The Dry House Weekly - Week 7

Yuri Gijselman
Sep 2
4 min read

Welcome to Week 7 of The Dry House Weekly.

After defining the villa’s internal finishes, we now move to the furniture and built-in systems — the layer that makes every room livable.

Phase 7: Furniture & Built-in Systems

Design Intent

In line with the Dry House principles, all furniture and built-ins are:

Dry-installed — assembled with bolts, clips, or rails (no adhesives or wet works).
Expandable from a compact micro element to multiple micro elements
Healthy & Sustainable — avoiding VOCs, toxic laminates, and adhesives.
Locally Rooted — incorporating treated bamboo or hardwood from responsible sources for warmth and identity.
Space-Saving — maximizing usability through smart, multifunctional modules.
Aligned with the Kit of Parts (KoP) — standardized interfaces for long-term adaptability.

Compact Transformable Systems

One of the most innovative features in The Dry House is the idea of a compact central element that can expand into multiple micro-elements. A box that becomes the room.

How It Works

At rest, the unit appears as a clean rectangular box in the middle of the bedroom.
Inside, it contains the bed, wardrobe, and desk in a compact footprint.
Through sliding tracks, fold-out mechanisms, or pivoting panels, the box can be:
- Pulled apart to reveal the bed and desk on opposite sides.
- Unfolded vertically to extend shelving or wardrobe storage.
- Rotated or reconfigured depending on the room’s use (sleeping, working, dressing).

Benefits

Space-Saving: A single unit replaces three bulky furniture pieces.
Configurable: Users can adapt the arrangement — e.g., pull the desk out in the morning, extend the bed at night.
Demountable: As part of the Kit of Parts (KoP), it can be removed, relocated, or upgraded.
Aesthetic: When closed, the box is minimal and uncluttered, giving the bedroom a serene look.

Example Use Case

In a small bedroom: during the day, the compact box is closed, maximizing open floor space.
At night: the bed slides out, the wardrobe is accessed from the side, and the desk folds down for evening work.

This approach transforms the bedroom into a multi-use environment without requiring permanent partitions or excessive floor area.

Room-by-room Furniture

Living Room & Common Spaces

Seating: Modular aluminum or composite frames with removable cushions; ottomans double as hidden storage boxes.
Storage: Wall-mounted rail systems with clip-in shelving; cabinets can extend vertically to maximize height.
Media Units: Slim prefabricated frames that integrate screens + concealed storage.

Bedrooms

Wardrobes: Flat-pack steel/aluminum modules with composite or bamboo fronts; can expand vertically with bolt-on units.
Beds: Modular frames with pull-out drawers or foldable under-bed storage.
Desks & Shelving: Rail-mounted workstations that can fold away, turning a bedroom into a dual-purpose office.

Storage & Utility Areas

Shelving: Adjustable steel racking clipped into Unistrut or slot walls.
Cabinetry: Compact modules with sliding doors to save circulation space.
KoP Advantage: Storage aligned with structural grid; units can be relocated if room functions change.

Kitchen (KoP Zone)

Cabinets: Prefabricated metal/composite modules; base units fitted with pull-out pantries and corner carousel systems to use every inch.
Countertops: Quartz, terrazzo, or recycled solid surface slabs.
Splashbacks: Stainless steel or composite clip-in panels.
Appliances: Built-in, standardized slots for fridge, oven, and dishwasher to save floor area.

Bathrooms & Toilets (KoP Zone)

Vanities: Compact modular basins with under-counter storage drawers.
Toilets: Wall-mounted bolt-in units with concealed service walls, freeing floor area.
Showers: Sliding partition screens instead of swing doors.

Corridors

Storage Niches: Slim vertical shelving clipped into wall rails; shoe cabinets flush with wall surfaces.
Seating Benches: Narrow composite benches with lift-up storage lids.

Balconies & Outdoor Areas

Furniture: Lightweight modular outdoor systems with stackable seating and foldable tables.
Planters: Slim profile planter modules that double as railing screens.

Staircase

Under-Stair Storage: Prefabricated drawers or cupboards integrated into the void.
Handrails: Prefabricated aluminum systems; hardwood grips can incorporate built-in LED strip lighting for dual function.

Maintenance & Operation

Unlike traditional built-in joinery, The Dry House furniture and built-ins are designed with long-term M&O in mind:

Easy Replacement — damaged cabinet fronts, shelves, or drawer units can be unclipped and swapped individually without demolishing the whole system.
Service Access — concealed wiring or plumbing runs behind modular kitchens and bathrooms remain accessible by simply removing panels.
Durability — powder-coated metals, composites, and treated local hardwoods resist humidity and pests, reducing maintenance cycles.
Cleaning — wall-mounted and raised furniture allows easier floor cleaning and better airflow in humid climates.
Upgradeability — when lifestyle needs change (e.g., converting a bedroom into an office), modules can be reconfigured rather than replaced entirely.

Outcome: A house that grows, adapts, and ages gracefully — with minimal waste and disruption.

Product Examples

Modular Storage & Furniture:

USM Haller modular shelving (steel, reconfigurable).
Vitsoe 606 aluminum rail shelving (wall-mounted, expandable).
IKEA Platsa & Brimnes (storage beds, fold-away furniture).

Kitchen & Bathroom:

Duravit prefabricated WC and vanity units.
Blum pull-out pantry and folding mechanisms.
Stainless steel kitchens (professional-style modular carcasses).

Compact, Transformable Systems:

Boxetti furniture modules — a brand that designs compact, multi-functional “blocks” which unfold or slide apart to reveal different functions (e.g., bed, desk, storage, or kitchen).
Key inspiration for The Dry House’s expandable bedroom box, where a single unit contains a bed, wardrobe, and desk, and can be reconfigured by pulling, folding, or sliding.
Benefits:
- Extreme space efficiency — multiple functions hidden in one compact form.
- Minimalist aesthetic — clean geometry when closed, flexible functionality when open.
- KoP Alignment — each module is self-contained, prefabricated, and demountable.

Outdoor:

Dedon modular outdoor furniture.
Trex recycled composite systems.
Locally made bamboo or hardwood benches with storage.

Why Space-Saving + KoP + Transformable Furniture?

By integrating space-saving design into the Kit of Parts, The Dry House ensures:

Smaller rooms remain highly functional.
Furniture can serve dual purposes (storage + seating, bed + office).
Spaces stay flexible for future needs — rooms can be converted without structural change.
The villa consumes less material, less energy, and less land, while offering more usability.
Provide customizable layouts without construction changes.
Enable users to reshape their living environment as lifestyles evolve.

Next Week

Welcome to Week 7 of The Dry House Weekly.

After defining the villa’s internal finishes, we now move to the furniture and built-in systems — the layer that makes every room livable.

Phase 7: Furniture & Built-in Systems

In line with the Dry House principles, all furniture and built-ins are:

Dry-installed — assembled with bolts, clips, or rails (no adhesives or wet works).

Expandable from a compact micro element to multiple micro elements

Healthy & Sustainable — avoiding VOCs, toxic laminates, and adhesives.

Locally Rooted — incorporating treated bamboo or hardwood from responsible sources for warmth and identity.

Space-Saving — maximizing usability through smart, multifunctional modules.

Aligned with the Kit of Parts (KoP) — standardized interfaces for long-term adaptability.

One of the most innovative features in The Dry House is the idea of a compact central element that can expand into multiple micro-elements. A box that becomes the room.

How It Works

At rest, the unit appears as a clean rectangular box in the middle of the bedroom.

Inside, it contains the bed, wardrobe, and desk in a compact footprint.

Through sliding tracks, fold-out mechanisms, or pivoting panels, the box can be:

Pulled apart to reveal the bed and desk on opposite sides.

Unfolded vertically to extend shelving or wardrobe storage.

Rotated or reconfigured depending on the room’s use (sleeping, working, dressing).

Benefits

Space-Saving: A single unit replaces three bulky furniture pieces.

Configurable: Users can adapt the arrangement — e.g., pull the desk out in the morning, extend the bed at night.

Demountable: As part of the Kit of Parts (KoP), it can be removed, relocated, or upgraded.

Aesthetic: When closed, the box is minimal and uncluttered, giving the bedroom a serene look.

Example Use Case

In a small bedroom: during the day, the compact box is closed, maximizing open floor space.

At night: the bed slides out, the wardrobe is accessed from the side, and the desk folds down for evening work.

This approach transforms the bedroom into a multi-use environment without requiring permanent partitions or excessive floor area.

Living Room & Common Spaces

Seating: Modular aluminum or composite frames with removable cushions; ottomans double as hidden storage boxes.

Storage: Wall-mounted rail systems with clip-in shelving; cabinets can extend vertically to maximize height.

Media Units: Slim prefabricated frames that integrate screens + concealed storage.

Bedrooms

Wardrobes: Flat-pack steel/aluminum modules with composite or bamboo fronts; can expand vertically with bolt-on units.

Beds: Modular frames with pull-out drawers or foldable under-bed storage.

Desks & Shelving: Rail-mounted workstations that can fold away, turning a bedroom into a dual-purpose office.

Storage & Utility Areas

Shelving: Adjustable steel racking clipped into Unistrut or slot walls.

Cabinetry: Compact modules with sliding doors to save circulation space.

KoP Advantage: Storage aligned with structural grid; units can be relocated if room functions change.

Kitchen (KoP Zone)

Cabinets: Prefabricated metal/composite modules; base units fitted with pull-out pantries and corner carousel systems to use every inch.

Countertops: Quartz, terrazzo, or recycled solid surface slabs.

Splashbacks: Stainless steel or composite clip-in panels.

Appliances: Built-in, standardized slots for fridge, oven, and dishwasher to save floor area.

Bathrooms & Toilets (KoP Zone)

Vanities: Compact modular basins with under-counter storage drawers.

Toilets: Wall-mounted bolt-in units with concealed service walls, freeing floor area.

Showers: Sliding partition screens instead of swing doors.

Corridors

Storage Niches: Slim vertical shelving clipped into wall rails; shoe cabinets flush with wall surfaces.

Seating Benches: Narrow composite benches with lift-up storage lids.

Balconies & Outdoor Areas

Furniture: Lightweight modular outdoor systems with stackable seating and foldable tables.

Planters: Slim profile planter modules that double as railing screens.

Staircase

Under-Stair Storage: Prefabricated drawers or cupboards integrated into the void.

Handrails: Prefabricated aluminum systems; hardwood grips can incorporate built-in LED strip lighting for dual function.

Unlike traditional built-in joinery, The Dry House furniture and built-ins are designed with long-term M&O in mind:

Easy Replacement — damaged cabinet fronts, shelves, or drawer units can be unclipped and swapped individually without demolishing the whole system.

Service Access — concealed wiring or plumbing runs behind modular kitchens and bathrooms remain accessible by simply removing panels.

Durability — powder-coated metals, composites, and treated local hardwoods resist humidity and pests, reducing maintenance cycles.

Cleaning — wall-mounted and raised furniture allows easier floor cleaning and better airflow in humid climates.

Upgradeability — when lifestyle needs change (e.g., converting a bedroom into an office), modules can be reconfigured rather than replaced entirely.

Outcome: A house that grows, adapts, and ages gracefully — with minimal waste and disruption.

Modular Storage & Furniture:

USM Haller modular shelving (steel, reconfigurable).

Vitsoe 606 aluminum rail shelving (wall-mounted, expandable).

IKEA Platsa & Brimnes (storage beds, fold-away furniture).

Kitchen & Bathroom:

Duravit prefabricated WC and vanity units.

Blum pull-out pantry and folding mechanisms.

Stainless steel kitchens (professional-style modular carcasses).

Compact, Transformable Systems:

Boxetti furniture modules — a brand that designs compact, multi-functional “blocks” which unfold or slide apart to reveal different functions (e.g., bed, desk, storage, or kitchen).

Key inspiration for The Dry House’s expandable bedroom box, where a single unit contains a bed, wardrobe, and desk, and can be reconfigured by pulling, folding, or sliding.

Benefits:

Extreme space efficiency — multiple functions hidden in one compact form.

Minimalist aesthetic — clean geometry when closed, flexible functionality when open.

KoP Alignment — each module is self-contained, prefabricated, and demountable.

Outdoor: