Why add more space when you can just transform the space you have? 
Christian Schallert has a small 258 square foot apartment in a hip neighborhood of Barcelona.  The brilliance of the space is that all storage is pulled against the walls with open space in the center.  The furniture can then fold out into the circulation space in the center which configures the room into
a kitchen, lounge, dining or bedroom. 
Christian calls it an active apartment because he is always re-configuring it throughout the day based on his needs and jokes that it keeps him in top shape.
Architect Barbara Appolloni: http://www.barbaraappolloni.com/works...
Original story here: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/...

Did you spot us in this months Homes & Land Hawaii, if not go grab a copy.  Not on island? Click here for the digital version.

We are in the new featured business section on page 48.  Let us know what you think.

Who said flowers and coffee don't belong in the same store?  In Honolulu, Paiko is home to Brue Cafe and Flower Boutique.  Paiko offers hands-on workshops, locally sourced flora, hand crafted plant vessels and gifts.  The fresh interior matches the company's brand which is both tropical and urban.  Even the graphics and website follow though on their concept.  The interior design was done by Nikole Nelson, of BLKCORAL.  Paiko’s blog has a great article on Nikole’s process for remodeling Paiko. Check it out here.

This Honnold & Rex Research House was built in1954 and then redesigned & reconfigured by Xorin Balbes in 1980.  Arts & Architecture magazine's incredibly important Case Study House program built innovative modern houses all over Southern California (and beyond) throughout the forties, fifties, and sixties.  This modern masterpiece is filled of luxury appliances, finishes and furnishings.  Located on the most desirable street above Sunset Plaza in LA this project is worth a peak.
For more info see link 1 and link 2.

CB2 has just rolled out their Kravitz Design collection which includes 21 pieces, mainly pillows, two rugs, a couple chairs, a few tables and a lamp.  The collection style is inspired by Lenny Kravitz's travels and '70s design.  Its actually not bad, I would rate the collection a B- if we exclude the pillows.

Here is my issue, there are many design professionals that would greatly benefit from a collaboration with CB2 and are actually qualified to provide a fresh collection.  Hiring celebrities for design work troubles me.  We can bet that Mr. Kravitz didn't actually design each detail himself or produce any furniture shop drawings.

With the extinction of supermodels being largely contributed to celebrities steeling every magazine cover any therefore models have very little name recondition.  This might seam a little far fetched but consider what has happened to Architectural Digest, its now a magazine that just shows off celebrity homes.

To view the collection:
http://www.cb2.com/kravitz-design-collaboration/kravitz-design/1