Every so often, the mostly sane world of furniture design will go of script, just a little. And when it does, the result can sometimes be something pretty special. The following is a small collection of some of the more interesting and unconventional furniture concept designs out there.
Take a look…
1. In the right pair of design savvy hands, the kitchen can be a great place to fool around with some old furniture concepts and of course, to create new ones. This particular piece seems to combine some naturalistic elements as well as futuristic appeal. Antoine Lebrun designed the kitchen for Fagor Brandt as an idea of what will be possible for kitchens in ten years. Hmmm… Grow it and cook it on the same table… Neat.
2. Staying in the Kitchen for the moment, This unique concept promises great functionality and spatial economy.The “ALight Kitchen“, designed to the kitchen a more sustainable place. The unit houses a smart oven which reads the bar-codes from pre-packaged foods to cook the food efficiently. The integrated dining table features hollow reversible plates and a flatware holder. And best of all, the built-in dishwasher recycles wash water to cut down on water consumption.
3. When you’ve got a tiny kitchen, having a work center that does double duty can make the space seem larger while keeping all of the functionality of a full-size kitchen. The modular kitchen by Fevzi Karaman is a clever design that houses everything you need in a compact space. A sink, recycling bin, cooking surface, stove, storage and more all fit under the moving tabletop. When closed, you have a nice breakfast bar island. When open, you’ve got a cozy table for two.
4. If you’ve ever lived in a little efficiency apartment, you know how hard it can be to have people over. When you do, the tiny room seems too cramped to do much of anything. Designer Michael Schmidt’s Cooklounge tries to make apartment living a little more convenient with a unique set of furniture that can be arranged as a lounge or a kitchen. The attractive sideboard opens up to reveal a kitchen that’s better equipped than most standard kitchens. An oven, stove, barbecue, dishwasher, warming plate, sink, and other fun extras are included. The adjustable-height table lets you lounge on the floor or on one of the dining/living chairs.
5. Doc is another amazing couch-and-bed solution, but as an added bonus: this one converts into a bunk bed for two. This piece seems like a great solution for people who have visiting friends or farmily who bring children on frequent visits.
6. This comfy number is not one nor two but three pieces of furniture in one: a sofa, lounger and a chair. A good deal of transforming furniture looks or feels better in one configuration or another, but this three-in-one by Roel Verhagen-Kaptein is appealing in each of its transformations.
7.Now this one is particularly strange: a stove and kitchen workspace that doubles as a comfortable chair? An odd combination to be sure, but it is a step in an interesting direction. This kind of out-of-the-box thinking could result in furniture that not only serves a similar function to its counterpart but that would have different purposes in various rooms around a house.
8. For those who lean toward extreme minimalism, the Kure table and chair set may be your ultimate dining furniture. When not in use, the Kure dining set is a giant white sphere, but when you’re ready to eat, it opens to reveal four seats, a tabletop, a lit central pillar and an umbrella-like roof with built-in lights. This design, by Fatih Can Saröz, is still in concept phase – but it’s an interesting one.
9. This Kraft paper ‘softseating’ furniture set by Molo uses a flexible honeycomb structure made entirely of 50% recycled Kraft paper to fan into stools, benches and loungers. And, when you’re not using it, it can easily be compressed flat and stored on a shelf. This unusual set of Eco-friendly, fold-up furniture was recently acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York for their permanent collection.
Any thoughts? A favorite perhaps? Feel free to chime in…
Have a great weekend!