The Scatter shelf by Nendo is a made out of thin black acrylic panels in a grid form, stacked in three layers and slightly displaced. The result is this rather stunning shelving unit where all stored objects look as if they are suspended in a spider’s web. When viewed on an angle, the glossy acrylic face creates a series of reflections within the shelves, making the ‘opaque’ acrylic appear to be transparent. All this aesthetic goodness makes the shelf perfect in any spot of the room, even in the middle of it as a room divider. Watch the video below for a closer look at the piece.
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.
This minimal bookshelf was designed by Max Lamb for British brand Deadwood. The piece is nothing but a single bar of wire extended from the wall. But thanks to its U-shaped form on one side, it allows you to support and showcase your favorite book, which in turn serves as a bookend and keeps all other books in place. It is amazing what one cleverly directed piece of wire can do…
Filing is one of the most unavoidable dreads of life. So, it is always in our hopes to finish with it faster. The Up Filer from Westerville Design might just help you do it. This is a wall mounted vertical storage rack, which allows files and other flat content to always remain visible. The pivoting hangers provide easy access to each file and make adding and removing items a breeze. And because Up Filer allows storing oversized paper, it is perfect for graphic designers, architects, artists, teachers or anyone who has a need for filing differently-sized flat content.
This unusual modular lounge piece was created by Portuguese designer Joana Santos in collaboration with Patricia Fernandes and Ines Carvalho. The concept explores the physical nature of reading and aspires to provide the most comfortable position for the bookwormy user. Comprised of several modular panels, the piece can be put together to create a lounger with several different levels of support – horizontal, vertical and inclined. One of the pieces can even be used as a free-standing foot stool. Santos thought that reading is a process deserving its own furniture. I couldn’t help but agree.
Hanger Shelf is a bright storage idea from the Latvian design studio MAJO. It is intended for the small items that, instead of occupying space in your room, can now be stored away in the closet. Made from powder coated aluminum, the piece comes in three colors – black, white and light green. Smart stuff!
The Watson desk from UK based manufacturer Made.com is small in size and generous on impact and practicality. Made from oak veneer with glossy contrasting details, the piece includes several space-saving solutions. The storage compartment with holes for cables takes care of clutter. The shelf with integrated LED lighting (optional) allows to store and display books and other small items while illuminating the working surface. The manufacturing process itself is an exercise in efficiency. The items are produced in small batches only when backed up by high web approval ratings. The deadline for placing orders is given to the voters, after which all orders are processed together, ensuring that there is no waste of storage space for unsold products. This clever and eco-friendly strategy reminds me of the StyleFactory here, in New York.
Here is another beautiful example of urban adaptability, this time from France. Jérémie Buchholtz wanted an affordable apartment in Bordeaux (he’s a photographer who splits his time between Paris and Bordeaux so his budget was limited). He bought an abandoned garage and, with the help of his friend and architect Matthieu de Marien, transformed it into a 441 square foot living space. This tiny house has every basic component in place – living room, office, gourmet kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and lots of storage. All this was made possible by inventing a clever furniture piece that incorporates most of the components. With this clever organization, the architect was even able to allocate 129 square feet for a patio! So, again, we see that small space doesn’t have to come with lifestyle sacrifices. Watch the video above for a full house tour!
Sprout is a modular tool-less furniture collection some of you might remember by this lovely Kickstarter video. This line is designed to be simple: simple to make and simple to use. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble, making moving and storage easy. No tools or hardware are required, components are interchangeable, allowing you to change the color, style, or even functionality. And with the eco-friendly and virtually waste-less manufacturing process, this furniture is kind to the environment too. As the company’s creator Clark Davis tells me, Sprout has recently rebranded and went in production. Now, that’s a success story I’m really happy to hear!
There is not a reason in the world why should we have boring storage. This modular system by Julia Quancard is anything but. It imitates the houndstooth (or Pied-de-Poule) woven pattern, which makes for a fun and beautiful shelving display. The units come in two colors made of laminated composite wood. Each piece is hung using only two screws. So you can create configurations of any size with the space you have at your disposal. Sweet.
