15. Chain Link Fencing As Art: Unwoven Light Installation
American artist Soo Sunny Park took over Rice Gallery, part of Rice University in Houston, Texas, in 2013 with a glistening, labor intensive, abstract installation called Unwoven Light. The suspended piece was made up of 37 individual units composed of chain link fencing that was arranged into a sculptural form that was all about light.
14. [UPDATED] Modern House Numbers
This post originated in 2006 and was so popular that we updated it in 2017 with additional companies offering modern house numbers. We searched around and found some of our favorite modern house numbers to help you bring another layer of visual interest to your home’s exterior.
13. The Rise of the Backyard Office
We noticed a trend 11+ years ago that found more people working from home, but not just at home – in their backyard offices. It was convenient then to just walk through the backyard to arrive at the office, and it’s even more convenient now in these COVID-19 times with more and more people working from home part-time or full-time.
12. David van Alphen’s Modern Shed
David van Alphen joined our Deconstruction column 10+ years ago to share a fantastic modern shed he built in his backyard for just about $3000 without using a kit. He went through the process with photos and his story, which might inspire you to build your own modern outdoor shed in the future.
Photo: Rob Lewis
11. The Living Cube by Till Koenneker
Germany-born, Switzerland-based designer Till Koenneker took matters into his own hands when he moved into a studio apartment that had no storage. Building a simple cube-like design, called The Living Cube, he found space for his vinyl collection, TV, clothes and shoes. On top of the cube, Koenneker was able to incorporate a bed for guests and inside houses a much-needed storage space.
10. Happy Pills
Back in 2007, design firm, studio m, shared their first project with us: a candy store in Barcelona called Happy Pills. Over the years, the brand has evolved, especially after being sued by the Red Cross, which led to a logo tweak. All these years later, the brand is still successful with 27 stores in three countries.
9. A Fine Time for Simplicity: 12 Minimalist Watches
In an era of smartphones, we no longer need watches, but perhaps we want them more than ever. And in a world of information overload, non-stop notifications, and the hindrance of a “more is better” culture, scaling back to minimalism when possible is sometimes much needed. We shared a dozen of our favorite minimalist watches at the time.
8. Anti-Theft Lunch Bags
This OG post keeps living and growing, much like the “mold” on these anti-theft lunch bags if it was real. While the bags aren’t made anymore, the idea is pretty smart considering office shared fridges do tend to have a problem with lunch theft on occasion.
7. 10 Modern Prefabs We’d Love to Call Home
Over the years, the prefab movement continues to gather steam as a great option for a new home. Built in much less time than a traditionally-built home, and often at a lower cost, prefabs offer great, modern digs in smartly designed, often compact, packages. We shared 10 of our favorites from around the world for inspo to those looking to go that route.
DROPLET
6. The Coolest Modern RVs, Trailers and Campers
We scoped out some of our favorite recreational vehicles that do away with the typical aesthetics they’re general known for and focused on the modern variety that you see popping up more and more as people look to get away. We scoped the internet and shared some of our favorite modern RVs, XVs, campers and caravans that offer the perfect escape.
5. “Tear Off” Wallpaper by ZNAK
Another post from the early days that still remains a favorite of readers is about this perforated “Tear Off” wallpaper made by ZNAK. While ZNAK is no longer around, their design lives on making you wonder what else can be done to improve wallpaper even further.
4. Manhattan Micro Loft by Specht Harpman Architects
It’s really hard to make 425 square feet look spacious but Specht Harpman Architects managed to do just that in this once awkward New York City apartment located at the top of a six-story building. To solve the space issue, they created “living platforms” to accommodate everything an apartment might need while keeping the space open and bright.
3. 12 Seats for Maximum Relaxation
Throughout our 15 years, we’ve been known to appreciate anything that revolves around napping because napping is life. Our love of relaxation led to seeking out nap chairs or seats that accommodate a siesta and we found 12 bound to prepare anyone for maximum relaxation.
Photo: Filip Dujardin
2. 20+ Beautiful Modern Staircases
Running across jaw dropping staircases is a part of the job leaving us nothing to do but document some of our favorites in one spot. At that time, we shared 20 but eventually started adding more and then created a followup post to continue the staircase love.
And the most popular post of all time is…
1. 12 Homes Made From Shipping Containers
It’s no surprise that shipping containers continue to popup in architecture projects around the world. They meet a variety of requirements: Modern. Check. Low-cost. Check. Environmentally-friendly. Check. Readily available. Check. While many new shipping container projects have grabbed our attention since, these 12 we featured back in 2013 are still favorites of ours, and clearly some of yours!
Caroline Williamson is Editorial Director of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.
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