The Clyde soap dish/brush claims to be “multi-functional soap dish/brush that stands out in a crowd”… and I think I can agree with that statement for the most part. While it’s looks are clean and modern, they are also subtle and won’t “stand out” much, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

One thing that struck me immediately was the quality, both in terms of design, as well as material choices and construction. This is after all a $30 USD soap dish/brush, not the cheapest on the market. Regardless of the price tag however, there is real value for money here.

What makes Clyde “stand out”? Simple, the details. Things like the concave bristle surface that snuggly seats your bar of soap and prevents it from slipping away and onto the floor (or worse yet, your shirt… it’s happened), the cleverly textured silicon base that seriously resists slipping and stays put, the FIRM bristles that you can actually scrub with… it’s functional.

It’s the details that separate ordinary products from great products, and Clyde is probably the best in class in regards to soap dishes, or soap brushes that I’ve owned or used thus far. Not too bad considering it tackles both tasks simultaneously.

Any down sides? For some the price might be a turn off, but aside from that I really can’t offer any other suggestions… it’s a nice product and if you don’t mind the $30 price tag, I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t consider buying one the next time you’re in the market for bathroom (or even kitchen) accessories.

White Hex Tile

Hex tiles are a great alternative to the classic square mosaic. Facing a bathroom renovation myself in the near future, I’ve been looking at several options and hexagonal tiles are definitely on my list of possible choices.

For those that love mosaics (myself included) this is a great alternative because it gives you the same great look but with a new dimension… the shape of the tile doesn’t really jump out at you right away but it definitely gets noticed.

The only downside is a somewhat poor selection. Classic square mosaic tiles are still the standard and therefore have the best selection of color, sizes, material and quality. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get creative though and mix the two…

Not long ago I featured a vase (Nekko vase) by PA Design… I’ve decided to give you a peek at something else, the Kangourou Pocket (don’t blame me for the spelling, that’s what it’s called!).

This handy little pouch is made of soft molded rubber with several small suction cups on it’s back and drain holes on the bottom. It’s perfect for use around the bathroom & kitchen because it can stick to just about any smooth surface (tiles, doors, glass, mirrors, etc.) and it’s even large enough to hold things such as your hairbrush, spatula or other mid sized objects.

The best part is it can’t break (since it’s made of rubber) so it’s just as well suited for the kids. The Kangourou pocket comes in white, green & blue and costs about $20 (I’m assuming for the set of 3).

While it may look like a toy or piece of minimalist art… it’s actually a mono block, freestanding sink.

Agape Italy produces this very stylish and probably durable sink. It’s sure to set off any modern bathroom and because of its uniqueness and pronounced color, you can display it front and center as if it were a genuine work of art.

They sell in Italy for about 400 EURO (at the time of writing).

Strange name? Maybe so but their appliances are nice. :)

Gorenje is a Slovenian brand, manufacturing mostly domestic appliances but they do have branch off into other areas (which I will not bother to talk about). Basically these guys were held to high regard mostly in the former Yugoslavia (as Slovenia was part of the former Yugoslavia) and Eastern Europe in general. That’s only the begining of the story though.

Since the split of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has moved on… now a part of the EU and quickly gaining respect and a reputation for great quality goods. Think of it like buying German quality at a discount price! But there’s more…

Aiding their expansion into Europe and beyond is their attention to STYLE! That’s why I’m writing. Gorenje’s attention to detail, quality and design has really helped them get noticed. Some of the features that set them apart include design by Pininfarina, CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, digital displays, computerized brains and fantastic warranties.

Very nice.

Ever notice how something as simple as a faucet can totally change the look of a room? How about ease of use?

I know most people do spend time choosing their faucets but sometimes (I have been guilty also) you just don’t have time and kinda rush the decision. Now in my case it was a combination of wanting to get the kitchen installed ASAP and just not having time to shop around… crappy combination, trust me.

After a couple of years me and the wife got really bored with our old faucets (they were pretty plain and boring) and decided to change them, but not rush. By chance we happened upon a local shop that has a few interesting models on display (cheap) and we picked them up.

Long (and pointless) story short, they look great and are a much nicer fit. They compliment both the kitchen and the bathroom since we changed both faucets… and they’re much nicer to use.

Think you might be in the same state of mind? Looking to change something for better functionality or simply for the sake of change? This Online Faucet Shop has a huge selection (literally thousands) of faucets and price ranges. Check it out, kill some time.