Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo

It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo

It's Saturday, the perfect day to unload the essential information I've managed to save in my brain until this very moment. Two things I wanna put on the table: Mark Newson's Zenith Chair & Galerie Kreo.

Ok, The limited edition Zenith chair by Mark Newson is an instant favorite! Here's the thing, I love aluminum, and I love limited edition. Limited edition, not in the sense of it being exclusive but in the sense that it's furniture expressed as art...real art.

Most importantly on the hunt for the Zenith Chair was that I stumbled upon Galerie Kreo. What is Galerie Kreo, here goes: Galerie Kreo is dedicated to artistic exploration in design, and has exclusive international rights to remarkable limited edition pieces by such luminaries as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Pierre Charpin, Hella Jongerius, Jasper Morrison, and Martin Szekely. Galerie Kreo sees itself as a 'research laboratory'. In Paris, of course.

-S

SYI- Initially when I saw the Zenith chair, I thought it was furniture by Jeff Koons. Kinda reminds me of his statues.

MAGNI GOES METALLIC

With NYC's Fashion Week now upon us, it felt oh so appropriate to cover James Magni's latest creation: The Carlyle "Sting Ray" armchair.

The MAGNI Home Collection unveils the "Sting Ray” armchair in select designer showrooms this Fall. As you may know, James Magni's home pieces are inspired by fashion, and he often uses details such as "cufflinks" on armchairs or "stilettos" on legs to communicate this. The "Sting-Ray" armchair is keeping with the metallic trend we saw at NY's fashion week for fall/winter 09/10. From classic Carolina Herrera to Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Erin Fetherston, fashion's finest paraded metallic’s down the runway, lending a shiny luster to the year ahead. I thought you might enjoy seeing a comparison between the “Sting-Ray” armchair and the show stopping Carolina Herrera metallic gown (fall/winter 09/10 ready-to wear.)

-S

MAGNI GOES METALLIC

With NYC's Fashion Week now upon us, it felt oh so appropriate to cover James Magni's latest creation: The Carlyle "Sting Ray" armchair.

The MAGNI Home Collection unveils the "Sting Ray” armchair in select designer showrooms this Fall. As you may know, James Magni's home pieces are inspired by fashion, and he often uses details such as "cufflinks" on armchairs or "stilettos" on legs to communicate this. The "Sting-Ray" armchair is keeping with the metallic trend we saw at NY's fashion week for fall/winter 09/10. From classic Carolina Herrera to Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Erin Fetherston, fashion's finest paraded metallic’s down the runway, lending a shiny luster to the year ahead. I thought you might enjoy seeing a comparison between the “Sting-Ray” armchair and the show stopping Carolina Herrera metallic gown (fall/winter 09/10 ready-to wear.)

-S

BDDW

I've been meaning to post BDDW for a while now. I'm head over heels about their aesthetic. From what I can tell it looks like the company is having fun with their designs, and that's always something I like to support.

Check out their product line and their photo album - BDDW

-S

BDDW
A small American furniture company dedicated to the creation of well crafted timeless designs. Tyler Hays, a painter and sculptor, is the company founder and head designer. BDDW is known for their heirloom quality solid wood furniture, traditionally joined, in select domestic hardwoods. Their finishes are all hand rubbed with natural oils and lacquers. In beds, tables, seating, lamps and storage, BDDW has created dozens of classics and is constantly producing new and innovative work.

BDDW

I've been meaning to post BDDW for a while now. I'm head over heels about their aesthetic. From what I can tell it looks like the company is having fun with their designs, and that's always something I like to support.

Check out their product line and their photo album - BDDW

-S

BDDW
A small American furniture company dedicated to the creation of well crafted timeless designs. Tyler Hays, a painter and sculptor, is the company founder and head designer. BDDW is known for their heirloom quality solid wood furniture, traditionally joined, in select domestic hardwoods. Their finishes are all hand rubbed with natural oils and lacquers. In beds, tables, seating, lamps and storage, BDDW has created dozens of classics and is constantly producing new and innovative work.

Paul Mathieu for Ralph Pucci

French designer, Paul Mathieu, exhibits his signature style in his Aria collection for Ralph Pucci International. I saw this chaise in the Pucci Showroom at the PDC last month, and it looks even better live! It's polished bronze with a gold finish, ethereal and yet sophisticated, and at $62,400 it's truly a living room sculpture. I don't know if this is a stretch, but I find the shape and the open back of the chair to resemble a human form... it reminds me of a woman wearing a backless dress... provocative to say the least.

Wonder if I can get a recession special?

-S

Paul Mathieu for Ralph Pucci

French designer, Paul Mathieu, exhibits his signature style in his Aria collection for Ralph Pucci International. I saw this chaise in the Pucci Showroom at the PDC last month, and it looks even better live! It's polished bronze with a gold finish, ethereal and yet sophisticated, and at $62,400 it's truly a living room sculpture. I don't know if this is a stretch, but I find the shape and the open back of the chair to resemble a human form... it reminds me of a woman wearing a backless dress... provocative to say the least.

Wonder if I can get a recession special?

-S

Silverlake Secret: Pepe's Thrift

Do you thrift on the weekends? If so, check out Pepe's in Silverlake. The front of the store has its nuggets of goodness, but the real fun starts at the secret parking lot showroom in the back. Mid-Century galore!

Pepe's
3204 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 662-6510

-S

Silverlake Secret: Pepe's Thrift

Do you thrift on the weekends? If so, check out Pepe's in Silverlake. The front of the store has its nuggets of goodness, but the real fun starts at the secret parking lot showroom in the back. Mid-Century galore!

Pepe's
3204 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 662-6510

-S

HFH - SECRET Home Improvement Store

(HFH) Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles operates what feels like a secret home improvement store in Gardena, CA. The inventory is unlike anything I've ever seen. They carry everything from doors, windows, lumber, and everything you need to build a home, to oversize lighting fixtures, crystal chandeliers, boxes of beautiful decorative tiles, dining chairs, tables, desks, stainless steal refrigerators and other appliances, etc... Everything is donated and than sold at an extremely nominal price points. Let me stress that when I nominal I mean ridiculously cheap. My only disclaimer is that depending on the day, the inventory changes. Because everything is donated at random, there's no consistency with what's available. Obviously, those who know about the store swoop up the best things as they come in, so try to get there in the morning and try not to go on a weekend.

"Habitat for Humanity’s Home Improvement Store is a retail business selling surplus new and used home furnishings and building and home improvement materials to the general public. Retail businesses, contractors, individuals and other organizations that are remodeling or have surplus or discontinued merchandise donate usable materials. For example, a lumber company that is remodeling donated most of its inventory to the Home Improvement Store, and a lighting company who went out of business gave Habitat the remainder of its merchandise to sell. " -HFH website

"Profits from the Home Improvement Store will be used by HFH to further its mission of providing home ownership opportunities to low-income families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing. Another benefit of the Store is environmental: materials that would otherwise be thrown into landfills are reused and recycled." - HFH website


17700 South Figueroa Street in Gardena.

www.shophabitat.org


-S

HFH - SECRET Home Improvement Store

(HFH) Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles operates what feels like a secret home improvement store in Gardena, CA. The inventory is unlike anything I've ever seen. They carry everything from doors, windows, lumber, and everything you need to build a home, to oversize lighting fixtures, crystal chandeliers, boxes of beautiful decorative tiles, dining chairs, tables, desks, stainless steal refrigerators and other appliances, etc... Everything is donated and than sold at an extremely nominal price points. Let me stress that when I nominal I mean ridiculously cheap. My only disclaimer is that depending on the day, the inventory changes. Because everything is donated at random, there's no consistency with what's available. Obviously, those who know about the store swoop up the best things as they come in, so try to get there in the morning and try not to go on a weekend.

"Habitat for Humanity’s Home Improvement Store is a retail business selling surplus new and used home furnishings and building and home improvement materials to the general public. Retail businesses, contractors, individuals and other organizations that are remodeling or have surplus or discontinued merchandise donate usable materials. For example, a lumber company that is remodeling donated most of its inventory to the Home Improvement Store, and a lighting company who went out of business gave Habitat the remainder of its merchandise to sell. " -HFH website

"Profits from the Home Improvement Store will be used by HFH to further its mission of providing home ownership opportunities to low-income families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing. Another benefit of the Store is environmental: materials that would otherwise be thrown into landfills are reused and recycled." - HFH website


17700 South Figueroa Street in Gardena.

www.shophabitat.org


-S

4th Street District. Long Beach, CA

Jack & I cruised on over to the 4th Street shopping district in Long Beach today.

4th street district is merely a block long (located between Cherry & Junipero), but it is jam packed with vintage furniture stores, collectible thrift shops, and unique used clothing stores themed by era.

Particularly, vintage furniture aficionados will love stores like Xcape, Deja Vu, and Ruum. These small shops feel less like a retail experience and more like a well curated gallery of design.

American modern, Danish modern, and Heywood Wakefield - go to Xcape

Art-Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavia - go to Deja Vu

20th century decorative arts - go to Ruum

If you got the time and you love design, I think you'll really enjoy a day trip to the 4th street district. A wonderful secret, uncovered.

4thstreetlongbeach.com

4th Street District. Long Beach, CA

Jack & I cruised on over to the 4th Street shopping district in Long Beach today.

4th street district is merely a block long (located between Cherry & Junipero), but it is jam packed with vintage furniture stores, collectible thrift shops, and unique used clothing stores themed by era.

Particularly, vintage furniture aficionados will love stores like Xcape, Deja Vu, and Ruum. These small shops feel less like a retail experience and more like a well curated gallery of design.

American modern, Danish modern, and Heywood Wakefield - go to Xcape

Art-Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavia - go to Deja Vu

20th century decorative arts - go to Ruum

If you got the time and you love design, I think you'll really enjoy a day trip to the 4th street district. A wonderful secret, uncovered.

4thstreetlongbeach.com

Le Corbusier

"Chairs are architecture, sofas are bourgeois." - Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier

"Chairs are architecture, sofas are bourgeois." - Le Corbusier

Limited Edition Colette Table

As one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 designers, the Magni style has been praised for its luxurious, exotic, and sexy appeal. As a sculpture and visual artist, James Magni is inspired by concepts of chaos in nature. The Colette Table exemplifies the tension that exists in the wild between what is pure and surreal juxtaposed by what is bold and chaotic. Like an orchid caught in a monsoon, the Collette Table is exposed, fragile, yet daring and intense. The Colette Table is a limited series of fifty (50), each signed by James Magni. Each of these supremely elegant tables is handcrafted in Southern California of solid hand-cast bronze with a natural finish. Top is ½” crystal-clear Diamante glass with a flat polished edge. The table is also available in oil-rubbed bronze or a silver patina. Retail Price: $12,530.

Diversify your portfolio - BUY limited edition furniture. It's a beautifully made investment,

S

SYI - Check out MAGNI.COM to see the designer's anthology of projects and products.

Limited Edition Colette Table

As one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 designers, the Magni style has been praised for its luxurious, exotic, and sexy appeal. As a sculpture and visual artist, James Magni is inspired by concepts of chaos in nature. The Colette Table exemplifies the tension that exists in the wild between what is pure and surreal juxtaposed by what is bold and chaotic. Like an orchid caught in a monsoon, the Collette Table is exposed, fragile, yet daring and intense. The Colette Table is a limited series of fifty (50), each signed by James Magni. Each of these supremely elegant tables is handcrafted in Southern California of solid hand-cast bronze with a natural finish. Top is ½” crystal-clear Diamante glass with a flat polished edge. The table is also available in oil-rubbed bronze or a silver patina. Retail Price: $12,530.

Diversify your portfolio - BUY limited edition furniture. It's a beautifully made investment,

S

SYI - Check out MAGNI.COM to see the designer's anthology of projects and products.

PLAN59

Revel in ads from the 50's & 60's @ www.plan59.com... a website celebrating "the commercial art of
mid-century America."

*The "Decor" section is my personal favorite... Truly inspirational, and suprisingly relevant to current modern design.

-S

www.plan59.com

PLAN59

Revel in ads from the 50's & 60's @ www.plan59.com... a website celebrating "the commercial art of
mid-century America."

*The "Decor" section is my personal favorite... Truly inspirational, and suprisingly relevant to current modern design.

-S

www.plan59.com