In a tiny space having a full size bed and a full size desk is a rare combination. Unless some clever thinking is involved. Hers is an interesting idea from Baltimore based designer Graham Phakos – Urban Desk. The spacious desk is hidden underneath a double bed. As the bed pivots to lean against the wall, the desk is lifted to the appropriate height. The arrangement also makes room for extra storage – always a welcome addition to any urban dwelling. The piece is only a concept at this point. I really hope it finds its way to production.
- NASA has discovered three Earth-like planets. Phew… about time, NASA.
- Absolutely stunning miniature houses made by Mrs James Ward Thorne.
- Now, this is the coolest scientific experiment ever! Wringing out water in space.
- A delightful, funny and surprisingly accurate site about all things Russian – WOW, Russia.
- This emergency toilet roll idea made me chuckle.
- A fascinating Instagram account, dedicated to eagles, hawks, falcons and owls living at the Avian Reconditioning Center in Florida.
- All three parallel universes theories clearly explained in this cool animation.
- What a cute idea - eco-friendly confetti that grows into wildflowers.
Have a lovely weekend, folks!
We are used to the thought that big pieces of furniture don’t work too well in tiny spaces. This 32 square meter loft studio in Budapest shows that they can. Designers gave 1/3 of the living space to the ample white sectional, without letting it dominate the senses. The uniformity of color and the openness of the layout (the only enclosed room in the apartment is the bathroom) made the place look spacious. The mirrored closet doors, cleverly positioned to reflect the windows, add light and depth to the design. Check out more images after the break.
(via lakber magazin)
Bikini Island by German designer Werner Aisslinger, created for Italian furniture brand Moroso, is a new approach to a living room couch. Instead of traditional mono-directional sofa, facing the common TV screen, this modular item can be arranged to accommodate different space uses.
Here is how designer describes his idea: “Life in the living room has changed quite a lot recently: families and their kids are ‘chilling’ with different activities: reading, downloading files, writing emails, gaming, chatting with friends, watching movies on a pad, relaxing, talking, thinking, meditating… The easy to arrange bikini-sofa landscape invites to find ones own composition due to space and activities.”
The piece is comprised of various soft volumes of three different heights. Additionally, small storage items, coffee tables, bookshelves, and other accessories can be integrated into the unit. The curtains allow to isolate certain segments and provide privacy – perfect for a single-room layout.
This cool and versatile shelf from Danish design studio Linde&Linde takes very little space while providing a convenient solution for many storage scenarios. The item is perfect for entry area, kitchen, bathroom, home office, even by your bedside… Made from powder coated metal, it can also double as a magnetic board. The variations are endless. The shelf comes in a variety of neutral colors.
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Donald M. Rattner.
In 1972, Scandinavian designer named Peter Opsvik took it on himself to revolutionize the design of infant high chairs after watching his son’s struggles with table eating. The result was the Tripp Trapp Convertible High Chair.
Opsvik’s thoughtful response to the challenges of early eating stages was to more fully engage the child with loved ones by making it possible to slide the chair right up to the table without an intervening tray. Presciently, he also designed the chair to accommodate growth by making its various parts adjustable, thus anticipating today’s cradle-to-college design philosophy and its associated environmentalism.
Winner of multiple awards, the Tripp Chair was selected as the signature piece at MoMA’s 2012 exhibition “Century of the Child”. Check out the wonderful video produced by the museum. Purchase here.
- Feed your Eames fetish, if you have one – Best Eames Videos.
- Absolutely stunning parking garage in Miami (thank you, Steve).
- Fascinating read about quantum computing.
- The mystery of Prince Rupert’s Drop explained (and shot with a high-speed camera – yay science!).
- Incredible lava kayaking footage.
- The most confortable mug in the world. Why haven’t I thought of that…
- Here is what you can do if you have a slow day at the office and lots of post-its. Post-It Note Arcade.
- And for your visual pleasure – a plane dives into fog…
Have a fantastic weekend, everybody!
I’m a big fan of Note studio designs, and this one is especially delightful. Suburbia is a wall storage, created for Italian brand Seletti. The piece is made to resemble the bird’s-eye view of a town. Each cubby represents a house or a section of a building. Adorable! The piece is made from wood with brass details.
(via design-milk)
There are quite a few hydroponic systems out there, and they all make sense in terms of cultivation of plants (more or less). But there is one thing I dislike about many hydroponic kits – they tend to look like appliances rather than beautiful planters. Luckily a Chicago couple Sarah Burrows and Nick Behr managed to bring together technology and aesthetics by creating Modern Sprout, a stylish windowsill box you actually want to look at. Here is how Nick and Sarah describe their project:
“Modern Sprout was created by the two of us, two people who live and work in a tiny apartment. As avid cooks, eaters, and project planners, we decided the next logical step was to grow our own garden. Unfortunately, we have no space. (Our small Chicago apartment doesn’t have a yard). After researching non-traditional options, we found hydroponics. But every kit we tried was expensive, difficult to set up, and more homely than homey. We were unimpressed with our options, so we planted the seeds for Modern Sprout. Now we provide planters that are simple, stylish, and fertile with success. Just add water.”
The planter is narrow enough to fit any windowsill, tall enough to hide all its hydroponic equipment inside and comes in four finishes – chalkboard, weathered gray, high-gloss white and reclaimed wood. Pledge on this Kickstarter page to get yours.
(via urban gardens)
This tiny apartment in the Montparnasse neighborhood is a collective effort of architects Marc Baillargeon and Julie Nabucet. Converted from a master suite, it is now a 130 square foot dwelling for one. I am very impressed with the use of space in this project. By elevating the kitchen/dining/bathroom area designers created a clever hiding place for a full sized mattress that doubles as a sofa during a day. And of course the place is a showcase for custom made storage. Steps to the second level, desk, wall cabinetry – all these elements allow storing things without cluttering the view of the apartment.
(via inthralld)
