THEY MAY LOOK LIKE TOFU but Meritalia’s “La Michetta” definitely carries no bland connotations: these modular blocks can by arranged on a whim, effectively putting owners in the designer’s seat. Actually named for a simple, inexpensive Milanese bread, La Michetta is made from polyurethane and fiber fill, and then upholstered in cotton. Although mass produced, each piece inevitably carries its own unique, characteristic pattern.
$6,830, mossonline.com

DESIGNED FOR MEN, the Cappellini Low-Pad Chair is a sleek, minimalist piece and ideal for lounging. Of course, if it were truly designed for men this beauty would recline and include a built-in fridge, but the overall style is definitely masculine: straight, simple lines and a minimum of cushioning give this more a slick bachelor-pad feel; plush comfort-seekers need not apply.
$1,372-$1,787, unicahome.com

THESE CAMOUFLAGED PILLOWS resemble entirely unseemly elements for couchtop decor: cork, noodles and pebbles hardly seem appropriate until you touch each piece, which reveals a remarkably soft texture. The incongruity of the design encourages interaction, as anyone within in sight will inevitably reach out to poke and prod each piece. The pebbles are made from cotton terry and the cork is made from real cork (this we’ve gotta see!); the spaghetti is an unknown, but unlikely to be edible–but we’ve been wrong before.
$60-$150, ambientecollection.com

WE LOVE OUR SOFABEDS SWANK–their high visibility in the living room nearly demands it, making Le Corbusier’s stylish LC5 Sofa a fitting centerpiece. Designed in 1934, this Modernist/post-Bauhaus piece sports clean, simple lines and straight edges with a nearly hygienic fervor. A pivoting mechanism allows the seatback to swivel flat, and is perched on a hand-polished chrome frame. Part of the Cassina Masters collection, each piece is signed and numbered.
$5,880, dwr.com

SUSTAINABLE KIREI BOARD is the basis for Todo Design’s Meshoush room divider, with interlocking panels that seem to twist every which way as it unfolds. Highly geometric, Meshoush casts ever changing shadows as light opportunely slips through its many slit, making for a piece that interacts with the environment not only by division but projection. Also available in Bamboo or Europly Birch, Meshoush’s lead-time is 8-10 weeks and is available directly from Todo’s website.
$1,650 (Europly), $1,960 (Bamboo), $2,960 (Kirei), tododesign.com

PART CUBBYHOLE, PART SEAT AND PART COFFEE TABLE, the Nice Bench literally plays nice with both our aesthetic and organizational needs by not only providing a simple and clean furniture piece but extra storage to keep it that way. A smooth, matte lacquer surface (choose from white or natural) covers the walnut interior, which is quarter sawn for greater stability and more consistent grain. While a pair of squared steel legs finishes the bench, no word yet on whether the pair of cushions are included–we’ll let you know the moment we find out. Update: linen cushions are available for $300.
$5,800, lafurnitureseen.com

AN EXERCISE IN EFFICIENCY, Blue Marmalade’s i b pop chair is made from a single sheet of plastic which is folded and curved until it reaches the desired shape. The two-toned scheme is interesting to observe, as bottom because outside and top because inside. Suitable for indoor or outdoor uses, the i b pop chair is targeted to the contract market and is also environmentally efficient: black variants are made from 90% recycled plastic.
bluemarmalade.co.uk

VERSATILE AND FUNCTIONAL, DucDuc’s dining table is designed to be such an integral part of home life with children that its very name is monumental: the table. Made from sustainable harvested walnut, the table features six double-sided sliding panels; walnut on one side, dry erase whiteboard on the other. Even the little ones are covered; when using the attachable booster seat, the panels can slide out to meet your children. Lastly: underneath each panel is extra storage space, which is always a necessity if you have a family.
$4,500, babygeared.com

BIG, BULBOUS AND FESTOONED WITH BUTTONS, the Babette collection’s retro design is unmistakable and bold, and is a welcome relief to nostalgia hunters who don’t want to contend with the vagaries of craigslist. The sofas feature flat, spacious arms but it’s the chaises that are the most fun: bereft of any side supports the seatbacks sit like an island on a vast sea, similar to the control tower of an aircraft carrier. This of course means more moments for the family and friends to informally gather; happy times are here again.
$650-$5,250, plushpod.com

WE ARE ENTRANCED by John Sankey’s stylish Mimi Couch, initially due to its light on dark upholstery but overall for its modern meets traditional form. Particularly attractive is the minimally curved armrests, which lend just a touch of ornamentation without being gaudy; the polkadot pattern is also strangely swank. Sinuous springs, duck feather pads and triple doweled joints makes Mimi not only mesmerizing but masterful in design.
meadowmead.co.uk

WARM SUMMER NIGHTS constantly invite us to linger outside long after dusk (at least in the northern climes), so the Luau portable lamp is particularly timely. Lit by an LED, the abs/polycarbonate lantern can 6-10 hours on a single charge and is dimmable with a simple twist of the base. Includes stylish charging pod, rechargeable NiMH batteries, and our favorite–an integrated handle for easy carrying.
$249, vesselinc.com
Via: StyleHive

MODERN YET MESSY TYPES will love Animi Causa’s Chouchou and Inflow tables which literally absorb loose artifacts with little more than a half-hearted shove. Hundreds of meters of elastic string are tightly wrapped by hand around a steel frame, and requires several days’ lead time to produce. This makes not only for an interesting texture but ample opportunities to squirrel away magazines, cables and tv remotes–not to mention the occasional wine bottle.
€2,499-€2,999, zitjelekker.nl