Brightly coloured tables and chairs are hidden in plain sight between the shelves of this bookcase by graduate designer Orla Reynolds.

The white bookcase comprises independent units of two or four squares, each holding a chair or table in its sides.

They easily pull out from the bookcase when needed and the two purple tables can be placed together to form a larger dining table.

Former ballet dancer Reynolds, who has just graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology in Ireland, wanted the movement from bookcase to dining table to reflect a scene change at the theatre.

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Here's more from Orla Reynolds:

Abstract:
As if from nowhere… is an independently functioning bookcase which houses four dining chairs and two tables that when placed together form a dining table. It is intended for small living spaces or for those who wish to cater to the unexpected guest.

Description:
I began my exploration by focusing on dance. I was a ballet dancer, having studied ballet from the age of four. I wanted to focus on the strength of a ballerina, the lightweight and lightsomeness of a ballerina, the beautiful streamlined silhouette they create.

Through initial research it seemed as if the pieces would become sculptural, rather than the multi-functional pieces I love to design.

I began to think about the theatre stage. I thought about how a production is brought together for the audience; how the audience becomes engaged. I then began to think about the home as a stage; and how our lives play out within these four walls. The walls appeared to be the most wasted space, especially in small living spaces such as apartment living. Through concept development, and model making, I created As if from nowhere…

As if from nowhere… is an independently functioning bookcase, that houses four dining chairs, and two tables, that when united create a dining table. The movement from bookcase to dining is like a scene change. It transforms the space like props on a stage. The dancers can be seen in the chairs and tables. These are made of such strong material that there is an expectation that they are heavy. But they are lightweight. They are streamlined creating an elegant silhouette.

I tried to sustain a vision. The bookcase is the nucleus of this production. It houses everything, awaiting the performance. The four chairs are like the four swans in Tchaikovsky’s, Swan Lake. The tables are the corps de ballet bringing the production together. Furthermore the bookcase works independently itself, dressing the home.

Materials:
Chair: Mild steel and birch plywood.
Weight: 3kg

Table: Mild Steel and birch plywood.
Weight: 5kg

Bookcase: MDF