Via: Apartment Therapy
Via: Apartment Therapy
Emeco and Frank Gehry, together again... for a cause
Emeco and Frank Gehry have collaborated in the development a one-of-a-kind large scale bench which will be presented during the Salone del Mobile in Milan, April 22-27 2009. If you want it, you won't be able to just place your order with DWR... Tuyomyo is a unique piece which will be auctioned in December, 2009. Funds raised will go towards the creation a million dollar fund called, Leslie Gehry Brenner Award, to honor Frank’s late daughter in support of the work of the Hereditary Disease Foundation.
For the design, Gehry’s mandate was simple, "The form has to be free and light. It must be structural, and at the same time poetic. And a little dangerous." And indeed it is... the project was truly an experiment pushing the boundaries of aluminum fabrication and paving the way for possible new products. The bench measures 3 meters long, weighs 122 pounds, and is composed of 80% recycled aluminum formed using aircraft manufacturing technology.
Link: Emeco
Link: Hereditary Disease Foundation
Designer: Frank Gehry
How to restore your vintage fiberglass shell furniture. The right way.
I have six original Eames shell chairs which I picked up at a garage sale four years ago. Ever since (with much procrastination in between, of course) I have been trying to figure out how to restore the fiberglass which has lost its luster... and let me tell you, there is a lot of bad advice out there on the 'innerwebs' (ahem, AT). So I was very glad to find Chairfag. As of today, this is the one and only post on Chairfag. We hope that there will be more in the future! Because... yeah, I'll admit it... I'm a little bit gay for chairs.
The first half of the article doesn't apply for my chairs though it is educational. The basic shell restoration info towards the end is pure gold. And the best part is: it's easy! Get to work!
Link: Chairfag: Shell Chair Restoration
Our CA Boom V coverage begins (FINALLY!!)
CA Boom V follows in a tradition of providing sensory overload to design professionals and aficionados alike (hint: the architects are normally the tired looking folk, since the wardrobe no longer reveals anything apparently), and this edition did not let anyone down in that respect.
Unfortunately for us (and for you), we were unable to go on the architecture tour on Friday, so there is no coverage of that excursion.
Fret not, since we provide you with links to all the architecture offices involved (after the jump). You will have to imagine our witty banter and myopic architectural insight when perusing the web sites of the participating architects, but, let’s face it, you like the pictures best anyway.
Reference: Back to the Boom
"Best of British"
DecodeLondon is a new and innovative British design and manufacturing company committed to working with London's best creative talent. The Textile Side Unit, designed by Jethro Macey and featured above in Floral, is crafted using CNC milled stone composite doors and a solid oak base.
Inspired by Aalto and Eames
When I first received word about the Bent Plywood Cat Scratcher, my belief that bent ply had jumped the shark was somewhat reinforced. I mean, you can pretty much find a bent ply something-or-other just about everywhere these days. So, I ran this by a cat person, who also happens to have some modern tastes, and she thought it was a great idea. She quickly reminded me of those shag-carpet "cat condo" scratching towers down at the local PetSmart and upon hearing that, I was sold on the idea of this scratcher.
The scratcher appears to be available only in walnut but the cool thing about this is your carpet options are endless. The scratcher is sized to accommodate FLOR carpet tiles, allowing you to change it's appearance on a whim.
Link: Modern Critter [Thanks, Geoffrey]
Link: FLOR
Bringing an edge to outdoor furniture
After having worked as a designer for some of the most amazing brands (Dior, Guerlain, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, Lauder and Clarins) Frederic's attention turned to industrial design.He was behind a very successful modernisation of the Tolix chair.
He is bringing fresh and edgy designs to the outdoor market. I love these three pieces fresh from this year.
His site just opened over the weekend and is worth a visit.
Link: Frederic Gaunet
Should this be considered an IKEA hack?
Do your friends think they've stepped into an IKEA showroom whenever they enter your home? If so, here's a great way to distinguish your stock IKEA wares from the masses. Bemz.com offers a wide variety of slipcovers that fit a good selection of IKEA's sofas and armchairs. Prices hover around $140 or so and some fabrics are available in 100% cotton while others are a linen/cotton blend. The Stromstad sofa (above) is shown in Harmony-Chestnut Brown.
Via: LA TimesLink: Bemz.com
For the lollygagger in you.
Thanks to a comment from Matt in our post below, we were clued-in to Loll Design, the firm behind the Room & Board Adirondack chairs. Turns out they've got quite an assortment of products, from chairs and stools to benches and tables, all made from 100% post-consumer high-density polyethylene. They also work close with designers and architects, collaborating on numerous projects, including The Octagon in NYC (above right) and designing benches for the St. Louis County Courthouse.
Link: Loll Designs [Thanks, Matt!]Picnic table chic
The "I was here" collection designed by Jason Miller will take you back to that one summer at (band?) camp when you carved your name into the camp picnic tables. The collection features various tables and a bench constructed from "graffiti-proof" plastic wood with all sorts of random New York graffiti carved into the top of them. Available colors include white, black, brown, and blue.
Link: Areaware/Jason Miller
Panel and sphere partition wall
The Troika from em is a screen / partition wall constructed from translucent resin panels and spheres along with stainless steel rods, plates, and collars. Depending on your installation, the Troika is available with or without the self-supporting frame.
Link: em collection
Via: LA Times
Related: Pivot Screen
Related: Folding Screen
Related: Helix
Related: Flipper
Related: Labyrint
Related: Double Curve
An "artistic" table
The Pegaso table from Caimi Casa features a powder-coated tubular support structure and is available with an elliptical or rectangular top in transparent or matte glass. The top is physically attached to the leg structure via four stainless steel plates.
Link: caimi casaComfort inspired by nature
The Leaf collection from Arper exhibits simple lines and is right at home indoors or out. Leaf is available in a painted (white, mocha, green) or chrome finish. Full-grain leather or polyurethane cushions are also available.
Link: Arper SpA
A quick trip into the archives
CA|Boom ICan you believe its been three years since CA|Boom burst onto the design scene? Check out our coverage from the design show's freshman year.
Teardrop Vase from Derek ChenVeneered plywood vase shell, bent in a teardop shape. Sealed and weighted with opaque colored resin. Exposed resin bottom, fully waterproof with a satin lacquer finish.
Wing Lounge Chair from LYXIf Ray and Charles worked at the Sci-Fi channel, perhaps this would've been their creation.
Porch House"With a solid understanding of modern design and its application in residential architecture, Greg Lavardera has put together several plans that definitely take the bland and boring out of stock plans."
Archive: August 2004
Cole Scego is a designer based in rural Missouri who prefers the use of materials such as aluminum and steel to construct pieces that will stand the test of time. A strict vegetarian, Cole believes that happiness and well-being are strongly associated with your living environment. Link: Cole Scego Design
Link: About Cole
Clean, simple, and stackable.
I'm a fan of clean, simple design and this stackable chair from Hussi is just that. The ST10 features a thin yet flexible backrest which is available with 2 or 3 slats.
Link: Pure Austrian Design
We've discussed IKEA here in the past and some our our topics have touched on the topic of altering those inexpensive pieces we purchase from our favorite blue and yellow big-box store. Little did I know that there was a blog dedicated to such exploits. Anyway, look closely at the photo on the right and you'll see an IKEA Effectiv cabinet topped by a quartz-slab countertop in this Eichler remodel. Perhaps not quite a "hack" but still I think it looks pretty slick.
As for the other "IKEA Hacks" on the site, it looks like a majority are geared more towards the dorm-crowd (not that there's anything wrong with that) but have a look around, you might just find something useful. Allen wrenches not included. :)
Read: Open to the Outdoors(Sunset.com)
Via: IKEA Hacker
Comfort and Style
Add some style to your crib/loft/home/office space with these fine chairs from Mackler Furniture. Both the Lenox Lounge Chair and the New York Arm Chair (featured at right) share subtle design cues and are available in a natural or walnut finish. Personally, I'm down with the walnut.
Link: Mackler
Discreet home-office desk space
The Writing Desk from Team 7 is a simple yet discreet solution for creating a work area in your living space. The Writing Desk features a slide out desktop with a hinged cover that reveals an organizer tray. Cable management is integrated into the desk and there is also ample storage space for your printer and files.
The Writing Desk is available in several different wood types including alder, beech, maple, and walnut.
Link: Team7
Sit on your ride
I must admit that I have been tempted to make benches out of my old snowboards, but these days I'm not overly excited about the frat house aesthetic... OK, so really it's because my wife would kill me.
But Andy and Chris Vernall - the designers behind London based Vitamin - have come up with two very slick designs that elevate the snowboard bench to a concept perhaps even my wife could love... well a man can dream, can't he?
The Powderseat comes in two styles: the one piece Blade and the flat-packable Trident. Both are crafted of polished steel with suction cups to hold the board in place, so you can even display your current ride. It will be mine... oh, yes... it will be mine... you know... if she lets me...
Link: Vitamin
Via: Cool Hunting
Keeping the outdoors simple
I'm a sucker for all things clean, simple and full of pop. So it was a no-brainer when I came accross a collection of outdoor garden furniture by designer Jennifer Newman.
Shortlisted for the 2006 Grand Designs Magazine Award, Newman's products are constructed of welded aluminum that is available in a wide array of powdercoat finishes. She also notes that the aluminum allows for the pieces to be refinished in the future once you grow tired of your initial color selection.
So there really is no excuse not to go with the pink now!
Link: Jennifer Newman
Simple and Honest
I must have been in a cave for awhile as I just got introduced to the work of Toronto's Gus* Design Group.
Thier portfolio consists of simple, straight forward designs that shows no signs of becoming dated.
We are inspired by simple forms and honest materials. We use them as the springboard for everything we create. From the simple 2x4 and construction I-Beam, to the useful miter box. We delight in the simplicity of everyday objects.More images after the jump. Enjoy.
Link: Gus Design Group
Karimi Couch
Though he may have the odd hater, you have to respect the amount of pieces that K-Rad (that's right, you heard it here first) pumps out these days.
Of note for me has to be his latest sofa design for Italian manufacturer Contempo. The appropriately coined Karimi Couch stays true to the style that has been Karims bread and butter with the usage of his mainstay patterns consisting of his familiar "cross and peanut" motif.
Now I know some of you are moaning and groaning about this well travelled route, but really people what would you rather see him do ? A village pattern ?
Link: Karim Rashid
Link: Contempo
Resin-based chair
The Vine Chair by Clear, crafted from vines and resin, has a classic shape and would be at home both indoors or out. The materials in the Vine Chair also remind us a bit of the Alikudi chair by Aitali.
Thanks, Arlene!
Link: Clear Inc.
Promoting togetherness
The OX Barstool from Canadian designer Adriean Koleric was designed with 2 objectives:
"One was to create a piece of furniture that when put in place had that feeling of a built-in / structural element within a particular environment. By placing several OX's in a row infront of a bar, one is creating an interior landscape that is simple enough not to overpower the room but rather add a clean and functional contribution.The OX Barstool is constructed of 1/2" MDF and can be ordered with a custom finish.The other and more important objective was to simply promote togetherness by providing the option of housing 2 patrons at once to either spark up a conversation about what they're sitting on or whatever else comes to mind."
In addition to the OX, Adriean has also instroduced the Monster Floor Lamp.
I really wanted to like the Urban chair from IKEA, I really did. Plans were made to purchase 6 of these for our kitchen table....until I sat in one and experienced instant back pains.
It really is a good looking chair and of course at a reasonable price, but just doesn't go that extra step to be truely inviting.
Too bad.
Available in three flavors.
The Lolli Pop Chaise from Beyond Metal looks to be one of those products that has the potential to be notably cool, but might also be quickly tossed into the the clearance section at your local DWR. Based on the lack of actual product photos (their site only shows renderings), I'm guessing this has yet to see the light of day. However, just imagine if they turned this into one of those vibrating massage chairs with motors on each of those lollipops. (Hey you, get your mind out of the gutter) Depending on how the final product ends up, this could just be the perfect compliment to your Nelson Marshmallow sofa. Or not.Link: Beyond Metal
Honoring the role of design in daily life
The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design has announced the winners of the seventh annual National Design Awards. The finalists and winners will be honored at an event on October 18, 2006.
"Cooper-Hewitt is delighted to once again recognize, through the National Design Awards, some of the greatest contributions to the world of design made in recent years." Cooper-Hewitt director Paul Warwick Thompson said. "Each year, the Awards grow in scope, and this October we are introducing National Design Week, a new education initiative created to promote better understanding of the role that design plays in all aspects of our lives. During National Design Week, Cooper-Hewitt will host programs and panel discussions on design, and on our website, we will launch design education content for teachers nationwide."Awards are given in eleven categories:
- Lifetime
Paolo Soleri (previously - L+L) - Design Mind
Paola Antonelli - Design Patron
Craig Robins (previously - L+L) - Corporate
Nike - Special Jury
Syd Mead - Architecture
Thom Mayne (1, 2, 3 - L+L) - Communications
2x4 (Michael Rock, Susan Sellers, and Georgianna Stout) - Fashion
Maria Cornejo - Interior
Michael Gabellini - Landscape
Martha Schwartz (1, 2 - L+L) - Product
Bill Stumpf
Brave Space's flat pack version of their block-game shelves
Nearly two years ago we were inundated with traffic after featuring the work of Brave Space Design. Specifically, it was their Tetris shelving that ignited the firestorm... people were like, freaking out. Totally.
So we're bracing ourselves this time, because the Brooklyn-based design trio has introduced a pack flat version of the block-game inspired shelves: Tetris Flat.
The modular system features wooden sides with metal backing and assembles "in minutes." The frames are available in white or natural wood with multiple color options for the backing. The units are sold block by block for $120 each to create a custom configuration.
Link: Brave Space Design - Tetris Flat
Reference: Brave Space (L+L)
Meticulous attention to detail.
Sense of Place is a UK design shop that creates furniture and cabinetry using both contemporary and traditional methods. I discovered Sense of Place after browsing the portfolio of a photographer that photographed their furniture catalog and was impressed both by his work and SoP's craftmanship. Their one-off piece, "The Table", is featured at right.
Link: Sense of Place
Link: Kirsten Prisk Photography
An open competition to design a chair, sofa or stool that reflects our time
Even though the function of a chair as an aid to sitting has not really changed over time, its design has evolved in parallel to society. It has reflected the developments in technology, architecture, and industrial design. Furthermore, chairs have been a social, aesthetic, and symbolic statement. Chair design has been a declaration of attitudes, ideas, and viewpoints.
During the XX Century there were some chair designs that succeeded to reflect the society of their time. Some of the best known examples are Charles and Ray Eames' molded plywood chairs, Alvar Alto's No. 41 Chair or Marcel Breuer's B3 Chair. Their highly innovative designs responded both to ergonomics and manufacture processes.
As our society has changed we are looking for a chair design that succeeds in communicating the XXI Century personality.
This is an open competition to design a chair, sofa, or stool that reflects our time.
My chair is a reflection on style, trend, attitude, and culture.
Link: Luvo
UPDATE (5-14-06) - winners have been announced
Contemporary Furniture Design Exhibit
THAW is one of the largest contemporary design exhibits in Western Canada, and will take place during The Works Art and Design Festival from June 23rd to July 5th, 2006. THAW 2006 is looking to showcase medium to large sized furniture, accessories and lighting designs.
The show is juried and curated by the Industrial Designers of Edmonton Association (IDEA), a group with which our very own Adriean is affiliated.
Deadline is April 1, 2006... no foolin'.
Link: THAW 2006 Call for submissions (pdf)
Link: IDEA
Custom contemporary furniture from reclaimed lumber
Andrew Moe is a
designer/craftsman and founder of a new green design company based in Brooklyn, New York. Moe builds custom contemporary furniture crafted from reclaimed lumber from old structures.
I love the quality of old wood, let's face it... new lumber just isn't the same... old wood provides a richness and quality unachievable with new material. And of course recycling old material saves trees and room in landfills. I am drawn mostly to the pieces which recall some sense of the past use of the materials - chunky beams and planks crafted into simple forms providing a nice contrast of rustic and modern.
Link: Moe Design Studio [Thanks, Andrew!]
Alumninum furniture and objects
I first saw the work of MuNiMulA over at Design*Sponge last week... I was impressed with the straight forward yet beautiful creations and decided to check them out a bit further. Turns out MuNiMulA is a design and manufacturing firm located in Quincy, Michigan... coincidentally, I spent quite a bit of time during my childhood in the rural countryside not too far from Quincy. Now, quality of their work is reason enough to feature MuNiMulA here, but that bit of serendipity just sealed the deal.
The anodized aluminum construction of MuNiMulA's line of furnishings make them perfect for indoor/outdoor living - light weight, durable, versatile and practical. The clear anodizing leaves the aluminum with a slightly matte silver finish is often used in the marine and boating industry. There is a caveat for the colored finishes though; prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the bright colors to fade over time. MuNiMulA’s upholstered pieces are offered in weatherproof Spinneybeck leather or outdoor canvas by special order.
Link: MuNiMulA [Thanks, Jenifer!]
Design Consistency
Designer Quynh Dang established Element Living back in 2003. Since then he's built a solid body of work with one quality design after another.
element living is a design house that strives to heighten our experiences and enjoyment of our surroundings by providing products of beauty, simplicity and utility.
I had the privelage of trying out his Pure Chair. It was by far THE most comfortable dining chair i've sat in. The ergonomics on this piece was spot on.
Link: Element Living
Rachel brings us the funk
Over in the comment section of our Dwell post, L+L reader Rachel challenged Dwell to "bring on the funk." We got in touch with her and sure enough, the funk be brought. Here's Rachel's take on Chair Couture:
While it's great to have a cool, crisp, carefully delineated living space, full of machined surfaces, clad in the colors of nature, sometimes even the most ardent minimalist craves a shock. Margaret Elman's Chair Couture takes vintage chair frames (more Louie, Louie than Louis XVI) and dolls them up with paint, gilding, and gaudy fabrics.I think Rachel's going to fit in rather nicely around here.The result--seating that calls for cocktails One blast of an aqua bergère will turn even the most Zen space into a lava lounge.
If Elman's creations are too much for those with major taste but minimal funds, a brisk tour of 2nd-hand shops might turn up a chair that just needs a jolt of color. Try an auto painting shop, (Candy Apple Red), and grab a staple gun. And then--relax and mix a Tequila Sunrise to match your settee. If you spill--trust me, no will notice.
Link: Chair Couture [Thanks, Rachel!]
Customizable Acrylic Paned Screen
My penchant for screens hasn't waned during my absence here at L+L and thanks to a tip from Anita at Furniture Seen I'm happy to jumpstart my entries with the Pivot Screen from Mebel Furniture. Anita wrote us and said:
The Pivot Screen designed by Jacek Ostoya of Mebel Furniture in San Francisco. The screen is made up of frames with interchangable acrylic pieces. You can configure your screen with as much opacity as you choose and arrange colors or pictures to fit your mood. Ostoya was named by the LA Times as a furniture designer to watch in 2006.Link: Furniture Seen Thanks, Anita!
Designer: Mebel
Architecturally designed hardware and furniture by Cutler Anderson Architects
Founded with the intent to partner with architecture firms to create a line of products and buildings (thank you Michael Graves), Reveal Designs has begun to market and sell furnishings and hardware designed by their charter partner,f Cutler Anderson Architects of Bainbridge Island, Washington.
I have admired James Cutler's modern arts-and-crafts-inspired detailing and design for some time, and the introductory line exemplifies these traits drawing from the firm's custom detail designs for past projects. The product line currently includes designs made metal or a wood/metal combination: door-levers and knobs, drawer pulls, a door knocker, chairs, tables, etc. The designs are elemental and purposeful revealing construction and function in their form.
Link: Reveal Designs
Link: Cutler Anderson Architects
Via: Inhabitat
Jellio: Fun By Design
The 70's were colourful and plastic as a kid and Mario Marsicano and Chris Lenox of Jellio have captured that childhood aesthetic in their furniture and art collections. Their Turbo line takes its inspiration from the Revell car model kits; remember the plastic snap-off pieces? The Jellio version is wall mounted and made from aluminum-filled polyurethane resin with a metallic silver finish. I was delighted to find Rockem Sockem Robots commemorated in an end table; they were a personal favorite, but they also make a "Light Britesque" table, squirt gun art and more. Jellio truly is fun by design.
Link: Jellio [Thanks, Mario!]
BO BEDRE Element 2005 competition
If you had only eight days to design a piece of furniture how well do you think you'd do? The young designers who took up the challenge to do just that did fairly well at the Danish magazine BO BEDRE Element 2005 competition.
The criteria for competition was a maximum of five years of design experience, being under 35 and having eight days to produce a finished product. Seven designers took the challenge and their work is currently on display at the Danish Design Centre until December 30, 2005.
Link: DDC Release: Element 2005
Bean Bags for the 21st century
Ambient Lounge has redefined bean bags for an upscale urban market that wants style that is casual and sleek. The new online retailer Ambient Lounge has revolutionised the bean bag market in the UK and Europe by introducing new shapes that are not only quantum improvements in comfort and function, but reflective of the modern style, colours and tastes of home wares today. Rather than being an embarrassing luxury shoved into the cupboard when guests come around, Ambient Lounge bean bags are now a centerpiece of style & quality in many people’s living rooms. With the outstanding new designer range developed by their interior design team, this is set to accelerate exponentially into 2006 and beyond, both in the UK and ‘style driven’ European markets such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
Link Ambient Lounge
Engineering storage
The Sinimet Collection from Cortex Design is designed to provide attractive, functional and durable storage. The Sinimet storage cart is ideal for office and studio use. It has an automotive coating on the top and bottom that provides a unique finish and quality detailing. The ample storage and strength of drawers can handle everyday items, but it is also suitable for bulkier pieces like power tools. The Sinimet credenza and filing cabinet are a nice companion with beautifully engineered details and corners that are currently available in three retro colours. Cortex Design is a an industrial design company located in Toronto that provides functional prototypes and new products for the consumer, industrial and contract furniture markets.
Link: Cortex Design
Laminated plywood coffee table
Fellow SCI-Arcian Jon Racek recently got in touch with us, and while I was familiar with his company, Stew Design Workshop, I didn't know that we shared an alma mater. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: for such a small school, it's amazing how SCI-Arc people seem to be everywhere doing interesting work. Jon and his brother Kevin, who is also an architect, are based in Burlington, Vermont, and design everything from furniture to architecture to graphics etc.
Jon was kind enough to share with us their new design for coffee table that they showed at ICFF this year. The 5050 Table is made from 540 three-inch pieces of laminated plywood. I'm not sure if the Stew guys have ever considered OCD medication, but their compulsiveness sure produces some exceptional furniture. I really like the striated surface and the table's woven, almost malleable appearance.
Link: Stew Design Workshop
Asobi thinks big !
There's wanting space for yourself, and then there's demanding space for yourself.
Slovenian company, Asobi, did just that at this years 100% Design festival in London with the gigantic Isle Lounge Sofa. Boasting dimensions of 17' x 9' x 5', it will no doubt demand a reaction from dinner guests as well as passengers from the red eye flight from London to Ljubljana.
The outer shell is made from carbon epoxy and upholstered in special 3d textile from Hybrids+Fusion. Isle's total weight is less than 200kg and stands on just four thin legs, but can easlily hold your next team function.....literally.
As a person of Slovenian decent, i've always wanted to do a write-up on the design scene there and have obviously made a rather big step in doing just that.
............OK, this is why i'm not writing for a sit-com.
Link: asobi
The DJs of Design
Redstr/Collective is the design initiative of Alex Valich and Christine Warren, partners in business and life, who's approach to design is eclectic, inspired and just plain fun. They describe themselves a DJs of design who sample, mix and spin to get the desired result. Their Web site design is indicative of the "tongue-in-cheekiness" of their products like beautifully decorated sickness bags, and shelves that are highlighter colour. How about hip-hop Christmas tree ornaments? But Redstr serves up more than just novelty items, they design furniture and use green and recycled materials. They will also give you a bonus gift with purchases of over $300. Gifts like a can of soda or a Design Sickness Bag. It's all about consistency. Besides, any company with a working Manifesto is worth checking out.
Link: Redstr/Collective
Project Import Export serves up something different
With so much furniture on the market today it's sometimes hard to find something different. The furniture from PIE Project Import Export is not only different, but features work from some very talented and experienced designers from around the globe. Their merchandise represents some of the best work that is coming out of small young independent firms today that use modern methods and natural, environmentally friendly materials. PIE is setting out to explore the idea of 'living space' in an attempt to heighten the Modern lifestyle experience.
Link: PIE
A Finnish design collective
This Finnish foursome of product designers originally met at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and last year banded together to form a critical mass at design shows and the like.
Designers of the group are linked together by their desire to create honest and simple objects. Word Rehti is Finnish and means honest way of working and acting. Members of the group work as freelance designers both as individuals and as a group.Based in Helsinki, the collective is formed by Mikko Laakkonen, Aleksi Penttilä, Mika Tolvanen and Jari-Petri Voutilainen.
Link: Rehti
Via: Wallpaper
When Maurice Calka went plastic
In 1969, the renowned French sculptor Maurice Calka issued something different: the Boomerang desk. A sexy molded fiberglass and plastic desk. The largest version, the PDG, came with a matching molded chair and personalized control panel was enough to impress President Pompidou who owned one in white and placed it in the Elysée Palace; the contrasting Baroque and 70's plastic fantastic raised a few eyebrows back then. Manufactured by Leleu-Deshays they are highly sought after, but only 35 were produced as a limited edition piece. Recently, a Boomerang desk came up for auction and was sold for 29,300 Euro (roughly 35,000 USD).
Link: Maurice Calka
Via: A.D.
Midcentury and Danish Modern furniture seller
Do you eBay?If so, check out the vintage mid-century and danish modern offerings listed by Kollection. Based in Chicago (and St. Louis), they offer many of their peices for sale online under the eBay seller name yramtac71.
Link: Kollektion
Via: Design*Sponge
Face-to-face lounging for two
Architect and designer, Michael Hilgers, created the dialounge as part of an exclusive collection for the label rephorm. The dialounge is available in orange, olive, and cream and features cupholders along with a place for your magazines.
"The communication- chaiselongue dialounge is manufactured in PE in the rotational-moulding process. It is wheatherproof, can be dismantled, is stackable and has integrated cupholders as well as space for magazines.Link: dialounge [Thanks, Michael!]
for Club, Lounge, Pool, Hotel, Garden, Bar, Patio, Beach, Livingroom...."
Proving that contemporary handcrafted furniture is not oxymoronic
If you are looking for a handcrafted piece of furniture with high aesthetic value, and the kind of substance that will take 4 people an hour to haul up a staircase, then the Lambert company is for you. With it's head office in Mönchengladbach Germany, the Lambert company trains it's craftspeople to reproduce their unique designs in various locations around the world, and herald themselves as the custodians of traditional arts and crafts. They stress the use of natural materials, dowels and wax finishes, but yet have a penchant for clean lines and little to no embellishments leaving their pieces looking thoroughly contemporary. While there may be variations in what is available from distributors, what is constant is the high quality and design of each piece. Gunther Lambert will no doubt be highly desired as collectibles in the decades to come.
Link: Lambert
A personal refuge
Mike from Mike and Maaike dropped us a line tonight to let us know about their Windowseat lounge chair. Billed as a "sub-architectural space", the lounge features a wrap-around design offering a bit of privacy.
"Along with this new sense of space comes the dynamic play between being inside vs. outside as well as new social or asocial behavior when the chair is introduced into public settings. When used in multiples, the Windowseat Lounge opens up a wide range of possibilities. By directing the chairs towards each other, people can engage in a semi-private conversation. By directing the chairs away from each other, strangers can create their own individual space, ideal for reading, relaxing, or people-watching."Link: Mike and Maaike [Thanks, Mike!]
Martha Sturdy and the art of casting resin
Martha Sturdy is a Vancouver BC master of casting resin. People who have worked with resin say that it is a substance that you love to hate, and hate to love and that the unexpected is bound to happen, which is not always a good thing. But Sturdy, who graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design back in the early 80's, has spent years dedicating her professional career to the control and manipulation of resin, a dedication that has yielded polymeric magnificence at a very large scale.
Link: Martha Sturdy
Multiple Personality Disorder
The Flip chair is a prototype chair from Shawn Bruce that offers different seating arrangements depending on the situation. In it's most conservative way, it is a simple 100 degree incline chair. Yet at night, flip it over and it lets its hair down, becoming a 110 degree lounge chair. Each seating position offers two arrangments so you're sure to be comfortable one way or another.
Building on the Flip is the Flip Storage (below). The Flip Storage is nearly identical to the Flip yet it adds a functional storage bay for your handbag, magazines, coat...anything you might need to conveniently stash.
Both the Flip and Flip Storage are made from injection molded polystyrene with rubber feet.
Link: Flip
Adriean Koleric's website goes live
Adriean Koleric, the Canadian designer who brought us the Sugar Lounger and the Edith Mailbox dropped us a note to let us know that his website has launched.
In addition to the above, he's added a few new items including the Bento, a single drawer storage unit, Framecicles (featured at right), which are popcicle stick shaped picture frames, and the Factory coffee table.
Also, he's included some concept work along with a few hidden buttons on the site that reveal hidden surprises. Be sure to check it out.
Link: item
Change its form according to your mood
When it comes to comfort, it appears that the Feel Seating System has all the bases pretty much covered. Sleepy? Lay it out flat and take a nap. A little chilly? Fold half of it over and cover yourself with it. Want to relax with a book? Roll it up into a ball and you've got yourself a cozy little nest.
The Feel, from Animi Causa, is created from 120 soft balls that are covered with an elastic fabric and held together with a flexible internal frame. The design is inspired by a molecular structure and can assume various shapes allowing numerous positions.
Link: Animi Causa [Thanks, Amit!]
Also: Pop Gadget
Young French Designer, Gilles Roudot
We received a note from French Designer Gilles Roudot alerting us to his creations. Unfortunately, I do not speak French and running the text through Babelfish seemed sketchy at best so I'll just leave you with some eye candy from Gilles. The objects on his site appear to be mostly renderings so I'm not sure if any of his designs have come to fruition but there are several pieces that stand out. Of particular note is the Diner (below), which takes a futuristic approach to a 50's style diner counter, complete with barstools and swingout trays.
Link: Kidino [Thanks, Gilles]
Celebrating London and the UK's creativity
The third London Design Festival is taking place all over London, September 15 – 30, 2005.
The festival of exhibitions, events, seminars, lectures and parties will highlight a broad range of design disciplines including: Applied Arts, Architecture and buildings, Creative business, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics and branding, Interiors, Product, and Photography.
Link: London Design Festival
Minimalist form with superior function
You've spent considerable time and money crafting your perfect minimalist interior space. Now that you've got the little rugrat running around, you wouldn't dare taint your interior with just any old high chair now would you? No! Fret not, oh minimalist one, as we have the perfect compliment to your Tulip Chairs, the Nest from Mozzee.
The Nest is availble in black or white and features a powder coated tulip base and an easy to clean polyethlyene seat.
Link: Mozzee
A bed that goes out to catch some sun
I've always thought of a day bed as a piece of furniture that is a lounge seat by day and a bed by night. José Gandia takes the term a little more literally. This is a bed for high noon on the beach or in the backyard. The 80" cubic canopy is a picture of luxurious simplicity, surrounded on all sides but completely open to light and air. The frame is made of anodized aluminum, with removable panel upholstery and a polyuretane foam mattress. (We hope pieces like these will soon meet their "eco" alter ego.) This is the item you were imagining all those times you tried to make a tent with tapestries and giant umbrellas. Now if only it came with the Spanish coastal backdrop.
Link: Gandia Blasco
Via: LifestyleNavigator
Mathias Bengtsson takes laser cutting to the next logical level
If laser cutting is the new handcrafted, then Mathias Bengtsson is a master craftsman. Generated by machine, his designs look like they have been carved from centuries of exposure to the elements, but in reality it is the flexibility of laser cutting that allows Bengtsson to create organic forms out of materials that don't normally lend themselves to manipulation.
Bengtsson uses materials that are both natural and manufactured, and some of his pieces are fashioned out of the unexpected like fire retardant foam that has to be water-cut and joined by tension rods for stability. Each material seems to be carefully chosen to highlight the sinuousness of the final design. Born in Copenhagen, Bengtsson studied furniture design at the Danish Design School then went on to study at The Art Centre College-Europe, and the Royal College of Art in London.
Link:Bengtsson Design
3-in-1 table from Grecian design team cor3
The Raindrops coffee table from cor3 creative works is a sleek table comprised of two rings and a solid center that can be exploded into three separate tables. The table is available in several finishes including steel and plexiglass (detail at right) and a dark wood. A red version is also featured from earlier product displays.
Link: cor3
Modular furnishings
Casamania has a system of modular furnishings designed to fit into modern residential or office settings. The Web system, featured at right, is geared toward the office space and features a wide range of accessories including a reception area,coat racks, wastepaper baskets, and the like. In contrast, the Matrix system (below) features various elements with squared sections and colored translucent panels.
"The radical architecture of the 1960s developed avant-garde solutions that have only recently become part and parcel of European or American cities thanks to Frank O. Ghery and the Futur System group. Casamania has been part of this process for the last twenty years, offering solutions for the home and workplace. Our designs are essentially light, flexible and able to adapt to the different needs of a varied but aware user group, which views the home without preconceptions when it comes to using objects."Link: Casamania by Frezza (Warning: mildly annoying flash site)
Stackable shelving from Boom Design
If you're looking for a storage system that can grow with you, check out the Hive Cubes from Boom Design. The system uses individual storage spaces connected via pins for infinite expansion. The units are available in 3 colors and are constructed of wood (we don't yet know what kind of wood but will update as soon as we hear back). A wall mounted configuration (Hive Wall Shelf) is also available
Link: Boom Design
Update: Helena from Boom got back to us and the storage units feature a walnut veneer finish.
Shaker Minimalism in Steel
Rarely do I go to Chicago without visiting the Ann Nathan Gallery to see Jim Rose's newest works. Simple, solid, and highly functional, Rose's hand-crafted steel furniture is designed to last through decades of daily use, just as the Shaker originals which have been his inspiration since his first show in 1996. The natural patina of his salvaged materials closely resembles the tone and texture of antique wood and is achieved by wire brushing the scrap steel and applying a protective wax finish. From a distance, one could easily be fooled into believing the work was in fact a classic antique. Up close, the genius of using burnished steel to recreate these masterpieces of spare design becomes apparent in the depth of the finish and the perfection of each plane.
Rose is a craftsman of the highest order. His seating is comfortable, drawers and cupboard doors open easily and without a sound. His methods of construction guarantee permanence while achieving an aesthetic minimalism under the surface of the work, which adds a hidden layer of beauty in tribute to the ideals and goals of his historical precedents.
With over 250 designs available at last count, Rose has closely studied traditions of American furniture making as well as the religious traditions informing Shaker craft. He views his work as an ongoing tribute to a strong genre in design, and creates his modern interpretations in respectful homage.
Link: Jim Rose Catalog
Socially and environmentally responsible furnishings
SCI-Arc people seem to be everywhere I look lately.Ann Arbor based designer Jonas Hauptman is a part-time faculty member at SCI-Arc, and has just launched a line of environmentally responsible chairs and tables.
The seats are from a composite of reconstituted North American Aspen Tree flakes and a formaldehyde-free adhesive system in a process inspired by the process used to produce shipping pallets. The seats are available in a variety of stock clear and satin tinted finishes. The steel tables feature a heavy duty high gloss white powder coat finish and are suitable for outdoor use.
Link: Hauptman Products Inc.
Via: Inhabit
Built to last
Now here's something that I can appreciate. The Three Sixty Table from Sports Utility Furniture. A table made with skateboard trucks and wheels. So cool. There was once a time when a skateboard was practically attached to my feet at all times. I skated everywhere and everything. It's not too often that a piece of furniture evokes such great childhood memories but for some reason, this piece is doing it for me. I see kids skating everywhere these days and it's fairly common to see contests on TV so I can't say I'm no longer exposed to skating since I see it in some form almost daily, but for some reason, this table gets me stoked and makes me want to hop on a board and go skate some vert.
Link: Sports Utility Furniture
Via: Sensory Impact
Material Reuse
We received an email from Carlos over at Scrapile alerting us to several new pieces in their 2005 collection. Images we received include a wall-mounted shelving system, a circular table with tripod legs, and accessory boxes in several sizes. Scrapile produces their products out of discarded wood from local wood shops. Thanks, Carlos!
Email: ScrapileNYC
Related: Scrapile L+L
Poor man's La-z-boy
Last month, we learned about Adriean Koleric's Edith Mailbox and liked its style. We decided to check back in and see what was up with the site and went looking for any new product updates/info. The site is still under construction but the background image caught our attention. Being the curious blokes that we are, we fired off an email to Adrien to get the scoop on the new design. Here's what we heard back:
"The piece you're asking about is called 'SUGAR'. It's an adjustable lounger that's upholstered in vinyl over 3" foam. The yellow/orange band in the middle has a textured finish like scales on a fish, the white is a typical smooth texture. The pipe in the back acts as a support which fits into either of the 2 openings to create a laid back setting or more of an upright. I sometimes refer to it as a 'poor mans la-z-boy'. The pipe itself is pvc wrapped in vinyl as well. I also use it as a magazine holder."Along with the updated website, Adriean will be adding a few more pieces to I T E M's product lineup in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for them. We certainly will.
Link: I T E M
Related: Edit Mailbox (L+L)
Folded aluminum lounge chair
We've seen the molded plywood version before, but we were not aware of this powder coated aluminum bad boy.
Designed by Toronto-based architects Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, the chair is suitable for outdoor use. The ply version has a base price of $2,225 (Canadian), but a price is not listed for the metallic variety.
Designers: Shim-Sutcliffe Architects
Manufacturer: Nienkämper
Is it too bent?
I remember several years back, after receiving my first DWR catalog in the mail, one of the first things that caught my eye was their Mag Table in walnut. I don't recall exactly what it was about it that caught my eye. Perhaps it was it's simple lines, that it was bentwood, or it might've just been the fact that it was (and still is?) one of the least expensive items in the catalog. It was design within my reach. Anyhow, I still have a thing for bentwood furniture and recently noticed this newspaper rack from Swedese. I like it, but I'm thinking it's either a bit too, um, bent, or it needs a piece of glass on top to support a lamp or other accessory. However, with a piece of glass, newspaper access would be restricted to the side.
Link: Swedese
Related: Swedese Bend Chair (L+L)
Richard Neutra designs for your home
If this image doesn't get you going... leave... just go. We love the architecture and designs of Richard Neutra... perhaps it is our regional bias for California Modernism.
House Industries, in collaboration with Dion Neutra and Otto Design Group is offering a limited number of Neutra designed Boomerang Chairs, as well as Neutra patterned pillows.
Link: House Industries
Contemporary one-off and batch produced furniture
Dublin County, Ireland based John Doolin of Imbue Furniture Design brings a traditional vibe to his decidedly modern furnishings. All of Imbue's pieces show superb attention to detail and functionality.
John Doolin’s approach to furniture owes as much to a great respect for the traditional skills of cabinet making as to modern design principles and methodology.Link: Imbue Furniture DesignThe guiding principle throughout his work is the belief that the real value of any product is not only in the sum of its size and materials, but in the way in which it serves its user - the function it performs.
Corrugated plastic: so hot right now.
I have a bit of a thing for screens and after seeing the Folding Screen over at iannone:sanderson (nice find Grace!), I just had to include it here. Their website doesn't say, but I wonder if the resin panels are available in different colors?
"Our folding screen combines ash wood with modern manmade materials to create layers of transparency and color. Corrugated plastic is bent into a graceful form and drilled with a grid of holes which allow light to pass through and project a pattern on textured colored resing panels. The projected light fades and changes as one moves about the screen."Via: design*sponge
Link: iannone:sanderson
Wall unit and room divider
The Bibliotech from Porro is a multi-use bookshelf and storage system. It can be outfitted with a wide configuration of shelves and containers. The Bibliotech can be wall-mounted or outfitted with feet and used as a room divider. Available in a variety of finishings including anthracite grey, stained beech, natural beech, cherry-wood stained beech, bleached beech, natural or stained cherry.
Designers: Piero Lissoni & Lorenzo Porro
Link: Porro
A simple kit of parts
We featured a different table called the Concord "plug table" a while back, but this design by Munich based designer Matthias Demacker is a totally different concept.
The form is elegantly simple, a table reduced to the minimum components. The top is made from compactforming HPL which can be made in any color. The tube steel legs can be removed by hand with no tools, and allow for two different table heights. The design also makes the table easily portable.
The table was given the Interior Innovation Award for Best Detail at the IMM 2005.
Link: Demacker Design [Thanks, Matthias!]
The chair on rails
The Castelo Branco Chair was designed to compliment the Castelo Branco project. The Castelo Branco project will be located in Portugal and is being designed by Josep Lluis Mateo of Map Architects. The chair itself is a prototype and part of a larger collection of semi-mobile furniture designed specifically for outdoor environments.
Link: Castelo Branco Chair
Link: Map Architect
Link: Castelo Branco Project
Exquisitely simple
Last summer in our coverage of CA Boom, it was noted that Sami Hayek was on the panel of a conference that James attended. We included a link but unfortunately didn't feature any of his work. I recently visited his site, and, well, being the huge fan of bentwood furniture that I am, I was impressed with the work that I found. I was most impressed with the Inana cocktail table (below, bottom left). His work is available in finishes such as walnut, maple, and leather. Featured at right is the rambius shelving unit.
Link: Sami Hayek
Reference: CA Boom (Land+Living)
This isn't your mom's wicker
Is it wicker? Is it wire? Is it a "high-tech plastic"? We're not sure, but whatever it is, Lebello shapes it and paints it in some cool colors. Their product line ranges from ottomans and lamps to chairs and stools. The Hollow ottoman (featured at right) provides an open frame for books to be placed in its center. Each product is available in a wide range of fun colors.
Link: Lebello
Link: Available Colors
It's all about the Altuglass
Using a proprietary acrylic known as "Altuglass", desginers at Aitali have come up with the Alikudi chairs. The acrylic is approximately 25 mm thick and can be embedded with graphics to create bold and striking designs.
In addition to the Alikudi chair, they also manufacture a table and chair set and a chaise lounge, all created with Altuglass. Very cool!
Link: Aitali
A consistent approach to design
Founded in London by architect Philipp Mainze, e15 produces well designed furniture in an array of styles and materials. Some of our favorites include the Tafel bench, the Ingmar console, the Alex side tables, the Harry garden bench, and the Noah bed (featured at right).
"Solid European wood, stainless steel, aluminium and leather are selected with beauty, strength and durability in mind. The feel and appearance of the material inform the design of each product. The shape is modern; the craftsmanship traditional. Designed and built to endure, the pieces are assured, refined and uncomplicated, allowing the natural beauty to be appreciated in its most elegant form."Link: e15
Via: Wallpaper*
Furniture for the modern minded, part II
Back in early February, I had this flashback to my high school woodshop days. It was caused by the X-Lounge from Modern Objects and since their website lacked information about their lounge, I rambled on about the old high school memory it evoked.
Well, since then, it looks like they've been busy because they've got a new site up with quite a few new products and plenty of information. Bravo to them!
So it turns out, the X-Lounge is available in three different woods: poplar, walnut, and teak. In addition to the X-Lounge, they also have a few new tables: the min coffee table, which features a sliding, removeable platform shelf; the hidey table, which features a "box like" shelf for stashing your keys, wallet, etc; and the italic table (at right), which has an off angle book cubby and a floating removable shelf. Nice work, Jesse!
Link: Modern Object
Designer: Jesse Doquillo
Reference: X-Lounge (Land+Living)
From across the pond
From UK Designer Samuel Chan comes Channels.
Channels is an acclaimed British furniture designer-maker. Its distinctive style is a refined modernity - bringing together minimalism in design with the richness and luxe of timber. Every piece of furniture is made in Channels' own workshops and the craftsmanship is superb.Link: Channels DesignChannels presents at least one new range of furniture a year. Some pieces are available as stock items, others are made to order.
Use your imagination for this one
The other day, Harry over at Mocoloco talked about websites with little more than photos and that's certainly the case here. Damian Barton's site is full of product imagery (mostly renderings) and very little information. Amongst the renderings, we came across what looks like a finished product: the Pet(al) Chair. We have no idea what materials were used in its construction or even if it's available but we like it nonetheless.
Link: Damian Barton
A clean sense of design
From the look of his work, Charley Wheelock is one hell of a talented cabinetmaker. But his work is so much more than cabinets. From modular shelves to children's furniture, Charley's work is clean and simple. Quite refreshing, actually. We're fans of his Gravity desk as well as his Book Boxes.
"Kapow Design is essential design. Our inspiration stems from an interest in connections. This is embodied initially in our attention to detailed physical joinery and expands to include an emotional connection between people and their surroundings. Unique material choices and a clean sense of design offer a dynamic approach to furniture."Oh, and while you're checking out his site, you should know that moving your mouse over the children's furniture is quite addicting. Don't say we didn't warn you! ;-)
Link: KaPOW Design
The Philip Cramer Collection for Bernhardt
With his experience in photography, graphic design and furniture design, and Swiss and American heritage, Geneva based designer Philippe Cramer is an interesting fellow who's work seem to draw from his eclectic background.
We like the way this collection of chairs and tables simply and elegantly balances opposites of material and form.
Designer: Philippe Cramer
Manufacturer: Bernhardt
It's all about the Turkish ply, baby
Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar are multidisciplinary designers based in Istanbul, not Constantinople... ahem. Their work covers the gamut: architecture, interior design and product design
Their temporary website shows a range of cool furniture and lighting designs. We're are particularly impressed with their wide array of plywood furniture. Fun stuff, and we're looking forward to seeing more from Autoban when they get around to finishing their new website. Their new website is now up!
Link: Autoban
Update 4/9/05: Interiors by Autoban (L+L)
Swedish design collective
Sweden and good design just seem to go together... not a bad far as stereotypes go. The work of this group just furthers that image.
Founded by Petrus Palmér, John Löfgren and Jonas Pettersson, this Swedish design collective is focused on product and furniture design. The group also produces a wider range of work including graphic design, illustration, concept design, product visualization and interactive media.
Their designs are funky and fun, but clean and modern... and we're liking it!
Link: Form Us With Love
The art of the chair
It's been a while since we've featured a bentwood piece so here's something from designer Po Shun Leong. This piece is created from two pieces of identically pressed wood and held together with what I'm assuming to be t-bolts (since it's "easy to assemble" I'm thinking IKEA-like hardware).
Link: Po Shun Leong
Multi-function.
Designed by Johnson Chou, the Workplaysleep.01 from nienkämper combines multiple functions into one attractive design. In it's most basic form, the Workplaysleep is a simple sofa. Add the optional work surface and you've got the perfect spot to work with your laptop or chow down that last night's leftovers.
Designer: Johnson Chou
Link: nienkämper
Handcrafted organic furniture
Now, this is not the usual kind of design that we feature here ad Land+Living. To be honest, I'm not a "rustic style" kinda guy. But a few things swayed me to feature Roundwood none-the-less.
First, the quality of the craftsmanship is obviously very high. Second, the organic designs are artful and well conceived. Third, there is a wonderful "found" quality to the work and nice use of materials. And finally, the designer is based at Lake Tahoe, and I really miss living there...
Cline, the artist/craftsman behind Roundwood, lists Dr. Suess and Salvador Dali among his heroes, and it is easy to see that free-form candor in his work. Cline makes all kinds of furniture from beds to chairs as well as custom interior finishing work.
Link: Roundwood - [Thanks, C Louise!]
Artek, Alvar & Aino Aalto
Anthony's Swedish crush reminded me of a Scandinavian fascination of my own... so today, I'll pay tribute to the Aalto legacy.
I have been inspired by the work of Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto since early in my architectural education. His work continues to be a strong influence in the design world; everywhere from architecture to consumer products (Ikea owes a heck of a lot to Aalto).
Muchos Aalto linkage for your browsing pleasure, and more Aalto talk follows.
Link: Alvar Aalto Foundation
Link: Artek
Visit: Alvar Aalto Museum
Link: Aino Aalto (book available through Aalto Museum)
Link: Iittala (Aino Aalto glassware)
Link: Alvar Aalto Houses (CD-ROM by Opulens)
Link: Baker House (MIT student project website)
Web Exhibition: Aalto Chairs
Web Exhibition: Paimio Sanatorium
Furniture for the Modern Minded
Back in high school, there was this foreign exchange student from Sweden named Katja that I had a crush on. We didn't have any classes together but for some reason, I was reminded of her. You see, back then, I had woodshop and Katja was in a horticulture class that was near the woodshop building. We'd hang out before class making small talk and such. No sort of relationship ever came out of it and we didn't keep in touch after the semester was over and she went back to Sweden.
So, what on earth does this chair have to do with Katja? Absolutely nothing other than it reminded me of a project in my high school woodshop class which then reminded me of Katja.
Link: Modern Object
Illuminated furniture and off-grid living
We frequently browse our site logs to see where our site traffic is coming from and recently noticed a few referrals from GlenHunter.ca. After checking out the site, one of the first things that caught my eye was his handmade coffee table. It features a cedar slab with a light running in the middle along the length of the cedar that illuminates a glass shelf below. It is quite an attractive table.
"I've been toying with the concept of lighted furniture for a while now. I like the idea of creating small discreet sources of low light scattered around a room and using point sources where more illumination is needed (i.e. for reading). One method of doing that is embedding lights within furniture. In the case of this table the light is provided by two 1W LED's. It shines both up and down. The light up is very pretty, but not particularly useful (you can't read by it). The light down illuminates the bottom shelf, in our case the home of our stack of current magazines."Another cool thing on his site is the house he's
Link: Glen Hunter
Link: Hunter House, Scott Morris Architects
Update: Check out MocoLoco's coverage of the Hunter House.
Go on, put your feet up
We've picked up a bit of a Scandanavian theme in 5 out of our last 8 blogs... hmmm... what's up with that?
Anyway, who says built in footrests are only for recliners? And who says a modern chair can't be comfortable? I don't know, did somebody say that? Why are we asking so many questions?
This comfy yet modern armchair by Swedish designer Thomas Bernstrand (who has incidentally designed items for the big stupid blue place too) features a nifty slide out foot stool and head rest. Also available in a three seater sofa model. Pretty cool, huh?
Designer: Thomas Bernstrand
Manufacturer: Söderbergs Möbler AB
Student exhibition in Iceland
Our attempt at ironic humor didn't quite register in our post about Ikea's destructive habits earlier this week... OK, so comedians we are not.
But these third year product design students at the Academy of Arts in Iceland were charged with transforming Ikea products into something that Ikea would not represent. And some were successful in adding humor and irony into their designs. ;-)
Link: Icelandic National Team
Via: Designboom
Reference: Bad, Ikea, bad! Very bad Ikea! (Land+Living)
Material Reuse
Scrapile is a collaboration between Brooklyn-based designers Carlos Salgado and Bart Bettencourt. Their furniture is created with discarded pieces of wood from local wood shops. According to Carlos Salgado, the idea behind the project was to keep scrap woods from piling up in local land-fills. "We wanted to reintroduce these materials back into our daily lives as useful items and objects" says Carlos.
Link: Scrapile
Link: Bettencourt Woodworking
[Thanks, Carlos!]
A chair with space for personal things
We all know that a chair is more than just a place to sit. It is also a place to set things down, hang your coat and bag, etc. The problem is that there isn’t usually space for anything on the seat once you sit down, your coat usually ends up on the ground, the bag strap won't stay on the chair back, or worse the chair is turned over by the weight.
How about a chair that accepts the reality of its multi-functions? Austrian designers Bruckner/Klamminger/Moritsch have come up with an elegant solution.
Falb is a chair which offers some space to place one's personal things. One stays near it and still has enough room. Its shape differs from the symmetry of usual chairs. Its back carries jackets, [bags], etc. In order to take weight its right chair-leg makes a side-step. It show its individual character.
Link: BKM
Elastic Shelving
New Shelving from Shapes-Design:
FUN - designed by Alessandra Maiolino - is a pioneering and exquisite elastic shelving system. Modular stainless steel elements innovatively combine with beautifully fashioned shelves, made from plywood with sensuous linoleum faces in various colours. Because FUN does not rely on uprights of fixed lengths, it enables you to shape it into a number of highly versatile combinations, with different numbers, heights, and widths of shelves. FUN is easy to transport, assemble, and mould to your changing needs and aspirations. It is available for both the home and commercial application.Designer: Alessandra Maiolino
Link: Shapes-Design
Multifunctional living concept
From designer Peter Maly comes Minos.
"Menos is the answer to the challenges of modern life. Living areas are not sectioned off, but rather they merge into each other. The multifunctional concept provides you with the freedom to use living areas more effectively and more creatively too. With innumerable combinations, use Menos to create new designs over and over again: closed and open elements, drawers, shelves and containers always adapted to your respective requirements. Whether in living, sleeping, or dining areas, meonos creates rooms and defines the harmonious unity of living in general. A feeling of feeling at home."Designer: Peter Maly
Link: House of European Design [Thanks, Aliona!]
Good design for everyday.
Area Home is a NY based company that specializes in bedding and home accessories with a Scandinavian flair. In addition to some terrific bedding patterns, they also make a great bed and matching tables.
Sheets and pillows come in thread counts ranging from 200 to 300. Bed and tables are made from bent ply with walnut veneer.
Link: Area Home [Thanks, Scott!]
Showing what wood really looks like.
Combining the natural beauty of wood along with the occasional glass adornment, John Houshmand has created an appealing line of modern furniture. His line features a range of furniture from side tables, low tables and dining tables to to benches, beds and shelving. His philospy is literally "to show what wood really looks like."
Our favorite pieces include the spalted naple low bench/table (featured at right) and the black walnut table (middle image featured below).
Link: John Houshmand
Geppetto Design Studio, Budapest
We're not too familiar with the contemporary Hungarian design scene... actually, we didn't really even know there was one. That sounds a bit ignorant, but apparently we've just not run across any Hungarian designers recently. Never the less, we're digging the work of Budapest based designers Elek Márton, Elek Máté, Buzogány Ildikó of Geppetto.
Their designs run the gambit of interior furnishings, fittings, accessories and interior designs. Their styles is clean and fun, and somehow familiar... could it be that we have seen Geppetto's work before and just not known who they were? Check them out... and please do take note, won't you?
Link: Geppetto
A limited collection from Nikolas Piper
The Olman side table (featured at right) is just one of many pieces crafted by Nikolas Piper and on display at niksproject.com.
"Nik's Project presents a limited collection of pieces designed by Nikolas Piper for specific projects ordered by foundations and private institutions. The combination of traditional forge and modern technologies which Nikolas combines in his designs create these timeless pieces of furniture whose outstanding features are their organic, sensual and functional characteristics."Also from Nikolas comes "Alice's Legs", a beautifully crafted chaise lounge constructed from high-end teak or birch laminated wood with iron fittings and stainless steel.
Link: Nik's Project
Link: Alice's Legs
Sheet metal chair from this NYC designer
Lightweight chair designed for Studio 9 by Mark McKenna.
"Mark McKenna's latest chair, "frank" for Studio 9 Design is probably the best expression of his ideas. It is made from only four pieces of .035" sheet steel -- no thicker than a fingernail. The pieces are cut using a computer controlled laser and can be assembled by hand. Once put together, the chair is both amazingly light and strong. Interestingly, this process also yields beautiful finger-like joints between the parts, which are both structural and decorative."The chairs come in stainless steel and in a variety of finishes: walnut veneer, white powder coat, orange, blue, green, yellow or stainless accent colors.
Designer: Mark McKenna
Link: Studio 9 Design
Hand crafted wood table
It's an aircraft carrier! It's a plane! No, it's a table!
We like the strong presence and wonderfully simple design of this piece by Staten Island based modern craftsman, James Murphy.
I try to build pieces that promote a sensation of balance through the use of subtle proportion and line as adornment.Crafted of solid American walnut.
Link: James Murphy Design
Modern TV Consoles and more from this Puerto Rican designer
"Reynold Rodriquez' studio is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Established in 1993 by the designer as an enterprise to produce independently designed pieces of furniture and work for various design markets. The work comes from projects developed for clients over the past few years. These designs challenge seeking new responses from a visually experienced culture."
Link: Reynold Rodriguez
Bentwood furniture
Bentwood pieces from Swedish designer Caroline Schlyter.
"The h-family grew out of my background as a sculptor. The thought of casting furniture in wood appealed to me. My aim was to create a clean, unbroken line and avoid joints and connecting details. Thus, most furniture in the h-family is pressure formed into one piece. I enjoy playing with the line and exploring the border between volume and void - the shape the line creates, two dimensionally and three dimensionally in the architectural space."Link: Caroline Schlyter
Birch ply table
"Low table designed using a simple method of construction, whereby flat modular sections connect together by means of interlocking slots. The shaped slotted pieces create a matrix of rising and falling contour lines which for a stable base for the glass top.
Costructed with birch plywood, walnut face veneer, and toughened glass."
Designer: Andrew Tye
Link: TYE3D
Multi-purpose isolation pod
We're not quite sure what to make of this, but if you're looking for isolation while in the surroundings of comfort and technology, the Oculas might be for you.
The Oculas can be outfitted with a flat-screen monitor, 5.1 surround sound, PC, Playstation, XBox, and much, much more.
Now if only this thing could fly (think Jetsons....)
"Relax inside an Oculas and experience pure luxurious comfort whilst enjoying the intensity of its brilliant sound and cinematic vision.WORK inside a secure Oculas environment on the fastest pc computer seamlessly installed for enhanced network conferences and all your business needs wherever you are in the world.
REST in the pure luxury of the comfy interior whilst listening to your favourite sound tracks and bathing in waves of rejuvenating light. Heated leather seating that massages your entire back invigorates your body back to life.
PLAY against other competitors inside the sound booming, vibrating experience of your Oculas. You can see, feel and hear the excitement of fully immersed gaming with live racing, flight simulations and the full range of game console variations."
Designer: Lee McCormack
Link: The Oculas
Bentwood furniture with chromed steel
The Relax System by Parri, introduced in 2002, features lounge chairs, arm chairs, and tables built from veneered plywood with chrome or painted tubular steel.
Designer: Marco Maran
Link: Parri
Concept conference table design by GRO
While we have visited GRO's website many times before, we have always overlooked this little gem. Though this design is not being produced, it just struck us as worth sharing.
The table features two circular sockets in the center of the table that can accept any number of modular plug-in pieces including electrical outlets, light fixtures, and various containers.
Link: GRO Design
Functional works of art created from discarded road signage
We've always had a fascination with the bold graphics and colors of road signs, but not so much in the frat house aesthetic kind of way... though we have to admit there is something intriguing about the idea of bringing signs into the home. Now we've found a way to satisfy that desire: road signs repurposed as functional objects!
Borris Bally ingeniously maintains the pleasingly primitive aspects of this notion; he reclaims the material but sublimely transforms its utility. His pieces include furniture, tableware, jewelry, etc.
I attempt to produce pieces of technical integrity and rich content. The rhythmic quality of design elements in my work become specific metaphors for strength and stability, as well as the danger and pain of life, while maintaining a disarming edge of humor.Artist: Borris Bally
Link: Guild
Bent. Wood.
We love the organic shape of this bentwood table. The Moroso website simply says "Plywood curved lacquered or stained".
The table is availble in beechwood or cherry and measures 45 x 43 x 40.
Designer: Jacob Wagner
Link: Moroso
Bentwood Bamboo
Our fascination with bentwood furniture continues with these simple, yet modern, pieces from Adapt Design.
"The Spring Chair's single part form minimizes weight and material waste. Its ergonomic design is contoured to the body. The strength and flexibility of bamboo create a gentle rocking action in a sled-based chair.Insted of using birch ply, douglas fir, or any other typical "tree" wood, Adapt has chosen to use bamboo, which I have learned, is not a tree, but a giant grass. For an informative introductory about bamboo and its many uses, check out Adapt's materials page.
Link: Adapt Design
Link: Materials
Modular storage units
"Sapporo is a refined and versatile storage system. It can be used as an individual element, or can be stacked up to six units high. The units sit on a steel base, which can be either fixed or on castors. The tempered glass sliding doors are available in a transparent or frosted finish. Also of red plexiglass.
"Sapporo units can have wheels for the units with 1 or 2 highs. The dimensions of the system are the same."
Link: Stua
Designer: Jesus Gasca
Outdoor dining
"PicNik is a table-seating combination specially created for the balcony, small surfaces and semi-public spaces. Made from a standard, massive plate of aluminium (10 mm), PicNik behaves like a ‘piece of art’, while integrating itself into its surroundings. Its simplicity in design and its contemporary colours (5 colours available) make it a must-have for the urban ‘bourgeois-bohemian’. Also available in a junior version (scale 2:3)."
Designers: Dirk Wynants & Xavier Lust
Link: Extremis
Translucent screen/partition wall
We are all about screens and dividers here at L+L (exhibit a, b, c, d), well, actually it's the other guy who is more than I... see, there, I just put up a divider between us. Ahem, anyway... here is a great piece that I saw at CA Boom.
The screen is made up of rotating translucent resin panels mounted on stainless steel rods. So nice.
Honeycomb structured paper chair
Don't let the cat near this one, and keep your clumsy friend away too... the one who always spills his drink... you know who I mean.
This chair is made of paper. Yup. The Honey Pop chair designed by Tokujin Yoshioka is created from a two dimensional build up of 120 pieces of glassine paper which are glued together and precisely cut. The structure is then "opened" forming a strong three dimensional honeycomb structure. The chair is custom molded by the shape of the person who sits on it and comes in three sizes, large, medium and child. Plus it makes a crunching sound when you sit on it... and that's just cool.
Link: Tokujin Yoshioka Design
Swedish for luxury
Bentwood lounge chair and ottoman from Swedish design firm LYX that appears to draw subtle inspiration from the classic Eames lounge chair and ottoman.
"A reincarnation of the classic wing chair, made for the future. This recliner is made for serious cocooning and is the closest you can get to weightlessness. The upholstery in the Wing Chair is made by open cell visco-elastic foam, developed by NASA and used in all space crafts since the 70s. The foam adapts to your body shape and temperature leaving you in cosmic comfort. This is also probably the biggest single piece of bend wood ever used to create a chair. It's covered in thick layer of superb Lauro Preto veneer. Supplied with ottoman and a pivot safe glass holder."Link: LYX Wing Chair
Five-in-one modular desk
We met Reeve Schley at CA Boom and we were particularly impressed with his Nomad Desk. This finely crafted piece looks good to start, but it becomes really interesting when you discover that it is like a Swiss Army Knife with pieces that are easily removed and reconfigured. The desk has seven components which can allow for five different configurations of the parts. As the name would suggest, this is perfect for someone who wants an adaptable piece of furniture that looks great.
Puzzle pieces of scrap wood
"The Favela chair created by Humberto and Fernando Campana comes from Santo Cristo, a town in the Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and is constructed piece-by-piece from the wood used to build the favelas, hand-glued and nailed. Looking like a primitive throne, the puzzle of pieces of scrap wood summarises the poetics of the Campana brothers who have received acclaim following the recent personal exhibition in Brazil. And it is therefore an aptitude to create, fuelled by a vision still capable of surprising, starting with scraps and ingenious use of the hands, that results in pieces that transcend the dimension of pauperism in order to attain symbolic style."
Designer: Fernando Campana
Designer: Humberto Campana
Link: Edra
Vitra To Launch Home Furnishings Line
Article from Metropolis by Julie Taraska on Vitra's forthcoming line of home furnishings.
"In a return to its roots, German furniture company Vitra is readying a new line of domestic furnishings, Vitra at Home. Available in Europe in October and the U.S. in January 2005, the debut collection includes new designs by Jasper Morrison and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, as well as revived classics by Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Verner Panton, and Isamu Noguchi, among others.Link: MetropolisThe line is driven by an aesthetic Vitra chairman Rolf Fehlbaum calls “collage design”: a mixing of different styles, authors, and time periods. By being showcased in this manner, the collection's new and old pieces take on fresh and unexpected meanings."
Los Angeles based designer/craftsman of fine furniture
The furniture of John Cotese is simple, beautiful and displays a clear appreciation for the natural qualities of wood. One can see the attention to detail he must have gleaned as the apprentice of a Japanese violin maker.
We saw John's work at CA Boom and we were impressed with the quality and craftsmanship. His work is shown at Silho in Los Angeles.
Link: Silho Furniture
Inventive sliding design
Spotted recently at the ICFF, this coffee table by TRUCK Product Architecture features a top that slides to one side exposing an interior compartment perfect for stashing books, remotes, or anything else that you'd typically keep around your coffee table but need to stash in a hurry when the Man comes knocking on your door.
Designers: TRUCK Product Architecture
Link: Tambour Table
The London Design Festival 2004 website has been launched
This ten day festival taking place between September 20 and 30 in London, England, features all manner of design from graphics to products, photography to fashion, architecture to interiors and everything in between. The festival spans the city with exhibits, lectures, screenings, parties and seminars. Events are individually priced.
Link: London Design Festival 2004
Via: Dezain
Simple and pure
Based in Vancouver, BC, Brent Comber creates stunningly simple yet contemporary pieces from wood found along the Pacifc Northwest coast. Douglas fir and western red cedar are just two of the wood types that can be found in his collection. Two of our favorites are the "Saddle" and the "Cube".
"Inspired by the paradox of ancient materials and contemporary forms, Brent Comber brings the rugged North West Coast into the urban setting. By remaining true to the spirit of this precious material, his pieces blur the boundaries between form and function.Link: Brent ComberUsing nature's rhythms and textures, Comber works with an honesty and respect for his medium to produce simple, yet bold statements of modern design."
Topographically inspired chair
Designed by Mark Naden of Toda, a New York based multidisciplinary design office, the Topos Chair was designed to create a three dimensional form out of a two dimensional material. The result is a grid of contoured Finnish birch plywood with maple veneer that contours to the body.
Designer: Toda - Mark Naden
Manufacturer: Malofancon
Link: Exterior : Interior
So many choices
I've been looking around for a decent room divider / screen and while I think I may have found it in the pogo Libray, I really like the concept behind Material's plywood screen:
"When you don't want to be completely concealed, or need a place to rest your wine as you gaze longingly towards your loved one in the next room. The Flipper folding screen has unique circular cut-outs, hinged with lockign mechanisms to create a lovely disk shelf for your ceramic pheasant collection. Or, leave them closed to remain peerlessly mysterious to those pesky clients in the next room."The Flipper is made from 3/4" maple ply and is available in maple or a dark walnut stain. Dimensions are 6' x 6'
Link: Material Furniture
Storage and (optional) Bluetooth. What more could you ask for?
The Mod Cabinet is a storage solution with security. But not just any old lock and key security. A built-in fingerprint sensor allows access to locked drawers. Users are registered using a PDA or desktop computer running Glide's proprietary administration software. A wireless Bluetooth link is also available. The cabinet is also available without locks or a fingerprint sensor but really, why wouldn't you want a fingerprint sensor?
Link: Glide
A place for slouching
"The Slouch Couch is characterized by its radial modularity and embracing circular form. It can be used as separate units or joined side by side for larger, more enclosed space due to its wedge shaped plan. The minimal design is comprised of two elements: a fiberglass exterior and upholstered interior."
The Slouch Couch can be customized to include:
- Custom exterior designs and finishes
- Memory foam interior
- Upgraded upholstery (wool, leather, faux fur)
- Embedded Tecnology (lamp, speakers, DVD/TV, etc.)
Available in a wide variety of colors.
Designers: o'fa
Link: Slouch Couch
Need more book storage?
"Rather than lining your walls with books, the books are the wall. You can't have too much book space. Period. Goes anywhere. And the five shelves hold all your reading material while touching the ceiling and floor on only four white rubber feet."
Link: Urban Workshop
Swivel armchair by Karim Rashid for Frighetto
Swivel armchair with shaped steel section frame, covered with moulded polyurethane foam. Available in leather and fabric. Swivel base.
Designer: Karim Rashid
Link: Frighetto
Reference: Karim Rashid (L+L)
Modern classics by architect Eero Saarinen
Moving right along with our Saarinen theme (1, 2), we would be remiss if we did not feature the furniture designs of Eero Saarinen.
The tulip chair is perhaps as well known as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the TWA Terminal in New York. Knoll Studio still produces several of Saarinen's modern classics.
Link: KnollStudio
An innovation in seating
LCP - "Low Chair Plastic" - is a fitting name for this low lounge chair, created with a single piece of molded transparent PMMA plastic which spirals around itself to form a radically innovative seat. Thanks to an exclusive technology, LCP is elastic, soft and resistant in spite of its light and transparent appearance. This sophisticated chair, for the most attentive connoisseurs of design is available in four colors and fits with elegance into any environment.
Link: Kartell
Link: MoMa Online Store
Easy chair with integral tabletop
One is the loneliest number, but maybe not when you are sitting this chair. If only we had this chair in high school world history... we may have been comfortable while taking that snooze. Actually, it reminds me of a project in first year architecture studio where we had to design a table and chair for one... if only I had thought of this...
"SOLITAIRE, designed by Alfredo Häberli for Offecct, is an upholstered chair with an organic shape that is designed in one piece. One of SOLITAIRE's armrests is like an integral tabletop, for reading or writing or as a side table. The chair is equally suitable for the home and dynamic workplaces."
Designer: Alfredo Häberli
Manufacturer: Offecct Interiör
Designer/fabricators of custom enviro-friendly furnishings/objects
We like the work and playful spirit of this New York based design-build firm.
Brave Space is a triad of independent minded designer/fabricators with the goal of bringing you modular, multi-functional, and durable objects. We design custom furniture for the home and office setting. Our form follows function and our pricing follows integrity.
Link: Brave Space
Oak plywood chaise
Continuing our recent trend of furntiure blogs, we've come across this chaise lounge designed by Christian Nordsiek for Bart Design Italy. The chaise is made from oak plywood and features a chrome steel frame. A model with cushions is also available.
Designer: Christian Nordsiek
Link: Bart Design
A classic recreated
"Reinventing the classic U.S. Parks Dept. Bench, the playful Parks Dept. 47-B is a postmodern triumph of technical form and historical style. Translating the long, splinter-ridden lines and informal geometry of its predecessor into a shorter, splinter-less masterpiece, the 47-B is a robust chair sturdy enough to handle even Smokey the Bear's generous girth."
Materials: Hardwood (Baltic Birch)
Designer: Shawn Bruce
Link: Parks Dept. 47-B
Seating for 4
This pine table from Felix de Voss is constructed of Oregon pine. The table top and seats are made of MDF, PUR laquered. The table is also includes stainless steel fittings.
Designer: Felix de Voss
Link: P.G.A.L.W.
From Armani Casa
"Chaise Lounge in naturally painted solid oak, wood seat with strips, adjustable back rest, with small wheels in black rubber."
Link: Armani Casa
Hi-borg, Cyborg and Lo-borg cabinet units designed by Dune's design director, Nick Dine
Borg is an appropriate name as these pieces wouldn't seem at all out of place on the set of Star Trek, but they're not too out there as to appear out of place in your terrestrial abode. The designs from Tribeca New York based Dune Furniture come in aluminum with walnut veneer, high gloss polyurethane with ash veneer or all polyurethane finishes. Touch latch doors add that Trekkie glide to the operation of the drawers and doors.
Designer: Nick Dine
Link: Dune Furniture
Hardwood table with aluminum legs
From Angela Adams comes the Mod Pod. The Mod Pod is made from either ash, cherry, walnut or oak and features aluminum legs. The legs are beveled and plugged with solid pvc for smooth traction on hardwood surfaces. The Mod Pod is also available with wood legs.
Link: Angela Adams
Simply cool
Designed by young French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, this collection is a wonderful interpretation of common tube framed patio furniture. We like the proportions and straight forward design. The collection features chairs, chaise lounges, stools and tables. Chair covers that don't look like an after thought are also available.
Link: Magis
Designers: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Paris
Modern chaise lounges
These chaise lounges from Italian manufacturer Sturm und Plastic come in both aluminum and wood. The length of each chaise is 200cm and the width is 67.5cm.
Link: Sturm und Plastic
Designer: Gigi Rigamonti
Modern wood benches.
"These slatted benches are constructed as meticulously jointed wooden frames in sections of 2 and 3 cubes. Their light airy structure provides ideal minimal impact seating but they can also be used as coffee or occasional tables or at the foot of a bed. Low profile leather cushions are available as accessories"
Link: Seri
Space saving stool that folds up to be stored in the closet.
Innovative stool designed by Natalie Cole and Wayne Pottinger of the recently formed Also Studio. The stool, made from birch ply (have we already said how much we dig birch ply?), folds up for convenient storing when not in use.
Link: Also Studio
Via: Wallpaper
A classic <del>in chrome</del>
We've always loved the simple lines of the Emeco Navy chair. After looking up some info on Gehry's new Superlight chair by Emeco, we came across a picture of the Navy in polished
Oh, and as for the Superlight? Well, the jury is still out on that one. Ok, to be honest, we're not crazy about it. Which leads us to wonder how Joe's performance on the Navy would standup against a similar performance on the Superlight. Hmmm, Joe?
UPDATE: Today we received an email from Dan Fogelson, VP of Sales and Marketing for Emeco. He wanted to inform us that we incorrectly described the Navy as "chrome" when in fact it is highly polished aluminum and very easy to keep clean. Here's what Dan had to say:
"Thank-you for your mention of Emeco on your site. Emeco makes 100% aluminum furniture - we do not chrome plate our products (a process that is environmentally dangerous and temporary). The photo you show is of a hand polished aluminum Navy chair. Simple Windex or other non streaking cleaner keeps it looking great. Next time you are in NYC, stop by the Hudson hotel where our polished chairs have been used continuously for close to five years. And if you are in the US, I'd like to show you the new Gehry Superlight T chair for your review now that it is in production."Thanks for setting us straight on the Navy, Dan, and we'll be sure to get in touch with you about the Superlight.
Link: Emeco.net
Link: Emeco Superlight Press Release
Link: Book of Joe
Translucent furniture by architect Jeanne Scandura
The Tread line of funky translucent chairs and cubes stands in contrast to the sculptural and graceful Wave line of furniture also by Float that we featured a while back. That's what we like about Float, they design furniture that shares a common spirit, but a that has a completely different feel and look. Both the Tread chair and cube come in a variety of translucent cast rubber colors.
Link: Float
"Floating above the ground"
"The VIP Chair was especially designed for the World Expo 2000 in Hanover. It was used in the VIP room at the top of the Dutch Pavilion. The VIP Chair is now part of the Moooi collection.The chair is completely upholstered with a woollen, felt-like textile, available in a few different colours. The upholstery covering the legs of the chair hang loose, like trouser legs. Thanks to hidden wheels, when the chair moves it looks like it's floating above the ground."
Designer: Marcel Wanders
Link: Moooi
Beautiful bentwood chair from Bernhardt
From Bernhardt Design comes the Orbit chair. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, this chair is part of their "Guest" collection.
Designer: Ross Lovegrove
Link: Bernhardt Design
The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts
Sam Maloof is well known as a master craftsman and designer of contemporary furniture. His works are featured in the permanent collections of many of museums, including, the Smithsonian, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Art Museum, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Now through the Maloof Foundation, the Maloof's home in Alta Loma, California (east of Los Angeles), is open to the public. The home evolved over many years and was crafted by Sam Maloof as if it were a giant piece of furniture.
Link: Maloof Foundation
Book: Amazon
On the subject of knockoffs...
Fun new dining table from Crate & Barrel subsidiary, CB2. If you haven't already looked, check out the recent LA Times article (below) on knockoffs. Sort of reminds you of that Noguchi table doesn't it? Needless to say, this is an attractive table at an attractive price.
"Web of intrigue and desire. Along came our spyder. Seat six down beside her. Handcrafted steel spokes crisscross and radiate in a dramatic black ice finish. Beveled glass top takes in the view."Link: CB2
Via: Apartment Therapy (CB2)
Revisiting a 1972 Classic
Now here is a Gehry chair we can love.
"Frank O. Gehry is one of today's most important architects. Gehry likes to use unusual materials for his architecture and furniture and with the furniture series "Easy Edges" from 1972 he succeeded in lending such everyday material as cardboard a new aesthetic dimension. Although they appear unbelievably simple "Easy Edges" are constructed with the architect's care as well as being very robust and stable. Four models from the series - Side Chair, Wiggle Side Chair, Dining Table and Low Table Set - are now being produced by Vitra."
Designer: Frank Gehry bio at Vitra
Link: Vitra
Minimalist birch ply table and stool
Birch ply tables and stools by designer Corin Mellor."Birch plywood furniture designed by Corin Mellor and made in England for David Mellor Design. These beautiful minimalist stools and tables are versatile and mobile, enhancing almost any architectural environment."Designer: Corin Mellor
Link: David Mellor Design
Art Deco Sidetable
A beautiful wood sidetable found on the website of Australian custom furniture designer Anton Gerner. Unfortunately, other than the dimensions of the table (480 X 480 X 400 mm) there isn't any detailed info on this table with regards to wood, construction, etc. This is, in our opinion, the standout piece from his Art Deco collection.
Link: Zebrano Sidetable
Designer: Anton Gerner
Beautiful chair from Massachusets-based Szado
Isn't birch ply wonderful? We've used birch ply for lots of things that we've built: shelves, coffee tables, platform beds, the list goes on. The designers over at Szado are also hip to the wonders of birch ply and have used it to create the Spyder chair."The Spyder chair is for people who want to exercise their freedom of expression at home or the office. This curvaceous chair exudes confidence and fun. The smooth planes of wood are angled just right for a very enjoyable sit. And it tends to make people giggle."The Spyder is available in a maple, cherry, or walnut finish.
Link: SZADO
Via: Sensory Impact
Midcentury designs reissued by Dunbar Furniture
"In 1931, destiny brought Edward J Wormley, a young twenty three year old furniture designer with a fresh new perspective, to the doors of DUNBAR. A gifted designer and student of furniture history, Wormley inspired a global perspective and was instrumental in the introduction of world-class design philosophies into the American interior landscape. With a passion for quality and an eye for detail, Wormley found a perfect partner for his talent in DUNBAR, and remained with the company as Design Director for over three decades."
Now the designs of Edward J. Wormley are available for the first time in over 50 years.
Hat rack as wall sculpture.
A hat rack that you can use to hang just about anything. From the Mox website:"There's nearly everything you can hang on LILI. A wardrob to be used in an exceptional way. Avalible in playwood oak blached or playwood oak stains brown."Dimensions: 100x100cm (max. distance from wall 20cm)
Link: Mox.ch
Pioneer in using plastic in industrial design
"Aarnio was - and still is - one of the pioneers in using plastic in industrial design. Plastic material set the designers free to create every shape and use every color they wanted. This gave birth to objects oscillating between function and fun - but always fascinating ones."
Link: Eero Aarnio
Link: Ball Chair
Link: Bubble Chair
Link: Screw Tables
Link: Tipi
A different kind of convertible sofa
This sofa was designed by architect Massimo Morozzi, a member of the radical design group Archizoom who later went on to open his own studio designing household items and products for the likes of Cassina, Mazzei, Alessi, etc.The backrest cushions have leather backs and can be laid in a horizontal position to form large support and work surfaces. The square silhouette with wide armrests offers comfort when sitting straight, suitable when reading. The seat structure is in solid wood and the backrests are in steel. Elastic, transpiring expanded polyurethane padding. The feet are in satin-finish, varnished aluminum. The removable cover comes in a range of catalogue fabrics and leathers.
Link: Edra
Designer: Massimo Morozzi
Furniture by Marmol Radziner for use... well... indoors or outdoors
Good looking outdoor furniture that we would gladly invite inside. Designed by Los Angeles architects Marmol Radnizer.Shelving unit by Rabih Hague
These book shelves by Rabih Hague are available in solid oak with a natural finish. They stand 180 x 150.
"rabih hage is an interior design company specialising in contemporary design, furniture and art. The company's unique style is a mix of art and design pieces carefully chosen by Rabih el Hage (architect and interior designer). Designs by Rabih Hage sit alongside work of designers such as Christophe Côme, Mark Harvey, Johnny Swing and Christian Tortu. The company's products (exclusive in the UK) are available for trade and distribution. Many are on display at the rabih hage showroom in London."
Link: rabih hague
An experiment in flexiply
"The bent one is a lounge chair. And it's bent. It began as an experiment to see what can be achieved with flexiply, yet as interest grew, Morgan Cheetham began working on The Bent One. The result takes flexiply to its limit. The body of the chair is made of five layers of 3mm flexiply. The production of the chair is a little complex - a collapsable former had to be made to release the glued body. Each laminate is glued and clamped up seperately. The armrests are made of steam bent laminated timber. These are bent over a regular mould, seperate to the flexiply laminating. Once the armrests are ready, they are glued and clamped to the body section. The whole chair is sanded, sealed, and waxed to finish."
Link: Morgan Cheetham
Indoor/Outdoor furniture made from Iroko wood
"The Deneb Outdoor system is derived from the Deneb table. The system is comprised of a table and matching bench. The same base is used for both and they each have an Iroko solid wooden top.
The principles of Stua are embodied in this system, simplicity, timelessness and warmth. The Deneb system is suitable for indoor and outdoor use."
Iroko wood is a popular alternative to teak with a similar texture and grain.
Link: Stua
Designer: Jesus Gasca
Beautiful bentwood chair from Swedese
From Swedish furniture maker Swedese comes the Bend Chair. The bend chair is available in either birch or walnut. An upholstered seat is an option.Update: We received an email from Scott Hartkopf of the Hightower Group. He wanted to let us know that the Hightower Group is the North American distributor of Swedese and if anyone is interested in purchasing a Bend chair, they stock them at their distribution center. The Hightower Group's website can be found at www.hightoweraccess.com
Link: Swedese
Designer: Mårten Claesson
Chaise for Indoor or Outdoor use.
"Tokyo Pop is a family of seating of single-block polyethylene, made possible by a rotational plastic production technique which allows for its complex hollow form. The design, modified from its original model of paper honeycomb, maintains an organic shape consistent with an imprint of the human body. The four versions are well suited for both indoor and outdoor use and are available in an ivory similar to th ehue in rice paper, gray-green or orange. An upholstered version for indoor use is available in various shades of wool."
Designer: Tokujin Yoshioka
Link: Driade
Sculptural outdoor/indoor furniture by architect Jeanne Scandura
We like the fluid forms and tactile quality of this line of furnishings including some pieces suitable for outdoor use.
Float has been an effort to create objects with material integrity that improve over time, respond to the human form, and welcome a dialogue with architectural space. The furniture reflects a joy for experimentation, versitility, and cultural curiosity.Link: Float
Screen wall designed by Pelikan Design.
"The Labyrint screen wall series is a room divider for many different areas. Labyrint was designed by Danish Pelikan Design in 1992.
The units may be curved or straight.
The units are composed of oblique slats in natural beech and maple. The large units may stand alone on plate feet.
Labyrint is available in two different widths, with castors, plate feet or wall mountings.
Link: Fritz Hansen
Designer: Pelikan Design
The Obsessive Furniture Line
"In loose change, you see a couch. In pieces of show leather, a chair. In jars, a chandelier. These are all visions turned into reality by Johnny Swing. and his Obsessive Furniture line. Taking common, everyday materials and re-purposing them, Johnny Swing has created practical art that is as stunning to view as it is stimulating to use.
His nickel couch, made of over 6400 welded nickels, is a magnificient piece of work that is contoured for the body. His Jardelier, a chandelier made of glass jars, evokes a feeling of early 20th century invention with its illumination. These are but two example of an exceptional furniture line. The difference is in the art. Each is a unique example of beautiful and functional sculpture."
Link: Johnny Swing
A sense of beauty, harmony, and order.
"The intrigue of this piece lies in the interplay of convex and concave forms that produce a unique undulating form. The hinges are placed at the top and bottom of the panels creating a sliver of uninterrupted space between the panels. The screen is modular. We recommend a minimum of six leaves but any number greater than two is possible. This is a great piece to section off a space or to provide a sculptural element within a room."Link: Soorikian Furniture
Marmol Radziner Furniture creates reproductions of Schindler's 1920's designs
The Kings Road Group offers faithful reproductions of California modernist architect R.M. Schindler's revolutionary redwood designs from the 1920's. These simple pieces were originally designed for Schindler's own residence on Kings Road in Los Angeles.
All designs are licensed to Marmol Radziner Furniture through Friends of the Schindler House/MAK Center for Art and Architecture. Significant proceeds from the sale of this furniture go directly towards the continued conservation of the Schindler House.Marmol Radziner Furniture is an arm of Los Angeles based architecture and construction firm Marmol Radziner + Associates.
Link: Kings Road Group by Marmol Radziner Furniture
Outdoor/indoor furniture by Belgian designer Mathias Claerhout
We like the simple materials and delicate lines of the Deckhopper, an adjustable lounge chair for use indoors or out. Claerhout has also designed several accessory pieces which vary from the practical (Side Table) to the whimsical (Lightsprinkler).Link: Mathias Claerhout
Modular Kitchens
"Chef is Driade's kitchen project. Started in 1978, it has been constantly updated by Antonia Astori. The number of possible combinations and variety of fittings provide a full range of possible solutions from kitchenettes, through solutions integral with living spaces, to large professional kitchens. Although Chef divides into 2 programmes of differing aesthetic and structural characteristics, the two can be readily combined: Kucina has developed from a virtually infinite modular system. It consists of bases, wall and tall units, with matching hanging bar and other wallfittings. Fuoko is a collection of bases, wall and free standing units which, as definitive furniture can also be employed as individual pieces in their own right. These can be used freely grouped between them, individually or in blocks. They have aluminium structures, standing on levelling feet or on wheels."Link: Driade Chef
Bentwood and more
We stumbled across this website tonight. There isn't much info on the site describing the products, but some of the pieces look fantastic. Among the collections are tables, seating, storage, and sofas.
Link: Simon James Design
Stainless steel and teak garden furniture.
"Gargantua is a multifunctional piece of garden furniture, made of durable materials: galvanised metal, stainless steel and teak.
Gargantua offers 4 benches and place for 8 persons. Each bench can be placed on 4 different heights: normal sitting height, teenagers height, children’s height or all benches at the top (then it is turned into a giant table offering place for 12 persons). The benches can be taken away to make place for wheelchair or a highchair. Now also available as option: cushions & backrests. The backrest can also easily fitted to the existing model."
Link: Extremis
Designer: Dirk Wynants
Do-it-yourself outdoor chair - "a modernist update of the Adirondack chair"
Here's a little project for you to tackle this weekend: The Sunset Chair. Not too sure about the little decorative diamond shaped cutouts on the chair back... we're thinking of just skipping that step. Designed by architect Stephen Kanner for Sunset Magazine.Via: Sunset Magazine
Plans: The Sunset Chair
Designer: Stephen Kanner: Kanner Architects
Plywood and steel. What more could you ask for?
Lounge chair with matte chromed steel frame. Curved seat and arms in plywood, blanched oak or oak stained dark walnut.
Link: LAAKA
Designer: Karri Monni
Chair and workspace, all in one.
"For the Carte Blanche collection, Venlet created a mobile desk-seat, a place of retreat where users can withdraw to with their laptop, mobile phone, etc …
The injection moulded frame in EPS (Expanded Polystyren) is covered with 3D knitted fabrics, available in 5 different colours: black, red, gold, green and grey. The legs are available on castors or on glides.
Easy Rider was the official chair of the Interieur Biennial 2002 and won the Red Dot Design Award 2003 and the Henry van de Velde Award for Best Product 2003!"
Link: Bulo
Designer: Danny Venlet
"Doesn't this sort of look like that one thing in the DWR catalog?"
One of the themes I've noticed while lurking on the forums over at Dwell is the number of times people ask where they can get DWR styling at IKEA prices. A valid request as I'm sure the majority of the population still wonders who exactly the WR in DWR is meant for.I live near an IKEA. I'm not too far from a couple DWR showrooms as well. I spend hours and hours paging through the DWR catalog when it comes in the mail. Considering my "knowledge" of both, the one thing about IKEA is it's so easy to spot their furniture, especially when you walk into someone's house/apartment and it looks like a page out of their catalog or like one of their showrooms.
Link: Design Within Reach
Link: IKEA
Durable outdoor/indoor furniture
German based Dedon offers several collections of contemporary hand woven wickerwork furniture covered with Hularo® fiber. Hularo is a "synthetic fibre, comining the best characteristics of natural materials with the advantages of innovative technology."Convertible table for multiple uses
"Rift sawn white oak framed table with reversible top. Top is rift sawn white oak on one side and white high pressure laminate on the other. The table top rotates easily and it locks into place with a steel tube. It's a perfect multifunctional solution to get the most out of your space."Link: Blu Dot
Cotton String Collection
"A square-shaped armchair with epoxy powder coated steel frame. The seat was made by hand-plaiting 650 metres of cotton-covered acrylic cord. The deliberately irregular plaiting makes the padding even more comfortable."
Designer: Fernando e Humberto Campana
Link: Edra
Quality, modern outdoor furniture made in America
Made from Ipe (a high quality sustainable wood), stainless steel and natural composite materials, Modern Outdoor has three lines of chairs, tables, benches, carts and planters.Link: Modern Outdoor
Bentwood Chair by James Irvine
"Simplicity and rounded edges reveal the distinctive stamp of James Irvine, while the bentwood frame of this chair spells out Thonet. A660 stands on a polished aluminium base - your choice of disc or cross - on which an aluminium bracket is mounted. Polyester netting covers the continuous beech frame resting on this bracket. The chair is available with and without armrests, and the frame can be colour-stained or varnished. Seat height is 46 cm, chair width 51 cm. Irvine has clearly swept Thonet into the 21st century."
Via: Frame Mag
Link: Thonet
Designer: James Irvine (.pdf)
Contemporary indoor/outdoor furniture
David Trubridge is one of New Zealand's best-known designers of contemporary furniture. He has designed some very nice indoor/outdoor pieces, and we like his general philosophy.Link: David Trubridge Design