Cool Stuff: A toilet that washes your hands too, an AirBnB landlord's dream, and an anorexic dishwasher

New Yorkers have problems: cramped kitchens, tiny bathrooms, and nowhere to leave the keys are just a few of them. When the folks atNew York Magazine asked four industrial designers to point out their favorite recent innovations, they unearthed some clever solutions to these very problems....

• Caroma Profile Smart toilet ($399) doubles as a sink. We admit, it’s a little weird. On the other hand, so is washing your hands in the kitchen, and some city bathrooms are just that small. The unit uses the water from the sink to fill the toilet’s tank, making it a great way to save water while saving space.
• The Lockitron doorknob ($315) allows you to control access to your apartment with a Smartphone. Instead of a complicated key pick-up plan involving your neighbor who may or may not be home or the bodega guy across the street, let guests in by clicking an icon on your iPhone. Plus, it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re renting out your place on AirBnB.
• The Asko XXL dishwasher ($2,099) is really an XXS. With four drawers instead of the standard two, you can load in just as many dishes while using less valuable space in your micro-kitchen. You might even have space to store the stemware once it’s clean.  

Related posts:

Cool Stuff: Find a no-fee rental before it hits the market

Cool Stuff: Chore outsourcer Task Rabbit makes its NYC debut

Retractable balcony apparently still just a dream for New Yorkers