The battle between functionality and spaciousness in the home is a constant one. As much as it can be very attractive and comfortable to enjoy a cluttered-free (even empty) environment, there remains a need for certain furnishings and storage space. And there lies the beauty of the Drawer House by Oki Sato (of the seven-man design outfit Nendo), winner of a Good Design Award 2004 prize.

The private residence, located in Mejiro, offers an interesting solution to the space-conscious considerations that compact Tokyo homes are constantly confronted with. As the name of the house suggests, it's all about "drawers," and the simple idea of hiding all household functions - like shelves, tables and partitions - behind doors that can be pulled out. Rooms can then be used as needed, as you "draw" the needed components out in the open only when necessary. Same goes for the kitchen and bathroom areas, which are neatly hidden behind closed doors.

As for Nendo, who pride themselves on their "flexibility and adaptability in the scene of design" (the word "nendo" translates as clay), the members have certainly been making a name for themselves, with frequent magazine profiles or product spotlights (like in last month's issue of Wallpaper*), and numerous awards to their name. More of their brilliant designs (not limited to architecture, but covering everything from furniture to products to graphics) will more than likely get featured in future editions of this column, and with good reason.

Time to pimp things up a bit. A watch is more than just a functional device, usually taking on the role of a fashion accessory - does anyone really buy a Swatch because they just want to be able to know the time? With this in mind, it's hard not to be wowed by the watches on offer from the Sea Hope ("Art and Design Watch") brand. Run by designer Yasushi Kimura, who started out by importing fashion-friendly watches from the UK, the company's various models all have one thing in common: their distinctive take on telling time.

Going beyond what we've come to expect as the typical way of representing time (from the 3 hands to the digital numbering), Sea Hope watches propose their own specific language. Take the Pimp series, with its colorful rows of dots, or the illuminated cubic display of the EG (EleeNo Graphic), or even the Radio Active, with its dizzying array of "warning" lights. Trying to decipher the time almost turns into a game, and you end up looking good doing it. Best of all, they're surprisingly affordable.

Plans for a recent weekend getaway required an updating in traveling accessories, and it was a relief to be able to turn to Muji for a stylish - if simplicity and restraint is your idea of stylishness - and affordable collection of travel gear. Muji has been going all out in an effort to cover some of the product categories it hadn't yet conquered, and when it comes to travel, even though a collection of compact suitcases was introduced a few years ago, it's now finally possible to fill them up with more Muji goodness. What's on offer? You have your passport/ticket holder, a variety of pouches, mesh dividers, all available in a choice of 3 colors: khaki, navy, and light gray - this last option makes a refreshing counter to the usual dark colors associated with this kind of accessory.

The new travel-friendly collection also includes the sort of things that you'll be filling those pouches and bags with: compact shampoo, conditioner, and body soap containers, a nice little pill-sized cup that opens up to reveal a collapsible toothbrush and tiny tube of toothpaste, as well as essentials for air cabin comfort (eye mask, inflatable pillow, and slippers). Sure, it's not the most extravagant of gear, but it does the job, in that non-intrusive and function-first way that keeps us Muji fans a happy bunch.

For some more Muji-related fun, try spotting the Yurakucho flagship store on one of the Tokyo maps that were recently added to the Google Map service. It's ridiculously easy - look for the red roof.

This month's Ginza Graphic Gallery show is one to mark down on your must-see design calendar: the annual Tokyo Art Directors Club Exhibition (July 4-30). Covering various mediums (posters, ads, book/editorial design, and more), it will actually be a joint show with Creation Gallery G8 (located on the first floor of the Recruit building, also in Ginza). The GGG show will feature the works of ADC members, while the G8 will cover non-members in the general category. Both galleries, as always, offer free admission.

It's no secret that we're big fans of the Transit-produced cafe-restaurants found throughout the city (Office, Sign, The Lobby), and news that Sign Daikanyama is celebrating its first anniversary with a collection of special coffee tumblers is a welcomed one, especially when the designers behind them include Groovisions, TEN_DO_TEN, and Shu-Thang Grafix. The days of the dreaded Starbucks tumblers that litter the city are hopefully (and thankfully) numbered.