House Blend

Whether you aspire to write a novel while whipping up some macaroni and cheese, find yourself brimming with design ideas and the need to stir soup, or just take pride in multitasking, you'll want to add the Kitchen Pencil to your arsenal of writing utensils. Created by London-based industrial designer Sebastian Bergne for ENO (Editor of New Objects), the solid beech wood object is half spoon, half pencil, and all part of Bergne's goal to design things that elicit grins. "I like to think that different projects make different people smile for different reasons," said the designer. "The beauty is that there is no smiliest project. If there was, we would all be the same." Just take care while sharpening your dual-function kitchen tool, lest your dish receive an accidental pinch of pencil shavings.

Looking to savor the last weeks of summer with fresh flip flops? Try a pair that will limit your environmental footprint: Feelgoodz. Described by company founder and owner Kyle Berner as "the most comfortable flip-flop in the world," the 100% recyclable and biodegradable sandals are made of all-natural rubber from Thailand, where Berner stumbled upon them during his post-college travels. And the eco-friendliness doesn't stop with the company's own products. As part of its mission to create a "Zero Flip-Flop Waste World," Feelgoodz has launched a pioneering initiative that collects and sends non-recyclable flip-flops to Kenya, where another company distributes them to villagers who make new eco-boutique items out of them to then use for resale. An additional upshot of this innovative upcycling? A $5 credit that you can apply to a colorful pair of Feelgoodz.

Where's the wireless? Wear this and know instantly. The Wi-Fi Detector Shirt is a standard black cotton tee with one geeky distinction: a glowing decal that dynamically displays the current wi-fi signal strength. A discreet inside pocket holds a trio of AAA batteries that power hours of signal-detecting fun, and all of the electronic bits are removable come laundry time. We think $19.95 is a small price to pay for avoiding the disappointment of powering up a laptop only to find oneself marooned in a wireless dead zone. Plus, wearers are bound to make friends at the airport. Whether you'll be forced to power down the shirt until reaching cruising altitude is another story.

Tired of one-size-fits-all lotion? Now you can get creative with your creams thanks to Absolution, the new unisex skincare line created by French graphic designer Isabelle Caron. Nature, care, design, and modernity are the key ingredients of the brand, which drew us in with its graphic black and white packaging (awash in charming ink drawings) and the promise of "bespoke simplicity." Each of the four core products can be customized with the addition of four highly concentrated booster solutions that target tasks such as revitalizing and anti-aging. As for absolving yourself of any environmental guilt that comes with acquiring more stuff, take comfort in knowing that the entire line is certified organic and is produced (in France) with locally sourced, natural ingredients. And that beautiful packaging? Recycled, recyclable, and printed with vegetable inks, bien sûr!

In the market for a sleek seat? Opt for one that is helping to recycle approximately three million plastic bottles annually. Created in collaboration with Coca-Cola, Emeco's new 111 Navy Chair is made from recycled plastic bottles ("at least 111" of them, hence the name). It's modeled after the legendary aluminum original, designed in 1944 for the U.S. Navy, and combines 60% recycled PET plastic with a mix of other materials including pigment and integrity-boosting glass fiber. If Coca-Cola red is a little much for you, the chair also comes in five more earthly hues: grass, charcoal, flint, persimmon, and snow. Design Within Reach—the exclusive U.S. retailer of the 111 Navy Chair—is now taking orders, and at $230 a pop, it's about half the price of the aluminum version.

David Weidman is back! The octogenarian artist and designer who honed his whimsical style as a prominent Hollywood animator in the 1950s and 1960s has collaborated with trend emporium Urban Outfitters on a line of colorful home accessories. The collection of pillows and wall art featuring Weidman's vibrant, iconic, and rather trippy images debuts in Urban Outfitters stores this fall, and a few pieces are already available online. Those who prefer to get a closer look at Weidman's career, which ranged from printmaking and ceramics to typography and cartooning, should pick up The Whimsical Work of David Weidman—and Also Some Serious Ones, published last year by Gingko Press.