You know that saying ‘Fashion before comfort’? Well, I have been know to utter my own version…’Style before safety’. Okay, not really. But I do have to say one of my hugest pet peeves is a smoke alarm. They are ugly. And I hate them. The end. I don’t want them on my walls.
Not only that, but for some reason, they go off at the most random moments. I have been known to take out the batteries so I could cook something without setting them off. (Not that all my cooking sets off the smoke alarms!)
That was all before I saw this post from Remodelista. These are gorgeous and welcome anytime and anywhere in my home.
Enjoy!
Rumor has it that industrial design-rock star Yves Behar is working on a design-worthy smoke alarm. In the meantime, we embarked on a search for attractive alternatives to the ubiquitous smoke alarm.
Above: Kupu Photoelectric Smoke Alarm by Finnish designer Harri Koskinen for Jalo Helsinki has a soft fabric cover and is affixed to the wall or ceiling surface with 3M tape (no need for screws or a power drill). There are no tiny push buttons, rather the whole external casing acts as a press switch for silencing false alarms and testing the performance of the product. Battery powered (no hardwiring, which means it can be used in countries with different electric voltage); €24.90 at the Finnish Design Shop.
Above: Winner of the 2011 Red Dot Design Award, the Kupu Photoelectric Smoke Alarm is available in white, green, gray and pink.
Above: Slated to come on the market in 2013, the Modern Smoke Detector by Architectural Devices is designed to lay recessed and nearly flush-mounted into the gypsum board of a wall or ceiling to blend in seamlessly. It runs on a 9-volt battery and can be linked to up to 12 other detectors. It will be retail for around $199. Contact Architectural Devices for further information.
Above: The Kidde Silhouette Low-Profile Smoke Alarm protrudes a mere half inch from the ceiling once installed. It contains a rechargeable battery that runs off central electricity and lasts the lifetime of the unit. Hardwiring required; $13.95 at Amazon.
Above: The Gira Smoke Alarm is an advanced heat and smoke detector that won the 2010 Red Dot award for product design; £40.01 for the battery operated unit through Gira UK. Not yet available in the US.
Above: Designed for a child’s room (and inspired by the American Black-capped Chickadee bird), the battery-operated Chick-A-Dee Smoke Alarm by Dutch designer Louise van der Veld is $75 in black or white at the A+R Store in Los Angeles.
That Chick-A-Dee smoke detector is just amazing. I never even knew these existed, and that one in particular just has me so impressed.
Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome. Isn’t it beautiful?
Those are so much nicer than traditional smoke alarms. I may have to check into the one available at Amazon.
I love them! Let me know what you find!