Brave Space is a Brooklyn-based group of designers with a focus on sustainable products that are both a bit playful and contemporary. Their environmentally-friendly Bamboo Slide is a classic example of both their philosophy and their New York roots, with a small footprint that is perfect for tight urban kitchens. A sliding butcher block top adds nearly another 2 feet to its length and also reveals an extra, removable cutting board. Two drawers to either side of the table also slide out for additional storage space. In Brave Space’s words, this useful kitchen island also allows a host to simultaneously prepare food and serve as barkeep–making Bamboo Slide not only efficient in space but in time.

The Hollow line of tables features an open-ended “hangar” that sits just underneath the tabletop, useful for hiding relatively flat items such as magazines and books. The end table is particularly suited for storing periodicals with pockets on its legs, while the bench makes up for its length with a central cutout that allows for access to its hollow interior. A light blonde bamboo trapezoidal inner frame is wrapped by a darker amber shell, which is an interesting play on negative space. Finished in organic herbal oil, these tables are both minimal and sustainable.

Brave Space’s Tetrad series is based off of Tetris, a game to which many of us can attribute lost hours and sore thumbs. Not only is the shape of Tetrad just like its electronic counterpart, but its pieces are interchangeable too. This allows for an infinite variety of combinations; stylish, double-sided beveling only adds to the permutations by making the individual shelves reversible. A Pack Flat version comes with metal backing and fast shipping, while the Mini and traditional versions are bulkier but finished in more stylish Walnut.

Deep Space is a two-toned Baltic Birch and Walnut wardrobe which highlights Brave Space’s love for compartments and extra storage spaces, with a variety of hidden, shallow and deep drawers located not only inside its cavernous 4 foot-deep interior but installed inside its longest door. Three exposed drawers allow for easy access, while a bi level shoe rack near the bottom and a hanging rack near the top handle clothing and other apparel easily. Powder-coated black aluminum hardware accents an otherwise fully wooden frame which is finished with their patented water-based BioShield formulation.

The Bamboo Stagger and Desk 235 both feature zig-zagging perpendicularly oriented parts; the Stagger is a shelving system with an asymmetric configuration to make room for irregular pieces such as vases while maintaining a fairly compact profile, while Desk 235 is wrapped in thin cherry/walnut veneer panels for a lightweight appearance. 235 is so named for its shelving which resembles a digital clock; now if only we all got to leave work at 2:35!

Lastly we have the Folded Bed, which is a sleek, low-profile bed platform with the same thin-panel appearance as the Stagger and 235. The headboard is flanked by two semi-translucent panels which, are useful for diffuse rear lighting. Even the slats are stylish, as they not only flush with the bed but fully integrated into its frame. In addition to the products featured above, Brave Space also provides custom design services to fit your own needs; for more information, visit their website by clicking here.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Although colorful/patterned decor is all the rage these days, light colored furniture still continues to occupy a hallowed niche in contemporary furnishings. Above: the plasticky/mod Orbit dining set is appropriately named, as it instantly brings back memories of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The playfully rounded chairs in particular are infused with the optimism of the 1960s; chromed steel lends the entire group a hint of sophistication.

The use of white furniture in a living room is simultaneously the most rewarding and most controversial. Placing such furnishings (which often attract scuffs and stains like moths to a flame) in a high visibility setting is best reserved for those of us with a mean clean streak. All things considered, the arrangement above makes a compelling argument: sleek, rounded cocktail and end tables flank a minimalist splitback sleeper sofa. A white vinyl upholstered chaise ups the style equation a notch while a bubbly TV stand with chrome trumpet base complements the other tables in the room.

The Jazz series is a fairly elementary storage solution for with a bit of mod style. The display cabinet features an alternating grid of square cubbies with five sliding doors which are removable if you want to maximize display space, while the low-slung buffet table includes four smaller cubbies hidden behind two sliding doors. What really sets Jazz apart are the quartet of triangular legs which splay apart in a cartoon-like fashion; overall, a nice mix of utility and fun for cool cats all around.

For pure simplicity, it’s difficult to beat the Solo bedroom group: aluminum features are the only real flourishes on an otherwise very simple and square template. Definitely a set for minimalists, Solo is perhaps most at home in a loft setting; the elegant platform bed and cosmopolitan dresser and nightstand are perfectly matched with concrete floors, New York-style brick walls and exposed columns and ductwork. All of this and more are available at Eurway.

Popularity: 5% [?]

It’s always nice to feel good about anything you buy; it can be said that Andrew Moe’s furniture engenders good feelings twice over with not only style but environmentally sound production practices. Reclaimed lumber is the Moe Design Studio’s medium of choice, and as such no two pieces are ever alike.

Above: The Olathe series of tables is perched upon tapered, insect-like legs and can be topped with glass, wood or even stone. The top table is made from hickory, while the bottom is made from oak–both from reclaimed sources.

The Ames and Musashi are solid and imposing coffee tables with fundamentally different design approaches; Musashi is clearly more asian-inspired with a cantilevered oak top, while the Ames is minimal and modern. Musashi actually utilizes two pieces of steel to support its “roof”, whose ends are purposely exposed at the top of each leg. The Ames utilizes more traditional dovetail joinery to produce an essentially seamless transition from the sides to the top.

The zebra-like Chama is composed of several different species of wood to give it a unique striped look. The example above is made from soft maple and spruce, with a contrast not only between colors but textures (smooth vs. rough). At just over 1 1/2 feet in height, Chama is suitable as a short end table, stool, or plant stand.

Ridgeway looks a bit like it was sculpted from a single and unbroken piece of wood. In reality the white-washed finish nearly obscures the transition between the legs and the bottom of the seat. I like the overall shape of the piece - sharply tapered legs and an uneven top give Ridgeway a playful, handcrafted look with just a touch of modern.

The city of Mancos is located in the extreme southwestern corner of Colorado, and is rich with farming, timber and mining industries. The Mancos bed is somewhat of a testament to a predominantly outdoor culture with a rustic, unfinished red oak frame. I say somewhat, in that the bed is also clearly contemporary in shape, if not in texture.

The elegant Ophir desk and chair combo is made from rich ash wood with gorgeous, sweeping legwork on both pieces. This collection is my favorite, as it balances both minimalist aesthetics with just enough flair to make a statement. For more information on the Ophir and other pieces by Andrew, feel free to visit the Moe Design studio. Note: although his work is mostly made to order, some of his tables are also available at Vivavi.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Via swissmiss: Courtney Skott is a recent graduate of the Wood/Furniture program at the California College of the Arts, but don’t let that fool you - she draws from a diverse background that includes majors in journalism and engineering as well as work in the internet industry. Perhaps the best embodiment of Courtney is in her innovative Cloud Bed which serves as a “room within a room”. This is a bed that is layered with meaning: the curved corners are clearly contemporary, the frame is based on Chinese alcove beds from the Ming Dynasty, and the cutouts are digitized clouds from a trip to Patagonia. All the while, the bed is more functional than most, with casters that allow for easy repositioning. Image attribution: Heather and Fraying

Corrugated cardboard is not necessarily the classiest of materials to emulate, but the Map Cabinet and Corrugated Bench (both, above) are surprisingly handsome. Made from bent plywood, the wavy sheets are not only interesting but also help to give structural integrity to the overall piece (much like with real cardboard). The plywood itself is detailed with silk screened patterns; forests in the case of the Map Cabinet, and chantilly lace for the Corrugated Bench.

As a fellow Bay Area resident, I can relate to the rationale behind Courtney’s prototype Quake Shelves. Each shelf (made from Padauk wood) is bolted to the wall with a patina-finished metal bracket–not a bad feature to have in a tremor, although the shelf can slide back and forth within the bracket.The metal actually is dotted with holes that represent the locations of earthquakes in California for the previous week, guaranteeing a certain level of uniqueness for each piece.

The Un-upholstered chair is exactly that - this chair not only revels in its wooden frame, but has been routed through the Walnut veneer to expose the base plywood. A repeating floral pattern and the natural warmth of Walnut is enough to temporarily fool the eye into thinking the chair is perhaps thinly wrapped in fabric, but this chair is simply wood, through and through.

Like the Un-upholstered chair, these Tree Stools reflect Skott’s Wood/Furniture background, although more in spirit than actual composition. Save for a plywood frame, the stools are actually designed for comfort with ample foam padding. Each stool is wrapped in a jacket of wool which is meticulously pin tucked to give it the appearance of bark. As with many of Courtney’s other pieces, these stools are expensive at $3500. I do however look forward to seeing more of her work in the near future, if not for ownership, at least for inspiration.
courtneyskott.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

One of my original inspirations for creating PadStyle was a chance visit to ManhattanLoft.com (which is actually not located in New York, but Salt Lake City). A contemporary furniture retailer with some truly swank beds, I somehow simultaneously lost the both the link and forgot the name - until yesterday night. First up: the Noho bed is something you’d see in Austin Power’s pad, with a sexy round form factor and chrome frame. Though lacking a proper headboard, it does feature an adjustable panel which folds up, converting the bed into a rather large and luxurious lounge chair.

The next set of beds are variations of each other, but all feature the same modular capability. A thick leather perimeter surrounds the bed, which in turn frames a channel where seat backs and trays can be inserted to make your own unique piece of furniture. Think of it as having the flexibility to create an all-in-one nightstand, daybed, “lounging area” and regular bed.

My favorite bed is perhaps the most tame - the no-nonsense Bronx is classic contemporary platform bed with a low profile. Double stitched leather seams (they call them baseball seams) give this a bed a subtle flair, but its primary draw is the monolithic shape: it’s impressive by virtue of its wide, imposing frame. A reclining slatted frame is offered as an accessory, and is offered with several other Manhattan Loft Beds.

Beyond beds, other types of furniture including sofas and dining sets are available. Ranging from mildly quirky to downright bizarre, there’s likely something for everyone here. Be sure to check out ManhattanLoft, if not to buy, at least to savor.
manhattanloft.com

Popularity: 5% [?]

Piet Hein Eek is a prolific Dutch designer who clearly enjoys working with and combining different materials, textures and finishes. Visual dissonance is his signature, as he is perhaps best known for using scrapwood to create contemporary furniture. Above: dining tables, beds and sofa all feature a wild patchwork of recycled wood, somewhat similar to what you would find at a seaside shanty.

Not content with scrapwood, Piet also loves to mix and match vintage patterns. Floral and striped upholstery nearly half a century past its prime is fair game — all of this again wrapped around the tight, clean lines of modern design. I particularly love his eponymous Eek dresser, which is actually powder-coated metal covered with Baroque-style vinyl.

If you love his designs but aren’t too fond of his eclectic finishes, there’s no need to despair - Piet bares it all with his steel and aluminum furniture. His trademark patterns are absent - these pieces are all about showing off their clean, efficient lines. Utilitarian grey steel and rivets are only tempered with tapered legs and padding - in other words, everything you need and nothing you don’t.
pietheineek.nl

Popularity: 8% [?]

The plainly named Shop of the Orient (SOTO for short) carries an intriguing line of decor with an unmistakable eastern influence. Above: The Aladdin and Panarch beds both feature complementary use of materials. The Panarch is a solid teak frame with padded water hyacinth panels on the headboard, while the Aladdin has a tightly packed water hyacinth frame with teak edging. Both beds have sleek bodies with restrained curves. Though an Asian design philosophy is evident, there is nothing “traditional” about these beds: they are contemporary through and through.

Also available are boxed candle and tea-light sets. The first bamboo vessel can also hold potpourri infused water or flowers, while the second set features an inverted bamboo plank that serves as an elegant candle holder.

Lastly, SOTO sells privacy screens with a wholly natural look. The first screen is a mat of bamboo sticks strung vertically inside a square teak frame. Slightly more contemporary is the Sarmart screen which is composed of alternating bamboo bundles and packed water hyacinth blocks. These are by far the most traditional of their products, but like all of SOTO’s products, they maintain a contemporary/minimalist appeal.
SOTO-UK.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

Efficient folks with an affinity for contemporary design would likely suffer a massive migraine if he/she were to ever lay eyes upon Prealpi’s gorgeous Plaza bed. On one hand, the average human being spends approximately 30% of their lifespan in sleeping. On the other hand, you’re not exactly conscious during that time, so why bother with something pricey? An ugly conundrum, but simultaneously a very pretty one.

Located in Follina, Italy, Prealpi has single-handedly redefined my definition of “perfect platform beds” with the Plaza. There’s really only one thing that grabs my attention: the downward-sweeping curve of the headboard as it merges gracefully with the bedframe. It’s utterly simple, but utterly elegant. There’s also a bit of Alpine poetry in the headboard’s shape, as it mirrors Prealpi’s factory’s location at the base of the similarly downward-sweeping Veneto Alps.

Other classic platform bed elements help to round out the Plaza: the 2″ sunken center, the two inch thick wood used throughout the frame, and the requisite 10″ platform surrounding the mattress. The White leather variant definitely has my vote for jaw-dropping bedroom goodness, but Moro Oak in a Wenge finish would likely be easier to keep clean and more in line with my masculine sensibilities. Available in both Queen and King sizes, Spacify also includes a ten-drawer Accenti dresser and two illuminated nightstands.
$8,037.00 (wood), spacify
$9,832.50 (leather), spacify

Popularity: 6% [?]

Contemporary decor is generally dominated by products from Europe and North America, so it’s always a nice change of pace to find furniture from Asia. Located in Toronto, Greentea Design carries a beautiful inventory of Korean hand-made tables and storage pieces. Asian furniture tends to focus heavily on the natural patterns and forms of wood, and the company continues this custom by primarily using Gingko and Elm hardwoods. Many of their furnishings likewise emphasize traditional shapes, including the intriguing Wheel Tansu mobile cabinet ($625) and the unforgettable Joy Jones step chests ($2800).

Each Greentea piece is hand-crafted down to the hand-rubbed finish and hand-forged metal hardware, and can be customized to your specifications. I’m particularly impressed by how their furniture manages to be simultaneously traditional and modern. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the combination of clean, simple lines, restrained use of ornamentation, and rich, solid woods - all of which parallel contemporary sensibilities. The Wicker TV Stand ($1600), Wide Maru Coffee Table ($2600) and Large Rice Chest ($2400) easily complement any existing modern décor.

The award for maximum “Wow!” factor needs to go to their Mizuya kitchen collection. Pictured above with a Fruitwood stain and Iron Hirute hardware, The Counter ($3200) and Island ($2500) are amazingly architectural in design. From bamboo-themed fluted doors to cantilevered frames, the Mizuya pieces are miniature buildings in their own right. Even Donald Trump–a man who knows a thing or two about buildings–featured the Mizuya Collection in a contestant suite on his show, The Apprentice. If those pictures don’t make you say “Wow!”, I don’t know what will!
greenteadesign.com

Popularity: 10% [?]

Furniture that looks good enough to eat: good or bad? I don’t often find myself waxing philosophical, which makes the Hollow Ottomans above all the more interesting. The ottomans are part of a line of furniture by Los Angeles-based designer Lebello that utilizes polycarbonate “strings” roped into a wicker-like consistency. “Hollow” is composed of a pastel interior wrapped in a rich chocolate shell, which results in functional yet eye-catching footstools.

The ottomans are outdoor and indoor friendly thanks to their durable polycarbonate construction. Primarily a functional material, polycarbonates can be found in everything from DVDs and eyeglasses. An imaginative designer eventually realized that the plastic was also easily molded and dyed. Thousands of upscale dishes and rainbow Apple iMacs later, the pretty but practical Hollow Ottoman was born.

Rest your feet, store books in the middle, or expose them to the elements - Hollow Ottomans can take it all. They are, unfortunately, inedible. Which brings me to my last point: these footstools look a lot like fruit-flavored taffy candy. It’s a toss-up between calling these “delicious” or “delightful” ottomans, so don’t be surprised if you catch me nibbling on the corners.
$220, lebello.com, surrounding.com

Popularity: 9% [?]

I love furniture that is both simple yet functional, and Componibili storage units fit that definition handily. Created in 1969 by the late Italian designer and architect Ms. Anna Castelli Ferrieri, “Componibili” are little more than plastic cylindrical and square containers - but what fantastic containers they are!

Created in the same year that saw the last episode of the original Star Trek, you can almost hear the futuristic “whoosh” of Componibili’s sliding doors. Kids in particular seem to be enamored by its cubbyhole characteristics; adults use them as anything from nightstands to bathroom storage. Extremely versatile, Componibili can be stacked or moved around on small wheels.

Is it just me or do these guys look a bit like the Kodama from Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke? Alright, it’s probably just me - but with over 30 years in production and a presence in NY MOMA’s collection, these little guys have definitely developed a life of their own.
$50-$140, unicahome.com

Popularity: 14% [?]