Hi. I'm looking for furniture (contract or consumer) that is designed
to be multi-functional or provide a flexible furniture system. Many of
these are advertised under 'solutions for small spaces' or similar.
I'm especially interested in items that fold, flip out, stow away or
otherwise can provide functionality without being a permanent fixture
in the room. Examples from ships, dorm rooms or other non-standard
environments are good, as are sources for interesting
hardware/mechanisms that would enable me to build my own furniture
that exactly suits my needs.

Thank you!

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 23 Jun 2005 23:03 PDT

Are you looking for office furniture or furniture for
homes/residences? You suggest what you're looking for might be called
"solutions for small spaces." Please tell us what research you've
already done to help with finding you what you need. Thanks.

---

Clarification of Question by erazerbelt-ga on 24 Jun 2005 07:10 PDT

Hi czh,
Since I believe you are the one who provided such a great response to
my last question, I guess it makes sense to tell you that these are
related. I'm doing a project on designing break rooms, but the problem
is that the space is incredibly tiny. That means that if we are to try
to provide anything beyond having a place to eat lunch and hang up a
coat, the furniture needs to do at least double duty. I have looked at
ikea, metro furniture, and topdeq, but am still in search of clever
storage solutions (I've seen some for garages, using slatwall),
'surfaces with options,' or things that can be stowed, flipped down,
etc., and ways of dividing space. I'm looking for both specific
solutions that could be purchased (even if they only sell to the
trade) as well as ideas (i.e. pictures) from unrelated places like
ships or dorm rooms that have evolved solutions to similar small space
issues. I don't have any previous research on those.

So in answer to your question about whether it's office furniture or
home, well, it's both. I'm looking for options that are comfy, yet
professional.

Hope that clarifies things.

Thanks!

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 24 Jun 2005 13:09 PDT

Hello again erazerbelt-ga,

Can y7ou give me the dimensions of the room? What else is in there
already? How many and what size tables and chairs? Vending machines?
Sink? Stove/microwave? TV/radio? Storage units? Anything? Will your
emplyees be using this room mostly/only for lunch and break or is it
also used for other purposes? Some places I've worked used the lunch
room as a training room. I'd like to have your help in visualizing
what you're dealing with. Could you post a couple of pictures of what
it looks like for the berfore picture? Could you find a couple of
links for what your ideal environment would look and feel like? The
more you can tell/show me, the more likely I'll be able to help.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by erazerbelt-ga on 27 Jun 2005 07:52 PDT

Hi czh,
Thanks for wanting to help me visualize the space. However, it's more
of an abstract problem than challenge for a specific space; I really
only need examples of clever furniture solutions that make the most of
space constraints. If it helps you to limit the search for storage and
surface solutions, that would still be extremely helpful.

Thanks!

Hello again erazerbelt-ga,

Thank you for the clarification. There is lots of help available for
you. I?ve organized the materials I?ve collected into two categories.
First, I?m offering articles and discussions of how to think about and
design storage in small spaces. Next I?ve included links to vendors
and designers who offer a tremendous variety of products to help you
organize your lunch room

Wishing you well for your new break room

~ czh ~


======================================================
PUBLICATIONS, ARTICLES, PLANNING TIPS FOR SMALL SPACES
======================================================

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_small_space/0,1792,HGTV_3382,00.html
SMALL SPACE

***** This site offers dozens of small space solutions based on the TV
programs on HGTV. Browse the topics for whatever appeals to you and
find instructions and products for executing on your plans.

-------------------------------------------------


https://www.copleynews.com/1cns/features/small/
Small Spaces

Small Spaces: Each week Christine Brun, interior designer and author
of "Big Ideas for Small Spaces," tackles the question of how to live
well in a small home. The column ranges from dorm rooms and rentals to
upscale condos, and also addresses small crannies in larger homes.
Each column is illustrated with a color photo.

***** There are dozens of articles here to help you with your small
space design questions.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/Decorating_SmallSpaces.xml
Small Spaces
Add panache to even the most petite spaces with these ideas on color,
decorating, and storage.

***** This site offers lots of ideas from Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/wolfe92.html
The Art of Living in Small Spaces

***** This is a terrific article full of ideas by someone living in a tiny cabin.



================================================
VENDORS, CONTRACTORS, DESIGNERS FOR SMALL SPACES
================================================

http://www.egan.com/eganpresents/modular_ctw/
Egan Modular Storage Solutions
Egan's Modular Storage components offer interior configurations,
storage and finish options with unlimited possibilities.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.spacesaver.com/
Spacesaver Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of high
density mobile storage systems and a major supplier of steel shelving,
rotary storage systems and related high density storage accessories.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.calclosets.com/
California Closets

-------------------------------------------------

http://www.ikea.com
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/site_index/site_index.html

***** Be sure to check out the ?tips & ideas? section for suggested
small space solutions.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.merillat.com/space/articles/smallspaces.aspx
Innovative solutions for small spaces

-------------------------------------------------


http://modernspaces.com/
http://theminimalspace.com/
The Minimal Space specializes in making small spaces work better and
look better. We have accumulated years of practical experience
applying several concepts to achieve this. We recommend that you
consider some of these concepts, as described below, when thinking
about your own space needs. If you have problems or difficult
constraints our experts can help!

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.closits.com/501-205.asp
Modular Storage Systems

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.organizes-it.com/
Office / Media 

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.containerstore.com/organize/index.jhtml
The Container Store

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.schultestorage.com/
SCHULTE products are organized into five main lines.



===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

storage solutions for small spaces
modular storage
organized storage