Cords and plugs are the worst kind of clutter, if you ask me. They create unsightly piles under your desk, gather dust and become a Bermuda Triangle of unmanageable maze. Luckily Scott Wilson of MNML created something intelligent to deal with the whole cord situation. The Power Pod, produced by Coalesse, is an extension cord with six sockets, cleverly disguised as an innocent office accessory. Just open the base when you need to plug something in, and close it when you don’t. Thanks to its round shape the Power Pod can accomodate even the bulkiest adaptor, which is another reason to love it.
It is often said that an object isn’t generous enough, if it only offers one function. This chair from French designer Inga Sempe is an example of a generous object indeed. The Step Ladder Chair, as the name suggests, is a chair that doubles as a ladder. The rings at the bottom become steps, and the backrest is pulled up for better balance. Elegant and functional, the piece is perfect for small spaces, where storage is organized vertically. The retractable wheels on the bottom allow the Step Ladder Chair to glide everywhere with ease.
HT Materialicious
How difficult it is to throw away magazines after you’ve read them? For many of us the answer is – very. They are shiny, they smell of print, and we like to think that we will need them one day for some uber important reference. And that is why magazine clutter is virtually impossible to conquer. But maybe we don’t have to? What if instead of throwing away our precious Vogues and ADs, we could turn them into a design inspiration? Designer Rush Pleansuk did just that. His Full-filled coffee table embraces magazines and uses them as a structural element. By filling this metal folding with your periodics – you create a table surface and, at the same time, turn your clatter into storage.
This is just lovely – a stop motion film by architect Guillermo Cameron Mac Lean from Argentina, in which he creates a Tetris bookshelf. The world is clearly not ready to let go of Tetris-inspired projects. And judging by this piece here – it is rather a good thing. If you want to get your own Tetris bookcase, it is available online at Brave Space Design.
Among many delights of the Milan Design Week 2011 – Pinha lamp from Raw Edges is definitely the one worth noticing. The idea of the lamp is ingenious – you can pin your own shades to the cork base! The base itself is constructed of two halves that can fit over various hanging lights. The three-level tiered structure gives us creative freedom to mix and match shade components and allows for control over the direction and range of light. Choosing cork as a material was also a brilliant ecological move – it is sustainably sourced. And thanks to the low thermal and electrical conductivity of cork, the lamp is safe to use, no matter what kind of an elaborate whimsy you choose as a lampshade.
Source: Dezeen, Designboom
Bookworms – rejoice. There is a new way of storing and displaying your favorite tomes. Dutch designer Remi Van Oers created an entire furniture line, dedicated to reading. Made from wood and fabric, these pieces are not only modern and elegant, they also include a much needed book storage (the chair is equipped with the light to complete the experience). All pieces allow very generous space for books, making them a subject of showcase and a proud part of the design. A room full of book just got the whole lot cooler…
Source: Co.Design
Computer and refrigerator are the two most important enablers in our homes. But wouldn’t it be even more convenient and civilizing to combine them in one awesome item? This is the idea behind the iCool project, developed by Belarusian designer Alexey Dmitriev. He proposed to replace magnets, notes and other typical fridge clutter with the functional touchscreen display. The screen comes in different sizes (even door-length) and incorporates Apple or Android widgets. And from this point possibilities become unlimited: weather, music, news, shopping lists, photos, social media updates… anything you can think of! Another suggested cool feature is the face recognition program, that unlocks your widgets as you approach the fridge door. So, you can customize your refrigerator and make it truly personal.
This modular furniture collection by designer Sanjin Halilovic can play several roles – from a shelving unit to a table, chair, even chaise-lounge. The set consists of four elements that are constructed of wooden plaques fixed together with drvofix adhesive and finished in acrylic mat paint. Rearranging them is easy, and by doing so one can build different objects. Don’t we just love when one pice of furniture doubles, triples (and in this case – quadruples) in function?
This unusual planter from French manufacturer Jardin Chic is generous in size and in function. It doubles as a pet house and, thanks to its sleek modern form, can lend an air of sophistication to the room. Made from durable plastic, the planter can be used both indoors and outdoors. Perfect for cats and small dogs, it can give your pet a cool urban roof deck. Just be realistic in your greenery choice and plant something pet-friendly. This will not be a good place for your orchids…
Is it a couch, lounger, or sectional? The Fossa sofa from COR is all of the above. Created by French designer Aurélien Barbry, this unusual piece of furniture functions according to the principle of change. Not only Fossa can be used as a building block for creating different configurations, the very structure of it is also adjustable. The cushions are placed in recesses. They are inserted, moved or removed, which makes Fossa even more dynamic. These recesses, when not filled with cushions, can be used to store books, magazines and other small items. And with plentiful color combinations available, the Fossa sofa can be customized to fit any design whim.
