If you've been checking out my posts, you know I am passionate about lofts and open urban spaces. Lofts always look so BIG when you see them empty. Yet, most of the lofts being built or converted from former industrial spaces have almost no built-in storage at all. In an open plan home, you may have more closets, but with all of your living area visible at once, things can look pretty cluttered if you end up with a lot of things sitting out in view.
Whether you have a very small space that requires everything in it to perform double duty, or you have a large open space and you'd like to conceal your "stuff" while keeping it conveniently near at hand, I think the photos below will give you inspiration and demonstrate some real out-of-the-box thinking.
This bedroom by Nabilovo has two entire walls of built-in storage. Building it in from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, literally makes it disappear and simply reads visually as the 'wall', rather than as cabinetry. The minimal amount of open shelving gives great display space for those select items you actually do want to see and gives the wall of storage visual interest.
Bo Concept has this amazing coffee table that stores your things and opens to create raised table surfaces. Great for eating in front of the TV!
For studio spaces, you may want to store the bed also. This amazing ceiling bed is called "Bedup" by Decadrages. It can have integrated lighting under it to use as ceiling lights while it is up. It can also be lowered to various pre-set heights so you don't have to move any furniture out of the way that may be underneath it. Pretty radical concept!
Tumidei creates an amazing range of loft bedrooms for kids. They make great use of space under the bed and on top of the platform.
People need a place to put guests from time to time. No guest room in your place? No worries! This Saba Italia "Scoop" Bed is two sofas by day and one very cool bed at night!
From flyingbeds.com, this computer bed, called "The Tale" is a marvel of technology. The computer desk moves with the bed and stays upright, so you don't have to take anything off the desk as the bed is moved into position. How cool is that?!! It's only available in twin size, but this would be awesome for a dorm room or a guest room, don't you think?
This innovative chair / lounge chair by Karim Rashid, one of my very favorite furniture designers, is a great example of a piece that expands or contracts depending on how you need to use it at the moment. Much more sleek than a bulky recliner too!
Again from Karim Rashid, the "Blend" cabinet for Horm is practically a sculpture in its own right. When shopping for free-standing furniture, make sure you buy something beautiful! It will be that much nicer to keep your things tucked inside it.
Did somebody say "multi-tasking"? The Calypso Chair by designer Brandon Allen makes soccer moms look downright lazy. This is a love-seat with or without side tables, a two-seater with facing seats, a table and even a bed. Whew! Tires me out just thinking of the possibilities.
Well, I could just go on all day about this. It's so much fun to look at all the unique ways to create flexible space in our homes. If you need help putting together your environment, whether that's from floor to ceiling or you just need help pulling together what you already have ... give me a call today. I serve the Portland, Oregon area in person and offer "Virtual Design" via phone and email to almost anywhere. Call today at 503-816-4394, or view my website at Pangaea Interior Design, Model Home Decor and Home Staging.
See my related posts on Lofs & Open Plan Homes:
Defining Space, Not Dividing Space ...
Soaring Ceilings ... And What On Earth To Do With Them? ...
Living in a Fish Bowl ... Or, Floor to Ceiling Windows and What To Do With Them? ...
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