FYI : For Your Inspiration

Doshi Levien: "My Beautiful Backside"

London based design office led by Jonathan Levien and Nipa doshi have conspired with Moroso to create this beautiful seating. It was inspired by a painting of Maharani sitting on the floor of her palace, surrounded and supported by multiples of pebble shaped cushions. The mix of different types of fabric is another element that makes this collections so interesting.

Tord Boontje

Tord Boontje famous for his graphis and ornamentation design brought the graphics in to a 3D form, really interesting. 

Marcel Wanders designs for Mondrian South Beach Hotel Residences

Interiors are furnished with pieces from Marcel Wanders Studio, creating a "Sleeping Beauty's Castle" theme as Marcel Wanders described it.

Keep It Cartesian Light Switch

Keep It Cartesian was formed by four students studying environmental design at the University of Manitoba. The idea of a simple extension of the light switch cover and bending half outwards is a simple, to the point solution. It always comes down to the simple solutions we bypass which amazes us the most. 

Bauke Knottnerus : Phat Knits

Enlarging the technique of knitting, Bauke Knottnerus creates an exciting sculptural piece which an be translated into various functions. The most inspiration piece of the day!

The Multi Functionals

Modular Bench by Shizuka Tatsuno

Materassi Customizable Sofa from Whittmann: Plug-in furniture

Luzia Kalin + Nicole Lehner (Designasyl) : Stay At My Home

Recent industrial design graduates Luzia Kalin and Nicole Lehner formed Designasyl created a thesis project based on the idea of temporary furniture for overnight guests. It is a great way to accommodate guests for hosts who do not have a separate guest room available. Everything can be tucked away nicely yet out in the open.

Spanish designer Attua Aparicio Torinos'  Cabinet

Low Seating Units

Designed by Thai Designer Pongpakorn Sarampakul

Inspired by paper engineering created a uniquely simple oriental design

Multi Functional Sofa

This piece can be transformed to bed, sofa or chaise lounge. A furniture that can be altered to each person's needs.

Traditional Thai Style Seating 

Water Hyacinth Sofa
Traditional weaving using water hyacinth is an example of possible sustainable material that has been used for furniture.

Noodle Sofa with Platform designed by Kenneth Cobonpue

"My palette of materials consists of rattan, buri, kawayan and abaca. Each has their own texture, colour, smell and sound. You can bend, twist and weave them in endless ways. It is a feast of the senses to work with these."

The Noodle sofa consists of stained rattan vines handwoven and tied over a frame of steel mounted on an oak veneered base. 

Outdoor seating unit inspired by Middle Eastern low seating

Super Bed Club - Bangkok

The Divan

Japan is well known for their simple interior with futons, floor cushions and low tables. A similar relation that can be made to the Japanese style seating is the Middle Eastern low seating originated from Turkey. 

This style of home furnishing is called the divan. The divan had a different evolution line compared with greek kline (from word klino, cause to lean). The term originates in the Persian word devan, with diverse meanings but in the general sense is the idea of meeting. Also known as diwan in Persian, was a long seat formed of a mattress laid against the side of the room, upon the floor, or upon a raised structure or frame, with cushions to lean against. With cushions distributed on the floor, this element of resting originates in Turkey around the VIII century. Wealthy Arabs sometimes slept on elaborate tent like beds, but most people living in villages are accustomed to this type of seating. Many with nomadic lifestyles, it allows them to pack it while traveling on camels.

The divan has been commonly known in Europe since about the middle of 18th century. It became fashionable roughly around 1820 to 1850 in areas where the romantic movement in literature penetrated. All the boudoirs of that generation were garnished with divans. They even spread to coffee- houses, which were sometimes known as divans or Turkish divans.

Floor style seating has slowly reappeared in present interior designs. The most recent one I have come across is the the floor mattress cushions from Urban Outfitter Home. Two cushions bound together which can be opened to spread on the floor creating single size mattress. Another example of this style I have come across while reading Dwell magazine (image posted) is a contemporary style of divan room.  

Sources: Wikipedia, Design Boom

The Couch

The word couch from French se coucher means "to lie down" 

-wikipedia

I've never like sitting on the couch, I've always found myself lying sideways on the couch to be most comfortable way of "sitting".  How many people sit on the couch while watching the television? Was the couch was first designed for sitting?

The couch, identified with relaxing and lounging connotatively represent a place to unwind much like Bed. However, I find the bed's association with relaxing leans towards sleeping/resting. Couch on the other hand represents a different type of relaxing relating to entertainment. Perhaps , the lost use of "daybed" is a result to distinguish the use of the two furniture. 

3:32 PM 

 I've set down a nice little lunch I've prepared on the coffee table (student style) for a nice two hours of movie and relaxing on my couch. My couch is quite ordinary, a muddy pallet of flowers and a surprise underneath the cushions. Well, at least 10 years ago, it was quite surprising. A sofa bed which lasted 10 years of wear and tear, pretty great.

3:50 PM

 Sitting half way on the edge of the couch and leaning towards the table, I've quickly finished my meal. I've never enjoyed sitting on the couch. I finished my last piece of kiwi fruit and leaned back in a slouchy sitting position. After sitting for 5 minutes I find myself sliding my body sideways leaning my head on the arm rest. For some reason, I've always found that lying sideways being the most comfortable way of "sitting" on the couch. I wonder how many people actually find sitting on the couch for a long period to be comfortable. 

From Wikipedia I found a short history of The Couch:

"Until the 20th century a couch referred to a long upholstered seat with one end inclined, high enough to provide a back and head-rest. "Couch" which in Late Middle Ages had signified bedding (fro the French se coucher, or "to lie down") was interchangeable with "daybed" through the 17th century. Couch also known as the sopha or sofa had a separate origin. Sofa was originally an Arabic word for raised section of floor, furnished with rugs and cushions, set apart for a council thus also especially esteemed guests.