YOU’VE NO DOUBT HEARD
that sitting is the new smoking. And with half of our day spent on sedentary pursuits – those performed while sitting – there may be some truth to it. As Canadian researchers found, inactivity is putting us at higher risk for cancer as well as heart disease, diabetes and death. Simply standing instead of sitting burns twice as many calories and helps strengthen bones and muscles.
Take advantage of those upright benefits while you work with a Teknion Livello height adjustable desk (above). It uses a counterbalance spring to easily raise and lower for sit-to-stand breaks or vice versa. $1,500, www.teknion.com
Take it a step further – literally – with the Fitneff WalkTop treadmill desk. The desktop attaches to most treadmills, and its height and incline are adjustable. It takes a little getting used to, but in no time you can be walking and working or strolling and streaming through your favourite show. $480, www.walktop.ca
Hot and stuffy, not to mention odorous, do not make for a happy workspace – or home office, for that matter. The new Dyson Pure Cool air purifier uses a HEPA filter with activated charcoal granules to remove fumes, odours and airborne particles down to the micron. It’s been certified with the ‘Quiet Mark’ by the Noise Abatement Society so it’s sure to cause little aural distraction. And if you’re the hot and bothered type, it’s also a fan – or rather air multiplier. Plus, it features a sleep timer, wireless remote and its bladeless design looks pretty sexy – for a fan. $550, www.dysoncanada.ca
UNDERFOOT AND UP-TO-DATE
More than for keeping footsies warm, area rugs can also easily refresh a space. “I have always felt that home fashion should be changed the same way you change your clothes and accessories each season,” says Kirsten Korhani, chief creative officer of Korhani Home.
With a background in fashion she now puts her expertise into creating stylish carpets that are also affordable, so you can do a seasonal swap sans sticker shock. Most large rugs come in a bag for off-season storage and, if ever it does outlive its welcome, so to speak, simply ship the rug to Korhani for recycling. From $79, Lowe’s; go to www.korhani.com for all collections