The idea for this house came about in 2004, the house was finished in 2009. It was worth the wait. The house, while essentially a hole in the hillside, is flooded with natural light, has incredible views and is actually quite luxurious… not exactly what you would expect from a “hole house”. Did I mention the 22m (that’s about 70ft) underground tunnel that links the house to a nearby barn? (alternative entrance)

The architects are based in Amsterdam (although Muller is Swiss) and the hole house is a holiday home.

The interior space is just as experimental and modern as the rest of the design, and of course, features a lot of Dutch designed furniture. “This house is not about perfection. It’s an experimental space” says Muller… but I think that they hit the nail on the head with this project.

Yes! The Juicy Salif by Philippe Starck for Alessi is a design icon of the 1990s and is often purchased and displayed as a sculpture rather than for it’s intended use as a juicer. I can’t really blame anyone for wanting to show it off, it’s a nice piece.

There’s no need to display it on the mantel or on a shelf though, it’s aluminum construction will hold up well to repeated juicing and it will look better in the kitchen anyway. Not to mention the fact that you can get one for under $100 at any number of online retailers… if you’re interested in buying one, click here.

Go ahead, treat yourself to a new piece of design, and a glass of fresh juice!

The plyFOLD line of containers from Ply Design is a great product that I thought deserved a little attention.

At it’s most basic level it’s a container that is created flat from wool felt and recycled leather and “folded” into shape to create a very convenient container. In practice these are very stylish and practical containers. Great at home and the office, they’re easy to pack and travel with so you can always take a couple with you on trips. You never know when you might want a place to store your spare change, mobile phone or other accessories.

The plyFOLD is made of natural materials (even recycled leather) so it’s environmental impact should be much lower than it’s common plastic counterparts while all the while providing you with a very stylish product. Be green and stylish, all at once!

They’re available from the Ply Design website and cost about $20 – $35 depending on the model you choose.