Ouch. With oil selling at record prices, filling up our cars at the pump really hurts our wallets these days. Global demand, especially from rapidly growing economies like China and India, is far outstripping our capacity to produce enough oil. So it makes more and more sense to curb our dependence on crude. Perhaps a good way to remind us to change our oil guzzling lifestyle is this gold tone oil can tea set made by Designcommando (Germany). The designers called their creation Beautifuel Life because “We all have a beautiful life that is given to us by oil and fuel.”

The coffee service is porcelain. For the exclusive series, the oil can is covered with real gold. It is painted gold for the normal series. The gold colour serves as a daily reminder that the cost of oil may as well be in the same category as the precious metal itself. So each morning you pour your favourite beverage from the oil can pot, you will be conscious of draining supplies.

Via

This beautiful piece of modern and contemporary storage furniture is designed and manufactured in Germany by Mueller. Made of 1 to 3mm thick Steel this is a very strong, well made product not to mention unique. For comparison, sheet steel for cars is 0.8mm thick. For painting, the manufactured uses acrylic paint specific to the car industry including metallic and pearl finishes. The advantage: the surfaces are particularly hard wearing, non-sensitive and easy-care. This piece looks good, and I feel that pieces of furniture that combine wood and white plastic or steel will be the future of furniture. They look good and are very strong. - Via

This amazing house located in Morelos, Mexico is called “Casa Aquino” and it was designed by Augusto Fernandez Mas (K+A Diseño). Architect Augusto Fernandez Mas’ emphasis on wood and stone helps blend the house in with its natural surroundings. This single-family residence is located on a steeped lot in front of federal government lands and aside a river; it entailed a series of building and environmental restrictions. The sloped terrain made retaining walls necessary, as well as a drainage system to channel large amounts of rainwater. The house is configured by orthogonal shapes and materials such as wood, stone and metal without artificial claddings. It stands with no protagonism against the rich and abundant surroundings. Finally the most beautiful part of the house is the small pool of stone and its red cedar surrounding pavement that stands as the most intimate space concealed between the house and one of the perimeter retaining walls. - Via

Modern homes need to have kitchens that are both spacious and practical. Contertops have an enormous impact on the look and feel of your kitchen design, helping set the style and tone for the heart of your home. Today while I was surfing on BBA Design Consultants I’ve noticed in their residential works, a few interesting kitchen designs, and I’ve decided to make a small inspirational collection here on Freshome, for those of you who look for a little inspiration for their kitchen design. Finally here are 9 pictures with a few beautiful kitchen designs, that might give you an idea or two.

If you are looking for really something different, this might be it. Atkins has won an international competition to design a five-star resort hotel set within a beautiful 100 meter deep quarry in the Songjiang district close to Shanghai in China. I know that from these pictures the hotel looks almost unreal, but this project is expected to be completed by May, 2009. Its stunning concept designs inspired by the natural water and landscape features of the quarry captured the imagination of judges to quash competition from two other international firms. The quarry will provide protection from the weather, and reduce the energy needs of the hotel. The complex will contain restaurants, cafes, sport facilities, and will even include underwater public areas and guestrooms.

The innovative design of the 400-bed resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 metre deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms. It will incorporate conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, a banqueting centre, restaurants, cafés and sports facilities. Sustainability is integral to the design ranging from using green roofing for the structures above the ground level to geothermal energy extraction. An aquatic theme runs through the design both visually and functionally. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guestrooms facing a ten-metre deep aquarium. The lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports centre for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel. - Via - Greenroofs & E-Architect