Rather than rent a whole other room – or a larger apartment, with this suitcase style BoxOffice, you’d have a mini office you can forget about at night when you have friends over for dinner or just want to put the day’s work out of sight. At just $1,800 that’s a cheap room.

The 20″ deep aluminum BoxOffice that locks up securely and neatly when not in use is the brilliant idea of designer Toshihiko Hazama – who lives in Japan – where space is at a premium.

His invention will be available through Myfab; the innovative manufacturing and sales company I’ve written about here before.

With a full factory floor, MyFab allows high end industrial product designers to get their ideas professionally manufactured at high quality and sold at factory prices direct to consumers through the internet.

Normally, right out of design school – designers must go to work for larger companies first. Most designers thus don’t see the rewards of their breakthrough ideas. This business model enables the innovative to cash in on their ideas and yet still get them to consumers at “farmers market” prices.

Source: Treehugger

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BoxOffice Invention Available Through MyFab

The Hanging Bookshelf comes from the  unal&boler studio and uses hanging metal cages to house books as a kind of in-home art installation.

The Brace Case comes from  Ward Huting, and uses taut cables to hold books, magazines and other flat objects at an angle. It’s up to the owner to decide the  angle. Another bonus: the case can be customized to fit any room size.

The Logia bookcase by Rafemar allows you free rein to get personal. You can design your system any way you’d like and build upwards as your book collection grows.

Folding Bookshelves by Picked by Hand are made of cherry wood and can be folded down or up, depending on how many books you have to store. Best thing is, when you don’t have books to store you can fold the leaves up and away for more space.

Magnetique Shelf comes from Nils Holger Moormann and consists of a steel sheet and boxes made of birch plywood. The steel sheet can be mounted onto the wall in a horizontal or vertical way. The backside of the boxes consists of a special, extra strong foil magnet which adheres to the wall attachment.

The Ceiling Bookshelf provides an option for those with high ceilings.  Books stay up and out of the way, nearly out of sight. Check with your local carpenter about adapting a similar bookcase for your own ceiling.

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Design Dilemma: Where to Put the Books

Designed by Dom Trapp, the Quad modular and decorative storage system is a simple and elegant solution to a multitude of needs that arise around your home. The basic module of Quad is a perfect cube that is made from 100% recyclable steel with each of its sides measuring 350 mm. The laser cut structure is available in various shades and can be arranged in various geometric forms or used individually to create storage spaces, shelves, night tables, stools or any other functions you can find for a hollow cube. Ergonomic, minimalist and of great design value, this will offer you both the chance of getting creative and the effervescent look for your interiors. We’re sold … [via Quad35]

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Modular and Decorative Storage System by Quad35

Are you sitting next to Winnie-the-Pooh right now? Is your living room rug actually a rubberized mat imprinted with hopscotch blocks?  Are you greeted by toy trucks, doll houses and stuffed animals at the door?

If so, you may be suffering from the common household malady of toy infection. In this widespread affliction, toys rapidly multiply to  colonize every angle of a once-adult home. And what happens to style? Well, it kind of goes out the window once the children arrive.

Of course, kids bring joy and pleasure that can’t be matched even by a glass-topped Noguchi table, but even still, wouldn’t be nice to have a semblance of adult style and polish, even with the kids?

Don’t despair, it’s possible. You can love your kids dearly, but it doesn’t mean your livingroom has to be a jumble of high chairs and stuffed toys. The main thing is to establish a specific place for toys that is easily accessible, and yet invisible. 

Many parents opt for a stylish toy chest dedicated specifically to housing kid stuff. The chest can be a sophisticated-looking trunk, perhaps an Indian, Japanese or Chinese design, or perhaps a sleek or funky storage ottoman. Whatever you choose, keep the storage box easily accessible and right in the room where you most often hang out with the kids. When playtime is over, teach your kids to put their toys back in their toy chest. If a trunk isn’t large enough, you might investigate a free-standing closet or bureau with drawers and shelves for children’s toys.

Another way of getting an upper hand on out-of-control toy clutter is to eliminate some of it. Reduce your child’s number of toys but keep things interesting by organizing toy swaps with other parents who are also trying to reduce clutter. The beauty of a swap is that kids get to try out new and different toys periodically, without toy build-up.

Re-consider the playroom. As more and more families have moved to homes with open floor plans, it’s become a lot harder than it once was to keep kid stuff from taking over. If you have an open floor plan, consider incorporating a play area with sliding panels that can be opened when in use, but otherwise closed off.

Some parents may opt to give their children the master bedroom (usually larger) which can allow enough space for a sizeable play area. Others have happily created a playroom in the basement, allowing kids to transfer all the bulky toys that were once in the living room to their own special area.

Treat children’s art like real art. Instead of tacking up children’s drawings on the refrigerator door, consider creating a serious installation of some of your child’s art in real, carefully considered frames. If you don’t have the wallspace, you can turn your child’s drawings into books by scanning them and sending the digital images to online websites that will make books out of images. Or, you can have a special drawing printed on stretched canvas and hung as a true centerpiece in your home.

Finally, don’t give up the fight. Once you’ve made the decision to reduce kid clutter, the hard part is over.  Adopt a specific strategy to take back your home, including creating specific places for playthings and toys. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy being an adult again in an adult home.

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Design Dilemma: Keeping Kids Toys Under Wraps

With the advent of chic new closet systems, however, that’s beginning to change. There are high-end systems and low-end systems, ranging from  California Closets to Ikea.  You can usually find a system at any price point to help bring order to your messy closet. Here are a few ideas from the Italians, who have a long history of creating wardrobe systems that are both functional and beautiful. They’re so pretty inside, you won’t even have to close the closet door!

Below, the Gliss 5th, made by Molteni & C , has been designed with a metal back consisting of an unbroken sequence of horizontal grooves. The backing allows you to arrange and rearrange internal accessories to fit your needs as your wardrobe changes.  The system comes in wengé, natural and grey oak, or in gloss or matte lacquer finishes. The handles and all the inserts are in acetate and doors are available as sliders or on hinges. Prices vary depending on the configuration chosen.

Also from the Italians comes the S-52 from Europeo. Known for gorgeous wardrobes and closet systems that border on art, Europeo has created a system below featuring a hanging rack that folds out for easy access. Mirrored sliding doors are jewel-like when closed. It sells for about 3,654 Euros (or about $4,700).

From Italian manufacturer Lema comes the extendable mirror. It can be pulled out of the closet when it’s needed and folded neatly back inside when it’s not. It sells for 240 Euro (or about $300).

How about this: a trouser hanger that pulls out of a closet for easy access? It’s available through Rimadesio, an Italian company that offers a wide array of walk-in closet and sliding systems for the organizationally-challenged.

Got an extra deep closet space? Consider the design of Massimo De Luca for Albed. Ingeniously using a series of sliding panels, the system will maximize your closet space while keeping clothes and shoes handy.

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Design Dilemma: High-Style Closet Systems

The company defines itself accurately on the Rimadesio website by saying:

“Rimadesio produces systems for sub-dividing environments and for the architectural definition of internal spaces. Doors, sliding panels, shelving units, walk-in wardrobes and a collection of complementary furniture: an offer which is constantly increasing in size and which is forever evolving its style.”

The beauty of the Siparium collection lies in it’s simple concept, its high quality production and finish and also in its modern innovation.

Interestingly the panels are equipped with a magnetic closing device and once opened the panels can be packed in to a space of just 12cm with an angle of more than 90° to allow the maximal opening space.

This kind of system would be great for any body who wants to have the option of being able to divide their living space when they need to but perhaps doesn’t want the aesthetic intrusion of a solid wall or built in doors.

In a very rare way, the design and structure of Rimadesio’s Siparium folding panels make it seem as though they would blend in to any home interior scheme without drawing attention to itself. This means that visitors may only know there is an extra room if you tell them and also everyone will be thinking “where is all this persons clutter?”. No one need know its all hidden behind the stylish Siparium!

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Sneak Peak: Siparium By Rimadesio

Berloni is the place to head to if you are in search of efficient storage. They design a range of products for living but their real forte has to be their storage units.

This new tall unit above, is a nice decorative change compared to just a plain white built in cupboard.

The doors are made from frosted glass which gives them a cool high-gloss, lacquered look and they slide open easily so there is always easy access to whatever you choose to store inside.

There are many rooms in the home that would suit a Berloni tall unit, the bedroom is the first home for it that springs to mind. Clothing and shoe storage would never be a problem again!

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Beloni’s New Tall Units

Unit available from www.arflex.it/prodotti/sk_prodotti.asp?head=16&cat_id=140&titolo=cosa&div_id=

This unit won the Wallpaper Magazine Storage of The Year Award 2008. Designed by Carlo Cloumbo and available from arflex, it is a minimalist design with no fancy frills, its just incredibly functional with its different sized cubby holes for storing different passesions. Placed up against one wall it means that all your storage needs are satisfied in one big block. Fantastic!

Available from www.lafurnitureseen.com/Modern-Furniture/Los-Angeles/Storage/Showtime-Multileg-Cabinet-Jaime-Hayon/1/33/1941

Not an award winner but in a league of its own none the less.This is a truly striking piece of furniture that is guaranteed to get visitors talking. The designer says he took his inspiration from old style musical theater. Despite its quirky design and array of extra legs the piece itself is very practical, offering the owner a good amount of storage space at a low level, close to the floor. Plus you can stuff things inside there and no one will be able to see from the outside because of the cabinet doors.

Available from www.smartfurniture.com/shop/catalog.product.asp?product_ID=CH13BXKIT&ARSImage=/shop/images/catalog/assembly.CH13BXKIT.real.graphite.jpg&NewSku=102291-101&att=72

This black box shelf with a chrome fame from smartfurniture.com hasn’t been up for an award either. Although, it is worth noting for the fact that items can be stored not only in the boxes but on top of them as well so your storage space is doubled in an instant. Plus its a really affordable price, which is helpful considering everyone is feeling the pinch with the economy the way that is is right now.

Available from www.bravespacedesign.com/product_tetrad_flat.php

This shelving has been nominated for this years People’s Design Awards. With it’s bold inside and odd layout people with an eye for the quirkier aspects of design are going to fall in love with this one at first sight.

Have a look at the shelf here www.peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2008/nominee/1710

This one is not even in production yet, but is also up for a PDA. Designed by Abhinav Dapake, the shelf makes extra use of the corner spaces in a room which are often left unutilized. Its simple flowing line structure makes it both elegant and astounding at the same time. If this designer wins the award this procuct is sure to be available on the market pretty soon.

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The Best Shelves Out There and Award Winners Too

Here’s a unique way to hide storage spaces in plain site. A feminine flair makes the storage units ideal for a woman’s dressing room or bedroom. The thick layered bristles hide an aluminum structure with white or black shelves underneath. The long bristles give the appearance of hair covering the structures, giving a dramatic flowing look for an amazing product. You could easily hide away anything you don’t want out in the open with the Inga Sempe Brosse Storage Units.

The units come in two sizes 140 x 40 or 175 x 50. With the Inga Sempe Brosse Storage Units, the bristles act as your doors for this shelving system. This is a beautiful interesting addition for storage and organization options. Check out the storage units at Edra.

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Inga Sempe Brosse Storage Units

M-Space is a new organization system for your cupboards. It’s versatile, elegant and distinctive. The drawer and pull out features can be stacked, combined or moved sideways to make full use of larger and deeper cabinets. Two level space organization is an added benefit to the system. M-Space creates a modern straight lined theme in your cupboards.

Leicht makes keeping your items in order simple with this smart organization system. M-Space is made of anthracite stained oak as a basic material and stainless steel elements. The fitments have several special inserts in varying widths to further customize your product. Many elements have been included in the sections; bottle holder, storing areas, or a lid holder. M-Space would make a welcomed addition to any kitchen. Find out more at Leicht.

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M-Space: Interior Fitments