My sources say yellow will be hot in 2009… or that yellow already is hot. Sometimes they say that yellow is hot when paired with black and white, or perhaps with silver. Basically, sources disagree on many things, but yellow isn’t one of them. Me? I like yellow because it’s cheerful and bright and puts me in a happy frame of mind.

Mmm, yellow. As usual, click on any of the pics for more info. I’m really digging the yellow office chair, though it would make my cherry red home office look like a McDonald’s.

On one hand, these French serving trays are delightful in their hybrid beauty. They are, at once, serviceable pieces of kitchenware that are perfect for entertaining and portraits of beautiful woman.

On the other hand, I just can’t seem to shake the image of my hors d’oeuvres being eaten from underneath by ravenous ghost people.

I love Joseph Joseph kitchenware — it’s a far cry from the usual white, cream, or black Rubbermaid gear many of us have piled in our kitchen cabinets. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course, but in the middle of a bleak January, an unexpected splash of color can do a lot to lift one’s spirits.

Need vessels suitable for measuring, mixing, and pouring? Here’s what you get with Joseph Joseph Nest 8 nesting bowls:

• Small Measuring Cup: 1/4 cup
• Medium Measuring Cup: 1/3 cup
• Large Measuring Cup: 125ml or 1/2 cup
• Extra Large Measuring Cup: 250ml or 1 cup
• Small Bowl: 500ml
• Large Bowl: 4500ml
• Sieve: 1650ml
• Colander: 3000ml

That’s a lovely starter set if I’ve ever seen one, and a far sight lovelier than the drab ‘my first kitchen’ set I got when I moved out into the wide world on my own. If you’re looking for even more color, coordinate your mixing bowls with this Mosiac Tutti Frutti worktop saver:

I was browsing the slideshows at domino when I found this:

At first it struck me as a creative and fun way to use old photographs as decor. Then I realized that it would drive me absolutely out of my mind because it looks so dorm roomy.

Someone needs to feed 75½ Bedford Street a sandwich.

When it comes to things you can’t live without, make sure they are steeped in style.

Everyone needs a few absorbent strips of cloth — most commonly known as tea towels — in the kitchen for the wiping up of spills and the drying of digits, so why not choose display-worthy specimens? I’m currently loving these colorful tea towels from ferm LIVING. Yes, they are a tad pricey at nearly twenty bucks a pop, but one hopes that ferm’s 100% organic cotton will last a goodly long time.

Here’s wishing you uncommonly good luck for 2009!

If you’re worried about matters of probability, a Knock Knock charm handmade in Peru will let you knock on wood no matter where you are.

The new year is here! And the new year makes me think of the future that will be and the future that’s here now. For your perusal on this most auspicious of days, here are four houses of the future. The house of the future has been envisioned many times in many ways, with plenty of variation. The house of the future frequently features curves, environmentally-provided heating and cooling, Coke bottles, and indoor gardens, but not always. I like these houses of the future because they’re attractive and fun, yet also eco-friendly and conscious of the surrounding landscape. Scope them out in a clockwise direction.

Designed by Luigi Colani, the first house maximizes use of land space by having one central space serve as every room through the clever use of rotation. There’s a living room area, then a rotating bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen set-up. The Zero House by architect Scott Specht, on the other hand, is listed as a house of the future for being totally off the grid and more than a little automatic. It’s pretty good looking, too, if you like the super duper modern look with angles and more angles. Looking for a home design that would bring the organic and the inorganic together, a New Mexico family commissioned Arquitectura Organica to create a house in tune with Momma Nature’s curves. The result was the Nautilus house, which is curvy inside and out and featured lots of indoor greenery. Finally, from Xenian comes the aptly named House of the Future, which pairs a warm wooden design with a rainwater harvesting system, passive ventilation, and solar cells for power.

Thinking of updating your house or perhaps moving in 2010? Best wishes on your home adventures! And have a wonder and prosperous new year!