No matter how small our kitchens are, we don’t want to sacrifice our comforts. Which means bulky appliances take over a good portion of our pression counter space. To deal with the situation, designer Jan des Bouvrie and Dutch manufacturer Princess came up with Compact4All – a kitchen appliance system that incorporates all kitchen basics within the span of 16 inches. How? The items are stacked on top of each other, producing a uni-piece. The system includes a juicer, toaster, coffee maker and tea kettle. Each segment can be detached and used individually, but when fit together the quartet can share one outlet. Brilliant.
– Amazing installation – “Rain Room“.
– Beautiful subway photography by Nick Frank.
– Mind blowing futuristic concepts by Shimizu corporation.
– Those with cardboard fetish will love the Chip clock by Capital Craft.
– Another Rube Goldberg’s free-running machine.
– Marker art – stunning wall drawings by Charlotte Mann.
– Oh, critics… 15 scathing early reviews of classic novels.
– If you’ve ever baked a multilayered cake, you know why this is awesome – layer cake cutter.
– I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite so funny, disturbing and sad. Miss Lovely Eyes Contest, 1930.
– Fruit and veg in MRIs – incredible animations.
– And finally – don’t miss Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking jump from the edge of space this weekend. This animation shows the dive in spectacular resolution.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Minuetto is a cool space-saving table from Milano Smart Living. The elegant and minimalist item works equally well as a console or sofa table (taking virtually no space) and as a dining table (able to sit 10 people). The transformation is done by one person and only takes a few easy moves. Just pull on one side of a console, put the removable panels in place and you’re done. I love how attractive the piece looks in both modes. The dual function only becomes obvious when you transform the table. A beautiful, clever item, can’t wait to see it in the US at some point.
This minimal and clever coat rack reminded me of Veronika Wildgruber’s Wardrope. The idea is very similar, so are the space-saving qualities, making both of these items ideal for small space dwellings. The Roberope coat rack can be suspended from the ceiling and, thanks to its soft but sturdy hooks, can hold clothing, bags, accessories or just about anything suitable for hanging. Thanks to its neutral design and extremely modest space demands the rack can serve as flexible storage in any room of the house. Comes in a variety of bold colors.
(via stilsucht)
London based studio JiB came up with this beautiful multifunctional item. The piece, called Credenza O, is divided between traditional storage a versatile area, that can be used in several different ways. The sunken top surface makes room for the ceramic pieces, handmade by a celebrated ceramist Sun Kim. These vases of various diameter can be used as planters (which is my favorite option), storage vessels or simply left alone as empty decorative objects. The furniture is hand crafted in a workshop in Britain.
Usually when we think of someone living in a truck, our mind paints a picture of extreme disenfranchisement. Not here. This compact residence, built inside the standard UNICAT truck, includes all essentials of a comfortable dwelling – bedroom, bathroom, office, lounge and more – perfect for the adventurous freelancer or man on the run. Of couse, living in such a confined space calls for a good organizing plan, so the space is fitted with generous storage. Check out the space-saving ideas this incredible mobile home offers – more photos after the break.
The Tray Table by Bao-Nghi Droste design studio is one of those generous items that combine several functions in one while looking elegant and sleek. This free-standing object can act as a shelf as well as an occasional high table. All sides of the tabletop are elevated to prevent things from falling down. An additional panel can be placed on top to create a pocket for concealed storage. And finally six hooks are mounted on the bottom of the tabletop, letting you hang bags, scarves, clothes and other everyday items. Beautiful piece, thoughtfully constructed.
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Donald M. Rattner.
More than forty years ago, Swiss engineer Paul Schärer and architect Fritz Haller set out to create a flexible shelving and storage system based on modular architectural structures. Reflecting their respective professional backgrounds, they made it a goal to marry technical perfection and durability with design elegance. The result was the USM Haller furniture collection.
Being streamlined and contemporary in styling, USM furniture works as well in the private home as it does in office and other environments. And since it’s modular, you can configure the piece to slip comfortably into the available space rather than settle for something just because it ‘fits’.
The USM palette comprises just three elements: a metal panel, chrome steel tubes and a chrome-plated brass ball joint that connects them. These elements provide the supporting structure and the exterior envelope for the components and materials contained inside the modular units. It’s hard to imagine a more minimalist vocabulary yielding as broad an array of design possibilities.
This month MODULE R is holding a promotion on USM products. Click here for details.
– Are we all hostages of modern comforts? An astounding account of what can happen if the lights go out.
– Possibly the cutest and smallest humidifier ever made. All it needs is a glass of water and a USB port.
– Funny – the hall of unwanted dotcoms.
– This little iron is amazing. Two plates, no ironing board, fits in a pocket – every shoeboxdweller’s wet dream.
– Incredible microscopic photos.
– Trace of Time clock – wipes out tasks as they happen.
– This is a serious contender for my holiday list – an iPhone cable that also acts as a flexible tripod. Awesome.
– And finally – a great selection of space-saving staircases.
Enjoy your weekend, everybody!
These simple boxes are created by the French studio YPLFL for the purpose of storing small items. The inspiration for the series came from designer’s habit to store change, car keys and other essentials into actual building bricks. Eventually the concept was streamlined and transformed into these wooden boxes – Les Briques – that are colorful and fun. You can stack them on top of each other to save space. Available for purchase here.
