Build a better coffee mug brick by brick

Those who get easily distracted may want to look away.

(Credit:ThinkGeek)

Coffee in the morning is no small matter. Decisions get made while sipping the caffeinated brew, decisions that shape the day. Like an architect, we construct plans, piece by piece, layer by layer, until a form emerges. Of course, that usually doesn't involve the actual coffee cup. But then again, who is to say it cannot?

The ThinkGeek Build-On Brick Mug ($19.99) is a coffee mug designed to appeal to designers of all ages. The interactive mug invites users to fiddle with it, stacking popular parts onto their own creations. Exactly what those popular parts might be is, of course, of utmost importance; the last thing anybody wants to do is wrestle with their morning beverage.

Rest assured, the mug is compatible with Lego, PixelBlocks, Mega Bloks, Kre-O, or K'Nex Bricks. The mug itself doesn't come with any bricks; it's strictly BYOB.

Mornings become more inviting (heck, make that any time of day) with this fun coffee mug, but it is not all fun and games. Some might say that without a cup of coffee in hand, nothing would ever get accomplished. Then again, that depends on what is to be accomplished. If building a city or a space station is on the list, then there is a good chance the project will be completed before it is time for a refill.

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Illuminated range hood reaches the ceiling

Where there is smoke, there is light.

(Credit:Grup Frecan)

Crowded kitchens create interesting conundrums. Finding the perfect balance between essential devices and cosmetic touches can be tricky and relies upon a certain hierarchy unique to kitchen appliances and gadgets. Most people would probably agree that the stove and the refrigerator top the list of essentials; it's hard to not work around these two behemoths of the kitchen. But when it comes time to place the next piece of the puzzle, rarely does one next look up.

Installing into the kitchen ceiling, the Frecan Paradigma (Spanish site) is a combination range hood/lighting system that puts a previously under-utilized area to double-duty use. Each lighting fixture contains an individual extraction system that then meets up behind the scenes to draw steam and smoke out of the kitchen. A remote allows users to control the kitchen accessory -- no step stool necessary.

The ceiling may provide a nice wide open expanse that may play a nice counterpoint to crowded countertops, but usually it does little to add utility to the busiest room in the house. Thinking outside the box (or in this case, inside the box), the smooth and elegant functional design of this range hood puts things in a different light. As for the new hierarchy that gets created by this combination device, well, it's hard to argue against the ceiling being on the top.

(Via Appliancist)

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Boba Fett KitchenAid mixer, for a bounty of baked goods

Cookie dough had better watch out. Boba Fett is coming.

(Credit:tommyfilth)

Not a long time ago, in a kitchen far, far away, there sits a KitchenAid mixer, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen. DeviantArtist tommyfilth perfectly melded the look of "Star Wars" bounty hunter Boba Fett with a kitchen appliance normally associated with Food Network shows rather than sci-fi.

We know what bad "Star Wars" kitchen appliances look like (hello, Nestle coffee maker). Leave it up to an independent artist to get it right. I would put tommyfilth's Boba Fett mixer in my kitchen in a heartbeat. It shows that "Star Wars" cooking implements can really work.

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There's a little story behind this impressive creation. Tommyfilth asked his wife to get him a broken KitchenAid mixer on eBay for Christmas. He wanted to refurbish it himself. Once he had it apart, inspiration struck as to how to approach a new paint job for the machine. A Boba Fett mixer was born.

The mixer is painted with spray paint from the home improvement store and is sealed with engine enamel to hold up to the rigors of mixing pound cake and stirring cookie dough. Just don't let it get too close to your Darth Vader toaster. Those two can't be trusted together.

(Via Obvious Winner)

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Breville immersion blender thinks like a food processor

Keep it together with the Breville All-In-One Immersion Blender and Food Processor.

(Credit:Sur La Table)

Every kitchen needs a set of tools. Sometimes, that just means a bowl or plate and the microwave. (An eating utensil might come in handy, too.) Other times, it seems that meal preparation requires every kitchen tool in the house. In any event, to keep things mixing, chopping, slicing and blending smoothly, it's important to have the right tool for the job. Or in this case, all of the tools.

The Breville All-In-One Immersion Blender and Food Processor ($199) combines the versatility of a food processor with the convenience of a stick blender. An evolution from Breville's Control Grip set, the new device adds a feed tube to the food processor work bowl, allowing it to more closely mimic a traditional unit.

Included in the set are a variety of prep tools designed to tackle any number of cooking tasks -- from quick microwave meals to multi-ingredient masterpieces. In addition to the variable speed control offered by the 280-watt motor, the kitchen gadget comes with a 6-cup processing bowl. Attachments include a standard blending wand, a reversible shredding disc, an adjustable slicing disc, a masher, a whisk, and an S-blade. The compact design and easy operation bring it all together, allowing for quick use for whatever is on the menu.

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Search no more for hot dogs with this countertop steamer

Every kitchen should have a hot dog drawer.

(Credit:Amazon)

The kitchen cupboard is a portal that can lead to many great discoveries. However, the kitchen doesn't always have to be about exploration. Sometimes, it is a simple, everyday favorite that calls out to our stomachs. A go-to meal is after all, a meal to go to without hesitation. But for that, of course, you need a drawer full of hot dogs.

The methods employed to make a batch of hot dogs at home can range from the deceptively simple to the downright outrageous. However, even if you want it plain or if you prefer it to be a complicated tower of condiments (mustard, onions, jalapeo, bacon, sauerkraut), what really matters is if it is there and ready when you need it. Indeed, hot dogs on demand could be a considered essential kitchen necessity. (Well, maybe for some.) In any event, the Hot Dog Steamer CuiZen ST-1412 by EZGuardZ ($99.99) is here to help make that dream become a reality.

Regardless of its complicated name, the hot dog gadget is as straightforward as it gets: add water, put the dogs in the lower compartment and add buns to the top when necessary. That's all it takes to have a drawer full of hot dogs in waiting. Sure, you could use the appliance to steam food other than hot dogs, but this isn't about versatility here; this is about hot dogs. Then again, it does ship with a "Hot Dogs of the World" recipe book, so maybe that kitchen cupboard will hold a few surprises after all.

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Four-door Samsung fridge adds SodaStream

The Samsung RF31FMESBSR Refrigerator bubbles the fridge door forward with an integrated SodaStream dispenser.

(Credit:Samsung)

The refrigerator door has long been a source for inspiration. On the inside, condiments line up and stand guard over the contents on the shelves. Pressed into action, they are ready at a moment's notice to be squeezed, squirted, and spread all over any meal any time of the day. But it is more than Sriracha and mayo that the fridge door has to offer. On the outside, there's a whole other world to explore. Now, with carbonated water.

The Samsung RF31FMESBSR 36" Four-Door Refrigerator with SodaStream dispenser takes tricked-out refrigerators to a bubbly, new level. Hiding among to-do notes and the kids' artwork lies an almost ordinary-looking water dispenser. The difference, however, is that this one is powered by SodaStream, makers of the popular countertop appliance designed to offer an alternative to cans and bottles of soda.

The automatic sparkling water dispenser allows for three levels of carbonation originating from a standard SodaStream 60L CO2 cylinder that is accessible through a concealed area inside of the left refrigerator door. Of course, users can still select still water or (very still) ice from the same control area. The new, dynamic SodaStream option for the 30.5 cu. ft. Samsung Four-Door Refrigerator will be available in April for an MSRP of $3,899 and continues the long-standing tradition of getting more out of the refrigerator door.

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Bodum bounces clear into baking

Even with a clear transparent top, the Bodum stand mixer stands out.

(Credit:Bodum)

Kitchen appliances for generations have been sleek, shiny things not designed to particularly appeal to our senses as much as to convey a sense of almost clinical utility. The hearth of the home, being what it is -- a place of warmth and sustenance -- has in recent years seen a growing trend of kitchen gear and gadgets being more colorful than shiny. Bright splashes of color appeal to a broad range of consumers, but sometimes it is the complete lack of color that offers something more.

The Bodum Bistro 5-Quart Capacity Electric Stand Mixer ($400) updates a kitchen classic with a modern design. Featuring a clear, transparent rounded top, the stand mixer adds an element of intrigue to a time-honored kitchen essential. True to Bodum's style, the body housing is rubber-sprayed and available in a variety of bright colors meant to add a unique texture into any kitchen.

Complete with a beater, a dough hook, and a whisk, the set of included attachments lets home bakers put the kitchen to good use. Considering the amount of baked goods that can be made with the one appliance, that could mean a lot of cookies and cake in the near future. How it stands up to the classic examples of stand mixers (read: the KitchenAid) remains to be seen, but those looking to bounce their kitchen in a new direction may want to take note.

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