Off the Charts
Check out the top 25 products of 2004, as determined by our discerning readers
edited by Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 12/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
Poltrona Frau
Paolo Rizzatto's impish Regina updates the Victorian reading chair. This spin on a bookish classic features a four-prong swivel base, a reclining mechanism, and aluminum-ringed holes in lieu of yesteryear's button tufting. Back and base are gray epoxy powder-painted metal; 92 colors of leather are offered. 145 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012; 212-777-7592; poltronafrau.com. circle 313
Bev Hisey
Floor runners are running wild with undulating patterns and multiple colors. A construction of 75 percent wool and 25 percent nylon contributes to the runners' unbeatable durability. 96 Spandia Avenue, 504, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2J6, Canada; 416-703-6635; bevhisey.com. circle 316
Cassina
Philippe Starck and this manufacturer have a real hit in M.I.S.S. The name stands for Music Image Sofa System, and it discreetly hides a speaker, subwoofer, and retractable projector housing. Available with an accompanying audiovisual cabinet. 155 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022; 800-770-3568; cassinausa.com. circle 314
Glide
Proving that simplicity is not simpleminded, Twist Together is a playful, interactive lighting module of hand-cast resin illuminated by LEDs. Connect the cubes in limitless combinations. 718-722-7340; glide-inc.com. circle 315
Patterson, Flynn & Martin
Square, checkerboard, diamond, or running-bond patterns characterize this manufacturer's 30 new custom rug concepts in leather panels. Options include over-stitched, blind, or laced seams as well as bindings in suede, leather, or animal hair. 979 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 800-833-0667; pfmcarpet.com. circle 317
Sawaya & Moroni
Matt Sindall photographs colorful floral and geometric subjects, prints them on transparent melamine, and uses it to wrap the wooden structure of Anna Morph. The limited-edition bookcase can thereby stand proudly on its own four stainless-steel feet—without so much as a single volume inside. 11 Via Manzoni, 20121 Milan, Italy; 39-02-863951; sawayamoroni.com. circle 318
Sonoma TileMakers
This company's "gurus" experimented by pouring puddles of glaze on rustic tiles made of tinted clay. The glaze shattered in the kiln, but the result, Tantrum, remained durable enough for residential floors or, preferably, walls. (The cracks may trap dirt.) 7750 Bell Road, Windsor, CA 95492; 707-837-8177; sonomatilemakers.com. circle 321
Architex
Technology marries luxury in Unreal Plush, a collection of sumptuous, seriously indulgent fabrics of 100 percent Trevira CS. Mohair-soft but super-durable, they come in a rainbow of colors. Both upholstery and drapery weights available. 3333 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062; 800-621-0827; architex-ljh.com. circle 319
Float
Appropriate both indoors and out, the Wave chaise is made of the same material used for sailboats. The gel-coated cast-fiberglass body, measuring 24 by 76 inches, comes in white, sand, orange, red, or black as well as custom colors. Matching bench and stool available. 1804 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; 215-985-1441; floatland.com. circle 320
J. Prichard Design
Pushing the definition of wall covering, Ceramic is better described as an installation. Thousands of hand-thrown ceramic disks are assembled in no certain order to form organic compositions. 739 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217; 917-297-9898; jpricharddesign.com. circle 333
Lyle and Umbach
If the hearth is the center of the home, why not decorate it with practical, eye-catching art? The complex horizontal and vertical lines of the Vestal fire screen make a visual feast of flames. Vestal is available in polished white and yellow bronze and blackened-steel finishes. P.O. Box 269, 509 Pendleton Point Road, Islesboro, ME 04848; 207-734-8299; lyleandumbach.com. circle 337
Heller
The creator of the Frank Gehry collection needs no introduction, and these accessibly priced pieces display the unmistakable deconstructivism of his architecture. Made of rotation-molded polymer, the cubes, bench, easy chair, table set, and sofa are all suitable for commercial, institutional, and residential use, indoors and out. 149 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010; 212-685-4200; helleronline.com. circle 334
Agape
The squeaky clean LAV003 lavatory is supported by the Flat XL countertop. They're paired with Fez 130 wall-mounted mixers. P.O. Box 1668, New York, NY 10013; 212-941-9941; agapedesign.it. circle 336
Kova
Alternating clear and white chunky yarns allow Crystal Weaves to let the light in while still providing privacy. 32 Union Square East, Suite 216, New York, NY 10003; 212-254-7591; circle 335
Snowlab
A bewitching aurora of a fixture, Andre Keilani's wall-mounted Thérapie owes its dawnlike quality to a soothing palette of three color acetates—combining the ultimate in ambience, mood, and nature. 24 Avenue du Mont-Royal West, Suite 503B, Montreal, Quebec H2T 252, Canada; 514-808-9483; snowlabdesign.com. circle 322
Michael Berman
The flowing curves of the Grace sofa seem to levitate above its block feet. Offered in mahogany, walnut, and oak among other wood finishes. 7215 West Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323-933-0220; michaelbermanlimited.com. circle 323
Philip Watts Design
For adventurous residential or commercial installations, this proper British ironmonger proposes the Spoon urinal. This cast-aluminum fixture can be enameled in any color imaginable. 32B Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, U.K.; 44-1159-474809; philipwattsdesign.com. circle 326
Panelite
An indispensable part of the contemporary design diet, this company satisfies an appetite for visual texture by sandwiching a honeycomb interlayer between lushly colored panels. Our favorites include PE/RX-OR cast polymer, AO/RC cast polymer, AO/RX-BL cast polymer, AH/FC laminated, PE/RX-M cast polymer, and AO/GC laminated. 212-343-0995; e-panelite.com. circle 324
Meltdown Glass Art and Design
See the world through pearl-blue glasses—or any other color. Metallic sprays tint these sheets of tempered or laminated glass, fabricated with a hand-carved mold. You can add a linen surface texture and optional color-fade. 3225 North Washington Street, Chandler, AZ 85225; 800-845-6221; meltdownglass.com. circle 325
Leucos
Designers Afra and Tobia Scarpa give a new look to the baroque chandelier with their Nastro collection. The 109/HLB fixture clusters irregular ribbons of glass—in either white or a color. 11 Mayfield Avenue, P.O. Box 7829, Edison, NJ 08818; 732-225-0010; leucos.com. circle 327
John Houshmand
This artist's debut collection of tables, seating, shelving, and headboards pairs rough-hewn domestic and salvaged wood. Free-form cocktail and side tables come in spalted maple. 481 Greenwich Street, 3C, New York, NY 10013; 212-965-1238. circle 332
Brent Comber
Drum and Trunk are outdoor stools hewn from the flared bases of fallen Western red cedars. Because the bull's-eye of each trunk's heart is placed dead center, neither style is likely to be compromised as cracks develop. 1649 Columbia Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7J 1A5, Canada; 604-980-4467; brentcomber.com. circle 328
Interlam
The Art Diffusion line's CNC-sculpted fiberboard can imitate metal. Take W1604, steel-coated MDF that appears aged under a layer of rust. 1805 Red Bank School Road, Claudville, VA 24076; 276-251-5300; interlam-design.com. circle 331
Odegard
Architects go wild for Laura Meroni's Collezione Décor doors and matching frames, finished like fine furniture and fitted with levers by Jasper Morrison. The doors ship in exotic three-ply veneers, with different species possible on opposite sides. 200 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 212-545-0069; odegardinc.com. circle 330
Kasthall
Multisquare, a rug in the Fogg collection, may evoke the floppy shags of the 1970's. But Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg updated the look with color blocks and flax yarn. The rugs are tufted to order in 12 colors; custom sizes and shapes available. Anise, 20 Whitehill Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117; 860-233-8116; kasthall.se. circle 329
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