Posted by Peter Medvin on Mon, Jan 09, 2012
So here's something we don't see much - an entire song about Murphy Beds (well, one particular Murphy Bed belonging to a gentlemen by the name of O'Riley). Leave it to the literate Irish to come up with a ballad about our only-on-rare-occasions glamorous subject, but here we have mystery and daring (missing persons, possible arson - and what's that about the policemen's ball?) all in a surprisingly catching diddy.
As YouTube singing sensation "threelegsoman" (A.K.A. Tony - I think) says:
"The Murphy Bed of the title is a clever space saving device. When down and open, it is as the name suggests a bed, but when not in use it is lifted up from the foot end and folded into an alcove in the wall thus creating space in the room. The thought crosses your mind though; 'what happens if someone is in the bed when it is folded away?'"
Sammy Gallop and Al Goodhart wrote the song.
Do you think they'll ever try one about Zoom-Room?
Posted by Peter Medvin on Fri, Dec 23, 2011
Since Charlie Chaplan, Murphy Beds have been the subject of jokes and slapstick (see our early posts of Murphy Beds in the Movies here, and Murphy Beds in Cartoons here). We were delighted to see this amateur (and slightly drunken) attempt to carry on the tradition. This is really funny, and as an ex-New Yorker, makes me especially proud. Here it is, complete with Christmas lights.
From all of us here at Zoom-Room, the folks with the electronic, remote controlled retractable Murphy Bed, thanks for your support during the year. Have a very Happy Holiday and only good things in the New Year.
Posted by Peter Medvin on Wed, Dec 21, 2011
Rockstar Interiors has just completed an ultra-modern super automated apartment on South Beach, featuring, among other wonders, our remote controlled electronic Murphy Bed, with spectacular Jetson's white cabinetry by California Closets Miami. In addition to the Zoom-Room, check out the automated curtain and drapes, Crestron hand held remote (mission control), remote controlled home theater, and Bang & Olfsun components. And then there's that psychedelic pool table! To top it all off, there's that ocean view to die for.
Posted by Peter Medvin on Sat, Nov 05, 2011
B. Roswell Real Estate's Facebook page featured the Zoom-Room remote controlled Murphy Bed as their November Design Idea. Take a minute to check it out at Miami Condos and Homes:
http://www.facebook.com/MiamiCondosForSale
Don't forget to "Like" them - you'll end up with great tips about Miami and Miami Real Estate conjured up by CEO Sep Nokian, who, more than just about anyone else, keeps tabs on the pulse of this city and the best real estate deals around.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Mon, Sep 19, 2011
This clever partitioning system designed by Japanese architect Yuko Shibata allows you to expand the uses of a room by strategically dividing convertible spaces. A series of moveable walls, sliding and swinging, separate different areas in an otherwise open space so you can effectively hide the bedroom or library, or simply amplify a room's dimensions when needed.
In the photos below, Switch Walls separate the dining/living room from the library. In the first photo, note the end of the dining room table sticking into the library that can be used as a desk. When the wall is pushed back, the bookshelves are hidden (covered by the wall), which makes the open space for the dining/living room much larger.
Another kind of space-changing walls is a swinging partition that contains its own built-in bookshelf. When open, the bookcase is part of the bedroom. When more privacy is wanted, swing it shut and it closes off the bedroom to create an office/reading room.
The Switch Walls were designed by Yuko Shibata, and we saw it first at Dornob.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Mon, Sep 19, 2011
One doesn't usually think of convertible furniture for the kitchen, and certainly not electronic, remote controlled furniture. Yet here we have an exceptionally elegant island cabinet from the Italian company Minimal called the Verve Sliding Top.
The cabinet itself is a perfect example of Italian taste, style and understatement. Featuring matte white laquer doors, luxurious acacia wood for the sliding top, and contemporary stainless steel, the interplay of these high end materials creates a modern centerpiece that would shine in any room of the house.
But that's not the sexy part. Press a button, and the fun really begins (sort of reminds us of everyone's favorite remote controlled Murphy Bed...). The wooden top glides away to reveal a cooktop and white corrian prep counter. Press another, and the stainless steel cover moves to unveil a sunken sink with retactable faucet. All in all, a multi purpose minimalist wonder!
Done cooking? Just move the elements back to their original position, and you have a perfectly elegant dinning bar or buffet table to wow your guests. The Verve sliding top is just one of the sumptuous kitchen and bath offerings from Minimal.
This incredible, expanding kitchen counter top was designed by Minimal, and we saw it first on 3rings.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Thu, Jun 23, 2011
A bit like Pandora's box, but with only good things inside, this incredible 250 square-foot studio in Barcelona can transform itself into a many room apartment - at least sequentially - within minutes. Built in, convertible furniture, together with thoughtful organization and multipurpose usage of space is the key. The result? A milestone in smart small space design resonating with nautical flair and the spirit of Zen.
What is first a living room transforms into a bedroom or dining area, utilizing fold-up and flip-down furniture, nooks, cupboards, and chests to utilize every last square inch of storage space.
The roll-out bed (shades of Zoom-Room, though though this one is manual) slides out from under the exterior deck (yes, the deck), doubles as a bench or couch, and then serves as a staircase to the outdoors! Now that's a convertible bed.
Everything is tucked into the walls (including sinks, dishwasher, and pantry), and out of the way unless needed. The toilet and bath are appropirately minimalist, serving required functions without taking up too much precious space.
In fact, when everything is closed, virutally everything is hidden from sight, making this tiny apartment feel almost cavernous.
We saw it first on Dornob. If you haven't yet, watch the video above - it's ingenious and charming.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Thu, Jun 23, 2011
Who knows what you can hide in a cabinet these days? This compact, innocuous cube is full of surprises! A marvel of smart small space design, each block slides back to reveal another hidden layer in this convertible kitchen island. Some walls also double as doors, as each multi-purpose element fits ingeniously into another. Someone here had a Leggo fixation as a kid!
Starting as a single square cube, this compact marvel converts into an entire kitchen, containing everything from cooking and preparation surfaces, a dining table, stove, refrigerator, shelves, and drawers. Small space design taken to its most versitile extreme (electronic innovation hidden in a handsome cabinet - shades of Zoom-Room)!
This prototype was designed by Kristin Laass and Norman Ebelt, and we saw it first on Dornob.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Thu, Jun 23, 2011
Smart design, yes, practical, well, we don't care so much. This painstakingly built, strangely beautiful storage unit has an allure all its own. Using 80,000, yep, count 'em, bamboo skewers (as in shish kebab, or maybe satay), Chilean artist Sebastian Errazuriz has covered this wonderland of undetectable (sort of like the Zoom-Room(?)) nooks and crannies to store whatever you might want to hide in a rather large rectangular Chia Pet. In its closed state, this so called Magistral Cabinet is already hypnotic.
With its cabinetry wide open, and the full extent of its storage space revealed, it becomes an artful piece of expandable, perhaps functional, furniture (but certainly functional art). With its secret hinges, apertures, and niches, the cabinet transforms into an almost useful armoire, though mostly it just looks like a Wookie.
Who new convertible furniture could be this much fun? We saw it first on 3Rings.
Posted by Leo de Carvalho on Wed, May 11, 2011
So often, small living spaces are boxy and claustrophobic. This small apartment in the Netherlands is a great example of smart small-space design and urban living, ingeniously using curves to create a feeling of openness. More reminiscent of a boat than an on land dwelling, this remarkable tiny home offers more comfort and flair than you find in many larger apartments.
By the use of curves, the eye is drawn around the room, making it feel more spacious than it really is. The use of built-in furniture, a favorite strategy for us here at Zoom-Room, helps open up the space, leaving more room to breathe. It also offers well planned and ample storage, where, like a boat, there's a place for everything, and everything has its place.
Located on the top floor of an historic mansion built in 1890, the use of light in this fully renovated all-in-one unit, utilizing angled ceilings, white walls, and skylight windows, makes the place almost shimmer. This, of course, adds to the illusion of space, and elevates one's mood when feeling a bit closed in.
This apartment is in The Hague, was designed (and is offered for rent for as litte as 105 euro/night) by Maff. An ideal urban refuge, it's conveniently located in center of the city. We saw it first on Dornob.