THE WORLDS of Asian-inspired design and European porcelainware coalesce at Feinedinge, an Austrian company that specializes in the production of handmade ceramics. Feinedinge’s Tudor line features black screenprinting applied with special evaporating foils to black-dyed porcelain; the outside is purposely left unglazed for a stunning dark-on-gray finish.
$40-$180, feinedinge.at

STYLISH threads are no longer the exclusive province of hipsters; these voluptuous flasks by Eva Solo come with an insulating neoprene or knitwear jacket for maximum heat retention. Avid coffee and tea sippers are equally covered, with both the CaféSolo and Teamaker winning numerous distinctions including Red Dot and the Chicago Good Design Award.
$84-$115, wrapables.com

TREES in their natural states are stout and somewhat rough, yet the Pinch Bar Stool is composed of a delicately thin slice of wood, artificially curved into a smooth and organic form. An adjustable chrome base with a downward sweeping footrest and the vertically oriented pattern of Jazz Stripe Wood are perfect finishing touches for this classy and contemporary seat.
$179, sleekspaces.com

KARIM Rashid continues to demonstrate his penchant for gorgeous, slightly off-centered work (previously featured here) with the Eolo Wine Cooler and Eros Wine Bucket. The wine bucket in particular features a crumpled base that appears to melt into the tabletop; both are sensuously shaped in stainless steel with a tilted motif that begs for attention.
$95, conranusa.com

JAMES Harris’ Plybowl is origami reincarnated in a permanent wood body, with symmetric and geometric properties that make it as stylish as it is functional. It is not only perfect for tabletop display but also packs neatly away for storage: composed of two interlocking pieces, Plybowl can be separated and then nested to conserve space.
$135, theworkshop.co.uk

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

Though most well-known for their line of chic eyewear, Belgian designer Hoet has also made several successful forays into the world of furniture design. Above: the minimalist BITI and TI chairs first made their debut at the Interior Design Fair in Kortrijk. Both feature clean lines and body-fitting plywood frames.

The Fold table and stool are made from aluminum and are outdoor and indoor friendly. Trapezoidal legs meet at the top along a conspicuous seam; in the case of the stools, the legs are angled to form a slight valley in the middle. A matte finish with beveled edges gives the Fold help to soften the otherwise straightforward and severe lines.

The Infinite Chair’s curvaceous, looping body is literally poetry (as described on the Hoet website): “undulating as a female body, rhythmic and dynamic.” Made from powder coated aluminum plates, Infinite is a two-dimensional architectural diagram brought to life, with intersecting planes and a hollow frame. Minimal padding is available in the form of a vinyl cushion that flows and nearly disappears into the surface.

Similar to the Infinite Chair, the Puzzle Chair and Table have distinctly two-dimensional properties. Formed by a series of laser-cut aluminum plates arranged in a grid, Puzzle possesses a solid profile when viewed from an angle but certain sections nearly disappear when viewed from orthogonal directions. Note that the chairs come with a leather cushion (not seen) to prevent sitters from developing a “grill butt”.

Some of Hoet’s most interesting work is with mirrors; above: the organic Margriet and Twist mirrors are somewhat alien in appearance with mirrors suspended in a black frame (made from either plastic or aluminum). Margriet is both a decorative flower/mirror and a fruit bowl, while the twist mirror comes with two mirrors at perpendicular angles along curved arms. For more information, visit the Hoet website link below.
hoet.be

Sarah Finn is a German designer who specializes in working amazingly intricate patterns into wood. Although originally apprenticed as a furniture maker, her primary focus now is on tableware and lighting. Above: Olion and Drachenbaum are olive wood pendant, wall and table lamps with beautiful laser-cut patterns. In the case of Olion the patterns only come to life when turned on but disappear when turned off, while Drachenbaum features detailed floral patterns around the fringe.

“Light and living” is how Sarah prefaces the product section of her website; although the “light” likely refers to the Olion lamps featured above, it’s also an appropriate description for her tableware. Above: lightly-colored solid oak, elm and maple trivets and bowls each feature successively smaller concentric pieces speak to a simpler way of living.

Although probably the least glamorous of table accessories, Sarah gives the coaster and candle holders their fair dues. A coral-shaped version (coaster, candleholder) features a complex and abstract network of branches and is fairly sturdy despite its fragile appearance, while a more conservative variant consists of internal laser-cutouts on stained maple.

image credit: design*sponge

Even napkin rings and placemats get the royal treatment: the napkin rings feature stars and s-cut incisions and small tabs to lock them in place and can be easily flattened for storage, while amazingly detailed floral edgework on wood veneer placemats embellish meals like never before. For more Sarah Finn products, visit any of the stores listed below; we have also provided a link to her personal homepage which provides a bird’s eye view of her works.
aplusrstore.com
hygge-life.co.uk
mossonline.com (type “sarah finn” into the search box at left)
sarah-finn.de

As a fourth generation Vancouverite in a city that is itself barely 150 years old, Brent Comber is definitely a rarity. Vancouver also traces its origins to the lumber industry (specifically the Hastings Mill), so it is entirely appropriate that he makes his living from woodworking. Most of Brent’s pieces are reclaimed or recycled, so his work is not only about honoring the Pacific Northwest’s history but preserving it for future generations.

The overarching theme in Brent’s work is a blending of the urban and natural worlds; above: Originals is a collection of sculpted geometric shapes against natural wood, most of which incorporate slight curves that heighten the sophistication of the pieces. I particularly like the way that the subtle curvature helps to elegantly accentuate the grain of the wood (as opposed to the more savage and primal pieces of chista).

Quad is similarly geometric and a bit more functional as it also serves as a table base. The base features four piece segmentation with a slight twist at the top for added drama. Available in Douglas fir and red cedar with multiple finishes, I definitely prefer it in black with a square glass top (it’s recommended you supply your own).

Both the Alder and Shattered collections reveal beautiful patterns no matter what direction you view them from. The Alder collection is composed of alder rounds, while Shattered is formed from tightly packed shards of wood. In both collections, the relatively ordinary external geometries contrast sharply with the chaotic and fragmented realities within. Psychoanalysis aside: Brent Comber’s work is something I’d love to see in my own home; his website is below if you feel similarly inclined.
brentcomber.com

Michiel van der Kley is a relatively young designer, both in terms of age and experience, yet has worked with numerous European designers including Artifort, Soft Line and Van Esch. One of his best known creations is the I-Con Desk, winner of the “best of the best” category at the 100%design furniture fair in Rotterdam in 2006. This beautiful minimalist desk is wrapped in white Corian with a dark, contrasting walnut center, and is perched on stainless steel legs. One version even doubles as a computer, with an LCD screen, speakers, bluetooth and Wi-Fi all integrated into the frame–this is somewhat apt considering the smoothly rounded edges have faint overtones of iPod.

The Bingo Pouf has also been particularly well received; this attractive and highly versatile polyurethane foam mattress can also be folded up to serve as an ottoman, side table, or stool. An included bentwood tray helps further underscores its multifunctional nature. Structurally speaking, the high density foam provides ample support while the durable wool/synthetic upholstery enhances durability.

van der Kley’s approach to seating is essential minimalism mixed with just enough comfort. His Conco chairs are comparable to a heavily eroded pebble; even the seams are reduced to a bare minimum, with a knot at the top to hold the fabric together, and a point at the bottom for the base to meet the seat. The Bird Chair is an interesting contemporary sofa which curves back on itself, while the more transitional Seven series features a rectangular silhouette that contrasts with a gently rounded seatback.

The Chase series of coat stands and coat hangers are both highly functional but drastically different in terms of appearance. The Chase W is curvy and hollowed out, essentially hiding the hangers and minimizing its visual profile. The floor-mounted model takes the opposite tack with an attention-getting tripod design and dagger-like legs.

Similar to the I-Con desks, Michiel’s Sumo dining table is topped with Corian and is a minimalist’s delight. Integrated but removable trays with circular depressions eliminate the need for plates, while a separate set of featureless trays can be inserted during work time to form a flat surface. Despite his relatively young age, van der Kley has an impressive design portfolio; we hope for (and expect) to hear much more about him in the near future.
michielvanderkley.nl

2Jane Co. is named after the Greenwich Village address of owner Roxie Mae, who regarded the once-Bohemian enclave as “a direct route to life’s inspired possibilities”. Although no longer a resident, a progressive vibe is embodied in much of the imported goods soled on Roxie’s website. Above: UK-based Innermost Homeware’s ghostly vases and clocks mix contemporary design with ornate etchings. Yee-Ling Wan’s glass Fantome Clock also includes a mirrored backing that effectively double its depth, while the GHOST Candelabra and Vase are formed from intersecting planes of etched acrylic.

WelMadeProducts hails from the other side of the globe in Hong Kong, and features intricate patterns that are neither Asian nor European. Most of their tableware takes the form of wiry black scrolls against pure white bone china, but their serveware and a limited number of dinner and dessert plates are decorated with frosted etchings over clear glass.

Polly George’s Mr. and Mrs. Jones are two porcelain heads (one male, one female) that regularly adorn a drinkware collection that includes teapots, mugs and cups. If this sounds strange to you, that’s because it is–the inanimate couple forms everything from the top of teapot lids to the middle of juicers. Perhaps most disturbing is the use of the heads on the rims of mugs: for left handers, this means gazing back at a disembodied head while sipping coffee.

Also by Polly George is the Butterfly & Rose Collection. The human heads are replaced by much more conventional butterflies and roses, making for a beautiful (as opposed to macabre) collection of mugs, jugs and vases.

Lastly we have the Lehti Trays, which start at an astounding $800–but as part of the permanent collections of New York’s MoMA and London’s V&A, rightly so. These trays maintain a lightweight presence with hundreds of intersecting veins and a myriad cutouts, but are amazingly made from metal. I’m not sure how it maintains its structural integrity, but each piece definitely holds its own as a tabletop centerpiece.
2jane.com

Rios Clementi Hale Studios (notNeutral) is a multidisciplinary design team based in hip and trendy Melrose in West LA, and specifically avoids “lowest common denominator” products. This kind of attitude is pervasive in their products, which range from garden accessories to tableware. We focus on the latter in this post; above: notNeutral’s limited edition Designers’ Gilt plates are adorned with familiar patterns ranging from lace doilies to spirographs that are further interpolated along a polar axis. The 12.5″ plates carry a high price tag at nearly $80, but that’s because the designs are made of 22K gold.

notNeutral’s more conservative casual china still skirts the edge of style with four designs: Leaves, Letters, Links and Circuit. Despite their rather mundane names, these self-contained works of modern art are difficult to find at any traditional retailer. Color combinations alternate between b/w and shades of green, blue and brown. The latter colors seem to be inspired by Nature; notNeutral, but perhaps “natural”.

Much more seasonal are the Studios’ trivets, which basically consist of two themes: Fall and Winter. Their “Fallin” Trivet collection bakes the intense reds and oranges of Fall onto leaf-shaped steel cutouts with neoprene feet, while “Frosty” is the more elegant of the two with beautiful and delicate snowflake patterns painted in shades of blue.

Although perhaps not as interesting as the china and trivets above, notNeutral’s placemats fit their role perfectly; subtle birch mats with cork feet are screen printer with their now familiar patterns, and then sealed to protect against food and liquids. Also available in coaster sets, these complementary tableware accessories have the innate beauty of woodgrain and the style of minimalist, rounded corners.

As a final touch, no dinner is complete without the comforting ambience of candlelight; 80% soy based wax candles are scented with 10% essential oils. The beautiful glass cups are decorated with contemporary botanical designs that include bamboo, sycamore and pomegranate, and come primarily in green with hints of baby blue. For more information on Rios Clementi Hale Studios, feel free to visit their website, notNeutral.