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Of course the fascination with smaller homes and get-aways continues, mostly due to architects creating cabins just like this. The first sentence quoted below leaves me terribly excited about the future.

“It is a one-room (190 square feet in size), self-contained box that was built by furniture craftsmen in four weeks in a Toronto parking lot and installed on site in 10 days.
Three of the exterior walls are floor-to-ceiling glass and of those, two are encased in horizontal cedar-screens for privacy, shade and light effects inside. One of the cedar screens has a large opening providing a direct view of the sunset from the built-in bed. The rest of the screen has random smaller gaps to allow various vignettes of the surrounding nature and to create fantastic light patterns inside. The slats are positioned so that there is no direct view in from the outside, but at the same time, it the inside feels almost wall-less.”

[image and quoted text via thecoolhunter]

One of our readers, Ryan, dropped us an email to let us know about this online room planner. It’s pretty easy to use and can get kind of addictive if you’re into rearranging furniture, but it will save you tons of backbreaking time moving around heavy sofas and cabinets.

Thanks Ryan!

Changing out your doorbell to one of these might just be the thing to add some polish to your home’s entrance.

“Create a clean exterior aesthetic with the addition of a modern Doorbell. This Small Doorbell can be installed vertically or horizontally and its pared down design fits a variety of architectural styles. The button has a satisfying touch resistance and the brushed stainless steel can complement our Neutra House Numbers. Necessary hardware for installation is included. The doorbell will work with most existing bells. Made in Germany.”

Brushed stainless steel.

Small: H 1.4″ W 5″, $125.00, available at DWR

Large: H 3″ W 3″, $150.00, available at DWR

(This item’s link and price was updated 05/05/10.)

This wallpaper might just be my favorite yet- the soft muted background color with the seemingly crazy little doodles scattered about are quite lovely.

“Moving into a 3,500 foot warehouse may have changed Karen Combs forever. Already an established artist, this new space enabled her projects to get larger. The space was large enough for a 50 foot roll of paper that was to become her first wallpaper. Each sheet is handpainted and handscreened for unparalleled quality.”

38″h x 24″w.
(note: price listed is per sheet, not per roll)

Graham & Brown have an intriguing selection of wallpapers…I’ve yet to try wallpaper as a (somewhat) quick way to spruce up a room, but it’s getting more and more tempting as I see the choices for interesting patterns grow.

Hemingway Matchsticks Circles Wallpaper (left), $60.00,
Buy it here.

LLB Manor House Wallpaper (middle), $60.00,
Buy it here.

LLB Mystique Wallpaper (right), $60.00,
Buy it here.

The Paon Bath Collection is designed based on “the influence of a herd of elephants.”

A statement from the designer: “it is quite friendly and spiritual to hold these smoothly curved noses of elephants in porcelain. the low level of vital force could be activated by drinking divine water from the [mug]. any moment in any bathroom becomes more ritual by contacting with them directly.”

The entire herd is made up by the following:

* mug
* toothbrush holder
* soap dish
* containers with lids (3 sizes)
* wall hooks (2 sizes)

[posted by kris]

Looking through Dezeen I came across the
Sayama Flats by Schemata Architecture Office. Seeing these photos prompt the discussion of what’s actually necessary to renovate. With the influx of new products, we’re all probably guilty in some way or another of consumerism, itching to rip out the old-but-perfectly-functional sink so that the shiny new one can take its place.

I’ll be the first to admit I constantly want to remake my own home, but there’s something about these photos that pull charm from some decidedly not-cool kitchen units, and I suppose it’s more about a space in flux and the possibilities that exist…whatever it is, it works for me. The super shiny polished floors don’t hurt either. (And, what the heck is up that light fixture over the bed? I want to know who makes it and how much it is.)

“The architects, headed by Jo Nagasaka, partially stripped the flats back to their concrete shell, altering selected elements such as windows, doorways and partitions while leaving some parts such as the kitchen units untouched.” –Dezeen

“In general, Japanese renovation projects are started from removing every old interior and then redesigned it. However, in this project we started to choose what is necessary and what is not from an existing interior space. Because of remaining some of the elements of the interior, we achieved to design a neutral space that motivates young people to create their own life-style.”-Nagasaka (via Dezeen)

[posted by katie]

I’m not one for the overly decorative, but as I see more and more spaces transformed by wallpaper, I’ve been drawn to the mix of patterned walls with the simplest of furnishings. I do have to say these wallpapers by Misha are truly exquisite, and even if it’s not your type of thing (or within your budget) it’s certainly worth taking a look at the level of detail involved.

“MISHA handmade wallpapers selects, produces and distributes silk hand-painted wallpapers, that act as decorative frescoes for any exclusive contemporary space.”

prices range from 75 € to 600 €/m2

[posted by katie]

In Dezeen’s latest newsletter they featured the Parabola House designed by Atelier Tekuto (funny enough, I had just been at their site yesterday, but hadn’t seen this particular gem). How the light filters through the space given the restrictions of privacy is surprising, and holy, that staircase is lovely.

More pictures at Dezeen.

Looking through architonic, I happened across this glass. It looks amazing- wish there was an up close picture to show the 3d effect…

“An award was made to Inglas Deko Wilder Wein for its special decorative properties. This , laminated safety glass with integrated decorative material consists of two thermally pre-stressed sheets of glass, with processed tendrils of Virginia creeper in the bonding area. In order to create the effect of space (3D effect) the tendrils of creeper are positioned at different levels of the bonding area. Typical applications for Inglas Deko Wilder Wein are shower partitions, partition walls, table tops and furniture sections.”

I’ll be the first to admit I’m slightly addicted to browsing through pictures of recent Japanese architecture. I’m continually amazed at the simplicity.

Holy. This is supposed to be available from DWR sometime this spring, which for some reason surprises me. I guess I’m impressed that something so seemingly useful will be available so soon (usually when I find stuff like this it’s not available until the next year, if ever). The waterHOG Water Storage tank can be easily installed pretty much anywhere, not to mention un-installed, which means you can take it with you if you move. The Groundhog Thermal Mass (shown on right) is intended for in-wall or in-floor thermal mass.

“The rainwater from your roof represents a valuable commodity: with the waterHOG rainwater tank you can catch and store your rainwater for reuse in your garden and even in your house. Rainwater can be used for drinking, toilet flushing, laundry water and of course for irrigating your garden. Don’t let your rainwater go to waste – the waterHOG is functional, efficient and visually discreet rainwater storage!”

1800mm x 500mm x 220mm for a capacity of 183L

[via materialicio.us]

I saw a small picture of the main room shot from inside a while back when doing a post on the book ‘Tom Kundig: Houses’, so I’m thrilled to come across the structure shown in full glory. I’d sure love a box like this to think in…

“The Brain is a 14,280 cubic-foot cinematic laboratory where the client, a filmmaker, can work out ideas. Physically, that neighborhood birthplace of invention, the garage, provides the conceptual model. The form is essentially a cast-in-place concrete box, intended to be a strong yet neutral background that provides complete flexibility to adapt the space at will. Inserted into the box along the north wall is a steel mezzanine. All interior structures are made using raw, hot-rolled steel sheets.”-olsonundberg.com

[posted by katie]

Bathroom fixtures continue to amaze as more designers thoughtfully minimize even the most standard elements.

“The new Moab sink takes its source from the technology patented in 2004, anticipating
the future coming trends, of the hidden water sheet supplying, in a vision of
decontextualization of the object. AIS gives the chance to place the sink even out the
bathroom eliminating the tap as main feature of the bathroom area.”

100x54xh18 cm

[via mocoloco]

This is the smartest staircase ever. (The picture on the left is looking up, the one on the right is looking down- just in case it’s confusing)

via apartmenttherapy.com:
“Limited by space, we melded the idea of a staircase with our client’s desire for a
library to form a ‘library staircase’ in which English oak stair treads
and shelves are both completely lined with books.”- Tim Sloan, Levitate Architects