IT’S NOT THE SQUARED, CONFORMIST features of Collins + Schaar’s Alain seating collection that really give it an elegant, refined stature; in truth, it’s all about perspective. Starting from the bottom, each chair tapers slightly as it approaches the top, artificially giving a sense of tallness. Not quite an optical illusion, but a manipulation of the facts: for those that want their furniture to look sophisticated, the Alain collection merely accelerates these expectations.
m2lcollection.com
CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD–better known as cardboard–is the humblest of materials, universally recognized as a shipping medium. Drawing his inspiration from Frank Gehry’s own explorations into laminated design, Leo Kempf has taken this material to new heights by creating modern, affordable and eco-friendly furniture. Kempf’s technique is simple: create a template, and then extrude it along a single dimension. The results literally “speak” for themselves: speech-bubble coffee tables or gravity powered wall shelves, anyone?
leokempf.com
Via: NOTCOT.ORG
THERE IS SUCH A THING as design bloat; John Brauer’s ES Cutting Board seems to fit this scenario when you read its lengthy features list: a slope that allows liquids to drain; a “cutting angle” that offers ergonomic benefits; hygienic, non-slip and reversible polyethylene construction. However, one look at the board dispels such notions: if the aforementioned functionality is truly packed into such a simple, eye-pleasing shape, the correct description is not bloat, but elegance.
$50, nova68.com
OWNING A BEAUTIFUL CANDLE is often a bittersweet affair, in that its use inevitably results in its destruction. These beautiful bamboo pillar candles by Vancouver-based Quid Pro Quo Trading are all the more difficult to part with: vanilla-scented German paraffin is surrounded by kiln-dried bamboo, which is plantation-sourced. Available in three shades, the used husks can–and should–be saved. Note: these are sold directly to retailers; contact QPQ for more information.
qpqtrading.com
ONE-PIECE SUITS are rather tacky affairs, but the same thankfully cannot be said of the sleek and stylish MB Collection. Designed by Mario Bellini, each chair is created from a single piece of polymer that is roto-molded into its final shape. With broad, geometrically inspired planes and curves, both the armchair and loveseat feature lines that will palpably cut into the very essence of a room–a veritable boon for sharp and severe personality types.
$400-$700, hivemodern.com
AT FIRST GLANCE the Reese Chair is a Mid-century modern artifact, with simple lines and angled nutmeg legs that possess an unmistakable Danish flare. A further inspection of the upholstery reveals more contemporary preferences: the lush au courant tapestry borders on opulence, while the kiln-dried hardwood frame features sinuous springs and supple polyfiber seat cushions.
$1,099, crateandbarrel.com
LIKE A SURREALIST FANTASY, the Cellula lighting collection paints a curious portrait with cold, industrial pipes made from aluminum and stainless steel that leak great globules of gaudy hand-ground crystal. The two materials are seemingly incongruous, save for a 15 watt lightsource that beautifully (yet tenuously) ties the ensemble together. Available in ceiling, pendant and wall-mounted models.
From $441, ambientedirect.com
WHILE MOST OFFICE ACCESSORIES generally err on the side of practicality, Hani Rashid’s Desktop Architecture series oozes with style–quite literally, in fact. From a droopy pencil holder to a melting desk organizer, each of Hani’s pieces manage to be both cutting-edge and sophisticated. Functional? Maybe. Pretentious? Probably. Cool? Heck yeah.
$29.50 – $110, unicahome.com
FINDING DANISH FURNITURE a bit boring, René Hougaard created the Dnmark Lounge Chair specifically with young people in mind. Although “old-school” Danish influences are evident, contemporary design cues abound. The laser-cut steel frame is undeniably sexy, while taut upholstery (available in leather or fabric) masks the chair’s solid wood construction and keeps visual disparity to a minimum.
£ 1,610, panik-design.com
ALTHOUGH IT MAY LOOK like it at first glance, Ferruccio Laviani’s Bourgie Table Lamp is not your grandmother’s lamp. Bourgie is a curious blend of ornate Baroque design and modern production practices, with a traditional silhouette that is actually a three-sided scrolling outline made from precision-cut polycarbonate. The puckered lampshade, also polycarbonate, refracts light in both crystal and black versions.
$287, mosmyownspace.com
