Hot on the heels of yesterdays amazing stool from Hedgehouse comes another fantastic hand crafted stool this time from Gabor Ruzsan of Garny Designs. Made of hand carved cherry wood the 22" tall stool is as functional as it is beautiful. As with all good furniture the real beauty is in the subtle details. My favorite on this stool is the barely perceptible walnut wedge used in the mortise and tenon joint. Top notch.
In nearly all mass produced objects, the final outcome is divorced from its origin, from the process of production. Brilliant Cut's functional reference to the lamp guard and visual reference to the diamond also go to connect the final refined form of an elegantly cut diamond with its own process of production: diamonds are mined, lamp guards are used in mines.
Brilliant Cut
Description: From the geometric shape of two hexagons formed by nesting a repository for six kitchen knives. The uniform gap width is ensured by a rubber ring. The ring expansion to up to 12 knives sold separately.
Source Link: http://www.stilsucht.de/12/2011/wrench/
It seems like my inbox has been bulging lately with all sorts of great Kickstarter projects. The Bike Valet is one that you definitely don't want to miss, especially if you are a bike geek. Made from 1/8" powder coated steel, it's as strong as it is good looking. As with all things that I love, it's the small details that make it work, like the leather lining on the section that touches your frame, and the notch where the two pieces of metal come together. If you are on the fence, and looking for a little more emotional incentive to support the project, read about the devastating robbery the owner/designer Steven recently had in his shop.
I love this simple design that uses no hardware to be put together. Designed by Matthias Ferwagner the table can be summed up by the following.
To express it minimalistly:
5 bars
1 table top
Assemble
I love things that can be personalized. It makes me feel just a little bit less of a part of the machine. TOAST is here to personalize your iPhone with classy laser cut wood veneers. They have 8 standard designs, and you can add any text yo want to them. It's a decent little kickstarter project that needs some serious kickstarting to make it's deadline in 6 days. If you like it, spread the word, and quick.
Toast iPhone case starting at $20
Why does one need a table top valet? To be perfectly honest with you, I have absolutely no idea. Still, that doesn't stop me from wanting one. If it's not exactly your thing, make sure you check out some of the other beautiful items that Cincinnati based Brighton Exchange is making. They also have some gorgeous cocktail tables and shelves. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love seeing white oak furniture these days.
About:
A minimal portable floor or table lamp. Chick lamp is made of oak wood with box joint, white or black laquered iron rod and sandblasted glasses on both sides. Chrome toggle switch. A simple form created according to the golden section, enclosed by an iron frame stuck in a groove perimeter. The whole structure is fixed by only two small screws located under the wooden box. Best used with low energy bulbs. Looking for a producer..
Furni is one of my old favorites that consistently makes good looking quality products, and never seems to get the recognition that they deserve. I was delighted to see over the weekend that they are on Fab.com. Once again inspired, I checked out their website for the first time in a year or two, and I happy to find that they still have great stuff. The new and improved ALBA clock for example is not only fantastic looking and well detailed (see below) but it has some great features too. iPod/iPhone integration with a custom app available with purchase, 10 stage dimmable display, metal grill etc. Available in white, black, barn wood, walnut, concrete and all sorts of other amazing materials/finishes.
I sort of have a thing for interesting looking humidifiers, mostly because for so long it was next to impossible to find one. This unique take on the boring old humidifier comes from Minwoo Lee. It's not hard to imagine where the Alianoid Humidifier gets its name from. It looks more like something from the movie WALL-E than it does a humidifier. So far it doesn't appear that it is in production, but we can always hope.
I didn't even know it was possible to get an AM radio anymore. The saving grace for this one is (a) it has an auxiliary in source for your iDevice, (b) it looks gorgeous. Hand made by Devin Ward of LA, the Wooden MP3 and AM Radio is a one of a kind production. Literally. You won't find an other one like it anywhere.
I love me a good modern table. The only thing better is 3 modern tables. I stumbled across these beauties this week and I absolutely love each of them for very different reasons.
The Koota table by Marc Haldemann is a great example of classic woodworking craftsmanship applied in a modern aesthetic. Constructed with absolutely no screws, glue or the like, the desk relies on precision mortise and tenons to stay together. Instead of hiding the construction method, it's tastefully integrated into the final design. Bravo.
While simple is great, that doesn't mean that complex is bad. "The Desk" by Christofer Odmark is far from simple in appearance, and it's absolutely stunning. I'm a sucker for a good table leg, and Christofer takes the classic hairpin leg and adds a touch of spice to it. The butcher block top plays off the wedge shape of the legs, also lending a sense of motion to the table. It's not all about looks however, the core of the top is hollowed out to house a plug strip and cable management. My favorite detail is the recessed plug underneath the top that powers the whole table. Hot.
Last and certainly not least is David Week's Ribbon Table. Aptly named for it's thin dramatic leg, the Ribbon table is a nice mix between the two tables above. It's visually simple and easy on the eye, but has some subtle complexity hiding underneath the skin. Literally. Each leg attaches to the top via a two long metal stretchers that are recessed into the table. The top itself is plywood with what looks like a white laminate on each side. Fantastic.
Coolest. Vases. Ever. I need to get my hands on one of these beauties from Oregon-based glass works studio Vitreluxe ASAP! The "Apollo" design is truly my favorite, though every collection is out-of-control-good. Check them all out here.
Remember books? Those things with all the pieces of paper with words on them. Word on the street is that people are still reading them. I know I've spent a few nights reading in bed lately. For like minded bed readers, may I introduce you to lililite. Besides being a handsome bookshelf/light, it's also an ingenious bookmark. Leaving an open book on top keeps the light turned off, pick it up, and you've got light.
"Fashioned by" was formed in 2011 as a collaboration between Farrah Sit and Dana D'Amico who met in 2005 and together designed for Calvin Klein Home. Rooted in a shared design philosophy and common aesthetic, Farrah and Dana have created a collection reflecting honesty to materials and a timeless, minimalistic beauty.
What I love about the collection most is the thoughtful materials used. The porcelain hanging pots come with a vegetable tanned leather strap and antique brass fastener. The desk items have a similarly strong set of materials. Leather, walnut, ash, brass, porcelain, you just can't go wrong.
When I think "bench" almost automatically the next word to come into my mind is Nelson. Undoubtedly the Nelson bench is one of the most iconic bench designs out there, so it's no surprise to see many present day versions trying to get in on some of the classic flavor. The Sixty-Two bench from Petrified Design takes a standard Nelson style top made of reclaimed cedar and pairs it with a rough steel base. While it still doesn't hold up to the original, you can't deny it's a good looking bench.
For all those DIY inspired people out there, make sure you check out Chris's how to on making your own Nelson bench. Thoroughly informative with good step by step instructions.
I'm a big big fan of bent plywood, especially for chairs. I've seen a lot of good ones too, but I don't think I have ever seen one with as compound curves as impressive as this Loop 3D Wood chair. According to the website, all this magic is accomplished by "...special technology where the multilayer pre-treated 3D wood is bent to form a double curvature without breaking."
However they do it, it's hot.
I can't remember if there were pictures of this Workshop Lamp last time I checked in with Sami Kallio Studio, but I recently revisited the Cargo Collective and fell in love with it. As with much of their work it features a clean juxtaposition of powder coated steel and clear finished woods. The details are amazing.
Workshop Lamp from Sami Kallio Studio
Having made my fair share of furniture I can really appreciate when something not only looks good, but is extremely hard to execute. The Monarch coffee table is all about the base. It assembles with zero fasteners or glue, simply interlocking the 4 legs that make up the base. Simple, (at least to look at, probably not to make) effective, and beautiful.
The SOFT side table designed by Northern California-based interior designer Curtis Popp affirms once again my love for brightly painted steel juxtaposed with wood. Available in 7 different colors and three different woods there are lots of possible combinations to choose from. Whats your favorite? (walnut and yellow for me please) Pricing is more along the boutique furniture side of the spectrum than the Ikea side, but choose carefully and it's a piece you will have for a lifetime.
