Brooklyn is fertile ground for design firms, with both Desu Design and Brave Space calling the thriving borough home. DYAD studio is another “brave” contemporary designer which melds materials such as steel, Lucite and glass into incredibly sleek and unique pieces. Above: the RM Platform Bed is made from 3/4″ stainless steel, with beveled edges for style and safety. Although the essential form is nothing new, the use of metal in a satin finish is undeniably sexy.

The Clasp series of tables also utilizes steel; the cantilevered steel frame has built-in clasps that hold the glass top in place. The glass itself is available in translucent black, clear and laminated flavors, while the steel can be linear grained or waxed. Note that DYAD permits a high level of customization in all of its pieces, so other surfaces and finishes are available upon request.

As its name implies, the Exo(skeleton) Shelving System’s stainless steel frame takes center stage, with internal stainless steel filaments that help to anchor the shelving in place. Shelves come in black or white; you can also choose from an assortment of shapes including “tubes” and half-shelves in either rounded or squared varieties.

The Slide and Cross1 tables make heavy use of Lucite and gorgeous mirror-polished stainless steel. Slide features sliding Lucite panels and an opal glass base, while Cross1 is composed of two adjustable U-shaped frames with a Lucite cubbie at suspended at their intersection. Both Slide and Cross1 are indicative of DYAD’s continuing commitment to “brave” design by mixing materials in ways that are both functional and stylish.
dyad.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Though the word “elegant” is often used on this site, they absolutely apply to these pieces by Gianluigi Landoni. Above: Forum is fairly straightforward seating with a slab-like appearance due to extra-wide side sections. Gentle curves counter its monolithic tendencies, and can also be found in the black-lacquered low tables that accompany this collection.

The Play series is not quite as convivial as its name implies, but it does carry a certain air of relaxation and comfort. These seats have a dual personality across two dimensions. Firstly, a free-reclining mechanism converts Play from an armchair to a chaise longue. Secondly, a nickel-plated metal frame is optional; with the frame, the chair takes on coldly modern, utilitarian sensibilities–but without, the chair is elegant yet warm and approachable, somewhat like meeting a queen in her private quarters.

The Domino collection is perhaps more deserving of the name “Play”: this is a playful, yet elegant series of ottomans and tables that are offered in multiple colors, shapes, dimensions and materials. Choices to consider include wenge or steel and fabric upholstery or lacquered colors. Irregular, seemingly random shapes actually sport complementary curves that are designed to line up with other Domino pieces (”Jigsaw” is another name that comes to mind).

Despite being a relatively small armchair, the Svea series has a charming, inviting appeal thanks to its shaped birch plywood frame and a warm canaletto walnut veneer, which can be perforated or smooth. As a finishing touch, the polyurethane backrest and seat cushion is wrapped in white thermal lap for both contrast and comfort, resulting in a delightful chair that is both minimalist and elegant.

Popularity: 4% [?]

In Freudian psychology, the ego serves as mediator between the libidinous Id and the Ideal Ego (Superego). French design firm EgoParis is arguably a physical manifestation of the ego, with a balance between sensuous design cues and sensible, long-lasting materials. Above: the Tandem Sunlounger and Daybed are composed of beautiful, fluid lines and made from equally beautiful materials. Rot-proof and UV treated cane work for the seats lies flush with high quality teak, both of which are suspended in a minimalist aluminum frame.

In addition to lounge chairs, the Tandem Collection provides functional armchairs that come in left, right and middle variants for multiple grouping configurations. Corner tables and ottomans finish the collection and are stylish enough to be used both inside and outside.

The Premiere Sunlounger and Chaise Longue (nicknamed “Fish”) are seductively curved chairs made from aluminum and cane work. I particularly love the way the teak armrests on the Sunlounger integrate perfectly into the aluminum frame.

Both the Multiposition and Low armchairs feature inclined seats; coupled with strategically curved lines, the chairs seem to possess a graceful, motive energy. The Multiposition in particular resembles the elegant brush strokes of an accomplished cartoonist, with each of the four positions akin to a frame from a flipbook.

EgoParis also provides a downloadable program that you can use to custom design their furniture; choose from their entire lineup and swap out colors on the fly. Even more useful: a variety of backgrounds are available so you can visualize and situate your furniture in the setting of your choice. For those of us whose financial constraints dictate otherwise, this allows us to manifest our “Ego”, albeit digitally.
furniture-egoparis.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Studio Vertijet is run by Kirsten Hoppert and Steffen Kroll, who founded the company together in 2000. With Hoppert’s interior design background and Steffen Kroll’s product & industrial design expertise, the duo has produced a number of notable furniture pieces. Above: Nuba is a solid, imposing seating collection with clean lines. The squared edges and straight lines are softened by U-shaped armrests and seatbacks, which lends Nuba an organic-cum-industrial appeal.

Hob pushes the limits of bentwood construction in a novel way: upholstery is noticeably absent particularly in the bottom of the seat, which relies on the inherent flexibility of bentwood to provide a springy, but supportive seating surface. A tightly wrapped layer of felt or bend leather softens the hard edges of wood, while a lightly-colored swiveling aluminum frame appears to levitate the chair above the ground.

In addition to furniture, Studio Vertijet has made significant inroads into the designer floor decor market. Their Cor series of carpets is sold exclusively by German furnishings retailer Cor, and employs seemingly innocuous but powerful design details. Above: Elka features a mixture of virgin wool and high-pile wick yarn; Felt has elegantly rounded corners wrapped in leather welting; Grex is dotted with loops of sheath yarn, culminating into a mass of wool fibers along one edge; Lina 2’s lines are shorter-pile fibers arranged in an organic, wavy pattern not unlike wood grain.

The Scroll Collection’s two chief features are an adjustable back with four positions and a flat, blocky body which hugs the ground. Similar to the Nuba, Scroll’s rounded edges help to offset an otherwise formidable presence; not quite cute, but not exactly austere either.
vertijet.de

Popularity: 4% [?]

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

Popularity: 9% [?]

Kieran long of Icon writes there is a “joyful excess” to Jaime Hayon’s work; whether you find them to be excessive or not, Jaime’s designs are definitely playful and tend to incorporate seemingly incompatible elements. Above: the Showtime Collection’s rotomolded plastic sofas and armchairs may have connotations of cheapness but are upholstered with posh, button-tufted leather. Note that the man in the first picture is Jaime Hayon himself.

Although Jaime wanted to build multiple sideboards for BD Barcelona, economics dictated otherwise. The result is the next best thing: a beautiful cobalt blue cabinet with multiple legs. The customer has a hand in the process and can actually choose which legs to use, provided there are a minimum of six on the sideboard and four for the cupboard.

High-quality porcelain is one of Jaime’s favorite mediums: these semi-anthropomorphic pieces may feature ear-like projections and a “face”, but are in fact vases. No two vases are alike, with varying textures and finishes giving each a unique personality all its own.

One of Hayon’s most renowned ventures is with Artquitect, where he developed a line of bathroom accessories and furniture that can be hand-picked by the customer. Everything from the elegant legs and Louis XIV-style ceramic basins to the finishes (choices include platinum and gold) can be customized. Seemingly superfluous elements like integrated champagne buckets and potted plants in the traditionally antiseptic bathroom environment further emphasize Jaime’s devotion to playful and unbounded design.
hayonstudio.com

Popularity: 10% [?]

Bruno Mathsson (1907-1988) is one of Sweden’s most acclaimed furniture designers, although for much of his life he was not particularly aligned with the furniture establishment. It is therefore surprising that much of his work bears similarities to the designs at perhaps one of today’s most well-known Swedish establishments (hint: big blue box stores, yellow logo). Above: Mathsson’s pioneering Grasshopper chair was designed for a hospital but was deemed to be too revolutionary; it was quickly replaced with something more traditional.

Above: the Pernilla 2 easy chair’s pressed laminate frame with curved arms and legs is based on the Grasshopper. Interestingly enough, when upholstered in red, parallel-stitched fabric the Pernilla 2 and Ikea’s bentwood POANG chair are virtually twins.

The Pernilla 3 and Model 36 are chaise lounge variants sporting the same plaited linen webbing. The longer frame liberates the sweeping lines of the curved bentwood; this is particularly true of Model 36, which eliminates the footrest in Pernilla 3.

Mathsson’s Jetson chair (1965) is likely inspired by the Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name, which ran between 1962-1963. The chair features a futuristic steel tube design with a tentacle-like cradle and a relatively shallow egg shell design. The Minister chair (1986) is a much later model which mixes the high seatback and headrest of Pernilla 2 with the swiveling tubular steel frame of Jetson, resulting in a far more ergonomically responsible and office-friendly design.
bruno-mathsson-int.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

I love the simplicity and elegance behind the FLOR concept: although they are essentially carpet squares, the sheer variety of colors, textures and modular form factor make them extremely versatile from a decor standpoint. As their own website puts it, the DIY not only stands for “do-it-yourself” but “design-it-yourself.”

Aside from a color palette that spans the rainbow, FLOR tiles come in numerous patterns. Above: Fine Vine and Party Line feature tasteful floral patterns, She Loves Me Too (available in three pink, peach and yellow) has overtones of Warhol, and Thick & Thin is modern/contemporary art for the floor. Vienna Swirl is definitely one of those love-it or hate-it patterns with a Van Gogh-like pattern that, in an informal poll with friends resembles either artisan stained glass or lichen.

Numerous textures are also available depending on your specific needs, ranging from high-pile to treaded. Above: Comfort Zone has a plush, woolly feel while Wide Wale’s ribbed consistency is similar to corduroy. Meanwhile, Working Class pulls no punches: designed for high traffic areas, this low-pile carpet is even suitable for garages. My favorite: Scattered Leaves features a gorgeous embossed botanical motif with half a dozen neutral colors to choose from.

FLOR’s potential uses include runners, area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting, although there are a few caveats. Although based on commercial modular flooring (which has been around a lot longer), most tiles are suitable only for residential use. They are also not recommended for use on carpet (although some FLOR owners do this anyway). Despite these limitations, FLOR is eminently functional and presents a nearly irresistible array of design possibilities for the enterprising decorator.
florcatalog.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) was an Austrian architect who managed to straddle a number of important art movements during a time of transition between traditional and (then) up-and-coming Art Nouveau and Art Deco design. His focus on the latter styles made him an important designer of the early 20th century, although his own work at the time was often unpopular with his patrons and clients who desired more historically-inspired work. Above: the Kubus chair and sofa are the most recognizable of Hoffmann’s pieces, with regularly repeating padded cubes. Even today, this level of segmentation is not easily reproduced with numerous seams that require craftsmanship of the highest caliber.

The Club Collection (1910) is an early art deco piece with classic elephant arms while the Haus Koller is more reflective of the sinuous curves found in Art Nouveau. Both possess similar vertical seamwork, with the Club being the more tightly integrated and geometric of the two.

Hoffmann’s Sitzmaschine (”Sitting Machine”) is a blend of the purely functional and the ornate; the exposed, industrial appearance of the chair is balanced by decorative knobs, a square grid on the back and curved armrests. Designed for Vienna’s Purkersdorf Sanatorium, this chair has seen numerous iterations including a version with a supple leather backrest.

The Salon Chair is actually a posthumous work, derived entirely from a signed but undated Hoffmann drawing and only seeing production in 2005. This is a chair that appeals to today’s more contemporary/transitional sensibilities as opposed to Hoffmann’s earlier, more ornate work. A beautiful piece with a gently flared backrest and arms, Salon is a testament to Hoffmann’s lasting influence and appeal.
wikipedia.org/Josef_Hoffmann

Popularity: 4% [?]

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

Popularity: 17% [?]

George Nelson’s history reads like a designer’s dream résumé: he rubbed shoulders with Buckminster Fuller, headed Herman Miller’s design division for a quarter of a century, and recruited Noguchi and Eames. Above: the Nelson Marshmallow Sofa is an unforgettable piece which continues to find a place in homes even after 50 years of service. Created in 1956, the Marshmallow is simultaneously formal and optimistic; a poster child for postwar enthusiasm, the sofa consists of an array of 18 bubbly cushions on a brushed tubular steel frame.

With arms that radiate explosively and brash colors, Nelson’s graphic clocks are essentially self-contained fireworks displays. The Ball Clock is both youthful and iconic with a mod/retro “lollipop” design, while George’s Spindle and Sunburst Clocks are somewhat more composed but make equally bold statements (I particularly love the turned solid walnut arms on the Spindle Clock).

Very few things say mid-century like Nelson’s slatted Platform Bench. A simple, utilitarian bench made primarily from maple, the bench can double as a coffee table or display stand. The slatted design in particular is ubiquitous due to endless imitation–perhaps the ultimate form of flattery.

The Coconut Chair is a fundamentally simple design with a curved seat and shallow sides (not unlike a coconut shell) that allows for multiple seating positions. Made from one-piece foam rubber and upholstered in leather, the Coconut is both striking in design yet tasteful in presentation. This combination has ensured wide appeal and is present in many of George Nelson’s products. Undoubtedly a rare breed, he was (and continues to be) an integral part of the global design milieu.
hermanmiller.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Ligne Roset is a French-based multinational company with an impressive lineup of furnishings that extends far beyond their humble beginnings as a bentwood cane manufacturer. Above: Francois Bauchet’s Yang possesses wavy, interlocking edges that allow you to “build your own sofa”. Available in both left- and right-armed versions, Yang is not only versatile but durable: the covers are removable for easy cleaning.

Alban-Sebastien Gilles’ Neo, Jul and Jil are compact geometric chairs, each with its own distinct personality. The acclaimed Neo rocking chair is contemporary without being austere; a gently curving seat includes a lumbar pillow for maximum comfort, while sharply angled arms add a bit of zest and come in your choice of aluminum or wood. Meanwhile, Jul and Jil are two peas in a pod: Jul is the more masculine of the two with straight, angular features, while Jil’s curvaceous body appeals to feminine sensibilities.

The Facett is even more geometric than the Neo chair, with slab sides and flared “wings” for arms. A ribbed and quilted cover is wrapped around the chair for comfort; the segmented appearance actually resembles a futuristic/sci-fi clothing (Battlestar Galactica, anyone?).

While the Facett is “minimally” plumped, the Togo is “maximally” plumped–not only is this sofa all-foam, but it includes five different densities of foam for comfort. The puffy segmentation in this case is almost insect/caterpillar-like, giving Togo a more carefree and organic look.

Lastly: Didier Gomez’s Feng and French collections combine sleek, contemporary lines with tightly controlled curves and Bultex foam cushions. This basic design aesthetic is consistently applied to armchairs, sofas, loveseats, chaises and ottomans. This of course is just a small taste of what Ligne Roset has to offer; for more products and store locations, visit the link below.
ligne-roset-usa.com

Popularity: 4% [?]