The post Toy House: Tiny Taipei Apartment Customized for a Collector first appeared on Dornob.

What all this means is that the home office is quickly becoming a necessary and lasting feature in many households. But since not all dwellings come with built-in workspaces, remote employees are often looking for ways to create small offices within their existing square footage. Here are seven handy space-saving tips for making the most of your cubicle away from the office:

Build Under the Stairs

Many homes have an empty stairwell. Depending on the positioning of yours, this might be the perfect cozy nook to insert a desk and some shelving. Just be sure to choose a chair with a minimal profile so it can be pushed in when not in use, leaving the walkways free of obstacles.

Add a Fold-Up Desk

When you truly have no extra room to spare, build up! Fold-up desks can easily be installed on walls, leaving room above for shelves to hold folders, pencils, or whatever else your daily work needs require. When it’s time to clock out, the desk can be hidden away with no trace in sight.

Turn an Ottoman Into a Hidden Office

This resourceful idea allows you to pop open your office and put it completely out of sight (and hopefully out of mind) when you’re through making a living for the day. With a simple table or nightstand nearby for laptop use, the storage ottoman-turned-office cuts the clutter while saving plenty of space.

Use Pegboard for Infinite Storage Combinations

A simple wooden pegboard with some hooks, shelves, and baskets is all you need to form a functional wall of storage. And since the hooks are removable, your storage options can be endlessly reconfigured to fit your changing business needs.

Convert an Old Hutch Into a Desk

Got an old hutch or china cabinet that’s not being put to good use? It could make for excellent and tidy work spot, with its included room for paper, binders, and miscellaneous office supplies. You can even add a little color or pattern like this one to make it an especially sunny work environment.

Embrace the “Cloffice”

What do you get when you stick your computer in your closet? The “cloffice.” Sometimes these designated storage areas are the best place to add a few permanent shelves and drawers to create a practical workspace. And while built-ins are nice, if you’re going for easy, most closets already have at least one existing shelf for stowing things. All you have to do is add a stand-alone desk below.

Create a Mobile Office Trolley

If you don’t want to commit to any one area for a home office, you could store all your essentials on a transportable trolley. You could check morning emails in the kitchen, log on to a meeting in the living room, and even get some overtime done from the comfort of your bed.

As we do our best to navigate the work-life balance of remote employment, it’s important to remember that creativity is key to finding storage solutions and optimal home office positioning.

The post 7 Inventive Ways to Carve Out a Space-Saving Home Office first appeared on Dornob.

But you know what makes studio apartments so much more livable? Transforming furniture. Nothing short of living like a monk makes quite the same impact. It can be as simple as a table that folds up against a wall or a good old classic Murphy bed. But imagine how much easier it would be to transition from day to night if your bedroom was basically whisked out of the way to reveal a living room whenever you needed it.

The “Cloud Bed” by Ori does just that. So effortlessly does the entire bed glide up into the ceiling by day, it almost feels like magic. You wave your wand —or, in reality, press a button on your phone — and your furniture shifts in response to your whims. That’s it. You don’t have to take off all the bedding and put it away somewhere. In fact, you don’t have to physically move anything at all.

The unit consists of an upper cabinet that hugs the ceiling and contains the bed when it’s not in use, tracks that run along the wall, the bed itself, and an entire living room underneath. When the bed glides down, it fits snugly within the body of the sofa, and it can even rest directly on top of the coffee table. The arms of the sofa become dual bedside tables, and two pull-out drawers beneath the couch offer storage for things like linens and clothing.

Built-in dimmable LED lighting lets you set the mood for evening entertainment or a little reading before you go to sleep. Four built-in outlets make it easy to plug in your devices. The couch fits three people, and the bed comes in either king or queen size, with an eight-inch foam mattress included. It takes just 30 seconds to transition between bedroom and living room setups, and you control it using either the Ori app, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home.

Made of poplar laminate sourced from Spain as well as spruce bed slats and powder-coated carbon steel for the mechanical elements, the bed comes in a single contemporary light wood color. You can even set it to “lock mode” if you want to make sure no mischievous kids or accidental wake-words activate it to raise or lower unexpectedly. A continuous monitoring system watches for potential failures, and the firmware automatically stays up to date.

The Cloud Bed is just the latest brilliant space-saving furniture system from Ori. If you’re in the market for higher-end transforming furniture for studio apartments, you’re going to want to check out their Pocket Office, Pocket Closet, and Studio Suite Slim. The Pocket Office encloses an entire home office setup within what looks like an entertainment system when it’s not needed, and you just roll out the cabinet when you want to use it.

The Pocket Closet works similarly, instead hiding a whole walk-in closet worth of clothes, shoes, and accessories. And the Studio Suite Slim manages to fit all three of these functions into a single unit, making small homes far more adaptable than they’ve ever been.

The post “Cloud Bed” by Ori Glides Up Into the Ceiling to Reveal a Couch first appeared on Dornob.

That’s where Expand Furniture comes in. The Vancouver, Canada-based company prides itself on creating space-saving modular pieces for the modern home, offering an impressive selection of convertible beds, bookshelves, chairs, couches, and tables in sleek shades of brown, gray, and white.

We recently got a chance to put two of Expand’s hottest items, the Alzare Transforming Coffee Table and Soft Cube Love Seat, to the test at our headquarters in El Segundo, California. From the moment we took the pieces out of the box, we couldn’t believe how space-efficient — and how wonderfully different — their designs were.

The Alzare Transforming Coffee Table might look like little more than a thick tabletop upon first unboxing it, but this minimalist piece is much more than meets the eye. Sitting just 10 inches off the ground at its lowest height setting, the wooden table sits on a sleek pair of metallic legs and hydraulic gas lift system for ultra-sturdy support and easy use. The latter also allows you to raise the table up to a full 30 inches with the simple pull of a lever, at which point you can actually rotate and flip open the tabletop to reveal a much larger dining table surface.

Since the table serves two distinct functions — one more suited to the living room and the other to the dining room — the company has also fitted its legs with discreet wheels for easy transportation. We’re pretty grateful they did, too, because this thing is surprisingly heavy!

The Soft Cube Love Seat’s transforming qualities are subtler than the Alzare’s, but they’re every bit as important when it comes to saving space. Billed by the company as a “future-proof modular design,” the Soft Cube comes in pieces or “modules” that can either be paired up to form a full-sized couch or used on individually as corner pieces. The basic bundle retails for $1,500 and includes two modules, but if you feel like expanding it at any point (pun fully intended), you can always just order an additional middle or ottoman piece and add it to your set.

Each Soft Cube module is coated in a light-and-dark-gray woven fabric for a sophisticated modern look, and with a set of dark wooden feet that you can choose to install or not. Just be warned that a drill is required for this task. I tried screwing them in with a regular old screwdriver, and the resulting blisters were unpleasant to say the least.

At the end of the day, it’s hard to think of a reason the modern apartment dweller wouldn’t want Expand Furniture pieces in their home. They make saving space fun and easy, and they allow you to get creative with your furniture arrangements on a regular basis. The pieces might be a little on the pricey side, but it’s important to remember that they’re actually sturdy and won’t break down on you after a couple years.

I’ve since moved the Alzare to my own apartment, where it continues to amaze dinner guests with its shape-shifting powers. Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that board games are significantly more fun when you have a gigantic low tabletop to play on. Thanks, Expand!

The post Product Review: Expand’s Transforming Modular Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

Like a Chinese puzzle box (or in food terms: an onion), each sliding block peels back to reveal another hidden layer – some walls double as doors, and each element serves more than a single purpose (or person).

A single square meter is displaced by the Small Type Kitchen, containing everything from cooking and preparation surfaces to a dinner table, stove, cooktop, refrigerator, suspended shelves, slots and drawers.

The sequence unfolds with consideration for work flow as well as saving space, starting with a blank slate in its most compact form and then unfolds, offering areas to prep, cook and dine.

There is also a balance between multi-functional elements and use-specific spaces – general hooks and platforms on the one hand and subdivided drawers on the other. Prototype by designers Kristin Laass and Norman Ebelt.

“Small type adapts to the space and habits of humans. The focus on a smooth working cycle and the intuitive operation characterize the monolith as a transparent kitchen. On only one square meter, when closed, there is a full kitchen with fridge, induction hob, oven, sink, storage space and a dining table. The interaction between the static kitchen element with the connections in the floor and the mobile element of the dining table, which also serves as a panel, have their special spatial appeal. The 360 ​​° usage promotes communication when several people cook together.”

“When the user rolls the table and pulls out the cooking unit, he brings small type to life as the inner wood structure becomes visible. The kitchen offers the ergonomically optimal working heights for the respective areas and by double-sided full extension all utensils are best accessible. small type stimulates conscious cooking and promotes the sensual experience by focusing on the essentials.”

The post Expanding Kitchen Island Hides a Lot of Functions first appeared on Dornob.

Roca has a bit of a reputation for making the ordinary somewhat extraordinary. Specifically, these designers are skilled at transforming the boring, mundane (and semi-taboo) fixture of the toilet into an artistic centerpiece of a design – or at least a more functional and integrate part of a bathroom interior.

One of their more clever designs is a two-in-one toilet-and-sink combination that saves space and adds a touch of elegance to two rather conventional (but entirely essential) bathroom fixtures. A single swooping curve encompasses the combined design, which hovers a few inches off the ground.

Another clever solution from Roca, this bidet-and-toilet set is concealed under a warm-colored wooden bench which allows for ventilation and seating while disguising the function below for a cleaner aesthetic.

Not sure you want something quite so complex? These simple-but-colorful bidet-and-toilet designs provide a way to add some accents to a bathroom interior without going too far overboard.

“Innovation and technology join forces to the benefit of sustainable progress. This concept is synonymous with saving water and optimising space. Its innovative system filters the wash-basin water so it can be reused in the toilet. A unique, distinct and original design that brings elegance and sustainability to the bathroom. This product’s innovative technology is totally sustainable.”

“Roca began its activity as a company that made cast iron radiators for domestic heating at its factory in Gavà, near Barcelona. After these first radiators, the firm expanded its portfolio with the production of boilers. In 1929, Roca entered the bathroom space by starting the production of baths.”

“The turning point of the internationalisation process took place in 1999, with the acquisition of the Swiss Keramik Holding Laufen, fourth global manufacturer in those days. The acquisition of Laufen allowed the Group to strengthen its position in strategic markets where the brand had less presence, such as Eastern Europe, Brazil and the USA. In 2005 Roca announces an ambitious strategic plan focused on bathroom spaces, achieving the world leadership of the sector in 2006.”

The post Space-Saving Sink-and-Toilet Combo first appeared on Dornob.

One big key to small-spacing living is vertical space – with nine feet in each horizontal direction, the only way to go is up. At the same time, this particular design manages to look like it evolved somehow organically, with elements not simply occupying every spare spot.

Everything manages to coexist and flow within the limited area provided, including custom chairs, tables, kitchen zone (with microwave and refrigerator), full-sized shower, composting toilet, washing machine and double bed.

LED lights and recovered heat help keep fixture needs to a bare minimum, while a timber frame with red and plywood surfaces add texture and color to keep the interior interesting and engaging.

The project was “conceived, designed and managed by Dr Mike Page, engineer and Reader in Cognitive Psychology at the University’s School of Psychology” and featured at the Edinburgh Science Festival.

From Designcurial:

“The Cube includes a lounge with a table and two custom-made chairs; a small 120cm wide double bed; a full-size shower; a kitchen with energy-efficient fridge, induction hob, re-circulating cooker hood, sink/drainer, combination microwave oven and storage cupboards; a washing machine; and a composting toilet. “

“The Cube is illuminated with ultra-efficient LED lights and heated using an Ecodan air-source heat pump with heat recovered from extracted air. It features cork flooring with two-metre head height throughout.”

“The Cube is insulated with a timber-frame shell, interior surfaces of birch plywood, and sweet-chestnut cladding on the exterior. It features a south-facing monopitch roof covered with solar panels. The south wall is also covered with solar panels. This generating capacity is expected to make the Cube carbon-neutral over the year.”

The post Micro-Home Measures 3x3x3 Meters first appeared on Dornob.

The post Semi-Mobile Tiny House Living first appeared on Dornob.

The post Transforming Recycled Shipping Container House first appeared on Dornob.

The post Feng Shui Mini-Apartment on Wheels first appeared on Dornob.

“All sliding doors can be shipped nationwide, including Canada. If your product is local, our installation team is available to lend a hand on your door project. Our in house CAD team will be able to pen down all aspects of your design concept to ensure a seamless installation.”

The post 5 Custom Sliding Door Solutions first appeared on Dornob.

The post Transforming All-in-One Kids Bedroom Set first appeared on Dornob.

Until now, designs like that have been hard to find. But an Australian company called BCompact specializing in “innovative, clever, and sustainable creations” might have just changed the game for tiny houses, micro-apartments, and other ultra-compact spaces with an amazing hybrid system that allows stairs to be installed in areas they simply couldn’t fit into before.

Winner of a 2019 iF Design Award and the Gold prize at the European Product Design Awards in 2018, these compact hybrid stairs are just as substantial and easy to climb as any standard set, but they fold completely flat against the wall when they’re not in use. That means they can be deployed in spaces where they’d otherwise be blocking traffic, like doorways and hallways, without having to close off the opening between floors the way a fold-down attic staircase would.

Capable of covering distances between 6.5 and 10 feet and customizable to each customer’s specifications, the Hybrid Stair meets building code regulations for both stairs and handrails, unlike many other space-saving designs.

The stairs are made from specially constructed and sustainably sourced bamboo composite plywood, which itself boasts a high tensile strength and flexibility despite its light weight. They can handle loads of up to 440 pounds, and they’re all counterbalanced with a simple spring mechanism so the act of opening and closing them is easy enough for virtually anyone to perform, including children and the elderly. They can be operated from the ground or from the landing, and an optional security gate mechanism can lock them into a closed position to eliminate access, “thus creating an unsurpassed security system denying all access between floors.”

Founder Zev Bianchi explains that he got the idea “during a seven year stop-over in NYC, living in high-priced and confined conditions…partly out of necessity, to design furniture and products to help create the best living environment in the least space.”

“The world we live in is getting smaller and far more expensive! And there is a massive surge now taking place around the world to optimize the way the majority of us all live. Downsizing, compacting, and tiny home movements are just a few, and BCompact design prides itself as being amongst the forerunners of these changes and has been working with these concepts long before [they] became [trends]!”

“Being able to adapt your lifestyle to where you live now and how much you earn is becoming more and more necessary and now more accessible to people around the world, by developing creative and innovative solutions to these issues. From furniture that unpacks and disappears to flat-folding chairs and Hybrid stairs. Products that open areas to your home [and turn them] into new and usable spaces that you never knew you had; ideal for growing families or simply reorganizing your life.”

All photos courtesy of BCompact 

The post Incredible Sub-Compact Stair Design Saves You Space Unlike Ever Before first appeared on Dornob.

 

The post Small Modern Apartment Inspired by Glaciers first appeared on Dornob.

The post Toiletry Bottles Stack Like LEGOs first appeared on Dornob.

The post Three-Ring Service: Stackable 3-in-1 Condiment Holder first appeared on Dornob.