Nov. 11--Who knew humidifiers could be aesthetically pleasing? All that's typically expected of these winter staples is that they effectively add moisture to interior spaces -- priority No. 1 during this dry, cold time of year -- and do so without too much gurgling, hissing or beeping. Humidifiers available at Walgreens, CVS, Target and other retail outlets tend to be white-and-blue behemoths featuring a tank, buttons/dials and a conspicuous logo: Crane, Honeywell, Hunter, Vicks. (The exception being the occasional adorable animal-shaped humidifier made to appeal to kids.)
For cloudandco, helmed by forward-thinking designer Yeongkyu Yoo, function doesn't have to trump form. The Korean design studio's simple bottle humidifier succeeds on two fronts: Increasing humidity indoors and being visually appealing. Created for Japanese product shop 11+, the sleek white vessel blends into various settings -- bedroom, living room, office -- like an unassuming piece of modern art. Featuring an antibacterial plastic shell with a matte white finish, the minimalist humidifier has a thick glass base and holds up to half a liter of water. One fill yields about 13 hours of cool steam. When the water is depleted, the humidifier's energy-efficient ultrasonic nebulizer shuts off. Meanwhile, a retractable USB charging cable is integrated into the design, allowing the user to charge it at a computer or via a USB wall adapter (not included).
At $90, the bottle humidifier certainly isn't the cheapest model on the market, but it isn't the most expensive either. In fact, it may be a small price to pay to elevate an everyday household item into the realm of sculpture.
Available in the U.S. and Canada via Leibal: store.leibal.com.
Laura Pearson is a freelance writer.
