The war between our love for techno-toys and debilitating clutter is not going to end soon. But this clever power strip by Herald J. Ureña – Umaña might win you a few battles. The piece fits snugly into corners, freeing the remaining space for things more exciting than cordage. The beauty of the design is that the power cord can be maneuvered to face the direction of the outlet, no matter how you place the strip. I want 4 for every room.
This cool humidifier by Matti Walker, produced by Swiss manufacturer Stadler Form caught my eye. The little gadget, called Anton, includes a dispenser for scented oils, an anti-calcium cartridge to prevent build-up, a patented Ionic Silver Cube to keep the water clean, and an automatic shut-off. And in spite of its size, it can service rooms up to 250 sq. ft. Great new addition to Stader Form’s line of humanized appliances, Anton is compact, fun to look at, and comes in a variety of colors.
This item was clearly designed with small space living in mind. Micro by Sebastian Popa is a multi-purpose home appliance that contains all kitchen essentials in one super compact item. The piece includes washer, induction cooker, dishwasher, and refrigerator. There is even a small but workable prep surface for cutting and mincing. Perfect for a small studio apartment!
What shoebox dweller doesn’t dream of a portable personal washing machine? Here is one that caught my eye – the Laundry Pod from California based design studio RKS. The technology behind it was inspired by a simple salad spinner (designers noticed that resourceful women were buying salad spinners to wash their delicates). This low-tech hand powered little machine can be stored under the sink, moved easily, and on top of it all – it saves energy and water. Perfect for small loads and indispensable in small apartments! The Laundry Pod has won several awards, including Core77 Design Award.
Stoov is a cool futuristic concept for Electrolux designed by Methieu Baele. It is a cooking unit, which you can stick on to your cooking pots. Thanks to the electromagnet, it can be attached to any side of the dish. The cooking method Stoov provides is very simple – set the temperature on to the touch screen and the piece does the rest. The heating elements inside allow for an even heat distribution. The internal battery and small size make it possible to take your Stoov anywhere you want. The adapter is used to power up six of these devices at the same time. Brilliant! Watch the video below to see how it all works.
K1, an innovative mini kitchen by Kitchoo, is the winner of this year’s Reddot design award. And there is a reason why. This hyper-equipped piece includes refrigerator, sink, two burners, dishwasher, garbage disposal and storage – all in one sleek sideboard. When all the components are tucked away – you will never guess that there is a full-functioning kitchen inside this tiny piece of furniture. Stylish, minimal and very clever. A godsend for studio apartments!
This cool invention from Russian door manufacturer Mauer Buro allows you to change glass from opaque to translucent with the flick of a switch. The technology behind it consists of a liquid crystal polymer membrane (activated by remote control) and two outer layers of conventional glazing. As the result we get a surface that can be used as a window, partition or room divider. It lets in light when you need it and becomes an opaque shield when you want some privacy. Clever stuff!
We, urban dwellers, are jaded for a reason. Population density, compact living arrangement, steady 24/7 activity on the streets, – all these things create noise. Constant, unavoidable, ubiquitous noise, day in and day out. Wouldn’t it be nice to simply eliminate the unwanted sounds around you (especially that loathsome leafblower-loving neighbor on a Saturday morning)? This concept by Emil Blanco is an attempt to do so. Called Hush, the device cancels out sounds, creating a quiet and serene bubble around you. The product mainly lives on the nightstand or bedside table but can be located in any area of the apartment were silence is desired.
It is also envisioned as a charger for your phone, media player, and alarm. Perfect item for an urban home. Can’t wait to see it produced.
This visibly simple trash receptacle has one hidden talent – it sucks in dust. Equipped with the vacuum in its base, the Cuum dustbin by Jun-se Kim, Yonggu Do & Eunha Seo performs two functions in one. It collects trash and inhales all the small dust particles swept in its direction. So no more fiddling with the dustpan. The device is powered by a plug-in, wall-socket-compatible cord and can be turned on by simply rotating the upper part. And just like a standard vacuum cleaner it requires disposable bags that can be easily changed when taking out the trash. The Cuum is a 2011 IDEA Awards Entry.
Remember Ahhaproject I featured some time ago? Guess what, they have been busy with creating more space-saving designs. And their latest concept for Elecrolux is truly ingenious – a rotating sink/washer combo. ‘The idea came about when we realized the potential of space conservation when our sink was full of dirty dishes! The system works in a way that the dishes are cleaned within the sink, using the mechanics of a dishwasher,’ – designers explain. The sink is divided in two parts – one acts as a sink and another acts as a dishwasher when it rotates under the counter. Perfect for a small apartment!
