LESS STUFFY AND MORE FUN is the way CB2 prefaces their new Briar Chair, whose lines are simultaneously squashed and stretched. In some ways a caricature of modern design, we love the Briar for its sleek profile, minimalist cushions and tapered legs. The two versions in patina or smoke fabric are so perfectly contrasted that we are literally paralyzed at the thought of having to choosing only one.
$699, cb2.com

NATURE’S ELEGANCE very rarely finds its way into outdoor furniture, an imbalance that David Trubridge’s Aotearoa Living collection successfully corrects. Most of the tables are fairly straightforward, with New Zealand beech over stainless steel. We are however particularly impressed by the Dondola recliner and dining chairs; organically inspired, but still restrained, these pieces strike a beautiful balance between modernist demands and natural aesthetics. Although stylish enough for indoor use, Aotearoa is finished with fungal resistant oils for durability.
davidtrubridge.com

ABOUT AS SWANK as any indoor bed, Gloster’s Eclipse collection is designed as a vastly superior alternative to the average lawnchair. However, we feel that its inherent modularity allows it to be much more–in many ways, Eclipse can essentially act as an entire extra room with all the benefits of outdoor living. We definitely recommend the stylish canvas, which in addition to upping the swank-factor also adds shade and a bit of privacy.
gloster.com

WE HAVE A THING FOR SAARINEN, but countless others do too; his Executive Chair masterfully choreographs modern and organic influences into a unified whole that exudes charisma. A slightly more utilitarian take on his classic Womb Chair, the Executive is nevertheless welcome in any office of ours and still possesses Eero’s signature fluid and sculptural style. The curvaceous seatback is made from flexible polyurethane, while the seat is contoured plywood; polished chrome tubular legs finish off the chair, which is available in Knoll fabrics or Spinneyback leather.
$1,145-$1,859, dwr.com

IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE-OUT UPHOLSTERY TO US but Patricia Urquiola’s flowery Volant is actually supposed to be halfway between a couture dress and a shogun armor. We agree in theory, as the ruffled fabric does appear somewhat like a hiked skirt; the juxtaposition with skinny, trapezoidal legs seems a bit strange, however. We definitely prefer the sofa variant, which opts for a prudish full-length dress as some legs are best left unseen.
architonic.com

I CAN’T QUITE GET MY HEAD wrapped around Peter Van Riet’s Sit ‘n Read, although I do admire his creative approach to cushioning. The bench itself is straightforward enough: simple and rectangular with a hollow interior for storage; in other words, a floor shelf. Instead of laying down a flat cushion, Peter has instead opted to create zig-zag seats that can be placed in a variety of positions on and around the bench. Whether these are stable enough is questionable, but it does lend itself towards informal/casual seating arrangements.
juventa-office.be

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CUTOUTS GONE? The answer seems to be Susan Bradley’s Creep collection of side tables and shelves; laser-cut patterns on powder coated steel are nothing new, but Susan adds decorative pieces that seem to complement the cutouts. These flower and leaf-shaped pieces spill out of the furniture and onto adjoining walls and floors for a beautifully wild and organic effect. Available in black or white.
£95-£220, rockettstgeorge.co.uk

FOR PARENTS, SPOILING is often as much about the child as the parent. The Argington Fundy Play Table allows modernist parents to simultaneously nurture and dispense with cringe-inducing plastic rotoformed furniture without feeling guilty; features include slow-closing safety hinges, non-toxic finishes and JPMA certification and dry erase or chalkboard tops. And, most importantly: it looks pretty darned good.
$399, modernmini.com

POISED LIKE AN ATHLETE, Mathias Claerhout’s Deckhopper appears ready to spring into action with its sleek, streamlined design. The Deckhopper even maintains the flexibility of an acrobat as it can be folded completely flat and hung on the wall when not in use. Its stainless steel and polyamid construction give it a distinctly industrial flavor, perhaps slightly too much so; a full-length felt cushion is in order for any serious napping.
mathiasclaerhout.be

ALTHOUGH AVAILABLE IN SMALLER SIZES, we definitely prefer Bloomy as an elongated sofa. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Bloomy is ostensibly inspired by flowers in full bloom, with partly detached armrests that sweep out like petals. The sofa is otherwise a single organic form, with very little to disrupt its smoothly contoured lines. Browsing through Unica’s selection of fabrics we were unable to find the floral patterned one seen above, but as with most products in this price range customization is likely an option if you ask.
$5,273, unicahome.com

PERHAPS NOT THE MOST PRACTICAL in terms of available space, Olav Slingerland’s Still series is nevertheless quite unique; its fluid interior constantly appears to be on the edge of escaping. Half chance and half planned, Olav “freezes” the clay just as it is ready to overflow; we’d venture “Spill” might be the name for failed versions. Still is available in three versions: two vases and a small dish.
€105-€350, nonplusultra.nl

GREEN BEHAVIOR BECOMES QUITE PALATABLE with Gilles Billey’s Energy Saving Adapters; these units use an innovative visual indicator that illuminates according to the amount of power wasted by a device while in standby mode. The user can then choose to completely shut off the device, or wait three minutes at which point it is disabled automatically. It’s definitely a designer’s power trip owning these adapters, as they also act to organize your wires, thereby reducing unsightly cable clutter.
gillesbelly.fr
Via: Yanko Design