Home Furnishings

I thought it might be fun to follow around a student designer to get a better idea of what it's like to be a design student these days (or a student in general!). Pratt Institute Industrial Design student Casey Daurio, who graduates in 2013, gladly offered us the opportunity to peek inside his everyday world. Let's follow him around on the exciting occasion of Pratt Institute's 125th anniversary celebration:

I just discovered ALLT and I'm addicted. Everything they've designed is ridiculously cool. Run by Peter Simonik and Elena Bolcekova, and based in Slovakia, the studio has churned out quite a bit of fantastic stuff in just a short amount of time (the studio was founded in 2011). Prepare to be amazed:

Grocery shopping just got a heck of a lot easier with this device called hiku. You scan the barcode of an item you're running out of or finished OR you say what item you need and then it magically sends (well, via Wi-Fi) the item name to a list on your phone. No more forgetting food when you're at the store because you'll have the list that you've been accumulating with you. Genius!

Canadian design student Brendan Gallagher might not be finished with his degree yet, but in my mind I think he's graduated. His Rocker No. 1, which is made of walnut, woven wire mesh and fabric, looks like a classic in the making.

Valencia-based multidisciplinary design studio Sputnik is run by Majo Fernández, María de la O Reyna, María Salar and Borja Sepulcre, and recently exhibited their latest collection during the Habitat Valencia Fair.

New York City-based textiles and design company, ZAK+FOX is headed by Zak Profera, with help from his trusty Shiba Inu, Shinji. The textile collection, comprised of 10 designs, is defined by an aesthetic that is warm, modern, and eclectic. His work draws influence from his early studies of conceptual art at the San Francisco Art Institute, as well as his recent international treks – from the outskirts of Istanbul in search of vintage finds, to the depths of the Black Forest for an open-air expedition. As for "Fox," he says, “I loved the idea of a boy and his dog traversing the globe, unearthing ancient treasures." In this week's Friday Five, we can see where the pair finds inspiration.

Axel Yberg has just completed a new line of tables called Split in his brand new collection of limited edition small lot pieces available at akke780.com.

Stal Collectief is a Belgian-based design firm who recently release two new projects that include the Koala 45 hammock and the Zwol pendant lamp. I'm pretty sure I let out a shriek when I saw the massively, oversized hammock that I know I'll dream about. The group of four's covet-worthy designs will definitely make you pause and take a second glance and you'll see why.

Seeking a new way to finish wooden surfaces besides the typical varnish and paint, the Japanese design studio Nendo created the Fishline Chair. Using dyed fishing line, they wound it tightly around the wooden chair giving it a varnish-like shine. In the process, it made the wood grain pop while adding a subtle hint of color.

Hex Chair is a minimal design created by New York City-based designers Incorporated for Lerival. The furniture system embodies flexibility and modularity as its core concepts. Consisting of either an ottoman, stool, or chair, the Hex family can amalgamate itself into any number of positions with an infinite landscape of possibilities.

Christopher White of Revitalized Artistry is currently in school but on the side he specializes in taking old mid-century furniture and giving it a second chance.

Most likely, if you're looking for an attractive bike hanger, you don't have a lot of space to spare and your bike probably remains out in the open. Therefore, a multifunctional bike storage unit would probably be a bonus, right? Imagine being able to hang your bike, plus store some of the stuff that goes with it and not fear that it will make your house look like a garage.