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Lines of poetryTo attract notice at the Salon du Meuble in Paris, Ligne Roset called on both new and established talents to design its 2003 collections. Alban Gilles's first piece for the company is Neo, an update on that comfortable classic: the rocking chair. With its bold and beautiful shape in polyurethane foam, there's no need to exile this piece to the back porch. Pascal Morgue, on the other hand, has produced a number of signature lines for Ligne Roset and designed many of its flagship stores. His latest labor of love is Lover. The line is an ode to suppleness, with a chair, chaise longue, settees, and footstools made of firm yet yielding memory foam. The foam's flexibility allows users to roll or unroll the seat backs easily for comfort—enhanced by the soft, stretchy, sweaterlike upholstery fabric. Morgue describes the effect in verse, no less: "It enfolds/ So that, in its embrace,/You relax./And uncurls,/So that you can curl up./ Safe in its clasp,/You drift away." Ligne Roset.
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MontisIntroduced in January at the furniture fair Imm Cologne, Lima is the latest from Gijs Papavoine. Its oversize seat, back, and arms hover gracefully over metal feet. Montis at M2L .
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CassinaWhite-hot French designer Patrick Jouin is responsible for the sexy sculpturality of the glass-topped Lebeau table, part of his debut collection for Cassina. The plastic base, either painted or covered in saddle leather, is trimmed in stainless steel. Cassina.
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Skypad
Espen Voll and Tore Borgersen of the Oslo collaborative Norway Says have designed the Dock chair. With an ergonomically molded birch plywood frame, veneered in walnut or oak, this rigorous beauty looks good from every angle, thanks to superior finishing. Upholstered versions also available. 296 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1K4, Canada; 416-762-8129.
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Oxydo
In the City of Light, it can be hard to shine brightly enough to attract notice. The Holo hanging lamp did just that at the last Salon du Meuble. Designed by Catherine Grandidier and Edouard Boulmier, Holo achieves its kaleidoscopic effect thanks to strips of Cromática, a colorfully translucent tracing paper, hanging between two PVC shades. the lamp comes in white, red, or mixed colors. 3 Rue des Camelias, 75014 Paris, France; 33-1-45-39-51-11.
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B&B ItaliaThe work of Interior Design Hall of Famer Antonio Citterio in 1997, the popular Charles sofa system recently got a bigger-is-better makeover. Luxuriously deep dimensions offer the ultimate in comfort. B & B Italia.
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Swiss Mix
Natural fibers and ecologically sound manufacturing have been Ruckstuhl's hallmarks since 1881, and the Swiss company's latest carpets continue to promote nature as a means to good design and well-being. The perennially best-selling rugs in the Feltro collection are made with high-quality merino wool. Still produced according to an ancient method of moistening and pressing together layers of un-spun raw wool, the rugs are moving forward with a new range of colors as well as contrast stitching.
Debuting in 2003 are Kaura I, handwoven with long strands of goat hair, and the reversible Twin, featuring stripes on one side and a richly hued moiré solid on the reverse. A final enhancement: a colorful selection of felt borders. P.O. Box 50, Allendale, NJ 07401; 239-573-3400.
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Merry JhaneKnown for mathematically inspired designs, Jhane Barnes Textiles has just come out with an earth-friendly solution. The Child's Play collection of computer-generated patterns comprises three textiles in 100 percent recycled polyester. Jax features cross-hatching derived from an algorithm, plus a stretch-weave construction that's ideal for task seating. The mid-scale Dominoes pattern, which offers retro charm, and Double Dutch, informed by undulating lines and a subtle texture, are both made of Terratex-classified fabric. 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018; 800-922-0542; Jhane Barnes Textiles.
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The X Files
DSA Associates's X collection has purity of purpose. "The line collapses early 20th-century design into a 21st-century ecological position," says Third Eye Studios's Marc Thorpe, who designed X with his partner, Greg Hess. Inspired by French architect Bernard Cache, the zigzag Kraz side table, shown in cerused oak, can be oriented in a number of directions and stacked with other units. The low JamesT table's exposed stainless-steel frame accentuates the top's asymmetrical quadrants of Macassar ebony. Both tables are executed in wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. 300 D Street SW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20024; 202-863-0350; Third Eye Studios; 917-513-9312.
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Innovations in WallcoveringsMade with wood pulp, recyclable polyester fibers, and water-based inks, Grrr!!! is the latest introduction to the Innvironments collection. This statement-making animal print comes in 10 colorways. 150 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013; 800-227-8053; innovationsusa.com.
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G.T. DesignDeanna Comellini's Kama collection of hand-knotted rugs makes use of natural coconut fibers and viscose. The latter shimmers subtly and feels velvety. Les Migrateurs, 188 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-966-8208; GT Design.
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HumanscaleThis decidedly high-tech M7 flat-panel monitor arm keeps Mother Nature in mind by incorporating 90 percent recycled materials. (That's mostly aluminum.) A built-in gas cylinder provides dynamic height adjustability and allows users to customize angle, depth, and viewing position without compromising stability. Best of all, Manuel Saez designed the monitor arm to be as sleek as the monitor it supports. 11 East 26th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010; 212-725-4749; Humanscale.
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EcosurfacesThis company offers a range of slip-resistant and durable flooring made from recycled tire rubber with multicolored flecks. Rolls and tiles are offered in 49 colors. Gerbert, 715 Fountain Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601; 877-326-7873; Gerber.
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Britelites
First came soy. Then came soy-milk beauty lotions. Now there are hand-poured, 100 percent vegetable-based soy-wax candles. They're nontoxic, biodegradable, longer-lasting, and soot-free alternatives to the petroleum-based paraffin candle. And they look sharp, too. Available in 24 sizes and an array of natural pigments. 725 South Wells Street, Suite 604, Chicago, IL 60607; 312-957-0525.
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Dedon
These indoor-outdoor furnishings are made of Hularo, a resin that's not only UV-stable and weatherproof but also toxin-free, recyclable, and sustainable. When expertly handwoven—as with the Tango armchair—the material can emulate natural wicker, rattan, and cane in a truly luxurious manner. Dedon, 800-693-3366.
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