This Year in Gear: 64 Notable Home Products Released in 2017

With a deluge of new products hitting store shelves and browser windows every day, it’s easy to lose track of everything that happens in a year. So, to jog our memories a bit as the year winds to a close, we combed through our Today in Gear archives and other news briefs to reflect back on all of the notable products we discovered in 2017. The result is a new series we’re calling This Year in Gear, and we hope you’ll enjoy reviewing this snapshot of the home and design category. Think we missed something, or just want to sound off on any trends you noticed? Let us know by dropping a comment on Facebook, Twitter or email.

Jefferson Lane Satin Hem Sheets and Maya Cotton Blanket

Jefferson Lane’s 100 percent organic cotton sheets are made in a fair trade factory — workers are paid fair prices to fashion chemical-free bedding you won’t be scared to sleep on — for an equally fair price. Moreover, the brand offers discounts when you donate old bedding. Their Satin Hem sheets launched a few weeks back, and the brand’s handwoven Maya Blankets are available in two colors.

Kalamazoo Under-Counter Smoker Cabinet

Try as a conventional oven might, it will never be able to produce the tenderness, juiciness or smokiness of real mouth-watering barbecue. That’s because no matter what’s in your granddad’s secret pork rub, one of the key ingredients in barbecue is smoke. Kalamazoo’s Smoker Cabinet is the outdoor cooking upgrade a meat lover needs — it’s capable of smoking nine racks of ribs or three whole briskets at a low 225°F for up to 16 hours with just a single load of charcoal. Do your local butcher proud.

All-Clad Reissued Its Best-Selling LTD Collection

Not everything needs reinventing. Sometimes a new handle design is more than enough.

Bookscapes Mountains Book Rest

For that book that’s simply too gorgeous to keep tucked away on a shelf, there’s the Mountains Book Rest — an angular block of solid Spanish cedar, which displays your book like a piece in an art museum. Tour groups wearing Walkmans may begin sauntering around your house.

Floyd Bed Frame

This is a bed frame unlike any before. Comprised of just 13 parts, and crafted to be both beautiful and durable for years on end — steel legs, cork pads, lightweight and strong birch panels — the frame assembles in just minutes, no tools required. It’s made to last a lifetime, moving conveniently from old home to new, and is designed to be neutral, so it adapts to any style of home.

‘Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism’

In a time of rampant consumerism, a new movement is preaching an alternative path — one that banishes all but the most fundamental and enriching consumer products from our lives. In Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki recounts his conversion from reckless hoarder to hyper-mindful consumer, and offers advice to those seeking the same simple happiness that he found in minimalism.

Mazama Wares Jade Glassware Collection

Handblown in Portland, Oregon, each of these soda-lime glasses has its own unique characteristics and glows like ethereal jade. Available in three sizes: 8-ounce tumbler, 13-ounce wine glass and 20-ounce pint.

Midnight Scoop

Over a century after its invention, enthusiasts are still searching for the perfect ice cream scoop. This one took 38 prototypes.

Read the Story: Here

All-Clad x Thomas Keller d5 Stainless-Steel Nonstick Saute/Fry Pan

All-Clad is the leading American cookware company. Thomas Keller is one of the country’s most renowned and revered chefs. When the two join forces? Magic. Nonstick pans need to be replaced more often than you realize (they don’t stay nonstick forever). Consider this one — with its five alternating layers of bonded stainless steel and aluminum for superior performance, plus an ergonomically designed handle for comfortable carrying — your best bet.
— Emily Singer, Associate Staff Writer

Tanner Goods Tekio Modular Shelving System

Tanner Goods is quickly becoming the be-all-end-all men’s lifestyle shop. It seems they sell (and make) just about everything, and all of it is stunning. Now they’ve created a modular shelving system, built with three things in mind: adaptability, intuition and longevity. The company claims (and hopes) you’ll be able to use it forever, no matter how many cities you relocate to or how drastically your decor style evolves.

Anodized Aluminum Engraved Blueprint Art

What’s your favorite piece of machinery? It can be anything — car, boat, plane, train, even a firearm. Any size, any model, any year. If there’s a blueprint for it, Engraved Blueprint Art (no hiding behind that name) will laser etch the blueprint, in full detail, onto a 24 x 18–inch framed sheet of anodized aluminum. Think of how great it’d look hanging in your garage, where you go to bathe in the marvels of engineering.

IPPINKA Lift Multi-Use Bike Hook

Your bike doesn’t want to be chained up outside. Inside, where it’s nice and safe and warm, is where your bike wants to be. It especially wants to hang on this bike mount, which is made of steel, baltic birch, maple and leather. Unless, of course, your bike is a clanking heap of shit, in which case, who cares — leave it outside to decompose and be picked clean by scavengers. (And then get yourself a decent bike.)

Wrensilva Loft Record Console

Wrensilva’s newest creation is also the company’s smallest record console yet. It’s crafted with North American walnut, pumps 300 watts of power and connects to Sonos speakers over wi-fi. For those without a Sonos system, two accompanying Wrensilva speakers can be purchased for an additional $1,500.

Letto Dog Bed

Hypothetical: you and your best friend of 10 years come to the conclusion that it would be 100 percent awesome to room together at your place for the foreseeable future. Do you a) set him up with a super cool new bed that keeps him comfortable and gives him the dignity he deserves, or b) put a fluffy towel on the floor of your laundry room and hope he’s cool with it? (Guess which option this Belgian designer favors, especially with powder-coated aluminum and a cushy synthetic foam mattress involved.)

Fantasy Life: Baseball and the American Dream

For the past 15 years, Tabitha Soren has been documenting the lives of a group of baseball players who started as minor league draft picks for the Oakland A’s. She has followed them through thick and thin, aiming to capture the underlying humanity of career athletes. This book is a collection of her photos and observations, spanning 15 years of good times and bad times both on and off the field.

All-Clad Prep & Cook Food Processor

All-Clad

Sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks. All-Clad’s Prep & Cook is proof.

Traeger Timberline Connected Grill

Traeger

All “connected” features aside, this is a wonderfully designed grill, capable of grilling, smoking, searing, baking, roasting, braising and barbecuing — all of which is done with the simple press of a button. Smoking, in particular, is one thing it does incredibly well, thanks to a professional-grade convection system. And the “connected” part? Get this — you can control the grill over wi-fi using a phone app. Grillmaster and Couchmaster have become one.

North Drinkware Obsidian Line

For those who find solace and joy in mountains, a collection of artisan drinkware to reflect that passion. On the bottom of each glass (two pints and two tumblers) is a glass replica of either Mt. Hood in Oregon or Mt. Rainier in Washington; each is hand-blown with smoked glass in Portland, Oregon.

Hestan Cue Smart Induction Burner & Fry Pan

Precision cooking appliances can be intimidating, necessitating a preexisting level of expertise or familiarity with cooking techniques. Hestan Cue, the latest high-tech kitchen appliance to hit the market, is different; it uses precision technology to walk users through recipes step by step, from slicing to salting to searing, yielding better results and enabling more adventurous cooking. — Emily Singer, Associate Staff Writer

The School of Life: A Job to Love

The latest book in The School of Life series, A Job to Love is a clear-headed manual for professional success, offering wisdom and practical tips on how to turn your true passion into a life-long career. Other books in The School of Life series include Relationships, Sex, Great Thinkers, Small Pleasures and more.

Instant Pot ULTRA

Instant Pot

With 10 presets and manual temperature control, the new 6-quart Instant Pot ULTRA is able to do more in less time.

All-Clad Stainless-Steel Outdoor Cookware Set

A three-piece cookware set, designed for outdoor grills and all manner of summery barbecue goodness — whole chickens, veggies, seafood, you name it. Large holes ensure uniform cooking and circulation of smoky flavors, while curved sides keep all the small chunks right where they need to be.

Best Made Co. The Gerstner 25X Locking Drawer Case

H. Gerstner & Sons is an 111-year-old, fourth-generation family-owned business known for making some of the world’s finest heirloom-quality tool chests. Long ago, the original blueprints for the Gerstner 25X were lost in a flood; now, with the help of Best Made Co., it lives again. Made of American cherry, poplar, leather and brass hardware, the Gerstner 25X is a natural centerpiece on any shelf and can function as a reliquary for your most beloved keepsakes.

Good Thing Arid Umbrella Stand

An umbrella is a tool, and tools should be used to their designed purpose but also cared for and maintained. Enter the Arid Umbrella Stand, an umbrella accessory that will help dry your rain protection when you return home by taking advantage of the naturally absorbent quality of terracotta. No mold, no puddles on the floor.

Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Bundle

james blanco

Today and tomorrow, Brooklinen is offering 15% off all online orders and free shipping sitewide. That’s an offer worth jumping on, as Brooklinen’s bedding has recently exploded in popularity. Thanks to a business model trimmed of all extraneous costs (middlemen, wholesalers, designer fees and so on), their five-star luxury hotel-quality sheets to be sold at an affordable price. The Luxe Harcore Bundle, for example, Brooklinen’s most luxurious set, comes with seven pieces — one flat sheet, one fitted, one duvet cover and four pillowcases — and woven with 480-count sateen weave and long-staple cotton, which affords a buttery smoothness that retains its luster through years of washing.

Framed Tweets

Call it a fine example of post-postmodern art in a commercial age or call it an example of society’s irreversible dependence on the digital social sphere. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what you call it, it happened and it’s here: tweets, printed on high-quality paper stock with archival matting, surrounded by an ornamented golden frame.

Lauren Greenfield: Generation Wealth

For past 25 years, acclaimed filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield has been neck-deep in an investigation of humanity’s obsession with wealth, spanning multiple continents and generations. Generation Wealth is the culmination of her investigation, presenting a harsh look at rampant materialism’s corrosive effect on modern society.

Weber Summit Charcoal Grill

The Weber Summit Charcoal Grill is the perfect complement to summer. The charcoal grate is adjustable to two positions — higher for better searing or lower for smoking — and the Snap-Jet gas ignition system makes lighting the charcoal simple. This is the barbecue lover’s dream. – Dan Whalen, Editorial Intern

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Holm Oak Pro Knives

German-made, ice-hardened, oak-handled. And there’s enough of ’em for just about every purpose imaginable. The full ten-piece set is $699; individual knives are $150 or less.

Angelpoise x Paul Smith Type 75 Mini Desk Lamp

Designed by Sir Kenneth George, one of Britain’s most revered industrial designers, and colored by Paul Smith, a British artist whose unique use of color is recognizable the world over, the Type 75 lamp is functional art suited for any desk. There are three sizes: mini and giant, which are available now for pre-order (ships in August), and regular, which is available now for $240.

Nerd Chef Solid Steel Pizza Stone

It ain’t a wood-fired brick oven, but it’s pretty damn close. Much like cast iron, this steel slab conducts heat in such a way that dough cooks faster, crispier and bubblier. And, also like cast iron, it’s guaranteed for a lifetime of homemade pizzas, pastries, and even ice cream. (For reference, watch this heart palpitation–inducing video from a night market in Thailand.)

Snowe Beach Towel

Don’t call it a beach towel. Call it a beach blanket. It’s a foot wider than most beach towels, and a hell of a lot plusher. Perfect for drifting off into a daiquiri – and sun-induced slumber. (And for tossing into the perfect summer beach tote.)

Tojiro Fujitora DP Steak Knives – Set of 4

Handmade in Niigata, Japan using traditional methods, these four steak knives are both fantastically durable and water-resistant, thanks to VG10 cutting core stainless steel and Eco wood handles.

Casper Down Duvet

From the originator of the new breed of direct-to-consumer mattresses comes a duvet inspired by the baffles on your favorite down jacket. Within the patchwork of rectangular chambers is duck down, which rivals high-performance goose down, and the breathable cotton cover is 30 percent lighter than most duvets on the market.

TOG 6.5-inch Santoku Knife

UK-based knife purveyor TOG cites the 10 embedded layers of antimicrobial copper in its blades (which are forged in Japan from 21 layers of stainless steel) as its primary differentiating factor. While the average home cook won’t necessarily notice a difference from the inclusion of copper, the blade’s impressively sharp edge, balanced weight and comfortable grip are hard to ignore. Consider the eco-friendly Kebony maple handle, etched with a handsome fan pattern, an added bonus. – Emily Singer, Associate Staff Writer

Brooklyn Slate Co. Quarry Mug

“Over half a billion years in the making,” says Brooklyn Slate Co., and they’re not entirely wrong: the 12-ounce clay mug is glazed with speckles of crushed black slate from a quarry in upstate New York. It looks great and lasts forever, just like their famous slate cutting boards.

Vadolibero Bike Safe S

Have you seen Vadolibero’s Bike Shelf? It has to be one of the most outrageously indulgent bike accessories ever created. The Bike Safe S, a locking stainless steel wall mount, is a less outrageous yet still indulgent bike storage solution. Upon request, you can personalize the mount with an Italian leather saddle and keychain, available in five colors: dark brown, black, white, yellow and red.

LEGO Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

See? Legos can be for adults. Build it, shelf it, admire it.

TRNK Truss Collection

Since 2013, the team at TRNK has scoured the globe for products of the highest quality in both aesthetics and materials in order to help curate the home space. They’ve gained a hell of a lot of expertise and have put it to use in designing the brand’s first exclusive collection. The introductory line, Truss, is design-forward in its combined use of steel supports and both leather and canvas upholstery — and it’s also fully customizable with over 20 fabric options.

Geiger Taper Task Chair

Office chair designers have a fine line to walk. A decent chair needs to provide comfort for extended (too long!) periods of time, but it also needs to fit the aesthetic of a kempt office space. It needs to be ergonomic, but not medical; sleek, but not unsupportive. Taper, the high-backed product of a collaboration between designer Mark Goetz and Dr. Brock Walker, demonstrates exactly where that line is.

Joule Big Clamp Sous Vide Cooler Attachment

ChefSteps

Sometimes the smallest tools make the biggest difference. Case in point: the Joule Big Clamp by ChefSteps, a plastic clip that attaches to a Joule circulator and can be opened wide enough to hook on to the lip of a hard-side cooler, enabling large-format sous-vide cooking. Whether for tailgates, beach barbecues, cookouts or parties, there’s no easier, better or more hands-off way to feed a crowd.

Seedo Automatic Hydroponics Device

So, you’re looking to grow your first weed plant. For most non-greenthumbs, that’s a daunting endeavor. Seedo promises to make growing herbs — magical or not — almost completely automated. Simply drop in a seed, close the door, monitor progress in the companion app, and harvest whenever it’s ready.

Ergonofis ‘Alive’ Height-Adjustable Desk

Look closely, and you’ll see that it’s much more than just a simple walnut desk: near the bottom-right corner is a small touch screen that toggles between standing and sitting position, powered by hidden hydraulics in the heavy-duty steel frame.

TAF Architects Ambit Rail Lamp

Stockholm-based architectural firm TAF architects sought to reinterpret the classic billiard table lamp, and came up with this: a strikingly modern ceiling light, with hidden joints and an impossibly thin wire suspension system, causing the light to appear as if it’s floating in mid-air.

Artifox Standing Desk 02

It’s obvious that this desk is gorgeous. Let’s skip over that part. The Standing Desk 02’s best feature is less immediately noticeable: its built-in dock and cable grid, which make all cords and plugs practically invisible.

Yamazaki USA Tower Magazine Rack

An elegantly simple storage solution for your books and magazines. (One magazine, in particular, deserves a place in there.)

Herman Miller Live OS Connected Furniture

Tech-minded designer Yves Béhar and renowned furniture manufacturer Herman Miller have created a connected workplace system, dubbed Live OS, built to optimize employee health, workplace productivity and space efficiency. A centralized dashboard provides real-time workplace analysis and recommendations for improved well-being and space utilization — all anonymized, presumably to discourage sit-shaming. – Emily Singer, Associate Staff Writer

Barebones Kitchen Cast Iron Set

Barebones Living is among the most exciting young brands we’ve seen in the outdoor sphere. The name says it all: their products are deliberately simple, free of puffery, timeless. And it shows in this cast iron cook set, containing a skillet, dutch oven, serving trivet, cleaning mesh and seasoning paste. It’ll last forever — but just in case something goes wrong, Barebones has you covered with a lifetime warranty.

The Depict Frame

The Depict Frame allows you to experience art like never before. It is a 49-inch, 4K, Ultra-HD digital canvas, bound by a handcrafted wooden frame, that was designed to display a plethora of masterfully curated contemporary and classical art works. The museum-quality display is optimized to achieve stunning color and smooth video playback; using the included wall mount, the display easily rotates between landscape and portrait mode. Art is selected using the Depict app, which contains an ever-expanding collection of art from the world’s greatest creative minds.

Molekule Air Purifier

Unlike current air purifiers that catch pollutants in filters, Molekule’s patented nanotechnology destroys pollutants instead of simply trapping them. This includes even those 1,000 times smaller than a HEPA filter can catch. Allergens, mold, bacteria, viruses, and airborne chemicals are completely destroyed, making the air you breathe healthy again.

Hub Grill:

Perhaps the most advanced charcoal cooker and rotisserie ever designed.

Oxford Pennant Custom Pennants and Banners

Handcrafted felt pennants and champion banners, made for discerning adults. (Not dormitory-bound college kids.)

Aarke Sparkling Water Maker

Only for the most discerning bubbly water aficionados. (We’re pretty sure no such person exists, but oh well.)

NanoLab Singularity Black Paint:

Remember Vantablack? That lab-created black paint so dark that it sucks up and devours all light, like a black hole? Singularity is essentially the same thing; unlike Vantablack, you can actually buy it. Courtesy of Jason Chase

Newton Minimalist Espresso Maker

This is easily one of the most cleverly designed espresso makers we’ve ever seen.

Norden Plateware

Handsome, hand-thrown candles beautiful enough to live on in another life as ceramic glassware. The plates and planters are fantastic, too.

Grovemade Walnut Coaster Set

Simple, elegant American walnut coasters lined with virgin wool.

Best Made Co. German Kitchen Knife Sets

Crafted by master German knife makers, using Japanese methods that have been refined over generations.

iKettle Smart Kettle 3rd Generation

Who really needs a smart kettle? More people than you might think. If you’re a particularly fervent fan of tea or pour-over coffee, and strive for a totally connected smart home, this thing’s for you.

Toadfish Outfitters Put ‘Em Back Oyster Knife

Shuck oysters like a boss. And feel good about it, too: By purchasing Toadfish products, you are directly contributing to oyster habitat restoration projects.

Grovemade Desk Shelf System

Handmade in Portland, Oregon, with the finest materials: walnut, pine, leather, aluminum and merino wool. The full system includes a shelf, pad, laptop stand, and tray; you can also buy them individually.

Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World

Tim Ferriss’ newest book is a compilation of bite-size life and professional advice from over 100 celebrities, athletes, CEOs, artists and more.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner… Life! Cookbook by Misy Robbins

Part cookbook, part “poignant story of self-discovery,” Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner… Life! is renowned chef Misy Robbins’ love letter to food and rejection of the restaurant business which nearly destroyed her.

LIFX Tile Kit

Following the release of its smaller, more affordable smart bulb series, LIFX has announced an illuminated wall art set. The LIFX Tile Kit, available for preorder now and slated to ship in November, includes five wall-mounted tiles with full-spectrum color and 64 distinct “zones” each. Think of it as mood lighting for the 21st century, ideal for energizing otherwise blank walls. — Emily Singer

Is This the Perfect Kitchen Thermometer?

Developed in consultation with professional chefs.

Smarter Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Imagine a world where coffee is ready — always — when you wake up in the morning. With Smarter Coffee, a wifi-enabled, app-controlled drip brewer from Smarter, a London-based brand specializing in smart kitchen appliances, it’s possible. The IFTTT-compatible machine can be programmed to grind beans and brew coffee remotely, or, say, 15 minutes before your alarm goes off in the morning. — Emily Singer

GROW Duo Smart Planter
A garden is great in theory, but often a nightmare in practice. The new GROW Duo, available for preorder now, is a cousin to existing indoor gardening kits, but built explicitly for outdoor use. Built-in sensors monitor environmental conditions like rainfall, historical weather data and local climate, and the system provides data-driven status updates in an accompanying app. It’s about as hands-off as gardening gets. — Emily Singer

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Quebracho Charcoal
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, known for making some of the finest grills on the planet, now makes what may be the best lump charcoal, too. Its Quebracho Charcoal is made from dense Quebracho Blanco wood harvested in the Chaco region of South America. The company claims that it burns hotter and is denser than most hardwood lump charcoal while generating very little ash. — Jack Seemer

Nebia

If Apple Made a Shower Head, This Would Be It
An outrageously high-tech shower system that turns bathrooms into steam rooms.

Umbra Shift Hoop Magazine Rack
The magazine rack is our new favorite organizational hack. Equal parts functional and decorative, this welded stainless steel version from contemporary design giant Umbra Shift doubles as a record holder, and is right at home next to a lounge chair or atop a sideboard. — Emily Singer

Chase Pellerin

The Steam Wand Is the Best Thing About Breville’s New Cafe-Quality Espresso Machine

According to a real coffee professional, Breville’s latest coffee machines really do brew professional-quality coffee.

One of Brooklinen’s Founders Wants to Make Vintage Rugs More Affordable
A one-of-a-kind rug for less than $500? Meet Revival Rugs.

Chase Pellerin

Finex’s New Cast Iron Grill Pan Is Surprisingly Minimal — But Still Super Functional
In a seemingly saturated cookware market, Finex continues to innovate.

Kagekiyo White Steel Knives
From Japanese cookware mecca Chubo comes a series of hand-forged shirogami, a type of fine-grained, high-carbon white steel knife. Made in Sakai City by a group of award-winning bladesmiths, they’re stunningly sharp and finely honed, with traditional lacquer handles. — Emily Singer

Minnetonka x Duluth Pack Canvas Sheepskin Slippers
Two well-known Minnesota brands teamed up to create one of the best slippers for fall. They feature Duluth Pack’s olive drab canvas and Minnetonka’s brown suede and sheepskin. With a durable rubber outsole, they’re perfect for wearing around the cabin or sitting by the campfire. — John Zientek

Amazon Cloud Cam Indoor Security Camera
This is Amazon’s first smart security camera and it’s integrated with Alexa. After setting up and naming the camera, you’ll be able to say “Alexa, show me the [camera name]” and see the live feed in full HD on your Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV or Fire tablet. You can use the Cloud Cam App on your smartphone, too. Like other smart security cameras, to get the most out of this you’ll want a Cloud Cam subscription (there are several options to choose from), which gets you more intelligent alerts, larger storage options (days instead of hours) and the ability to add more cameras to your premium setup. The camera costs $120 and release on November 8. — Tucker Bowe

M.1 by JLA Sound Systems
The M.1 is the first speaker by JLA Sound Systems, an upcoming hi-fi company based in Brooklyn and founded by two brothers — one, an architect, and the other, an engineer — who originally founded the company as a passion project. Their wireless hi-fi speakers are beautifully designed to look like side tables, meaning they’re functional and also sound great. You can order the M1 in black or white, and each supports a number of streaming services (iTunes, Airplay, Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio, TuneIn). — Tucker Bowe

Slowtide Holiday 2017 Collection
Who says beach towels have to be boring? Slowtide’s super-soft cotton towels are anything but. They just released four new prints: Makai (floral), Regime (camo), Valen (Native American print), and Indigo Sun (blue and white tie-dye. — Michael Finn

Burrow Chaise Sectional Sofa
Burrow, the so-called “Casper of couches,” launched last year with just one product: an attractive, functional and affordable sofa that can be taken apart and assembled in under 10 minutes. The brand is now building off the sofa’s inherent modularity by offering customers the option to add on an attached sectional, or a separate ottoman, for just a few extra C-notes. For more flat-pack furniture brands, read our guide. — Jack Seemer

Gir Tongs and Whisks
Gir, the maker of some of the best looking silicone kitchen tools you’ll ever see, is back at it again, but this time dabbling in tongs and whisks and venturing into the stainless steel market. These aren’t just any tongs or whisks, though. Gir studied the architecture of each tool, highlighted the strong points and further refined them. The tongs even have a unique mechanism built into the hinge that lets you lock them purely by squeezing them shut. –Bryan Campbell

Juxtaposed Shelf: Religion Tenth Anniversary Edition
You might not know designers Mike Simoniana and Maaike Evers, but you know their work. They are the design duo responsible for early Google devices like the Nexus 7 tablet and Nexus 5 smartphone, as well as more recent Google products like the Daydream View VR headset. Their Juxtapose shelf project is as much a work of art as it is a source of learning and understanding. The first religion edition of the shelf was available as a limited run of 50 and sold out instantly in 2008. So for the 10th anniversary, they’ve re-released the concept without production limitations. Like the original, this version consists of a one-of-a-kind solid pine shelf with dedicated cutouts for seven hardcover volumes of the world’s most influential religious texts including Tao Te Ching, Holy Bible, The Qu’ran, The Analects of Confucious, The Bhagavad Gita, The Discourses of the Buddha and The Torah.

Work Sharp E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
Work Sharp’s E5 electric sharpener features a one-touch programming option that separates it from competing devices. Users just need to press one button to choose between shaping, sharpening and refining. All that’s left after that is running the blade through the two channels on the left and right side of the machine. There’s no need to deal with grit belts or deciding between edge angles. Speaking of edges, the E5 applies a 17° WorkSharp Edge that’s designed to balance the precision of Eastern knives with the durability of Western blades. In short, it’ll make your knives perform better and help them last longer. If you prefer other options though, Work Sharp does sell an upgrade kit that adds the ability to apply 15° East and 20° West sharpening guides.

Terasu Gyuto and Utility Knives
California-based Terasu is now offering two knives made in Bolinas by metalsmith Kurtis Major. The Gyuto (180 mm blade) and the Utility (135 mm blade) both feature burt-wood handles made from Mt. Tamalpais windfall white oak. The blades are Japanese Hitachi ‘White paper’ Carbon steel (forged in Germany) which are double beveled and tripled layered with black skin. If you’re looking to invest in functional, good-looking tools for the kitchen, these are definitely worth the price. — John Zientek

Ember Ceramic Mug
Ember, which built its brand on a smart temperature-controlled travel mug, released a mug for home use. Developed by industrial designer Robert Brunner, the Ceramic Mug allows users the ability to control the exact temperature of a beverage via an app. — Jack Seemer

BioLite SolarHome 620
In addition to creating gadget charging camp stoves and color changing lanterns, BioLite manufactures a whole line of products behind the scenes. These items help accomplish the brand’s founding mission: to bring safe, reliable and renewable energy to people living in developing nations. The first of those products to become available to the everyday consumer is the SolarHome 620, a fully-equipped solar-powered home lighting kit that’s ideal for backyard sheds, backcountry huts and Sprinter vans. — Tanner Bowden

Ember Ceramic Mug
Ember, which built its brand on a smart temperature-controlled travel mug, released a mug for home use. Developed by industrial designer Robert Brunner, the Ceramic Mug allows users the ability to control the exact temperature of a beverage via an app. — Jack Seemer

Outlier Indoors
While Outlier is known for its technical garments and outerwear, the brand is bringing its performance-minded design to experimental home essentials. The new Outlier Indoors collection features a suite of cozy products for lounging around the house, including merino wool pajamas, an inflated linen blanket, grid linen towels and more.— Andrew Connor

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