I’ve been a long time fan of Tom Dixon. If you aren’t familiar, he is an incredible furniture and lighting designer. I guarantee you have seen his work, you just might not know the name behind the designs. His pendants are probably his most well known designs. Well, in his latest collab, he moves from high end to affordable design. See how Tom Dixon hacks IKEA!
No, it’s not what you think; it’s the good kind of hacking. I’ve told you before that companies are creating more furniture that is conducive to small spaces; furniture that is modular and can be “hacked” by changing positions any way you want. Last year, I introduced you to Design Love Fest’s colorful modular furniture line at Target as well as Pottery Barn’s new line of furniture specifically for apartments.
Fan Dining Chair | Beat Fat Pendant
This is the direction companies are moving, so get ready for even more small space solutions that are sexy. Anyways, I’ve admired Tom Dixon for his extreme creativity and his aptness of innovative designs. He tends to work mostly on the higher end of the budget scale because his designs are truly pieces of art. That is why this collab is so special: it’s IKEA! Above are two of my favorite Tom Dixon designs. And yes, he was the one who designed THOSE pendants you’ve seen everywhere. Told ya he’s good.
So…let’s see what happens when Tom Dixon hacks IKEA.
Designer Tom Dixon Hacks IKEA with Latest Collab
via Design Boom
This collab started with Tom Dixon’s team pitching IKEA an idea for a cot and a coffin. Yes, a coffin. See, I told you this guy was super creative and out there! Understandably, IKEA felt that a coffin was inappropriate (ha!), so they compromised on a bed sofa. I mean, if that isn’t the best start out story of a business partnership then I really don’t know what is.
The Tom Dixon x IKEA line is called Delaktig and it is intended to be multipurpose. It can be hacked with different components turning a bed into a sofa. You can also attach a work surface and a light in a way that is neither clunky or unattractive, but keeping with the minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic. Pretty cool, huh?
What’s awesome about this bed, which Tom Dixon says is really the only piece of furniture you need, is that it has been designed to be the ultimate workhorse that will grow and evolve with your tastes and styles. Tom’s team even dedicated a page to its different hacks. In our throw away culture, it is refreshing to see companies, even IKEA, being mindful about furniture in its current and future state. That makes my heart happy.
via Dwell
Now, if you don’t live in a small space or a big city, this sofa/bed/hack probably isn’t that spectacular to you. But think about it, so many people are living in cities now. As a result, there are smaller living spaces across the board. An adult is “supposed” to have a guest room, right? And yeah, if you lived in a house, you probably would have one. But what if you didn’t have more than 600 square feet? The challenge is making a room function but also designed well.
My sofa is from IKEA because that is the only place selling sectional sofas that convert to a pull out bed at a good price. Truly. Our living room in NYC is a home office for 2 people, an art studio, a guest room, and a home gym. We have to be very particular about what goes in our space and how it is arranged. Recently, I have completely overhauled our apartment (thanks, Marie Kondo!), and everything finally shines on its own without being cluttered. Let me tell you, that was a big job.
When companies are considering the lifestyle of their customers, and then catering to them, that’s a really really big deal. You would think that’s how it always is, but nope. We are living in really exciting times when the voice of the people is loud and actually being heard. You are represented.
via House and Garden UK
From Tom Dixon,
“Contributing to a global community of IKEA hackers that already edit and modify IKEA designs for every-day life, Tom and IKEA began work with the world’s most innovative art schools to see if DELAKTIG, rather than being a complete finished piece of furniture, could be the start of something much bigger – a kind of ecosystem with unlimited possibilities.” (source)
So inspiring, right? Along with the furniture design, Tom Dixon has collaborated with Bemz to create luxurious covers for this IKEA line. I’ll link all this information below so that you can easily find these design resources. This is a true collaboration with many partners and input. It’s incredible when everyone can come together and create something amazing for the people. Philippe Starck calls that “democratic design.
via Dwell
And yeah, that is a rattan headboard. For all of the boho lovers who have felt left out with the abundance of Scandinavian styles, this one is for you! When Tom Dixon hacks IKEA, he includes designs for everyone. I hope you will take a look at this collaboration and read what I’m linking below, including the behind-the-design stories. It’s really incredible to see how much thought was put into this collab.
-Kristen
See How Tom Dixon Hacks IKEA (Design Resources)
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