Yes, it’s that time of year again when urban people start fantasizing about great outdoors and indulge in monologues about nature being an escape from pressures of city lifestyle. It might be true in theory. Reality tells us that the only way we can survive in nature is by bringing comforts of our urban lifestyle with us. The nice people from SwissRoomBox knew this. They packed all our spoils in a clever compact box that can fit in any hatchback. The set allows to build cooking, dining, bathroom areas, as well as a double bed and even a lounging suite. Impressive! And the best part is – all components are slot-in and require zero tools for assembly. Swiss efficiency is no myth…
(Thank you Inga)
This colorful collection from DesignByThem is understated and fun. All three pieces – stool, bar stool and bench – fold flat for easy storage. And the assembly of the Butter Stool is literally a matter of seconds. The product is made from 100% post consumer recycled content, derived almost entirely from recycled milk containers. So it is eco-friendly as well as good looking. All Butter pieces are stackable, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and come in 8 different colors. Can’t beat that!
This unusual pot is a collaborative effort of designer Godefroy de Virieu and landscapers Virgile Desurmont and Louis de Fleurieu, who found an alternative solution to bulky planters. A flexible pot, called Sac by Sac, is weightless, durable and can be used both inside the apartment, on a balcony or in a garden (if you are lucky to have one). The innovative material – a double layered geotextile with an Anti-uv and Antifrost treatment – has the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain; perfect for the plants and 100% recyclable. Fun and nature-friendly in all senses of the word, Sac by Sac is available for purchase at Matteria.
Mathew Otto of the NMU School of Art & Design created this clever chaise lounge in the effort to achieve sustainability through adaptability. The piece, called Construct, is indeed adaptable and can be transformed from daybed to pillowed sofa. By mixing the elements, we are invited to ‘construct’ a lounge piece to our liking. ‘The lounge stays new, never blending into the world around it and allowing the users to continually reuse it, rather than replace it,’ – says the designer. Smart.
The subtle humor of this piece made me smile. The Habitco‘s Day Maker bedside phone charger/alarm hub is made to resemble a common kitchen toaster. When it is time to wake up – the phone pops up like a slice of toast, and if you want to snooze – just push it back into its tray (you can do it even with your eyes closed). As a fully customizable alarm clock, Day Maker lets you choose the song on your iPhone (or iPod) you wish to wake up to. It is true that nothing says morning like a piece of toast popping in a toaster. Add your favorite Apple product to it – and it might just make your whole day…
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Triplette Chair by French designer Paul Menand takes the whole new approach to the stackable chair concept. Instead of nesting on top of each other, the chairs seamlessly interlock, creating functional sitting. This 3-in-1 design allows for more flexibility without costing you in space. Makes a lot of sense for those who has count square footage.
When the Keukenkabinet is closed, it is just a piece of furniture that is a part of living space. By opening it you crete a new space – a compact kitchen. The piece was created by Dutch designer Johanneke Procee in collaboration with Plugers & Vercoulen. The inspiration for it came during Johanneke’s trip to Sough America (I’m guessing she saw a few studio apartments here). She sensed the need for a design that can fit into confined living spaces, where cooking and sleeping is happening in the same room. ‘The compact spaces inspired me to approach the different functions a single room house needs to have from an other perspective,’ – says the designer. The end result turned out to be this elegant and functional piece. We, urban dwellers, are grateful!..
The Sey hanger (‘say’ means ‘thing’ in Turkish) takes the simple idea of a string with two hooks and brings it to perfection. The powder-coated metal string can hold great many items in relatively compact space, which makes Sey a perfect storage tool. You can use it for books, coats, linens, jewelry. Anything that can be thrown over it – will be held. And that’s the thing, really… Sold in MoMA store.
This modular, movable and foldable kitchen by Belgrade based designer Goran ‘Goci’ Bjelajac – has it all. It is fully equipped with all essentials, including fridge, oven, sink, dishwasher, and cooktop. All elements are mounted on the mobile screens, which in turn can move those elements, creating multiple shapes. Thus, you can build your kitchen according to your space needs or simply fold it and remove it from your sight when not in use. The screens allow for mounting on both sides, so you can use them as functional partitions. Ingenious.
Made from recycled felt, the Dino table lamp by Deger Cengiz is both cozy and flexible. It is multifunctional as well. The base of the lamp can be used as a holder for various office supplies, snacks, loose change or even plants. Dino‘s neck is bendable in any direction, energy efficient LED light is bright and long-lasting… The piece was displayed at the Wanted Design Show during New York Design Week.
