February 17, 2011

Here is an example of taking a good idea and making it even better. Initially the Window table, created by Eero Koivisto for Offecct, had an inserted colored glass feature that served as a stylish way to indicate the storage area. Now Koivisto went further and replaced the glass with an insertion for flowers and plants. The result is refreshing and chic. The timing is right too. Spring is coming, so it might be a good idea to give those planters another optimistic try…

No matter what kind of opinions you hold on the subject, your cat will always believe that climbing on top of bookcases is awesome. And majestically eyeing the premises from the top shelf is even awesomer. You can enter a painful (and most likely futile) process of imposing restrictions on the cat, or you can embrase the inevitable and give him/her this brilliant thing. Created by belgian designer Corentin Dombrecht, the Cat Library bookcase is made in a shape of a staircase with a built-in sitting basket at its top. The piece is modular, which allows to fit it in any space. According to Designboom, the shelf is intentionally unpainted and is not oiled, so that the surface is not too slippery for cat paws. So, this may be furniture to you, to your cat it is just another toy. But isn’t this true for everything else in your home?

February 16, 2011

The Stick lamp by Todd Bracher is the minimalist’s dream. Inspired by the walking stick insect, the lamp blends with the surroundings while providing an adequate illumination. This biometric design is also pleasing to the eye – the piece looks both modern and natural. The LED lamp can be pointed in any direction, the metal tubing hides the cord. Elegant, functional, space-saving… This design quite simply has it all.

 

This piece is a combination of raw function and illusion, created by the Lisbon-based designer Fernando Brízio for Droog. From a certain angle it looks like a real side table with an open drawer, but, as the product name suggests, What You See Is Not. In reality only the drawer is three-dimensional, the rest of the piece is a sticker on a wall. Here is how Brizio describes this concept: ‘The illusion in this piece creates a situation where you observe the object’s form and deform, depending on your position in space. I am interested in this type of interaction between the object and the viewer—what you see is a result of who you are, how you think and how you are mentally and physically constituted.’ The What You See Is Not side table also allows to save on materials. So, it only tricks the eye, not the environment…

February 15, 2011

There are some serious and pompous rugs out there. And there are people who like them. The ones we see here, however, are the opposite of serious. The rugs called Mangas (engl. Sleeves), created by the Italian designer Patricia Urquoia for Gandia Blanco, were inspired by knit things – scarfs, mittens, sweaters… The casual warmth of these pieces is irresistible. No wonder when Mangas collection was introduced to public two years ago, it became an instant hit. So much so – the company extended the rug family, and even added series of poufs to the same line. Warm, understated and simply adorable…

Here is an idea – furniture inspired by puzzles. And not just any puzzles – burr puzzles, assembled without a single nail or fastener. The result – a collection of beautiful pieces, made of natural, ecological materials, with no high-tech and no harmful glues. The project belongs to the Bulgarian studio Praktrik and created by the designer Petar Zaharinov, who sees big utilitarian and environmental potential in this puzzle idea. All items are sold in pieces that can be assembled and disassembled if not exactly with ease, but definitely with a lot of fun.

February 14, 2011

If you want to make a cute Valentine’s Day gesture that will not turn into a pile of dry petals in two days – consider these. Couple pillow cases from Boldloft can carry the right message and, unlike chocolates, they will stay in your home to remind about the moment you shared with your loved one. With the choice of many humorous themes available, these pillow cases make a fun and useful gift. They are also a good reminder not to take all this Valentine’s Day business too seriously…

February 11, 2011

This neat little thing screams good sense. Envisioned by Swedish designer Jonas Forsman for Creatables, the Old News newspaper collector allows you to store your periodicals in style while they are waiting to be recycled. The piece itself is made from recycled sport felt, which is right up the same eco street. So, instead of chaotic piling you can now engage in some environmentally conscious accumulating. This does sound better.

Source: The Designer Pad

The Stockholm Furniture Fair 2011 is in full swing, and the first news are coming in. Yesterday the world beheld the winner of the Forms+1 Award for the best product at this year’s exhibition. The award went to Thomas Bernstrand for his stackable storage system, called Ivy. This unusual piece, produced by the Swedish company Swedese, consists of five stackable components that can be arranged in three ways: straight-up, leaning to one side, or alternating. The last two choices allow to play with the object, creating fun and dynamic shelving. But even in a traditional, straight-up version it looks rather interesting. And because the Ivy system is stackable, you can customize it, divite it in two, or take it apart completely with ease.

February 10, 2011

If you like multifunctional, adjustable and slightly nerdy designs – you will love this lamp. The LichtKiste from German creator Clemens Tiss is a light box with two panels removed. The remaining panels are rearranged to adjust the light intensity. The LichtKiste lamp can take numberless shapes and formes. It also dobles as a side table with the possibility of shelving (when the panels are slided closer to each other). What is not to love?..