Cloudwash: a connected washing machine by Berg

Cloudwash: the connected washing machine from BERG on Vimeo.

London-based tech visionaries Berg have prototyped a washing machine that can order detergent, time a spin cycle to finish just as its owner arrives home, and be operated by app or interface, so that guests can use it too.

Pinch & Grind by Royal VKB

A new kitchen tool by Dutch brand Royal VKB combines a spice grinder with a jar from which spices can be "pinched" and scattered into dishes.

Nut butters by Big Spoon Roasters

Big Spoon Roasters creates handcrafted nut butters from scratch in Durham, North Carolina. The wildflower honeys and nuts are sourced from local farmers who share the same philosophy.

Farmili: urban farming at home

Brand new website Farmili.com supplies all the materials, food, housing and even animals needed to create a small farm at home, as well as a farmers' guide book, including tips and advice for a successful farming experience. Henhouses and hutches are the first items available on the site, adapted to urban environments. 

Schneider Electric x Mathieu Lehanneur: smart energy

French designer Mathieu Lehanneur was commissioned by Schneider Electric to create a collection of smart devices able to measure and manage domestic energy consumption. With the issue of energy production becoming increasingly real, new regulations are implemented to raise consumers' awareness and encourage individual contribution to the collective energy-saving effort. Insulation and double-glazing are no longer enough.

Rendez-Wood? New concepts for wood by Icelandic design students

Gone Baking

Rendez-Wood?, a project by third year Product Design students at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, explores the current value of Icelandic wood and its possibilities as a production material in the near future.

Das Haus by Louise Campbell at IMM Cologne 2014

Das Haus is the simulation of a home that takes place within the Pure Village hall at IMM Cologne, each year designed by a different professional. For the 2014 edition the fair's organisers invited Danish designer Louise Campbell to come up with a concept and define architectural elements and the furnishing for the interior and outdoor spaces of the "house".

Petbit: activity tracking for pets

Shipping from March this year, Petbit is part of the fast-growing market for health and activity tracking for pets. The small device clips to a collar and monitors daily activity using motion detection, an accelerometer, and temperature and brightness sensors.

Bike collection by Pijama at Pitti Immagine Uomo

Italian brand Pijama is presenting its new Bike collection at men's apparel and accessories fair Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence this week. The range includes seat pockets, pants savers, roll ups and bags, and sits alongside the brand's A/W 2014/15 classic cases collection.

The Natural Home by Hans Blomquist

Written by Swedish stylist Hans Blomquist with photos by Debi Treloar, The Natural Home guides readers through different ways to bring nature inside, with sections such as Still Life, Texture, Colour, and Plants and Flowers. A final section called Homes presents in-depth case studies of houses and apartments that epitomise the natural ideal.

Homebuildlife subscribers can explore natural interiors more in our trend report, Natural Structures & Materials.

Mark's Bar by Lee Broom for Selfridges

Lee Broom has designed a new bar for Selfridges to celebrate the first anniversary of the department store's Men's Shoe Galleries. Called Mark's Bar and operated by British chef and restaurateur Mark Hix, the space features bespoke furniture by Broom that transforms from a lounge collection into a fully functioning mobile bar.

Lazy Bytes exhibition: the new remote control

EPFL+ECAL Lab invited four of the world's most prestigious design schools to re-invent the remote control. For once, the main purpose is not just performance and functionality but also the aesthetic and experience of the object. 

The projects by ECAL, ENSCI-Les Ateliers, Royal College of Art and Parsons School include concepts such as the combination of hand-writing and digital control, or the transformation of everyday objects into remotes. Most ideas are currently undergoing tests to be turned into marketable products.

Agnès b opens lifestyle flagship in Hong Kong

French brand Agnès b has launched its second lifestyle flagship store, which for the first time globally includes a music shop and a bookstore, as well as a florist, travel concept store, cafe and chocolate boutique.

Milano 1909: temporary Members Club by Chivas Regal

Milano 1909 is an exclusive old-fashioned whisky club for modern gentlemen, a temporary members-only circle that Chivas Regal is running in Milan's Via Tortona until December 5th.

Easy biking: Lucetta lights by Palomar

Smart and simple, Lucetta is a set of portable magnetic bicycle lights designed by Emanuele Pizzolorusso for Italian company Palomar. The small LED lights attach with magnets, so they can be used for a bicycle or any metallic surface.

OCÒO: the beauty drink

Launching in the UK on 15th November, OCÒO is a low-calorie beauty drink that is formulated with the ingredients of a multivitamin tablet.

Cisco Brothers at High Point Market Fall 2013

A highlight at this season's edition of Highpoint was family-run LA brand Cisco Brothers. The warehouse-style showroom is located on the outskirts of Highpoint in an old mill. The large open plan space reflects the atmosphere of the collection. Furniture has been creatively constructed from repurposed objects, reclaimed wood and metal generating an interesting industrial aesthetic.

Window display by Fabio Novembre for Tommy Hilfiger

Italian designer Fabio Novembre has collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to create an artistic window display for its fall 2013 Tommy Hilfiger Tailored campaign. The unique installation, called I Have a Lifestyle, appears in the windows of department store La Rinascente in both Rome and Milan.

Essential Vegan Cookbook

Vegan chef Vanessa Almeida has just launched her first cookbook, named after the website she created a year ago, Essential Vegan. The cookbook has a collection of over 60 recipes, all created by Almeida and styled and photographed by her husband, creative director Neni Almeida.

Ladurée's first ever Parisian honey

Renowned sweets and gourmandises maker Ladurée has launched a new collection of honey, 100% made in Paris. The bee hives are located in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, where the 600, 000 bees are protected from any pesticides, right in the busy capital.