Small Living Rooms: Rethinking Furniture Needs

"Finding Flexible Living Room Furniture"
Roguestatus (September 3, 2008)

"Looking for new living room furniture can seem a bit overwhelming. There are so many things to think about. There are couches, end tables, chairs, TV stands, book cases and more. It’s enough to make anyone fear living room furniture shopping!

"What happens if you not only need new living room furniture, but also have a very small living space, though? You might be worried about how to fit everything you want. How should you begin to look for flexible living room furniture, then? Here are some tips on finding flexible living room furniture that will not only look good, but help you save space...."

This looks like a pretty good starting place for someone thinking about how to do a living room makeover.

I was impressed that the post includes several photos showing how living rooms can be set up - and they don't all look alike, or use the same style. Also, the author doesn't assume that you've got a 5,000 square foot living room to play with.

I also appreciated the sort of thinking encouraged: "...Every living room needs a couch, right? Not necessarily! ... Another living room furniture type to consider is a table. ... In this case, I'm talking about storage, of course! Make sure your tables have drawers...."

The only downside of this post, for me, is that it apparently assumes a budget that's several rungs of the ladder above where my household is. But, that's about par for the course - and a little out-of-the-box thinking on a reader's part could apply the principles discussed to distinctly un-posh budgets.

Like Tetris? You'll Love this Furniture

"Tetris furniture"
Boing Boing (April 14, 2009)

"Brazilian designers Diego Silvério and Helder Filipov created this stacking Tetris furniture -- the tricky part is getting your spouse to slowly lower it, piece by piece, from the ceiling...."

With a photo.

There's more, at

Tetris Furniture
Diego Silvério, Cuntiba, Brazil

The stuff looks pretty good, and would work - I think - in an uber-modern residence occupied exclusively by young, flexible, people with an intense need to appear contemporary in a sort of mid-20th century sort of way.

40 of the Most Creative Lamps: Cute, Morbid, Weird, and Otherwise

"40 of The Most Creative Lamp Designs Ever"
Home Gadgets, via freshome (October 19, 2008)

"We all know that one of the easiest ways you have to light a dark corner in any room or add some atmospheric lighting to your living-room area, is to place your choice of lamp. With numerous designs, shapes, colors, dimensions or lighting abilities, lamps constitute one of the most convenient methods one has to alter the lighting tone of a room...."


(from freshome, used without permission)

This lamp is one of the more ordinary, run-of-the-mill examples from the article.

Each lamp has a photo and description. One is described as morbid. My term would have been macabre, but I won't quibble.

One of the lamps, Alien Abduction Lamp, isn't available commercially yet. That's bad news for people with a taste for Area 51 conspiracies, science fiction fans, and twenty-something guys with at least moderately geeky interests.

Some other lamps are either not in production yet, or no longer made: but they're still cool.

"Bulbs Unlimited" is a a kit for making lamps out of recycled light bulbs.


(from freshome, used without permission)

You see? I wasn't making that up.

With the eclectic range of styles, tastes, and lack of taste, in this 'top-40,' you'll probably find a lamp or two that you'll like. Whether you'd want to spend money on one of these things is a whole different question.

Better Ideas From Japan: Outlets With Antelers

"Outlet Plate Uses Antlers to Hold Charging Phones"
Unplugged (December 16, 2008)

"Now, we're not usually fans of bringing attention to your wall sockets, but since we love antlers and anything to help keep our cords organized we can get behind Nendo's socket-deer...."

I'm not making this up.

The socket-deer is a product of Nendo, a company with offices in Tokyo that's dedicated to "Giving people a small " ! " moment."

I like the idea of little antlers growing out of wall outlets. My wife might have an alternative view, though.

More ideas - good, dubious, and strange - at "Better Ideas From ... "

For People With an Eye for Art in Their Lavatory - and an Unlimited Budget

"16 Sweet Modern Sink and Wash Basin Designs"
WebUrbanist (November 17, 2008)

"What could be more basic and functionally unchanging as a sink? To demonstrate the danger in this assumption, here is a look at how sink designers are abandoning the generic, water-intensive styles of old in favor of new designs heavily influenced by the natural world, technological innovation and the desire to conserve water. Here are 16 designs that certainly create a splash (sorry, had to be done)...."

With photos.

They range from the beautifully pricey but impractical to the usable: and one fits on top of a toilet tank.

SieMatic S1 Kitchen - "The Kitchen for All the Senses"

Except maybe the financial sense.

Still, SieMatic's SieMatic S1 is an impressive bit of interior design. What struck me about this kitchen was that it looks as if someone might actually be able to prepare a meal in it.

And, want to.

Quite a few blogs have picked up on the SieMatic S1, like "SieMatic S1 Kitchen - the future of the kitchen design" (Trendir (July 23, 2008)). In fact, I'd suggest Trendir's post for a quick once-over of the SieMatic S1 Kitchen. SieMatic's own website requires Flash, takes time to load, and is more impressive than informative.

Which is too bad, since I think SieMatic has put together very good ideas here.


(From Trendir / SieMatic, used w/o permission)
Looks great: but is there storage space?


(From Trendir / SieMatic, used w/o permission)
Crowded? Sure: but who's going to have all the drawers out at once?


(From Trendir / SieMatic, used w/o permission)
More than a room to heat TV dinners in.

A Very Odd Lamp, and Other Interior Design Features

"huh"
the style files (October 9, 2007)

That title makes sense, sort of, when you read the photo caption:

"Another great design from Dutch design label HUH is this 'Not a Lamp' light. In stead of a lamp in a box, this box is a lamp (do you get it?). You push out the pre-cut shape and the wire, fitting and lamp are in the box. And voila, you have a lamp!"

Light comes out of a cardboard box through translucent material, visible in lamp-shaped cutouts.

It's not the most practical lamp I've ever seen, but it's clever and attractive.

Other items shown are heat sensitive wallpaper, pillows by maison de vacances, and candy ottomans. I think the last item is actually made of conventional fabrics: but they're very brightly-colored.

very creative swedish furniture in lower case

"stockholm furniture fair 08: greenhouse schools pt. 1"
designboom (2008)

Over a dozen photos of furniture designs that I'm pretty sure will not be seen in most homes next year. I could be wrong about Christoffer Angell's 'pauline' lounge chair.

My favorite of the lot is Colm Keller's 'made by eimear' mirror.

Seriously, these are all quite creative and unusual furnishings and pieces of furniture.

and, they don't use any capital letters - how very e. e. cummings of them.

Paper Chandelier - Probably Not for Use With Candles

"Paper Chandelier, 2006"
twentytwentyone

" Paper, cardboard and papier-mâché are familiar to all of us. They bring back memories of kinder-garden and our first experiences of making things."

Not a bad idea, actually.

Bathtubs for the Rich and Famous

"Six Eye-Catching Bathtubs"
Contemporist (April 3, 2008)

Photos, and a name for each. The first of the lot reminds me of something I've seen before. In a lab or print shop, I think.

These look classy, and, in some cases, quite attractive.

Chaming Communist Modern Interior

"Communist Charm at the Ostel in Berlin"
The Mid-Century Modernist (Nov 23, 2007)

"The modernism of 1960s East Germany is a little different from that of the Danes or the Eames. The communist state spawned a more spartan, utilitarian style, but charming nonetheless. The Ostel Hotel in Berlin proves that Communism doesn’t have to be drab and depressing. ..."

With photos. The interiors are attractive, although I suspect that the op-art pattern on one walls would give the occupant eyestrain after a few minutes.

There are more interiors at "The Mid-Century Modernist: Other Interiors"

A Door Chain for the Obsessive-Compulsive Puzzle Fan

"Defendius door chain"
Art.Lebedev Studio (January 4, 2008)

"Defendius door chain guard helps you to protect your home against unauthorized entry."

It's a fairly conventional door chain guard - with a maze instead of the usual straight slot.

I pity the resident who tries using this after a long night.

Photos

Glow-in-the-Dark Tap Water

"LED Tap Creates Glowing Water" GeekAlerts - Gadgets and Designs (March 14, 2008)

"This little device fits onto most taps and lights up a set of LEDs when you turn on the tap, transforming the stream of water into a beautiful waterfall of light."

I've posted something like this before: "Better Ideas From China: Color-Coded Shower Head Lights" (December 31, 2007).

Now You, Too, Can Bathe in a Huge Kitchen Sink!

"Stainless Steel Double Seat Japanese Bath"

"Shown is a double seat stainless steel Japanese bath, designed for two bathers. All work is handcrafted exhibiting a strong artistic flair."

I recognize the design's quality and how appropriate it would be in many settings, but I'm sorry: To me, it looks like a titanic kitchen sink.

Historical Futuristic Furniture

Atomare Furniture

"Furniture as ergonomic support of the human body and activity is an interesting and complex matter of design. On one hand it has to fit the human body, on the other hand it is an aesthetic and essential part of space and our environment. Fashion and function are therefore the primary design factors."

Photos and descriptions of some odd-looking furniture: the sort designed in the twentieth century. Some of it is, I understand, quite comfortable.

A commercial website

Bloxes: Smart Low Tech

Bloxes.com

"Bloxes are building blocks made of interlocking pieces of corrugated cardboard, folded together. Their unique shape and structure make them exceptionally strong and lightweight — you could build yourself a platform to stand on, and then pick it up and move it wherever you need to."

A commercial site. Looks like a good idea.

Bright Idea: Lamp Runs on Gravity, Lasts Two Centuries

"Lamp Lit by Gravity Wins Greener Gadget Award"
PureEnergySystems.com > News > February 19, 2008

"A Virginia Tech student has created a floor lamp powered by gravity."

It puts out as much light as a 40 Watt bulb, and should last 200 years.

Odd, Quirky Sinks: Fish, Rocks, and Stumps

"Funky Sinks" " Powder rooms have become the focus for self-expression in the home with sinks often at the center of these creative ideas. The latest in unusual sinks include units made from flexible silicone and a sink that's also a fully functioning aquarium."

• Fish Sink (Moody Aquarium Sink)
• Silicon Sink (two of them>
• Tree Trunk Sink
• Tam Light-Up Sink and Polished Stainless Steel Sink
• Plus
  • Magnetic Soap Holders
  • Noveletti soap holders

For those people whose life will not be complete, until they can see fish swimming by as they wash their hands.

With Photos.

Latex Glove Lamp

"Lamp Made out of Latex Gloves," by Katarina Britse at Beckman’s College of Design

As weird as this sounds, the result is attractive, in a modernish sort of way. And it's supposed to be fairly easy to make.

I did a little checking, and found the image's source - with some more information - at Beckmans.

New Paradigm for Adjustable Shelving

"Rolling Shelf - The Solution For Anything Tall" - not a shelving unit on wheels, shelves that roll. Not a bad idea at all.