CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Ali Sandifer Studio

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

If you love the streamlined look of midcentury modern furniture, but want something that looks at home in your 21st century home, take a look at Ali Sandifer Studio. A furniture company based out of Chicago, Ali Sandifer Studio creates modern, beautifully designed furniture from sustainable sources.

Another thoughtful element of this furniture is that storage - a must-have in modern homes - is integrated into much of the furniture. All of the pieces are hand-produced in-house, so you can rest assured that the pieces are not only beautifully crafted, but that they're made in the USA as well. To see the full collection of Ali Sandifer Studio's furniture, read more.

As far as the company's eco cred is concerned, all furniture is made using domestic woods harvested from sustainable forests. Furniture is finished with natural oils and water-based sealants, avoiding the VOCs associated with veneers and stains.

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Ron Arad Exhibit Opens at MoMA

CasaSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:00:05 -0700

From Aug. 2 through Oct. 19, catch a new exhibition highlighting the work of designer Ron Arad at the MoMA in New York. Ron Arad: No Discipline showcases the work of this powerhouse designer. From chandeliers to architectural spaces and furniture, Arad's unwillingness to stay within one design discipline has helped him to succeed in many.

Paola Antonelli, the MoMA's senior curator notes that:

Arad is well known for his iconoclastic disregard for disciplines - and, at least apparently, for discipline. He has defined much of the current panorama of design, inspiring a generation of practitioners who disregard established modes of practice in favor of mutant design careers that are flexible enough to encompass the range of contemporary design applications, from interactions and interfaces to furniture and shoes.

To find out more about the exhibition, and to see some of Arad's commercially available work, read more.

Featuring around 140 of Arad's industrial designs, studio pieces, and architecture, the exhibit showcases the designer's mastery of different mediums, including fiberoptics, thermoplastics, aluminum, and steel. Check out his iconic designs, as well as some you've never seen before. The exhibit moves to Paris in the Fall.

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Name This Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:00:08 -0700

In Sydney, Australia, Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch posed for a picture at the Australia 2009 Pyjama Party at Star City. While Ms. Finch is certainly a stunner, my eyes are wandering to the chair she's sitting in. Designed by Eero Aarnio in 1966, this chair's name is pretty easy to figure out, given its shape. Can you tell me what it's called?

Cool Idea: Tent Sofa

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:15:00 -0700

If you like the idea of camping, but not the reality, then Philippe Malouin's Tent Sofa (inquire for price) may be the perfect compromise. Created for Italian manufacturer Campeggi, this transformable piece of furniture exudes a childlike whimsy, but actually provides a practical solution to unexpected overnight guests. What begins as a sofa can be rearranged to create a private, comfy mini-bedroom. This design debuted at this year's Salone del Mobile, and will be widely available later this year.

Want to see how this sofa transforms into a tented bed? Watch a video when you read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Woolly Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:46 -0700

Designer Jason Miller created the Woolly chair from a whole, tanned bison hide, which was folded and sewn onto pieces of industrial wool felt. Is it your style, or is it a little too wild and wooly for your taste?

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Casa Verde: Custom-Made Furniture From Beeken Parsons

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I recently had the opportunity to tour the wood shop of Beeken Parsons, a Vermont-based furniture maker that crafts exquisite, handmade furniture. The workshop was established in 1983 by Vermont furniture makers Bruce Beeken and Jeff Parsons, who first met as students in Boston University's Program in Artisanry. For over 20 years, the partners have crafted exceptionally beautiful, sustainable furniture out of their small shop in Shelburne, VT.

Using FSC-certified wood, this eco-minded company creates a number of products, including tables, chairs, lamps, beds, and office chairs, such as this one. The company has also made custom furniture for colleges such as Middlebury, using trees from the college’s own grounds. Using trees such as these results in something Beeken Parsons calls "character wood."

To find out more about "character wood," and for more examples of Beeken Parsons's work, read more.

Beeken Parsons describes character wood as "dovetail[ing] beautifully with our design instincts, our love of the outdoors and our environmental sensibilities. Character wood tells the story of a tree, of dry summers, wet springs, storms, fires, wildlife activity, rich soils, or difficult growing sites. Grain textures reveal a history of growing conditions. Knots found near the center of the tree are the beginnings of branches formed when the tree was a sapling. Mineral streaks spring from injuries, insect or animal activity. Occasionally, we find spile holes in maple boards, an indication that the tree was tapped for sap to make maple syrup. Wood changes color around those holes. Knots and their surrounding grain have a deep, soft radiance when sanded and finished properly. Character wood has a remarkable range of color, from cream and salmon to auburn and chocolate. The beauty of nature is found, not in its regularity, but in its rich variety of shapes, textures and colors. This array of character lends a richness and vitality to the simple forms found in our furniture."

While some people may prefer "flawless" wood, I prefer the idea of telling a story within a piece of furniture, especially if this furniture is sourced from your own property. It doesn't get much more local or personal than that. Would you ever use character wood for custom-made furniture? Have you already done so?

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Are You Attending BKLYN Designs?

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:00:20 -0700

From today through May 10, BKLYN DESIGNS will again feature New York’s hottest designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings, lighting, and accessories made and/or designed in Brooklyn. Have you ever been to BKLYN Designs? Will you be attending this year?

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Scenes From the Milan International Furniture Fair

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:59 -0700

What I wouldn't give to be in Milan right now! For the next week, if you're lucky enough to be traveling in the area, you should stop by the 48th Milan Furniture Fair, which features the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the Milan Lighting Fair, and the SaloneSatellite, which features creative new talent in the design world. Many designs that I've featured here are featured in the fair, including one of my favorites, Maarten Baas. You can download and print a map of the fair here, or take a virtual tour when you read more.

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Crave Worthy: The Grid Chair

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:54 -0800

Korean-based furniture designer Jebeom Jeong's Grid Chair (currently a prototype) is close to perfect in my eyes. Made of stainless steel with a walnut-black stain, the chair's structure and graceful curves remind me of the Eiffel Tower. While my heart still remains true to Philippe Starcke's Ghost Chair, I must admit that this is making it pitter-patter as well.

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Designer Spotlight: Mats Broberg and Johan Ridderstrale

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:15:10 -0700

Stockholm architects and designers Mats Broberg and Johan Ridderstrale create functional, clever, and cheeky furniture designs that often merge traditional objects or ideas with tech-savvy solutions. Check out the slideshow to see such intriguing objects as a bird table, a chair that doubles as a hoodie (that TeamSugar member Freshpink also spied), and a modern take on an oil lamp. Source

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Kartell - infinity wine rack by ron arad for kartell - $81.00	Zeus - tree light by ron arad for zeus - $737.00
ron arad T. Vac Chair - $375.00	Kartell lovely rita - $285.00
Moroso - victoria and albert collection by ron arad for moroso of italy - QUICKSHIP - $676.00	Vitra - tom vac chairs by ron arad - $160.00
Kartell bookworm - short - $425.00	Memphis Milano - 'doorman' doorstop by memphis - $897.00
Moroso victoria & albert table - $931.00	Alessi -moiramoira 13-pc. table set by ron arad - $120.00
Moroso - spring collection by ron arad for moroso of italy - $1,911.00	Zeus - anonimus furniture family by ron arad - $443.00
Moroso - three skin chair by ron arad for moroso of italy - $4,032.00	Moroso - ripple chair by ron arad for moroso of italy - QUICKSHIP - $490.00