Thursday, January 5, 2012

Small inventions

Nothing pretty today, but I had to share with you the coolest feature of my apartment in Paris. The trash can was located under the sink on the back of the kitchen cabinet door, with a string connecting the lid to the side of the cabinet.

When the door was opened wide, the string would pull the lid open! I had never seen anything like this (do I live under a rock?). Simple but ingenius! Have you seen anything similar?

16 comments:

David said...

That's pretty ingenious. And I'm always for hiding the trash bin as long as its easy to get to.

Josje said...

You crack me up! I think you wil find similar waste bins in 90% of all kitchens, ours has different compartments for green waste, normal household waste etc.
I remember about 30 years ago my dad didn't want to spend the money on a bin made to go on the cabinet door like this, so he mounted our old waste bin on the door under the sink, with a little rope, same as on your photo.
IKEA sells them (along with every DIY and kitchen company I imagine).
Isn't it great what you find out on your travels? (still laughing).

ArchitectDesign™ said...

David -it was great for cooking because the door was easy to open with your foot and so you woudln't have to touch anything with your messy hands!
Josje -this must be European because I haven't seen anything like it in the states. I have a feeling the kitchen was from Ikea though so this makes sense. My own trash can at home I keep below my sink but no lid, etc.

Paisley Curtain said...

I have never seen this mechanism before, I do have the trash can under the sink that you have to slide out to put trash in, which is very common. The ones that u press with your foot to open are good when new and as they get into old age the lid opens at it's free will. French are very smart people, this is a very simple system. I am going to try this :)

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Paisley -thats what I liked about this -so simple! I'm goign to have to see if I can find something similar for my own apartment now. Ikea here I come!

My Notting Hill said...

I want this!! Our trash can is under the sink but no lid & certainly no cool string to pull the lid open. Can't wait to show this to Dan...one more project..

Karena said...

I have never seen anything like this!! I like to trash as I cook; throw packaging etc as I go (my kitchen is tiny and how perfect this would be.

Okay now Stefan you must do a tutorial for us (who need step by step) Ha!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

home before dark said...

I have given up the trash can wars and settled on the simple human butterfly design. It sits at the end of the counter (not seen from the non working part of kitchen) and allows for easy use and like you say not touching hands on cabinets. It's stainless, easy to clean and does not talk back.

Austen said...

There are a lot of variations on the theme available:
http://www.thenicecompany.co.uk/online_store/appliance_store/product_details/under_sink_waste_bin,_16_litre_201wh.htm
I'm sure there will be at least one manufacturer who will ship them to the US.

Anonymous said...

I've never...but it is kind of excellent. Love your blog, btw. Discovered over the holidays and just love it. Thanks and Happy New Year!

katiedid said...

Clever!

Todd said...

Wow - I have never seen this either! Pretty cool. I just did a search because I think this might work in my apt. too. There are different types but they're easy to find. Thanks for the tip, Stefan!!!

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21761

Kwana said...

Love a good idea!

Anonymous said...

Hello, I am from Croatia and I remember that everyone I knew had this type of cabinet under the sink in the kitchen since I was a child up till now (and I am 30).
In general I think all the kitchens had this, you couldnt buy a normal kitchen without one.
And I remember that ours was broken or something, and then we took the whole thing out to make room for bowls, detergents and stuff...

Anonymous said...

As in coratia this type of trash is actually pretty common here in Germany.

However, when I was in New York I was so amazed when I signed my credit card bill on a touch pad on the first day. It was only until the second day that I realized that this was standard procedure of signing :-)

Renée Finberg said...

that is indeed cool!!

i miss Paris and it's apartments.

xx