Furniture

Bookshelves have a basic design flaw. When books are neatly arranged for storage and display, they tend to tip over and lay on the shelf in confused disarray. This vexing problem has been solved by the Korea-based design group monocomplex, whose Lean/Bookshelf uses the force of gravity to keep things in order – no bookends required.  Read More

Floppy disks are a rare sight these days, but just because a product is no longer cutting edge doesn't mean its better qualities should be dismissed out of hand. And floppy disks have certain design qualities that, as it turns out, make for a rather attractive (though admittedly industrial) coffee table.  Read More

Following the success from the Salone Satellite graduate exhibition during this year’s Milan Design Week, young Japanese designer Satoshi will actually see his graduate project come to full fruition.  Read More

The design of both chairs and bookcases generally follow a certain pattern. Chairs need to accommodate the user, support their weight, and provide a certain level of comfort. Bookcases need to have plenty of room for books, which usually sit upright and facing outwards. In order to combine the two, some of these conventions have to be played with ever so slightly. The Bookworm does just that.  Read More

Founded by Japanese designer Kenya Hara, Architecture for Dogs is an unusual project that showcases various structural designs that have been specifically created for dogs. Following the popular trend of pet-friendly furniture like the Cat Tunnel Sofa and Dog House Sofa, these structures hope to change the way people interact with their dogs in shared living spaces.  Read More

I’m not sure if it’s simply a matter of providing some personal space in an increasingly crowded world, if they’re picking up on some deep-set desire to get back to the womb, or it’s something else entirely, but there seem to be a growing number of pods and cocoons emerging from the brains of designers these days, whether it be for treetop accommodation, a backyard workspace or catching some Z’s at work. The latest comes from Micasa Lab, the folks behind the iRock rocking chair, whose Cocoon 1 is a clear sphere in which you can kick back and relax, store items, or even cook.  Read More

The dining room table is the place where families come together to have a hearty meal and enjoy some quality time. If your family is small, you probably only need a little table most of the time. If friends and extended family come over, you might find yourself wrestling out a leaf to make your table bigger. A new design from Jullien Vidame hopes to do away with extension leaves altogether – it's a table that expands without the need for additional parts.  Read More

The rejuvenating power of naps has been known about for some time, with various studies showing that even a short nap can increase alertness. While a nap of around two hours is of most benefit as it encompasses all stages of sleep, a power nap of up to 30 minutes is certainly better than nothing. It's not long enough for you to enter deep sleep (and consequently risk feeling worse than before), but it's long enough to take the edge off your need to actually go to bed. Whether such evidence would ever be enough to persuade a company to provide designated areas for workers to sleep is unclear, but CalmSpace exists for that very purpose.  Read More

Our shrinking urban living spaces have spawned lots of architectural attempts at creating new housing that is small but perfectly formed, but what about those who already own or rent an apartment or flat? They have to rely on inventiveness to create more space from nothing. The "Story" tackles this idea with a new addition to an old favorite – it's a sofa bed and workstation combined.  Read More