Style of Design

We just got a tip from reader Selvan about a dual-purpose bicycle that can be used for transportation as well as for energy production. Using a stand that fixes the bike in a stationary position and a pedal power attachment that can be fabricated from widely available parts, the DPB can be used to power numerous small‑scale mechanical devices such as grain threshers, grinders, water pumps, electrical generators, and furniture making tools. Because the bike is low-cost and pretty simple to fabricate, it’s ideal for developing nations.

READ MORE >

Permalink |
Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: “clean energy”, dual purpose bicycle, dual purpose bike, eco design, green design, green transportation, kinetic energy, pedal power, sustainable design, technology for the poor

We’ve heard people say how hard it is to move from one place to another because of all the things they have to carry around. And it’s a universal fact: we have too much stuff! For today we’ve gathered up a collection of 17 cool and unconventional shelving ideas that we hope will solve some of your storing problems. We tried to select the items that are not only practical, but that would improve how a place looks and feels. Most of them are unusual, for example take a look at the vertical wooden panels, which are particularly interesting. Vertical or horizontal, it is truly impressive how the designers managed to make these furniture items so functional. We also like the fact that they are built from classic materials, which makes them fit well in a variety of interior designs. -via HomeTopHit.com

The ultimate in Mod Furniture from Verner Panton is alive and well at Vitra of Germany. The C1 Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1959) was inspired by a section of a sphere on swivel bearings and slightly tilted. The upholstered seat shell is astonishingly comfortable-both for relaxed sitting, leaning back and for upright sitting. C1 Chair Available in numerous colors $2,450 29″ h 26″ w 22.75″ d From Hive Modern

Post from C1 Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Verner Panton 1959

Tunelli is an Italian company founded in the mid 1980s who designs and produces furniture items in glass. We really enjoyed looking through their portfolio and our choice for you guys is this amazing contemporary collection of coffee tables. With a high regard to aesthetic effect, the company created these items in order to bring a plus of refinement and style to a room. Some of the products have very original shapes and go great with modern environments. Others come with with a storage space for fruit bowls and magazines. We took a special interest in the ones that have two or even three separate components, even though from a practical point of view, one would probably prefer a coffee table built from only one piece. Which one do you like best?

Did you ever think of the possibility of drawing all over your furniture without no one getting annoyed? In this post we would like to gather your opinions on chalkboards as apartment embedded objects.  In the pictures that follow, you will see a lot of examples of blackboards being used as walls or even as furniture. We think this is a great idea for the kids’ rooms, as it would stimulate their creativity.We also like the USA map because it does not occupy a lot of space and it is perfect for notes now and then. However, we think that a blackboard which covers an entire wall is better suited in a school than in a home. A large surface means a lot of chalk dust which in the end is not even all that healthy.

Here on Freshome you’ve seen a lot of themed bedrooms for kids. It is true, fairy tales, castles and princesses provide a wide range of ideas for bedrooms, but today, we would like to show you something new: hearts. You’ve seen them drawn on every teenager’s diary, piece of paper or bumper sticker. And it’s a known fact: young ladies love hearts. Which is why these six bedrooms below all feature heart themed furniture. The colors are also typical for teen girls (pink, light green, yellow, red, baby blue). Chairs, pillows, bed covers, nothing escaped the mighty heart-shaped plan.Some of these interiors are a bit too crowded for our tastes, but then again, it is not us who the manufacturers target.

To be honest I hate to see cables all around the house, but with so much electronics in our lives, the cables are an inescapable fact. When wireless electricity will be available all these cable problems will be solved, but who knows when something like this will be available ? Fortunately, there are ingenious people who are dedicated to solving this problem by creating decorative objects that precisely camouflage those cables that are almost impossible to hide behind furniture. An example of such an idea is this bird and leaves solution that can be attached to a cable and give a funny twist to our room. These accessories can be purchased at Pa-Design, but they are so simple that some of you might actually find a DIY solution. – Via – PA

It’s true, most of the people out there can’t get enough mirrors. But is this a reason to create mirrored furniture? It’s up to you to find the answers to this question,  but in the mean time we would like to show you some of the positive examples of what this type of furniture has to offer. Classy and elegant, the items below can really bring up the aesthetic value of an interior. We enjoy the fact that they are not too flashy, which is actually the first thing that comes to mind when you thing of a reflective furniture item. We think it’s all in the images they reflect. In the pictures below, you will notice classy arrangements and mellow colors, which go great with this type of unusual designs. We are waiting for you reply on these items. Would you buy something like this? And if so, how would you fit it in your interior? -via Graham and Green

Ekateryna Sokolova is a young designer from Kiev, Ukraine, with works in the field of furniture and industrial design. Today we would like to present an unusual washbasin, a project called “Iris”, due to its shape correspondence with the elegant flower. Here is what Ekateryna stated about this design: “The idea is that the wash-basin is manufactured from sheet material, corian or metal. Thanks to these materials the basin becomes visually light weight and elegant and resembles a flower, at the same time retaining its strength. The sheet is bent in such manner that a functional shelf is created, where towels, accessories, and cosmetics are kept.” It would sure be interesting to have one of these around the house- perhaps in an environment with similar shaped elements- in order to create a light atmosphere. -via 3rings

When it comes to home audio systems, a bumpin’ subwoofer is a key part of the listening experience. However subwoofer cabinets can be hard on the eyes, which is why we like the Automan 500, an eco-subwoofer made entirely from a recycled tires. The chic concealed subwoofer is one of 18 finalists in this year’s Greener Gadgets Competition.

Read the rest of “Automan” Subwoofer is Made from Recycled Car Tires

Permalink |
Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: automan 500, eco design sustainable design, green design, green subwoofer, greener gadgets competition, greener gadgets design competition, multifunctional furniture, Recycled Materials, recycled tire subwoofer