Having a lounge chair is a rare space-consuming luxury in a small space. Unless something has been done to make it more compact and multifunctional. Like the beautiful piece here. The GVAL chair by Vanesa Moreno Serna of OOO My Design is a wonder of compactness. An elegantly curved chair-shaped frame houses two smaller items inside. Each of them may serve as an ottoman, a side-table or both. “The shape of the chair and the texture of alternating sheets of plywood is inspired by pattern of tree rings, which in a way represent tree’s memory: each ring usually marks the of one year in the life of the tree,” – says the designer.
The Cosma sleeper sofa, created by Thomas Müller and Jörg Wulff for COR, is one of my long time design loves. The minute I saw it in 2007, I’ve made a vow that as soon as I taste financial freedom – I’ll own this brilliant thing. It hasn’t happened for me yet, but for some of you it might – the sofa is on sale at Fab for the next 6 days via Domus Design Collection. Sleek and elegant, Cosma looks nothing like a convertible sofa. All you can see is a modern and attractive 3-seater. The piece features customizable armrests, that slide freely along the slot on the back. An innovative mechanism, hidden on the bottom of the seat, transforms Cosma into a comfortable bed.
iLean Shelf is an incredible invention of designers Michael Suman and Lynn Smith. It is portable, sturdy (can support up to 100lbs), easy to assemble and unbelievably versatile. It is ideal for home offices, dorms, apartments, bedrooms, bathrooms, decks, it can even be used on a camping trip. And when not in use – iLean folds completely flat. It’s quite a looker too… The shelf is made of maple wood, laminated MDF, and steel support wires. Check out the videos to see how many different things this smart little item can do. Available at the MoMA store.
This project has been completed by New York based architectural bureau Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture. They took a typical cramped elongated studio in East Village and expanded the space vertically. This allowed them to add many full-sized amenities, including bedroom, home office, entertainment area, walk-in closet, and lots of storage.
Designers explain: “Economy, functionality and privacy were the primary drivers in the design of this sixth floor home office studio. Meticulously detailed millwork provides ample storage, making this small-footprint apartment extremely efficient. A bedroom loft creates space for a roomy walk-in closet below, while stair risers conceal a series of built-in drawers. Every inch of the space has been effectively exploited.”
This clever piece by much acclaimed Japanese designer Naoki Hirakoso has been recently revealed at the Tokyo Designers Week. The Yata Stool, a seemingly simple three-legged item, can do so much more than providing a place to sit. Thanks to the special grooves on the bottom of each leg, Yata can be stacked to create sturdy and elegant storage. It can also be arranged into a bench or a coffee table. And thanks to its star-like shape the stool fits into any corner beautifully. You can also stack these stools by crisscrossing and store them away without using too much space.
As the days get warmer, many of us, urban folks, exhibit renewed faith in indoor gardening. I certainly do. And as I was searching for small space friendly options, I have found this brilliant thing – Woolly Pockets. These modular gardening containers are handmade in the USA from an industrial felt made of 100% recycled plastic bottles. This material makes the pockets breathable, allowing soil to refresh its oxygen supply. The indoor/outdoor version is lined with a moisture barrier to protect wall finishes. And being a modular system, you can not only grow your plants but you can grow the plant wall itself by simply adding on more pockets at the sides or top and bottom. Vertically, without cluttering any precious surfaces. When empty, Woolly Pockets fold flat for easy storage. Available at Module R.
This 320-square-foot studio in Little Italy is tiny even by New York standards. Which is why it is especially gratifying to see it transformed into a light, uncluttered, airy pad. Herve Bauge, the owner of the place, sought help of John Nafziger and Sarah Strauss of Bigprototype, Brooklyn-based design firm. They managed to find extra inches of space by placing sleeping and entertainment areas of the apartment on the same spot. The main secret of this remodel is the clever murphy bed that is tricked out with bookshelves and reading lights. There’s also a built-in walnut-topped table that can be folded out while the bed remains up.
Entry area is usually a place where we unload our daily gear – handbags, umbrellas, scarves… And the simpler the process is organized, the less clutter stays in the area. This next item by design collective Viable London is very straightforward and takes virtually no space. The OTT hook collection, comprised of four hooks, allows you to use your door as a base. The hooks are attached with a single screw and removed just as easily. Different lengths and color choices add variety and let you match the arrangement to the existing decor. The items are made from powder-coated steel, have rounded edges to avoid snags and adhesive rubber to protect your door. Available for a short time at Made.
This unusual piece of furniture, created by Taiwan based designer Kenyon Yeh for cooima, was inspired by two bulletin board classics – pushpin and cork. Yeh used the lightness and forgiving qualities of cork to craft this multifunctional item. You can use it as a stool or flip it over and turn it into a side table. What a lovely idea! Just be prepared to fight the urge of sticking notes to it – the curse of cork surfaces…
Kyoto-based studio Miso created this beautiful modular storage piece called XShelf. This system is stackable, flatpacked, and aesthetically pleasing. But best of all – it requires zero tools to assemble. Just interlock the wooden pieces via slots, slide the cubic shapes into groves, and you’re done. Simple, sensible and remarkably customizable… A very good idea for a tiny space.
