PATRICIA URQUIOLA continues to wow us, this time with the Usame Table, which features delicate gingko leaves suspended in polycarbonate. The table itself appears to be turned inside out with an outer frame that encompasses both the tabletop and a side storage compartment. Its compact size and lightweight construction allow it to serve as a coffee table, side table or tray; breakfast in bed, anyone?
$272, hivemodern.com

THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER HAS LANDED is the likely headline for Logue Studios’ n 03 media/living platform, which features a squat, top-heavy storage bay and anodized tube legs. Sustainability fans will particularly love the stylish eco-resin doors (made from bear grass) and bamboo construction. Available in both one and two-bay variants, the Logue Studios’ platform is designed to maximize storage capacity while minimizing its footprint.
$999, loguestudio.com

D E SELLERS’ architectural degree serves as both a conceptual and technical basis for his highly efficient and functional single panel series. His SP2 Bookcase uses a single piece of 4′x6′ birch veneer Europly with no waste or fasteners. Durable, light and stylish, d.e. Seller’s furniture is an excellent blend of minimalism and environmental awareness.
desfurniture.com

MASH Studios’ sleekly-styled LAX not only features a ground-hugging platform base, but a wall-mounted headboard that is entirely detached from the bedframe. English walnut laminate is finished with natural oils while the headboard is wrapped in 1/8″ thick powder-coated aluminum doors which slide open to reveal additional storage space.
$850-$1,020, designpublic.com

THERE’S nothing like wood to warm up a room; Crate & Barrel’s Elan Armoire is both clean and natural, with solid oak planks that are hand-rubbed in oil to further emphasize the grain of the wood. While most armoires are large and imposing pieces, Elan features a horizontal slat design on the doors that offer glimpses of the contents within; this helps to air out and lighten the armoire’s presence without compromising its structural integrity.
$1699, crateandbarrel.com

PATRICIA Urquiola’s intense creativity carries with it an underlying tone of femininity that is refreshing in an industry that continues to be dominated by men. Her Lowland platform bed is a revelation with organic, curved lines and soft padding throughout; this is the way all beds should be. The plywood frame seems to float inches from the ground, but closer examination reveals PVC padded stainless steel feet for a subtle finishing touch.
moroso.it

Iannone:Design is a company that’s hard not to love: they deftly balance modern and stylish design in one hand and sustainable production practices in the other. Formerly Iannone:Sanderson, the firm made its debut at the 2004 International Contemporary Fair in New York. Present at the ICFF was the Kirei Mod Coffee Table which prominently features Kirei board. Made from reclaimed sorghum stalks (seen above), Kirei has a rough, granular texture that contrasts beautifully with the table’s matte white acrylic frame.
Image attribution: Inhabitat

Iannone’s Signature 2.0 cabinets feature a similar Kirei-on-white design, but takes the concept one step further by incorporating botanical patterns: a clear homage to the company’s eco-friendly roots. The doors are made from Kirei board while the cabinet uses formaldehyde-free plywood with a low VOC (volatile organic compound) finish.
Image attribution: Design Public

Above: the Signature 1.0 and Green:Mod series utilize the same low VOC plywood as Signature 2.0 but also introduce bamboo and a touch of stainless steel into the mix. Signature 1.0 features random square cutouts while the Green:Mod series consists of a cabinet and nightstand, the latter of which comes with your choice of natural, amber, ash, walnut or beech fronts.

In addition to limited production pieces, Iannone is also available for custom work. From top: another version of the Mod Coffee Table uses salvaged fir framing lumber, complete with original nail holes. Meanwhile, Iannone’s contemporary media armoire and cabinets are particularly stunning when backlit, with door panels that reveal thatch and bamboo suspended in resin.
Iannone:Design

BKM is a unique collaboration between designers Bruckner, Klamminger and Moritsch where the aim is to integrate the views of all three partners into every piece they create. The result is a realization of the original ideas from each of the trio, synthesized into a coherent whole. Above: Falb is an asymmetric chair which not only accommodates people but their personal belongings. The seatback has a large, upward-angled hook to hang bags and purses, while the seatrest bulges outwards to accommodate drinks, keys and other small accessories. To compensate for the additional weight, the left leg swings outwards slightly, not unlike a dancer making a side-step.

Beside is another multifunctional piece that serves as both a lamp and an accent table. The lampshade rotates and prominently features a beautifully curved opening on the side; for added ambience, the thin wooden skin gives off a warm glow from the light source within. The base of the lamp is clear of a light fixture (it hangs from the top of the shade) and provides a small but adequate space for storing a few books or other sundry items.

Undine is named for a water nymph from Greek mythology and serves its namesake well. A voluptuously-shaped pitcher, Undine is filled from the top but pours from the side. I particularly like that the top is designed to stack upturned glasses; somewhat like Listerine bottles, this pitcher’s lid doubles as a cup.

I like OneSquared, not so much because of its functionality but the way it pokes fun at itself. Here’s a quick math review: what is one times one? One, of course–and that’s exactly what this chair is. Despite a double seatback and seatrests, the chair only really comfortably seats a single person (I love the last picture above). Call it deceptive, but it’s perhaps the most playful realization of identity I’ve ever seen.

My favorite is Buchhalter 3: just like BKM itself, three distinct modalities comprise this irregularly-shaped piece of metal. A combination table shelf, bookend and reading desk, Buchhalter 3 packs in an amazing amount of functionality and is representative of the collaborative spirit and creativity of BKM as a whole.
bkm-format.com

Opened in 2005, La Brea Avenue’s Vioski showroom (photo credit: Apartment Therapy) is a bit of retro mixed in with contemporary; the result is stylish furniture with an emphasis on comfort. Above: the ground-hugging Mitosi Sectional is a somewhat odd-shaped piece but is actually designed to be mixed and matched with other sections. In all, nine distinct configurations are available, with the ultimate configuration being a closed pentagonal ring.

Like the Mitosi, the Tribeca and Sotto coffee tables are low-slung pieces with modular features. The Sotto is reminiscent of a modern prefab structure with a cantilevered “garage” at one end; it is seen here in richly grained zebrawood but is available in multiple wood species. Meanwhile, the tiered Tribeca is coldly modern with a burnished stainless steel frame and interlocking sections that can actually be moved and rearranged to fit your decor.

The Chicago and Palms chairs both feature classic lines and button-tufting: this is definitely for those of us with retro-modern decorating aspirations. The Chicago Sofa, Single Back and Double Back seats are the more subtle of the two types, with round, bolstered armrests and modern chromed legs. The Palms Chairs (available in leather or fabric) are slightly more flamboyant with welcoming, outward angled lines. Both of these chairs pair well with the Mies van der Rohe-inspired Metro Bench, which features a crossed solid walnut base topped with padded, button-tufted leather seat.

My favorite Vioski pieces are their beds; all of them rest on platforms but possess their own distinct style. For minimalist slumbering, the Manhattan Bed features an extremely low-profile padded headboard composed of wide, flat cushions which also serves as an impromptu storage space. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Dade Bed; a extra-thick padded headboard with button tufted gives an air of opulence and comfort. Somewhere in between is the Parvaz Bed; the sleek platform hovers only inches from the floor, while its architecturally inspired headboard towers above the sleep area.
vioski.com

“In order to make a real contribution to one’s times, one must remain curious and engaged.” So begins the introductory flash animation on the website of Dakota Jackson, a design-driven American company whose pieces definitely border on the curious side of things. Above: I was immediately drawn to the Ke-zu collection, with designs that bear a strong resemblance to the lines of a classic 1950s Detroit automobile. The curvaceous silhouettes and tapered legs are most pronounced on the Ke-zu Chaise, but the sofa, loveseat and chairs also carry similar features, if in a more subdued fashion.

The Bump Collection is all about curves, even more so than the Ke-zu line. The chairs in particular feature a reclined seat rest that dips right where it meets the seat back; yesterday’s readers may remember this same design cue in Bruno Fattorini’s ARJ series of chairs. Bentwood legs warmly contrast with an otherwise minimalist color palette (white + metal), giving the Bump collection a comfortable yet sophisticated appearance.

The T-Bird Series takes the opposite approach with a clearly modernist architecture. Dark, triangular bases, steel tension cables and aluminum mallets are minimally topped with smoked glass: only those with the most severe and serious of personalities need apply. The bases themselves are lacquered and scored on certain edges, giving the entire line an almost alien appeal.

Dakota Jackson’s Calliope, Big Sleep and Arc Series all strike me as a bit cartoonish. This is perhaps due to the way that the furniture starts small at the bottom and then inevitably flares out at the top. Note: although the images above are all monochrome, custom finishes are available. Similar to the work of Lorin Marsh, art deco and retro/modern influences abound through all three of these series, and throughout Dakota Jackson’s furniture as a whole.
dakotajackson.com

Bruno Fattorini is not only one of the leading designers at MDF Italia, but has served as president of the manufacturer since 1992. In addition to implementing a more dynamic and innovative business strategy, Fattorini is also clearly a disciple of the minimalist school of design. Above: the bare-bones Desk Extra features a perfectly flat top, made possible by a patented tensioning device. The tabletop comes in either tempered glass, high-pressure melamine laminate or ceramic panels, while the frame and legs are made from aluminum.

Fattorini’s aluminum bed follows the same minimalist aesthetic of the Desk Extra, with a purely rectangular anodized frame. Even the headboard option remains minimalist, with your choice of a 57cm or 78cm version; the shorter headboard is so short that it is nearly flush with the bed when a mattress is installed.

With the widespread adoption of LCD and Plasma TV screens, Italia’s Television Panel system is a sleek and stylish alternative to traditional TV stands. Two wall panels comprise the system, with optional shelves and open cabinets for storage. The best feature of the system: as long as your TV is 10cm in depth or less, it can be flush-mounted with the wall panels–visual integration at its best.

The ARJ series of chairs all feature a low seat back and a tastefully curved design over a steel frame cold-foamed with PU rubbers. These bubble-shaped chairs are available with a variety of options including casters, swiveling and open seat backs. Equipped with a fixed ottoman/pouf which matches the upward tilt of the seat rest, the ARJ becomes a lounge chair, perfect for relaxing days spent in front of the TV or fireplace.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about the JILL table; a low-slung wenge coffee table, perhaps the most interesting features are the curved chromium-plated steel legs. Taken as a whole, however, JILL is subtle and sophisticated–in other words, a classic example of Bruno Fattorini and MDF Italia’s minimalist appeal.
mdfitalia.it

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.