Market
Edited by Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Pickup Lines
A lightweight bar stool that's not the least bit tipsy? Meet Flod. Designed by Azúamoliné for Mobles 114 Barcelona, the stool has a seat pitched to keep the sitter in the perfect posture for conversation as well as an integrated footrest to maintain proper flirting alignment. Made of rotation-molded polyethylene, for use both indoors and out, the stool stands 34 ½ inches high. It's offered in red, white, turquoise, lime green, and dark gray—sorry, no pink martini. 24 Riera dels Frares, 08907 Barcelona, Spain; 34-93-260-0114; mobles114.com. circle 322
Hope for Afghanistan
There's no question that design brings joy. But what about hope? Arzu, a name that means hope in Dari, believes the answer is yes. This nonprofit pays impoverished Afghan women above-market wages to weave rugs the traditional way, from hand-spun, naturally dyed wool—then requires participants in the program to do two things: send their children to school and attend literacy classes.
The designs are divided into five collections. In Traditional, rugs interpret the floral patterns of the Silk Road, from Persia to the Orient. Among the rugs in Tribal, which employs the geometrics and vibrant color palette indigenous to Afghanistan's central mountains, the Hope pattern of elk and horsemen dates back to 500 BC. More European in inspiration, Couture combines intricate florals with geometrics to delightful effect. And Modern features collaborations with no lesser talents than Zaha Hadid and Thomas Schoos. The collection also includes unique designs woven from scraps of wool left over from other rugs. 541 North Fairbanks Court, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60611; 312-321-8663; arzurugs.org. circle 323 —Elizabeth Wine
The Spirit of Libeskind
The Royal Ontario Museum's new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, Studio Daniel Libeskind's 175,000-square-foot addition, has been getting plenty of press as a major architecture event for Toronto's preeminent cultural and natural-history venue. Hidden inside is something else noteworthy, architect Daniel Libeskind's first stab at commercial furniture. The Spirit House chair, produced by Nienkämper in a limited edition of 21, references the addition's interlocking, self-supporting prismatic structures and the void between them—a location Libeskind calls the Spirit House. "It's a place to reflect and experience, just like the chair," he says. Constructed from 14-gauge stainless steel, the 35 ½-inch-tall design can be set in five different positions. 257 Finchdene Square, Toronto, Ontario M1X 1B9, Canada; 800-668-9318; nienkamper.com. circle 324 —Mark McMenamin
Brintons
You already know the unabashed wallpaper of Timorous Beasties. Now, the Scottish studio has fashioned nine of its trademark patterns in wool-nylon, as Axminster carpets. In this design from the Vintage Damask collection, layers of pattern float atop one another to create umbered striations available in custom colorways. 1000 Cobb Place Boulevard, Building 200, Suite 200, Bailey Park, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 678-594-9300; brintonsusa.com. circle 325
Tibetano
Interlocking circles dance their way across Loopy. Constructed of wool with silk accents, at 100 knots per inch, this upbeat rug can be ordered in five colorways as well as custom colors. 1 Grand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631; 800-995-5784; tibetano.com. circle 326
Sam Spade Design
Reminiscent of vintage woody wagons, the Rosewood sofa comforts with familiarity. The bent-plywood frame, veneered in rosewood of course, supports minimal cushions upholstered in wool crepe. The legs are tubular stainless steel. 23252 Del Lago Drive, Suite B, Laguna Hills, CA 92653; 949-707-4288; spadedesign.com. circle 327
Stark Carpet Corp.
Glamour-puss Geoffrey Bradfield's low-key yet opulent textiles for Stark Fabrics were inspired by Gilbert Poillerat. Consider scrolled Ayesha, a viscose-cotton blend; gridded Najwa in rayon and nylon; floral silk White Hall; and geometric Andrea Palladio, another viscose-cotton blend. 979 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-752-9000; starkcarpet.com. circle 328
Oscar Maschera
Taking the quotidian desk accessory to a new level, Oscar Maschera and Claude Bouchard are styling leather within an inch of its hide. A highlight of their 27-piece collection is the hand-stitched Slash basket, produced in nine colors. Arte et Maison, 31 North Moore Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-226-3665; artetmaison.com. circle 329
Curvet Ambienti
Cutting a clean and elegant profile, Giulio Iacchetti's low-slung Canaletto chair, sofa, and ottoman might just be the Cary Grant of furniture. The chair's sled base is chrome-plated. Via Della Resistenza, 61030 Calcinelli di Saltara (Pesaro-Urbino), Italy; 39-0721-878511; curvetambienti.com. circle 330
È Bella
There's an alpaca in the room. Nicole Linton's Rio Oro rug is hand-knotted from the wool of Peru's low-impact grazing animal—in keeping with this company's earth-friendly philosophy. 2304 Pine Street, Boulder, CO 80302; 303-442-6226; ebelladesigns.com. circle 331
Jane Churchill
Orange-ya glad to find the nubby weaves of the Helston collection? Ross, a textured solid, and Dalston, with its fuzzy circles, are viscose-cottons. Helston itself, with its sharply outlined dots, is a viscose-polyester. If orange isn't your thing, there are many other colorways for all three patterns. Cowtan & Tout, 111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 930, New York, NY 10011; 212-647-6900; cowtan.com. circle 332
Cor
Besides flowing lines, this sofa from the Lava collection boasts movable backrests and a removable cover, either in a wool blend or in leather. Five other sofas, a chaise, a footstool, and floor mats round out the series. DDC Domus Design Collection, 181 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 212-685-0800; ddcnyc.com. circle 333
Studio Printworks
Ideal for saloons, dance halls, and adventurous apartments alike, Yee-Ha! brings the spirit of the Lone Star State to the world of wallpaper. Paul Loebach's pattern is offered in 12 colorways, Show Stopper among them. Rolls are 27 inches wide. 38 Jackson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030; 201-795-9540; studioprintworks.com. circle 334
Alberto Frias
A fiberglass sphere containing a water-bed cushion, Transport will convey you directly to nirvana. At a massive 6 ½ feet in diameter and 3 ½ feet high, the two-person "perception pod" owes its sensory experience to colored LEDs and a remote-controlled sound system. Designer Alberto Frias has been perfecting the pod ever since he conceived it as a thesis project at the University of New Mexico. Twentieth, 8057 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 323-904-1200; albertofrias.com. circle 335
Magis
Designed in 2003, Konstantin Grcic's indoor-outdoor Chair One now comes with a star base of anodized aluminum. Three colors are standard, flame-retardant cushions optional. 15 Via Magnadola, 31045 Motta di Livenza (Treviso), Italy; 39-0422-862600; magisdesign.com. circle 336
Hinson & Company
Fierce and fabulous but hardly ferocious, Raj chenille will have latter-day Ernest Hemingways longing to stroke its soft fibers. The acrylic-polyester fabric comes in beige-tan and beige-black. It's reversible, too. 27-35 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101; 718-482-1100. circle 337
Kyle Bunting
Hides to seek, these custom rugs are offered in a dozen patterns—including herringbone, houndstooth, and inset squares—and over 50 dye colors. A rubber backing keeps the rugs in place, even in high-traffic areas. 5004 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood, TX 78669; 512-264-1148; kylebunting.com. circle 338
Yomo
A more glamorous version of the construction-paper snowflakes you made in the third grade, Link is laser-cut silk charmeuse or polyester chiffon in panels of 48 by 98 inches. Select standard red, teal, espresso, gray, copper, or black. Or customize. 195 Chrystie Street, New York, NY 10002; 212-539-1423; yomony.com. circle 339
S. Harris
Isaac Mizrahi is lending his fashion flair to home textiles. GlowStripe, a crisp silk-linen, solid Extra Silk, and plaid Chorus Silk can act as supporting coordinates for large-scale floral Mega Chintz, an all-linen siren. 9303 East 46th Street, Tulsa, OK 74145; 800-999-5600; sharris.com. circle 340
I 4 Mariani
Although Guido Faleschini designed the original Andromeda back in the 1960's, today's reinterpretion has lost nothing in translation. The armchair's three cushions, covered in over 400 stock fabrics and leathers or COM, remind us of Alfred Hitchcock's profile. The thermoformed beech frame is supported by a steel sled base powder-coated in 10 colors, including white, or chromed. 969 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-753-6389; i4mariani.com. circle 341
Gandia Blasco
This Spanish manufacturer, known for its outdoor products, is launching Marc Krusin's decidedly indoor Squares rug. The squares in question are wool on a cotton base, assembled at different levels of relief to create a dense texture. The four tonal color options are gray, orange, red, and green. 4 Músico Vert, 46870 Ontinyent, Spain; 34-90-253-0302; gandiablasco.com. circle 342
Offecct
In castle or café, Thomas Sandell's King holds court. Conceived for a restaurant in Stockholm, the chair boasts a high back that fosters intimacy around the table and generous seat proportions that accommodate lounging. Cleaning is easy, thanks to zip-up upholstery of fabric or leather. And the sturdy cold-foam construction ensures a long reign. P.O. Box 100, 543 21 Tibro, Sweden; 46-5-044-15-00; offecct.se. circle 343
Osborne & Little
Some things are even better the second time around. Inspired by Persian carpets, Jonas Cord designed this wallpaper in the early 1970's. It's now available at 27 inches wide, in three colorways. 90 Commerce Road, Stamford, CT 06902; 203-359-1500; osborneandlittle.com.circle 344
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