Gizmodo: space saver

Wall-Mounted Grill Saves Space, Probably Won't Burn Down Your House

Sean Fallon — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EDT

If you have a small deck, porch or patio, the Plek 66 offers charcoal grilling in a compact wall-mounted unit.

By the looks of things, you don't have a whole lot of surface area to cook—but the fact that the storage compartment below can hold around 100 pounds of ashes before cleaning is a big plus. There ialso a storage compartment for your utensils and the whole thing folds up into a lean box shape for additional space saving. And, most importantly, they also note that you can heat things up to 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit without reducing your home to a pile of smoldering rubble. No word on pricing unfortunately, but I wouldn't go trading in the Foreman just yet if you are on a budget. [Rocal via Appliancist via DVICE]

The Guitar Hanger For a Closet Full Of Axes

Sean Fallon — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:40:00 EDT

With all the money he saves on clothes, the Naked Cowboy can fill his closet full of guitars thanks to this hanger. And guitars never go out of style my friend. [Guitar Hanger via BBG]

Retromodo: Electrochef All-In-One Kitchen Circa 1920

Sean Fallon — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:20:00 EDT

Designing for small spaces certainly isn't new—take this Electrochef all-in-one kitchen from 1920. It featured an adjustable height oven, four-burner stove and a small storage space hidden below. [Dornob]

Isola S Turns Your Closet Into a Cocktail Lounge-Themed Kitchen

Elaine Chow — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:15:00 EST

Toyo Kitchen's Isola S, from its Nobody line, is my answer to remaining fashionable in the oncoming economic apocalypse. Sure, I can no longer afford a McMansion in an affluent suburb, but I can get a storage unit somewhere and host fancy, LED-lit cocktail parties with this adjustable kitchen contraption. Isola S fits three electric cooking rings, a sink and corrugated-bottom drawers into a configurable yin yang shape. Add this to other tiny living space solutions from Japan and you'll wonder why you ever thought you needed anything bigger to begin with. Price not yet available. [Dvice]

Sink-In-A-Drawer Is Space-Saving Optical Illusion

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EDT

A sink-in-a-drawer is a great idea, right up to the point when you realize what a bad idea it is. Sure, you know, makeshift loft studio in lower Manhattan, no room for toilet and sink in the bathroom—why not put it in a drawer, and slide it away when you're destined for the throne? But by now you already know the catch: Unless you have a nice little space-time fabric rip, you're going to be taking up floor space in the room adjacent to the bathroom, maybe a kitchen or a closet where small amounts of room are more cherished. Sure, some of you have unused dumbwaiter shafts that would be perfecto, but for the rest of us, the idea is just dumb. [Better Homes and Gardens via Apartment Therapy]

StairCASE's Bottom Shelves Keep Highest Books in Reach

Elaine Chow — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:30:00 EDT

It's no surprise that a dude who lives in a city of 18 million people would appreciate the need to conserve space. Shanghai-based artist Danny Kuo created the StairCASE, a bookcase where the shelves slide out to become a stairwell. We've seen the amalgamation of shelves and stairs before in London, but StairCASE can be put just about anywhere. The design lets you have a much taller bookshelf (most top out at roughly six feet to accommodate human height), or functions as a way to reach a lofted area for sleeping or storage. I could've used something like this in New York. [Danny Kuo via Craziest Gadgets]

Woon Box: A Toilet, Shower and Kitchen All-in-One

Sean Fallon — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT

I can't say that I would be thrilled about the idea of cooking in the same space that I shower and go to the bathroom, but the idea behind the Woon Box is sound. Basically, the Dutch designers at KAW envision the Woon Box as something like an elaborate port-a-potty. It features a shower, toilet and kitchen inside a relatively compact box that can be transported to areas in need of temporary facilities. I can also see something like this being popular with people who need to conserve space in small dwellings. It is an interesting idea, but that woman in the gallery is definitely not helping to sell the concept. [KAW via The Design Blog]

Badkamer: Save Bathroom Space With Fixtures That Slide on Rails

Sean Fallon — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:50:00 EDT

In a dwelling where space saving is of the utmost importance, the Badkamer concept could make a tremendous difference in a small bathroom. Essentially, the design would allow users to slide their fixtures out of the way on an abacus-like rail system that doubles as plumbing. Only the toilet would have to remain stationary because of its need for larger pipes—the shower, sink, mirror and cabinets could all be re-configured on a whim. Apparently, the design is so efficent that it can turn a 6 1/2 sq ft space into a fully functioning bathroom. A truly ingenious design that will undoubtedly find its way into some cramped urban homes in the near future.

[Bart Nijssen via The Design Blog]

Keep Fugly Surge Protectors Out of Sight and Mind With Bluelounge CableBox

Jack Loftus — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EDT

We've already seen what Bluelounge can do with a minimalist gadget charging station, but today they're tackling a different office obstacle with the CableBox: cords. If you haven't gone mostly wireless yet, this is a convenient way to store them. And on a personal note, this space saver also addresses an illogical fear of sticking an exposed toe into an outlet and electrocution. For $30, you get what amounts to a much prettier, much sturdier, shoe box with holes for your surge protectors. [Bluelounge]

Vertical Patio Transforms To Save Precious Outdoor Space

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:55:00 EDT

There is no doubt that the big trend right now in home design is about saving space. However, many of the designs we have seen in the past focus on the interior. The Vertical Patio from Pique Architecture takes the concept outdoors with a design that gets the most out of a small backyard using an elaborate fold away design.

The customer that commissioned the patio wanted to incorporate a grill patio, hot tub, changing room, dining table, bar, stool, reading area, and security gates into the design while still keeping things as open as possible. Amazingly enough, Pique managed to deliver—but I can't say that I would dig this massive wooden eyesore jutting out from the back of my house. [Pique via Dwell via Treehugger]

Transformer Sofa Magically Morphs into Bunk Bed

Charlie White — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:40:36 EDT

If a 400-square-foot apartment sounds big to you, you may be interested in this space-saving Doc XL sofa that can transform into a bunk bed in a flash. Pull up a certain area of the sofa and thar she blows—your sofa is suddenly a pair of bunk beds, complete with a ladder that helps you climb up on top. On the next page, check out a gallery of this transformer sofa in action.

[Furniture Fashion, via Bonbon Trading]

Belkin's Three Truly Awesome USB Hubs Clip and Swivel

kevinhall2 — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:45:11 EDT

Belkin's three new USB hub designs actually do something useful on top of hubbin'. From left to right, there's the Swivel Hub and the Clip-On Hub, both with a planned price tag of $30, and then the Hub-To-Go at $50.

The Swivel Hub has 4-ports and, well, swivels, allowing you to position as you please. Looks handy in a tight space. The 2-port Clip-On will attach to any desk, bar, or surface you can get it around, as long as it's thinner than 1.25 inches. Last up, the Hub-To-Go offers you seven additional ports, three of which you can take with you. Out in August, they aren't up on the Belkin site yet, so keep an eye out—or the shelves, these sweet units should really stick out. [Belkin via PC World]

Close Up Your Clothes with the Compact Wardrobe

Charlie White — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:29:41 EST

If space is as a premium, take a look at designer Naomi Dean s compact wardrobe, which has a two-piece split design that telescopes into itself, saving lots of space. Pull on the handle in front and there's a drawer in the bottom, shelf space in the middle and also behind the door, and a telescoping rack on which to hang your clothes on top.

Not only is it efficient, it's put together with fine craftsmanship. There's good reason why Dean's design was the hit of the Milan Furniture Fair 2005 and the Birmingham Furniture Show.

The Compact Wardrobe [The Cool Hunter]