This beautiful shelving system, called Ladder Rack, was created by Japanese designer Naoya Matsuo. The components of the piece are interchangeable and able to accomodate various storing needs. The assembly process is simplified and intuitive. Position shelves according to your preferences, secure them with the red rope, and voila. No wall mount is needed. The shelving unit comes in two sizes and can be folded and put away when not in use (although, I am yet to see storage furniture resting in the closet).
The Kai table was custom-designed by Naoki Hirakoso in collaboration with Takamitsu Kitahara. A seamlessly rectangular object from even a short distance, the table unfolds to reveal many hidden storage compartments. The craftsmanship of the designers is truly impressive, they have incorporated as many hinged cupboards, slide-out panels, pull-out cubbyholes and drawers as the 900 centimeter wooden box could possibly allow. Beautiful idea and inspiring execution!
Instead of letting your favorite, memorable or otherwise significant books gather dust in the back of your bookcase, why not show them off, creating a beautiful decorative arrangement? This was the idea behind Miriam Aust‘s bookshelf, which is built around the books you choose to display. ‘A quite arbitrary number of shelf boxes in different heights, cutting and turning round each, are forming this shelf. Every crate is oriented in its height and depth on a pair of books and forms an individual frame for it. Put into grooves, with an extended lid each, the books are forming small hinged storage spaces in the shelf,’ – explains the designer. With the growing popularity of electronic reading, books are pushed further and further into realm of purely aesthetic pleasures. And this beautiful and nostalgic project is a pleasure indeed.
There is a lot to love about this smart and innovative storage from Way Basics – it is modular, easy to put together, and it’s made from 99% post consumer recycled paper. These storage cubes come in a variety of colors and finishes and can be put in an infinite number of configurations. But what impressed me the most is the assembly process. It is simplified to the point of a child’s play. If you are capable to close a strip envelope – you will be able to assemble this furniture! The principle is the same: peel the tape, attach one part to another part (watch the video and see for yourself). So, if your aspirations include living a more sustainable life, Way Basics made it much much easier…
http://vimeo.com/17786402
If you have piles of books growing on the floor around every seat – congratulations. You are a proud bookworm, and you will love this piece. Le Bouc was created by Mathieu Gabiot in collaboration with Speculoosbook, graphic design company specialised in editorial design. The piece is dedicated to books in all forms and sizes. It supports them, open or closed, keeps them available at all times, whether you are in your office, drawing room or garden. Small enough for a small room, Le Bouc is versatile and mobile. The piece can also be a very useful and attractive addition to a desk – something many of us chase for.
This beautiful modular storage system really did make me smile. Called Cheeky Boxes and designed by Lucie Koldová of Czech studio Process, the product features a series of stackable components that can be configured into a unit of any shape and size. Even though stackable storage is not a groundbreaking innovation, this particular one is notable for being adorable and fun. The shape of the segments allows you to create various patterns, making your item unique. It adds stability too. Cheeky Boxes come in a variety of subtle pastel colors.
There is never enough storage around the workspace. Small items, desk clutter, writing paraphernalia… Wouldn’t it be nice to elevate all this above the surface and keep it visible and well-organized? This flatpack modular system by German company Pulpo, called Topos, can help. The series of powder coated metal sheets can be attached to the wall to create a storage area as big or small as your space requires. All modules have slots into which metal triangular pockets are inserted. And if you need to store something more substantial than paperclips and trinkets, a bigger tray can be placed instead of the triangles, creating a shelf. Removable storage components come in a variety of colors.
These technologically advanced furniture pieces were created by Verona based designer Paolo Cappello for Italian brand Miniforms. The collection is comprised of a small desk and an entertainment unit. Both pieces include integrated sound systems – not only a space-saving idea, but an aesthetically pleasing one. The desk, called Torototela, is big enough for a laptop and compatible with any audio source with output jack and playback high-quality stereo sound. The entertainment unit, Caixa, houses two speakers in its side cabinets. It also has an iPod dock and a hi-def amplifier, to which various devices can be connected. The item comes in two sizes and in three colors: white, black or red.
Here is a nifty little thing from London-based design-duo Doshi Levien – Kali mirror cabinet. The piece features glass cantilevered shelves that can slide through the side walls and give you the choice – which bits to display and which to conceal. This clever solution also maximizes your storage and allows to fit items of many different sizes inside the cabinet. Another great detail is that you can rotate the piece 180 degrees and choose between right and left hand door openings, which also allows for double cabinets to be installed. The door consists of double-sided mirror glass and a grip of white, high gloss ASA-plastic.
Since we are on the subject of interesting storage, here is another beautiful piece – 180º shelving unit by Valencia based studio Cuatro Cuatros. This modular storage is part of a collection, called Angles. It is comprised of four pieces, inspired by V’s of different amplitude – two shelves (30º and 180º) , a carpet (0°) and a vase (90°). The line is based on optical illusions and their play in furniture design.
Designers elaborate: ‘The collection s called Angles, given the importance of the point of view from which to observe the products. The effect appears and disappears, provoking an interaction with the viewer. When the effect is created, our perception deceives us and makes us see things as they are not.’
This particular piece is a clever flatpack construction, that can be easily assembled by one person with zero tools required. The shelves have grooves into which the metallic boxes are fitted. You can position the boxes in four different ways, creating various visual effects and alternating between open and closed storage. You can even make your components accessible from both sides of the shelf and use the piece as a room divider. The hight of the unit can vary depending on how many rows you stack. Brilliant!
See the entire Angles collection here.
