This furniture collection from Australian company KARTON made me gasp. The pieces are so elaborately designed – I can barely perceive them as temporary solutions. Constructed from high grade corrugated cardboard, the line ranges from seating, dining and sleeping pieces to office furniture and modular storage. No tools and hardware are required to put these objects together. And when not needed, they duly fold flat, just like cardboard should. It is easy to individualize your KARTON furniture too. Paint and varnish only improves the product by creating a protective layer. Genius!
Here is another highlight from the DMY festival in Berlin – the universal table leg system by designer Jakob Schenk, called Tick. The leg looks like a big paper clip and can be attached to any material – glass, wood, plastic, you name it… You now have the power to build a table (or a bench) out anything that can provide a flat surface. How awesome is that? Tick is either powdercoated, chromed or made of stainless steel, which makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor furniture creations.
A dishwasher is usually a ‘one trick pony’ kind of object, it rarely performs any functions other than doing your dishes (based on my personal experience – you are fairly lucky if it does just that). But wouldn’t it be brilliant if it could add more to your home? Designer Kim Joomin thought so. That is why he created this incredible concept for Elecrolux. The item, called Dishwasher L, is a light fixture that doubles as an appliance. Positioned over the dining table, Dishwasher L will handle plates, glasses and flatware, quickly eliminating the immediate mess. In addition to its obvious space-saving properties, the piece recycles & purifies used water for the next wash. Because what kind of a futuristic object it would be if it wasn’t eco friendly?..
Brazilian artist Marcela Casarotto created these cool colorful accent tables that can bring character to the room while serving as a book storage. The inspiration for the collection came from the colorful esthetic of the La Boca district (Argentina). Here is what the author says about the pieces: ‘The project proposed the creation of a set of residential auxiliary tables using the colorful district of La Boca (Argentina) as semantic reference, searching for meanings attributed to it and reflecting them on the product through its esthetic and symbolic functions… The product allows the consumer to assemble it at home and select the colors for the finishing, making it part of the environment it’s inserted in a pleasant and humorous way.’ The materials used to make the prototype are MDF, hardwood and PET finishing.
This modular shelving system is called H X B X T for it’s ‘Höhe, Breite and Tiefe’ – hight, widths and depth properties. Created by German studio Philipp Ganter Design, the system can be built in all three directions. The parts of three different sizes are held together by a simple T-shaped connector and can be put together into various configurations. I don’t know about you, but I never have enough of adaptable storage…
The nature of the real estate market in Manhattan makes it a breeding ground for small space creativity. Here is another soaring example of an ingenious use of space. This Upper West Side 450 square feet studio was designed to fit all the essentials and even a few extras. The place includes: living room, kitchen (with plentiful counter space), bar area, home office, sofa bed, extra bed for guests, closet, even library. A large blue custom-made cabinet allows the transformation to happen. Watch the video for the interview with architect Michael Chen of Normal Projects and to see the ‘unfolding apartment’ in action.
Photos by Aya Brackett
DMY Berlin’11 festival is in full swing, giving the stage to many delightful designs. This coat hanger, called Mr. T, is a vivid example. Marcel Kieser and Christof Spath of German studio Kieser Spath, the proud authors of the piece, have this motto for it – ‘plain, simple, intelligent.’ And indeed – what can be simpler than two wooden T-shaped strips with a metal rod in between? And when not in use – the item can be disassembled and quite intelligently stored flat even in the tiniest of closets. Light, minimalistic, adaptable storage… Something every small space needs.
This minimalistic desk is a new addition to the Milk series designed by Søren Rose Studio. In spite of its small size, the Mini Milk desk retains all the attributes of the initial concept – it is sleek, Apple-like and equipped with clever storage solutions. Automatically assuming that you are an Apple addict, designers gave you a slot for your iPad and two compartments that can house your iPhone, iPod or any other item that requires a charger. A custom color for the tabletop is available.
The Libreria ABC by Eva Alessandrini and Italian manufacturer Saporiti – is a modular system, designed to hold books of all heights. Thanks to the specific shelving arrangements, the modules are also capable to resemble letters. The shelves can be arranged into a bookcase, a wall unit, a side or occasional table, free-standing cabinet etc. The configurations, word-like or not, are endless!..
This children’s lamp made me smile. Created by Chinese designer Zhao Liping, it comes in floor and pendant versions. The floor one has a pull shaped as a rain drop. How cute is that! The lamp only exists as a concept. It is made from white matte PVC, other materials are being considered. Cannot wait to see this piece produced…
