It seems the hard edged square dinner plate and ultra asymmetrical bowl phenomenon has mellowed out a little, and sweet simplicity in dinnerware has reigned supreme. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s “Ovale” collection embodies clean lines, beautiful and elegant shapes, and unbeatable functionality in a variety of sizes and multitude of accent pieces.
Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com
Ovale does not deliver a single serving impression. These pieces require a second glance, some figuring out – a platter of intrigue for the curious and discerning eye. They aren’t actually oval shaped, but almost. And that missing fraction is delightfully captivating. Carefully considered details… that’s where awesomeness lives.
Ovale by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com
Beyond the standard dinnerware – plates, side plates, bowls, cups, etc., Ovale has a wonderful selection of additional pieces including covered stoneware, serving dishes and trays, an ice bucket, and a little sauce plate (shown above).
Ovale Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Alessi. image: core77.com
The “Ovale” collection strives to be original, but it also wants to be rustic and traditional. We set out in pursuit of delicate expression. This composition speaks about every day life, about breakfast, lunch, about everyone getting together for dinner. There is a desire for simplicity.
Emeco has partnered up with designer Michael Young to produce a new collection that combines their iconic aluminum with a new material (new to Emeco, that is), wood. I adore the combination of the hard, industrial surface of aluminum combined with an organic, material that grew under sun.
Lancaster Collection - image: emeco.net
The collection includes stacking chairs, tables and barstools. All the pieces are available in light or dark stained ash wood and either polished aluminum or “nano” powder coat. The ash wood is sustainable, durable, and harvested from, you guessed it, Lancaster Pennsylvania. As wood isn’t Emeco’s specialty, the wood components are being hand crafted in a local Amish factory in Lancaster with a long time reputation for wood working.
Lancaster chairs - images: emeco.net
Lancaster chair shown stacked. image: emeco.net
Lancaster Table - images: emeco.net
Lancaster Barstool rear and front view - images: emeco.net
The way that Young designed the connection between the aluminum and wood components makes this chair really unique. He doesn’t hide the fact that there is a joint there, and celebrates the contrast between the materials by accentuating the join with visible bolts, and large tab like connectors. These details speak to the industrial side of the design, although the beauty in which all the elements are finished illustrates the craftmanship that Emeco is known for. The Lancaster collection is perfect composition of hybrid raw material, elegant design, and enduring quality.
Lancaster chair detail - image: emeco.net
Designer Michael Young at the Trussardi store in Milan, 2011. image: emeco.net
Michael Young is an accomplished industrial designer who has worked with many international furniture manufacturers. He has this to say about Lancaster’s design story:
“I feel passionate about working with natural materials that live forever. Wood and metal are really the materials that connect to the human so there was no question that the richness of their aging processes is a perfect combination.”
Michael Young, quote source: Emeco Newsletter, July 2011
We are currently working on getting the Lancster collection up on our online store. If you have questions about pricing, availability, etc., contact us, here.
Visit Emeco’s website for information and images, here.
Visit Michael Young’s website to see more amazing design projects, here.
Read Designboom‘s up close and personal interview with Michael Young, here.
Earth friendly design lovers will be happy to hear this. You no longer have to suffer the guilt of adding another piece of unwanted furniture to the landfill thanks to french designer Elise Gabriel. Her “Zelfo Embrace” collection of furniture and lighting is adorable, functional, and biodegradable.
Liga Collection by Elise Gabriel - photo: designboom.com
The main ingredient, Zelfo, is made of cellulose fibres deriving from plant materials that are soaked, pressed and dried to mold the shapes they are pressed onto. Gabriel seems to have spent a great deal of energy researching and experimenting with this material and process in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing line of tables, chairs and lighting.
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
I love the way that the final products pay tribute to their source: vegetation and plants. The surface of the furniture is very textured and fragile looking and the way the different parts join together are reminiscent of stem and branch joints. The lamp shades are thin enough that light diffuses through them as the sun might shine through flower petals.
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
photo: designboom.com
Elise Gabriel is an award winning designer and her work is currently being displayed at Galerie Gosserez in Paris until April 4th, 2011.
source: designboom.com
Our last post was highlighting a vintage Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair that our shop reupholstered. Today, I came across this video on the Huffington Post about the making of the classic 1955 chair. The video is a beautifully choreographed black and white film depicting all the steps (human and mechanical) involved in the making of the Series 7. Recorded along side a tranquil acoustic guitar soundtrack, it’s an engaging view for both it’s content and cinematography. Check it out here:
View and purchase the Series 7 chair on our website, here.
Visit Fritz Hansen’s website, here.
View the article on the Huffington Post, here.
Kastehelmi Dewdrop Collection by Oiva Toikka for Iittala
Modern with a vintage twist, Iittala’s new Kastehelmi (Dewdrop) collection is fresh, fun, and elegant all at once. Oiva Toikka originally came up with the design in 1964 as a solution to camouflage the seam that is created during the pressed glass production process.
Oiva Toikka’s design career’s 50th anniversary was the catalyst in bringing this line back into production by Iittala. Toikka is, of course, is the designer behind the Finnish company’s line of beautiful hand blown glass birds including my personal favorite: the Barn Owl.
Barn Owl by Oiva Toikka for Iittala
The Kastehelmi collection is available in two different plate sizes and a set of four bowls in clear or apple green glass. Find them on our website, here.
Kastehelmi Bowl in Apple Green
These pieces feel wonderful to touch, as the round beads adorn the surface of the glass in various sizes and patterns. The interior of the dishes are smooth, making them completely functional as well as beautiful. Mix them in with other Iittala pieces as accent dishes, or use the bowls for special candies and the large plate as a platter.
Kastehelmi Plate in clear by Oiva Toikka for Iittala
View these pieces and the entire Iittala collection at gabrielross.com, here.
View Oiva Toikka’s glass birds on our website, here.
Visit Iittala’s website here.
Alessi supports high design for Max and Boots in their “Lupita” dog bowl and “Tigrito” cat dish by Miriam Mirri.
Lupita Dog Bowl, Miriam Mirri 2002 for Alessi
From Alessi’s website: Dog bowl in PP with 18/10 stainless steel insert , orange. Formal language, loaded with references to affectiveness and Miriam Mirri’s “Children Code”, is here used to create an object for our four-legged friends.
Tigrito Cat Dish, Miriam Mirri 2007, for Alessi
Lupita: available in blue and orange, and Tigrito: available in grey, blue and yellow, these cat dishes add a splash of colour to any kitchen corner and some fun sophistication to your pet’s dining experience.
Visit our website for details on the Lupita dog bowl here.
Visit our website for details on the Tigrito cat bowl here.
Visit Alessi’s website here.
Imagine this happy little guy keeping you company while you scrub up after dinner.
Pino funnel by Stefano Giovannoni & Miriam Mirri, 1998
Designed by Stefano Giovannoni & Miriam Mirri, 1998, for Alessi, Pino is great for transferring liquids flawlessly and inspiring warm fuzzy feelings while you do it. You absolutely cannot help but smile back when you meet this fun and playful kitchen accessory.
Featured on our gift ideas page, this cutie is only $22.00 and would make a great stocking stuffer**
“Form is a mystery that defies description but brings people pleasure.”
- Alvar Aalto
Artek is different from most companies in that they have a huge product portfolio from the Aalto’s, which was created in the 1930′s. His designs, their ideology, are still the backbone of what Artek does. Artek can’t compete with the big companies that push out lots of products, so they don’t do a new design if there isn’t an innovation in the materials or manufacturing. That’s why Artek often works with architects.
A state-of-the-art technology mixed with excellent design. The designer Sandy Chilewich is passionate about research, experimenting with fibres and a fascination for textiles, and has oodles of experience.The development of woven Plynyl®, a newly introduced material, which is both water- and stain-resistant, is one of her best inventions. She uses Plynyl® in particular for table mats and for floor mats that are well-designed, sophisticated and above all, practical. With Chilewich, your household will be truly revolutionary!
