Everyone who follows this blog is aware of my book storage fetish. Here is another item I couldn’t pass by – the Slotted System Bookcase by Book/Shop. Ideal for a desk or a windowsill, this portable bookshelf is designed to fit a large variety of books – from small paperbacks to large art books and lps. Made in California of natural birch ply, each piece is cut and trimmed by hand to ensure an exact fit, then matte clear-coated, edge-banded, and hand rubbed with a light finish of natural beeswax. The result is gorgeous, practical and mobil. Perfect for those actively perused books you need to have in front of you at all times.
Maisonnette (French for little house) is a collection of three mobile units, created by Italian designer Simone Simonelli. As the name suggests, the pieces are ideally suited for small spaces. Each item combines several functions in one. The small table can be turned upside down and used as a tray; the trolley is also a side table and the tallest piece can serve as a bookshelf as well as a clothes rail. I am also quite taken by the feminine fragile aesthetic of these designs. Exquisite, almost graphic lines create delightful silhouettes and let the eye forget about cramped living…
(via gessato)
Soapbox is an ingenius modular ‘ready to assemble’ storage system, that allows building various configurations. Made from quality veneered plywoods (no particle board or MDF), the pieces are held together by clever hardware components. These strong and colorful brackets connect wooden parts into boxes and also serve as visual accents. The system allows for the unlimited transformation – the boxes can be built horizontally or vertically, sitting on the floor or hanging on a wall. Great idea for small urban dwellings!..
Who can resist cool book storage? Not me. This lovely project, called Book Rack, was designed by Danish studio Agustav. The principle is simple – 12 pins/bookmarks hold your tomes attached to the wooden rail. The pins are removable and can be rearranged to meet your needs. The books rest on a small wooden plate so the pages stay intact. The plates can be moved back and forth on the bottom of the book to control the height of which the book hangs, making it possible to line different sized books up in a straight line. Elegant solution.
This unusual take on a murphy bed was envisioned by Latvia based designer Rolands Landsbergs of Boxetti. He created a series of modules that are capable of transforming into various functional objects – beds, desks, storage and so forth. Each configuration can be hidden away into a small appealing box. Studio apartment dream, the items blend with the surroundings when closed and unfold to reveal their function when needed. The bedroom unit (my personal favorite) includes a double bed, night stand and a wardrobe. The unit is equipped with a spotlight and an ambience lighting fixture above the headboard. All necessities in one small package.
(via plataformadesign)
Project UTFSM is a new creation of the studio Elementodiseno. The series of lounge chairs and tables can be stacked together as a puzzle when not in use – what a cool concept. In its folded state, the furniture can serve as a shelving item. And in a party situation (or even in a need of an extra workstation) – the unit can be taken apart to provide searing and surface space. Fabulous.
This clever cabinet by Leipzig based designer Yi-Cong Lu expands, doubling its storage capacity. How? The principle is simple and ingenius. The drawers of the growing cabinet are located on the side. By pulling the drawer, extra space is created. “This kind of interaction makes it a “living” object, that changes its shape and size according to its usage,” – says the designer. The piece is made out of plywood and MDF.
This beautiful storage system was designed by Italian studio Joe Velluto for the furniture company Muvom. Called Joe’s Addiction, the modular unit combines many elements into functional and easily customizable configurations. Thanks to the variety of components and the array of different colors and finishes, you can build unique storage, properly fitting your individual space. And if you want to change the look of your item – the parts can be easily moved and rearranged to your liking.
The www shelf by Victor Matic captured one very important aspect of today’s design – change. We live in the era of consumer bliss and rapid social and financial fluctuations. As the result, nearly any item in our home becomes a variable. Victor’s shelf fully embraces this idea and offers a flexible form that morphs into many shapes and dimensions.
Here is how he describes the design: “In an accelerated era full of freedom of forms and the change as a status quo I am creating an object which itself has no definite state and which is capable of interacting with the user and his environment. ‘www’ is an interpretation of the ‘shelf’ archetype. Between form and function, between space and dimension, between a not-yet and a not-anymore it creates concrete opportunities and specific associations. Through its parts it is not only a modular system, but also a type of installation in an ever changing space.”
Check out the video to see the changing shelf in action. The piece is currently on display at the Salone del Mobile 2012.
This little item, aptly called Buchtisch (German for Book Table), by Germany based design firm Studio Voigt Dietrich is a lovely companion to a reading chair. Small in size, it can fit in any space, even a tiny one. The unusual shape of the piece allows you to use it as a side table, book storage and also a bookmark. It will hold your teacup as well as your curent page. A nice idea for any ‘active reading’ you might have scattered across the room.
(via Stilsucht)
