Karim Rashid....

We've never written about Karim because his stuff is kind of...something.  I'm not sure how to describe it so I won't try to and bore anyone!  But this new "Float" collection for the Spanish company Sancal is pretty fun, and awesome!  I love the bold colors and fun shapes.  Who says a couch must be similar only to a box?


It doesn't look like it's available yet on Sancal's website, but here is their site anyway: http://www.sancal.com/home.php

A classic beauty

I'm currently in love with this Clothing Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto, a Finnish design genius. Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1936, this natural birch clothing rack is fitted with four black hooks and features a sturdy birch-paneled top shelf. The side frames are made from birch laminate and are bent into a triangle shape to provide extra support for the shelf. Made in Finland by Artek.  I got one today (used) for a great deal.  High five to me! http://www.artek.fi/products/other/37

A really cool chair from really cool designers

I tried this Tip Ton chair the other day while visiting Vitra, and I must say it was quite comfortable.  It comes in fun colors, is stackable, made out of polypropylene and rocks!  I mean, it actually rocks, as in a rocking chair.  I want one!  I bet it would look really cool on a really cool desk.  And it's around $350, which is not that cheap, but not THAT expensive either.  Check out this cool video:

Tip Ton from BarberOsgerby on Vimeo.

Snoopy!

This cool couch is called Snoopy, because it looks kind of Snoopy-ish or something.  I like it because it looks super comfortable and friendly.  I imagine it would leave a giant smile on its owner's face whenever she comes home to see it.  Sort of reminds me of the Norwich Terrier from Best in Show.

http://www.versus.as/snoopy.html  

What what? Que que?

Here again is another brilliant Mexican design by Manada.  It was truly love at first sight, this Bed 42 design.  The wood, its texture, its simplicity and craft.  I want one!  However, our intern has rightfully informed us that this beautiful piece of furniture is probably a wee too big for anyone living in the tight orners of a NYC apartment.  Too bad. Still, we at CLI give the Bed 42 an A+++++!
http://www.manada.com.mx/#1248900/news

A really cool coffee table by another cool Japanese designer

How I wish I could go back in time to be born as a Japanese product/furniture designer!  Oh, How grand that would be!  To design beautiful, simple and elegant wares for my fellow humans.   To be among the likes of Naoto Fukusawa and Teruhiro Yanagihara!  

Anyway, thankfully, one can at least buy cool Japanese products easily these days with the help of the interweb and "online payments"!  All is not lost.  And, take a look at this beautiful piece of furniture.  Soo cool and simple.  But I'm also betting this can easily be built using some basic carpenter skills.  Perhaps a new project for the CLI intern for the new year!  Yes!
Check it out here:  http://teruhiroyanagihara.jp/#/177/

I really love this new-ish "Birdie" lamp by Foscarini designed by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba.  The lamp is quite playful and comes in a floor or table lamp size.  I totally want one.  Enough said.  Check it out here:  http://www.palombaserafini.com/works_1_1_1.asp?ID=289&sez=1&az=7#

Another cool Mexican designer!

Christian Vivanco is my new favorite designer.  He's Mexican and builds his furniture and stuff in Mexico, probably about 2 hours north of Mexico City.  I must plan a pilgrimage to visit his studio sometime.  Anyway, this really awesome storage island thing is called From a Lost City, and I simply love it.  I need to figure out where I can store this, or maybe our CLI intern will find a good use for this clever piece of multi- use shelving work of art.  Check it out here:  http://christianvivanco.bigcartel.com/product/from-a-lost-city

Peter Bristol to the rescue!

As some loyal readers of CLI may know, our intern broke her beloved May Day Lamp by Konstantin Grcic (the thing magically dismembered itself), and so we've been on a dutiful lookout for a new cool lamp that can be placed both on a bookshelf, desk or table, yet also able to placed on the floor.  Lucky for us we stumbled upon Peter Bristol's American Standard Lamp.  


Says Peter of his design, "for better or worse, construction materials, methods, and dimensions are quite homogenized in the United States. From the 2×4 wall studs to the cheap light switches, it seems that when building a wall, location is really the only decision left to make. The utilitarian relationship between these standard materials, dimensions, and parts comes together to create a modern icon that is hidden in plain sight. By deriving its character directly from this set of rules, the American Standards Lamp’s is instantly familiar and intuitive to use (for people living among these standards).  Flipping on the American Standards Lamp is as routine as unlocking the door. The lamp creates diffused light and provides an accessible extra power outlet."  

I don't think the lamp is for sale, but I hope it is!  Our poor intern needs a new lamp!  

http://www.peterbristol.net/projects/american-standards-lamp/

Help!

My May Day lamp broke today.  Sob, sob.  Now I'm on the lookout for a cool light that can be hung on the wall or ceiling, or sit on a bookshelf, or even on the floor.  So far, I've found a few contenders by Artek, the super cool Finnish company.  In particular, I like the White Collection by Ville Kokkonen designs.  (That's a cool pretty cool name, by the way).  Check them out here:  http://mattermatters.com/product.asp?id=1015

A really great video about one of the world's great designers!

Enzo Mari for Artek: Homage to Autoprogettazione from Anna Vartiainen on Vimeo.

Naoto's cool new re-do

My favorite designer, Naoto Fukusawa, designed this cool CD player for Muji a while ago, but people don't really play CD's much these days, so this cool apparatus was re-designed to also function as a radio!  Cool!  Now I can listen to NPR while showering or brushing my teeth!  And it now comes in black!  

http://www.muji.us/store/special-offer/new-wall-mounted-cd-player-with-fm-radio-white.html

Ice Cube!!

I I just saw this awesome video and had to share it!

Click on this link for an awesome video of Ice Cube talking about the Eames!

Hee Lounge Chair by Hay

Lately I am obsessed with finding the perfect lounge chair, perhaps for a bedroom setting.  My ideal chair would be something lightweight-looking, maybe in a light natural wood but not necessarily, something very comfortable and of course, something incredibly beautiful yet cheerful.  So far, I have found one really cool rocking chair that might work.  But also I am kind of liking this Hee Lounge Chair by Hay furniture, the very cool Danish company that brought the world the DLM side table.  The best thing about this Hee Lounge is that it comes in many colors, looks comfortable, and only costs about $230 or so.  That's not too bad considering what the rest of the design world is offering.  Unfortunately I have never seen this chair in person, so I can't attest to how comfortable it is.  But I'm on the look-out so will keep fellow CLI readers in the loop!  Check it out here:  http://hayshop.dk/products/25-lounge-chairs/139-hee-lounge-chair/

A really, really cool bed

I'm not currently in the market for a new bed, but If I were, I'd totally get this Beam Bed by Gavin Coyle.  I don't know anything about the materials or anything, so you'll have to contact Gavin if you're interested in purchasing.  http://gavincoyle.co.uk/

Jump!

Not really sure why this lamp is called "Jump" but I like it irregardless (or regardless).  Jump is designed by Claude Saos and is made with porcelain, maple wood and uses LED light.  Nice.  Oh, and there are only 20 limited edition Jumps available!  If you want one, contact Claude now! http://www.claudesaos.com/jump.html

Asaf Weinbroom Studio!

We couldn't believe our eyes when upon seeing this extremely beautiful, clean-lined and super functional/utilitarian wall lamp. Called the Vash Light, it is made from white oak and veneer and is adjustable, and I'm just wondering where in the USA one can get their hands on this baby. If anyone knows, tell us! We'll send you some free cheese!  Mazel, Asaf Weinbroom!  

http://www.weinbroom.com/#!__page-1/vash-light

Normal Studio, the almighty!

I think our CLI intern has mentioned Normal Studio before on this site, but in case she hasn't, please check out this amazing company/studio.  They have truly amazing design, and a neat story behind the company's origin.  Drool.  I wish their lamp was adaptable for US electric requirements.  
http://www.normalstudio.fr/