I tend to think good design is minimal. I love the idea behind “Slot Furniture“. This company and its 3-in-1 design was recently featured on the “Contemporist” – one of the better resources out there for contemporary furniture design. This design is functional and attractive. However, I would like to bounce on it and see how durable and stable it is!

Furniture

In previous posts we discussed the use of environmentally friendly products. Whether it relates to products that consume less energy or using recycled material, we need to change the way we look at our resources and reduce the strain on the environment. In theory, this is a great concept and as a furniture designer, I have always kept an eye out for companies that promote this same ideal. Truth is, being environmentally sound is great to talk about, but you see so little being done commercially to get recycled materials onto the mainstream market. Thanks to David Lasher, President of “Sage in Design,” that gap has been made a lot smaller.

Sage in Design is located in Vista, California and is committed to identifying, developing and providing the contract furniture and commercial retail industries with environmentally-sound alternatives to traditional site furnishings. Each of the products they represent is selected for its unique contribution to the environment, whether through design, fabrication or energy saving capabilities. Product attributes include fabrication from 100% recycled paper, recycled plastic or glass, reclaimed or FSC-certified woods, paints and finishes with low or no VOCs, natural fabrics, and environmentally-sound production or packaging processes.

Check out some of these quotes from the Sage in Design site:

“As I watch my family grow, I have become interested in giving back to the world that my kids will inherit one day. Having been in the contract furniture industry for more than 25 years, I know that there is an incredible void in the industry for ‘green’ alternatives,” explains Lasher.

“Businesses are finally starting to realize the benefits of green products, both in terms of a moral business philosophy that gives back to the environment, and also from a fiscal and PR perspective. We are determined to make it easy for our customers to go green.”

I strongly encourage you to visit the Sage in Design website (http://www.sageindesign.com/index.php) to see more about their philosophy, mission, and product offerings.If you know of other companies out there that are doing the same thing, drop us a comment or email to keith@re-function.com!

Furniture · innovation · recycled material

If your decor is Modern I can appreciate the delimna. How to organize your worldly possessions and while at the same time maintaining your ideal of a clean, no frills, no extras, life. Check out the Sistema Concept by Italian manufacturere Doimo Design. Not only are these designs modern they are very flexible offering a ton of options. {Via: Furnishism }

See more: http://www.digsdigs.com/15-inspiration-photos-of-living-room-storage-organizing-sistema-concept-by-doimodesign/#ixzz0n3MUgcch

Furniture · modern

As designers of furniture, we often get caught up in the beauty of the material. Wood. Simple, strong, organic and plain wood is classic and a brilliant material to work with. Given that, ever think of using cardboard? Yeap. So much emphasis is being put on green and recyclable material, why not? It is inexpensive, light-weight but durable and somewhat dense. Others are using it successfully now. Check out some of these uses:

Foldschool Cardboard Furniture

FlexibleLove

Cardboard Bookshelf and Sideboard by Reinhard Dienes

Cardboard will play a larger role in our materials. Consider it as a replacement for the core material of wood.  Why not? It is lighter and its density is fair. Considering it is readily available and very green I think it deserves a closer look.

cardboard · creative design · Furniture

OOOMS is a design shop located in the Netherlands. This company brings designs full of inspiration and with a high degree of originality. Some designs are very functional while others just playful. Three projects highlighted below really caught my eye.

Expect

I really like how this design looks conventional but is full of surprises in its hidden spaces.

Expect

Lo-Res Chair

Even though it is not practical, it is an interesting concept and good conceptual design.

Stamp Table

I really do have the urge to tear or smash this in two. However, the clean lines an use of tight-grained maple gives me second thoughts.

Stamp Table

creative design · Furniture · oooms

Interesting concept. Upon first thought, a city dweller like myself, would not agree with such a statement. There is nothing modern about rural but these designs and colors from furniturea work. More importantly, I like the idea that a company with rustic roots can identify and adapt a modern concept. It just goes to show you that being open minded can spark innovation.

Furniturea (fur-ni-chur-ah) is located in Portland, Maine and designs and manufactures contemporary hardwood furniture in a rural modern style. The pride they take in their work is evident as each piece is made one at a time and they take pride in their responsibility to the environment.

Rustic modern and bold colors define this furniture

From their site:

Furniturea’s adventurous designs and bold colors make a strong visual statement in Portland, Maine’s Old Port, a restored historic commercial district that hosts thousands of visitors every year. This vibrant, upscale, waterfront shopping district features a refreshing mix of commercial and recreational marine activities, diverse restaurants and bakeries, theaters, lodging, art galleries, historic architecture and unique locally-owned shops and boutiques.

creative design · Furniture

In our most recent post we talked about chair design. There is a lot of it going on…more than you can imagine…so I felt it necessary to devote this weeks, “In Beautiful Design” segment to it. Even though we poked a little fun at the constraints of chair design I find designers are constantly experimenting with form and material. We found a few more that look attractive and are a little more unique. Unfortunately, a lot of this design is coming from Europe. If you can share some local innovation that would be great because I am looking for it!

SA

Designed by Silka Barrio this chair “decomposes itself in infinite doors creating, in its seat a mazed path –  http://www.touchby.com/

Designed by Silka Barrio

Kolorz

http://www.ludovicrenson.fr/kolors.html

Designed by Ludovic Renson

Peebles

Designed by Ludovic Renson – http://www.ludovicrenson.fr/sleekpebbles.html

Designed by Ludovic Renson

chair · Furniture

Designing chairs must be difficult. Lots of companies and designers try and there seems to be a standard set of rules:

• Chair must have a bottom, for, well, your bottom…
• Chir must have a back to support your back…
• Chair must have a solid base so it is stable…

What you will normally find is a combination of the above in some sort of fashion to create a forms that are beautiful and just as important…comfortable.

Tonon offers a large range of chair designs and does a good job with designing chairs with visual interest. Herman Miller is also an industry standard and must show when it comes to chair design. Herman Miller chairs run from retro to modern and are always easy on the eyes. How about new designers offering creative options like Mats Theselius? Below are a few designs that serve as creative inspiration for chair design that is somewhat restricting:

Interior Design Upholstered Swivel Chairs For Room Décor

Beautiful And Creative Upholstered Swivel Chairs For Room Décor

Upholstered Swivel Chairs For Room Decor By Tonon

Nelson Swag Leg Chair – Herman Miller

Aeron Chairs – Herman Miller

Mats Theselius

creative design · Furniture

In the last post we took a look at some work that made me scratch my head and wonder, “what are you thinking?” On the flip side, I would like to create a routine feature on this blog that highlights beautiful, creative work. As I was browsing the blogs I came across Straight Line Designs, a Vancouver, BC company that really speaks to the essence of fun and imaginative furniture design. Judson Beaumont appears to be the lead conceptual designer for Straight Line Designs. Not only is his work full of imagination and fun, the material and craftsmanship in the furniture is also there.

It looks like Straight Line Designs will do just about anything a client requests from custom furniture design to entire custom-designed living spaces. They were responsible for the Cotsen Children’s Library (Princeton NJ) being transformed into a literary wonderland. In addition, they were also featured on HGTV’s “I Want That!”

You should check out the Straight Line Designs site  and there work. Following are a few designs that really appealed to me:

Brian Dresser - Stained MDF

"Melting" Cabinet 2003 - Clear MDF

10th Anniversary Cindy Dresser

Whitney Lou - Stained Solid Maple and Maple Veneer

creative design · Furniture

Every week I review hundreds of blog posts from a large variety of sources covering topics from furniture design and industrial design to architecture and do-it-yourself. It is my goal to spread the word about good design and to bring my readers practical information and inspiration for their home. That being said, I often find myself scratching my head at some of the most bizarre and down-right stupid ideas people develop. Good for them to try (I guess) but some of these designers must have incredible egos. I often find myself yelling out loud, “Get over yourself!” Here are some head scratchers I found this past week.

Metal Ring Bench

This one honestly looks painful. This is one of the first images I saved and I am not exactly sure of its origins. I am pretty sure this design falls under the category of “art” but what do you think is being expressed here? Is this a piece done to expose the real truth about the exploitation of metal rings? Maybe it was done as an ad for the burbon this man is drinking? “The most uncomfortable bourbon in the world?”

Get Some Cabinets

Wow! The visual clutter and pinball going on here is more than my eye can take. This is why people invented cabinets. Two comments: 1. Does a giant live there and if not, how do they get the pots down from the ceiling? 2. How many knives of similar cut and shape does one cook need? Too much for the eye to take. If I feel cluttered in my home now, I could not image living in this house!

Remember the “Snorkels”?

The snorkels called and want their house back

The disposition of the man in this image says exactly what I was thinking…”What the hell is this?”. I am wondering what the practical use of that long white “neck” is for? Looks like the “body” of the bench as a place for storage so perhaps the “neck” is storage for re-bar or yard sticks? Wait, no, I get it, perhaps it does irrigation for the lawn as well? See how the neck appears to be pointing out the window?

Wooden Box

Cool, wooden boxes with colored lids for $30 a pop. I am inspired now! And they hold pencils too!

Obviously this is all very subjective but this is my blog and it is about time I speak my mind! I hope you have fun with this and future posts. There is a lot of information out there to support this feature so keep in touch regulary. Hopefully it will bring some humor and levity to some artistic folk who, well…just need to get over themselves. Remember, just becasue you can do it does not mean you have to!

criticism · dumb · Furniture · Interior Design