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June 2005Productsphere

Domestic Devices

These new products can transform a house into a home.

By Paul Makovsky

Posted May 16, 2005

A well-selected product can transform a generic residential space into a comfortable personal environment. A unique object will act as the centerpiece of the room, such as Roberto Menghi’s classic lamps for Fontana Arte or Nani Marquina’s Bicicleta rug made from recycled bike tires. Other ways of improving our living conditions come from companies like Sony, Siemens, and Ad Notam, which manufacture products that use the latest technologies. For example, Dyson took three years and 182 patents to come up with a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t lose suction, and in September Samsung is coming out with a four-door convertible refrigerator that allows the user to convert compartments from fridge to freezer and back again as needed. We have selected 18 products for transforming your house into a home.

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1. Fontana Arte’s Globo di Luce
Designed in 1968 by Roberto Menghi, this fixture features a metallized blown-glass globe that reflects light downward, spilling it through the opening in the bottom. Globo di Luce Suspension (shown here) comes in an 11-inch diameter with a 75-watt light source and an 18-inch diameter with a 150-watt light source. A table lamp version with a chrome-plated base is also available. (212) 334-1050; www.fontanaarte.com.
Courtesy of Fontana Arte
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