Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

Sometimes we do our best thinking in the bathroom.  Whether we’re going through our daily ablutions or just doing a little light reading, our bathroom is a place of refuge and comfort.  Anything that accentuates that general feeling of ease is an added bonus and the Soft Washbowl by Hella Jongerius (available at Droog for $529) evokes just that sentiment given it’s literal and figurative softness (due to its soft polyurethane construction and pleasantly blue demeanor).  And it doesn’t hurt that the Soft Washbowl exhibits a combination of focused compactness and functional whimsy that’s ideally suited for the limited space most Manhattan bathrooms offer.

Bathroom, Loft

It’s been a long time since you made those New Year’s resolutions.  And with the weather starting to ever so slightly warm up, it’s as good a time as any to check in on that commitment you made to getting back into shape.  And there’s no better way to monitor your progress (or lack thereof), than with a Tanita Body Monitor.  Using BIA technology (bioelectrical impedance analysis), Tanita Body Monitors measure body fat percentage, body water percentage, muscle mass, and bone mass, among many other things depending on the model.  And being FDA approved for precision, not to mention having at least a 300lb weight capacity, Tanita Body Monitors are built for performance and apparently, durability as well.

Item A.

Tanita BF-683W Body Fat / Body Water Monitor (available at TheCompetitiveEdge.com for $80): these days, it’s not just about how much you weigh, it’s about what makes up that weight as well, and the BF-683W accurately measures weight, body fat percentage, and body water percentage, giving you access to three critical readings you should be aware of, whether you like what you see or not.

Item B. 

Tanita BC-1000 Body Composition Monitor (available at TheCompetitiveEdge.com for $280): triathletes, marathon runners and general fitness fanatics should look no further as the BC-1000 Body Composition Monitor measures not only weight, body fat percentage, and hydration levels, but also muscle mass, overall physique rating, daily caloric intake, metabolic age rating, bone mass, and visceral fat.   These readings are automatically transmitted and loaded to a computer, remote display or Garmin Fitness watch using a wireless USB stick and proprietary software.  This is the ideal body monitor for those interested in capturing detailed information and tracking it over time to understand trending and overall progress.

Bathroom, DS Recommends, Fitness, Loft

Inspired by the the I-beams found on New York City subway platforms, the LUCKY BEAM Large Bench by The Katch Design Company (available at The Katch Design Company for $2,600) reconfirms our affinity for this iconic shape, especially when realized in the form of furniture.  Reclaimed or sustainable wood slabs rest on top of powder-coated aluminum plate beams that come in an array of colors ranging from jet black to day-glo pink.  The juxtaposition of the grained wood against these glossy and colorful metal finishes adds a playful element to a clean, modern design.  And for those interested in other LUCKY BEAM options, the full line of benches extends to both smaller and outdoor versions, ensuring there’s at least one LUCKY BEAM that will end up suiting (and seating) you just fine.

Bench, Furniture, Loft

Designed for versatility, the COCO Chair by Loll (available at Loll for $350) is as much at home on your outdoor deck as it is inside the house (or wherever you think it belongs).  Made from 160 recycled milk jugs, the COCO Chair is a year-round weatherproof lounger that you can leave outside without any thought to loss of color or the need for refinishing.  And with its contoured slats, compact design, and availability in six colors, the COCO is also the ideal indoor side chair.  Wherever it goes, there’s no doubt it will look the part with modern style and an eco-friendly disposition.

Chair, Furniture, Going green, Loft, Outdoors

Hobbies centered around the home come in various forms (most of which don’t interest us in the least) and often involve some type of DIY construction or plumbing (things that require quite a bit of effort, with mixed results to show for it).  The Brooklyn Brew Shop DIY Kit (available at Brooklyn Brew Shop starting from $40) changes everything.  Founded by Stephen Valand and Erica Shea, the Brooklyn Brew Shop provides aspiring or experienced homebrewers with the means to begin or further develop the one DIY hobby we can get behind without any reservations.  Their kits (available in both one and five gallon capacities) include a glass jug, all the necessary accessories to brew, including a stopper, thermometer, tubing, etc, and your choice of mix, ranging from Chocolate Maple Porter to Holiday IPA to our favorite: the Black & Tan (which appropriately includes a pouring spoon).  And taking into consideration the limited amount of space most urban dwellers have (especially those of us in New York), the Brooklyn Brew Shop DIY Kit takes up less than one square foot of space, making it the ideal home hobby to take up, requiring minimal space and effort, but in return providing maximum pleasure.  Mmm.  Beer.

Beer, Eat & Drink, Loft

For a few years, the editors at DS called the Garden State (yes, that would be New Jersey) home.  And though we eventually made our way into the city, one of the things we could appreciate from across the Hudson was the Manhattan skyline.  Reminiscent of the view we had from our quondam Jersey City digs, the Storyline Shelf by Frederik Roijé (available at FormNation for $460) is powder coated steel folded into the physical manifestation of the word “bliss”—that is, the word translated to a soundwave and then realized in solid metal.  Available in four colors, this shelf is brilliant mounted on your wall horizontally, but even more so vertically.  And however you see it, whether filled with books or left alone as a wall installation, the Storyline Shelf is pure shelving joy.

Bookshelf, Loft

When it comes to our favorite cold beverages, we appreciate the added chill that only ice cubes can impart.  And with the Iced Caraffe by Officeoriginair (available at FormNation for $28), our drinks stay refreshingly cold from the first pour to the last.  Simply fill the Iced Caraffe with water up to the indication level and place it flat in your freezer.  Once the ice cubes form around the “spine” on the inside of the carafe, just fill it right up again with water (or your drink of choice), and as your drink begins to cool down, the ice cubes will do their job and naturally release from the inside.  Available in a taupe or warm grey color, the Iced Caraffe ensures that every one of your thirst-quenching indulgences will be a frosty one.

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft, Water Bottle

While we have fond memories of chucking things around the house when we were kids (the most memorable being those Wacky WallWalkers and how they’d stick to our walls and “crawl” their way down), these days, we’re not as enamored by the thought of hurling random objects at our walls as much as seeing how we can break up their overall monotonous appearance.  The Sticky Lamp by Chris Kabel (available at Droog for $47) provides the functionality of lighting with the appeal of a whimsical design by leveraging the self-adhesive fixing around its casing to enable placement just about anywhere you can imagine and then reach.  And though there’s no denying the Sticky Lamp’s aesthetic appeal, we also appreciate its eco-friendly intentions as well, given that it only accommodates energy-saver or LED lamps.  We’re looking forward to thoughtfully placing (not chucking) a few on our very own walls.

Lighting, Loft

The Dutch may have had a little something to do with the origins of the Dutch oven, but with the Slowcooker by Margriet Foolen (available at Royal VKB for approximately $55), they’ve moved on to one of our favorite means of preparing food: the slow cooker.  The result of Margriet Foolen’s graduation project at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, the Slowcooker is functional simplicity at its best.  Just place your ingredients in the terra cotta/silicone container and set it in the oven.  By cooking/steaming food in its own essence, the Slowcooker ensures that whatever is placed within, will emerge tender, moist, and full of flavor.  It will practically idiot-proof your next foray into the world of gastronomy by doing all the work for you (just make sure to choose your ingredients wisely).

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft

We were recently making our way through the Gagosian Gallery on Madison Avenue and looking at a few prints from Ed Ruscha and Damien Hirst.  Keeping in mind the price tags on these were anywhere from the high four to high five digits, we admired, reflected, and then kept on walking (right out of the gallery).  While we appreciate art and endeavor to own a few pieces, the price tag can often be intimidating.  That said, what we love about the original paintings and prints from San Francisco-based 3 Fish Studios, is that while so many of them resonated with us aesthetically, nothing we saw was above $120.  The result of a collaborative effort between Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer (both painters and printmakers, as well as husband and wife), 3 Fish Studios has a wide array of original art options, including limited edition linocut prints and paintings.  Our favorites are easily from the Bears in Thoughtful Repose series—wearing lucha libre-like masks, these contemplative bears exhibit great character and were absolutely meant to hang on our walls (and with prices starting at just $15, we can actually afford to make it happen).

Art, Loft