Dornob » Furnishings http://dornob.com Architecture, Interior and Furniture Design Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:00:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Reinventing Disposable: Elegant Japanese Paper Tableware http://dornob.com/reinventing-disposable-elegant-japanese-paper-tableware/ http://dornob.com/reinventing-disposable-elegant-japanese-paper-tableware/#comments Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:00:36 +0000 Stephanie http://dornob.com/?p=38420

Do guests at your less formal gatherings deserve less hospitality than those attending holiday dinners? Disposable tableware is certainly convenient, but it can have a very casual feel, which isn’t always fitting for the occasion. A Japanese line of eco-friendly plates, cups and bowls called WASARA brings a bit of style and panache to the table. Made from non-wood materials such as the pulp of an invasive reed plant and sugarcane waste, this single-use tableware series is simple, modern and beautiful.

When objects are given more thought, they’re given more value. Assigning aesthetic value to transient objects may help people think more carefully about how such objects are used. The designers sought to address the problem of unnecessary waste while also paying tribute to the Japanese tradition of hospitality.

The result is a product with a streamlined design, tailored to Japanese cuisine, which “gives a fine appearance t the tableware with sushi on it.” Each item is ergonomic and made to be clutched in one’s hand while standing, as guests typically do at parties.

The wine cup has a wide rim and a small base for comfort in the hand, while the coffee cup has a dipped handle that doubles as a spout. The wave shape of the kaku/maru plate provides a natural grip.

]]> http://dornob.com/reinventing-disposable-elegant-japanese-paper-tableware/feed/ 0 Imaginary Nuclear Mutated Insects Make for Snug Rugs http://dornob.com/imaginary-nuclear-mutated-insects-make-for-snug-rugs/ http://dornob.com/imaginary-nuclear-mutated-insects-make-for-snug-rugs/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:00:58 +0000 Delana http://dornob.com/?p=38389

The beauty of nature and all of its creatures is widely celebrated, but there is also something to be said for the odd beauty of imperfection.  Lanzavecchia + Wai‘s series of Mutazoni rugs depict two fictitious insects that, in the minds of the designers, were distorted and deformed by the actions of mankind.

The first invented species is called Tacua Fukushimae, imagined to have been created by the Fukushima disaster. It’s a strangely lovely cicada with uneven eyes and a number of other deformities. While natural insects display a large amount of symmetry, the insects in this unique series are more like a “spot the difference” game between the two halves of each insect.

This beetle is called Amaurodes Chernobilis, a bug imagined to have been the result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Like the cicada, the beetle is deformed by its unfortunate past. The imagined insects may not be perfect, but they are adorably quirky and the rugs look so soft that we wouldn’t mind having bugs on the floor.

]]> http://dornob.com/imaginary-nuclear-mutated-insects-make-for-snug-rugs/feed/ 0 Bottomless Drinks: Social Glassware Can’t Be Set Down Full http://dornob.com/bottomless-drinks-social-glassware-you-cant-set-down-full/ http://dornob.com/bottomless-drinks-social-glassware-you-cant-set-down-full/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:00:59 +0000 dornob http://dornob.com/?p=38308

In order to get the party started fast, these beverage containers cannot be placed upright on a surface – you have to finish your drink before you set them down.

Some might call it impractical, and perhaps it is, but it also provides an entertaining way to get your guests talking – and forcing them to interact if they need to put down their glass before it is dry.

This set of mouth-blown champagne, wine and martini glasses, dubbed Baccic by their designer Joe Doucet (images by Kendall Mills), were part of the PLAY exhibit for New York Design Week, “which tackles the relationship between design and “play” through a series of concepts that re-imagine our interaction with the digital world, re-invent our perspectives on furniture and space, revamp some old-school modes of play and realize the potential of playing with some friends.”

]]> http://dornob.com/bottomless-drinks-social-glassware-you-cant-set-down-full/feed/ 0 Wall-Hugging Visual Vase is a Friendly Floral Balancing Act http://dornob.com/wall-hugging-visual-vase-is-a-friendly-floral-balancing-act/ http://dornob.com/wall-hugging-visual-vase-is-a-friendly-floral-balancing-act/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 23:00:10 +0000 Delana http://dornob.com/?p=38351

Unfortunately for plants, they can’t tell you when they are being neglected, but this odd little vase gives your flowers a voice. The Water Balance vase was designed by Risako Matsumoto as part of the Design Soil collective and offers a unique way to ensure your cut flowers never run out of water.

The vase is made of a simple piece of white ash, a fulcrum attached to the wall, and a movable weight. When you place a cut flower and some water in the vase, you also move the weight into the correct position to hold the piece of wood level.

As the water evaporates, the vase rises and the weight slowly drops. The subtle, incredibly slow movement gives a voice to the flower which would otherwise simply wilt in silence. The vase is a lovely visual reminder of those quiet errands we must tend to every day, and it allows a cut flower to bloom at least a few days longer thanks to your regular watering.

]]> http://dornob.com/wall-hugging-visual-vase-is-a-friendly-floral-balancing-act/feed/ 0 Walhub: Triple-Duty Switch Plate Holds Mail, Keys and More http://dornob.com/walhub-triple-duty-switch-plate-holds-mail-keys-and-more/ http://dornob.com/walhub-triple-duty-switch-plate-holds-mail-keys-and-more/#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 17:00:37 +0000 Stephanie http://dornob.com/?p=38292

If you’re constantly forgetting where you put your keys, umbrella or the bill that needs to go out in the mail today, put them near the last place you’re likely to look before leaving the house: the light switch. Walhub, a simple adaptation of ordinary light switches by San Francisco-based Upwell, adds extra functions that keep essentials all in one place.

Simple and inexpensive, Walhub is available for both rocker and toggle switches. Options range from hooks for a single light switch to double switch plates with both hooks and a ‘keeper’ that can hold mail, eye wear, wallets or other important objects.

Eliminating the need for extra hooks and shelves on the wall, and reducing clutter on household surfaces, the Walhub can hold up to fifteen pounds. It was designed as a three-part system allowing it to be positioned in a left or right configuration. It can also be expanded with new plug-in parts that add more functionality. Get it at Walhub.com.

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