Modern technology invades every part of our lives. It’s inescapable. But the one place that most people will say is there last refuge from this deluge is their home. And the crowning jewel of this last bastion? The bedroom. People see it as their own, personal retreat from the bustling and busy world we live in. But there are a large number of people who feel differently. These people have decided to take the bull by the horns, and incorporate all kinds of modern technology into their home lives, even as far as becoming a technological exhibition.
From crazy designs for simple home accessories to completely revolutionised bedroom furniture, almost anything is possible. In homage to the kind of tech that has pervasively entered our homes, here is a rundown of some of the most weird and wonderful out there. Prepare to be wowed, shocked, or possibly underwhelmed depending on your point-of-view!
Accessories
Clocks
If there is one thing that every home can be counted on having, it is some form of device for telling the time. This usually comes in a standard clock format. But it doesn’t have to. Maverick designer Christiaan Postma shows how creative you can get with an imaginative take on a time-telling device.
What at first can appear to be a random collection of matchsticks, they then begin to slowly move and rotate over time to eventually spell-out the time. His “clock” uses over 150 individual clock mechanisms to power the 55-inch square timepiece.
Household Furniture
Light-up Furniture
This may sound crazy, but there is method in the madness. In fact, there are many methods. A recent flurry of activity in this type of feature has seen numerous designers create different and stylish ways to incorporate light (literally) into your furniture.
One such design is the Eudora. This is a fibreglass chair upholstered in a variety of printed fabrics and encased in polyester resin. While that in itself is unique, it doesn’t stop there. Eudora is also illuminated from within, enhancing the patterns and features of this furniture piece.
A slightly different take on this concept takes you to LED Wood Furniture. This set (shown underneath), created by Italian designer Giancarlo Zema, combines traditional wood and electronic LED lights to create a rather distinctive range of furniture. The furniture lights are created using natural resin.
Multimedia furniture
If you want sophistication, style and functionality in your furniture, then this is the way to go. Computer technology meets comfort in the sleek Maya Single Chair. This chair is specially designed to relieve your body and mind. The reclining Maya chair combines features including a 32inch screen, a pair of powerful 60W speakers and a sub, as well as being completely compatible with the latest computer technology, giving you the full package of style and substance.
Bedroom Furniture
Beds
Are you a person who sees bed as a place of rest? Somewhere to get some downtime from the stressful outside world? Perhaps a place to curl up and read a book? If not, then these multimedia beds are for you.
Beds with modern technology incorporated are nothing new; there have been many designer beds with built-in TV that can hide away when not-in-use.
However, Brazilian designer Roberta Ramme has taken this concept to the next level with the multifunctional chaise-Longue called Wave Chaise. Primarily aimed at teens and featuring state-of-the-art technology, this bed (if it can still be called that!) integrates TV, DVD and a music system along with a computer desk in its front, making it perfect for just about any modern activity. It also includes storage space, so you can even keep your books amongst the marvels of the modern world present in this piece of bedroom furniture.
As technology becomes more and more integrated with our daily lives, and demand for new technology increases, it was only a matter of time before designers started incorporating these ideas into every aspect of home life. For the modern world we live in, there is literally something for everyone, and every room.
