Multifunctional Desk is a concept project, developed by Polish designer Agata Nowak. A comfortable workspace by day, the piece unfolds into a dining table big enough to accommodate six persons. “The multifunctional desk is designed to help solving the problem of living and working in small spaces, – designer says. – Users can easily adapt the desk to their needs, and transform it during the day.” In its folded state the piece is very compact, and by simply unfolding one side – you can easily create another workspace or extend the existing one. I also love the secluded feel the desk has with both sides lifted. A useful feature for working in a room, where other activities take place.
Milan based designers Enrico De Lotto, Georgios (koli) Kolliopoulos and Cristian Loddo of studio Mandalaki created this timely object, called Mandalaki table. The piece consists of two iron pipe legs, that are attached to the double faced light blue/white tabletop without any screws, just by virtue of their curve. The table is easy to assemble and disassemble. But the best feature of the piece is the control over pesky cordage. It features six main plugs and two USB ports, which allow to charge iPhone, iPod, iPad and other mobile devices. Here is how designers describe their idea: “Our relationship with electronic devices is changing fast, and the number of portable applications grows day by day. That’s why we developed a line of office / house instruments, that integrate the electricity outlet, easy to mount, and adapting to user’s new needs to simplify his actions.” Very clever.
Photography by Miro Zagnoli
This small and beautiful writing table has been created by Amsterdam based designer Roel Huisman. The piece is first in its kind, its tabletop is made from polyester resin. Added pigments informed the subtle aquamarine color and the opaque quality. Ash-wood accessories complete the workspace. The table features a lamp, a vase and a small storage compartment, concealed by a sliding ash writing surface.
Berlin based designer Michael Hilgers created this super compact desk, called Flatframe, for furniture brand Müller Möbelwerkstätten. Disguised as a wall art, the piece folds down into a functional workstation. It includes a non-slip surface, storage for your writing tools, slots for the iPad and iPhone, bulletin board, integrated sockets for your laptop and other devices. Impressive number of conveniences from an item that is just 2.5-inch thick. The Flatframe desk is a winner of the Interior Innovation Award 2013. No surprise there…
Aptly named Forming the Border, this desk by Juhui Cho lets you make a clear distinction between work and home life. Which is a big thing for those of us who plots their world domination plans in a tiny apartment. Made from wood covered with PVC, the desk disguises itself as a neutral looking cabinet when closed. When open, it reveals a secluded personalized workstation, complete with a shelf and a place to hang a lighting fixture. The semi-transparent PVC panels allow light to pass through and turn the desk/cabinet into an ambient light object. One small concern – the lighting bulb could be distracting, hanging so close to the desktop. I’d prefer a built-in diffused illumination. Love the piece otherwise.
I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to believe that this product has been designed in distant 1948. Danish designer Poul Cadovius created the Royal System for the furniture brand dk3. Modular and lightweight, this storage line assembles easily and creates a vast number of options. You can build bookshelves, media storage, workstations, kitchen storage, you name it. The elements are attached to rails in two sizes, to suit whatever configuration you may require. Available in oak or walnut veneer on MDF, or in solid HPL. Sold here.
Instead of hiding your workstation, as many of us do in small apartments, Spanish designer Valentin Garal suggests to make an artful display of it. The Stilleven desk he created for Mexican brand Peca is a small leaning item, able to fit even the tightest quarters. The built-in board above the desktop can be used for notes and references as well as collectibles, art or any objects of significance you wish to look at while you work. Designer explains: “Stilleven takes the private realm into the public one; its wool display can highlight that which we treasure under the clear protection of a glass covering, while a small desk made out of walnut allows us to take a break from our day-to-day in order to catalogue the contents of the mind; the reflections on the mirror are a reminder of our surroundings.”
The Worknest system by Polish designer Wiktoria Lenart is a real beauty. The sleek wooden desk has groves that allow to easily attach additional elements – shelves, boards, even flower pots. You can accessorize the piece as much or as little as you wish and make it fit your individual working style. In addition to the desk, the system includes a divider, compatible with the same accessories, used for the desk. This duo could be a great solution for a studio or any open floor plan apartment, for it creates a secluded and self-sufficient workspace on the spot.
The Table for Two idea by Daniel Liss is so simple and ingenious, it gives you the ultimate “why haven’t I thought of it” moment. The piece is a desk for two by day and a dining table for six by night. In a cramped urban setting where kitchen, dining room, living room and home office are usually the same room – an item like this is an instant hit. “The users can benefit from the large surface area when the table’s lids are folded down, while allowing for two individual working spaces when folded up into a divider and slid together,” – Daniel explains. Aside from its multifunctional goodness, Table for Two features ample storage, enough for a power source and all your working paraphernalia. Watch the demo video after the break to see the piece in action.
7wonders modular table by Swedish designer Amanda Karsberg is a set of six differently sized tables that can be put into various configurations. Thanks to the shape of these pieces, they fit together intuitively and can be easily rearranged when needed. You can disperse them around and use them as occasional tables and consoles, put them together to create a large desk or a dining table, create a combination of a small desk, a display and a console and more. The variations are multiple. Beautiful idea.
(via the mag)
