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Here are some affordable bentwood barstools that will do the job without breaking the bank.

Retro modern low-profile backs curve into generous seats in a versatile walnut finish. Available in two heights, each with sturdy chrome-plated tube legs. Also available in white.

24″ Barstool: $119.00 (19.25″Wx19.25″Dx29″H)
30″ Barstool: $129.00 (19.25″Wx19.25″Dx34.75″H)

This sofa looks oddly modern despite the traditional silhouette. Maybe it’s the fabric done in a Kvadrat Wool, or maybe it’s just that more traditional frames are back in style nowadays.

Elegantly shaped European hardwood frame with jute webbing and hessian straps. The Upholstery is Kvadrat Molly Wool and cushions are feather-filled. Walnut stained beech compose the feet. Despite all this, it is a truly comfortable seat.

Matthew Hilton
European hardwood, Wool, Feathers, Walnut-stained Beech
87″ W X 38″ D X 28″ H X 16″ Seat Height

Here’s a sort-of-affordable glass table with an interesting wood base. ‘Sort-of-affordable’ in this case means there’s no comma in the price tag.

Glass top floats on dramatically angled shesham wood legs with a matte walnut stain. Crossbar support connects the base with striking stainless steel hardware that’s an integral part of the design.

Seats four if using as a dining table.
70″Wx34″Dx30″H

Also available, not shown: Strut 36″ Glass Top Table, $499.00

What a lovely media storage cabinet. It’s solid walnut (or cherry, if you prefer) with a stainless steel base. The shelves are large enough to accommodate the giant cable boxes that Time Warner seem to keep giving us, as well as all your dvd players, Roku’s, cable modems, etc. It’s pretty pricey, but it is one of those pieces that you will certainly have forever and ever.

Dimensions: 82w 20d 24h
Materials: Solid Walnut, Stainless Steel

Seeing how beanbags have become quite acceptable in the living area, why not a beanbag-ish chair that’s shaped like a… well, you know. This is the first I’ve seen it on sale, but as noted, the price is limited to stock on hand.

With the Dickies, Anthony Kleinepier likes to raise more questions than answers, so the expectations and codes of our daily environment become vague. This makes people wake up to the fact that they are entitled to an interpretation of their own. It makes you think it is time again to use all our senses and not only believe in what we see. The Dickies Chair create a casual contemporary look.

Size: 47.2″H x 41.3″W x 43.3″D
Material: Polypropylene laminated, Polyester & Nylon

chair: $1,230.00 $860.00 Sale (limited to stock on hand),
Buy it here.

table: $895.00, Buy it here.

I’m getting one of these asap and you should too. Unless you don’t have a dog, of course… in which case you should think about getting one (unless you’re most decidedly not a dog person).

By using your FOUND collar and leash you are helping to raise public awareness of the urgent need for animal adoption. 25% of ALL our profits go directly to the Louis Animal Foundation, a unique non-profit group dedicated to spaying/neutering and providing homes for animals who have not yet ‘found’ their people. Our founder rescued Walter, one of her adopted pups, through the foundation and was inspired to donate a large portion of our profits to such an important organization.

FOUND Collar: $42.00-$50.00
FOUND Leash, natural or black rope: $56.00-$76.00

This minimal shelf is perfect for the entryway or bathroom, having just enough shelf space for odds and ends and hooks underneath for hanging items.

Available in white, red and black. Includes wall fixings.
Material: Powder coated steel.
Dimensions: 70 x 10 x 5 cm.

Note: Orders outside the UK will need to email designer to purchase.

Here’s a great dresser at a relatively low price. This is a piece that you’ll probably have for a very long time.

Five removable drawers
Sheesham wood
38″H, 32″W, 15.5″D

What a Lazy Bastard. If you bought this chair, you could say that all the time, and if someone got mad and started to punch you, you could say, “Wha?! I was talking about the armchair you’re sitting in!! WTF?!”…Wouldn’t that be fun? Basically a bean bag on legs, this armchair looks super comfortable because it is. May I recommend the black color instead of the suspiciously-seventies-inspired pea green color?

Available by special order only.
W36.6 x D38.5 x H29.9 in

Rich Brilliant and Willing is one of my new favorite design houses and the trio are definitely ones to watch. Their new Matryoshka table featureswood slats with each seam being overlapped by the one next to it.

The table gets its name because each of the three sizes (End, Cocktail & Coffee) – can nest inside one another, like Matryoshka Dolls.

Available in white, black, red or green.

Hold on to your hat, because MoMA has just put out Peter Norton Family Christmas Art Projects, and there are so many truly wonderful things that you might be overwhelmed. Available in limited quantities, each ‘art object’ was donated by Peter Norton to benefit P.S. 1.

This particular post (more to follow over the next week or two) shows Brian Eno’s ‘Oblique Strategies’, which are strategy cards with phrases that help users get out of creative roadblocks. (If you have an iPhone or iPod, there’s also an Oblique Strategies App available to download free from iTunes.)

In 1975, the celebrated British musician, producer, and visual artist, Brian Eno, together with collaborators, addressed the challenge of breaking out of creative roadblocks by writing a series of evocative phrases he dubbed “worthwhile dilemmas.” These phrases, which suggest approaches to an impasse from another direction, became known as Oblique Strategies. Originally published as a deck of cards in an austere format, they became an underground hit and sold out in three revised editions.

Size: 5.5h x 5.5w x 1.5″d

Second hand tables get a new lease of life with etched stainless steel tops. It’s a stellar idea, and I sort of love the traditional lace-work design paired with steel. As each piece is unique, prices depend on size and condition; emailing Momantai Design directly will give you a better estimate. If you’re not all that into second hand furniture, maybe you’ll prefer the Praios table (shown bottom) with its brand spanking new thin metal frame.

Classic lace-work translated by means of modern production technology; by etching the pattern in stainless steel, the authentic lace of Plauener Spitze ® gets a new graphic interpretation. A collaboration of Roel van Hove of Etsprit and Ulrike Jurklies of Momantai Design

Recycled Tables Rondra, Firun, Rahja, Phex (top): between € 100 and € 600
Table Praios, 190 x 80 cm (bottom): € 3521 for the the brushed finish, and € 4110 for the polished surface.

Delivery should take roughly 8 weeks depending on the destination.

Also, keep in mind shipping costs (from The Netherlands) might bump the price up quite a bit, so bear that in mind.

As beautiful (and comfortable) as this collection is, the price just plain hurts. When will the Bouroullec brothers do an affordable line of wonderful items? (Now, if you’ve got 7 and 13 grand allocated for a chair and sofa, respectively, then good for you, but I’d rather not hear about it.)

Designer: Ronan Bouroullec and Erwan Bouroullec
Available colors: Navy Blue, Black, Pale Grey, Red

Sofa: $13,420.00 (L 78.7″ x D 47.2″ x H 27.6″)
Armchair: $6,550.00 (L 33.1″ x D 47.2″ x H 27.6″, Seat H 13.8″)

An interesting partnership between Muji and Thonet brings us the Bauhaus tubular steel desk.

Made in Germany by Thonet GmbH, the original manufacturer of tubular steel furniture, for MUJI. The desk is made of steel pipe with a speckled MDF top. The drawer unit is sold separately and is made in Japan of steel and polypropylene.

Similar to the One Night Stand Sleeper Sofa (except armless), this sofa bed folds down to accommodate afternoon napping or overnight guests.

The name says it all. Sit up or sleep it off. Quickly convert from upright lounging to horizontal sprawl. Playful contrast cross-stitching, kicky French seams, and a solid stainless steel base add pizzazz to the straightforward yet inviting form.

Material: Wool blend upholstery, brushed stainless steel legs.
Specs: (inches) 80w x 41d, Seat height: 16, Seat depth: 22