apartling

Apartling (darling+apartment, a quaint living space) is a haven and resource for small living, clever design, and the minimalist movement.

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It is obviously no secret that I have some major affinity for multi-purpose furniture, and this collection is doubly intriguing because of its name -- "Maisonette", meaning "small house" -- which I feel has got to be Apartling's spiritual French sister. Designed by Simon Simonelli, this unit comprises three pieces, which can function as a stand, wardrobe, cart, table, basket and tray. 

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Next up on my list of micro buildings to gush over is kitHAUS, which feature inspiring uses of minimal floorspace and maximum design potential. The company offers six different, lightweight prefab desings, with prices ranging from under $20,000 to around $75,000. 

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From Ivy Design, a table that will fold up into your wall and used as a mirror. (Also available as a picture frame.)

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Submission from Jackie Saik:

Needed a desk I could hide and/or move into another room when people came over. Found this one at Ikea.

Nice submission. Understated and yet very cool.

Submit your own desk, or one you found on the web, here.

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Another multifunctional piece of furniture -- I love the idea of being able to fold away your workspace, switch off for a while, and relax with the extra table area. 

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A bar complete with shakers, mixers and liquors can be the pride of entertainers, and living in a small space shouldn't mean neglecting entertaining. Enter the Wallbanger, a wall-mounted bar with room for bottle storage, serverware, and a nifty fold-out table to do your mixing. 

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Regular couches can take up valuable floorspace in a small home, so I’m always on the lookout for space-friendly alternatives. Designer Markus Krauss has created “Sway” — a rocking chair for individuals or couples. I particularly like this head-to-toe orientation, so you can read while your partner plays video games, for example, and be close to each other while still having compartmentalised space.

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Downsizing your car to a more eco-loving alternative can be incredibly liberating, but dealing with a clunky (albeit beautiful, I'm sure) bike taking up floor space can be a pain. Further fuelling my obsession for dual-use furniture, my favourite bicycle solution comes from design team Mikili. Check out their range of bike racks/bookshelves, drawers, and pieces of minimalist liveable art. 

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Simple Eating @ The Stone Soup. A lot of time and money can be spent on the food we eat. A big part of living minimally is reducing the time we waste on mundane, soul-crushing tasks so we can better spend our days and wealth on things that make us happy (unless you're passionate about cooking, then carry on doing what you do). The Stone Soup has a lot of info regarding stocking a minimalist kitchen and creating meals out of five ingredients without skimping on nutrition or taste.

[apartling]

You may have seen these neat pieces of liveable art before from njustudio; the Hockenheimer magazine/newspaper holder-turned-stool. An extra seat around your coffee table as well as a genius answer to What On Earth Am I Going To Do With All My Mags?? after downsizing your living area. Relabl are having a giveaway over at their Facebook page, so give them a 'like' for the chance to win one of these cuties. 

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The shifty desk/hallway stand by Daniel Schofield. Practicality is hidden away in sleek minimalism -- perfect for tiny spaces.

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Cosy and efficient living space in under 500 square feet. Includes storage inside the stairs and plenty of kitchen bench space!

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Check out this 140 sqft tiny house! Chris and Malissa have managed to fit everything they need and still have space to share with two cats.

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Check out Graham Hill's efficiently designed apartment; it makes excellent use of the 420sqft space, and features a Murphy bed, two sets of bunk beds, and a dining table big enough to entertain 12 guests. There is also an insightful piece over at the New York Times about Graham's philosophy of living with less.