Spechtacular...

I've always fancied getting my paws on a tiny, unconventional flat. Modern storage solutions and building techniques mean you can be really creative and I love the challenge of making something uncomfortable into a lovely home. 

Still, you need to have vision, ala Specht Harpman Architects, who turned this pokey Manhattan loft into a really desirable space.

Ladylike...

The master of female furniture is surely Allen Jones. Best known for Kubrick's Korova Milk Bar homage (as Jones refused to create the works for free).

Jones' sculptures are known as 'forniphallic', and when they first appeared in the early 70s were an instant international sensation. I think the set below (with Allen in his flat) was produced as an edition of 5, one of which was bought by Kym Bonython and destroyed in a bush fire, one is in Belgium in the home of a wealthy collector, and I think the other have been split and are scattered in galleries around the world (the Tate has the chair, Moma has the table). They are definitely high on my "when I win the lotto" list.

Other purveyors of kinky homewares include:

Mario Philippona

Peter Rolfe's Dali inspired drawers

Kobi Levi's 'Blow-up Doll' shoes

Jonas Lönborg's chandelier 

And some other notable naughtiness:

And just to gender balance, there is "The Butler" table by Ron Gilad

Super storage...

As lovely as bought furniture is, if you are tight on space it has got to be built-in, and it's worth splashing out and going bespoke. Here are a few examples of successful space user-uppers that will make any apartment, however cramped, become more liveable.

Stairs are always the most obvious waste of space, and turning the treads into draws or boxes and any cavities underneath into slide-out vertical draws can give you the equivalent of an extra wardrobe and chest of drawers.

The staircase above is fascinating, instead of having 2 sets, you use one on a hinge.

If you have the luxury of high ceilings, then going up is always the best use of space.

I'm bookish, so mini libraries like this would be really useful, but obviously you wouldn't have to fill them with tomes.

Whilst it's a massive pain to make a bed that is built in, especially when it's against 3 walls, it's an easy way to insert draws below and shelving above

And never be scared to insert shelving around windows, if done correctly it won't suck out the light, and you can always put mirrors around the edges to reflect more light into the room. 

Several household items are better suited to vertical, pull-out shelving. Shoes, ties, and spices being the most obvious.

Doors you don't use very often can be made into recessed units (but this is expensive and means they'll have to be reinforced and they'll be a weight limit)

Built-in dining areas do save space, but I think the inflexibility outweighs the benefits.

And a few other ideas: