One of the greatest principles of minimalistic design lies in amplifying the function of an object, while limiting its form. There is also an inherent beauty in raw function, to which this piece is a striking example. Flip is a floor lamp designed by Alain Monnens and produced by tossB. It efficiently dispenses mood-enhancing light, easily adjustable via discrete and simple-to-use foot dimmer. The understated shape of the lamp blends into virtually any space, living you with nothing but the light. Hence, it transforms the space without stealing any attention, which is exactly what an intelligent minimalistic object would do…
So, Marc Haldermann of Dear Bird Design Products heard we liked shelves. And guess what, he put shelves inside the shelves… This neat arrangement is called Dado and represents the idea of storage taken down to its essentials. Various inserts, added to the bigger boxes, are interchangeable. They help us to divide (and conquer) our clutter while adding a rather pleasing color variety to a shelving unit.
Source: Yanko Design
Oh, the peculiar things that drive designers’ fantasy! This time it is an earthquake, or thee earthquake rather. This coffee table, designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Garza Marcos, is called San Andreas and reminiscent of the San Andreas fault, the famous tectonic boundary in California. The sides of the table come apart just like the plates of the earth during a massive natural disaster. Only instead of a gaping abyss, here we have a cheerful color and some useful additional storage space.
Collecting things is one of the inherent human conditions, that’s why storage disguise has always been a form of martial art for designers. Here is an impressive effort from a Netherlander Sophie Mensen, who decided to build storage into a column. At first glance it may look as a decorative feature or an element of structural support. But in fact the upper part of the column is a wooden cabinet suspended from the ceiling, while the lower part is a marble stand that can serve as a step stool or an additional sitting. ‘I have chosen to work with a shape that gets absorbed by the space; the column, a constructive element of the house. A column is also a monument to impress, to remember important events that may not be forgotten. The column as a monument and the column as a constructive element are like the equivalent of my Column, but in the size and scale that fits to our interior,’ – says Sophie Mensen. Each piece is custom built to fit a specific space and disguise storage perfectly in plain site.
It is not enough for our furniture to work, we also want it to work hard and multitask. As does this piece from Brazilian studio Baita Design. Reindeer chair and coat hanger is a perfect solution for any entrance area, especially a cramped one. You can sit, relax, take off your shoes and hang up your things without even lifting your bum. The chair is made out of polyethilene, which allows for any color imaginable. It also comes in three sizes to fit any space.
Tensor Voting is the name of this clever thing from Swiss designer Guilio Parini. It is a wall sculpture that serves as a customizable storage system. It arrives to you as a pile of rods and fasteners; you decide on a shape and build a skeletal system of your choice. Tensor Voting allows to play with different geometric configurations, so you can really let your artistic flag fly. As a shelving unit this model can withstand a reasonable number of books and small items.
Book storage and sitting space are the things we always need more of in any home, especially a shoeboxy one. Here is a design idea that gives us both. Trick by Sakura Adachi, designed for Campeggi, is a book case that turns into a table with two chairs. It is compact enough to easily assume the either function. Or the two functions can be combined to create a reading station – a true luxury in any space, big or small.
Anyone who has ever entertained in a small space knows that it is a sophisticated dance between perception and reality. We want to give the perception of not having limitations while cutting corners, especially when it comes to furniture. Ideally we wish our furniture to be credible in its entertaining functions and still keep its day job. This piece from Designers at Large studio does it all. FlatFish 2 is a coffee table by day and a full sized dining table by night. Its sub-structure is formed from waterjet cut light gauge aluminum and its legs are waterjet cut and formed from 3/16” plate steel; hence FlatFish 2 is light, stable and easy to operate in the event of a sudden relative invasion. Something else is interesting about the waterjet cutting technology – it optimizes the use of material and minimizes waste. Any scrap from the cutting process is used to create additional products. So, when the model hits the market (it is in design development now), you can dine and rest your feet on it knowing that you saved more than just space.
How many times have you lost things in your chairs and sofas? Phones, jewelry, books… you name it! This clever idea from Daisuke Motogi embraces our old habit (along with all those items we wish to loose and then find in our furniture). The model is called Lost In Sofa and is equipped with numerous built-in pockets for your things. Lost In Sofa allows you to store remotes, reading glasses, books and papers, even drinks! The only drawback of this concept is that when situated in a cushy seat and surrounded by all your spoils – you may never want to lift your bum…
If you hate camping activities and consider yourself a victim of civilization, there might still be hope for you. Being attached to homely comforts and enjoying great outdoors are no longer two mutually exclusive things. If you have spear 25K you can own Opera – a fully functional mobile home from Ysin. Opera is not your grandpa’s caravan, it is a mobile designer suite, complete with the hot air heating, two electrically adjustable beds, ceramic toilet, hot water, and many other perks and cool features. Inspired by the Sydney Opera House, this mobile home (a winner of the Wallpaper Designer Awards 2010, no less!) is a delight for the senses too. So, enjoy the nature, if you really must. Opera will get you covered.
