A NEARLY PERFECT ARMCHAIR (in our eyes), the Juliana’s wonderful proportions, elegant presence and environmentally-friendly construction make it essentially irresistible. Each feature is a feast for the eyes, from the joinery along its tapered back to the dark, full-grain leather seat. Made from sustainable harvested hardwoods and hand-carved in Brazil.
$650, dwr.com

FASCINATING AND WHIMSICAL LIGHTING abounds at Site Specific Design; hopefully these insect-inspired pieces will be offered for sale at some point in the near future. Like a cartoon, only a few well-placed lines are necessary to successfully convey emotion. The results: minimalist pieces that are loaded with fanciful, evocative energy that we’d love to have in our home. Update: These bugs are indeed for sale; they are limited edition and start at $4,200-$9,200.
$4,200-$9,200, sitespecificdesign.com
Via: Cribcandy

FLUID LINES AND SWEEPING CURVES pleasantly catch the eye with Eric Jourdan’s Snowdonia collection, which includes sofas, armchairs and beds. Art Deco lovers will appreciate the adherence to simple, architectural shapes, with top-stitching to further accentuate form. Feet are available in natural, ebony-stained oak or white lacquer, and are highlighted with minimalist aluminum inserts or caps.
linea-inc.com

SLIGHTLY LESS MECHANICAL than the Transfurniture chair is the flipt chaise lounge by Jeff Miller, which accomplishes its own transformation feats with a bit more suavity. Its initial configuration is a sensuously curved accent chair; flip it open and it turns into a doubly voluptuous lounge chair with no visible seams at the pivot point. Padded in comfortable polyurethane and situated over a tripod-like chrome steel base.
$3,109, unicahome.com

WITH A NAME AS SMOOTH as Milkweed and DoubleButter, Denver-based David Larabee and Dexter Thornton execute equally smooth wood designs. Clean, simple lines are accented with subtle curves and the occasional obtuse angle; their pieces are therefore fairly minimalist in design. Most of their furniture can be customized down to the material; familiar American hardwoods such as walnut and oak dominate, with occasional dollops of bamboo and powdered steel.
doublebutter.com
Via: sub-studio design blog

IF YOU’RE GONNA TRANSFORM, DO IT WITH FLAIR: Buro Vormkrijgers’ Transfurniture flips, rotates and swivels with all the aplomb of a Japanese robot cartoon. Like fictional robots this chair is functional in both forms; in its initial, compact state it serves as a stool, but within seconds can turn into a fairly stylish armchair. Made from stainless steel and aluminum, it’s probably not the most comfortable–but it sure looks cool.
burovormkrijgers.nl
Via: Sensory Impact

IT’LL GROW ON YOU, SERIOUSLY. Thomas Wold’s fungally inspired Mushroom Forest Tables may be a little bit odd at first glance, but its multilevel design actually makes for some interesting display options. Two varieties are available: a small, three-cap version ideal for the bedside, and a larger seven-top piece for the living room. Note that the nightstand can come in either orange or light blue, while the coffee table is available only with both colors.
$485-$985, designpublic.com

“WHICH END IS UP?” surpasses “Which corner of the room?” when it comes to Series X, a collection whose multi-functional pieces can be rotated for different uses. Don’t like the coffee table? Flip it 90 degrees and get a taller hallway table. Need a stool to match? Turn the upright sofa on end. Series X is made from birch-veneered plywood and fully weather-proofed for both indoor and outdoor enjoyment.
£399-£2999, within4walls.co.uk

SIMPLE AND QUAINT, Paul Isabella’s Vessel is ideal for tight spaces; two types are available: a wenge-colored wall variant and an ash-flavored version for the window. Both feature mitered corners and vacuum-formed plastic innards. The latter process, in conjunction with a milled-out cutout, creates a slightly bulbous, extruded graphic on the side: very cool.
paulisabella.com

LOKI FURNITURE blends cold steel with warm Mahogany to create richly functional, custom-designed pieces from its studio in Boston. Straight lines and 90-degree corners dominate, although the organic nature of wood is occasionally given preference. Our favorite piece is the Wine Table, which features a rough-edged Mahogany slab with an inset stainless steel wine tray; perfect for rustic retreats that demand a little helping of sophistication.
lokifurniture.com

ISLANDS OF JACQUARD float in a sea of solid color for a modern-meets-traditional effect, ideal for those that crave old world charm without the antique feel. Each chair (1, 2) is compact yet beautifully hand-carved; birch wood never looked so ornate. Perhaps most telling of the quality craftsmanship is the way the flourishes blend effortlessly with the jacquard upholstery, like two ballerinas from different worlds locked in a tightly choreographed dance.
$299-$499, brocadehome.com

MINIMALIST IN STYLE as well as thickness, these x-shaped magazine racks by Mascagni are comprised of striped zebrano or ebono wood veneer on one half and chromed steel on the other. The inherently reflective qualities of the chrome contrast with the absorptive qualities of wood, in what amounts to an interesting play on negative vs. positive space.
£110, contemporaryheaven.co.uk