The post Plush Dreams: Stacked Cushion Sofas Swaddle You in Softness first appeared on Dornob.

When Cerri first released the Ouverture sofa in 1982, it was unlike any other furniture at the time (or any that had come before). The design draws inspiration from music, architecture, and technology, incorporating industrial elements like a distinctive metal frame perforated by circles. And while the framework of most sofas remains hidden beneath upholstery, the Ouverture puts it on full display, leaving the T-shaped steel bar and simple legs visible as a major design element.

The sofa’s load-bearing beam is free of joints, supporting its weight in such a way that it almost appears to float. Finished with matte black epoxy powder, the metal is meant to evoke a high-tech aesthetic, contrasting with the warmth and malleability of the cushions. Poltrona Frau has only tweaked a few small details from the original for this new reissue: the cushions were modified to be more ergonomic, and the sofa now comes in two sizes, a two-seater measuring 239 centimeters long and a three-seater measuring 318 centimeters.

The Ouverture sofa may be 40 years old, but unlike most other furniture pieces from the 1980s, it remains a contemporary classic. Original vintage sofas from the first release are sought-after collectibles, selling on sites like 1stDibs for $7,000 to $10,000.

“Apparently simple in form, the cushions conceal a wealth of details: from the backrest buttons, a recurring detail of 1980s designs and nod to traditional upholstery, to the slight tapering of the joint between the seat cushions and the backrest, for the optimum overlapping of the two elements,” says Poltrona Frau. “The cushions, with removable covers in either leather or fabric, are filled with goose down and polyester wadding with a polyurethane foam insert that ensures non-deformability and absolute comfort.”

Poltrona Frau rereleased Ouverture as part of its celebration of the company’s 110th anniversary in 2022. It’s available in various upholstery options, including bouclé, twill, piqué, and the company’s signature Pelle Frau leather in a pleasing variety of shades. Dusty eggplant, tomato red, malachite, tranquil marine blue, and a bright goldenrod are among the more colorful options, alongside plenty of neutrals. Prices are available on request.

Pierluigi Cerri died on November 29th, 2022 at the age of 83. He is celebrated as a visionary three-time Compasso d’pro laureate. In addition to his work in the worlds of design and architecture, he was a curator, graphic designer, academic, and editor for Casabella and Rassegna magazines. He handled the design of collections for Italian publishing houses like Electa and Einaudi and designed objects and layouts for well known brands like B&B Italia, Unifor, Desalto, and Fontana Arte.

The post Poltrona Frau Reissues Pierluigi Cerri’s Iconic Ouverture Sofa first appeared on Dornob.

On Twitter, some people loved the couches and expressed disappointment that they weren’t actually for sale – and it’s true, some of them truly aren’t bad. The “Lesbian” couch looks like standard IKEA fare, and the “2Spirit” couch is kind of cool, with a rainbow pillow emerging from black velvet. Two-spirit is a term used by some Native people to describe identifying as having both a feminine and masculine spirit, honoring a third-gender role that’s traditional in many indigenous communities.

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Other designs, like the flower-covered “Progress” couch, are clearly not for actual use. But none have elicited quite so much controversy as the “Bisexual” couch, designed by artist Charlotte Carbone and inspired by poet Brian Lanigan. The line printed on the couch, “When you change ‘or’ to ‘and,’ nobody believes you,” is from one of Lanigan’s poems and refers to the skepticism many bisexual people face from others when they come out. The theme and inspiration aren’t really the problem here. What people don’t like is all the “creepy” hands.

Lanigan, for one, has taken it in stride, changing his Twitter name to “bIKEA couch guy.”

Whatever you may personally think of it, it’s clear that this design was always meant to be an art piece rather than a sofa you’d casually go buy at your local store. One thing is for sure: Carbone and Lanigan have netted IKEA quite a bit of media coverage with this design, for better or worse.

The public’s reaction seems to have prompted IKEA to remove all traces of the couches from its website, replacing the page with new content about “building a world where everyone can feel at home.” To be fair, it’s decent content explaining why pronouns are important, how to ask questions respectfully, and why IKEA has adopted the Progress flag in place of the outdated rainbow flag. But scroll to the bottom of the page, and you’ll find two shopping bags for sale… emblazoned with the old rainbow flag print.

Listen. As an elder millennial member of the LGBTQ+ community, this writer is torn between feeling a sort of dazed wonder that it’s suddenly cool for huge companies to declare their support, and disgust at meaningless money-grubbing displays of rainbow capitalism. At least IKEA hired (and hopefully paid) three queer artists to participate in the project, including Carbone, Madison Van Rijn, and Bianca Daniela Nachtman, though another designer, Ali Haider, was listed as an LGBTQ+ “ally,” which doesn’t do much for community representation.

But honestly, wake us up when companies are taking actual concrete supportive action year-round for our community’s most vulnerable members, like black trans women, instead of just paying lip support for a single month out of the year. For the record, transphobia-motivated murders of transgender people are trending upward even as all these corporations make big public displays for Pride.

The post We’re Still Thinking About IKEA’s Weird Pride-Themed Couches first appeared on Dornob.

Design studio UMÉ took inspiration from this tradition for Zabuton, a new modular sofa system made primarily of wood. The base of the sofa is simply a wooden board and feet that elevate it a couple inches off the ground. A variety of modules can then be placed on top in all sorts of configurations to produce custom seating, beds, and tables.

“The result is an experience combining the very intimate, low, simple and un-ostentatious quality of the Japanese traditional items — and the very generous, comfortable, social aspect of modern couches,” say UMÉ designers Victor Lefebvre and Mei-Lan Tan.

Developed in collaboration with Takaokaya, a Kyoto-based futon maker, the Zabuton is named for the cushion traditionally used on tatami mats or floors. The sofa can also be fitted with soft cotton pads, bolster pillows, wooden partitions, and futon mattresses handmade by Takaokaya.

“Successive generations of Takaokaya have continued to nurture Kyoto craftsmanship for over 1,000 years, creating products with soul that are true to the times and yet draw on the traditions unique to the former capital,” say the designers. “Every step of their process is hands-on.”

Futon masters in Tokyo massage cotton filling to create an even layer before hand-inserting it into the Zabuton’s futon and bolster sleeves. Meanwhile, in Oakland, UMÉ handcrafts the wooden elements like the frame, plinth, and partitions of each sofa out of maple. The partitions are contoured so the textile elements can be draped over them comfortably, but they remain beautifully simple and minimalist in silhouette.

The partitions come in two sizes: a full-height backrest and a low table. They bolt onto the frame in various directions and can be easily rearranged whenever you feel like it. You can use them as double or single backrests, seat dividers, armrests, or surfaces for your mugs and phones. The base of the Zabuton is also long enough for an adult to lay down on, so it can function as a bed, a full-sized couch, a back-to-back lounger for two, or anything else you can come up with.

The sofa’s fabric elements consist of cotton and linen and can be customized for several different colors, patterns, and textures. The result may be far from a Westerner’s idea of a couch, but it’s also a great way to shake things up in your living space, and an interesting addition to floor-based “furniture free” philosophies of living.

A statement on UMÉ’s official website explains that “UMÉ Studio is a design practice where traditional craft meets contemporary tastes in delicate yet purposeful objects tailored for everyday living. Founded by Victor Lefebvre and Mei-Lan Tan, their studio is the final stop in their design process journey. They begin with months-long travels to artisan workshops in many corners of the globe to render century-old skills and techniques, collaborating with a network of artisans and designers dedicated to their craft.”

“Keeping these traditions alive is essential to the studio — so is updating their forms and bringing these timeless techniques into the now to achieve authentic, distinctive designs.”

The post Zabuton: Wooden Sofa Inspired by Japanese Floor Mats first appeared on Dornob.

Newly released in 2020, these six sofa options include a little something for everyone: artsy, retro, bohemian, classic, and family-friendly. Hewing to the prevailing design trends of the year, they’re also modular, customizable, and made to last.

Swyft’s Snap-Together Sofa

If you love the flat-pack ease of bringing home a sofa from IKEA but long for a much easier assembly process (and higher quality), London startup Swyft has just the thing for you. Their new Model 01 features pieces that simply click together using the company’s “Swyft-Lok” mechanism, so transporting it is a breeze. Plus, with its sleek silhouette and gorgeous color choices, it’s a versatile fit for many interior design styles. It’s available in sofa, loveseat, and chair styles, with the three-seater retailing at £995 (about $1,230).

Burrow’s Slope Nomad Sofa

Midcentury modern diehards will appreciate the understated beauty of Burrow’s Slope Nomad Sofa, “the essential sofa reinvented for modern life.” Though it’s a looker, there’s much more to it than meets the eye. Not only does it boast an award-winning modular design, making it easy to move, it also has cool features like a built-in USB charger. It’s made with strengthened steel pins, galvanized latches, precision milled Baltic Burch, and tight stain and scratch-resistant olefin fiber weave to stand up to whatever your family can throw at it. Prices start at $1,395, and you can customize the fabric color, leg finish, and even the style of the arms.

La Manufacture’s Luizet by Luca Nichetto

Sculptural and fun, the Luizet by designer Luca Nichetto is a modular sofa system that invites you to take an active part in its design. You can choose from different shaped elements like round, D-shaped, cylindrical, or square cushions and various backrests on an elegant metal frame. Put them together however you like for whatever your needs may be at the moment. It’s available at La Manufacture Paris; contact them for pricing.

Helix Allform

Handmade in the USA using quality materials like specially treated hardwood, the Allform sofa is three inches wider and two inches deeper than most and features “Flexilator” seated suspension for extra body-conforming comfort. That’s no surprise, considering it’s made by personalized bed company Helix. Continuing the trend toward modular designs, this sofa is also designed to be totally customizable, so you can create configurations ranging from compact options for small apartments to enormous eight-seat sectionals. They start at $1,431.

Anthropologie’s Asymmetrical Serpentine Sofa

Looking for something a little out of the ordinary? This asymmetrical sofa at Anthropologie is sort of like an updated version of a fainting couch — dramatic, stylish, and comfortable with a glamorous retro flair. Inspired by Italian design, it features removable brass legs and can be customized to your preferred shade of velvet, slub velvet, or chenille upholstery in shades ranging from rich marine blue to pastel rosewater pink (and by the way, this level of customization is available on many sofas at Anthropologie). Pricing starts at $2,798.

Note Design Studio’s Supersoft Modular Sofa for Fogia

One glance tells you this couch is made for lounging, not just looking nice in a room. “Supersoft” by Stockholm-based Note Design Studio for Fogia takes inspiration from the comfortable practicality of Southern European furniture, managing to combine a casual feel with a high-end appearance. Contact Fogia for pricing.

The post Snuggle Up on Our 6 Favorite Sofas of 2020 first appeared on Dornob.

Crosby Studios is a creative agency that works on a wide variety of projects, including fashion collaborations, graphic designs, and interior design for hospitality and residential spaces. In fact, this isn’t even the first time that Crosby Studios has created a product like the Balenciaga-stuffed sofa. Their website also features some furniture that celebrates sneaker culture, including a transparent armchair filled with Nikes.

Nuriev and Balenciaga first unveiled the couch at Design Miami 2019, a yearly fair that aims to provide both designers and consumers with commercial opportunities and serve as a platform for cultural and artistic collaboration.

The sofa’s daring aesthetic is supposed to be both visually and mentally stimulating, though Nuriev hopes hopes it can also inspire customers to be more aware of the negative impact consumerism has on the planet. While the design is reminiscent of a large, overstuffed sofa you might expect to see in an average family home, this couch has a lot more going for it. The materials are much more unique, mostly sourced from “damaged or otherwise unsellable garments and off-cuts from obsolete stocks of Balenciaga clothing,” according to MR magazine. The final effect is a couch with a bold and mixed pattern of all conceivable colors.

While the materials that went into making it would normally not be suitable for any other means, Nuriev has repurposed them into what the fair calls “environmentally conscious design, giving generations of garments and other materials another life.” And while it may be a think piece first and foremost, the furniture is still functional, even including a pillow and recliner if you want to get a bit more comfortable.

The eco-friendly sentiment here is appreciated, but Nuriev is not the first to bring this concept to life. Companies such as Tradesy, The RealReal, and Poshmark also attempt to give clothing multiple lifetimes by reselling old pieces so they can be enjoyed by several new owners for decades to come.

Earlier this year, Balenciaga also launched an environmentally-friendly clothing line. The company’s goal with that collection was to practice sustainable fashion and bring awareness to threatened species and the need for conservation. Even better, the company put their money where their mouth was, donating all proceeds from the collection to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Attitudes toward sustainability, conservation, and eco-friendly design may vary, but seeing retail giants like Harry Nuriev and Balenciaga moving in the right direction is massively encouraging. Recognizing the responsibility designers have in protecting the environment is a necessary step forward for the whole planet.

The post Balenciaga Unveils Colorful Repurposed Sofa at Design Miami 2019 first appeared on Dornob.

That’s where Expand Furniture comes in. The Vancouver, Canada-based company prides itself on creating space-saving modular pieces for the modern home, offering an impressive selection of convertible beds, bookshelves, chairs, couches, and tables in sleek shades of brown, gray, and white.

We recently got a chance to put two of Expand’s hottest items, the Alzare Transforming Coffee Table and Soft Cube Love Seat, to the test at our headquarters in El Segundo, California. From the moment we took the pieces out of the box, we couldn’t believe how space-efficient — and how wonderfully different — their designs were.

The Alzare Transforming Coffee Table might look like little more than a thick tabletop upon first unboxing it, but this minimalist piece is much more than meets the eye. Sitting just 10 inches off the ground at its lowest height setting, the wooden table sits on a sleek pair of metallic legs and hydraulic gas lift system for ultra-sturdy support and easy use. The latter also allows you to raise the table up to a full 30 inches with the simple pull of a lever, at which point you can actually rotate and flip open the tabletop to reveal a much larger dining table surface.

Since the table serves two distinct functions — one more suited to the living room and the other to the dining room — the company has also fitted its legs with discreet wheels for easy transportation. We’re pretty grateful they did, too, because this thing is surprisingly heavy!

The Soft Cube Love Seat’s transforming qualities are subtler than the Alzare’s, but they’re every bit as important when it comes to saving space. Billed by the company as a “future-proof modular design,” the Soft Cube comes in pieces or “modules” that can either be paired up to form a full-sized couch or used on individually as corner pieces. The basic bundle retails for $1,500 and includes two modules, but if you feel like expanding it at any point (pun fully intended), you can always just order an additional middle or ottoman piece and add it to your set.

Each Soft Cube module is coated in a light-and-dark-gray woven fabric for a sophisticated modern look, and with a set of dark wooden feet that you can choose to install or not. Just be warned that a drill is required for this task. I tried screwing them in with a regular old screwdriver, and the resulting blisters were unpleasant to say the least.

At the end of the day, it’s hard to think of a reason the modern apartment dweller wouldn’t want Expand Furniture pieces in their home. They make saving space fun and easy, and they allow you to get creative with your furniture arrangements on a regular basis. The pieces might be a little on the pricey side, but it’s important to remember that they’re actually sturdy and won’t break down on you after a couple years.

I’ve since moved the Alzare to my own apartment, where it continues to amaze dinner guests with its shape-shifting powers. Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that board games are significantly more fun when you have a gigantic low tabletop to play on. Thanks, Expand!

The post Product Review: Expand’s Transforming Modular Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

Dart, who worked for almost a decade and a half as an industrial designer, then as a furniture designer, now uses his varied experiences to manufacture distinctive pieces for clients who desire something different. His works range in size from skinny to corpulent, but there’s a still common theme which he has thread through them all. A theme inspired by his upbringing in Vernal, Utah.

“I grew up near a dinosaur bone quarry. There they would put together new species of dinosaurs from the bones that were excavated,” he reminisces. “After the skeleton (was) put together they would try to figure out what the dinosaur actually looked like and how it moved and survived.”

The word “bones” relates to that which is within, the internal framework separate from the soul and spirit. Typically, in both living creatures and furniture, the bones are concealed by an external skin. For Dart, however, there’s a special appeal to leaving the bones of his pieces exposed.

If you imagine a simple wooden chair or bench, its rigid structure is apparent, and yet that doesn’t stop people from sitting on it. Dart uses that excepted experience to create furniture that has curvaceous forms without cushions or upholstery. If people don’t have a problem sitting on the exposed structure of a chair or a bench, then they shouldn’t have one sitting on the exposed structure of a sofa, either.

“My pieces are like a skeleton. When they are looked upon people try to figure out how they are made, what is the implied form, why does it look like it is alive?” he says. “The beauty of the pieces are internalized by the viewer’s imagination.” In May 2019, that curiosity is exactly what led many attendees to stop, look, feel, and experience his work firsthand at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York.

Of the four collections of furniture that Bones Studio manufactures, none is as comfortable or as popular as “Quarry.” Ironically, each piece in this collection has a smoothness to its surface, even though half of those surfaces are made up of nothing but voids. Better than the bones of a dinosaur, or even the human body, the closeness the Quarry collection’s bones and their geometric intimacy suggests a skin while enhancing their core strength.

“When looking at various pieces in the flesh, they calm my soul,” admits Dart. “I don’t know if it is because of my internal fight to design the piece is over or that I am lost in the rhythm of the piece.” We are familiar with exposed structure in architecture, infrastructure, and even interior design, but Bones Studio takes it even further, turning the structure into the skin.

Dart muses: “The idea of creating a volume or form from flat substrate is not a new idea. But [in terms of] the complexity and design that has emerged from the form, this is something nobody has seen before.”

Watch this short video of Dart discussing the thinking and process behind his work:

The post Inside Out: The Beauty of Bones Studio’s Skeletal Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

There are so many winners, though, you could easily spend hours upon hours sorting through them all — which is why we’ve chosen nine standout projects for your perusal.

Astron Shape Shifting Rug — Ingrid Kulper

“This rug is designed specifically for countries with warm summers, where a rug is only desired in the cold season like autumn and winter,” says designer Ingrid Kulper. Modular and bright, the Astron shape-shifting rug comes with a storage bench in which the individual panels can be stored when they’re not needed. You can also come up with your own designs according to how you arrange the pieces. This rug tile system won a Gold A’ Design Award in the Furniture, Decorative Items, and Homeware Design category.

Tangxing No.5 Residential House — Saiwen Liu

The use of sustainable, renewable bamboo as a primary architectural material doesn’t have to result in a rustic appearance, as proven by the Tangxing No.5 Residential House, a Platinum A’ Design Award winner in the Interior Space & Exhibition Design category. The designers of this project achieved a stunning and luxurious residence with circular windows, built-in lighting, skylights, room screens, and many more elements made of low-cost moso bamboo.

Bandage Sofa — Bogdanova Bureau

Most of us are looking for a soft, comfortable place to rest in a sofa, though that often necessitates moving a bunch of floppy cushions and pillows around. The designers of the Bandage Sofa present a modern and streamlined design with modular bandage-style components, so you can fix the cushions into your ideal position and snap them in place with elastic bands. You can even layer the cushions according to your personal preference, and they’ll stay exactly where you put them. This design won a Platinum A’ Design Award in the Furniture, Decorative Items, and Homeware Design category.

Exxeo Luxury Hybrid Piano — iMAN Maghsoudi

Winner of the Platinum A’ Design Award in the Luxury category, the Exxon Luxury Hybrid Piano features a unique shape embodying the three-dimensional fusion of sound waves. Fully customizable into a decorative art piece by the purchaser, the high-tech piano is made of carbon fiber, premium automotive leather, and aerospace-grade aluminum, featuring advanced soundboard speakers that effortlessly recreate the full range of a grand piano.

Click Light Interactive Lighting — Adi Azar and Yotam Shifroni

Why should lighting be limited to conventional bulbs? The Click Light Interactive Lighting project takes inspiration from the mechanism of the light switch so the creative process of designing the lighting arrangement shifts from designer to user. The ropes included in this kit can stretch, flow, drop, twist, and tie between the metal surfaces, which also double as shelves. The project won a Gold A’ Design Award in the Lighting Products and Lighting Projects Design category.

The Refinery091 Restaurant — Devesh Pratyay

Dynamic and dazzling, the interior of this oil-refinery-themed pub in Kolkata, India features industrial pipes stretching from the floor to the ceiling, arranged in irregular eye-catching patterns in front of a striking display wall of bottles. “The bar area is designed to feel as if the process starts with its bubblers and energy thus formed percolates through the drinks, food, music, and flows around the place in pure copper pipes,” explains the designer. This space won a Platinum A’ Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category.

Barisieur Tea and Coffee Brewing Alarm Clock — Joshua Renouf

Who doesn’t love waking up to the small of freshly brewed coffee or tea? The Barisieur is inspired by a combination of the modern ritual of filter coffee and the iconic vinyl record player, “encouraging a nostalgic experience” for the user. It features a host of sensory-stimulating elements: the sounds of the coffee bubbling, the sight of the water moving through its transparent vessels, the smell of the coffee brewing, and the taste when it’s ready to drink. While it is a bit of a bulky item for the bedside, this Gold A’ Design Award winner in the Home Appliances Design category is quite a showstopper, so some people might be willing to make the space.

STetro Autonomous Staircase Cleaning — Manojkumar Devarassu

This autonomous vacuuming robot manages stairs with ease, presenting a solution to one of the major shortcomings of standard floor-cleaning robots. The STetro won the Bronze A’ Design Award for Engineering and Technical Design, with smart mapping software that uses on-board sensors to navigate both flat terrain and staircases. The vacuum is compact, easy to use, and features a clever split design allowing it to ascend and descend without assistance.

Printed EGG Small Pavilion — Michiel van der Kley

The largest community 3D-printed object to date, Project EGG consists of 4,760 individual 3D-printed “stones” created by hundreds of people from all around the world, each with their name etched into their respective contributions. When combined into the final structure, they show off the breathtaking organic shapes that are possible with this technology. The pavilion ended up snagging a Platinum Design Award in the 3D Printed Forms and Products category.

The post 9 Standout Winners of the 2019 A’Design Awards first appeared on Dornob.

One of the most exciting spring and summer collections to launch this year comes from the New York-based Dmitriy & Co. This proud name in elegant furniture design has had a long history, which, according to its official website, “can be traced back to Lower East Side New York, where a mastery of handcraft furniture-making was hard-earned over three generations. For Dmitriy & Co, the making itself has always served as both a vehicle of artistic expression and an ancient trade that remains embedded in our very being — for us, the compulsion to design and produce by hand is an undeniable force of nature.”

Dmitriy & Co’s approach to furniture design combines age-old crafting traditions with contemporary thought processes. Each one of their pieces is made by hand, with handsewn upholstery, painstakingly jointed timbers, and seamlessly finished edges combining to achieve a precise and sophisticated result. The new collection boasts a number of these enviable pieces, including the unique Rainer Sofa, a dusky blue offering with a signature style and shape that sits well in any living room while proudly standing out in its own right. A lot of this individuality can be attributed to the trestle motif on the couch’s exposed timber arm frames and supports, which themselves are made from Silverwash-finished walnut. For spaces that are ideal for tranquil reflection, the collection’s Masson Daybed makes the perfect addition. This cream chaise lounge has a beautiful asymmetry to it, with the luxurious finish of its upholstery perfectly complementing its regal bronze feet.

The Masson Sofa is executed in a dark powder blue and also incorporates bronze feet in a darkened finish. The effect here is one of dark evenings and late nights, contrasting the sunlit pleasures of the daybed. A complementary piece to this could be the Belgard Swivel Lounge Chair: a standalone armchair that can be angled any way so as to face into or out of a seating arrangement. Its powder blue seat and cushions contrast with the dark blue of the Masson Sofa, but both pieces are still capable of sitting in harmony with one another.

If you’re trying to make a really strong statement, consider the Dahlem Sofa, whose Greek curves are reminiscent of an Ionic column.This piece’s rolled arms and back conjure up days gone by, when lounging about in the sitting rooms was the only way to spend a summer evening.

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Seamless Coupling

Marc Benda, founder of the gallery where the new pieces are currently being displayed, explained that the collaboration was easy and natural. As he tells it, KAWS was already a fan of the Campana brothers and even owned a few of their pieces, including an inimitable Bolatas chair and an inviting couch constructed from leather teddy bears. KAWS was also aware of their other furniture created from stuffed lions, alligators, tigers, sharks, and pandas. He wanted to fuse their plush furniture with his own toys, resulting in the limited-edition KAWSxCampana collection that exists today.

The setting for the exhibit at Friedman Benda was created by Lelia Arruda, the gallery’s in-house exhibition designer. The booth was lined with petal-pink wallpaper and interspersed with images of KAWS’ signature creatures, each of them complete with crossed-out eyes and round noses. Within, a pink chair, black chair, and pink sofa were perched on round, elevated stands. The wall behind these pieces displayed two oversized plush Xs sewn together to mimic the “hides” of assorted KAWS creations. Curious eyes widened as they absorbed the odd pairing of child-like hues and an overall sense eerie morbidity. Still, the combination felt kind of perfect, and the three pieces sold almost instantly. Benda wouldn’t say who bought the pieces or whether they were bigger fans of KAWS or the Campana brothers, but he did assure everyone that the art would be going to some “pretty amazing homes.”

The Appeal Of Simplicity

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Collaboration among complex artists sometimes bears simple results. This trio’s meeting of minds turned out furniture pieces with straightforward metal frameworks covered with 75 to 120 of KAWS’ plush toys, all of them carefully stitched together. Each plush character features two white eyeballs with signature crosses through them, a dainty soft pink button nose, and floppy arms and legs. Every piece is supported by four slim wooden legs, each of which has been slightly angled and given a round end. The crowning glory, a “KAWS” autograph, adorns one foot of each character.

Kindred Spirits

At first consideration, KAWS and the Campana brothers seem like a long-shot combination to produce work that’s both compelling and reflective of their diverse talents. KAWS has teamed up with brands like Air Jordan and Uniqlo in recent years, and the Campana brothers have occasionally swerved off the road of fine design to successfully explore set design and fashion. That shared love of artistic adventure was evident to Humberto Campana from the very beginning. He recalls: “When we first met KAWS, we understood his ability to tell those stories that you will always remember. KAWSxCampana created a common story of referring to memories of childhood, affection, and well being. We are both storytellers.”

The post Studio Campana and KAWS Collaborate on Wild Limited-Edition Seating first appeared on Dornob.

Originally making its debut at LG’s “Smart Living Concept” show, the Colosseo Smart Sofa isn’t just a sleek modern centerpiece for your living room, though it does maintain Natuzzi’s signature style and quality in terms of its design and materials. It also connects to all the other smart technology in your home via Google Assistant, which means it can interact with your TV, lights, thermostats, and more. The value of this becomes fully understood with the use of the sofa’s five custom modes: reading, relaxing, TV, music, and “pause mode.”

Activated through voice control or a special app powered by LG SIGNATURE, these modes will simultaneously adjust the couch and your other smart devices to make you as comfortable as possible in the midst of these activities. If you select TV mode, for example, the couch will recline to the appropriate angle, your lights will dim, and the television will automatically turn on to the app or channel you usually watch at that particular time of day. “Pause mode” not only pauses the television, but it also tilts you upright.

Taking that customization one step further, the Colosseo will actually recognize the voices of individuals who sit on the couch and remember all of their unique preferences. If you don’t like your chair to angle back quite as far as your spouse prefers, no worries: the couch will remember just as soon as you sit down. The couch itself is a space-saving, clutter-free design that can recline without having to be set back from a wall, and it even includes a few built-in Bluetooth speakers. Designed by esteemed Italian furniture designer Mauro Lipparini, the Colosseo is ideally paired with LG’s “Wallpaper” Signature OLED W8 TV, which according to the company “becomes one with the wall for a room to feel spacious and open, without any clutter.”

Released as part of LG’s premium LG SIGNATURE line, the Colosseo is so new to the scene that it hasn’t even been added to the company’s website yet, so only a few additional details are available at this time. For now, it’s just a concept, but its functions are bound to be popular, so don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of copycat designs popping up on design blogs in the coming months.

“Natuzzi and LG SIGNATURE entered into this partnership with the same objectives in mind — to make beautifully designed, art-inspired, minimalistic products that fit into any luxury home,” said LG’s U.S. Senior Vice President of Marketing David VanderWaal. “Incredible design and innovative technology bind the two major brands together, and through this partnership we are delivering a one-of-kind smart living consumer experience.”

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Quiet Inspiration

Stummel’s story is as simple as his furniture collection. Him and his wife were out shopping for furniture for their Shepherd’s Bush “Tin House,” a home that was itself on the 2016 shortlist for RIBA’s House of the Year prize. The unique structure is made up of a group of pyramid-shaped rooms clad in red metal and artfully arranged around a central courtyard.

The shopping spree sparked Stummel’s core design-based beliefs: that buildings and furniture should be built to last, create the least amount of waste possible, and echo the way their source materials were used.

Dissecting Nomad

Stummel’s premier furniture collection consists of the basics that every living room needs: a two-seater sofa, an armchair, and a coffee table. Each piece yields minimal waste and is extremely easy to take apart and pack flat. On top of all that, there are no tools or hardware required to set them up, with no instructions necessary! Stummel says that all that’s needed for set-up is “two minutes of common sense.”
Each piece can be broken up into five 2D cutouts, which Stummel hails as a major victory. “It takes so long to have anything made in England. These 2D cutouts were an epiphany: you can send off a design and get it back the next day,” he says.
A single sheet of birch plywood is used for each piece, with strategic cutting techniques using almost all of each sheet and further keeping waste to a minimum. Stummel explained that five pieces were needed to give the sofa, chair, and table optimum stability and strength. The upholstery for each set of chair and sofa cushions is manufactured from a single leather hide, again with minimal waste in mind.

Comfort is King

Stummel’s a big fan of relaxation, and he wanted to make sure that value was reflected in his furniture. He designed the sofa frame to be strong but supple and incorporated all the right angles for maximum comfort.

“The frame is just a useful vehicle,” he explains. “The surface is what makes the experience of the sofa; the leather transcends time. That’s where the focus is, where you sit, watch TV, and fall asleep.”
The leather cushions, custom-made by father-and-son design partners Phil and Sam Timings from UpTec, are made from premium aniline cowhide and finished with a solution of oil and wax that creates a naturally distressed, silky-soft surface.

Market Goals

Stummel believes his easily movable furniture line will attract the young people in London, many of whom live in various rental properties before buying a home. He notes: “That’s why flat-pack is so great. IKEA flat-pack has all these funny little pieces that you need to build it, so you construct it and never take it down. With Nomad, you don’t even need a tool. No glue, no nails; you just slot the pieces together. It’s so easy.”

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Sleek Affordable Sofas

Partnering with Art Center College of Design in 2013, Capsule asked students to create a budget-conscious, stylish chair. John Ismus made the winning design (above), the Knook Sectional Sofa, which launched at Wanted Design in New York City. It retails at $1,467

“We are a design startup that partners directly with emerging designers and manufacturers to produce beautiful and affordable furniture,”said Justine Kalisz of Capsule Design Studio. “It is our mission to support emerging designers and bring good design to everyone.”

Capsule furniture is created for the aspirational lifestyle — typically for those residents of starter homes or “new nesters” that need a cool style injection but don’t necessarily have the budget to back it up. By cutting out the retail middlemen and by working directly with the manufacturer together with talented young US-based artists and designers, Capsule can cut costs to the consumer and make it all viable.

The Big Arm Sofa, designed by fellow Art Center College of Design graduate Chelsea Park, comes in indigo, cream and grey felt. It’s long, strongly built and streamlined… with arms! If you want to balance things on the arms (instead of using side tables or leaning down to use the floor), then this is for you — for $1,499.

“We look to foster creativity in the greater community by supporting emerging design talent with product development expertise and resources. This synergy of talents and our direct-to-consumer platform allows us to produce beautiful pieces that are surprisingly affordable,” according to the Capsule website.

Minimalist Black Cafe Chair

The Marie Chair is made from black or silver powdered coated steel, and it looks like a bentwood cafe chair — a new design classic, in fact, for $299. Its effortless style will fit anywhere, and it can be used outdoors too.

Bringing exceptional home design to everyone is a worthwhile goal, and by pairing up with established children’s furniture brand The MBD Family, it looks like Capsule is gearing up to achieve it. Manufacturing children’s products requires expertise in creating robust design that adheres to rigid safety specifications, and the company has a long established relationships with factories in the US and Asia.

Every home can benefit from a sleepover sofa, and the Abbey Sleeper has a backrest that flips back to accommodate your overnight guest, effortlessly and with style.

The mid-20th century feel of Capsule furniture gives a lightness of touch and a desirability to all its capsule design collections. When you’re bringing design to the (style-savvy) masses, it’s always a good idea to focus on simplicity, together with good, sound construction. Sprinkle in a bit of je ne sais quoi that only truly talented designers can bring, and you have a potent formula for success.

“Taking cues from the fashion industry to elevate modern interiors, Capsule produces unique pieces, often with mixed materials and multi-function use that are intended to add dimension to any home,” according to the Capsule Design Studio website.

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