Tag Archives: wooden

Top 10 Must-See Wooden Furniture For Your Home That Are Fresher & More Functional Than IKEA Products

Posted on by

Wood has been the material of choice for furniture designers for ages galore. And no wonder! There’s something about wood that instantly adds a sense of zen and calm to any living space it is placed into. It puts your mind at ease while managing to radiate a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It’s a minimal material that holds a strong personality without any additional frills and tassels. I truly believe a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces. Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps add the ultimate finishing touch to a room. We’ve curated a collection of wholesome wooden furniture designs for you – from a minimal stool inspired by chess pieces to a desk that transforms from a work of art into a functional table.

1. Flow Wall Desk

Dubbed the Flow Wall Desk, this unique and innovative furniture design is both decorative and functional while following a simple yet impressive design philosophy. It’s great for offices with space constraints and it is sustainable too!

Why is it noteworthy?

When the Flow Wall Desk is “stored” and folded away, it looks like a minimalist and interesting piece of art on your wall. And once you unfold it, it looks like a spiraling caterpillar and can then transform into a desk where you can work, read, or write in your journal.

What we like

  • Multifunctional and sustainable furniture design
  • Features a convenient and efficient flatpack form

What we dislike

  • Folding and unfolding the desk whenever you need to use it means we can’t have a constant setup, which may be a hassle for some people

2. The Snowhouse Sofa

The Snowhouse Sofa is a pretty interesting furniture design for pets and humans! It is what a wooden sofa would look like if it experienced some snowfall, and was coated with a soft and subtle layer of snow.

Why is it noteworthy?

The wood is covered with cushy white cushions to give the idyllic impression of fallen snow. The edges are rounded, adding a depth of softness to the furniture piece. The ends of the sofa are hollow, with nifty little spaces to store books, magazines, and other miscellaneous items.

What we like

  • The spaces on top function as passages for your cats
  • Integrated with smart storage space

What we dislike

  • The Snowhouse Sofa is currently a concept, so we don’t know how the actual product will turn out to be

3. Kainchee

Dubbed Kainchee, which means scissor in the Hindi language, this unique chair design does look like a pair of scissors, doing full justice to its interesting name.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair does look like two pairs of scissors, from the bottom half at least. The star feature of the chair is its intertwining and geometrically intriguing form. A band of walnut wood forms the seat of the chair, while subtly interlocking with the ash wood to form the legs of the chair.

What we like

  • Unique form and design philosophy make it stand apart from other furniture designs

What we dislike

It’s still a concept, so we don’t know how ergonomic or practical the final product will be

4. The Altitude Shelf

The Altitude Shelf is a new line of shelving by Evan Clabots that is inspired by clean lines and the minimal form of traditional Japanese woodworking.

Why is it noteworthy?

Although inspired by Japanese furniture, we can see bits of traditional Danish furniture in the piece as well. The shelving design is marked by clean minimal lines and no back panels which ensures that the design is open, airy, and free-flowing.

What we like

  • Modular design inspired by Japanese and Danish furniture

What we dislike

  • Bulky space-consuming design

5. The Rook Stool

Called the Rook Stool, this intriguing stool design by Ross Gardam is inspired by chess pieces and has quite a few similarities to them as well.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer drew references from the shapes of decorative wooden chess pieces for the Rook Stool. The stool utilizes simple elements that have been placed at unusual but intriguing angles and intersections to create a sculptural appeal.

What we like

  • Inspired by chess pieces
  • Available in three types of solid wood

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t look too comfortable to sit on for long durations of time

6. Ash Furniture Collection

London-based social enterprise Goldfinger recently unveiled its Tate Modern furniture collection which was built from fallen trees at the London Design Festival. The furniture pieces were created for the Gallery’s Corner Cafe.

Why is it noteworthy?

The collection includes a dining table, bench, and stool. The pieces were built using fallen ash trees, in turn celebrating the delicate and elegant beauty of native British wood.

What we like

  • The timber used to build the collection would have otherwise been destroyed

What we dislike

  • Not a lot of scope and options for customization

7. The Cubicle

Dubbed the Cubicle, this intriguing “bench and wall system” is designed to stimulate the experience of working with your back to the wall in spacious open-plan workspaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is designed to replicate and mimic the particular qualities that people seek while searching for seats in an open indoor workspace like a library or a co-working space. It perfectly simulates this very specific experience!

What we like

  • Available in different variations, but the main essence and functionality of the design is retained
  • Built using as few materials as possible, but still maintaining functionality

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming bulky design, suitable for larger and open spaces only, hence making it a limited design

8. The Peel Chair

Designed by London-base Blond, the Peel Chair is a perfect encapsulation of the firm’s design philosophy which centers around creating simple yet ingenious designs that offer solutions to complex modern-day problems.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Peel Chair is inspired by the natural process of bark peeling from trees. It draws inspiration from this natural phenomenon, while simultaneously channeling the timeless elegance and aesthetic of modernist Marcel Breuer’s plywood furniture.

What we like

  • Provides enhanced comfort and back support

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t seem like an extremely comfy seating option for longer durations of time

9. The Work Series II Table

The Work Series II Table is a long and minimal table built by the British furniture brand Another Country, by merging timber and recycled plastic, to create more sustainable products for offices.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Work Series II table is a thoughtfully designed furniture piece equipped with a frame made from eucalyptus wood. A tabletop insert made entirely from recycled yogurt pots by Welsh manufacturer Smile Plastics is fitted into the wooden frame.

What we like

  • Sustainable + eco-friendly design built using recycled and renewable materials

What we dislike

  • Large and long design that will not work/fit well in smaller office spaces
  • No option for personal customization

10. The KNOT Stool

Called the KNOT Stool, this uniquely designed stool is flat all around and is made up of various layers of wood, which provides the stool with a raw and brutalist aesthetic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three wooden pieces can be painted in the same or different colors. The decorative webbing strap that wraps around the top of the stool’s legs can also come in complementing or contrasting colors, not to mention being made of different materials.

What we like

  • Adds a whimsical + fun element to your interiors
  • Clean, minimal, and compact design

What we dislike

  • Seems to be designed more for viewing rather than sitting

The post Top 10 Must-See Wooden Furniture For Your Home That Are Fresher & More Functional Than IKEA Products first appeared on Yanko Design.

This beautiful adjustable side table was made for accessibility and uses reclaimed wood

Posted on by

We’ve seen no small number of furniture here a Yanko Design covering a wide range of materials, shapes, and functions. While these designs try to cater to as many people as possible, few of them address one specific but very important use case. The word “accessibility” isn’t often used when it comes to furniture, mostly because of the stigma the term has in relation to sterile and clinical designs found in hospitals. That’s not to say, however, that these don’t serve a purpose outside of medical facilities, only that their aesthetics are a poor fit in homes and residences. The answer is not to shy away from these products but to shed new light on them, just like this handsome wooden side table that is actually an over-couch or overbed table that you see beside hospital beds.

Designer: Capella

The interesting thing about accessibility is that even though it’s sometimes seen as a burden on designers, it actually benefits more than just people with disabilities. Software gets new features that can be utilized by power users, and physical products gain capabilities or parts that wouldn’t be there otherwise. When it comes to furniture, however, accessibility suffers from the association with hospital equipment whose designs are driven by very different requirements from home use. Fortunately, all it takes is some creative thinking and smart use of materials to reshape one such common piece of furniture in order to benefit anyone at home, especially those who have poor mobility.

The Corbal Side Table looks like any other wood and metal shelf, albeit one that can easily be attached to the side of a couch or a bed. Its secret, however, is that the tabletop can actually swivel around, putting that surface right in front of the person sitting or lying down. It’s a kind of function commonly found in overbed tables in hospitals to help patients eat without leaving their beds. Corbal offers the same convenience for eating, working, or any other activity, all from the comfort of one’s home.

The side table definitely doesn’t look like any piece of hospital furniture because of its modern design utilizing finished solid wood and matte black steel supports. At the same time, it isn’t like any normal overbed table either, because of the feet that can be hidden under the bed or couch to provide stability, especially when swinging the height-adjustable tray. It looks like a perfect match for any home interior without giving away its clinical inspiration.

As if its features weren’t impressive enough, the Corbal Side Table has an equally interesting origin story to tell. It is made from vintage and reclaimed wood, specifically mahogany, giving it a sustainable and environment-friendly character as well. All in all, it’s a design that benefits not only those who are in need of accessible furniture at home but practically everyone else as well, and that includes even the planet.

The post This beautiful adjustable side table was made for accessibility and uses reclaimed wood first appeared on Yanko Design.

This space-saving sideboard transforms into a dining table complete with chairs

Posted on by

Although work and schools have more or less returned to normal face-to-face arrangements, our homes have forever been changed by the events of the past three years. We’ve come to realize how precious space is and how little we might have of it, forcing many to reorganize and redesign their homes to accommodate changing needs and circumstances. Multi-functional and transforming furniture have become popular because of this, especially those that can serve as a work desk from time to time. There are many variations available, stretching the creativity and imagination of designers, but this rather intriguing sideboard cabinet gets extra points for having a design that not only incorporates different use cases but even includes four chairs in its shape-shifting transformation.

Designer: Jason Han (SPS Furniture)

This piece of furniture immediately attracts attention even in its folded-up state, thanks to its almost anthropomorphic design that gives the sideboard a cute face and tiny arms on its sides. The wooden piece wouldn’t look out of place as a part of the cast in Beauty and the Beast, especially considering how lively it can be once you start unfolding parts here and there. But even in this form, it already serves a functional purpose, with drawers and internal shelves that can hide almost anything you need, from containers to tools.

Fold that face down and you get a square desk on two legs that you can use for an ad hoc workspace. In fact, the sideboard can serve a purely office-oriented purpose, holding office supplies, stationery, books, and whatnot, all within easy reach but out of sight once the day’s work is done. That said, that might be limiting its use too much since you can extend the front edge of that desk and unfold the top to reveal a longer, rectangular table that can comfortably sit three to four people around its three open sides.

Sitting won’t be a problem either, which is where this sideboard’s ingenuity comes into play. Open its sides, the one with bent arms, and you’ll have access to storage that can fit four foldable wooden chairs. It’s practically a complete and self-sufficient package for any kind of home use, including storage space, desk space, and chairs. A dining table is the most immediate function that comes to mind, but it can also be used for work, playing, and any other activity that doesn’t need a lot of horizontal space.

The wooden sideboard is a good example of how furniture designs have become a bit more clever in light of the changing situations at home. Its multifunctional transforming form remains useful even long after work-from-home arrangements have stopped for some. It is also a great way to add some character to a space just by standing there, thanks to its rather whimsical face that almost invites you to play with it and discover its hidden treasures.

The post This space-saving sideboard transforms into a dining table complete with chairs first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Wooden Furniture Designs To Create The Ideal Minimal + Warm Living Setup

Posted on by

Wood has been the material of choice for furniture designers for ages galore. And no wonder! There’s something about wood that instantly adds a sense of zen and calm to any living space it is placed into. It puts your mind at ease, while managing to radiate a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It’s a minimal material that holds a strong personality without any additional frills and tassels. And I truly believe a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces. Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps add the ultimate finishing touch to a room. And we’ve curated a collection of wholesome wooden furniture designs for you – from a minimal stool inspired by chess pieces to a desk that transforms from a work of art into a functional table.

1. The Flow Wall Desk

This innovative and mesmerizing piece of furniture is called the Flow Wall Desk, and it’s an excellent choice of office furniture for smaller spaces. It is both functional and decorative while maintaining a simple design philosophy. It is sustainable too!

Why is it noteworthy?

When the Flow Wall Desk is “stored” and folded away, it looks like a minimalist and interesting piece of art on your wall. And once you unfold it, it looks like a spiraling caterpillar and can then transform into a desk where you can work, read, or write in your journal.

What we like

  • Multifunctional design
  • Sustainable design
  • Features a flatpack form

What we dislike

  • Folding and unfolding the desk whenever you need to use it means we can’t have a constant setup

2. The Rook Stool

The Rook stool is quite an interesting stool design by Ross Gardam, and it is inspired by chess pieces! If you look at the stool closely enough, you’ll find interesting similarities to the pieces you find on a chess board.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer drew references from the shapes of decorative wooden chess pieces for the Rook Stool. The stool utilizes simple elements that have been placed at unusual but intriguing angles and intersections to create a sculptural appeal.

What we like

  • Inspired by chess pieces
  • Available in three types of solid wood

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t look too comfortable to sit on for long durations of time

3. The Nice Chair

This rather unique-looking chair is called the Nice Chair, and it is designed to be a disassembled chair. In a day and age, where space-consuming furniture is a complete mismatch for our modern-day apartments, the Nice Chair is created to occupy minimum space and assemble and disassemble with ease.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Nice Chair can function as an ordinary chair to sit on, or as a rocker that moves back and forth. The rounded bottom edges of the chair enable it to rock back and forth, creating a mesmerizing lull that can guide anyone to sleep. You can also slide a tabletop between the ridges on the arms of the chair, to convert it into a workspace.

What we like

  • Multifunctional furniture design that can switch between two different modes

What we dislike

  • There is no way to stop the chair from rocking while working

4. The Cubicle

Designed by Form Us With Love and + Halle, the Cubicle is an interesting “bench and wall system” designed to simulate the experience of working with your back to the wall in open-plan workspaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is designed to replicate and mimic the particular qualities that people seek while searching for seats in an open indoor workspace like a library or a co-working space. It perfectly simulates this very specific experience!

What we like

  • Available in different variations, but the main essence of the design is maintained
  • Built using as few materials as possible

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming bulky design, suitable for larger and open spaces only, hence making it a limited design

5. The Work Series II Table

The Work Series II Table is a long and minimal table built by the British furniture brand Another Country, by merging timber and recycled plastic, to create more sustainable products for offices.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Work Series II table is a thoughtfully-designed furniture piece equipped with a frame made from eucalyptus wood. A tabletop insert made entirely from recycled yogurt pots by Welsh manufacturer Smile Plastics is fitted into the wooden frame.

What we like

  • Sustainable + eco-friendly design built using recycled and renewable materials

What we dislike

  • Large and long design that will not work/fit well in smaller office spaces
  • No option for personal customization

6. The KNOT Stool

This uniquely designed and good-looking stool is called the KNOT Stool, and it is flat all around with neither a curved surface nor a corner. Various layers of wood were used to make up all its parts, imparting the stool with a brutalist aesthetic that is toned down because of the painted surfaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three wooden pieces can be painted in the same or different colors. The decorative webbing strap that wraps around the top of the stool’s legs can also come in complementing or contrasting colors, not to mention being made of different materials.

What we like

  • Adds a whimsical + fun element to your interiors
  • Clean, minimal, and compact design

What we dislike

  • Seems to be designed more for viewing rather than sitting

7. The Alcântara Chair

The Alcântara Chair was designed by Álvaro Siza for the Portuguese brand MOR, and it displays the beauty and practicality of plywood, which is often considered a simple material, and not given much attention to after a certain point.

Why is it noteworthy?

With the Alcântara Chair, Siza wanted to shine a light on this material’s simplistic and sheer beauty. The chair is made up of slim planks of plywood that have been arranged perpendicularly to form a seat, armrests, and backrest.

What we like

  • Showcases the beauty of plywood
  • Made from plywood which is a sustainable material

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the chair are a bit boxy and boring

8. Eclipse

This rather intriguing-looking chair is almost skin and bones, and it has a lightweight form that evokes a sense of lightness in whoever views it. But at the same time, it functions as a stable seating platform, which invites you to sit and relax on it.

Why is it noteworthy?

This mesmerizing chair is built using rattan wood, creating a decorative yet functional furniture design. Called Eclipse, the chair has a unique and unconventional design, which sets it apart from other boring chairs on the market. Two vertical circles arch over the seated person, making it a design that serves more than just an aesthetic purpose.

What we like

  • Made from rattan wood
  • Designed to be a thinking chair, that inspires you to indulge in deeper thoughts

What we dislike

  • Probably wouldn’t survive too long outdoors given its wooden construction and very minimal protection from both sun and rain

9. Live Edge

This collection of storage furniture is called Live Edge, and it was designed by Beomsuk Ko in an effort to celebrate the natural grain of the wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

The furniture collection includes a glass cabinet, a walnut TV stand, and a freestanding shelving unit. All the pieces in the collection are beautifully designed with a minimal yet attention-grabbing appearance.

What we like

  • The front panels of the stand truly allow the natural grain of the walnut wood to shine through
  • A beautiful celebration of the natural texture of wood

What we dislike

  • Large, bulky, and space-consuming pieces not suited for smaller homes

10. The Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk Pro

The Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk Pro can be assembled and disassembled within seconds. It is a unique furniture design built from walnut, birch, or black wood, and is ideal for those who work from home in small office spaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk Pro weighs only 13 lbs and is a brilliant product for traveling or setting up without any assistance. You can utilize the desk to work, play board games, or as a permanent fixture in your house.

What we like

  • You can adjust the angle of the desk to flat or at an incline to maximize comfort

What we dislike

  • Not a very aesthetically pleasing design

The post Top 10 Wooden Furniture Designs To Create The Ideal Minimal + Warm Living Setup first appeared on Yanko Design.

This wooden chair uses a geometric trick to draw you into its open embrace

Posted on by

We’ve seen quite a number of chair designs that revolve around wood, a material favored for its natural beauty and sustainability. Most of these involve very hard and solid types of wood like oak, exactly because they are both actually solid and give off the impression of stability. Of course, those aren’t the only types of wood that you can use for furniture, nor do chairs have to look mighty and grand all the time. Take this distinctive-looking chair, for example, one that is almost just “skin and bones,” so to speak. It evokes a sense of lightness and it is also quite lightweight, while still providing a stable seating platform whose very shape seems to invite you to sit and relax under the open skies.

Designer: Anne Brandhøj

Rattan wood is perhaps better known as a type of material that’s woven to create a more decorative surface or to wrap around different parts of a whole. While that’s definitely a good use for it, it isn’t the only use case, either. The rattan stem can also be used as the foundation and skeleton of a piece of furniture, which is what this rattan chair attempts to do. Thankfully, the flexible nature of the material made it easy to bend the solid length of wood into a circular form, something that’s less trivial to accomplish with hardwood.

Beyond the creative use of rattan for almost the entirety of the chair, Eclipse’s biggest pull is its unique and unconventional design. The base and seat itself are nothing but an open box with strips of rattan wrapped around the front and back, leaving the sides open for both viewing and potentially for storage. The most iconic parts, however, are the two vertical circles that arch over the seated person, a design that serves more than just an aesthetic purpose.

Visually, the circles frame the person seating inside, drawing attention to them. The rear circle is also smaller than the front, creating an almost conical shape that tries to draw you into the chair. The circles also make it seem like the open sky is reaching down to embrace whoever is sitting below. The open design, joined by sparse patches of rattan wrapping, provides a more peaceful and inviting atmosphere compared to a full cover that provides more shade but also overshadows the person.

The Eclipse was conceived as a sort of “thinking chair,” one that aims to inspire the mind into deeper thoughts with the open sky and wide areas as the backdrop. Almost ironically, this kind of chair probably wouldn’t survive too long outdoors given its wooden construction and very minimal protection from both sun and rain. It still has that welcoming and relaxing effect indoors, though, especially when used in open or large spaces. Regardless of where it’s placed, it will easily call attention to itself, despite barely having any meat on its body, so to speak.

The post This wooden chair uses a geometric trick to draw you into its open embrace first appeared on Yanko Design.

This majestic chair of wood and glass will make you feel like a ruler of the cosmos

Posted on by

Chairs are among the most common pieces of furniture in the world today, and it is often associated with a state of being at rest, whether you’re just lounging or working at your desk. Some, however, see the chair as one of the most common colonial typologies in the world, regardless of the culture or location. Chairs inevitably become thrones of some sort, whether it’s the seat of an actual leader or a figurative master of one’s house or time. This rather distinctive chair sits in the middle, pardon the pun, providing a seat that anyone can use yet bears a regal and exquisite design that enthrones you in the center of the universe on a microcosmic level.

Designer: Peter Minsoub Sim

At the very first glance, you are greeted by a chair with an almost overpowering presence despite its use of humble hardwood maple. The chair itself is already full of intricate designs, but the cobalt blue glass spheres that extend from the armrests and the glass stars that line the halo of the backrest add even more eye-catching accents that contrast with earthy tones, and the rough, opaque surfaces of the wooden parts. This is clearly not your average chair, nor is it meant to be. As its name suggests, it’s designed to reflect the universe.

As they say, the devil is in the details, and the COSMOS chair definitely has plenty of them, some more difficult to see unless you squint your eyes. The minuscule brass birds perched on top of the branches that make the seat’s skeleton, as well as the wooden fish hanging below the seat, are almost completely hidden from view but represent the fauna that exists above and below. There is even a small figure hidden inside the mesh of the handcrafted sunflower in the middle of the seat, a 3D-printed avatar of the designer himself.

While some of those intricate design details are ornamental, others also serve a functional purpose. The small flowers in the side frames, for example, mask the joinery but at the same time also allow you to take a closer peek into that same joinery through the flowers’ meshes. On the other hand, some of the resulting imagery is purely accidental. That the halo of stars around the sun would actually make the chair look more like a throne was apparently not an intentional decision.

The COSMOS chair’s distinctive yet unorthodox design is intended to be a thought-provoking piece, both through its appearance as well as its story. Assembled from 400 unique pieces, the chair combines the best of digital and analog craftsmanship. It is also meant to challenge the dominant design trends of the times, neither minimalist nor maximalist, filled with complex details that serve functional purposes. It is meant to symbolize the connection between objects and man, creating a small version of the universe for the person to enjoy and reflect on.

The post This majestic chair of wood and glass will make you feel like a ruler of the cosmos first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 wooden furniture designs to elevate your home with some warm minimalism

Posted on by

Wood has been the material of choice for furniture designers since ages galore. And no wonder! There’s something about wood that instantly adds a sense of zen and calm to any living space it is placed into. It puts your mind at ease, while managing to radiate a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It’s a minimal material that holds a strong personality without any additional frills and tassles. And I truly believe a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces. Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps add the ultimate finishing touch to a room. And we’ve curated a collection of wholesome wooden furniture designs for you – from a minimalist stool that combines wood and webbing to a table that is the physical manifestation of a wormhole in the form of furniture!

1. The KNOT Stool

The KNOT Stool is a uniquely designed stool that is flat all around, equipped with neither a curved surface nor corner. You can observe the various layers of wood that makeup all its parts, providing the stool with a rather brutalist aesthetic that is toned down because of the painted surfaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three wooden pieces can be painted in the same or different colors. The decorative webbing strap that wraps around the top of the stool’s legs can also come in complementing or contrasting colors, not to mention being made of different materials.

What we like

  • Adds a whimsical + fun element to your interiors
  • Clean and minimal design

What we dislike

  • Seems to be designed more for viewing rather than sitting

2. Wormhole Coffee Table

Designed by Olivier Gomis, this mind-blowing coffee table is an ingenious effort to convert the hypothetical wormhole into a physical manifestation. Wormholes can hypothetically connect two disparate points in spacetime via a tunnel, and Gomis brings this concept to reality through this table.

Why is it noteworthy?

The shape of a table is already quite eye-catching on its own. It’s almost like a wooden plank that has been bent so that the two ends are on top of each other and then joined together by a double cone. These are then glued together with sheets of maple veneer in between, which give the appearance of those faint light lines that form the grid.

What we like

  • A lamp was installed in the center of the hole, giving the table an eerie appearance in the dark

What we dislike

  • The inward curving section provides a risk for products that could roll inside and get stuck like a marble or a coin

3. Live Edge Collection

Beomsuk Ko designed a beautiful collection of storage furniture called Live Edge. The furniture pieces celebrate the natural grain of wood and were designed by Ko for Kobeomsuk Furniture, the South Korean furniture brand of which he is the founder.

Why is it noteworthy?

The furniture collection includes a glass cabinet, a walnut TV stand, and a freestanding shelving unit. All the pieces in the collection are beautifully designed with a minimal yet attention-grabbing appearance.

What we like

  • The front panels of the stand truly allow the natural grain of the walnut wood to shine through
  • It is a true celebration of the natural texture of wood

What we dislike

  • Large, bulky, and space-consuming pieces

4. The Centenniale Coffee Table

Designed by architect and designer Joanna Laajisto for the Finnish brand Nikari, the Centenniale coffee table is a sturdy and minimal coffee table built using 100-year-old wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

The coffee table was designed by embracing the cracks and imperfections of the old timber. The entire coffee table was constructed from a single piece of wood, and it features a sharp-edged and elongated tabletop that is supported by blocky and chonky legs with rounded edges.

What we like

  • The different elements of the table beautifully showcase the unique and versatile variations and textures in the timber

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a tad bit simple and unassuming

5. The Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk Pro

Built from walnut, birch, or black wood, the Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk Pro can be assembled and disassembled within seconds, and it’s great for working from home in small office spaces. It allows you to work anywhere, anytime!

Why is it noteworthy?

The desk weighs only 13 lbs, and it’s an excellent product for traveling or setting up without any assistance. You can use it to work, play board games, or as a more permanent fixture in your home.

What we like

  • You can adjust the angle of the desk to flat or at an incline to maximize comfort

What we dislike

  • Not a very aesthetically pleasing design

6. The Loop Chair

Designed by Annabella Hevesi, the Loop Chair is the kind of straightforward and simple furniture piece that instantly makes you fall in love with it, because of how minimally and cleanly it is designed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Built using wood, the Loop Chair has a traditional and archetypical character accentuated with tricky and progressive details that lend an air of character to it. The form of the chair follows a trapezoidal shape elevated by smooth ellipsoid curves, creating a furniture piece that is visually and geometrically intriguing.

What we like

  • The surface of the chair is exceedingly soft, while the edges and curves are pretty sharp, creating an interesting contrast, that builds the character of the chair even further

What we dislike

  • From afar, the Loop Chair looks like any other simple wooden chair

7. Allieva

Whynot Design designed the Allieva desk for Foppapedretti – one of the most well-known Italian brands for baby products and wooden furniture since 1945. The Allieve Desk is a foldable wooden workstation that meets the ever-growing need for compact and functional furniture designs in our modern homes.

Why is it noteworthy?

This sleek, foldable work desk is meant to fit in any space, making it perfect for small houses and dorm rooms. Despite compromising on size, Allieva is aesthetically pleasing. It takes up as little space as possible and measures only 7 inches deep when folded.

What we like

  • The workstation can be set up easily with a simple gesture
  • Comes with a large compartment at the base of the table that allows you to keep everything

What we dislike

  • The folding and unfolding mechanism could be considered tedious by some

8. The Arqus Desk

The Arqus Desk was designed by the Italian studio Orlandini Design for Narbutas. It is a part of the Arqus collection and is designed to be a counterpart or lighter replacement to the heavy and bulky furniture designs we find in modern corporate offices.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Arqus Desk is marked by light lines and distinctive metal legs and showcases a lighter and subtler type of furnishing in office spaces.

What we like

  • The “expressive” metal legs and the optionally asymmetrical desktop shape signify and capture the manager’s ability to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances

What we dislike

  • Despite being designed to a be softer and lighter piece of furniture, it does seem to be quite a space-consuming piece

9. The Nodding Chair

I love cozying up with a good old book; however, sitting in one position and reading for hours on end can be a curse for my back. Hence this unique product concept was created to function as the perfect chair for bookworms!

Why is it noteworthy?

While rocking chairs are good for relaxation, they’re not always good for floors and, if you’re like me, for our eyes and peace of mind. The designer thought of a new way to have a chair that can be comfortable and still let your body have its range of natural motion while reading, resting, or even writing (if you’re used to that). The Nodding Chair can be tilted forward and backward, letting you make smaller movements that won’t make you too nauseous.

What we like

  • Creates less pressure on the floor so you won’t get marks and scratches
  • Allows the chair to move with you as you occasionally change positions while reading

What we dislike

  • The seat itself doesn’t seem to be that comfortable as it’s just plain wood and there’s no cushion
  • Not everyone may consider the chair comfortable

10. The Fortune Chair

Designed by Hyeyoung Han and Hanyoung Lee, the Fortune Chair is really a mix between a bean bag, chair, and a pod, and it also happens to look like a fortune cookie.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair includes a fortune cookie-inspired wooden outer wall, which functions as a covering frame that surrounds the user. This outer wall creates a cozy, comfortable, and private space for the user to sit in.

What we like

  • Irrespective if you’re working in a corporate office or at home, the Fortune Chair functions as a little oasis for you to work in peace, much like the office pods we find today in commercial offices

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how comfy it would be to sit for long periods of time

The post Top 10 wooden furniture designs to elevate your home with some warm minimalism first appeared on Yanko Design.

This minimalist sofa is easy to repair, so you can pass it on as an heirloom

Posted on by

Once upon a time, furniture was seen as more than just functional objects inside a house but also as heirlooms to be passed from generation to generation. That’s not only because of their ornate designs or luxurious materials but also because of the craftsmanship and longevity of these products. Mass-produced furniture these days has nothing on their ancestors, though, especially since they seem to be made to be short-lived in order to encourage buying new ones every so often. Then again, those elaborate pieces of furniture aren’t completely sustainable either, especially when they become completely useless when a single part or section gets broken. These qualities, however, don’t need to be mutually exclusive, and this simple yet stylish sofa tries to prove that by presenting a design that’s not only elegant but also long-lasting, even when parts of it need to be replaced.

Designer: Anderssen & Voll for Takt

Conventional sofas seem to be designed to be wasteful. Even those flat-packed minimalist pieces reach their ends early the moment a leg, backrest, or even cushion becomes unusable. They may come in distinct parts, but those parts are not easily replaceable when, not if, they need to be repaired or replaced completely.

The Spoke Sofa tries to provide an answer to the problem with a design that’s thoughtful, beautiful, and sustainable down to the smallest details. The parts used, for example, are made from recycled or recyclable materials that don’t compromise the product’s durability, integrity, and comfort. Of course, the processes are sustainable as well, like how the wood is treated with environment-friendly substances like pure oil or water-based lacquer that also let the surfaces develop unique patinas over time.

More importantly, every part of the Spoke Sofa is not only built to last but also built to be easily replaced. Even upholstery can be removed easily for cleaning, encouraging owners to take better care of the sofa. Replacement parts and upholstery will also be sold, so you don’t have to go out of your way to make your own wooden pieces to replace broken ones.

This sustainable sofa is designed to last almost forever, and that applies to its timeless aesthetic as well. Its minimalist appearance and functional form ensure that it will remain relevant, no matter the trend or time. And even if design tastes change, the Spoke Sofa’s modern style will remain a beautiful example of this era’s culture, turning it into an heirloom that doesn’t lose its usability, no matter how many generations it passes through.

The post This minimalist sofa is easy to repair, so you can pass it on as an heirloom first appeared on Yanko Design.

10 wooden homes every architecture enthusiast would want to move into today

Posted on by

There’s something about wooden architecture that is simply so humble and endearing. Wood has been a material of choice for construction for ages galore. Wood ages beautifully – anything built with wood will retain the character of your house. And it also manages to incorporate an aura of warmth and serenity within the living space. The rustic and homely appeal of a wooden space instantly makes you feel at ease and welcome. It’s a material of choice that has stood strong through the ages and continues to do so. Whether modern or traditional, wood can be bent and molded to create a living space of your choice and style. From a timber net-zero home to the world’s first 3D-printed home that happens to be wooden – this collection of architectural designs will leave you mesmerized and completely in awe of the wonderful yet simple material that is wood!

1. BioHome3D

The world’s first 3D-printed home built entirely from bio-based materials such as wood flour or fine sawdust, mixed with a binder made from corn was created by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composite Center (ASCC). It is called the BioHome3D, and was specially designed to resolve labor supply chain issues that elevate the costs of homes and reduce the availability of affordable housing.

Why is it noteworthy?

The technology used to build the BioHome3D ensures that the home is primarily manufactured off-site using automation, which leads to less time for off-site3 building and setting up the home.

What we like

  • Tackles the issue of labor shortage and supply issue
  • 3D-printed

What we dislike

  • No roof space to allow for vertical growth

2. The New Forest House

PAD studio has been conducting a study on the New Forest House in the New Forest National Park for the past 10 years. It has been looking into the true environmental impact of low-energy homes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The building was carefully constructed to ensure that minimal disturbance was caused to the surrounding site, as well as the site’s sensitive landscape. The residence features the main house and a guest annex.

What we like

  • The New Forest House is a 97% less expensive house to run as compared to a house built in accordance with 2021 building standards
  •  The house utilizes 110% less energy as compared to a home powered by gas

What we dislike

  • The glass pane walls means there is a low privacy/security in the main house.

3. Algonquin Highlands Cottage

Located on an island peninsula in the lake of Algonquin Highlands is an idyllic wooden cottage built by BLDG Workshop. The lovely cottage has a view of the rocky outcrops and shorelines of the Great Canadian Shield and makes for a picturesque getaway location.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cottage was constructed while paying special attention to the relationship between indoor and outdoor space, and the natural landscape of Ontario. The natural elements of the site were amplified and elevated – for example, the sun patterns on the peninsula since they are related to the morning and evening light.

What we like

  • The studio incorporated a large indoor-outdoor space at the front peak of the home, which overlooks the lake and the stunning landscape

What we dislike

  • The location of the cottage is a bit remote, making it difficult to access.

4. Villa of the Star

Located in the Dalat pine forest, Vietnam is a beautiful resort space called Villa of the Star. Design practice APS Concept renovated the space and built the house while focusing on three essential and main factors – connectivity, locality, and sustainability.

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique residence merges perfectly with the forest surrounding it, building a serene human-nature connection. The structure is built using a variety of locally sourced materials, such as stone, pine wood, concrete, steel, and bricks.

What we like

  • The material that was selected by the design team for the home is ‘modified pine wood’. Modified pine wood is popular for its moisture resistance, mildew resistance, termite resistance, heat resistance, stability, durability, and environmental friendliness

What we dislike

  • The open terrace/balcony space would benefit from an optional expandable roof for days with heavy rains

5. McGee’s Tiny Home

This lovely little home is located at the bottom of a rocky hillside and is surrounded by cypress trees and buchus. The tiny wooden cabin overlooks the Muizenberg, one of Cape Town’s best-known surfing spots, and occupies 390-square-foot of space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stunning view can be enjoyed owing to the windows seat that has been added to the space. It was designed by architect Alexander McGee and is located next to his South African home.

What we like

  •  No gutters have been added to the roof, and this allows McGee and his family to watch the rainwater run off the roof from different angles

What we dislike

  • The home isn’t sufficient or big enough for larger families

6. The Water Cabin

The Water Cabin is a floating home in Seattle’s Portage Bay that maintains the houseboat’s classic nautical personality and the weathered coziness of a cabin.

Why is it noteworthy?

Defined by a geometric silhouette that exhibits Kundig’s classic style, the Water Cabin’s frame is supported by galvanized steel structures that cradle spacious roof planes and wooden decks. Building the Water Cabin, Olson Kundig and their client hoped to blend interior and exterior spaces throughout the home. Arranged over two levels, the home’s interior spaces are specifically configured to maximize connections to the marine environment.

What we like

  • Russian birch plywood ceilings line each room overhead, capturing the natural sunlight of the day and brightening the home
  • Large roof overhangs protect the patio’s wood from seasonal elements

What we dislike

  • Only a hidden Murphy bed functions as the home’s guest room

7. Halfmoon Bay Cabin

Designed by Patrick Warren and his husband Kevin Kaufman, this angular black cabin is called the Halfmoon Bay Cabin and is tucked away on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. The cabin is nestled away between trees and gracefully merges into the landscape.

Why is it noteworthy?

The home is defined by a covered entry, spacious living space, a steeply sloping roof, and massive floor-to-ceiling windows that create a connection between the indoors and the outdoors.

What we like

  • The beautiful home is inspired by American coastal architecture of the 1970s, like those found on Fire Island in New York and Sea Ranch in Northern California

What we dislike

  • The sloping roof of the design makes it difficult to expand the house.

8. Find Sanctuary

Designed by Charlie Hammon, the Find Sanctuary is designed to provide some peace of mind and a safe space for frazzled workers. The cozy and lovely home serves as an oasis for overworked employees who need some downtime, and space to unwind.

Why is it noteworthy?

Hammond then brought to life his idea, ‘Find Sanctuary’. Find Sanctuary is a renewed and revamped version of remote working. It includes a collection of 40 tiny cabins in Big Bear, California that can be rented, providing exhausted employees with an opportunity to work in a peaceful environment and regain some of their composure.

What we like

  • Amped with stunning views of the surrounding mountains
  • The wooden cabin has been equipped with high-speed WiFi, and a built-in desk with a stunning view as well, to make your workday efficient and serene

What we dislike

  • It’s not released yet!

9. Adraga

Called Adraga, the tiny home features an array of sustainability elements including solar panels, rainwater collection, and composting garden beds. As part of a larger series of tiny home on wheels, Adraga is home to a retired couple who just want to disconnect from the busyness of the world.

Why is it noteworthy?

Looking at Adraga from the outside, its unstained pinewood facades invoke simplicity. Defined by a rectangular, flat-roofed silhouette, the team at Madeiguincho found movement through windows and doors. On one end of the tiny home, a single, farmhouse-style door welcomes residents into the home’s subdued bathroom. There, against the soothing backdrop of walnut wood panels, residents can enjoy a semi-outdoor shower atop wooden floor slats.

What we like

  • The layout of Adraga is designed to optimize the available floor space
  • Incorporated with various off-grid elements

What we dislike

  • In the bathroom, a dry toilet operates without flush water and closes the waste loop – but not everyone may be comfortable with using it

10. The Climber’s Cabin

The Climbers Cabin Designers

The Climbers Cabin

We have seen several interesting units, but we believe more well-designed cabins will be introduced. The latest on our radar is The Climber’s Cabin by AR Design Studio. As described, its primary purpose is as a space for children and as a guest cabin for when you want to entertain friends and family.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Climber’s Cabin is situated near a stream and a woodland, adding to the adventure experience. The initial plan for the cabin was for it to function as an ancillary space for the client’s house. The idea was that the cabin would be built quickly without any complex construction methods. Every step was supposed to be straightforward, so anyone could easily understand and follow. Construction should also be done using sustainable materials sourced locally. The project was actually born during those early months of lockdowns due to the pandemic.

What we like

  • The A-shaped roof was optimized to allow a mezzanine
  • Inside The Climber’s Cabin, interior finishes are made of used and upcycled boards

What we dislike

  • The exterior comes in one style, not customizable

The post 10 wooden homes every architecture enthusiast would want to move into today first appeared on Yanko Design.

How this beautiful wooden side table seems to hover in the air

Posted on by

Furniture has long ceased being simply functional products that take up space in homes or offices. Given their very visible roles, they have also become decorative pieces that add to a space’s ambiance. This is especially true for chairs, sofas, and large tables like coffee tables, but even smaller items like side tables can have an impact on the overall appeal of the room. Some of these side tables use elaborate designs, unusual forms, or even showy colors, but those are not the only ways to grab people’s attention. There are times when simplicity works better, and this particular design uses extremely simple shapes and constructions to the point that the side table looks almost magical as if its top was simply hovering above the ground.

Designer: Jonas Herman Pedersen

Tables need to be steady and stable to be able to hold things, and that’s normally accomplished by having four or at least two even legs raising the tabletop up. Even for a table with a single “pillar,” that support is often located in the middle at the table’s center of gravity to help keep it from toppling on one side. The Stilk Side Table, however, throws convention out of the window, resulting in a design that seemingly challenges common sense when constructing tables.

Completely made out of wood, Stilk’s top rests on a thin monolith that stands not at the center but off to one side. Of course, balance is achieved through the counterweight, which is a pile of four thick wooden discs joined to the base of the monolith, also on a single side only.

The top itself isn’t a flat circle but has the edge attached to the stem folded up a bit. This makes the tabletop look like it’s hovering with nothing supporting it while also acting as a sort of locking mechanism when something heavy is placed on the table. Despite its simple design, Stilk actually has a secret function where the owner can adjust the table’s height by simply removing a small wooden rod and positioning the top on one of three available heights.

Stilk is an unconventional side table design that admittedly would make some people nervous about placing fragile objects on it. In a sense, its appearance creates an illusion of lightness and instability that definitely catches people’s attention without actually going beyond simple shapes and finishes. It’s an effective example of how challenging the status quo can lead to interesting and effective designs while still keeping things simple, minimalist, and beautiful.

The post How this beautiful wooden side table seems to hover in the air first appeared on Yanko Design.