For his first solo venture, noted chef Mateusz Sarnowski, more affectionately known as Mati Pichci, wanted his restaurant to be the embodiment of the name he had chosen. In Latin, amator refers to a lover, a friend, an enthusiast, all descriptions of people who might dine at the new establishment located in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. To bring his vision of a Danish hjemme spisested or “home dining place” to life, Pichci tapped his friend and fellow Poland native, Adam Wierciński, founder of wiercinski-studio, to design the space, the architect’s first in the city. He envisioned AMATOR as an inviting place where guests could dine and socialize, inspired by the many festive gatherings hosted by Pichci. Wierciński made the most of the compact 538-square-foot space, transforming it into three spots in one: a café, a restaurant, and a venue for private events. During the day the kitchen serves breakfast and lunch. Flavorful fare includes dishes based on seasonal vegetables and the chef’s personal favorite, a classic omelette. Evenings, meanwhile, are reserved for private candlelit dinners. Near the entrance there is a wall-mounted installation featuring a piece of a tree trunk from a forest in Poland, a nod to the project’s prevalent materials. Simple geometric constructions – also designed by Wierciński – are formed of raw steel combined with solid wood. A high counter by the front window offers a view of charming townhouses, a perfect spot to tuck in with a beverage. Rather than basic bistro furnishings, a communal table is the focal point in the restaurant. Made up of a series of small tops, it includes interspersed plates atop stands that are used to hold food, drinks, or even candles. Each oak top is angled, and together they form a distinctive jagged line. Gaps between the tops give the look of separate tables, but by pulling out steel rings they can be easily combined into one large piece. Patrons sit at space-saving oak stools, initial items in the upcoming wiercinski-objects series. A bar, crafted from the same materials, and enhanced with brown mirrors, separates the open kitchen. Pops of the same yellow that fills in the eatery’s signature brand dot are visible here. This sunny shade is found on ceramic tableware and plywood shelves above the gray tile backsplash. Stainless steel elements, from sconces to circular mirrors, add a bit of shine. In a nook at the rear of the space a selection of vinyl from a range of genres is available to spin on a turntable, and custom-made speakers by local company Arda Audio ensure high-quality sound. Music is another key ingredient, and just like the cuisine, is part of the overall sensory experience at AMATOR. Mati Pichci and Adam Wierciński For more information on AMATOR or wiercinski-studio, visit wiercinski-studio.com. Photography by Paolo Galgani.

In the buzzing heart of Myeongdong, one of Seoul’s most iconic shopping and culture districts, HOTEL DRIP&DROP reimagines modern hospitality through the lens of coffee. More than just a place to rest your head, it doubles as a quiet tribute to South Korea’s deep-rooted and ever-evolving coffee culture. Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Developed by LOG Hotel Group Co., Ltd., this new hospitality concept combines clean-lined design with the curated comforts of a local café. The name says it all: guests are invited to “drip” into Seoul’s rich cultural fabric and “drop” their travel fatigue in a space designed for recharging. Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP At the core of HOTEL DRIP&DROP is its dedication to great coffee. The 7th-floor communal lounge functions as a curated “coffee zone,” showcasing a rotating selection of the city’s most celebrated roasters. The hotel’s own signature blend – developed with 2022 KCRC roasting champion Min-ho Kim – is brewed fresh daily, acting as both a morning pick-me-up and a nod to Seoul’s café boom. The hotel strips away excess in favor of quiet functionality and thoughtful comfort, balancing minimalist aesthetics with intentional spatial design. Featuring 13 tranquil rooms and 52 cleverly designed capsule beds, it caters to solo adventurers and small groups alike. Private rooms are compact but carefully considered, outfitted with everything needed for a solid night’s rest. The gender-separated capsule section follows suit – simple, secure, and surprisingly cozy. All units prioritize tranquility over tech, which offers a true media break during your visit. Every capsule and suite-style room includes a personal coffee dripper set, encouraging guests to slow down and brew their own cup before the day’s exploration begins. It’s a small but meaningful gesture that makes your morning feel less rushed and intentionally slow in the best way possible. Location-wise, you’re perfectly positioned to explore Myeongdong’s fashion-forward scene, the retro-industrial cool of Euljiro, and the serenity of Cheonggyecheon Stream – all of which are within walking distance. Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP In a city where the pace rarely slows and space is tight, this micro-hotel dares to slow things down. Whether you’re dropping in for a few nights or passing through with a suitcase and an open mind, HOTEL DRIP&DROP ensures your stay ends on a high note – coffee in hand and well-rested for what’s next. Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP Photo courtesy of HOTEL DRIP&DROP What: HOTEL DRIP&DROP Where: 44, Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea How much: Price upon request Design draws: The hotel’s unique coffee-centric concept – featuring a curated lounge with Seoul’s top roasters and in-room coffee drippers – offers an immersive, sensory introduction to South Korea’s vibrant coffee culture. Book it: HOTEL DRIP&DROP Go virtually on vacation with more design destinations right here. Photography by Maivy Tran, unless otherwise noted.

We test a lot of smart home devices, most of which are meant to work indoors. But there are also plenty of great gadgets that work outside, whether it's to balance the pH content of your pool, mow your lawn, or keep an eye on your property when you're out of town.Here, we've gathered some of the best backyard-friendly gadgets we've tested. It's a diverse selection, from beach-friendly speakers to robotic pool cleaners. There's even a TV you can keep out in a thunderstorm. So, if you're looking to bring the technological comforts of home to the great outdoors, look no further. Best Floodlight Camera Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 4.5 Excellent Keep your driveway or yard fully illuminated and secure with the Eufy E340 floodlight camera. It isn't solar-powered like the S340 below it and so you'll have to wire it, but it has a 2,000-lumen floodlight and mechanical pan-and-tilt so you can cover every inch of your property in its range. Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 review Best Battery-Powered Projector Anker Nebula Mars 3 4.0 Excellent The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a capable 1080p projector that's ideal for use in the backyard or at a vacation rental thanks to its water-resistant design and its battery that can last up to five hours (in Eco Mode, or two hours at full-blast). It features Android 11, so you can stream from plenty of services without plugging in another device. Plus, it has a useful handle so you can lug it anywhere. Anker Nebula Mars 3 review Best Budget Outdoor Security Camera TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 4.5 Excellent If you want to monitor the outside of your home without spending much money, the TP-Link Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor is worth looking into. For just $40, it's loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models, including 2K resolution (2,560 by 1,440 pixels), color night vision, and local video storage. The camera records video when it detects motion and offers free intelligent alerts that differentiate between people, pets, vehicles, and other motion events, a feature many competitors charge extra for. It requires a nearby GFCI outlet for power but saves you a lot of money compared with wireless 2K alternatives. TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 review Best Affordable Bluetooth Speaker Anker Soundcore Motion 300 4.0 Excellent The Anker Soundcore Motion 300 is a deceptively small, cheap outdoor speaker, considering the sound it can produce. It offers robust sound with high-res LDAC Bluetooth codec support and is also completely waterproof. Best of all, it's well under $100 and easy to slip into a bag. Anker Soundcore Motion 300 review Best Portable Speaker JBL Charge 5 4.0 Excellent JBL’s portable, outdoor-friendly Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent choice for parties. It has a dust-tight build for the beach, with powerful drivers and dual passive radiators to deliver an impressive amount of sound for its size. You don't get a speakerphone function or an adjustable EQ in the companion app, but those are relatively minor drawbacks. For less than $200, you can't do much better. Best Robot Lawn Mower Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD 4.0 Excellent As with every robot lawn mower we've reviewed, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD doesn't come cheap, but it does an excellent job of mowing and trimming your lawn. It features both GPS and cellular radios, plus it connects to a slick companion app that enables remote controls, mowing schedules, and IFTTT integrations. Best of all (depending on your yard), it won't struggle to handle hilly terrain. Best Outdoor Smart Plug TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A 4.0 Excellent TP-Link’s dual-outlet Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A ($29.99) doesn't care what smart home system(s) you use: It works with all the major platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. That broad compatibility and an IP64 weatherproof rating make it a good choice for bringing smart features to your backyard appliances. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A review Best Robot Pool Cleaner Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner 4.0 Excellent Polaris robotic pool cleaners have long been among our favorites because of their sturdy build and superb cleaning performance, and the cordless Freedom Plus continues the streak. It's battery-operated, which means it can clean the pool without a cable for power. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to activate it in its charging station and a light-based remote for controlling it underwater. Otherwise, you can simply let it roam around until it comes back up to charge and empty. Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner review Best Smart Sprinkler System Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller 4.5 Excellent If you love your lawn enough to install a sprinkler system, you need a good sprinkler controller. The Rachio 3 is one of the best: It supports up to eight separate sprinkler zones with automatic weather-based or custom app-controlled watering schedules. You can even control it with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands and IFTTT applets. Best Smart Hose Timer Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer With Wi-Fi Hub 4.0 Excellent You don't need a full sprinkler system to automate watering your lawn. The Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer turns your ordinary garden hose into a smart watering system that you control from your phone, complete with programmed watering schedules and smart weather-based watering. It's a breeze to install and program, and it works with Amazon Alexa voice commands. Best Pool Water Monitor Crystal Water Monitor 4.0 Excellent The Crystal Water Monitor keeps track of your pool's health, with plenty of water analysis features beyond simple pH levels including oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and total alkalinity. It's a bit pricey and requires a subscription after the first year, but the subscription includes a continuous warranty and replacement sensors when needed. Crystal Water Monitor review Best Wireless Outdoor Security Camera Eufy SoloCam S340 4.0 Excellent The Eufy SoloCam S340 is one of the most feature-filled wireless outdoor security cameras available, starting with a built-in solar panel for keeping its battery charged. It also features dual lenses, 3K video, color night vision, mechanical pan and tilt, a built-in spotlight, and local video storage. That's a lot packed into a single camera, and it easily justifies its high price if you want to keep a close eye on your home. Eufy SoloCam S340 review Best Smart Lock Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition 4.5 Excellent The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint is one of the most flexible smart locks we've seen for securing your front door. You can use an app, your fingerprint, a key, or a PIN code to unlock it. It also works with every major smart home standard except Matter. Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition review Best Speaker for Outdoor Parties Sony ULT Field 7 4.0 Excellent If you really want to drive an outdoor party, the big and booming Sony ULT Field 7 is the speaker to get. It's a chunky, completely weatherproof cylinder with stereo woofer/tweeter pairs that can easily fill your backyard with music. It also has colored lighting effects and a mic input for karaoke. Sony ULT Field 7 review Best Smart Bird Feeder Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro 4.5 Excellent The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro sends highly shareable snapshots and video postcards of the local bird population to your phone, while its companion app is smart enough to call out their species. Overall, the Bird Buddy is a charming piece of tech for naturalists and an Editors' Choice winner—if you're going to get a smart feeder, get this one. Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro review Best Video Doorbell Tapo D225 Video Doorbell 4.0 Excellent Besides a good front door lock, you probably want to be able to see who's knocking or who might be stealing your packages. The TP-Link Tapo D225 video doorbell offers sharp video, both local and cloud storage, and plenty of smart home integration options, and it's surprisingly affordable. Tapo D225 Video Doorbell review Best for Roku-Centric Households Roku Outdoor Smart Plug 4.0 Excellent Roku's Outdoor Smart Plug SE features an IP64 weatherproof build, and makes it easy to control appliances and other electronics with your phone or voice and conveniently tracks how much power they use. It's appealing if you also use Roku devices since you don't need to set up anything else to control the plug from your couch. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, but the TP-Link EP40A offers offers better third-party device support. Roku Outdoor Smart Plug review Best Outdoor TV SunBriteTV 55-Inch Veranda 3 Series (SB-V3-55-4KHDR-BL) 4.0 Excellent Most TVs aren’t built to survive the elements, let alone pouring rain, blowing snow, flying sand, or scorching heat, but SunBriteTV’s Veranda Series 3 is up to the task. It offers a few key advantages over previous Veranda models, including a brighter and much more colorful picture with support for Dolby Vision, as well as a full suite of Android TV features such as streaming media services, Google Assistant voice controls, and the ability to mirror your phone. Best Outdoor Party Lights Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights 4.0 Excellent Light strips are ideal for subtle effects, but if you want a more festive way to illuminate your patio, porch, or any other outdoor space, you're better off with smart string lights like the Govee Lynx Dream. Available in lengths of 48 or 96 feet, each string has dimmable multicolor LED bulbs that you can control with your voice or phone. They also support IFTTT applets, and you get a generous selection of preset lighting scenes and a fun Music Sync mode that's great for parties. Best Smart Door Feather River Doors Smart Glass 4.0 Excellent Smart locks and doorbell cameras might make your front door safe but don't add much to the aesthetic appeal. If you want to give your front door a real high-tech makeover, the Feather River Doors Smart Glass is a unique, expensive option. It's a door with a smart glass window that lets you flip between frosted opaque and completely transparent with the push of a button, a voice command, or an app. Feather River Doors Smart Glass review Protect Your Packages Yale Smart Delivery Box 4.0 Excellent Packages get purloined from porches pretty often, so protect those parcels with the Yale Smart Delivery Box. It's a large drop box you can secure to your porch so delivery drivers can safely set anything that will fit inside. Share an access code in the delivery details section of your orders from Amazon and other services, the driver will enter it into a keypad, the box will open, you'll get a notification, and the lid will automatically lock. Yale Smart Delivery Box review Best Smart Padlock Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge 4.0 Excellent Smart locks are good for homes, but what about sheds and backyards? The Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 has you covered. It's a solid, waterproof padlock you can control via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It supports unlocking directly through the app, or you can control who can unlock it and at what times by issuing one-time or scheduled PINs and Bluetooth keys. Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge review Best Smart Mosquito Repellent System Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System 4.0 Excellent Pesky mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening in your backyard, but traditional bug sprays are usually unpleasant to use. The Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System is a high-tech alternative that relies on heat-activated repellent cartridges to create 20-foot barriers of protection. The system worked well in testing and we didn't see any vapors or smell any chemicals. You get three repellers in the basic kit, but keep in mind that the system specifically defends against mosquitoes, which means other types of bugs might continue to buzz about. Regardless, it supports both app and voice controls for maximum convenience. Best Wood-Fired Smart Grill Brisk It Origin 940 4.5 Excellent The Brisk It Origin 940 works like any other wood pellet grill, giving you the ability to roast, smoke, bake, and barbecue without having to deal with the mess of charcoal grilling or the taste of lighter fluid. Moreover, it uses generative AI to offer up countless recipes that you can send directly to the grill. In testing, its AI supplied foolproof recipes for pulled pork and whole bass and the grill delivered mouthwatering results. Brisk It Origin 940 review Best Smart Charcoal Grill and Smoker Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker 4.0 Excellent The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker helps you cook charcoal-fired food to perfection every time. This tank-like kamado grill is simple to use and clean, offers precise temperature control, and works with lots of high-quality accessories. The app is intuitive and has hundreds of recipes you can follow. Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker review Best Smart Gas Grill Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill 4.0 Excellent The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill is built to last and has plenty of smart tech features to enhance the cooking experience. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an illuminated cooking chamber, a user-friendly mobile app, and hundreds of programmable recipes. Moreover, there’s plenty of built-in storage for utensils, cooking racks, and cleaning accessories. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill review

To Universal Monsters fans, the Dark Universe is everything we’ve wanted to see come alive in a horror theme park dedicated to the terrifying and strange. Without the films, there would be no Universal Pictures or the first Universal Studios theme park, for that matter. Epic Universe’s Darkmoor is a monument to the monster legacy at the studio, and it’s befitting of all the creature comforts in store for fans. The moment you enter, Danny Elfman’s score for the land echoes through the nooks and crannies of the cobblestone streets and bounces off the brick buildings. You’ll see little homages to various characters, such as Dr. Jekyll’s Apothecary, which we wish was a real shop. There’s a number of walk around characters that share the lore of the monsters, and you might run into the bandaged form of the Invisible Man, or even the Bride and the Monster. On the attractions, the first monsters of the franchise including the Hunchback of Notre Dame (look up when the bell tolls) and the Phantom of the Opera make their presence felt. The haunting worlds of original films are canon but do get expanded on in intriguing ways. When you meet the Monster you find out he’s just the Bride’s friend, and the experiment from the James Whale movie she was made for lies dead in the queue of Monsters Unchained. To really get the sense of what those stories would have evolved to in the modern day, you actively have to pay attention to all the small details. When you get there, Ygor asks you to volunteer to help Victoria Frankenstein bring glory back to the family name on her quest to control Dracula (yeah, good luck sis). And even the vampire familiars at Das Stakehaus echo the sentiment that there’s no tying that undead man down. Over at the Burning Blade Tavern ,you get more about the villagers’ sentiments about who the real monsters are in Darkmoor: the creations or the humans who seek to overpower them? I wish I’d been able to spend more time in the area to talk to every performer to get as much lore out of them as possible because it’s dense. And we only got a few hours there to gather as much spooky intel as possible and try the food and do the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. I am already itching to go back! To an extent, for the casual theme park fan, it might be a bit much to really wrap their heads around when they ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. You do get to see that Victoria has continued the work of her family name in many ways including making her own version of the monster. But there’s also video clips that play of her and Ygor capturing the Creature From the Black Lagoon and the Wolf Man—there might be more clips but we went through the queue rather quickly. I imagine that she thinks that by making some sort of Monster Squad she’ll live up to her family reputation but might be in over her head. We can’t wait to see how the world continues to grow as more people visit Darkmoor. Check out the gallery below to get a taste of the fun details and Easter eggs! © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo © io9 Gizmodo Epic Universe is now open at Universal Studios Orlando. Travel and accommodations were provided for the purposes of this review. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Dubbed the Bellbird, this compact, single-level tiny house is thoughtfully designed for two people and is especially suited to warmer climates. Its layout encourages an easy flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, featuring a spacious front porch that’s perfect for relaxing, dining, or entertaining guests in the open air. Built by Australia’s Unplgd Tiny Homes, the Bellbird measures 6 meters (20 feet) in length and is constructed on a sturdy triple-axle trailer, ensuring both stability and mobility. The exterior showcases a modern blend of wood and metal finishes, creating a look that is both contemporary and welcoming. Inside, large glass doors and generous windows fill the home with natural light, enhancing the feeling of space and comfort. For added versatility, the Bellbird offers a range of optional upgrades, including off-grid features such as solar panels, batteries, and water storage, making it an appealing choice for those seeking sustainable, flexible living solutions. Designer: Unplgd Tiny Homes Entry to the Bellbird is through the porch and double glass sliding doors, leading directly into a bright kitchen filled with natural light from ample windows. The kitchen is equipped with a sink, a compact fridge, a microwave, and plenty of cabinetry and shelving for storage. There’s also a long drop-down table that doubles as a dining area or workspace. On the opposite side, the living and sleeping areas are combined. The featured model includes a sofa bed, making it comfortable for up to two people and maximizing the use of space for relaxation. Between the kitchen and the living/sleeping area of the Bellbird, you’ll find the compact bathroom. Despite its small size, it’s cleverly designed to maximize space and functionality. The bathroom features a space-saving flushing toilet with an integrated sink on top, allowing for efficient water use, as well as a shower. This setup ensures all basic comforts are covered without wasting valuable floor space. The Bellbird also offers a wide range of optional upgrades to suit different needs and preferences. Notable options include adding an oven and stove to the kitchen for expanded cooking capabilities, or an outdoor bath, likely placed on the porch for a unique open-air experience. For those seeking extra privacy, an upstairs loft can be added to create a dedicated bedroom. There’s also the option to go fully off-grid, with solar panels, batteries, and water storage, making the Bellbird a flexible choice for various lifestyles. The featured Bellbird is a former demonstration model and is now available for purchase at approximately US$57,000. The Bellbird tiny house is blessed with a thoughtful design, flexible upgrade options, and a focus on indoor/outdoor living. This compact dwelling offers a comfortable and stylish solution, making it an excellent choice for anyone ready to embrace a simpler lifestyle. The post This Single-Level Tiny House Shines With Indoor/Outdoor Living & Off-Grid Upgrades first appeared on Yanko Design.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents Skullcandy vs. Bose: Sound quality Skullcandy vs. Bose: Noise cancellation Skullcandy vs. Bose: Comfort and design Skullcandy vs. Bose: Battery life Skullcandy vs. Bose: Companion apps and extra features Our winner: Get the Bose earbuds on sale How We Tested Frequently Asked Questions The noise-cancelling earbuds market is not just crowded — it's packed. If a brand wants to stand out with a new release, it faces the difficult task of bringing something new to the table that can outshine the products of the major brands like Sony, Apple, and, of course, Bose. Skullcandy's new earbuds, the Method 360 ANC earbuds, are attempting to do just that by partnering with one of those major brands — Bose. The earbuds come with Bose-powered sound at the very impressive introductory price of $99.99 (Skullcandy will be raising the price to $129.99 at an unspecified date in the future). The cheapest Bose earbuds, on the other hand, are the QuietComfort earbuds, which retail for $179. Though they are considerably more expensive, they do often go on sale for $149 and have reached the record-low price of $129, which made us especially curious to put them head to head with the Skullcandy earbuds.Below, you'll find our breakdown of how the Bose QuietComfort earbuds compare to the Skullcandy Method 360 ANCs. Skullcandy vs. Bose: Sound qualityIn the press release for the Method 360 earbuds, Skullcandy called them its "most advanced audio experience to date." In listening to everything from indie rock, video game soundtracks, and podcasts, I can see why. The Skullcandy earbuds had a balance that matched up easily to other impressive budget earbuds I've tested. Whether I was listening to the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack or a live Daft Punk performance, these earbuds punched above a $100 price point. How does Bose-powered sound compare to the real deal? Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable However, when listening to them side by side with the Bose earbuds, the Skullcandy earbuds felt muffled and muddier (though I wouldn't describe them as muddy on their own).When listening to Japanese Breakfast's "Savage Good Boy," I could still pick out different parts of the song's instrumentation, but I had to listen harder to pick up the piano past the guitar and vocals than I did with the Bose earbuds. While listening to the "Hush (Still Woozy remix)" by The Marías, the layers of the song were present with the Skullcandy earbuds, but shined with the Boses. Ultimately, the Skullcandys provided a solid listening experience, but the one the Bose earbuds provided was undeniably better. At the same volume, the QuietComfort earbuds sounded warmer, fuller, and generally more powerful. (I say this as someone who doesn't necessarily love bumping the volume super high.) Bose offers five total EQ presets, plus a custom setting. Credit: Screenshot: Bose Compared to Skullcandy's three presets and custom equalizer. Credit: Screenshot: Skullcandy For both, I found their standard mix to be on the bass-heavy side. However, Bose offers five EQ presets and a custom equalizer, compared to Skullcandy's three presets with a custom equalizer.Winner: Bose QuietComfortSkullcandy vs. Bose: Noise cancellationSkullcandy uses four mics to help block out sound, compared to the QuietComforts' three mics.That said, Bose's earbuds literally have the words quiet and comfort in their name. Not to mention, the brand's been a leader in the noise-cancelling space for quite some time. Whether I was working at home with my partner on the other side of the wall, in a cafe, library, or taking a walk, I generally found the Bose earbuds more adept at muting and outright blocking out sounds. That especially came through when I used just the noise cancellation without music to help it.However, the Skullcandy earbuds do offer adjustable ANC via the companion app, which isn't currently available on any pair of Bose earbuds. For their price point, it's not a feature I expected, but one I was pleasantly surprised to encounter. At its highest setting, the noise cancellation only had the slightest hiss. While Bose essentially had none at all in my experience, I was still surprised that the Skullcandy's noise cancellation was comparable at all, considering the price discrepancy. The Skullcandy companion app allows you to adjust the ANC on a sliding scale. Credit: Screenshot: Skullcandy And still, it's worth saying: the Skullcandy earbuds' ANC is very impressive for the price point. While working at the library, I could barely hear the murmurs of a conversation across the room that I could make out word for word without wearing the earbuds. On the Bose buds, the conversation disappeared altogether, giving them the slightest edge. Both earbuds allow you to toggle the ANC on and off and activate a transparency mode. With this last setting, the Bose stood out more effortlessly, amplifying the world around me just enough without overly emphasizing sounds or the room tone. The Skullcandy earbuds, on the other hand, exhibited a stronger background hiss in this mode. It didn't make it unusable by any means, but definitely less pleasant than that of the Bose earbuds.Winner: Bose QuietComfort, by a hair Skullcandy vs. Bose: Comfort and designFor how they fit into the ear, the designs are quite similar on these earbuds, which makes them wear very similarly. In my ears, I found the Bose earbuds to be slightly more comfortable, but both pairs come with three sizes of stability bands and three sizes of ear tips. At the end of the day, fit can be very personal, especially with earbuds. The earbuds have a similar shape, and both come equipped with a similar type of ear tip and stability band. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable As for the earbuds themselves, the Skullcandy earbuds actually resembled the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds more, with a slightly elongated stem and exterior touch controls with the perfect level of sensitivity. As someone who far prefers tactile on-ear controls, I was surprised by how well these earbuds distinguished the different types of presses. I think because the earbud has a slight groove where the touch controls are, it's easy to identify where to touch, and to not brush against the surface and activate the controls accidentally.On the other hand, the regular QC earbuds have a flatter, more rounded touch control surface, which, in my testing of these earbuds last fall, I found to err on the side of oversensitivity. While I didn't experience that issue much this time around, it's worth noting that I tested them initially during a time of year I was wearing more hats and hoods. The Skullcandy earbuds perform like the Bose QuietComfort earbuds (pictured left) but look more like the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (pictured right). Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable The Skullcandy earbuds might've taken the win in this section, if not for one glaring feature — their case. Unlike most other earbuds cases that merely snap open and closed, this one has a sliding mechanism with an O-ring and a slot for one earbud on either side of the interior case. If the intention was to create something outside of the box, Skullcandy did a great job, but it sacrificed some functionality in the process. This case is super bulky. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable As you can see, the case is huge compared to the earbuds, meaning if you're not using the O-ring, it is one of the least travel-friendly pairs of earbuds out there. In their design, Skullcandy seemed to assume that's how most people would use the case, as they placed the earbuds on the opposite side of the case. In other words, when looking at it head-on, the right earbud goes on the left side, and the left earbud goes on the right side. If you have the case clipped onto your belt with the front facing outward, this configuration makes perfect sense. In pretty much every other use case, it makes none.The Bose case, on the other hand, is relatively compact and has a clear spot for each earbud. The Bose earbuds don't have a clip-on ring, but feel marginally more portable. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Both earbuds are IPX4 water-resistant, so they should withstand sweating during workouts just fine.Our winner: TieSkullcandy vs. Bose: Battery lifeThere's not much to say here other than both of these earbuds have excellent battery life. With ANC on, Skullcandy estimates you can get roughly nine hours per charge, with 23 hours of battery life in the case. Bose estimates 8.5 hours, with 31.5 hours in the case. Numbers-wise, Bose is the winner here, but in two work weeks of testing, I only needed to charge up the Skullcandy earbuds once. The Bose app has a feature that lets you easily see the hours breakdown of your remaining battery life, but it's not something I checked on super regularly during testing. Related Stories The Bose app makes it easy to tell how much playtime you have left. Credit: Screenshot: Bose For day-to-day use, I found these earbuds performed very similar in the battery life department.Our winner: TieSkullcandy vs. Bose: Companion apps and extra featuresWhen testing these earbuds side by side, I noticed right away that the Bose-powered element doesn't make itself hidden. Skullcandy adopted the Bose QuietComfort's power-on sound, voice assistant, and tiled app interface. The Skullcandy app. Credit: Screenshot: Skullcandy Versus the Bose app. Credit: Screenshot: Bose While the Bose app has a few more features, including a battery prediction, smart calls, and a voice assistant section, there's also quite a bit of overlap. Both have equalizer settings, touch control customization, low latency modes, and even a remote selfie section.Numbers-wise, Bose simply has more features you can mess around with to truly tailor your earbud experience to what suits you best. Features-wise, Skullcandy has a slight edge with adjustable ANC, but Bose's better ANC overall, alongside the greater customization, its battery prediction screen, and more varied EQ presets help it stand out ahead of the cheaper earbuds.Our winner: Bose QuietComfortOur winner: Get the Bose earbuds on saleThe fact that a pair of Skullcandy earbuds can stand up to Bose earbuds at all is a testament to what the brand has done with the Method 360 ANCs. While overall, I wouldn't call them exactly the same, I would say they're similar enough that you won't be upset to grab them at $100. If they stayed at their introductory price forever, they'd be easy to recommend as the winner of this matchup.However, they will be jumping up to $129.99. Combined with the fact that the Bose earbuds get marked down to $149 frequently enough that these earbuds will sit just $20 apart with some regularity, it's hard not to suggest just springing the extra $20 to get slightly better earbuds with slightly more features. Get the Skullcandy and Bose earbuds Bose QuietComfort earbuds $179.00 at Amazon Skullcandy Method 360 ANC $99.99 at Amazon Still can't decide? Check out our full reviews of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds. If you have a bigger budget, we recommend checking out our review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

Scent is one of the most powerful ways to immortalize a moment in time, many thanks to the olfactory system’s direct line to the amygdala and hippocampus (the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory). It’s why a whiff of a familiar fragrance note can trigger déjà vu or nostalgia for something or somewhere long gone. And while perfumers often look to far-flung destinations for fragrance inspiration, some of the most compelling scents take cues from the spaces we frequent, like the interiors of a home or a hotel room.When perfumer Jérôme Epinette, the nose behind all of Byredo’s iconic scents, was drumming up inspiration for the brand’s iconic library-inspired Bibliothèque scent, he began with a leather couch, which he associates with sitting down to relax with a book. “That’s how I came up with the biotech [elements], which have a little bit of violet, suede, leather, and wood of course,” he explains. Elsewhere, hints of patchouli are meant to evoke a Mad Men–era image of someone lighting up a cigar among the shelves, he says, “even though we don’t smoke in the library anymore.”Similarly, Abel’s master perfumer Isaac Sinclair had a clear idea of setting when he was creating The Apartment, an interpretation of a Hausmannian Parisian flat overlooking the Arc de Triomphe (a very real place where the scent was concocted in person). Rather than pencil in the framework of a home note for note, The Apartment instead evokes sex appeal and sophistication through gourmand notes of cherry and rum that suggest the after-hours revelry that happens between those very walls. Sinclair says that, unlike other perfumes that revolve around one or two core notes, this fragrance captures a vibe and a sexy atmosphere.He compares the process of constructing a perfume to architecture itself. “Usually you start with a foundation and then you start building on top of that,” he says, rather than going roof-first. Sticking to the storyline is also important for the cohesiveness of a scent, he explains, drawing out the design metaphor. “Sometimes you can add something to a fragrance and it smells amazing, but you’ve actually lost the story.”Danish designer Oliver Gustav, whose studio in Copenhagen features a beautifully curated assortment of furniture and decor from all over the world, also has his own line of scents colored by his love for design and interiors. “I wanted something to bring me back to certain special places and times—sometimes a place with present-day significance, and [other times] a place almost ancient but with dreamy and inspirational significance to my work and life as a designer and collector,” he explains of his fragrances.Here a closer look at some of these intriguing scents out there inspired by interiors, along with the stories behind their makeup.Abel Apartment Eau de ParfumTo bottle up the sexy, cosmopolitan allure of Paris, The Apartment needed to match the same energy. Sinclair says the rum note in it came about after plenty of experimentation—and alludes to the debauchery of a long night after-hours—while the cherry that forms the heart of the perfume (derived from pure cherry extract) is another gourmand note with sultry connotations.Byredo Bibliothèque CandleBibliothèque is one of our favorite candles to recommend as gifts for bookworms and beyond. It plays with contrast through plum and peach notes that Epinette says lend a creaminess to the leather and patchouli at its heart for a well-balanced rendering of a place filled with cushy seating and bound books.Comme des Garcons Odeur 71 Eau de ToiletteComme des Garçon’s oddball Odeur 71 is a slice-of-life perfume inspired by everyday smells you might encounter in an office setting, like the dust on a lightbulb or pencil shavings. It was name-dropped by one of the guest editors for AD’s first Scent Week, DS & Durga cofounder Kavi Moltz, who describes it as an unorthodox perfume that showed her how far you could push the boundaries of fragrance. “It’s the scent I wore before we started DS & Durga—it’s meant to smell like copy machine toner and hot lightbulbs,” Moltz shares."MMXXI" Potpourri on Iron StandAs a designer and collector, Gustav had a special room in mind when creating the scent MMXXI. “It is my own calming living room in a crooked 1638 house where I can withdraw from the bustling world to one of soothing gray tones, beautiful books, deep comfortable chairs, and a crackling fireplace,” he says. He set the scene with notes of worn leather and tabacco, softened by violet to evoke the calm of the space.Vilhelm Parfumerie Room Service Eau de ParfumVilhelm Parfumerie’s Room Service was inspired by Old Hollywood glamour, with actress Greta Garbo as its ultimate muse. The scent places her in New York City’s Carlyle Hotel, draped in satin and drawing a bath topped with flower petals. Notes of musk and sandalwood nod to the sensuality of the scene that’s playing out, while the florals and citrus can be interpreted as a literal spin on the creature comforts of a well-stocked hotel room.Byredo Tree House CandleTree House is another architectural take on a tiny home. Notes of wood and hay bolster this cedar-and-bamboo-heavy fragrance, while earthy notes of myrrh and sandalwood elevate this youthful structure into a sacred place.Maison d'Etto Durban Jane Eau de ParfumMaison D’Etto’s woodsy Durban Jane is less a depiction of a specific house and more of an abstract expression of belonging and comfort. Perfumer Celine Barel captures the “cocoon-like feeling of home” through cedar and sandalwood notes that nod to the bones of a house, plus earthy notes like orris and labdanum (with its traces of leather) that heighten the cozy factor of this scent.

As we all know, there’s certainly nothing “blah” about Blå Station when it comes to their designs. With their 2025 collections, the Swedish brand continues to blur the lines between contract and residential furniture to show that playfulness and comfort can coexist in even the most functional spaces. We teased the new Villhem chair, designed by Thomas Bernstrand and Stefan Borselius, earlier this year when we got a glimpse of it at Stockholm Design Week. What is stunning about the design, beyond its architectural form and razor-sharp lines, is the the fact that it wasn’t pulled from a storied archive of prototypes – it’s a brand new design, and a fresh exploration of what it means to bring the comforts of home to the office. The name Villhem itself stems from its Swedish translation, “I want to go home!” – a sentiment that resonates through its inviting silhouette. With its padded elements and gently reclining seat that encourages a relaxed posture, Villhem offers ease in an office setting, making you feel just at home whether you’re at work or unwinding in a lounge. Constructed with a compression-molded wooden seat shell and armrests, Villhem balances structure with flexibility. Its steel frame provides a sturdy foundation, while every touchpoint where the body meets the chair can be customized with additional and separable padding, whether it’s the armrests, seat, backrest, or neck cushion. For those who prefer a little extra indulgence, Villhem is also available as an ultra-soft version, luxuriously padded in leather. Whether placed in a conference room or flanking a side table in a cozy living space, Villhem is poised to become the kind of classic design in line with the iconic greats. While Villhem is all about bringing home-like comfort to structured spaces, Decofunc is about turning structure into play. Designed by Osko + Deichmann, this modular wall system rethinks functionality as something flexible, dynamic, and ever-evolving. At first glance, Decofunc may seem like an abstract wall decor of geometric forms, but look closer, and you’ll find a system designed for endless customization. Built around a steel frame, Decofunc can be turned into four different directions, allowing an ever-changing visual composition of your own creation. The frame serves as a base for a variety of non-permanent add-ons, including solid wooden knobs for hanging objects, hot-molded recycled polyester felt, and flat inserts in wood, steel, or felt. This flexibility turns Decofunc from a static object into an interactive piece, one that serves as visual and functional decor. With Villhem innovating on workplace comfort and Decofunc turning everyday functionality into an interactive experience, Blå Station proves once again that design should never be static. Instead, it should adapt and evolve, always looking ahead to meet the need of the future. To learn more about the Villhem and Decofunc designs, visit blastation.com. Photography courtesy of Blå Station.

The last weekend in May is known for barbecues, beaches, and the best Amazon Memorial Day sales. Whether you’re lounging away or traveling over the holiday weekend, the best deals are a click away from arriving at your doorstep. AD editors searched Amazon for the best markdowns on vacuums (and other home appliances), furniture, mattresses, bedding, as well as patio furniture to usher in the summer. We found the best-selling home items already on sale that might even rival some Black Friday deals.Whether you’re looking for smart home gadgets or ways to update your bedroom, read on for Memorial Day deals that will fetch you the lowest price now, at least until Prime Day comes around.Our Top Picks for the Best Early Amazon Memorial Day Sales:Best Mattress Deal: Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress, $2,374 $1,780Hotel-Quality Bedding: Mellanni Hotel Luxury 1800 Sheet Set, $70 $37Best for Birders: Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera, $360 $300An Outdoor Entertaining Essential: Everdure Cube Portable Charcoal Grill, $119 $109Best Vacuum Deal: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine​ Wet Dry Vacuum, $950 $798Browse by CategoryVacuumsPhoto: Terri WilliamsDyson V15s Detect Submarine​ Wet-Dry VacuumThis wet-dry vacuum from Dyson is one of the most versatile model's money can buy—it can be used on hardwoods and carpets with vacuum and mopping functionality. “The beauty of this design is that all of the water is contained in the separate wet roller head, so I can remove it, attach one of the other roller heads, and dry vacuum in other parts of my home,” says contributor Terri Williams, our resident cleaning device expert, in her review. It's a standout for tackling tough stains and picking up debris, and it's designed to cover 1,000 square feet with its 300 milliliter water tank.Levoit Cordless Vacuum CleanerThis Levoit model is “proof that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good vacuum,” says Williams in her best of Levoit review. Similar to higher-end models, this home cleaning gadget runs for 50 minutes in eco mode and has a serious filtration system. Williams likes that it can go completely flat to clean tricky places such as under the couch. The three LED lights ensure you don’t miss dust as you go. With this low price and superb cleaning power, you can see why it is a favorite.Shark HV322 Rocket Corded VacuumYes, this Shark stick vacuum is corded, but with more than 18,000 five-star reviews, this top-rated machine needs to make its way into your home. Weighing just under nine pounds, it has an extra-large dust cup so you can pick up every last crumb and crumble. Convert it into a handheld vacuum to get into the tight spot between the stair step and the riser or between the couch cushions.Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Deluxe Wet Dry VacWhen your floors need an extra oomph, the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Deluxe is your BFF. Its steam technology helps tackle stubborn messes on kitchen tile and beyond. Use it on a carpet or area rug to give it a light refresh. When it’s time to spruce up the vac itself, the washable filter is easy to maintain.FurnitureMellow Naturalista Classic Platform BedThe simple design of the midcentury modern Mellow platform bed frame makes it easy to assemble. It’s made of solid wood and comes in multiple hues, including pine, cherry, and black. With 8.5 inches between the floor and the frame, you have plenty of storage space too. Bonus: Amazon Prime members get a free two-day delivery.Serwall Foldable Adirondack ChairA Memorial Day sale for outdoor furniture is not something you want to miss. If you don’t have an Adirondack chair, now is the time to snag one. The composite material model by Serwall comes in 12 colorways, including teal, apple green, and sky blue. There is also a cup and mobile phone holder so all your comforts are right there with you. It also folds, allowing you to store these in a neat stack when the season’s over.Poly & Bark Pure-Aniline Italian Leather SofaThe best couches on Amazon are part of the early Memorial Day weekend sales. Poly & Bark is one of our top picks thanks to its sleek, modern corner-blocked frame (made of kiln-dried wood) with pure-aniline Italian leather upholstery. When it ships, all you have to do is attach the legs.Walker Edison Modern Curved Reeded TV StandWhen it comes to buying TV stands from Amazon, you’ve got options and great deals. To help you narrow it down, go for a contemporary design with curves and reeded detail. Choose from mocha or oak options to suit your living room color palette. This one has plenty of storage space and open shelving to display home decor.Bedding & MattressesCasper Sleep Original PillowThe Casper Sleep Original pillow was voted as the best cooling pillow tested by AD editors and contributors. It works for all types of sleepers—back, side, and stomach—and skews on the firmer side. “This is actually my boyfriend’s pillow,” says contributor Madeleine Luckel. “I usually like really soft pillows, while he likes firmer ones. However, I like this product so much that I try to steal it all the time.” One of the reasons she snags it is because it stays cool and “it really is at some indescribable sweet spot in terms of its firmness.” Since the fill is made of a polyester microfiber that’s covered in a cotton cover, it’s also machine-washable.Helix Midnight Luxe MattressSales events are sweeter when you can score 25% off a really, really good mattress, like the Helix Midnight Luxe. According to our best mattresses on Amazon reviews, this one earns the title of “best for back pain.” AD contributor Gaby Ulloa reports that she wakes up “feeling refreshed and well-rested each day” without any back pain whatsoever (something that happens when she sleeps on a new mattress). The hybrid model contains 1,000 individually wrapped coils with targeted pressure to relieve back pressure, help with spinal alignment, and prevent motion transfer. In terms of firmness, it’s about a six on a scale of one to 10.Lauren ArzbaecherLauren ArzbaecherMellanni Hotel Luxury 1800 Sheet SetThis might be the best buy for Amazon sheets. With more than 245,000 five-star reviews, it’s definitely at the top of our list for best Memorial Day sales. Not only are these “lightweight and airy,” sheets a steal, according to contributor Kristi Kellogg, “they've held their shape, color, and softness through dozens of washes.” With 45 colorways to choose from—pastels, florals, and stripes—you have plenty of options to stock up on these super soft and wrinkle-resistant bed sheets.Lane Linen 100% Organic Long-Staple Cotton SheetsLane Linen organic cotton is luxury at a fraction of the price. The breathable fabric is Oeko-Tex certified and feels crisp yet soft. At $40 for a four-piece set, it’s a rare find. We love the polka dot and speckled grey pattern, but you decide as there are 32 colors to choose from. In her review, Kellogg adds, “they haven’t faded or pilled,” even after several years of use.Home AppliancesDyson Purifier Hot+Cool Air Purifier, Heater, and FanAmazon is discounting the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cold by almost 30%, and you don’t want to snooze on this limited-time deal. “This air purifier is definitely a splurge,” says commerce editor and tester Audrey Lee. “Are there other air purifiers out there that work just as well at a lower price point? Probably—but I would say it’s the combination of a high-quality air purifier, fan, and heater that makes this one worth its price.” Lee used the remote control and the Wi-Fi-enabled Dyson Link app to set it up. “The purifier itself works like a dream, and I noticed within a week of use that I felt noticeably less congested,” she says in her air purifier review. “I appreciated that the Hot+Cold has an auto mode, which continuously monitors room temperature and indoor air quality, while also running the fan or heat to the degree of your choosing.” What’s more, it’s also an oscillating smart fan with adjustable airflow, so you can be ready for hot summer days.Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with CameraThe solar-powered bird feeder with a built-in AI gadget that can identify more than 6,000 bird species is an Amazon tech deal you don’t want to miss. It’s made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo, and the waterproof camera is encased in a carbonized shell so it won’t corrode. Thanks to the night vision feature, you can watch the birdies day and night.Nashia BakerCoway Airmega AP-1512HH(W) True HEPA PurifierAccording to Nashia Baker, senior commerce editor, the quality of Coway Airmega purifier is “second to none.” Baker is a big fan of the auto mode. “This is a favorite feature of mine, as it automatically detects the air quality through three LED light modes: blue (good), purple (moderate), and red (unhealthy),” she says in her review. “Whenever there’s a change in the air quality, like if I’m cooking, the LED light adjusts to either purple or red, and the air purifier picks up its speed to quickly regulate it. Usually in just a matter of minutes, the LED light changes back to blue and the air purifier goes back to a whisper-quiet sound.” If you happen to live in a place where pollen, allergens, and air pollution don’t seep through your doors and windows, the purifier will automatically default to auto mode.Everdure Cube Portable Charcoal GrillWe can’t not include a grill in an Amazon Memorial Day sale roundup. Grill designs come in plenty of options, and we love that this portable version by Everdure Cube is accessible to all (even if all you have is a tiny patio). Lightweight steel is what makes this barbecue grill a perfect pick for a day of grilling at a park or a beach. While it is small, you can still cook up to six small burgers or three small steaks. And cleaning is a breeze thanks to the removable grill rack.