Darren Todd: Safe haven

Meet Daren Todd, a muralist, illustrator and designer based in Portland, Oregon, he is the proprietor of Art Larger Than Me, a creative studio and gallery catering to clients across residential real estate and the commercial film industry. Todd's recent work centres on the convergence of abstract expressionism and graphic portraiture, as well as the amalgamation of both styles into harmonious paintings and designs.

A man in his stuido is painting. Around him on the walls are more paintings. The desk is full of artistic supplies.

Nurture the feelings of safety

A personal oasis that nurtures feeling of safety and privacy combined with joy and pride. This temporary micro-unit room is part of a transitional housing complex for the unhoused. Designed with trauma-informed principles, it prioritises well-being, healing, and self-expression. The space is efficient and calming, providing a single room and bathroom for tenants to recharge and sleep well. Fresh paint and soft furnishings can be added to reflect each tenant's unique tastes. Sustainability is a priority, with a focus on safety, privacy, pride, and personalisation.

A desk y the back wall with a painted chair in front of it and a painted cabinet above. To the left is a bed with grey and pink bedding. Above the bed is aanother painted cabinet. To the left of a desk is a bookcase.

A view of a bed placed by a window half covered with blinds. A chair in the front and a cupboard over the bedhead are painted in yellow, pink and green.

A bathroom corner with a sink and a pink basket underneath. A white trolley is placed to the left of the sink, filled with bathroom accessories.

A view of the room from the window full of white furniture with wooden accents in the storage boxes, stools and a chair.

A working corner with a desk with a painted cupboard above. On the left wall is a white bookcase filled with books.

How to build your own

By incorporating personal touches, one can easily transform their temporary dwelling into a sanctuary, suitable for a variety of activities such as work, clothes storage and recharging. Small living spaces often require multi-functional furniture, such as a dining table that can be used for socialising, eating, or even as a mini-office.

To create a sense of spaciousness, avoid storing everything at ground level. Instead, make use of the wall space by hanging cabinets, shelves and peg boards. By installing the IVAR, ENHET and SKÅDIS you can create a multi-functional storage system that maximises vertical space.

To further save floor space, consider the FLEKKE bed, which can be used for under-bed storage. By placing belongings in boxes under the bed, the room will feel less cluttered, making it easier to focus and relax. Additionally, by painting untreated wood furniture with a unique design, one can add a touch of personality to the space.

The MERETE curtains provide an excellent solution to separate the room into distinct areas and create privacy. The STENSELE dining table can be used for eating, socialising and as a mini office so that you don’t need extra tables for the same job.

Finally, expressing your personal style can be as simple as painting the bathroom walls to complement the overall colour scheme of the apartment. By implementing these tips, one can create a personalised and practical living space, even in a temporary home.

Explore more collaborations

A view of a bed in a room with a blue lighting. There are hanging cut curtains above the bed creating calm atmosphere.

A kitchen with a black and white kitchen island in the middle and a nest of lamps hanging above. The walls have sections painted in yellow and blue.

A kitchen with wooden panel doors and a shelving unit above seen from the front. There is a black trolley to the left with boxes.

A room with all the furniture and accessories in pink. A desk with a chair is by the window to the right and a shelving unit to the left and back of the image.

A storage is on the wall and there is painting of chanterelles on a green and blue background. There is a grey sofa in front of them with a green coffee table full of toys.

A storage unit moanted on the wall painted like a fireplace with a mirror above it, boxes underneath and a potted plant to the right.

A storage unit painted in turquosie and pink full of documents and jars is standing by the yellow wall. There is a white table with a book on it and a little stool painted in green and turqoise with pink dots.