May 17, 2012

This piece, generically titled Folding Chair, was created by Monstrans design studio. And unlike its name – it demonstrates a lot of character and originality. The structure of the piece is comprised of thee wooden parts, and it folds completely flat when not in use. The components are held together in the closed position by the eight rare earth magnets. Paired with strategically positioned handles, this makes the Folding Chair incredibly easy to lift, hold and transport. Two quater inch thick wool felt pads make the chair comfortable. The piece is made from eco-friendly rapidly renewable bamboo.

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May 16, 2012

Who can resist cool book storage? Not me. This lovely project, called Book Rack, was designed by Danish studio Agustav. The principle is simple – 12 pins/bookmarks hold your tomes attached to the wooden rail. The pins are removable and can be rearranged to meet your needs. The books rest on a small wooden plate so the pages stay intact. The plates can be moved back and forth on the bottom of the book to control the height of which the book hangs, making it possible to line different sized books up in a straight line. Elegant solution.

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May 15, 2012

The Matryoshka Bench has been developed by Canada based designers Jaewoo Chon + Antariksh Tandon as an exploration of social interaction and collective stability. Comprised of six individually unstable elements, the piece gains its many functions from rearranging these components into various configurations. No item works on its own, but each can be carried by one person and reassembled collectively as desired. The piece is made of plywood with polyurethane finish.

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May 14, 2012

This has happened again – I’ve fallen in love with an item. This time it’s the Corner Ladder by Company & Company Design Studio. The genius behind this thing is in its simple and precise folding, allowing the ladder to collapse into a thin pole. Space-saving points fly here. “A ladder is a domestic standard tool that is rarely used,” – designers elaborate, – “The idea was to be able to fit it in any corner, so as to simplify and increase its use and basic operation.” Beautiful thinking, masterful execution, a must for any small home.

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This interesting and rather witty idea was submitted by Rome based design studio Rota-Lab. While working on a private project and facing a space challenge, the designers came up with this concept – incorporate storage into the bathroom door. “We thought we could use the door’s volume, adding some built in boxes, to contain stuff that would otherwise occupy other surfaces,” – they explain. From the outside the door looks rather unusual and sculpturesque, which is a beautiful side effect of this design.

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May 11, 2012

This lamp/bookend hybrid has been created  by Roderick Vos. Inspired by library lights, the designer tried to come up with a solution that can function as a light and at the same time illuminate books and make them more visible. So he designed Mr. Ed, a light bulb held in place by two vertical, book-like shapes. At home on a bookshelf or on a bedside table, Mr. Ed has enough brute strength to act as a bookend. The piece is made of cast aluminum and can accomodate any 40-watt bulb.

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May 10, 2012

Small houses are often photogenic, and it is tempting to envision the life of pragmatic minimalism one can lead in those places. But what is it truly like to spend time in a tiny house and perform our usual daily tasks? German popular-science magazine Galileo decided to find out. In this program three journalists endeavored to test three unusual small houses – the house made out of a shipping container, the house resembling a wooden barrel and a smart house. Watch the video to see which concept has legs. I also spotted several interesting space-saving ideas. Enjoy!

(HT for the email Heiner)

May 8, 2012

This unusual take on a murphy bed was envisioned by Latvia based designer Rolands Landsbergs of Boxetti. He created a series of modules that are capable of transforming into various functional objects – beds, desks, storage and so forth. Each configuration can be hidden away into a small appealing box. Studio apartment dream, the items blend with the surroundings when closed and unfold to reveal their function when needed. The bedroom unit (my personal favorite) includes a double bed, night stand and a wardrobe. The unit is equipped with a spotlight and an ambience lighting fixture above the headboard. All necessities in one small package.

(via plataformadesign)

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It’s that time of year when the little outdoor space we have is being enjoyed and celebrated. And if you are an urban dweller, every square inch of that space should be used wisely. This brilliant little item by Torafu Architects, called Skydeck, allows you to have an eating or drinking surface without cluttering your balcony (or fire escape) with outdoor furniture. Made from canadian red cedar, the Skydeck provides a simple and functional addition to any place with handrails. It attaches to the rails effortlessly and folds flat when not in use. Creates space, takes zero space when stored – beautiful idea.

(via designboom)

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May 7, 2012

Gotta love Resource Furniture, they really understand how to do space-saving in style. One of the latest items they’ve introduced has immediately caught my eye. DOC sofa by Bonbon is a clever transformer, capable of serving as a fully functional bunk bed. Perfect for a living room or a home office, the item can turn any space into a spear bedroom for two. The transformation is simple, requires zero muscle and fuss. Watch the video to see the DOC bed in action.

(via enpundit)

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