Ponta dos Ganchos Resort, Brazil

by Joel Niedfeldt

Located on a private peninsula along Brazil's Southern coast and part of the esteemed Relaix & Chateaux group, Ponta dos Ganchos ranks among one of the world's most exclusive resorts. With over-the-top luxurious bungalows, genuinely gracious staff, a no kids under 18 policy and plenty of activities that take advantage of the naturally lush surroundings, a trip to the hotel offers the kind of total relaxation that's difficult to achieve otherwise.

After a car and driver delivered Ami and me from the Florianopolis airport (about an hour's drive), a glass of champagne and several staff greeted us at reception and whisked our luggage on a golf cart to our rooms. We followed behind with the concierge who personally escorted us to go over the details, all of which are top-notch.

Our accommodations consisted of two of the four recently-opened Emerald Villas—spacious bungalows (nearly 2500 square-feet) kitted out with an infinity plunge pool, dry sauna and whirlpool bath, among other amenities. With sweeping views of the bay, dotted with Oyster traps and the occasional fishing boat, we couldn't get enough lounging on the private deck while listening to music on the surround sound speakers (a custom CD of Brazilian music is yours for the taking) and taking frequent dips in the pool to cool off.

Indoors, a huge and inviting sectional couch (great for watching movies that are available for check-out), a king-size bed with 600 thread count sheets, as well as a Nespresso coffee maker, well-stocked minibar and wine cellar offer plenty of other options for hanging out. Other less obvious features, such as dual showers with glass walls that lend the feeling of bathing al fresco and two separate WCs, make every little experience an enjoyable one.

While the romance and seclusion of the Villas is unrivaled, Ponta dos Ganchos provides a host of other ways to enjoy your time there. We spent several hours lounging on the private beach, sipping caiprinhas and snacking on food served by the attentive staff. (All food is included while alcohol is not.) In addition to beachside dining, the seven-course breakfast, served on a deck overlooking the ocean, is a great way to enjoy a meal too. Dinners in the restaurant specialize in seafood and haute interpretations of local cuisine, which can also be reserved by couples on the private island.

A swim across the bay to the tiny island is a welcome diversion, but sailing, fishing, an indoor heated pool, tennis, snorkeling, a game room and more are all available for the taking as well. We opted for a decidedly more lazy approach and booked massages (not included in the price) at the Dior spa, which—set along the edge of the peninsula in canopied open-air rooms—was an unforgettable treat.

From the spectacular rooms to the lush landscaping and all the sumptuous details in between, Ponta dos Ganchos is high on our list of favorite destinations. To book, visit the reservations site. Rack rates start at about $530 nightly.

Naef Cubicus Toy

by Karen Day

An update to the Rubik's cube, Naef's Cubicus wooden puzzle encourages that same creative and progressive learning as the iconic original we were all raised with, but the Swiss toymaker takes it a step further by allowing expansion and stacking.

The flexible cube, designed by Peer Clahsen in 1968, is both a toy and example of fine design. Easy to play with and challenging to master, kids and adults alike will love how 10-piece puzzle can be configured as an architecture masterpiece or just moved around for fun effects.

Cubicus is now available at the Someday Store. Contact them for availability or purchase online at Nova68 for $140.

Umbra x Pratt 2009 Design Competition

by CH Contributor

by Tisha Leung

Now in its fifth year, the Umbra/Pratt Design Competition proved once again that the collaboration is a natural fit, with the winners showing off their clever prototypes at this year's ICFF.

The competition, open to undergraduates and graduate students in Pratt’s Industrial Design program, focused on the theme Need vs Want, challenging designers to create meaningful and compelling products that would be sustainable in today's economic climate.

The winners on view during the ICFF included Michael Weaker, who took home first prize for his Cozy Shelf; in second place was Hayyim Danzig with his Modular Trivet; third prize went to Dana Otto for her Rorschach Wall Organizers; and receiving an Honorable Mention was Joseph Eberle for his Coat Knob.

See more images of the winners and their designs after the jump .

Bonobos Pants and Shorts

by Josh Rubin

Known for their awesome-fitting trousers, Bonobos is applying the same tactic to their line of shorts, available in a variety of fresh styles, colors and patterns.

While women have a multitude of options for style and fit, men generally have to choose between sleek, high-end pants designed for the runway or baggy, mostly-boring trousers created for the masses. Frustrated with such a limited choice, founder and designer Brian Spaly set out to construct a pair of pants for someone like himself—a real guy with a sophisticated palette.

After a few iterations and positive feedback, Spaly teamed up with college friend Andy Dunn and the duo began peddling the perfect pants online. All handmade in New York City, I had the recent opportunity to stop by their showroom to see their new collection of shorts, the latest addition to the Bonobos brand.

The shorts are similar in fit to the pants, which Spaly cuts with a more tailored thigh, a medium rise and their signature, a hand-sewn curved waistband. Available in solid colors, but we love the retro-prep look of the jovial, summertime patterns—especially the ropes pattern launched today.

Bonobos covers the cost of exchanging or returning products for all domestic customers, making it easy to try a pair out for yourself. The shorts range in price from $75-85, pants average around $120 and all are available online only.

Dante Bonuccelli x Lamm: Keyboard Chair

by Lost At E Minor

This very sleek, designer-esque chair is the work of Dante Bonuccelli and Lamm for the 2009 Use More Use Less Project. Created from discarded keyboard keys, it looks amazing but we can't help but wonder about its comfort factor.