K1, an innovative mini kitchen by Kitchoo, is the winner of this year’s Reddot design award. And there is a reason why. This hyper-equipped piece includes refrigerator, sink, two burners, dishwasher, garbage disposal and storage – all in one sleek sideboard. When all the components are tucked away – you will never guess that there is a full-functioning kitchen inside this tiny piece of furniture. Stylish, minimal and very clever. A godsend for studio apartments!
This small elegant desk from Omni+ deserves a mention for its smart storage solution. In addition to a traditional frontal shelf and drawer combo, the piece features a clever section on the back. It can be used to store away cables and cords (and we all know how unattractive those can be) or used as an accent if facing the room. Whatever the arrangement might be – there is no such thing as too much storage. The desk comes in high gloss white with walnut accents and sold here.
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Swiss designers Luzia Kälin and Nicole Lehner created a clever solution for accommodating house guests called Stay At My Home. The kit includes all the basics needed for a comfortable night stay. These components are neatly stored within each other, which makes a lot of space-saving sense. The mattress is rolled under the nightstand, which in turn houses linens and a bedside lamp. The drawer can be removed from the stand and placed as a storage box within easy reach from the bed. The arrow-shaped rug completes the set. All pieces are lightweight, which allows the guest to move them around with ease. This design is kind to both receiving and visiting parties and perfect for a limited space.
Modular kitchens comprised of interchangeable components are perfect for small spaces. They can be tailored to any room, moved around to accommodate different cooking needs… The Cun kitchen from Joko Domus does all of these things, while being an aesthetically pleasing object as well. All pieces are highly customizable. You can add storage options, accessories, choose between casters and fixed legs. Pieces can be hooked together or function as free-standing components. Side panels are available in a variety of woods, Corian or stainless steel.
This colorful collection by London based designer Amy Hunting employs the power of gravity to generate storage. The Felt and Gravity line consists of a sideboard, storage box and a series of occasional tables. The tables can be stacked to create storage units of various height and configuration. All pieces feature pockets, made from 100% wool. These soft and flexible felt ‘shelves’ get their strength from the weight placed inside them. The items are also flat pack, which makes them easy to transport (or stored when not in use).
San-Francisco based industrial designer Matt Day has made this quiet contribution to the war on cables – Stone hard drive. The piece features an external rubber molding, where the cord is stored when not in use. No more hustle with trying to locate the right cable, no more annoying knots of cordage under the desk, – just one streamlined and easy on the eye gadget. I really want to see this HDD produced.
The Shifty desk / hallway stand reminds me of the Secret Stash project. This piece by Daniel Schofield is also a fine example of discreet storage. Schofield leads us to believe that the main storage compartment is the drawer on the front. But in fact the entire desk surface slides open revealing the hidden area, perfect for personal papers and electronic equipment. This sliding of the top also doubles the desk size and puts work area closer to the user. Many points for space-saving! And who doesn’t like the empowering nature of hidden compartments?
Quad is a building block that can be used anywhere in your house to create custom furniture. Designed by Dom Trapp, this modular system is brilliant when you need more storage (and who doesn’t). Bookcases, bedside tables, ottomans, consoles, coffee tables, side or occasional tables, under-desk storage – these are just the few possible Quad uses. Each module is laser cut from a 100% recyclable steel sheet, folded and enameled with environmentally friendly paints. The piece comes in a variety of colors.
The items of this kind are great fun. But when your children grow up, they often become a nuisance – too bulky to store, and too emotionally memorable to dispose of. As the result, they create clutter. This vehicle, Japanese designer Masahiro Minami made for his son, is employed to fight clutter instead of creating it. Minami proposed a simple solution that integrated a pull-out drawer attached to a tail-like rope so that the vehicle could also be used for storage. Beautiful!
2B is a fun bookcase, created by Mexican studio Mob. Its most notable feature is the dynamic between simple classic shelves and rotating colorful dividers. These moving panels allow to accommodate larger items and also create a beautiful backdrop for whatever is displayed on the shelves. The piece comes in walnut or lacquered ash.
