Design

Need you a simple automatic watch? The Cadence Ecomatic Sport is a mere $225 an runs a Miyota 8215 movement and has a leather wristband — via Wrist Watch Review

The vintage Ducati here sits at the start of that lineage: it’s a factory Sport Corsa Desmo 350, and one of just six works machines in existence. It’s the machine that introduced the wide case single, a new crankcase design that later found its way into the road bikes — and the design that made Taglioni realise that Ducati could develop the single no further — via Bike EXIF

Jones Studio designed the Thurston Wine House in Paradise Valley, Arizona — via CONTEMPORIST

In March 2011, Bulova announced the appointment of Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, as the brand ambassador for Bulova Accutron; this week, Bulova announced the Bulova Accutron Sir Richard Branson Limited Edition Watch.  It is a sharp looking and well spec-ed watch — titanium case, automatic mechanical movement that is COSC certified (ie meets high standards for accurate timekeeping, and a nicely styled black dial with 24-hour/GMT second time zone reading on the dial (the 24 destinations listed on the dial correspond to one of the world’s 24 time zones).  The dial is actually a stylised representation of the globe, with longitude and latitude lines included — via Perpetuelle

It’s a weird and wonderful house, one of a development of 32 properties in much the same style, the work of Laurie Abbott, was was (until recently) senior director at the Richard Rogers Partnership, which was instrumental in the creation of the Pompidou Centre and Lloyd’s of London. So your house will be in good company. If you want this one, £250,000 is the price — via WowHaus

The 20th-Century factory jack was as robust as they come, made of heavy sheet metal riding on four thick casters and built to withstand the day-to-day grind of intensive use.

This repurposed variant from Restoration Hardware has Steampunk appeal coupled with a modest sense of blue-collar purpose and a natural-iron finish — via Dornob

If you want to make your own watch can buy a case/movement/hands then over time put them together. This is not a trivial task and has a lot of geek cred associated with it (and at the end of it you have a mechanical watch).

However, what would it mean to make a watch from scratch with no off the shelf components? Just think about it for a minute. You would have to buy tools and machinery, learn the techniques to use them, understand in a deep and significant way the workings of a mechanical watch, design a movement, build each individual movement component by hand, machine the case by hand , design and turn the dial, machine the hands then assemble and test the watch.  What would that actually involve? What skills would you have to develop and how long would it take you to get to the point you could build something that actually worked, let alone something someone would be willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for?

An Englishman called George Daniels did just this, and in a series of videos on the brilliant Web Of Stories he talks about his life and his work.  If like me you enjoy octogenarian horologists in cardigans talking at great lengths about lathes this is right up your street! — via Wrist Watch Review

David Jameson Architect designed the BlackWhite Residence in Bethesda, Maryland — via CONTEMPORIST

North of Viana do Castelo, between mountains and sea, Afife [Alfredo Resende Arquitectos] has views of wonderful landscapes that interlock perfectly. When the client showed me he had bought the land, it was hard to not be surprised by the fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and the sea — via ArchDaily

Here’s a kindergarden that little kids would love. The Ringaround Treehouse Kindergarden is a kindergarden in Japan designed by Tezuka Architects.

It is not exactly a treehouse. Instead of the structure being attached to the actual tree itself, this one forms a ring around it so that the space can be climbed in a spiral ring around and up the tree — via Home Design Find

So, how does a huge place in a picturesque location for under half a million grab you? Amazingly, that’s what this 14-bedroom Ronachan House stately home in Ronachan, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute offers.

This is a large Victorian house that’s been maintained and sits on 10 acres of land in an ideal location. The land itself includes woodland, a tree-lined drive, greenhouses and listed stone bridges. It just needs some love and affection. Give it some and you could have the perfect country house hotel or your very own manor. All of that for £495,000. That doesn’t get you a semi-detached house in some places — via WowHaus

Every few months I receive word of a new bike from the New Hampshire workshop of Walt Siegl. And it’s always a treat to behold—like this custom Ducati 900SS, nicknamed the Riviera Ducati — via Bike EXIF

One thing that really annoys me is when a property goes on sale and there are next to no details online. Which brings us to this five-bedroomed art deco house in Roedean, Brighton, East Sussex.

Oh yes, we know the price too — £1,475,000. For that price, you would expect more from your agent — via WowHaus

Zero Engineering has one of the best pedigrees in the custom motorcycle business. So the launch of a new model is a highly anticipated event. But don’t expect a radical restyle, or acres of plastic. Zero is the home of the Samurai Chopper, and the company has built its reputation on old-school aesthetics and impeccable build quality. Nothing will change there.

That’s why the new Type 9 looks old, and it’s no bad thing. From the heavy-duty springer fork to the compact tail light cluster, it’s a modern remix of post-War American styling cues. But the traditional looks now hide some innovative engineering — via Bike EXIF

The Brat, a 1972 Honda CB350, was built by reader Rex Havoc and his friend Brad, who run a small custom workshop in Perth, Australia, called Garage Project Motorcycles — via Bike EXIF

The Igloo Village in Kakslauttanen, Finland is like the Rolls-Royce of ice hotels. Each igloo is equipped with glass that allows you to gaze at the northern lights and millions of stars, all while relaxing comfortably in your warm room.

The glass igloo is a a marvel of modern technology, which is based on a groundbreaking idea and years of research and development. Built from special thermal glass, the view stays clear even when the temperature outside drops to under -30°C. Every igloo is equipped with a toilet and luxury beds and, every evening, a hot sauna and a refreshing ice hole await you — via My Modern Metropolis

I’ve always thought that the Ducati 900 SS deserved more praise. It was a fast sports tourer with good handling — but it was also pigeon-holed by critics as a lesser bike than the 996, and too expensive compared to the early Monsters. So it’s great to see someone take a 900 SS by the scruff of the neck and turn it into a seriously desirable machine. The 900 TT is the latest build from Radical Ducati, and like most of the customs from the Madrid workshop, it’s lithe, muscular and stripped back to the essentials — via Bike EXIF

When I think of a custom Heritage Softail, I think of a bike that has lost its way. You know the type: big bars, pointy grips and flames on the tank. But Steve Willis sees what he calls the beauty trapped within. Willis runs the spectacularly successful UK workshop Shaw Speed & Custom, and this is their latest build—called Flatliner. It started as a rather tired 2006 fuel-injected 1450cc Heritage Softail — via Bike EXIF

Fancy a move to Cornwall? We suspect the availability of this two bedroom art deco-styled property in Newlyn, West Cornwall might make the decision a little easier — as long as your family isn’t too big.

It’s a stylish property in a stunning location, Art Deco in style, even if it’s not an original Art Deco design (at least, we don’t believe it is).

Offers in the region of £425,000 if you want it. More images and details at Rightmove — via WowHaus