Market Talent: The Gang's All Here

-- Interior Design, 5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Brayton International, Metro, and Vecta, all divisions of Steelcase, have now coalesced as. . .Coalesse. The new entity will absorb all the furnishings previously manufactured by its three constituent parts. But to prove that the move means more than just remerchandising, Coalesse also assembled a famed foursome to commemorate the inauguration with a group of original designs.

Usually reticent about his inspirations, Jean-Marie Massaud of Studio Massaud acknowledges Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's influence on the Holy Day sling chairs and occasional tables, with their steel frames in a polished-chrome finish. Meanwhile, satin chrome was the finish of choice for Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd of PearsonLloyd when they designed the steel base of the Ribbon table; its top comes in leather or glass. Jeffrey Bernett, founder of Consultants for Design Strategy, named his Davos chair and benches after the Swiss town where the World Economic Forum takes place. The pieces are agile yet substantial, thanks to frames constructed of Russian birch plywood and padded with fire-retardant foam.

Upholstery options for the seating, both Bernett's and Massaud's, are leather or fabric, including COM. 866-645-6952; coalesse.com. circle 423