I thoroughly enjoyed browsing the Spinelli convertible beds and desks. Pulled out easily, sometimes with a remote, they transform the place into a new functional area in seconds. Many score points for tiny spaces!..
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)
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.
Mister T is a cute and clever multifunctional piece, created by Paris-based designer Antoine Lesur for French brand Oxyo. In its folded state the item takes less space than a small pouf. But as you unravel it, Mister T becomes a side table, a tray, a stool, a footrest, and even a dining/seating arrangement for two. And each incarnation is marked with functional elegance and simplicity. Who knew that a small basket with two pillows and a tray could do all that… Wishlisted!
(via design-milk)
The Cosma sleeper sofa, created by Thomas Müller and Jörg Wulff for COR, is one of my long time design loves. The minute I saw it in 2007, I’ve made a vow that as soon as I taste financial freedom – I’ll own this brilliant thing. It hasn’t happened for me yet, but for some of you it might – the sofa is on sale at Fab for the next 6 days via Domus Design Collection. Sleek and elegant, Cosma looks nothing like a convertible sofa. All you can see is a modern and attractive 3-seater. The piece features customizable armrests, that slide freely along the slot on the back. An innovative mechanism, hidden on the bottom of the seat, transforms Cosma into a comfortable bed.
Designer David Hanauer had a very cool idea. He created a multifunctional geometric frame that can be transformed into a wall-mounted structure, capable to perform many different roles. It can be used as a home office, bar, shelving piece, dining table, media unit, and more. ”The object can either be placed on the floor or mounted to a wall, can exist visually as a sculpture or be utilised physically as furniture. By adding one sheet of metal the rectangular wooden structure becomes a functional table,” – says the designer. Watch the video above to see the transformation in action.
This project reminds me of the Underfull Tablecloth I featured some time ago. Here too the pattern is activated by elements, which is always fun. This unusual flooring, called Hide-and-seek, has been created by Paris born surface designer Solenne Morigeaud. The monochromatic pattern is transformed into a colorful one in the presence of sunlight. Beautiful floral ornaments are nothing other than photochromic screen-print compositions on a wooden-floor. But when the sun comes out – they come to live and reveal vivid colors. “‘Hide-and-seek with the missing’ is a flooring design aiming at bringing awareness and inform the population on the importance of the management and the preservation of nature,’ – says the designer.
How delightful is this? Swedish company Matroshka Furniture AB managed to squeeze living room, dining room, bedroom and study in just 15m2 (about 160 square feet). This was achieved by inventing a piece of furniture that is able to transform into all of the above spaces. Matroshka system was inspired by Russian nesting dolls. Here too pieces fit into each other and save space.
Designers elaborate:
‘When the basic idea was being conceived, the focus was on seeing the room as a volume instead of an area, and on creating plenty of storage while also keeping the furniture comfortable and appealing. The L-shaped desk is fantastically spacious, with a standard height and depth. You may be living in a small space, but that’s no reason to use small furniture. A common problem in small residences is having guests round and finding somewhere for them to sit. With Matroshka, the solution is easy as the living room set-up has space for up to 12 people around the table.’
The entertainment area is built around a clever dining/coffee table hybrid, that can be moved up and down hydraulically. And when the party pieces are tucked in, they serve as a base for a double bed. Thus, all living systems are represented in one all-including piece of Matreshka furniture. It is pleasing that our humble Russian trinket propelled such an inspiring work.
I love coffe/dining table hybrids for the obvious reasons. Entertaining in small spaces is a balancing act, and these clever pieces make it doable. This particular design in addition to being clever is also adorable. The Bambi table by Caroline Olsson resemble a baby deer. The piece was ‘inspired by the anatomy of the knee, where the bones can only bend one way. The location and angle of the table legs, as well as the meeting points of the joints, help keeping the table upright and stable.’ Bambi can be used at two different levels; as a coffee table or a small dining table. Lovely!
There is a lot to love about the 10 Unit System by Japanese architect and designer Shigeru Ban - it is modular, eco-friendly, good-looking and can be easily assembled by one person. And most importantly – it is ideal for limited spaces, because it allows us to built and customize our furniture according to our immediate needs. The series of L-shaped units can be combined to make different kinds of seating, from individual chairs to multi-seat configurations. You can also build table bases for tops of varying sizes with this same system. All configurations are held in place by a simple method of connecting rods, which makes them a child’s play to assemble. The 10 Unit System is made from UPM ProFi, an innovative composite, comprised of recycled paper and plastic. So, it is easy on the environment too. The product is available at Module R.
