INTERIOR DECORATORS have an all-in-one solution with Naoto Fukasawa’s Log collection, which includes a stool, bench and storage table. All three resemble a felled tree from the side, although from the front their true purpose becomes clear: a squashed cylinder with flattened tops and bottoms allows each piece to both support objects and remain upright. Made from oak, these pieces are ideal for those seeking a natural-meets-contemporary look.
$1,495 (bench only), nova68.com
Popularity: 9% [?]
WHITE SHOWS ALL and is therefore a somewhat risqué color, but Zanotta’s Evolution takes this gamble with aplomb. Not that there’s anything we’d want hidden: its swank, futuristic body is a blend of curved and angular elements, though our favorite feature is the narrow “window” near the base of the seat. Made from aluminum alloy and polyurethane.
stylepark.com
Popularity: 20% [?]
ITS SHARP, TWO-TONED DESIGN and organic construction seem computer generated from a distance but Leif.designpark’s Tsubomi is an actual seat, manifested from the creative minds of their three-person team (for a quick example just view the opening animation on their homepage). Designed to resemble a flower bud on the verge of blossoming, Tsubomi is chiefly a lounge chair with Japanese inclinations as it sits extremely close to the ground. It appears moderately comfortable, though we do have to wonder whether those petals flex, or are as stiff as the pictures seem to indicate.
leif-designpark.com
Popularity: 10% [?]
THEY CALL HIM THE GOD OF SLEEP, although we think Domodinamica’s Morfeo bears more of a resemblance to a cartoony alien Shrek. From the playful, curvy lines to the adjustable antenna, Morfeo is immediately amicable, if a bit strange looking. It is functional, however; the antenna are actually reading lights while the seat itself folds out to a comfortable sleeper. If the idea of having two glowing eyes peer over your shoulder is too much, each lamp can be switched off with the press of a button.
$5,580, unicahome.com
Popularity: 9% [?]
GONE ARE THE DAYS of wicker and aluminum-only paradises in the backyard; the Palm Coast collection effectively uses rotomolded polyethylene to create outdoor pieces with the solid presence of indoor furniture. Each piece is sleekly curved yet also somewhat chunky; think modern style which is meant to last: UV inhibitors, acrylic upholstery and stainless steel fastenings all help to resist the elements. The Palm Collection is also modular; lounge chairs, ottomans, and even lighted armrests make a wide degree of customization possible.
$799-$3,895, allegroclassics.com
Popularity: 10% [?]
FOLKSY RUSSIAN MUSIC CREEPS into our minds every time we see Lümmel’s Sitz, not that we mind. The rectangular notch at the bottom of these Tetris-reminiscent L-shaped chairs ensures that they always stay slightly reclined; coupled with their small size and attached carrying handle, these Sitz is definitely best suited for temporary, casual seating. The wood frame is lightly padded with foam and wrapped in polyester fabric; an optional Teflon coating is available for dirt resistance.
€169, connox.de
Popularity: 7% [?]
THE KISS PRINCIPLE rears its proverbial head once again with the Popup Chair; designers Alain Berteau & Charlotte Lancelot labored for nearly a year on an initially complex concept, only to end with “a block of foam cut in half.” The result is an ingenious seat that uses only seatbelt straps to convert between a lounger and a pouf. The chair is so simple that feet aren’t needed; this only adds to its versatility as a casual piece that is suitable in myriad environments.
feld.be
Via: MoCoLoCo
Popularity: 16% [?]
ECO FRIENDLY MINIMALISM is a phrase we enjoy hearing; Datumzero allows us to listen to it three times over with their series of personally named cocktail tables. Jimmy, Ruthie and Gabi are all pleasant variations of the familiar wood-and-metal juxtaposition, each of them featuring a rectangular block (made from formaldehyde free resin MDF) over skinny metal legs. All three share a small sliding drawer on one end; we definitely prefer Gabi as it is the only table with a hollowed out interior.
$1,417, 2modern.com
Popularity: 7% [?]
THE CLASSIC BATTLE OF FEET has been won with a compromise; Bo Hagood’s Plateau Coffee Table successfully placates both feet-on-the-table adherents and their foes, with a split design that merges an ottoman with a coffee table. The design itself is minimalist and slightly homely; seamless lines, mitered joinery and pared down lines all speak for a table that simply wants to do its job(s). Choose from rift-sawn white oak or black walnut; the padded section is wrapped in black leather.
$2,490, hivemodern.com
Popularity: 7% [?]
