Tools for Living

Tools for Living

By Richard Trapunski

ools were invented (if Kubrick is to be trusted, by monkeys) in order to ease the effort needed to fulfill specific tasks. Some people use tools for cutting wood (a saw), others for securing nails (a hammer). But tools aren't limited to what you'd find carried Tim Allen's belt; they can extend to any job you don't want to complete with your own two hands.

Design Within Reach originally formed in order to provide classic furniture from top quality designers without a big hassle. Now they've recognized that good design isn't just limited to furniture and lighting, it can extend to anything used in daily life, or in other words, anything that can be used as a tool. In order to fill this need, DWR has introduced a new line of products called Tools for Living.

Tools for Living is DWR's latest step in the trajectory of "making good design accessible" to the masses. Not straying far from the home accessories ethos, smart design is the base core of the Tools for Living assortment, with each item unique in how it solves a problem or makes something more comfortable or easier to use. In this way, the things that we use in everyday life become more than just objects; they become tools.

Despite this classification, these things depart from the regular design model of everyday tools. After all, not a lot of thought goes into how a hammer looks; if it gets the job done then it has done its job. Tautologies aside, in the Tools for Living collection, functionality isn't the only aim, although it is quite important. These everyday objects have been designed to be practical and handy but also aesthetically pleasing.

Take a look through the catalogue and you'll see countless examples of useful objects that will instantly catch your attention. Everything from stainless steel stovetop espresso machines to humidity-proof cypress wood towel dryers effortlessly merges good design with expediency. Like most modern design since Bauhaus (the architectural school, not the 80's goth band), the designs aren't meant to impress you with a whole bunch of frivolous ornamentation. Absolute simplicity of design makes the items more efficient, but it also makes them pretty damn sleek.

The collection is divided into items for the kitchen, bathroom, workspace, accessories, pets, and kids. With over 150 items, you could easily buy everything you use from the collection. Of course, that would be going way overboard, but if you've got the money to spare, why not? Then you could have the pleasure of telling your friends that you have designer dish towels and artesian tape dispensers. People will either be impressed or they'll think you're a nutjob.