Two years ago, we came across the ‘Doc’, a couch which transformed into bunk beds – Link.
Resource Furniture, a NYC store has brought the ‘Doc’ and many other transformative pieces of furniture here to the U.S. Some of the pieces seem to be much more than traditional murphy beds. Instead of simplified hideaway beds, many of their pieces are transformed into couches, seating, desks…
Oh sure, this seems perfect for small, cramped, new york city apartments. But is it worthwhile for the average suburban home? Depends on the way you use your space I suppose. Maybe you have a den or office which would be better suited as a guest bedroom around the holidays. Certainly, you can pop up an aerobed in a few minutes, and wedge out a little space amongst the clutter, or plan your space around a permanent guest bed, taking up precious floor space like the giant elephant in the room it is. Or you can have both, I suppose.
Check out the space saving furniture, as well as other “non-transforming” pieces at their website – Link
Although, technically, flipping a mattress is kind of like transforming.
I need to call in a price this “Ares” desk set they have.
I’d seen the earlier version of this product in its development (below) where the lower portion of the window frame that became the balcony floor was a solid piece of structure, and only allowed a high ribbon window above.
And now, in this recent mock-up of the Bloomframe window product, it seems that they’ve replaced that structural piece with structural glazing, presenting the window frame as a near full-height window system. The video below is a great demonstration of what could be next great advance in hardtop convertible balconies.
(Turn the volume down/off if you value your sanity…)
This is a product that spurs the imagination of what could open up a small, cramped, apartment to the elements. No way your landlord would likely allow you to install one. But perhaps, maybe a forward-thinking builder might bring these to an entire housing project, and showcase a constantly changing facade.
The structural glazing however, might be a bit too fear-inducing to anyone above the second floor, as I liken it to the Sears Tower Skydeck.
Oh, and the neighbors below would most likely look up your wife’s skirt.
The Bloomframe® window balcony seems to still be in development, but I can’t wait to see one of these in person.
This has no educational or informative value at all, but it’s pretty hilarious as we all know that Japanese people are at the forefront of thinking outside the box of nonsensical craziness. Very awesome as well. Who needs base isolators on their high rise apartment building during an earthquake, when your building’s legs take the shock like a dog on a trampoline full of kids…
I wonder what the overnight guest policy is?
And since I’ve already mentioned it, and still have the Youtube tab open, here’s the obligatory video of a dog on a trampoline…
This is going on the short list of “Things I want”. Quiet Solution’s soundproof drywall boasts that one 5/8″ sheet is acoustically equal to (8) layers of standard 5/8″ drywall. Not many of us have the square footage to spare by packing in an additional 5 inches of drywall to the interior of your homes. Also, don’t count on any of your doors functioning properly to account for that. That would never happen of course, as it would be simpler just to construct a masonry wall, than build up a mountain of gypsum.
Seeing as how the average interior wall has an STC (Sound Transmission Class) value of about 34, good enough to separate your family but still hear their conversations through the wall. Partition common walls separating apartments, townhomes and condos are required to have and STC of 50. Which is good enough to keep your business your own, yet still allows your neighbors to share their musical tastes with you….like it or not. Most of Quiet Solutions’ QuietRock products sport an STC of at least 50. They have an interactive sound example page at their website which allows you to experience the contrasting STC values as if a garage band was playing in the next room.
The best possible soundproofing solution they currently have has an STC value of 80, which is meant for home theaters and can be reached by adding two layers of their 1 3/8″ to a stud wall. This assembly, I imagine, when used in master bedroom applications, will bring upon the end of the phrase “Stop it! You’ll wake the kids!”
There are other uses of course. Making your home feel solid and quiet and every sound in it’s place can be appreciated by everyone in your household. Finally get that media room/home theater you’ve always wanted? Now keep it ramped up way beyond bedtime. Oh, and those neighbors you have? You know the ones, the ones who, at best buy, go straight for the stereo demos and their accompanying volume knobs until products drop from the shelves, and your sanity drops from sight? Yeah, treat your exterior walls.
The downside of course for this product is the price. Prices start at 40$ (volume purchase) for a 4′x8′ sheet, and only go up from there with higher rated products. Standard drywall is of course, considerably less, but to gain a comparable STC rating using a combination of standard drywall, resilient channels and other various products would bring the project budget closer to what you would have spent by just ordering soundproof drywall.
There was a time, shortly after graduating college when the idea of just packing up the car one day and moving from sunny California to the east coast. But what to do with all my stuff. At the time I had a bulky desktop computer, alot of furniture, TV’s, and tons of junk. Who’d want to move that? No, sell it, give it, toss it in a dumpster if necessary.
Start over, start clean. But that takes time, lotsa shopping, and lots of lost weekends searching for the next great coffee table. Seems like this might be a good product for those brave enough to just go off the grid, leave in the middle of the night, take their clothes and pictures, and leave town with a full tank of gas.
Although it’s just a concept from the designers at Casulo, based out of Germany, it seems as though this would be a great product for those sending the kids off to college (not in furnished dormitory housing), or just someone who needs to relocate and have the basics until they’ve replenished their living environment piece by piece.
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