Driftwood Hooks

Designer Kiel Mead gives a colorful new life to wood that has washed ashore

Plucked from the Great Lakes beaches of New York state, each of Kiel Mead‘s wall-mounted driftwood hooks marks a unique expression of his dedication to craft. Mead personally selects, bleaches and stains the hooks individually, telling Cool Hunting that because the approach is so extensive, every piece is like a little labor of love and, consequently, an unforgettable form. “There are several steps to the …

Rory Dobner

The imaginative mind behind fantastical ink portraits and more

Smoking fish, gun-toting octopuses, cupcake-eating lizards—these are just a few of the anthropomorphic animals portrayed in the intricate ink drawings by the eccentric British artist Rory Dobner. His ingenuous penchant for animals and maximalist approach to art come together in a series of wildly imaginative characters easily adored by children and adults alike. The industrious artist, now represented by Opera Gallery, also lends his talents …

Chick-a-Dee Smoke Detector

A playful alternative to this home necessity

While navigating the endless maze at the 2012 NY International Gift Fair, we came across this playful take on a home essential, the smoke detector. The Chick-a-Dee is, simply put, a smoke detector shaped like a bird; it brings a bit of life to a device designed to protect it. As the winner of the Mooi uit de brand design competition, the Chick-a-Dee previously sold …