Water purification systems fall under that category of mundane appliances bought out of pure necessity rather than any deep seated desire remotely related to design. Under-the-sink models offer the option to hide away the form-in-service-of-function products, but most countertop options are dominantly characterized by white plastic case designs. Seoul-based branding and industrial design studio Superkomma wants to color the category differently with their vibrant, folded metal water purifier, the Conecto.

The Conecto is conceived to be an “anywhere, everywhere appliance,” one bringing filtered water well beyond models typically confined to the kitchen and the proximity of an electrical outlet. The narrow dimensions of the water purification appliance operates solely dependent upon water pressure, so there’s no plug or power cable to worry about, liberating placement.

In support of portability, Superkomma includes a small yellow hook to hold any excess length of water tube used in the connection between a water source and the reverse osmosis filtering unit.

“We don’t think the water purifier [has to be] white, [nor] should it be made of plastic material,” explains Superkomma. “And I don’t want to define it as a product that only stays in the kitchen.”

Superkomma credits the form and structure of the Conecto to modular metal furniture as inspiration. Interestingly this includes metal’s tendency to patina over time for its “vintage charm.”

Constructed of colorfully painted folding metal plates matching the dimensions of A4 paper, the Conecto’s individual pieces simply lock into place for simplified assembly.

To reduce waste, Superkomma labels each filter units using laser marking instead of printed label

The Conecto may be purely a concept at the moment, but it’s a fair bet as drinking water quality increasingly becomes a concern both at work and home – and wasteful plastic water bottles (hopefully) become less common – we’ll see water purifiers diversify in design and be presented in a wider gamut of colors inspired by the likes of Superkomma’s colorful little number.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Regardless of the technology – incandescent, fluorescent, CFL, LED – the romanticism associated with the warm glow of candlelight endures. The flickering flame harkens back to a slower time when everyday illumination was not measured in lumens, but in the slow, steady drip of wax. Seattle and Amsterdam-based design studio Graypants tapped into that warm association in the form of the Wick rechargeable LED table lamp, evoking the classic candleholder as an elegant modernist light source to light up the dinner table, bedside, or an evening get-together. And now there’s a smaller sibling – the Wick S – to complement the original.

The follow-up to the original portable and rechargeable table lamp is simple to remember, simply adding an “S” to its moniker to denote its smaller size.

The Wick S is slightly shorter, measuring 6.5 inches in height compared to the Wick’s 10.2 inches stature, operating well as a companion piece to its original taller sibling or solo.

The Wick’s candlelight glow can last anywhere between 12.5 to 150 hours on a single charge, depending upon which of the four brightness settings is set to illuminate the room.

Like the original, it operates with a simple tap of its ring at the base to cycle through its 1 watt range of dim, bright to brighter, to brightest glow.

The Wick S lamp is available for preorder for $139 in brass, graphite, and black and shipping this fall.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

FLOR has been bringing high-end area rugs to homes, offices, and every space in between since 2003. This year, the brand is celebrating 20 years of easy-to-install, responsibly sourced carpet tiles that are customizable in design and engineered for high-traffic spaces – from family rooms to conference rooms. FLOR has been partnering with the ECONYL® brand for over a decade, relying on its regenerated nylon as a key material in its rugs. Made of 100% waste and infinitely regenerable, ECONYL® is a key ingredient in helping FLOR meet its sustainability goals without sacrificing quality or performance. It also provides up to 90% reduction in global warming impact when compared with nylon made from oil – seems like the obvious choice.

One of the first carpet brands to use ECONYL®, FLOR has been converting their pre-existing products to the material and lowering their carbon footprint ever since. Today, most of the brand’s rugs are manufactured using ECONYL® regenerated nylon, turning waste into beautiful new collections that do good for you and the environment.

“Like the yarns used in our rugs, our journey to sustainability is woven into who we are. Aquafil’s ECONYL® yarn has helped us lower the carbon footprint of our rugs, an important part of our strategy to go beyond doing less harm, and actively benefit our environment,” shared James Pope, General Manager at FLOR. “As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, we are also looking ahead to the next 20 years as we will continue to release products that showcase our commitment to design and innovation.”

Off the Record, Eggnog

In honor of its 20th anniversary, the brand has launched the Heritage Collection by FLOR, bringing three classic styles out of the vault for a modern refresh using ECONYL® yarn. Individually inspired by the Art Deco era, the groovy 60s, and a classic handwoven style, the trio has been responsibly redesigned, modernized, and re-released. The timeless styles are looking better than ever, while being good to the Earth.

Woven in Time, Jute

“We’re excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of FLOR, one of the first brands to embrace ECONYL® nylon in their designs,” said Franco Rossi, President of Aquafil USA. “FLOR is committed to making luxury carpets more sustainable and found an ideal ingredient in ECONYL® nylon to achieve their ambitious goals. We are honored to work with FLOR and show the world that sustainable design does not have to sacrifice beauty and luxury.”

Good Company, Black

Over the last two decades, FLOR has hit important milestones, allowing customers to design without limits, restrictions, or waste. “Our team at FLOR could not be prouder of the last 20 years and the many milestones we’ve achieved to get to where we are today,” said Pope. “We launched the brand in 2003 to offer customers an area rug solution that doesn’t compromise [on] style, functionality, or the planet. While we continue to evolve and grow as a brand, we commit to making product that will leave a lasting impression on our customers for the next 20 years while still being good to Earth.”

To learn more about ECONYL® and what it can do for your brand, visit econyl.com/interiordesign.

Woven in Time, Marsh

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.