ALIVE WITH RHYTHM even while you sit, OFS’ graceful Symphony bench is modeled off of vibrating stringed instruments. A delicately molded bent plywood frame conveys a sense of fluid motion, all of which is perched on elegant cast aluminum legs. Designed for contract applications, Symphony comes in 2-, 3- and 4-seater flavors, and can stand alone or against a wall.
$2,222-$7,777, ofs.com

SLEEPER FOCUSED, the Rune Bed is a four-poster/canopy bed whose half-carved ornamental turnings which are only visible from within (external observers see only silhouettes). Made from solid poplar wood, Brooklyn designer Hivemindesign calls this “modernist introspection on a traditional idea”; we think of it as a tangible version of the dreamworld, to be experienced only by the dreamer.
$14,000, 2modern.com

RAISED BY PLEXIGLAS, Aaron Thomas creates one-of-a-kind furniture and installations using acrylic as the primary substrate. Actually raised in his parent’s acrylic shop, Aaron has a lifetime of knowledge manipulating and crafting acrylic for museums and private collections. Above: his Lane and Manhattan tables blend wood with plastic, while his gaming table was exclusively designed for the Gable & Lombard Penthouse in Hollywood’s famous Roosevelt Hotel.
aaronrthomas.com
aaronrthomas.blogspot.com

WITH A DARK KAMAGONG FINISH, Kenneth Cobonpue’s Kabuki line deftly balances contemporary design and asian style. Cobonpue first hand carves fiberboard into the shape of kawayan (filipino for bamboo) and then applies a deep brown or gray finish. The overall effect is richly textured furniture with an unmistakable exotic flair which thoroughly delights both the senses of sight and touch.
kennethcobonpue.com

AN OVERSTUFFED SEAT on a tiny minimalist frame, Iker’s Kiwi armchair makes an awkward first impression but grows on you quickly. Rotund, bloated cushions and armrests eliminate sacrifice sleekness for comfort; the carefully executed lines, keep the Kiwi collection firmly in the contemporary design camp. Also seen: the svelte coffee table is part of the Kiwi collection and shares similar curves but ditches the pudginess.
$1,299-$2,099, iqmatics.com

PERFECTLY CRADLING THREE CREAM CUSHIONS, the Laurel Bench’s smoothly curving frame bears some resemblance to Art Deco/Moderne, although the lack of flourishes or other highly stylized design cues makes this a minimalist piece as well. Built by Bernhardt Design, which specializes in commercial furniture, the Laurel is equally comfortable in a residential setting but is also definitely made to last.
$1,240, twentieth.net

ADIRONDACKS GO MODERN with Loll’s outdoor furniture line; they also go synthetic, as each piece is made from 100% recycled plastic (stainless steel fasteners hold everything in place). Although a traditional round-backed version is available, we prefer the more sleek and minimalist flat-backed chairs. Also available: matching ottomans, side tables and picnic tables.
$139-$659, vivavi.com

I HEART THE LOVE HEART; just like real love, this amazing brooch is complicated yet beautiful, literally allowing you to wear your heart on your sleeve (or just about anywhere else you can pin it). Measuring approximately 4×4 inches, the Love Heart was first created in 2003 as a prototype by Tjep; look for it at Moss in the near future.
tjep.com

ABSORB ACOUSTICS as well as your notes with Mikael Nilsson’s innovative Wavesound board, which sports an undulating soft foam design that eats up sound waves. Like a regular bulletin board, Wavesound can be punctured repeatedly without damaging the surface; unlike a regular bulletin board, it comes in myriad colors that include black, pink and green.
$44.85, scandinaviandesigncenter.com

FANS OF SUPERMAN’S ICE FORTRESS (you know you’re out there) will love Haziza’s line of dining, coffee and console tables. The rest of us can at least appreciate the way light interacts with the multifaceted acrylic shards, each of which seems to grow organically from the base. Available in over a dozen colors, we definitely prefer our tables without any tint; the other colors come across a bit too flashy–flashy for folks sans superpowers, that is.
haziza.com

THE NAME IS A BIT OF A SNOOZE, but Formstelle’s Doze bed wins at least a few points in the style department. Most appealing is the way the bed seems to levitate; at first glance it appears to only meet the ground at the rear, but in truth feet near the front of the bed help to keep the unit balanced. We also like the chunky back cushions which can be wrapped in fabrics or leather; they’re also removable, for those who desire a completely low-profile/minimalist style.
suiteny.com

QUAINTLY BEAUTIFUL, Thien and My Ta Trung’s Patchwork chair employs a predominantly monochrome palette with just a splash of faded vintage color. Damask/floral patterns abound but are tastefully balanced with solid colors and stripes. Patchwork is a study in controlled visual dissonance–in other words, offbeat yet innocuous.
$2,000, gnr8.biz