Deski is an interesting attempt at combining a workspace with a dinner table. Created by Finnish designer Markus Toivanen, the piece is a four-seated dining table by day and a spacious desk by night (or the other way around). The beautiful part is that you don’t need to put all your work-related things away. Just cover your creative mess with four panels, attached to the table via magnets, and you are good to serve food and entertain. These four removable components make your work flexible too. You can take them apart and keep the surface open, or you can close some of the panels and create storage compartments. Made from sustainable pinewood by-product, the piece is compact, clever and eco-friendly. I hope it doesn’t linger on the concept stage and gets produced soon.
This inventive and efficient Manhattan apartment is only 650 square feet. Yet it looks and feels bigger thanks to the efforts of architects Jon Handley and Melissa Baker of Pulltab Design. A starter apartment of a young professional couple, the project did not have a big budget. So, the architects used several simple solutions and custom multifunctional furniture pieces to achieve the result. The most notable item is the clever dining table, that folds down like a murphy bed when the owners have guests and blends with the wall when not in use. Another beautiful piece is a cabinet, hiding a TV. It looks pristine and uncluttered, while ready to be transformed for a movie night. I am also quite taken by the storage unit, framing the kitchen. It blends seamlessly with the color of the wall, allowing the eye travel and perceive openness of the space. A large mirror and a unified whiteness of the surfaces complete the illusion of a grander dwelling.
Photographs by Mikiko Kikuyama
This graceful modular storage series was designed by Marco Guazzini and Tsukasa Goto of Noto studio for Italian brand Officinanove. The system is comprised of three components in different sizes: tall, medium and short. They can be put in various configurations depending on function and space requirements. I particularly like the shape of these modules. What a beautiful way to break the rectangular pattern of traditional storage… Designers elaborate: “The idea behind the shape is inspired by a ballet school, where many girls are training by running various positions, which will give life to ballet. Similarly the elements of Mademoiselles change position, creating a dance with multiple functions.” The frame is tubular steel with welded steel metal sheet. Additional components can be added to the first three, depending on needs, to tailor the space to its intended purpose.
I believe in the virtue of flatpack design. And these beautiful plywood accessories have made me very happy. Japanese company Flat Packables specializes on practical and simple objects that can bring some eye-candy to our homes without bring any clutter. Here is how Yu Ito, the designer behind the brand, describes his vision: “As laser-cutting technology became increasingly accessible, I started to see a lot of poorly designed laser-cut products. That inspired me to introduce unique designs that are original in not only appearance but in how they interlock together.” Each piece is laser-cut from plywood, hand-sanded and finished with beeswax. Beautifully packaged too. Flat Packables products are available on Etsy.
These cool minimalist objects were created by Belgian designer Mathieu Guyaux. Based on identical solid white oak parallelepiped, each element underwent a specific cut (hence, the name) to give it its own identity. These different cuts allow a large number of applications. You can turn each piece vertically, horizontally, or sideways and use it as a coffee table, side table, nightstand, umbrella stand, magazine rack, pedestal, you name it… Simple, beautiful, refreshing (love the lacquered color detail) and very useful in any space, big or small.
We’ve seen many modular pieces, comprised of boxes and shelving structures. This next project is different. It uses a humble chair as a module. Korean designer Seung-Yong Song created a collection, called 8-Objects, in which 8 chairs are put together to form a bed. Each chair can be used as a stand-alone piece, of course. And even when taken as separate pieces of furniture, they can do much more than providing bumrest. One doubles as a clothing rack, another serves as a small desk, while others add step ladder, bookshelf and bedroll to their functions.
