bltd

I’m obsessed with the Le Bambole sofa for B&B Italia. Before you get your hopes up, this particular piece is sold out. However, if you’re patient, you may find one at an online auction site or at a resale shop. Also, the chair was rereleased by B&B Italia in 2007.

Mortise, tenon and finger joint detailing. Handmade of reclaimed oak, alder and sycamore in Los Angeles, CA.

This Free Trade Pouf features upholstery from recycled burlap grain sacks. A few of these would be nice for impromptu seating for additional guests.

Constructed from recycled burlap grain sacks and stuffed to the max with cushy cotton, its lightweight design makes it easy to move around for quick additional seating. Complete with varying printed graphics.

Due to the unique nature of this item, graphics may vary slightly from what is pictured.

I think it’s often easy to forget that something as simple as the Aalto stool is well within a meager modernist’s budget*. So, for this week’s design classic, consider the stacking stool by Alvar Aalto as an option for extra seating. Designed in 1932-33, the stool is made from solid birch veneer and features a bent L-shaped leg that allows it to be stacked to save space.

Available in natural wood grain or with a white, red, or black laminate top ($275).
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If you’re in need of a rocker to soothe a baby (or yourself?) to sleep, you might just consider this one from Monte Design. It has a small footprint (25″w x 31″l) so it could fit into a smaller room with little to no problem, and the clean modern lines won’t offend anyone’s senses.

Wood base options include a choice of Solid American Walnut or White.
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These stools by Semigood Design are fantastic. Each piece is designed and handmade to order in their Seattle workshop (hence the lead time of 2-4 weeks) and all wood used is FSC-certified. While it is a ‘ready–to–assemble’ product, it should take you no longer than 5 minutes to have it ready for use. Stock colors are Red/Orange, Smoke, White, or Blue.

Available in a 17″ stool, 26″ counter stool or 29″ bar stool.
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Another design classic for you on this Thursday…

Made from industrial steel rods, Harry Bertoia created his iconic seating collection in 1952 at the invitation of Florence and Hans Knoll. Bertoia was given free reign to create what he wished, and the result was a reflection of his interest in metal work and open forms. Bertoia says, “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them.” A fixture of mid-century design, the chairs are now available in a variety of finishes with or without replaceable seat cushion, back pad, or full cover. The popularity of the chairs (and the royalties he received) allowed Bertoia to return to sculpture soon after completing the collection.

Knoll is the only authorized and licensed manufacturer of the Bertoia Collection which has been in continuous production since 1952.

To learn more, visit Harry Bertoia’s wikipedia page.

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The look of nature except without all the bark mess… and, of course, softer for your feet or derriere as well. From Pedlars.

Continuing the tradition of featuring a design classic each week (‘Classic Thursdays’ perhaps?), we turn our attention to Prouvé’s Cité Lounge Chair.

Designed by Jean Prouvé in 1930, the Cité Lounge Chair has broad leather arm straps and a molded sheet steel frame. This chair was one of Prouvé’s earlier furniture designs, and typifies his rational-sculptural aesthetic. The strong lines with a reserved color palette all lead to a subtle modern look that looks just as current as it was eighty years ago.

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Besides being easy on the eye, this chair from e15 is also worth noting for its construction method: it’s completely screwless. Made from 4mm thin oak-veneered plywood, the Houdini Chair is both visually and physically light and perfectly complements all e15 tables. There’s several photos showing how it’s constructed (The Making Of), which is as fascinating as it is laborious.

Luckily, there’s a collection by Stefan Diez, of which the Armchair, Lounge, and Stool particularly stand out.

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So, I’d never really heard of StyleFactory, nor am I particularly entranced by voting for products only to find out they may or may not be made, but I am fairly impressed with this sofa. It’s very mid century (exactly the sort of thing you wish you’d find at a thrift or resale shop) and with the cantilevered table you’ll have one less side table to find.

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Remember my little speech last week about adding more classics into the BLTD mix? Well, here it is Thursday and time for another piece deemed classic by many a mid century fan.

Charles and Ray Eames are quite famous for their experimentation in wood-molding techniques and their success in creating high-quality furniture that could be mass produced. The Plywood Group, to which this dining chair belongs, is made from a process that eliminates extraneous wood, which lightens each chair’s visual profile and weight. The seat and back are molded to fit the body, making these chairs a comfortable seating option. You might also be interested to know, if you don’t already, that this chair is in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and in my own dining room (link).

The Eames Molded Dining Chair is available with either chromed tubular steel or wood base frames (DCM – Dining Chair Metal – or DCW – Dining Chair Wood).

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A New Zealand Portage leather sling seat contrasts nicely against a white ash hand-turned frame; together they provide a comfortable lounge that would keep a seating area visually clean and light.

Starling was designed by Cameron Foggo of New Zealand.
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Now, I know most of you are probably familiar with the bona fide design classics, seeing as they’ve made their way into just about a bajillion shelter magazine shots and are available from many a reputable retailer. I’ve long thought that there was really no need to feature all the well known names and designs here on BLTD, as it seemed a bit repetitive and unnecessary. However, seeing as we’ve reached well over 6,000 posts of notable products from hundreds of different retailers, there’s a huge gaping hole for all those ‘classics’ that we’ve sidestepped. I think from now on we’ll aim to fill in that hole, featuring pieces that are, at times, a bit expensive, yet always available to purchase online should you wish to add them to your collection.
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This is a nice way to recycle your old t-shirts or jeans, especially if you’re the type that hates the thought of donating the softest (i.e., best) of the bunch just because of a few holes or two. This chair by Maria Westerberg starts out as a plain frame and becomes a chair after you add your own worn textiles. It’s also available with fabric from left-over pieces from sofa manufacturing (£580) already woven in, but I think the fun would be in making your own (plus, it’s more affordable that way).

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