Designer Thomas Walde of Swiss studio Postfossil created this simple and beautiful bike stand. The piece combines storage for your bicycle with bookshelves and shoe racks, which makes it an ultimate entryway hit. I also love the idea of framing the bike and putting it on a pedestal. “Like a trophy in a glass jar, the bicycle represents sporting activity, balance and health.” – designer says. I’m sure bike aficionados will approve. The piece is made from fir wood, coconut fiber and steel.

This modular bookcase made me look. Created by Antonella Di Luca and Ubaldo Righi of MR.LESS & MRS.MORE studio, Citybook storage system has been presented during the Milan Design Week. The piece is made up of multiple house-shaped modules that are linked together via small magnets. Easy to assemble and reassemble, Citybook is a good looking and flexible addition to any room. The bookcase is made from sheet iron, it comes in white and dark gray.

(via design-milk)

Intentionally small living is a concept I admire. My own small living is unintentional, I occupy the space I can afford in turbulent and pricey Manhattan; but if I did have a choice – I would stay within the confines of pragmatic square footage. Nicole Alvarez had similar thinking. North Carolina based young designer and aspiring architect created a beautiful website, where she photographs and discusses her life in a small and very well thought out studio apartment. Nicole grew up in a typical American suburbia with big houses, spacious yards and non-walkable distances to the nearest town. When her studies brought her to Europe, she fell in love with the pleasures of urban existence – walking commutes, closeness to all city attractions, small and cleverly organized dwellings… Back in Raleigh, North Carolina, Nicole decided to continue living small and rented a 300 sq. ft. studio above a dentist’s office. Watch the beautiful film shot by Fair Companies, showing the tour of the apartment and discussing fascinating housing projects Nicole is working on in her home town.

- Very creative surreal photography by Chema Madoz.

- Adorableness. Beautiful Insights storage boxes.

- A tasty-looking project – 18 national flags made out of food.

- Love Hurts – a survival kit for your worst heartaches.

- Turn Around juicer – what a simple and elegant idea.

- Mind blowing Excel spreadsheet art.

- How far is it to Mars? See for yourself.

- An incredibly stunning video of a supercell storm in Texas.

These flat chairs, called Canvas, are the latest creation of Japanese studio YOY. The humor and versatility of this design makes it a winner in any space, big and small. Shoebox apartment dwellers, however, will appreciate the space-saving element of this cool item that doubles as artwork. Hang it on the wall for display or lean it against the wall for extra seating – how cool is that! The frame, made of wood and aluminum, is covered by an elastic fabric, printed to resemble a canvas texture with a drawing of a chair. The piece comes in three varieties – chair, armchair and sofa.

This beautiful pad belongs to Stockholm based stylist Johanna Laskey. And in spite of its modest size (only 550 sq. ft.), it looks rather spacious. The effect is achieved by clever decoration choices, such as unified color of the furniture, walls and floor (except for the kitchen, where floor becomes a contrasting accent). Even the artwork corresponds to the overall light color scheme, creating an airy feeling. An awkward transitional space between the living room and the kitchen became a home office, accommodating a small desk and a storage cabinet. I love the skillful use of the vintage details across the apartment, which add character but not clutter.

(via onekindesign)

Grapple hanging system by Ryan Frank is another noteworthy Kickstarter project running at the moment. This unusual suspension storage idea is space-saving and cool. It is also highly eco-conscious. The bio-plastic hooks are made of Agriplast, which is an innovative material made from grass mixed with a small amount of plastic. I also like the crane-inspired design of the hooks. Grapple can hold clothing, bike gear, plants and more. Pledge here to get yours.

Shelf by Israeli designer Raz Krulfeld is a great addition to a small kitchen. The clever piece allows us to keep our essentials within reach but away from the counter, which is a great space-saving tactic. The shelf is made up of two sections – the higher one is perfect for containers and spices, the lower one holds books, magazines as well as cereal boxes and other bigger items. The rear side of the shelf serves as a magnetic knife holder and also features hooks for utensils. To top it all off – there is LED lighting coming from underneath the shelf. An additional lighting source is never a bad idea…

(via leibal)

This is just delightful – a shelf bracket and under shelf light in one. Designers Alexandra Burr and Allen Slamic of AlexAllenStudio brought light to the dark spaces between your bookshelves, and did it with an elegant and fun touch. The bracket is made from cold rolled steel and powder coated in glossy white. The braided, nylon cords come in eight colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white and black. A perfect support for a shelf above a counter, desk or bed with the added benefit of the illuminating the space below.

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Donald M. Rattner.

What better inspiration for a wine rack than a bunch of grapes? Grape is a modular wine rack that can be mounted on a wall, placed on a table top or sat on a floor. Interlock multiple units for a growing wine collection in all sorts of appealing configurations.

The rack is made of expanded polypropylene, a 100 percent non-toxic, recyclable closed cell foam. Because it’s both light weight and strong, the material is used as a packing material for high-end electronic goods which need maximum protection with minimal added weight during shipping. Reducing shipping weight has the added benefit of lowering the carbon footprint, adding to its environmentally friendly qualifications.

One unit holds 12 bottles and measures 23 5/8 x 15 3/4 x 7. Grape is sized to accommodate Champagne-sized bottles too.

Robert Bronwasser designed Grape in 2007. Son of an architect, Brownwasser is the principal of Smool, an award-winning and widely exhibited design firm based in Amsterdam.

Purchase here.