January 17, 2012

This exciting bike storage idea belongs to Sacramento based design duo Steven Tiller and Stephanie Birch of Reclamation Art + Furniture studio. The project was born out of necessity – the couple lives in a small downtown apartment (fellow shoebox dwellers – yay!). ‘We bring our bikes inside, – says Steven. – Given our storage issues, this makes navigating the entry hall difficult. I personally have tripped over or snagged a pair of dress pants on an awkwardly placed bicycle more than once. The solution? The Bike Valet.’ The product is made from 1/8″ cold steel, its elegant shape is cut using a laser cutter. You have your choice of either a leather or neoprene pad to rest your bike on. And with six colors available – you can think up many beautiful color/pad combinations. You can purchase the Bike Valet on Etsy, or better yet – support Steven and Stephanie’s Kickstarter project and help turning this cool storage idea into a thriving success.

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January 16, 2012

This table from Studio Uli Budde has a lot to be in love with. It is elegant, compact and loaded with functionality. The piece is a logical combination of coffee table, side table, and magazine rack. The central island is a practical surface for placing coffee, plates, sketchbook, or laptop. The area that wraps around is a storage space for books and magazines. The outside rim also serves as a bookmark when taking a break from reading. Simple and unobtrusive aesthetic of the reading table makes it perfect for the living room, bedroom or waiting room. The piece comes in two sizes.

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January 13, 2012

Who doesn’t love a good makeover? Especially if it involves small space creativity. Seattle based artist, designer and welder Michelle de la Vega took an old tired garage and turned it into a full functioning and visually stunning little house. Most fixtures and pieces of furniture were custom built for the project or salvaged, refurbished and repurposed by the designer/owner. The place is only 250 sq. ft., but thanks to clever space-saving solutions, it seems bigger; and there are no compromises in comfort.

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January 12, 2012

This simple and clever shelving system by Mehtap Obuz of Demirden Design for Ilio is modular and can perform several tasks. Comprised of light wooden components, Katkat can be stacked as high or as low as you want. And because there are two sets of connecting holes in each segment, you can adjust the height of the shelves – perfect for oversized books of magazines. And if you need extra seating, each unit can serve as a stool. The item is light, intuitive in assembly and visually stimulating. The piece can be made from oak, walnut and/or african padouk, which is another beautiful variable – you can mix and match layers of different colors.

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January 10, 2012

I can never get enough book and bike storage, and when I see these things combined – it’s Christmas. Bookbike by BYografia is a clever hybrid, addressing both your reading and riding needs. The piece is comprised of two parts – one features shelves for your books, another – a hook for your bike. And because the rack is adjustable, it can accomodate a bike of any size. The base is equipped with adaptable legs to ensure the stability of the structure. I also quite like the somewhat retro feel of this design. Bookbike comes in chalk white and gray antracite.

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Japanese people know a thing or two about living in cramped spaces. And here is the proof that limited square footage doesn’t have to mean undignified living. In this short NHK World special you can see how tiny urban spaces can be turned into spectacular and inspiring examples of modern architecture. Enjoy!

These accessory hangers by Montreal based design studio Toma Objects are sculptural and visually delightful. Made from untreated birch wood, they are thin and compact enough for even the tiniest of closets. You can use them for gloves, scarves, belts, ties and other small items. The number of loops vary from one to three, so you can choose your storing weapon according to your accessory situation. And because these hangers look the way they do, you can bravely display them, even when they are empty.

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January 9, 2012

A modern take on a classic idea, Lodelei coat rack was created by designers Martin Pärn and Edina Dufala-Pärn for Nils Holger Moormann. The piece includes a frame with hooks and a canvas pocket for bags and smaller items. This bag storage part made me overjoyed (a New York woman’s bag cannot be hung without bringing the hook down), it looks elegant and can also preserve your wall from wet clothes. The frame is made from untreated ash wood. And because of its clever leaning construction – the more weight you put on it, the stabler the rack becomes.

(via Dezeen and Stilsucht

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January 6, 2012

Polichinelle desk has been created by two French designers Yoann Jestin and Benoît Pernet. And just as its namesake it is colorful and fun. The idea of the piece was to free the desktop completely and allow using it solely for paper. You can cover the surface with a pad, write on it, draw on it or tear the used paper off. In order to separate the writing part of the desk from its storage, the series of removable components were created. They include a music stand (for a book or laptop), lamp, and a storage box with lid holding the pad with magnets. The components are made from thin metal and come in various colors.

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January 4, 2012

These multifunctional bookends by young Baltimore based designer Nicole Runde are milled from solid cork, a rapidly-renewable and eco-friendly material. The pieces can be used as planters or pencil holders (depending on how green your thumb is). And because cork is a perfect bulletin board material, these bookends can serve as heavy duty organizers and hold notes, photographs, reminders and such. Each piece comes with a removable plastic insert that can be washed and reused. Sold at Canoe.

(via BLTD)

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