GRACEFULLY CURVED, the Valencia Sleigh Bed’s headboard seems bereft without a complementary footboard, although this same omission allows for a contemporary, platform-like profile. Handcrafted and stained in Mahogany or Antique honey, the Valencia is part of a euro-themed set which includes nightstands and dressers.
$999-$1,099, potterybarn.com

ECOLOGICALLY FLIRTATIOUS, Paola Navone’s Otto platform bed features pressed bamboo veneer stained a sexy shade of chocolate. A plywood frame and adjustable slats are all that comprise this sleek and minimalist piece, although the 79E variant features two angled headboards which seem a bit isolated. The Otto can be a bit austere and not at all intimate, but remains stylish nevertheless.
orangeskin.com

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