Market
edited by Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 1/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Armchair Traveler
Urban planner, architect, and interior designer Steve Leung adds yet another profession to his impressive résumé: furniture designer. From his Ling Long series, the 1 Seater Sofa combines Eastern and Western elements in a contemporary way, putting a spin on the traditional wingback. Its 36-inch-wide MDF frame is veneered in oak that can be stained either Manhattan Gray or French Beach, while the four fabric patterns—Terra, Masai, Styl, and Magic, all polyester-cotton blends—come in 23 colors. 9/F, Block C, Seaview Estate, 8 Watson Road, North Point, Hong Kong, China; 852-2527-1600; steveleung.com. circle 311
Shape of the Future
QM foam started it all. Quinze & Milan's proprietary nonflammable material, which retains its shape for years and meets the International Organization for Standardization's regulation 8067 for tear strength, was the springboard for four related furniture lines.
Part of the Primary collection, the polyurethane-coated cubical Pouf 01 won a Henry van de Velde Award from Design Flanders in the Netherlands. The stools are also big winners with the public: Up to 1,500 are sold each month. The Infinity collection's monolithic U Seat, upholstered in leather, can be pierced by an optional light fixture. In the Matrass seating line, the foam is not upholstered but coated in a polyurethane-based solution, a waterproof compound that can be cleaned with soap and water—making these pieces ideal for pool terraces, child-oriented areas, and health-care interiors. Offered in countless colors, the coating also contains a UV filter to prevent fading from the sun. Lux's Seat 120, perfect for lounge environments, combines a coated QM foam cushion with a frame veneered in oak or birch.
Custom pieces run the gamut from seating to partitions and case goods. 185 Chippewa Trail, Medford, NJ 08055; 262-412-9866; quinzeandmilan.tv. circle 312
PPG Industries
This manufacturer of architectural glass is clearly committed to better indoor environments. Witness Solarban 70XL, a 1-inch-thick insulation glass with a solar heat-gain coefficient of .27. The glass lessens the need for artificial light and reduces costs for climate control. Guys Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238; 888-774-4332; ppg.com. circle 314
Alison Berger Glassworks
Inspired by its namesake's transparent skin, the Onion light features a lead-crystal shell over an acid-etched glass diffuser, which takes a medium-base 60-watt incandescent bulb. Plug Lighting, 8017 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-653-5635; pluglighting.com. circle 313
AvroKO
Known for designing New York restaurants Public and Sapa, this firm has a new furniture line. It's the Transport series, based on cars and motorcycles from the early 20th century. The Percy Maxim armchair sports cold-rolled steel arms and legs, walnut accents, and black or brown leather upholstery. The companion ottoman converts into a side table. 210 Elizabeth Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10012; 212-343-7024; avroko.com. circle 315
HBF
The Aerial View floor or wall covering collection is composed of three lines. Spanish Grove, a check, comes in 10 colorways, while bar-patterned Tiled Roof is available in eight colorways; both are recycled polyester that withstands up to 60,000 Wyzenbeek rubs. For leather rather than fabric, choose Freeway; it's produced in 11 solid colors. 900 12th Street Drive NW, Hickory, NC 28601; 800-801-8033; hbf.com. circle 316
Unika Vaev
Part of the Heartland collection, Veranda's chevrons make a great upholstery fabric or wall covering. This wool-cotton blend exceeds 50,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs and is backed in a light acrylic. Among the nine colors offered are Desert Clay, Sunrise, Bright Meadow, Hedgerow, Sierra, and Morning Mist. 607 Norwich Avenue, Taftville, CT 06380; 800-237-1625; unikavaev.com. circle 318
Twill Textiles
Suzanne Lovell and Sam Kasten have dedicated themselves to timeless stripes, striés, diamonds, and checks. The partners' premier collection includes wool-ramie StockbridgetStrie in five colors and Silk Diamonds, a silk-cotton blend in three colors. Among the solids, there's also the wool-ramie Lenox Twill and the silk-linen Silk Canvas, both in five colors. 225 West Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60610; 312-828-0088; twilltextiles.com. circle 317
Maxdesign
Gabriele Pezzini's lightweight Moving stool, constructed of roto-molded recyclable polyethylene, has a stainless-steel handle like a pail's—making the entire piece easy to pick up and, yes, move. It measures 14 inches in diameter and 15 inches high, with colors ranging from apricot to mint green, sky blue, and white. 75 Via Dei Banduzzi, 33050 Bagnaria Arsa (Udine), Italy; 39-0432-996412; maxdesign.it. circle 319
Nanimarquina
Turn a floor into a bed of roses with designer Nani Marquina's hand-loomed Roses rug. The wool-felt petals, woven on a wool-cotton backing, come in red, orange, brown, gray, or ivory. Dimensions are 67 by 94 inches or 79 by 118 inches. 10 Església, 3rd Floor, D, 08024 Barcelona, Spain; 34-932-376-465; nanimarquina.com. circle 320
Brainwood Oy
Attached to a concealed track, Pop convex panels of form-pressed plywood can clad ceilings and walls. Jaana Ylitalo's modules come as 8- and 16-inch squares in cork as well as in birch, cherry, and walnut veneers. The veneers are covered with a clear, matte melamine film for easy cleaning. Hightower Group, P.O. Box 1736, Bellingham, WA 98227; 206-992-7045; sisustusikkuna.fi. circle 321
Autoban
A twist on a Louis XV style, Bergere debuted at this year's 100% Design fair in London. The design maintains a traditional high back and closed sides but introduces a modern angularity with minimal padding. For upholstery, choose wool in 46 colors or perforated leather in black. The piece comes in oak, walnut, and birch plywood—as either a chair or sofa. Ray20, 52 Walker Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013; 212-925-2235; ray20.com. circle 322
Lalique
Based on René Lalique's 1931 design, the Jaffa's 20 frosted-crystal shades depict a palm motif. The 79-inch-tall fixture is stainless steel: brushed for the rods, stem, and base, polished for the cap. Accepts incandescent lamping. 712 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021; 212-355-6550; lalique.com. circle 323
Designtex
Modern artists represented in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, inspired Abstract Matters fabrics, rugs, and wall coverings in dozens of colorways. Wire, a reversible nylon-wool blend, draws on Alexander Calder's mobiles. Klange, a textured cotton-polyester blend, takes its name from a German word that Wassily Kandinsky used to describe color. Modernist tendencies in general yielded Improvisation, a box-patterned cotton-polyester blend, and Sequence, a nylon-wool blend. 200 Varick Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10014; 800-221-1540; dtex.com. circle 324
Cassina
Philippe Starck's Miss You bed is like an illuminated island floating through the night—thanks to the dimmable neon source housed in a glass diffuser on top of the custom upholstered headboard. The platform, which sits on a painted stainless-steel base, can be ordered at 67 or 71 inches wide. Companion bedside tables are oak. 155 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022; 800-770-3568; cassinausa.com. circle 326
Dedar
The contour lines of African landscapes inspired Senzafine's winding lines of multicolored silk. They're embroidered on a cotton-acrylic ground that shifts from tan to parchment. 1694 Chantilly Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324; 800-493-2209; dedar-usa.com. circle 325
Pallas Textiles
These playful patterns are serious about durability, withstanding 50,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. Tic-tac-toe icons populate Criss Cross, a nylon-cotton blend in five colors including ruby, asparagus, and fern; the spiky stars of Jacks, a jacquard cotton-nylon blend, come in forest green, Pacific blue, and five other colorways. Both feature a thin bouclé yarn, adding texture to the ground, and viscose yarn, balancing nubbiness with sheen. All are backed in acrylic. 1330 Bellevue Street, Green Bay, WI 54302; 800-472-5527; pallastextiles.com. circle 327
Cabot Wrenn
Drawing on the work of Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl, Tenure harks back to Mark Goetz's days of study in Denmark. The chair is made of steam-bent maple and offered in 16 standard finishes. P.O. Box 1767, Hickory, NC 28603; 828-495-4607; cabotwrenn.com. circle 328
LG Floors
Paving the floor of shops and schools alike, Artwalk looks like painted metal with treads— but is actually .126-gauge sheet vinyl. The 7-by-49 foot rolls are offered in 12 colors, including 1000 (yellow), 1300 (blue), 1200 (silver), and1400 (red). Innovision Flooring, 18 Sidney Circle, Kenilworth, NJ 07033; 888-291-9903; innovisionflooring.com. circle 329
Nola
An outdoor planter that turns into an indoor umbrella stand? Such is the thinking behind the simple folding rim of Johannes Norlander's cast-polyurethane Tall planting pot. It's 30 inches high, unfolded, and comes in light and dark gray. P.O. Box 17701, 118 93 Stockholm, Sweden; 46-8-702-1960; nola.se. circle 330
Leucos
A glass screen in yellow, white, red, or blue fronts the satin-white glass diffuser of the Fold sconce. Held in place by a two-pronged polished-steel mechanism, the fixture measures 20 inches in length and projects 5 inches from the wall. Ceiling and suspension lamps round out the collection. 11 Mayfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837; 732-225-0010; leucos.com. circle 331
Fromental
Lizzie Deshayes and Tim Butcher's hand-painted Variegated Leaves wall covering is not for the wallflower. Part of the 12-pattern 20th Century collection, the silk or paper panels are available in eight colorways, such as green Bracken and red Masai. Each panel is 3 feet wide. 1 Elgin Mansions, Elgin Avenue, London W9 1JG, U.K.; 44-20-7286-0106; fromental.co.uk. circle 332
Anthro Corp.
A rolling storage cart that adapts to almost any situation, ergonomic Convoi is constructed of aluminum and steel. Height adjusts from 30 to 36 inches, width from 24 to 30 inches. (Depth remains 22 inches.) Bells and whistles include drawers, a cable shroud, LCD support, and keyboard supports. 10450 SW Manhasset Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062; 800-325-3841; anthro.com. circle 333
Annette Hinterwirth
Part of the Walljewels collection, the asymmetrical Wide-Screen Jewel is glamorous enough to deck out any diva's room. The sconce is wrapped in leather, with Swarovski crystals cascading 67 inches from the top. Lit by Kelvin daylight bulbs and LEDs. 22/48 Lichtentalergasse, 1090 Vienna, Austria; 43-01-968-03-32; annettehinterwirth.com. circle 334
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