I have the sneaking suspicion that the crew over at Finland-based Tunto Design doesn’t always take itself seriously, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While Tunto’s work has the polished hallmark of a quality manufacturer, there is also an unmistakably hip and homegrown urban vibe that permeates their product line.

Above: the Skede is a chair with the deck of a skateboard for a backrest (similar to Vitamin’s Powder Seat, which we featured here). The deck is supplied by Control Skateboards, but is optional: if you’d like to use your own skateboard, Tunto will supply the necessary instructions and screws so you can do the mounting yourself.

Although Keinu resembles the Skede in form, its function is completely different: I’d have to say Keinu is the first swing we’ve featured here at PadStyle. The seat is made from slightly bent layered birchwood, and even includes 5 meters of rope. While five basic colors are available, Keinu really comes to life when screenprinted with one of three graphic designs.

M3 is another fairly basic piece that resembles a banker’s box. The M3 is in fact a birch plywood seat that comes with handles and a removable lid for storage. Similar to the Keinu, this rudimentary seat is really shines when decorated with illustrations and patterns (the result of collaborations with more than half a dozen artists).

What I found the most interesting was the artwork on Tunto’s Kukka table. These floral patterns (by Finnish artist Jani Tolin) bear more than a passing resemblance to Patricia Urquiola’s Damasco table (featured here), enough so for me to wonder whether Jani also collaborated with Patricia or if this is an amazing coincidence. All questions aside, the Kukka and the more rectangular Vuokko table are definitely more “traditional” contemporary works from Tunto, but stylish nevertheless.
tunto.com

Via Cool Hunting: The guys and gals over at Vitamin definitely have a fun, playful spirit when it comes to design, and it’s downright infectious at times. Their Powder Seat is a an innovative way to turn your snowboard into a seat, with sleek chromed metal legs that attach to your ‘board with suction cups. The legs come in two varieties (tripod and arrow-shaped), both of which can be folded flat for storage.

Vitamin arguably has a bit of a plant fetish as well. From top: I.V. is a pot with an attached drip feeder, just like the ones you find in hospitals, while both Tab A and Tab B are two-piece pots that use your plant to cover up the sight and smell of cigarettes in the ash tray underneath. Lastly, X-Tray has a nice urban feel to it, with slightly sloping rectangular pots that can be arranged in a straight line, perpendicularly or in an L.

Spruce is one of the stranger combinations I’ve seen: a lamp integrated into a floor sweeper. I’m pretty sure this is a prototype at the moment as I do wonder about the usefulness of a top-heavy handle: it’s a bit cumbersome to have a lamp shade and light bulb in your face while you clean.

Vitamin also makes garden gnomes (of all things) which are much hipper than the traditional terracotta ornaments that decorate lawns. Styled after the squat, nubby toys that are popular in the urban vinyl scene, these bone china figures are adorned with a nice variety of graphic designs. Although they’re outdoor friendly, I probably wouldn’t leave them outside–we all know what kids like to do with gnomes (g). My faves are the glow gnomes that are available with an internal light: very cool, just like the rest of Vitamin’s goods.
vitaminliving.com

Zanotta is a storied Italian industrial design company with collections in over 60 museums around the world. With an R&D-friendly corporate philosophy and undisputed manufacturing expertise, they’ve been able to develop both original, handmade pieces as well as provide faithful reproductions of classics. Above: the Ross Lovegrove’s Brasilia lounge lhair has a beautiful 60s scifi aesthetic to it, with an embossed polyurethane frame and curvaceous silhouette. Others have taken notice: it’s part of the Chicago Athenaeum collection, and is the winner of the 2003 Good Design Award.

Like the Brasilia, the Maggiolina lounge chair also has modern roots but with a more classical appeal. A graceful stainless steel tubular frame wraps around a cowhide sling, which is in turn backed with a plush goose down cushion. Leather strips on the armests and a leather seat cushion finish this restrained, yet stylish chair.

The Cavour writing desk is regarded as one of the most desired pieces in the Zanotta collection, and rightly so. Its streamlined, aerodynamic legs harken back to the dawning of the jet age, and a clear glass top helps to further accentuate its sleek profile. The oak frame can be finished bleached or wenge-stained. This table is absolutely stunning and definitely something I would love to own if I had $9k to spare.

The playful Dora chair really comes to life when finished with floral patterns. Combined with a glossy lacquered finish, the chair takes on the look of silky fabric that is impossibly smooth and taut. A polyethylene frame makes this a viable option for both indoor and outdoor seating.

While the Cavour spoke to mankind’s triumphant entry into the jet age, the Arabesco coffee table is perhaps a fusion of both organic and alien/space-age influences. The gorgeous bent ply frame with irregular, oblong cutouts is clearly inspired by cell biology, while the tempered plate glass top and shelf have a remarkably leaf-like appearance. An homage to Carlo Mollino (who designed the Cavour), this table and the other items featured in this post are an excellent example of Zanotta’s ongoing love for high quality, beautifully-designed furnishings.
zanotta.it

The Botanist line of benches, end tables and cocktail tables by Orange22 takes minimalist sensibility and adds a splash of femininity to an otherwise austere template. Each piece is composed of a single piece of bent aluminum with rounded corners and is available in three varieties: Natural, Flow and Flora.

The Natural version is covered with an epoxy coated real wood veneer, with your choice of seven different finishes. I love the selection – if you’re looking for a lighter template, maple and rift oak will suit you best, while those who want a richer palette can choose from dark ebony and wenge.

Both the Flow and Flora versions sport a high impact powder coat with five colors: blue, red, white, black or brushed aluminum. The obvious showpiece is the Flora version, which sports a flowery graphic that is precision-cut by water jets. While black or white look sharp, nothing beats the amazing energy of the red flora bench!
$675-$1550, plushpod.com

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

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