2Modern Design Talk - Modern Furniture & Design Blog

Mid-Century Modern goes Green

Intelligent. Attractive. Hand-produced. And did we mention harvested from sustainable forests? In fact, many of the pieces designed in Chicago's Ali Sandifer Studio are crafted using fallen trees from the local area. Specializing in casegoods, the collection avoids veneers and stains and instead builds exclusively with hardwoods that are finished with natural oils and water-based sealants.  The pieces have slender mid-century proportions and clever functional features.

The ZAIDE coffee table below, available in walnut, ash or rift white oak, offers a balanced three-legged wishbone base and exposed storage on all sides.

My favorites, the SHEILA storage unit and the EDITH credenza (both below) juxtaposed your HD flat screen offer groovy statements.

Pride of craftsmanship is certainly apparent in the HEIS desk (below), computer-ready and equipped with sleek side storage bins! Check out www.alisandifer.com for the complete collection and custom work options.

Ladder by Casimir Meubelen

Belgian designer Casimir recently presented the new series of storage furniture Ladder N1. Designer Casimir’s starting point for this series was yet another familiar object and archetypal design.

 

 

The ladder’s original form and function – a movable stairway – and an immovable shelving unit have now been merged into one piece by extending the ladder’s rungs into shelves and cases of different sizes. Ladder n°1 upgrades the stairway – still needed to reach the highest shelves – into a piece of solid oak storage furniture.

Visit Casimir Meubelen for more info

Ring Ring

Love this minimal magazine rack made from nickel plated steel rings by Black + Blum. Thoughtful Father's Day gift perhaps?

Also see wall mounted magazine rack here.

Conde House on 2Modern.com!

Conde House is now on 2Modern.com! Conde House is noted for exceptional design and manufacturing quality as expressed in its line of contemporary furnishings for distinguished homes and contract market for 40 years. They offer tables and chairs for dining (such as the Ohashi Table & Tosai Side Chair, meetings and conferencing, furniture for libraries, hotels and schools, bedroom furniture (Rikyu Bed & Boxx Chest) and media cabinets for residential and contract clients. All of their furniture is crafted at their mill in Japan on the northernmost island of Hokkaido.

Zanini de Zanine

I could write and write this very talented Brazilian designer: the versatile products, the beautiful shapes... but instead, I`d rather show some images and you can take your own conclusions! I`m a fan!

You can see all Zanini de Zanine`s works here.

 

  

 

If you find yourself in Boston...

...stop by the new store in Porter Square, Metamorphosis, at 1693 Massachusettes Ave. The small establishment is stuffed to the gills with colorful, reupholstered chairs sitting on top of tables, and vividly painted bookshelves shelves juxtaposed next to opulent mirrors.

The owners are two design savvy brothers who search high and low for fun vintage and retro furniture, which they often update for a more modern look. You can also bring in pieces to be reupholstered, and if you have a certain fabric you want to use, they are happy to use it. It's a great place to pick up some great vintage finds, or bring in an old, ragged looking diamond in the rough and have it re-done. Some pictures:

Monte on 2Modern.com!

Monte is now on 2Modern! Monte Design Group was founded by designers Ralph and Michelle Montemurro who envisioned comfortable, functional and design-driven products for the nursery and home. Their furniture line aims to be pure and uncluttered, yet warm and welcoming. Each piece includes clean lines, superior quality, and exceptional comfort. Offering gliders, such as the Luca Glider and Low Rider Glider (with matching Luca and Low Rider Ottomans), as well as the Alto Rocker, Monte brings you beautiful, well-crafted, Modern luxury for you and your child.

Amor de Madre

Have you ever had that feeling, when you see something amazing, and you think: why didn`t I have this idea? I felt exactly that when a friend of mine told me about this product, designed by Spanish Amor de Madre. Aurea is a collection of 3 frames, that can be a drainer or a container for mugs, dishes and bottles. It`s that kind of product that steals the attention for itself, and at the same time, is so simple and discript.

 

  

 

Minimal Modern Utility ~ by Ultra Cool Quad

“Quad is the Lego™ of contemporary furniture.”

The Minimal Modern Lifestyle: for all the super neat freaks in search of storage solutions + organization, comes Quad. This versatile  modular company takes the most simple of design elements "a cube," and brings you an endless supply of storage schematics to fit any size room or modern office. For the urban dweller who's storage needs may change from loft to loft ~ this design house offers you custom solutions to create a one-of-a-kind, modern modular masterpiece of decor.

The basic module of Quad is a perfect cube of 350 mm (13,78 inches) of side. Made from 100% recyclable steel Quad is only 2 mm (0.08 inch) thick.

The Quad Pentomino with Quad Finesse creates a dual angle illusion where books sit seamlessly + float. "They’re incredibly thin defying the amount of weight they can carry.” ~ Quad Design.

For the fans of the Urban Industrial Lifestyle, check out the Spirit Silver finish and add a shelf option on either side to showcase some of your most fabulous of wares. Plus, for even more modern utilitarian needs ~ create a "Spa Quad" for linens + towels.

Quad on Site...

Modern Multi-functionality at its Best ~ comes the Quad options: 34 modules; Design forward colors: black shine, white pure, red delicious, pink paradise, moon dust, spirit silver, chic beige + more; No limits: reach great heights and impress friends with a Quad tower of storage with 11 modules.

"Feel Good Green" About Quad:

"Quad has a clear sculptural value and you can adapt it to virtually any environment, equally suited to a domestic or a commercial setting. Quad is laser-cut with no waste in a steel sheet (100% recyclable), folded with precision and lacquered with green inks. Quad is designed to be durable and multifunctional in the preservation of Nature and Natural Resources". ~ Quad Development Team.

The Designer Behind the Brand ~ Dom Trapp.

Born in France in 1963, this urban cool designer lives and works in a modest fishing village in the south of France. With a university degree in marketing and information system, his eclectic background lead him to industrial design, graphic design and now, product design. In 2007, his passion lead him to create Quad and find creative solutions for storage that are both functional + sustainable.  To learn more about Dom + Quad, visit www.quad35.com.

Clever Cardboard

Some of us need a little help keeping our homes in order. Especially when some of us live with messy musical types who manage to cover any available surface with a combination of spare change, crumpled receipts, cords, keyboards and the occasional guitar.

Whilst I'm not too sure how to handle the stray musical instruments that plague my apartment, I suspect the other usual suspects could be taken care of with a few pieces of cardboard and a very clever design.

Wallpockets are the creation of Shea Springer and Tim Karoleff, both industrial design students who are already making a name for themselves as Ampersand. Inspired by clusters of barnacles and simple geometric shapes, their die-cut cardboard Wallpockets are part wall art, part ingenious storage solution.

With the ability to be manufactured in any combination of colours, these little guys are also designed with a flat pack adhesive-free assembly. What's not to love?