Can geometry be poetic? This stunning piece designed by Koenraad Ruys, for Moca, provides a clear answer. Colorful and Bauhausy looking, the Framed cabinet can beautify any room. It consists of several differently sized compartments that are integrated into a black steel frame (hence the name). Framed comes in a choice of either neutrals and a bright yellow or sea blues and greens. Fun, airy storage with the splash of color… Something any space can use.
If you live in a small space, you know that formal dining can be a serious challenge. Luckily, designers know this too. And they come up with solutions, allowing our dining tables to go ‘off duty’ and perform other tasks between entertainments. The Doppelleben work/play table from Ahhaproject design studio and the Flat Fish 2 coffee/dining table from Designers at Large are good examples. The inspired design object we see here utilizes the same idea. A work desk by day and a dining table by night, this multifunctional piece from Goncalo Campos makes the transition between these two activities swift and seamless. The upper tabletop slides up revealing the working surfaces for two people, while serving as a screen to allow privacy and concentration. The set of storage boxes on the side complete the transformation.
Source: Mocoloco
Two Danish design school students Anne Ahrendt Futtrup and Anita Johansen created this adorable thing, called The Starling Box. This table/storage combination can save space, but what it also does is make you feel like a kid on a treasure hunt. As you explore the labyrinth of the twisted tabletop – you discover bright boxes that are both intriguing and functional. The Starling Box is made from MDF and solid beech, oak veneer, and a colorful palette of felt.
Source: Abitare
Fold them down when you need an extra storage, flip them up when you don’t – this is the idea behind the Piegato, a mobile storage system, created by Matthias Ries for Serafini. These colorful metal shelves are as minimalistic as can be. Easy to install, fold flat, provide storage while taking zero space for themselves… They come as individual units or as sheets of three (for creating bigger configurations). In addition to all this goodness, the unused Piegato shelves serve as an interesting aesthetic accent on your wall. As rightly stated by Dornob, these shapes become somewhat iconic – a passive element of decor.
There is something distinctly architectural about this piece – a wooden side table with acrylic windows looks like a miniature building. Designed by Teddy Luong in collaboration with Dennis Cheng for Umbra, the Condolisa table provides more than just a place for your teacup and a book. It has compartments for storage inside, which can hold books, magazines, pillows, throws, – you name it. The frosted acrylic windows add visual interest and also give the subtle view of the stored items. The removable lid works as a surface. Thus, the Condolisa side table is multifunctional and minimalistic – the two M’s we, shoebox dwellers, appreciate the most…
We, urban dwellers, constantly struggle to come up with compact and functional bike storage. This unusual piece goes beyond simply providing a place for your two-wheeled friend, it puts your bike to work! Created by Store Muu Design Studio, the PIT IN bike desk utilizes the bike saddle, turning it into a chair. Made entirely from plywood, the piece is fairly light and easily movable. Skeptics might argue that a bike seat makes the most uncomfortable chair imaginable. However, if you are not planning to write a novel and just want to take a coffee break and check emails, the PIT IN desk will serve you well.
Source: bookofjoe
Here is a concept that goes beyond aesthetics and functionality. It actually expresses a point of view. This optical illusion, turned into a bookshelf, is a reminder that ideas can be misinterpreted when passed from one end to the other. Created by ClarkeHopkinsClarke, the Bias of Thoughts bookshelf was inspired by the famous 2D drawing of the optical illusive bookshelf. Here is how the notion of the piece is explained by designers: ‘Thoughts are biased. When ideas are passed from one person to another, due to the transfiguration of the communication process and the frame of mind of the receiver, they are always perceived with bias.’ The Bias of Thoughts bookshelf is strong enough to withstand books and iPads, as well as hanging magazines.
Flexible Joinery is a clever creation from israeli design lab Dag. The idea is to provide a temporary and adaptable joining function, which can serve many purposes around your house. Made out of a silicone casting over an inner metal skeleton, these joining elements are flexible and strong at the same time. The technology dates back to the 1950’s, with Bruno Munari’s ‘Zizi the monkey’. According to Desingboom, the pink color of the elements is meant to give visual contrast against wooden shelves.
When designer Shay Alkalay created his first Pivot cabinet for Arco in 2008, it became an instant hit. The simplicity, paired with the space-saving qualities, earned this piece a well-deserved recognition. It even received the Dutch Design Award, 2008 in ‘best residential product’ category. Recently the Pivot family expanded. The new Pivot desk and vanity table were added to the line. The objects exhibit the same minimalistic approach to space and form. And because the drawers are hinged together, they can be opened at the same time, – a convenience most traditional cabinets cannot match.
Source: Design Milk
Have you ever been tired of neat surfaces, familiar shapes and rows upon rows of identical drawers? After all, ‘variety is the whatnot of thingamajig,’ as one of my friends likes to say… This furniture collection from Folkform, called Unique Standard, celebrates variety on several levels. Designers Chandra Ahlsell and Anna Holmquist played with shapes, and also with the use of materials. The collection shows what happens when the original material is combined with surfaces that try to imitate its appearance. For example, the piece above, the chest with 18 drawers, was made of Masonite and birch wood. Other combinations include Carrara Marble/marble laminate, granite/MDF, original leather from Danish designer Arne Jacobsen’s Swan Chair/synthetic leather imitation used in car seats. So, you can delight your visual and tactile senses with the contrast between noble and basic, exclusive and cheap, unique and standard.
Source: MoCoLoco
