Blown Ups Lightbulbs

by Jacob Resneck

Melding the frivolity of balloon animals with the function of illuminating your personal space, these Blown Ups are quite the eccentric offering from Thelermont Hupton of London.

Each piece is crafted with silver finished steel and are made from blown glass that combines the traditional handicraft of a glassworker with the every-day-magic of electric light that we often take for granted. They can be ordered online direct from the manufacturer starting at $320.

via DVICE

Erica Weiner Jewelry

by Bailee Wolfson

Erica Weiner has created a small jewelry empire from her Lower East Side apartment, making eye-catching, affordable pieces that are delicate and tell an intriguing story. One piece that caught our attention (as well as that of many fashion bloggers) is the Waldorf Astoria necklace ($85). Erica created a hand-cast replication of a cocktail pick used in the 1930s-50s at the Waldof Astoria Hotel. A beautifully nostalgic necklace, it would fit seamlessly into any downtown-meets-uptown wardrobe.

Another one of our favorites is the Pretzel Knot Necklace ($30). Made of matte brass and is clasp free, it features two small pretzels that can be worn layered with other necklaces or by itself for a more dainty look.

"In short, we try to make cool, affordable jewelry out of base metals, repurposed materials, and vintage chain and charms. (It's sort of like recycling, I guess.) I would say almost half of our materials come from closeout lots from the '70s and '80s, this stuff just sits around for years in dusty boxes until we get our hands on it. All of our jewelry is made in New York City, mostly at our studio on the lower east side." -Lindsay Salmon, Co-Founder of Erica Weiner Jewelry.

For more information on purchasing go to the site.

Frankie Table Lamp

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

Brazilian designer Fernando Akasaka continues to impress, this time with Frankie, a skull-shaped table lamp with eyes that emits piercing light beams. Using luxe materials like those in his recent and fun Cowboy Junkie saddle stool, the 11-pound light features interchangeable, colored LED or halogen bulbs. Because these options are different wattage power, customers can control the degree of fierceness they'd like for their light source.

I'm not sure how ready I am to meet this skull in the dark, but even when not illuminated it makes for an arresting table decoration. Akasaka said he was inspired for this one by novels and super-hero stories from the Terminator to Batman.

As with many of his pieces, customers can choose among sterling silver plated, polished nickel, gold plated or polished bronze. Contact him for prices and order info.

Also on Cool Hunting: FA Designs

Kaya Mawa Lodge

by Karen Day

Going on a luxury vacation can often inspire feelings of guilt, especially when the world is in such a turbulent state. Part of a growing socially conscious tourism trend, Kaya Mawa Lodge on Likoma Island mixes indulgence with giving back, simultaneously offering its guests total raw beauty with the opportunity to help the local Nkhwazi Village community.

Teeming with more species of freshwater fish than any other lake in the world, the tropical island lies between the friendly African countries of Malawi and Mozambique. The lodge itself was built solely by hand by local and neighboring villagers, who had help and direction from Andrew Came, who "discovered" the island while on his way from Cape Town to Cairo in 1989. The first westerner to stay in the Nkhwazi Village for 50 years, Andrew befriended the villagers and Headman Mtaya who gave him a plot of land to build a mud hut. Andrew returned to the island in 1994 where he was invited, with business partner Will Sutton, to construct the island's first hotel.

With kayaks, a fully equipped dive center, water skiing and hiking, there's plenty to do besides relax, but the high-end hotel is dedicated to responsible tourism, and the staff at Maya Kawa encourage you to visit the Nkhwazi Village during your stay by attending cultural gatherings or getting involved in community projects.

To book one of the eight chalets, contact the hotel for availability or send a request via Kiwi Collection. Rates start at $320.

Monterey Bay Shores Eco-Development

by Lost At E Minor

This spectacular design—still in the works—aims to convert a desolate desert, into a thriving environmental preserve and eco-resort. The building incorporates an astonishing array of green designs, which include a five-acre green roof which supports native species, living walls, botanical and herbal gardens and sustainable green dining. Monterey Bay Shores is being built with the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50%. In addition, this immaculate structure will create 500 green jobs, helping the local economy. What more could you ask for?