you simply drift right back off to sleep in a warm and toasty slumber, because instant warmth is at your fingertips by just the push of a button.”

The creators of the Hot Pocket note that the usual options to warm up in the great outdoors require disposable single-use hand warmers that only heat up small areas of the body, hot water bottles that could easily leak inside your sleeping bag at any moment, or physically sleeping dangerously close to a fire.

A more sustainable modern solution would be a lightweight, multifunctional item capable of providing significant warmth over a long period of time. The Hot Pocket does just that thanks to its ion battery power and built-in twin radiant heat panels. It’s also breathable and weather-resistant.

The Hot Pocket’s power pack can provide either six hours of heat or fully juice up a phone four times per charge, and it takes just 90 minutes to recharge. It’s also got a power level indicator, built-in LED flashlight, charging port, USB port, and Hot Pocket power port. You can charge it by plugging it into the wall, your car, or a portable solar panel.

The Hot Pocket comes in three sizes, with the size you choose depending on the temperature your sleeping bag is rated for and whether or not you’ll be sleeping in a hammock. If you’re especially cold-natured, the makers recommend getting two: one for your chest and another for your feet.

While the Hot Pocket heated stuff sack is clearly great for camping, it’s also a lot more versatile than that. Since it unzips completely to lay flat on the ground, you could just as easily use it on airplanes and roadtrips, at sporting events, or to keep a toddler cozy in their stroller on a cold day. Basically, it comes in handy anytime you have to be outside or in a cold place but don’t want to be bogged down by wearing excessive layers.

Made by Sierra Madre Research, the Hot Pocket just completed a successful round of crowdfunding on Kickstarter. It will be available for sale later this year at an expected retail price of $139 for the small size, $159 for medium, and $179 for large.

The post Hot Pocket: Heated Stuff Sack Keeps You and Your Gear Warm On the Go first appeared on Dornob.

For those of us who are always cold but dislike the feeling of bundling up under multiple heavy layers, a lightweight piece of clothing that stays warm for hours on end sounds like a dream. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, that dream might now be a reality.

The Flare is a shirt that actually generates its own heat thanks to three integrated carbon fiber heating pads connected to a hidden battery pack in one of its zippered pockets. Created by a company called Blanc, which proudly touts its product as the “world’s warmest shirt,” its heating zones are placed on the abdomen, lower back, and upper back to transmit heat directly to your vital organs, warming you up quickly and efficiently. While all of that sounds like it would be kind of bulky and annoying to wear, the heating pads are surprisingly thin and flexible, and the shirt itself looks as slim and light as any other.

The company is on a perpetual quest to “design the warmest shirt on the planet,” explaining: “One major challenge is how to keep warm but also to not overheat or sweat. Most of us layer up to keep warm but then end up getting too hot. When resting or starting an activity, you’re cold, but when active, you can overheat. We thought, what if there was smart clothing that adapted to the body’s needs?”

Three different warmth modes allow the wearer to customize the shirt’s temperature at the touch of a button (located along the hem on the left side). The low setting provides five hours of long-lasting warmth, the medium setting turns up the heat for about three and a half hours, and the high setting ensures you stay toasty no matter where you are and what you’re doing, whether you’re skiing down slopes or taking a long walk in the snow.

The Flare is made of lightweight quick-dry polyester that wicks moisture away on its insides and features handy thumbholes to help you keep the sleeves in place. It’s semi-fitted for a relaxed feel that’s still snug enough to transmit heat. The shirt comes with a 6000mAh power bank about the size of an iPhone 6 that remains snugly within the side pocket and offers about five hours of juice between charges. In warmer weather, you can take it out of the shirt and use it on its own to charge your devices on the go.

When it comes time to wash it, just take out the power bank and toss the shirt into the washing machine like you would any other garment. Blanc says it’s tested the shirt in harsh conditions and put it through many washing cycles to ensure that it could stand up to long-term use. The company offers a one-year warranty on both the shirt and battery.

The Flare is currently available for pre-order for $160 on Indiegogo, with shipping expected to begin in March 2019.

The post This Battery-Powered Shirt Keeps You Warm While It Charges Your Phone first appeared on Dornob.

As fate would have it, it looks like those days will soon be upon us once again. Charles Hall, the creator of the original water bed, is determined to revive his iconic invention for the modern masses.

Back in 1967, when Hall was just a student at San Francisco State University, he stumbled upon flotation furniture as part of an assignment for his engineering class. That led him to showcase his much-talked-about “Pleasure Pit”: an eight-square-foot heated furnishing that harnessed the properties of both a bed and a chair. After receiving backlash from those ruling the interior industry, the innovator took to the streets and delivered his products to celebrities who were keen to be his guinea pigs.

Among these famous faces was Hugh Hefner, the American magazine publisher best known for founding Playboy. When approached by Hall, Hefner bought one of his water beds (and had it upholstered in green velvet) for the Playboy mansion. Because of the publicity that erupted from that particular buyer, Hall’s flotation furniture gained a very particular reputation — but he was still determined to make his audience see how the bed could positively impact their sleep experience and overall health.

So how exactly does a water bed contribute to a person’s well-being? According to Hall, the secret lies in its weightless motion, which enhances both sleep and personal comfort. On top of that, water beds eradicate the problem of ever housing dust mites and bed bugs, both of which can be nasty downsides to our standard home mattresses.

Water bed sales reached $2 billion in 1986, but by that point, Hall’s personal company was entering bankruptcy. Today however, he feels that has has learned from the newfound demand for “retro” products, which is exactly why he has developed a brand new water bed called “Afloat.” This queen-size model includes a heater, a filling up and draining kit, a canvas sling to help maneuver it, and a metal frame, retailing between $1,995 and $2,395.

Within its first few months on the market, Afloat completely sold out, though we’ve been promised that it will soon be available again online. The company guarantees a full refund to all customers within the first 100 nights, but Hall is optimistic that this open-minded millennial generation is going to fall in love with his quirky product pretty quickly.

Retail journalist Warren Shoulberg explains: “This generation doesn’t have the association that water beds eventually got as a place where lonely single men slept in hopes of luring young ladies into their homes. The other thing is that consumers have no idea what’s inside most mattresses. It’s all gobbledygook. It’s this great mystery, and the industry loves it that way. It thrives on that confusion. The water bed is simple. It’s a big bag that holds water.”

The post Charles Hall’s Quest to Revive the Water Bed first appeared on Dornob.

This stylish outerwear isn’t stuffed with puffy feathers or layers of insulating fiber, though: the 8K collection actually offers a more high-tech solution to the winter chills. More specifically, the pieces put Flexwarm technology to toasty use, providing their wearers with evenly-distributed heat that can be adjusted via an accompanying smartphone app. Prefer more heat on your back? That can be easily arranged.

“Heating technology in clothing has been around for a while now, but this has always been primarily aimed at the workwear market,” says Scott Brenchley, 8K’s CEO. “We felt that there was a gap in the market for a collection of outerwear that seamlessly blends fashion with technology.” We agree.

The company says it’s “syncing technology with fashion,” and it hopes to turn both city folk and outdoor adventurers on to it’s newest line. That’s where the stylish tailoring will play a key role, as it’s responsible for making the pieces look and feel just as much at home on the subway as they would be on the hiking trail.

Part of 8K clothing’s versatility can be credited to its slimline design: bulk-free jackets mean active people can move about freely while shielding themselves from the harsh winter elements.

Flexwarm is a very thin (just a skimpy 0.5 millimeters) printable heating material that’s divided into three “heat zones,” any of which can be set to three different heat levels. The separate heating zones make it easier to target your cold spots and prevent you from overheating anywhere, and their levels can be adjusted on the fly. When you’re battling the cold, you’ll appreciate the line’s fast-acting heat system, which can reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius in just 360 seconds.

Of course, all this technology needs a power source. The clothes come with a 7500mAh power bank that can be used to charge your phone as well as your jacket, and the company says you can expect to get a good six hours of comfortable heating from a single charge (Flexwarm is reportedly 50 percent more energy-efficient than old-school carbon fiber heating systems). The power bank can also be stashed safely out of the way in one of the jacket’s inside pockets.

8K’s new jackets and vests all come in designs tailored to both men and women, and they are all machine washable. So if you love outdoor sports and happen to get a little muddy once in a while, there’s no need to freak out. The Flexwarm layer is so thin that it can actually be printed onto fabric, which makes it fine to wash (just remember to remove the battery pack first!). The clothes even come with their own wash and carry bag. A two-year warranty will give you even more peace of mind, no matter how you much you put your jacket through.

The company’s intuitive smartphone app makes heat control a total breeze. Just decide where you want to be warmer, select that zone on the app, and indicate exactly what temperature you want it to be. After that, simply shake your fist at winter and bask in the warmth of your cozy new jacket.

The post 8K Flexwarm Heated Jackets and Vests first appeared on Dornob.

During the day, this Japanese home is deceptively cool – a white structure that blends into the billowing snow drifts on all sides. At night, it gives off a stunningly warm glow, which reflects its mission: to provide cozy heat in the coldest of places.

Kengo Kuma created this experimental structure called “Même House” on the north island of Japan, known for its blistering chilly winters, and uses traditional principles and concepts with modern materials and techniques.

For starters, its translucency works both ways – its occupants wake with the sun. It also works with distributed heat, based around historical prototypes in which the central hearth was never allowed to go out, and provided warmth by keeping the floor warm at all times (in this version: radiant heating).

But that is just the beginning – contemporary techniques take it past these traditions: “We wrapped a wooden frame made of Japanese larch with a membrane material of polyester fluorocarbon coating. The inner part is covered with removable glass-fiber-cloth membrane. Between the two membranes, a polyester insulator recycled from PET bottles is inserted that penetrates the light. This composition is based on the idea that by convecting the air in between, the internal environment could be kept comfortable because of the circulation.”

More from the architect Kengo Kuma

“We do not treat insulation within the thickness of heat-insulation material only, which was a typical attitude of the static environmental engineering in 20th century. What we aim at is a dynamic environmental engineering to replace it for this age. That we utilize the radiant heat from the floor is part of it, and it has been verified that you could spend several days in winter here without using floor heating.”

“The other reason we covered the house with membrane material was our longing for a life surrounded by natural light, as if you were wrapped in daylight on the grassland. Without relying on any lighting system, you simply get up when it gets light, and sleep after dark – we expect this membrane house enables you to lead a life that synchronizes the rhythm of the nature.”

The post Glowing Japanese Home Wrapped in a Sheer Membrane first appeared on Dornob.

Taking full advantage of the summer sun, this residence in Japan stays warm without the need for supplemental heating thanks to a greenhouse-like sun terrace. Yoshichika Takagi architects designed the minimalist two-story house in Sapporo with an exposed timber frame, economical plywood walls and clear polycarbonate sheeting for a low-cost, low-maintenance home filled with natural daylight.

The double-height sun room features transparent walls on three sides as well as several oversized skylights, mimicking a greenhouse to keep the home warm throughout the cold months. In warmer weather, it functions as an indoor/outdoor living space, partially opened to the garden.

This greenhouse makes the compact home feel larger than it really is, especially with the open-plan layout of the ground floor providing views straight from the front door out to the backyard. “It could be positioned on the extension of the Japanese traditional earth floor or the sun room seen in houses of Hokkaido,” say the architects.

The house measures just 570 square feet (53 square meters), with small walled-off rooms upstairs and fun little lofts and hiding spaces throughout. The pale timber framework adds visual interest with criss-crossing lines, and additional skylights bring even more daylight inside.

The post Live in a Greenhouse: Bright, Airy Residence in Japan first appeared on Dornob.

Winter is coming. Japan is ready, but how are you going to stay warm. You need a kotatsu. This brilliant creation is a combo of space heater, blanket, and flat table (or a variation thereof). A picture, in this case truly, is worth more than a thousand words. All-knowing Wikipedia defines a kotatsu as a “low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. Underneath is a heat source, often built into the table itself.^”

In other words, it’s a snuggly blanket or couch hybrid that has a table on top and an electric heater below – so you can get warm and toasty with your cup of hot cider and remote control. Once you get in, you’ll never want to get out.

These novel, movable, and more complex versions of the kotatsu are actually called oki-gotatsu. But the concept has been around in Japan since the 14^th century, when the heat source was clay pots with hot coals.

Kotatsu aren’t the easiest items to shop for – yet. You can find parts like the low tables and electric heaters on amazon and the whole set-ups on ebay (see model below). Also check www.bellemaison.jp.

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Towels end up on the floor … why? Usually, because there is no handy place to hang them. Towel racks are fine and functional, but towel-warming bars or hangers reinforce the rewards of being a little neater about things.

Mikolaj Adamus conceived of this clever little twist on a conventional bathroom radiator ?from a combination of inspirations: white picket fences and bent-tip downhill skis. Heat-transmitting ceramic and thin vents let air and warmth pass through, heating the room and anything suspended on their faces as well.

The system itself needs little explanation or introduction – it serves to add some visual interest to otherwise-dull walls, and bends outward to accommodate clothes or towels, keeping them warm and dry. Not in use, one could mistake it for abstract wall art.

Alas, it is yet another concept design, but again one that would not be too hard to put into mass-production, or to emulate in one’s own home by covering an existing heating unit (safely).

The post Artful Bathroom Radiator is Also an Elegant Towel Warmer first appeared on Dornob.

There used to be an art to radiator design, decorative embellishments on an otherwise functional heating fixture. Contemporary radiators sometimes replicate antiques but few have gone so far as to make them into virtual works of modern art or multifunctional units that also serve other functions as mirrors and shelving units.

Some of the radiators by Irsap are simply made to look interesting, with undulating metal waves or crisscrossing lines that seem to disguise the underlying function of the products.

Others of their designs have quirky twists but still show their basic purpose despite also serving as a mirror or framing a piece of their hidden workings or the walls they hang on, making fascinating decorative pieces for living rooms and functional storage spaces or mirrored services for bathrooms.

Still others are made to perform specific functions within spaces of a house, such as wrapping around and softening corners or even stacking to create a set of shelves within the (hopefully not too hot water) radiators themselves.

“The continuous expansion of the range, the search for colors always in the latest and greatest demand, and the many variations in dimension available all provide more than 500,000 different possibilities in offering each customer a radiator that completely satisfies their various needs for truly customized climate conditioning. The TESI Collection is the reinterpretation of a radiator that ever since the early ’70s has represented the archetype of domestic heating enriched with unprecedented finishes, forms and functionality. Sensations go beyond the merely visual to embrace the sense of touch, going from smooth to shiny and bright, from a velvety feel to a subdued matte look, from gold to silver and platinum. The feeling of warmth increases with the special surfaces available in a range of different colors and gives hard, cold steel a delightful ‘rubber-surface’ feel. The same levels of quality combined with highly expressive design distinguishes the Officina delle Idee collection, which has recently expanded with the arrival of new proposals vaunting strong personality and scenic presence.”

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