This beautiful shelving system, called Ladder Rack, was created by Japanese designer Naoya Matsuo. The components of the piece are interchangeable and able to accomodate various storing needs. The assembly process is simplified and intuitive. Position shelves according to your preferences, secure them with the red rope, and voila. No wall mount is needed. The shelving unit comes in two sizes and can be folded and put away when not in use (although, I am yet to see storage furniture resting in the closet).
Ukrainian design couple Valeriy Kuznetsov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova of Decorkuznetsov studio created a series of fun and functional side tables that can double as seating. Made of ash and birch wood, these unusual creations are compact in size, contain storage and offer a lot in a way of character. Each seating table features a decorative backrest, which can also be used as a hook for clothes and other items. Side table on a daily basis, an extra seat in a party situation, and a strong statement at all times…
The Kai table was custom-designed by Naoki Hirakoso in collaboration with Takamitsu Kitahara. A seamlessly rectangular object from even a short distance, the table unfolds to reveal many hidden storage compartments. The craftsmanship of the designers is truly impressive, they have incorporated as many hinged cupboards, slide-out panels, pull-out cubbyholes and drawers as the 900 centimeter wooden box could possibly allow. Beautiful idea and inspiring execution!
If you are a cat lover you probably know that the only way to preserve the integrity of your furniture is to make some alternative scratching arrangements for your claw-happy kitty. But the choices we often see in pet stores, although offering some fun for our cats, don’t always give us something nice to look at. The Sky Scratcher by Portland based designer Mike Estes combines both – joy for the pet and an an aesthetic pleasure for the owner. Inspired by Chicago skyline, this architectural scratching post will make a design statement rather than an eyesore in your home. It is quite clever too. The item is stackable, which gives you the option to change and renew parts. It uses no adhesive, employs sustainable and recyclable materials and requires zero assembly effort. Check out the Sky Scratcher Kickstarter campaign for more details. And to see the product’s usage (and enjoyage) in action – watch the video below.
No childhood is complete without a rocking horse, and every good parent knows it. However, such item requires space and can pose a challenge if your place is tiny. Luckily, Danish designer Michael Knapp had thought of this. His RockingHorse collapses into the size of a standard folding chair. So, when the rocking fun is over, the piece can be hung on or leaned to a wall and save space. I also like the minimalist aesthetic of the RockingHorse. Made of thin wooden pieces, it looks simple and graphically stunning in both unfolded or collapsed forms.
Instead of letting your favorite, memorable or otherwise significant books gather dust in the back of your bookcase, why not show them off, creating a beautiful decorative arrangement? This was the idea behind Miriam Aust‘s bookshelf, which is built around the books you choose to display. ‘A quite arbitrary number of shelf boxes in different heights, cutting and turning round each, are forming this shelf. Every crate is oriented in its height and depth on a pair of books and forms an individual frame for it. Put into grooves, with an extended lid each, the books are forming small hinged storage spaces in the shelf,’ – explains the designer. With the growing popularity of electronic reading, books are pushed further and further into realm of purely aesthetic pleasures. And this beautiful and nostalgic project is a pleasure indeed.
St. Charles is the name of a lovely multifunctional item created by Spanish design studio håus and recently unveiled at Habitat Valencia trade show as part of a larger collection of eco-friendly multifunctional objects. This particular piece can serve as a stool, side table, night table or occasional table. It even has a slot for a lamp from the same line, which makes it even easier to adopt to its changing roles. St. Charled (as well as other håus items) is also demountable so it can be shipped flat, saving money and resources. Clean, uncomplicated, functional design, perfect for small apartments or dorms.
Shelved Cooking is a minimalist and energy efficient kitchen concept by French design trio Arnaud Le Cat, Esther Bacot, and Luther Quenum. The design is inspired by traditional Norwegian slow-cooking technique. This simple and elegant system sonsists of two cylinders (one small, one large) set into a workbench mounted on trestles, each containing an induction hotplate. A cooking pot is placed inside the cylinder and brought to a boil. The hotplates then get switched off, and the insulation flaps seal the cylinder (they are made from compressed layers of boiled wool, survival blanket and cork). After this stage, the food simply continues to simmer on its own. This method allows to save up to 75 percent of the energy needed for a similar dish to be cooked on a traditional stove. Shelved Cooking is a compact little item too. An energy-saving attractive cooking tool nearly the size of an ironing board? Sounds good to me.
The Label Chair, designed by Félix Guyon and manufactured by Canadian company La Firme, is possibly the thinest folding chair in the world. When folded, it measures only one inch! Made of Russian birch, the chair features specific decoration that gives the piece its name. The Label Chair was initially produced for the International Documentary Film Event in Montreal, but its elegant form and superb functionality will make it a welcome addition to any interior, public or private.
There is a lot to love about this smart and innovative storage from Way Basics – it is modular, easy to put together, and it’s made from 99% post consumer recycled paper. These storage cubes come in a variety of colors and finishes and can be put in an infinite number of configurations. But what impressed me the most is the assembly process. It is simplified to the point of a child’s play. If you are capable to close a strip envelope – you will be able to assemble this furniture! The principle is the same: peel the tape, attach one part to another part (watch the video and see for yourself). So, if your aspirations include living a more sustainable life, Way Basics made it much much easier…
