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Clever Multfunctional Coffee Table Design for a Modern Lifestyle

Adapting to change with a fresh, original vision became a necessity in a constantly evolving world and meeting the more informed client’s expectations may give you a leading position in a highly competitive market. Being original means sometimes taking a common concept to the next level, giving it a personal, highly creative approach, and these days we see a huge diversity of great-looking and ingenious design projects which try to perfectly match to our busy modern lifestyle.

Today, our attention was caught by this catchy multifunctional coffee table designed by Croatia-based designers Brigada and we wanted to share its clever design with you, our friends, to inspire you to find the best solutions when designing and decorating your rooms. Versatile, with a minimalist look and a modern color combination, this furniture piece is perfect for energizing a contemporary home, making your space more efficient than before.

Thinking that people use to transform their coffee table into a temporary place for various publications which they read when having a drink, designers from Brigada, inspired by this idea, create a coffee table that beautifully combines newspaper and magazine storage and a table, making it one functional object. It consists of different spaces available for keeping your favourite books, magazines and newspapers easy accessible any time you want. The upper level feature a several grooves highlighted in yellow color, which practically hold your publications organized. Very creative design that goes well with many interior design styles.

Photos © Domagoj Kunić

March 20, 2013
L-Shaped Modern Residence Integrating Traditional Thai House Design

The feeling you get from viewing the interiors of this beautiful modern residence in Yen Akat Road, Bangkok, Thailand, is that of tranquility and spatiality: minimalist design sprinkled with authentic elements of décor, extensive use of glass and a generous greenery area visible from every angle. Recently completed by architect Ayutt Mahasom from AYUTT AND ASSOCIATES DESIGN (AAd), YAK01 is a tasteful and welcoming 500 sq m house specifically designed for a small modern family. The residence was envisioned as a space that offers plenty of privacy, being in the same time in permanent connection with the nature through a large outdoor area that surrounds it. As clients requested to have sun shades and rain protections, the architect’s proposal was cantilevering practically half of the house over the ground floor area.

In order to improve the utilizable space and maximize the green space, he designed an L-shaped residence and one side of the house’s wall very close to an adjacent plot of land. With a white, grey and natural wooden palette, the interiors are modern, spacious and transparent and the overall impression is that of lightness and relaxing atmosphere. It’s flooded by natural sunlight thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows placed especially in the north of the house, since the northern sunlight is the least intense in Thailand. Besides that, adding glass walls provides a natural cross-ventilation for every room that keeps the building cool during daytime and creates also a seamless transition between the two environments. The bathrooms, storages, staircases and service areas are designed as buffer zones to absorb the heat and ensure more privacy for the main private space on the north. This layout not only comes to meet the client’s needs, but also generating, as we previously said, a large open area for gardening (almost 50 percent of the total 560 sq.m private land). Another idea to draw cool air into the house is to position the outdoor swimming pool in parallel with the building.

The modern approach of the house meet traditional Thai house design and this makes even more interesting and original its architecture. The ground floor is arranged in Thai design style with a central courtyard that functions as a feature foyer and distributor before accessing to the main living space. A staircase enclosed in a glass box seems to float over the front garden as a principal characterictic for the entrance. The main living room occupies a center position, receiving light from two sides. The space is directly directly connected to the terrace, the garden and the swimming pool with double -height folding windows that facilitate the fusion of spaces. In this way, the family can enjoy various activities related to the outdoor garden and swimming pool.

To increase the aesthetic element and to ensure shading in the same fashion as a traditional Thai house, the master bedroom is located upstairs and is designed in a cubic shape and is entirely cantilevered over the whole length of front foyer. YAK01 house looks like a silver box floating on a black granite sheet below due to customized Silver Aluminum Extrusion Strips assembled vertically on the wall of the master bathroom and master bedroom with both modern aesthetic purposes and air buffer insulation to cool down the main bedroom area. Two other bedrooms are located on the other side of the house by extending on top of the swimming pool on a cantilevered concrete slab enclosed by a big glass wall with black aluminum cladding.

Photos © Piyawut Srisakul

Details:

Project name: YAK01
Year : 2011 – 2013
Architect : Ayutt Mahasom
Interior Designer : Ayutt Mahasom
Landscape Designer : Ayutt Mahasom
Client : Rawin and Supamas Boonyanusasna
Site area : 560 sq.m.
Construction area : 500 sq.m.
Location : Yen Akat road, Bangkok, Thailand

March 19, 2013
Bring Magic and Color to Your Room with Living Pixels Lamps

We love creative designs! This splendid collection of lamps entitled “Living Pixels” is a very interesting design project envisioned by Hong Kong -based group of designers from SDWorks (Chan Wan Ki Kay, Chen Siu Wa Shai Chai, and Suen Ka Hei Catherine) that rank high in originality, as well as in functionality. They were certainly looking for less ordinary approaches when starting this project if we think that recycled advertising banners are the material used to create these appealing, colorful volumes of light and texture.

To give that unique three-dimensionality to the material and to build that cloud-looking perfect irregular shapes, the designers took the right advertising banners that were printed on only one side and cut them into small pieces and then combined them to design each light shade individually. They sort out matching colors and sew each banner swatches by hand, creating a balloon of multi-colored light that emerges from the inside and generates a vivid luminous pattern through holes left intentionally with this purpose. When the lights are off, they look white and maybe not so attractive, but switch them on and you’ll see a spectacular play of colors that bring magic and create a pleasant atmosphere in your room due to the fact that each element of these lampshades patchwork allow differences in light shade. The lampshades are attached to vintage lamp stands and feature low-energy-consuming lightbulbs.

Photos © SDWorks

March 18, 2013
Smart Multi-Purpose Lounge Chair Design -LLSTOL

Simple yet comfortable, LLSTOL showcases an interesting and efficient multi-purpose lounge chair design envisioned by Slovenian architect student Luka Locicnik. This creative idea came up during a design workshop at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, Slovenia and looking to develop a chair using minimal resources, Luka Locicnik managed after one year of research, tests and material support, to manufacture the LLSTOL chai,r adaptable to multiple uses. Two identically “L” shaped elements from moulded plywood are combined creating a multifunctional furniture piece suitable for any modern interior décor thanks to its minimalist and elegant design.

Easy to assemble in a variaty of furniture types, LLSTOL can be configured as lounge chair, shelving, coffee table, rest support, drawing board, bench or landscape, and the fact that it can be folded and stored in a small place, makes it ideal especially for small apartments where as we all know, every inch counts. It can also be used as an extra seat when you have guests. Made entirely of quality beech wood, which is the most common type of wood in Slovenia, and coated with matte lacquer, the chair is designed for both private and public indoor settings such as private residences, student dormitories, coffee shops, book shops, libraries, galleries, etc. New variants are to be taken into consideration in the future to give clients the opportunity to customize the chair. It is possible to be made from different materials, have various perforations, colors and even textile accessory. Lovely project, what do you think?

Photos © Matej Gruden, Blaž Jamšek

March 17, 2013
Futuristic Newton Console Showcasing Exquisite Design

Boca do Lobo furniture is all about modern and contemporary luxury design for an exclusive home interior and this intriguing Newton Console is a representative example of their extraordinary Limited Edition furniture collection entitled Large Emotion. Inspired by Newton’s law of gravity and their recent outstanding Newton dining table, Newton Console is an emotional piece of furniture that reflects the sphere attraction as they were joined with their mass, force and energy.

Elegant and modern, with a strong personality, its unique, look never seen before is a fusion of art and design, that will certainly will never go unobserved. Designed for people who pay special attention to style and good taste, passionate about culture and attentive to everything that surrounds them such as environment, books and art, technologies, this artistic Newton Console is made from aluminum and features gold plated spheres that joined together in an undefined structure to support the top made of semi-spheres.

Most of them are laquered in black, with a high gloss varnish, this contrast making it look like a sophisticated jewel ideal for luxurious cosmopolitan interiors. Presented in limited edition, the Newton Console is a really special furniture piece of highest quality, being handcrafted in Portugal from the finest materials by skillful and experienced artisans who manage to combine traditional manufacturing techniques with the latest technological methods. Take a look and check also their website for other magnificent furniture designs.

Photos © Boca Do Lobo

March 16, 2013
Original LEGO Artwork -Playful LEGO Lamps from Sean Kenney

“A new twist on classic design” -this is how Sean Kenney describes his great-looking LEGO-built lamps, a new addition to its already large and appreciated portofolio of original LEGO artworks. Available in 5 styles and 10 colors, these colorful and stylized lamps are the result of the recent collaboration between Sean Kenney and designer Jung Ah Kim and proves that when combining creativity with familiar LEGO bricks there is no way not to obtain something special. Merging both classical and modern-era styling, LEGO lamps are a wonderful décor idea, that embellishes almost any interior.

Their playfulness is given by their genuine sculptural base with beautiful texture and shape made of LEGO bricks, which is paired with a white classic lampshade that softly diffuses light creating a pleasant atmosphere. The reconfiguration of the orthogonal LEGO blocks showcases an interesting pixel surface with smooth curves that fascinates you. It has a cord with on/off switch button and accomodates up to 40W type G bulb, which is not included. Hand-made in Brooklyn, USA, can be designed on request with your favourite color and patterns, incorporating even your name or your company logo if you want. Have a look and check out also Sean Kenney‘s website for more pictures and details.

Photos © Sean Kenney

March 15, 2013
6 Modern and Creative Stool Designs

Thousands of stool designs are nowadays available and finding the perfect stool should be very easy, but sometimes we are overwhelmed by such a wide range of choices and we decide quite hard on a model. Many colors, various eye-catching shapes, designed with different techniques, they all seem wonderful whether they have traditional, rustic or contemporary and unusual approach. We love those modern and creative designs which explore geometric shapes and combine different materials in a unique manner, that why for today we’ve gathered for you 6 original looking stool designs with modern attractive appearance. Have a look and tell us what is your favourite and where would you use it.

Surrounded Stools

designer: Els Woldhek

Surrounded Stools have a unique and cheerful design approach which invigorates any possible home decor. The stools have vibrant colored tops with gorgeous intricate patterns handmade with a simple technique which is based on rope making. The soft cushion seat is created by twisting bright colorful threads around a circular base in a manner that keeps them twined and in their place. From these images they look quite comfortable. We like especially with their thin legs painted at the end with the same color as their tops. They are so cute!

Photo © Els Woldhek

Rings stool

designer: Nao Tamura for Artek

Nao Tamura designed a special edition stool to celebrate designer Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60’s 80th anniversary. Rings stool, as it was named, features a cross section of an 80 year old tree on its top, where rings evoke the passage of 80 years of time. Some lines speak of seasons of plenty, while others cry of famine, and their size is never the same. A beautiful geometric shape and a complex, organic graphic of life is a very original idea for a stool design that could be a timeless piece used for outdoor or indoor settings.

Photos © Nao Tamura

Ki-Oke stool

designer: OeO Design Studio

Presented at Maison et Objet 2013 in Paris, the ‘Ki-Oke stool’ features a handcrafted design which brings together Western sensibilities and fine tradition of Kyoto wood craftsmanship. Designed by OeO and handcrafted in Japan by Shuji Nakagawa for Japan Handmade, Ki-Oke stool brings the beauty of the Japanese design aesthetics in a modern and playful approach. It’s available in Japanese cypress (sawara) and in a limited edition of lignified Japanese cedar (jindai-sugi).

Photos © Shuji Nakagawa

Eroded Stools

designer: I M Lab

Eroded Stools -a meaningful name describing exactly these unusual yet versatile and eye-catching stools designed initially for a wine testing room in the north east of Italy. With a cube-like shape excavated beautifully on a side, the Eroded stools can be a great addition in different kinds of private and public spaces and we’re sure eco-enthusiasts will love it because besides their beautiful appearance, they’re also green furniture pieces, made from cork, a sustainable and environmentally friendly material, in combination with colorful fabric (felt). Each stool has 2 part – one hard the other soft – one constant and the other changeable.

Photos © I M Lab Ltd

Tandem stool

designer: Geoffrey Graven

Selected as the winner of the Wood Stock design contest, showcased at Maison&Objet, Paris 2012, is a versatile and stylish stool design great for modern homes, especially for those where every inch counts. Although it’s still a prototype, we’re delighted to discover it to share with you its beautiful multipurpose design. With various colorful tops and white oak, matt satin finish, “Tandem” stool features a round coffee table and enough space beneath to store your favourite magazines or books and have them wherever you’ll place the stool.

Photos © Geoffrey Graven

Dome Stool

designer: Toer

The combination between wood and steel in creating the Dome Stool makes a nice contrast, but the surprising geometric top with a round shape reminiscent of structures used in architecture mixed with beech wood give the stool an amazing yet honest look that will spice up any home. Eighty curved steel rods spring out of the wooden base building a transparent polar array, like the pantheon, which gives you the impression you’re sitting on air. Although the metal shape looks airy and lightweight, in fact is strong enough to support you.

Photos © Stoer

March 14, 2013
Great Maya World Museum of Mérida in Mexico

Receiving recently the CIDI Latin American design award as “Emblematic work of 2013” in the Culture category, the Great Maya World Museum of Mérida in Mexico (El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya) is a noticeable cultural project, which aims to preserve and promote the region’s cultural heritage. Starting from the idea that “a building without meaning is a simple construction”, GRUPO ARQUIDECTURE (formerly 4A Arquitectos) designed El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, whose design concept is inspired by the interesting Mayan culture. Highlights not only the prehispanic architecture of the region, but also their cosmogony, its expressive, highly dramatic overall design symbolizes the sacred tree of the cosmic vision of Mayan culture -“La Ceiba”. As the focal point of the composition, La Ceiba and the sacred tree connects the world with the underworld and the sky and the shadow as ineffable value in a sun-scorched land but refreshed by the breeze.

Thus, the exterior of the building showcases a visually striking design featuring an abstract metal framework that seems woven across the façade, which reminds us of Beijing National Stadium. Its Ceiba tree -inspired shape raises seeking for natural air and light using passive systems to achieve energy benefits and environmental comfort. Designed as a living museum that aims to captivate and inspire love for new knowledge that makes you return again, El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya makes you curious to investigate the Mayan culture and its origins. The building is structured in order to integrate all the required areas and the program needs for the various functional activities.

Museum collections, transit cellars, research and study áreas of the great archaeological acquisition and a 260 parking spaces area are all located at the “Ceiba’s roots” level. Life and daily activities take place at the “Ceiba’s trunk” level, underneath its shade, the sacred tree being related to the infinite where its branches spread up to the sky and human transcendence. Here is the the main lobby, personal belongins kept area, ticket offices, public relations office, childcare center, restaurant with terrace, souvenir shop and a terrace bar, as well as a 2,000 m2 of permanent exhibition rooms and 600 m2 for travelling exhibitions. A high-definition large format cinema with performing arts facilites for various artistic and cultural activities, a multi-purpose hall, and also the executive and administrative offices are to be found inside the “Ceiba’s frond”. Note that the sustainability is an integral part of this project, GRUPO ARQUIDECTURE creating a comprehensive work that takes all environment, social and economic aspects in consideration.

Photos © David Cervera, Rocío Rojo, Alessandra Ortíz

Project details:

Architects: 4A Arquitectos
Location: Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
Design Team: Ricardo Combaluzier, Enrique Duarte, William Ramírez, Josefina Rivas
Collaborators: Luis De La Rosa, Alma Villicaña, Carlos Guardián, Mariana Farfán, Julio Rosas, Aída Ordóñez, Fabián Rosas, Ricardo Combaluzier
Year: 2010
Area: 22,600 sqm

March 13, 2013