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Furniture Design

Design

Extraordinary Multifunctional Furniture for Small Spaces

By Claire Cottrell on

Brad Pitt, our favorite celebrity design enthusiast, has explained, “I’m drawn to furniture design as complete architecture on a minor scale.” Nothing illustrates his point more than the marvelous multifunctional designs that are quickly becoming mainstays on in today’s economically aware, space-saving obsessed design circuit. From an all-in-one bicycle ironing board ladder clothes rack shelf to a table cum bookshelf made out of books, click through to check out some of the most innovative, versatile furniture on the planet. … Read More

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Design

10 Surprisingly Beautiful Designs Made Out of Trash

By Claire Cottrell on

Pauline Kael, the witty, highly opinionated New Yorker film critic who A.O. Scott, Roger Ebert, and Elvis Mitchell all cite as an influence once said that “trash has given us an appetite for art.” Ironically, trash has also given us some incredibly interesting, beautiful furniture. From London lighting designer Stuart Haygarth’s incredible lamps made out of discarded ceramic cat figurines and chandeliers made from plastic odds and ends found washed up on the beach to up-cycled chairs upholstered with crewel art rescued from a dumpster, click through to check out some of the most inventive designs made out trash. … Read More

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Design

Inspiring Photos from Vintage IKEA Catalogs

By Claire Cottrell on

Our favorite destination for Swedish pancakes and self-assembled furniture changed the American design scene forever when it set up shop in Philadelphia in 1985. Founded by an enterprising 17 year old by the name of Ingvar Kamprad some 40 years prior, the modern furniture mainstay evolved out of a childhood business selling matches from a bicycle. Kamprad realized that he could buy matches in bulk very cheaply, sell them individually at a low price, and still make a good profit. Et voilà, the idea for IKEA was born.

Today the allure of DIY design really within reach has made its famously frugal founder the seventh richest man in the world and its annual catalog peddling an affordably well-designed home the third most printed publication after Harry Potter and the Bible. Join us as we take a virtual trip down memory lane to flip through the exceptionally colorful and wonderfully retro IKEA catalogs of design eras past. … Read More

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Design

The Very Best of Foldable, Functional Furniture Origami

By Claire Cottrell on

It’s no secret that here at Flavorwire, we love ourselves some good, clever design. We’ve looked at everything from innovative furniture that makes the work day more fun to decadent designs for chocolate lovers. Today we’re exploring a new niche design category that addresses one of the inevitable woes of urban living: the unfortunately cramped spaces we call home.

Offering space-saving solutions for those times when our tiny apartment feels like it just can’t hang, and we dream of airy loft living, consider these fundamental furniture pieces that maximize your minimal environs. From folding your own furniture (check out the free downloadable instructions!) to collapsible chairs that double as wall art, put your inner origami enthusiast to work with these fun, fabulous, and functional designs. … Read More

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