Categories / Architecture, Property

For sale: 1960s Jean Prouve-designed house in L’Isle Adam, Val d’Oise, France

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If you have money to spend on a European retreat in this volatile financial climate, you might want to check out this Jean Prouve-designed house in L’Isle Adam, Val d’Oise in France.

Jean Prouve (the man behind the likes of the Cite armchair and the Compas desk) designed this space age property back in 1967, with restoration (thankfully in the same spirit as the original) undertaken in 2003, saving original features like the large picture windows, the metal structure and the roof terrace. The view remains unchanged too – sat in the middle of the Vexin nature reserve. And when you get bored of that, Paris is just 45 minutes away.

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Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Space Invaders alarm clock

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This was kicking about in Japan a couple of years back and now the Space Invaders alarm clock has landed in the UK.

Offically licensed by Taito, the Space Invaders alarm clock tells you the time via its 70s-style digital face, but really comes to life when the alarm sounds – flashing up a screen of alien invaders, accompanied by a cacophony of authentic gaming sounds. Downside? Well, sadly you can’t play the game on its mini screen.

Still, a really quirky clock, available now in limited quantities for £24.95.

Find out more at the Firebox website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Matthew Hilton mid-century Cross sideboard

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A modern piece with a serious influence from the past – the Matthew Hilton Cross sideboard for Case.

This 50s-influenced sideboard is made of solid oak (with natural or stained finish), packing in three drawers and a large double-doored storage area, not to mention a spacious top for your vintage glass or audio system. Loving those angled legs too.

Available online at SCP, it retails from £1,450.

Find out more at the SCP website

Categories / Women's Fashion

Exclusive retro designs at The Red Dress Shoppe

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When it comes to vintage style dress design, there are a few brands out there who rarely miss. Among those is Stop Staring, which has been featured on the site a few times. While the Stop Staring! shop is usually your first port of call, The Red Dress Shoppe can offer something a little bit special.

This online retailer has some fantastic exclusives from the brand, including these Clover and Orpheus dreses. Made in the style of the 1940s, with classic tailoring and even more enduring looks, you won’t find these designs anywhere else. That means the added bonus of something extra rare, too.

Find out more from the website

Categories / eBay watch, Gadgets and Tech

eBay watch: Buro Vormkrijgers Pong Clock

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Back in 2006,
we featured the Pong Clock by Dutch design studio Buro Vormkrijgers – a cool piece of retro design produced in very limited quantities for 199 Euros. In hindsight, that was probably a shrewd investment.

One of the clocks has surfaced on eBay with a ‘Buy It Now’ of £799.99. Now that sounds hefty, but bear in mind only 400 of these were officially made worldwide, with Atari stepping in to ensure only that number were made (they still own the copyright).

In terms of what you get, well it’s a digital clock in a smoked casing and in the style of the original game and with a game of Pong built in – against the clock though, not against someone else. The Pong Clock has a serial number and signature and this particular model is unused and is still in the original packaging. Personally I still think it’s a little expensive, but if you have the cash, it’s an investment that can only go up.

See the full listing at the eBay website

Thanks to Jenny for flagging this up.

Categories / Design and Interiors

Hans Bolling 1950s wooden ducks

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If you like the Kay Bojesen monkey range (and indeed the elephants), the Hans Bolling wooden ducks could well be your thing too.

Bolling designed the ducks back in 1959, based on a famous image of a Danish policeman stopping traffic to let a duck family cross the road. The result is a stylish mid-century object (or objects) made of teak, cool and quirky and guaranteed to brighten up any room.

Now reissued as part of the Architect Made series, you can pick them up in two sizes, with prices starting at £34.

Find out more at the Panik Design website