Monday, February 15, 2010 5:33PM - By Jeffrey Hyatt

I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t think of the ‘Big Salad’ episode of Seinfeld when I decided to spotlight Alain Gilles’ Big Table, which he designed for Italian furniture brand Bonaldo in Milan last year. With legs made of laser cut and folded steel plates, the fixed table is available in two sizes, with a choice of finishes.
The top of the Big Table is available in glass or wood. All the legs have a different width, and have been cut and bent in order to reveal different tonalities of their own color, in order to play with shadows. Gilles notes that ‘whatever the angles, it always looks strikingly different from one point of view to another, as if you could never really grab it.’ If ever a need to fill a room – look to the Big Table. [via daily icon]
Continue Reading
Monday, September 14, 2009 11:30AM - By Chris Weiss

Like many concept chairs, the Ruby Chair doesn’t look overwhelmingly comfortable or inviting–better to stick it in a far corner of the den or patio and use it for conversation only. Despite its less-than-cozy look, the piece designed by Buenos Aires-based Marcos Madia is certainly striking, looking as though its individual triangular segments could fold down to carry case size and accompany you wherever you go. The distinct extended legs give it an animalistic feel almost like a crab, scorpion or other spiny creature coming directly at the onlooker. Sit in it if you dare, and enjoy a relaxed state of mind. [via Coroflot]
Continue Reading
Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:30PM - By Chris Weiss

Wow, if these refrigerators don’t inspire you to work a little harder for some of the finer things in life, I’m not sure what will. Anything Italian that ends in “ghini” usually drops jaws and these Meneghini refrigerators are definitely no exception. Described as “Italian Antique Modern”, they look much more like elegant armoires and cabinets than traditional ice boxes, what with their brass handles and clawfoot legs. Pull open the doors and you’ll reveal preposterously large amounts of room for choice groceries as well as posh additions like built-in espresso machines and microwaves. Finishes such as aged cherry wood and walnut, Lebanese cedar, mahogany, pine and chestnut are sure to complement any kitchen. Lacquered wood versions can also be purchased in your choice of 500 colors. Your Frigidaire has never looked so insufficient. [via Unplggd]
Continue Reading
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:30AM - By AlexIon

The British designer George Rice has a way with metal and glass– as exemplified by this stunning table. 4foldlow is a contemporary coffee table cut from a standard sheet of steel, folded by hand and topped off with a glass surface to bring the whole piece together. Designed for London-based furniture company Formtank, it requires complex mathematics and precision engineering to create the perception of more material than there actually is. Versatile and elegant, the 4foldlow will turn some heads in your office, living room or otherwise. [via Dezeen]
Continue Reading
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 10:00AM - By AlexIon

Industrial designers Benjamin Riot and Valentin Sollier are the talented heads behind this Lockheed chair. Students at the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique in France, the team wanted to further develop the original DSW chair with its highly seducing geometry. Inspired by the US military plane F117 Night Hawk, the Lockheed chair features metal legs, has an angular exterior and a curved, comfy-looking seat. Just a concept for now, we’re pretty sure Riot and Sollier will not sit on it too long and we’ll get to see the Lockheed chair in stores, soon. [via dezeen]
Continue Reading
Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:00AM - By AlexIon

Hungarian designer Peter Vardai has created a futuristic lightweight piece of furniture that works both as an arm and a rocking chair. Perfect for both outdoor and indoor use, the chair not only looks sleek but also proves quite comfortable. It comes with an innovative transforming carbon frame that changes form in less than 20 seconds, has stretchy elastic seats and a simple design with two-tone colors. Can’t say for sure if the Fotel chair will hit the market or if it’s just a concept for now, but by the looks of it, we’re eager to see it hit production. [via BBG]
Continue Reading
Thursday, August 6, 2009 11:30AM - By AlexIon

Creating objects that use geometric folds and crease patterns isn’t just for paper, it can be used for industrial and furniture design as well. That’s probably what inspired designer Svilen Gamolov when he came up with the blueprints for his Tetragon chair. This contemporary chair is made of acrylic plastic and comes with an unusual shape that pertains to a system of crystallization. There are three axes all at right angles to one another, where two have the same length and the third of a different length. Can’t vouch for comfort on this one, but we’ll gladly take a seat once these are produced. [via IDS]
Continue Reading
Friday, July 31, 2009 12:30PM - By AlexIon

Youthful in inspiration, the Zaza chair is a truly charming piece of modern furniture. It was created by Israeli designer Omri Barzeev as a flexible chair that you “assemble” to fashion to your needs. The whole chair stands on wooden legs that fold and features an upper cone-like part made by using laser cutting technology and layered with felt. A very simple, yet attractive design, the new Zaza Chair would add to any modern environment. We’re sold! [via DesignBoom]
Continue Reading
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 11:30AM - By Jared Newman

Need some more decor to match your DJ coffee and side tables? Consider “Cassette’s Not Dead,” a box lamp that filters light through the spools and translucent plastics of cassette tapes. Designer Vanessa Moreno found that the music format of the 80s has surprising value today, tying the tapes together with plastic and stuffing a light source inside. She encourages changing out the source material for your favorites or even listening to the included cassettes — if you’ve got a tape deck lying around. For those who aren’t interested, but are feeling generous, Moreno accepts tape donations, which go towards her dream of building an entire furniture line from the dated media. Otherwise, it’s 25 euros to 225 euros ($35 – $317), depending on model. [Ooomydesign via Inhabitat]
Continue Reading