Archive | February, 2012

Blu Dot Chicago Storage Unit

28 Feb

Blu Dot has been around since 1997 and is clearly a pioneer of new mid-century century furniture movement.  I am not really too into their seating, but some of their other pieces are terrific – good looking, usable, original.  This storage unit is reminiscent of the Eames storage unit from Herman Miller – perhaps the seminal freestanding storage unit of the era.  The big difference is the purity of this design – no specialty components (drawers, panels, etc.) here.  The Chicago storage unit is clean and well proportioned, and while it might lack some of the utility of the Eames unit, its simple design is powerful and bold.  I actual prefer the Chicago to the Eames.

The construction is powder coated steel with cherry, graphite on oak, maple and white oak wood finishes.

This is the 8 box unit and it runs $1899.

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New South of Urban Credenza

27 Feb

South of Urban has just completed this credenza or side board or TV stand.  I suppose it is in the eye of the beholder or the check writer.  Cool stuff from the Atlanta-based furniture makers and restorers.  This is a ref. 1009 of the line.  I runs about $2100 and comes in a number of finishes – this version looks teak to me.  There seems to be a blend of mid century and perhaps a touch of arts and crafts in this piece.  I would like to see the wood handles replaced by metal – but that is just me.  I think that would fix my arts and crafts fixation.  I really like this – but I already have a Heywood Wakefield side board.

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Glass Top Table by Orfeo Quagliata

26 Feb

This side table is from Phuze a collaboration between glass artist Orfeo Quagliata and his father Narcissus.  Made from strips of colored glass fused together to make a vibrant and strong quarter-inch surface.  The top is attached to the base with magnets.  This is just such a great piece – I can see it either as the focal point of entire room or as support for a color-driven interior.  At about $990 this is a not an inexpensive table, but I think worth every penny.

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Article: The Mid-Century Mix

25 Feb

From the Vancouver Sun:

Whether it’s because of Mad Men or simply the natural cycle of changing tastes, midcentury modern design — architecture, furniture and accessories that date from 1935 to 1965 — is back in fashion.

For many years, Vancouver’s main source of mid-century furniture was Metropolitan Home, owned by Dana Coburn and Mary Watson since 1990. With increased demand has come increased supply, which Coburn, who began collecting in the 1980s, applauds: “We’ve got more competition now, so it makes it more healthy.”

Jennifer Brash, who opened Fullhouse Modern in 2006, sees two types of customer. “Both audiences are using it for statement pieces, but one is revisiting it and the other is discovering it,” she says.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/century/6201231/story.html#ixzz1nPN9ei5o

Acorn Table from Bark (UK)

24 Feb

Our first table!  And you thought this was a chair blog.

This table design is available from Bark’s Acorn Collection.  Bark is based in Cornwall (UK) and is a husband and wife collaboration.  The table comes in 4 wood options maple, black walnut, oak and cherry and is made by hand to order.  Several sizes are also offered.  It is hard to find a mid-century influenced coffee table with such clean lines and a certain restrained confidence.  No tricks or gimmicks here.  Just a straight forward, well-made piece of furniture.  There is a slight surf board shape, but nothing to imply kitsch.  Great table, but I am not sure I am ready to replace the Lane Acclaim table I refurbished last summer.

Call for a price!  That means more than you might want to spend.  Another table from Bark was about 1000 pounds so this might be in the same league.

 

 

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Center City Lounge Chair and Ottoman from Wren and Cooper

21 Feb

A strong Danish influence shoots through the Center City Lounge Chair and Ottoman from custom furniture makers Wren and Cooper.  Each piece is made to order so the lead times can be up to 12 weeks, but that also comes with the ability to get exactly the color combinations for which you are looking.

The Center City chair appears to float on delicate legs but the construction and materials are solid and robust.  The cut out design detail adds a nice flair to an otherwise conservative form.  I tend not to like lounge chairs without arms – functionally not optimal for our lifestyle here at home – but the shape here is really fantastic and very masculine.  I suspect the masculinity can be mitigated with a different textile choice making this a really flexible piece.

List price is $2950.  Custom made in the US, in a small family-owned shop – good price.  Wren and Cooper has many interesting pieces and I expect to profile a number of them.

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Leonard Chair at Made (UK)

19 Feb

The Leonard Chair is the closest Milo Baughman “homage” that I have seen.  It looks really great, comes in brown leather and looks to have a thick chrome steel bar frame.  This is a really sharp poor man’s Baughman.  I feel it is different enough to not be considered a knockoff and it certainly is not advertised as one.  The price is 249 pounds – or just under $400.  $400! I will have to find this in the US.

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Nova Lounge Chair by Ben Buettner

18 Feb

The Nova Lounge Chair is part of the Nova Collection from Ben Buettner that features a distinct Walnut and Steel design.  The unique design element here is the sandwiching of the steel bar with Walnut wood.  It is well done and requires some real attention to detail to get the fit and finish perfect.  The lines and proportions of this chair pleasing and in this neutral configuration (other textiles are available) this chair can go in many rooms.  A really good looking and masculine chair in a more modern style than I usually like – but I like it.  An ottoman is also available. It runs about $2800 – a mid-range price for furniture of this quality and design.

Nova detail:

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Skram V4 Arm Chair

17 Feb

The Skram V4 is a little spindly for my tastes but it does capture that mid-century aesthetic that like – and it does it with its own vocabulary.  It have a little Arts and Crafts in it as well, perhaps Greene and Greene or even Wright.  The chair is made in America that Skram Furniture Company in Piedmont, North Carolina and comes in a number of wood and fabric choices.  I will put the rocker version up in the future as well.  After all, this has turned into a chair blog and there are just not that many independent furniture makers turning out mid-century and modern pieces that are worth my time writing about.  Price starts at $4732 here.  A little steep for me but made in America isn’t cheap.

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Polaski Chair

15 Feb

Part Mies, part Milo and a dash of Tim Burton.  The Polaski Chair from Christopher Polaski is a little familiar, but in a strange  package.  The cushions and seating area seem to have a strong influence of the Barcelona chair, while in the steel bar work I see Milo Baughman’s  chair designs – but the Nightmare twisting of the legs is the real innovation here.  It looks like it will tip over giving one a bit of an uneasy feeling – like being cantilevered over over a cliff.  There is no where to rest your eyes on this design – so much danger and movement.

I like this chair, but I am not sure I would buy one.  It’s too expensive for one thing at $5,600 and the design is a little to radical for what we are trying to do in our home.  But if one arrived with white glove service at my house, I am sure I could find a place for it.

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