This clever folding stool by Jack Smith was recently presented at the Royal College of Art show in London. The stool folds away neatly when lifted by one side. When the piece is unfolded, three hinged legs fit perfectly into a y-shaped hole in the seat. As weight is placed on the frame, the legs get pinched together creating a stronger join. So, the heavier the load the stronger the stool. Brilliant!
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company was established by Jay Shafer, who practices the art of living small like no other human being. Jay plans and builds tiny houses (some of which are smaller than 90 square feet!). You can buy it ready made or build it from plans yourself. All Jay’s creations are van-compatible and can be transported to the new address at a moment’s notice. Truly efficient, eco-conscious, nomad living. Check out the videos below for space-saving and lifestyle-changing ideas.
London based designer Andrew Millar created this fun storage/seating hybrid, called Teddy Bag. Made from 100% natural wool material, the piece is completely recyclable and biodegradable. In addition to its obvious eco-friendliness, the item wins many space-saving points. Envisioned as flexible storage for kid’s room, the Teddy Bag holds clothes and soft toys, promoting tidiness at an early age. It can also be incorporated into an adult interior (which is to say – I want one).
The Piano hanger, designed by Patrick Seha for the Belgian company Feld, is completely flat when not in use. When you need to hang something – you can unfold numerous wardrobe hooks on the different levels of the panel (so, the piece is child-friendly as well). The fold mechanism functions according to a simple principle – when one side is pressed down, the other one moves upwards. Just like a piano…
I am happy to announce that another cool iPhone alarm clock is here to tempt us. Called c/dock, this sleek new toy needs our help to be produced. Here is how the designer describes it on Kickstarter: ‘A handsome thick piece of solid walnut with either a brushed aluminum or glossy resin face plate with a six foot long black usb cable. The ultimate mix of modern design and convenience.’ The idea is simple – you slide your phone into the fully enclosed sleeve to dock and charge it, while it is running your favorite alarm app. And when you are awake, you can use it as a photo display or as a media player. Sweet!
This versatile piece of furniture, called Tokotoko, can perform several roles in your home. It can serve as a side (or bedside) table, as a stool, or it can even be stacked to create a modular shelving unit. Made from natural walnut, the item comes in two colors, which can be alternated for a visual impact. Tokotoko is made in Japan and can be purchased here.
The ISO System 216 sideboard by Invisible City was designed for one specific purpose. It stores paper. And it does it well. All drawers and cupboards are sized according to ISO international paper standard (A4, A3, A2 etc.). You can customize your piece too, depending on your paper-storing needs. Even though this concept does not offer you endless capacity (which is a myth anyway), it gives you the best possible solution for a specific task. And that is no small feat.
Here is a fun thing you can do, if you have a few minutes to spare – design your own bedding. This new service, introduced by Inmod, allows you to choose and change patterns, play with different colors, and simply let your artistic flag fly. Watch the tutorial below to see how it works.
This piece, called Mushiki, was created by Tomas Alonso of London based design company Okay Studio for Arco. Inspired by Japanese steaming pots (hence the name), the piece can be compiled from several round structures, which turn to reveal generous storage inside. The movement happens via rotation around the wooden column. The Mushiki table, just like its culinary predecessor, is made from bamboo, a strong and sustainable material. The modules are available in two sizes.
Dishwasher is a notorious space eater in the kitchen. That is why designers come up with more and more ideas on how to combine it with other things. Here is another interesting concept – a dishwasher hiding under the drainboard of the sink. How intuitive and simple. It is on the small side, so there are some minor sacrifices, but, according to the manufacturer, the appliance can easily accommodate up to five place settings, including dinner plates up to 11 inches. So, just like in science fiction, you can dump your dirty dishes in the sink and press the button.
