Good thing I'm well versed in the Romance Languages, so I can decipher the names of new products for you. Barcelona-based industrial designer Dani Miras has introduced his new idea for a modular, multi-purpose outdoor piece of furniture called Trineo. Of course, when I hear the word Trineo, I immediately think of Santa Claus, which brings a smile to my face despite my age. The association in my mind is automatic, because trineo means sleigh.

Trineo. Designed by Dani Miras.

It is also a clue to the design of this innovative bench/sofa/chaise/table. Trineo is a little puzzle of sorts. You can piece it together in myriad ways, using the low tables and backrests to create double sun loungers or a long, narrow bench. Or make a series of stools or individual occasional tables. Designer Miras suggests (with faulty parallelism) that Trineo is "just for playing and interact!"

The many configurations generate outdoor furniture both large and small, aimed for both traditional and unusual spaces. Poolside in Miami, line up the Trineo modules as sunbathing stations. Inside an L-shaped New York balcony (some people have them, I promise), construct a bench for two: with a backrest at each end of the L, the pairs of feet will just touch. Fashion an extremely long table for an Asian-inspired feast: everyone can sit on the floor and tuck their legs beneath Trineo. For less conventional ideas, you might use the Trineo units to form an elevated dog bed or a planting bench for wild orchids.