With the flexibility to provide extra seating or space for eating, this lightweight and portable bench from Brookstone converts to a picnic table in just a few seconds.
When space is at a premium, seating options are often the first to suffer. In collaboration with Al Attara, EcoSystems designed the convertible BADA to be used as a desk, extended into a table that comfortably sits six to eight, or converted into a loveseat.
Book storage is notorious for consuming precious space. Free up some room with Booken by Raw Edges Design Studio, which stores less frequently read novels and doubles as a shelf.
Whether the situation calls for a chair and end table, recliner, or even a guest bed, the hyper-flexible KEWB from Sit and Sleep can adapt. Combine two or more pieces for a modular seating arrangement or double bed; each KEWB folds into a compact side table when not in use.
Although outdoor recreation company MSR (Mountain Safety Research) brand was founded to meet the challenges of backcountry life, its Flex 4 set will appeal to gourmet chefs whose culinary aspirations exceed their prep space. Nested together, the compact cookware set weighs less than 4 pounds, and includes two pots, two strainer lids, and plates and mugs for four
If your home office does double duty as a bedroom or dining area, consider Expand Furniture's Ludovico. The filing cabinet becomes a tidy workspace with a foldout desk and a chair hidden between the three surprisingly spacious drawers.
Brigham works primarily with wood and Archuleta had recently been exploring the potential of glass fiber reinforced concrete, so those disparate but complementary materials became the main focus of the project. Together, the warm wood and the clean, minimalist concrete create a “warm and serene space, reminiscent of a spa,” says Brigham.
Replacing the old toilet with a wall-hung Duravit model continues the floating theme, which is echoed by the custom recessed magazine caddy. The room’s sole freestanding piece is a glass-sided cabinet from Restoration Hardware. The diamond-shaped tile is from the Dwell collection at Heath Ceramics.
Lighting in the bathroom is provided by San Francisco-based Aion LED’s modular fixture system. The linear lighting mimics the redwood siding.
The entire bathroom is based on a grid, informed by Brigham’s background in graphic design. The 4” redwood slats form the base measurement; the height of the sink, the bath, and all other features are built in multiples of four. Each piece was designed to either project from or recess back into the wall, continuing seamlessly into the next fixture. Everything from the medicine cabinet to the planters floats off the ground, opening the space.
The existing master bathroom was “perfectly nice,” but uninspiring. Brigham and Archuleta salvaged as many of the original fixtures as possible to cut down on waste, choosing pieces that would blend effortlessly with the new design. The bath was re-set in a concrete base to give it new life.
In order to give the redesign a seamless feel, Brigham and Archuleta carried the use of wood throughout the room—including the shower. Archuleta researched types of wood that can withstand a high-moisture environment, and the most visually appealing was coastal redwood. He came across an unlikely source of reclaimed redwood: old pickling vats from a company called Trestlewood.
Experience in working with reclaimed wood taught Archuleta that “wood that’s been exposed to liquid for long periods of time pulls in minerals that it wouldn't naturally have access to in its living state.” In this case, the iron bands and nails that held the barrels together reacted with the pickling liquid, leaving behind a rich, dark patina.
The focal point of the room is a glass fiber-reinforced concrete sink that weighs 460 pounds. The material is stronger then regular concrete, so the overall thickness of the sink is a mere two inches. By using GFRC, Archuleta was also able to create a more uniform surface with almost no pinholes—important both for maintaining the minimalistic appearance of the room and to avoid leaks in the areas that would be in direct contact with water. Concrete is also incorporated into the bathtub and shower bases.
Roombots can also store themselves in a carton when not in use, or create a static structure such as a box or wall.
One of the applications that most interests the Roombots team is assistive furniture for the elderly or those with a motor handicap. With a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation, researchers will design modules to monitor health; aid the user in sitting, standing up, or lying down; manipulate objects; and move closer or farther away, as needed.
Engineers envision Roombots evolving over time to create larger and more complex structures—for example, joining stools together to become a bench or table. Each module is also self-improving, and can learn to increase its speed by analyzing and optimizing oscillation patterns.
Roombots contain both an active motorized mechanism and a passive connection plate, and can create pieces that incorporate additional passive elements, like the above tabletop. Using non-robotic components contributes to structural integrity and keeps the total weight of the object low.
Roombots are capable of moving on a grid of connectors as well as off-grid free locomotion in a room, and can transfer between on-grid and off-grid movement. The modules can also transport non-Roombot structures.
Each Roombot is an autonomous unit that cooperates with its group to self-assemble, self-modify, and move to different locations as needed. Connectors between individual units enable the creation of versatile and flexible structures.
Dis. focused on the use of furniture and lighting to emphasize and promote Norwegian design, preserving the building’s original character. The residence’s large rooms feature dark wood floors, which sets off bright playful elements such as sculptural Fly Me chairs from Martela and vividly colored Rombo carpets by Kinnasand.
During the day, floor-to-ceiling windows let in abundant natural light. In the evening, the whole residence glows with warmth and color.
The dining room houses one of Northern Lighting’s Moo lamps, in a nod to traditional ski lodge décor. A Camouflage pendant lamp from Zero casts a dramatic pattern over Snedkergaarden’s Steel table. A set of playful blue Clint chairs from Fora Form pop against the black and white tile floor.
The interior is bright and spacious, with white walls that give each room a clean, fresh look. Art and sculptural objects appear around every corner, softening the space, so that it feels friendly and welcoming, not formal. Pairs of Boy poufs from LK Hjelle provide a pop of color and flexible seating options.
One of the challenges of introducing Scandinavian style into a tropical climate: the climate itself. The light-colored wood that embodies Norwegian style would not tolerate constant heat and humidity. Dis. specially sourced a high-pressure laminate for tabletops, surrounded here by Bone chairs from Materia. JAB’s Lana rug provides additional color and texture against the white table and walls.
The library serves as both an office and a small, informal meeting space. Offect’s hyperpigmented Spoon chairs create parallels with traditional Sri Lankan clothing and the country’s rich natural landscape. The soft, vibrant fabric also accentuates the simple lines of an Artur desk from Scandinavian design collective SA Møbler and a Monterey coffee table by Montana.
Each room was furnished with an eye toward flexibility, and can suit a variety of purposes. Encompassing a pair of Montana Monterey tables, the wraparound Ugo sofa from LK Hjelle is designed to facilitate socializing, so that no matter where guests sit they can carry on a conversation with fellow visitors.