At TreeHugger we like cork, that warm material that can be harvested without chopping down trees, is fully renewable and biodegradable and can be shaped into many funky objects apart from stoppers to keep the wine in the bottles. The designers at studio Marina68 in Barcelona have worked with this local material and created a series of furniture, that embrace craftsmanship and eco-friendly materials.

Taking minimalism to the limit, designer Burkhard Schäller has reduced the kitchen to bent wire with a place for everything. And if somebody gives you a weenie roaster you can give it right back, because if it isn't in the design there is nowhere to put it.

"Don't be someone who needs help carrying a banana. That's not who you are"

You don't need a lot of stuff to be a good cook; Mark Bittman says ""A stove, a sink, a refrigerator, some pots and pans, a knife and some serving spoons," I answered. "All else is optional." But what amazing options there are, those single purpose kitchen gadgets that take up so much space.

Photo: Cree

Let There Be Light
At TreeHugger, we've been writing about ways to make lighting more energy efficient for years.

They just don't do kitchens of the future like they used to. IKEA in the UK commissioned a study by The Future Laboratory, who claim "is recognised internationally for its innovative approach to trend forecasting, consumer insight and brand strategy." They came up with three visions of the kitchen in 2040, that really don't look all that innovative.

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman, when asked what one needs in a kitchen, responded "A stove, a sink, a refrigerator, some pots and pans, a knife and some serving spoons," I answered. "All else is optional." Clearly he never heard of the Smoking Gun, yet another one of those single-purpose kitchen devices, albeit with a great name, that kitchens have had to grow vast to accommodate.

photo: Europe 2 You

I've never been a fan of most wedding registries because I cannot stand the idea of having what everyone else has, or giving whatever everyone else gives for that matter. In addition, the sheer consumption of it all is quite a turn off.