Room by Room – the Wegner Sawbuck Chair
Aug. 26 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at the return of a classic, the Wegner Sawbuck chair.
Although Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair has become a clear iconic piece, some of his other work has been a bit less known. His Sawbuck chair, designed in 1951, was re-released through Room & Board following Wegner’s passing in 2007. Its warm combination of walnut and oak combined with the handcrafted look of interlocking joinery make this piece a classic in its own right. Strong clean lines in a comfortable relaxed lounge-style add personality and texture to your modern living space.
The joinery of the Sawbuck Chair’s connections is echoed by the clearly handcrafted nature of today’s accessory picks. Bent walnut veneer is held in a curve by a smoky acrylic base to provide a place to store a few bottles of wine. Handprinted fabric in a offbeat geometric patterned pillow adds a touch of color to the scene. A reclaimed piece of wood is modified to become a centerpiece iPod stand, while a set of ceramic nesting bowls in a sage tone can be placed all in one place or used singly to hold precious items. A gullwing bench with a walnut frame is laced in danish cord to add another layer of handcrafted texture.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
Fashion Finds: Very Vintage
Aug. 23 10
Vintage pieces are a great way to infuse your wardrobe with an eclectic, one-of-a-kind style. Look for pieces with interesting patterns, textures, and colors in classic shapes that will stay in style forever.
1. Pump up the volume with a bright pink suede mini. The high-waisted pencil shape is classic, but the material and color give it edge. Skirt from The FAD Pop-Up Shop, $20.
2. This perfectly worn-in leather shoulder bag has beautiful, hand-tooled details. Bag from Twin Hearts, $42.
3. This smocked floral dress is breezy and bohemian for summer days. Dress from Old Age Vintage, $48.
4. Swap out your everyday sneakers for a pair of chic, natural jute espadrilles. Shoes from Dear Golden, $34.
5. A great scarf will never go out of style. I love the richly colored floral pattern and fringed trim on this one. Scarf from Verseau Vintage, $16.
6. A military-inspired cardigan in hot pink is simply chic. Sweater from Bluesy Mod Vintage, $26.
xoxo,
Room by Room – the Kjaerholm PK91
Aug. 19 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at a simple classic piece, the Kjaerholm PK91 folding stool.
Designed by Poul Kjaerholm in 1961, the PK91 folding stool is an instant classic. With its simple form inspired by an ancient Egyptian folding stool, the minimalist piece combines simple lines and elegant materials with a twist. The bar-style frame of brushed stainless steel has been twisted to keep the basic cross form from being too straightforward while emphasizing the frame material, allowing the viewer to see both the narrow and thick parts of the metal at once. The basic sling seat is available from the Republic of Fritz Hansen in leather or canvas, and the folded portability of the stool makes it an easy piece to move from room to room.
The straightforward materials of this stunning stool were the inspiration for today’s handmade accessory picks. The grey of the frame is echoed by a studded linen pillow as well as a set of concrete and wood votive holders. A bamboo clock and linen towel with printed graphic add rounded shapes to the mix. An adjustable oak reading lamp celebrates its material while remaining practical and light.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
Room by Room – the Albers Nesting Tables
Aug. 5 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at set of side tables with color and style, the Albers Nesting Tables.
The nesting tables were designed in 1926 while Josef Albers was the director of the Bauhaus. Here he translated his color theory painting work to a piece of functional art, a set of tables that nest each inside the next. With frames of solid oak, and tops of MDF covered with lacquered acrylic, these tables can be used singly or in concert to create vignettes that incorporate color and line. The strong geometric frame is thin enough that the solid wood comes across as fairly light, and the interaction of colors with each other combined with the shiny surface texture make for a fun and modern addition to a seating area or wall setting. These tables are currently available by Vitra through MOMA as part of a Bauhaus retrospective collection.
Bright color combined with strong lines are the theme of the day for my handmade picks. A stylized octopus print plays off the whimsy inherent in the tables’ bright colors, while a day planner echoes its geometric forms. A coffee table is simple in white, but pulls in a thick wood stripe for contrast. The arabic alphabet takes a modern twist in a colorful print interpretation, while the bright orange graphic of a throw pillow adds some round form while keeping within the simplified aesthetic.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
Room by Room – the Neutra Boomerang Chair
Jul. 29 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at lounge chair with retro styling, the Neutra Boomerang Chair.
The Boomerang Chair was designed by Richard Neutra in 1942 as part of a California housing project. Made from a frame of veneered plywood and woven-web seating, the boomerang side panels balance lightly on the floor, held upright by rounded side rails. This chair is now in its second release through House Industries, and is available in maple or walnut with either black or natural color webbing. This chair is a little bit of fun in a neutral tone to blend into your modern living area.
Wood is the word of the day here on Room by Room, and handcrafters love it. A versatile material for items from jewelry to home furnishings, solid pieces and plywood panels make for some great artistic inspiration. A classic open media cabinet sits on tapered legs for a Danish modern feel. A solid piece of walnut is routed to create a frame for a favorite photograph. A dog dish and integrated food storage give your pet its own modern edge. Stained wood is carved to create triptych wall art with a light look, while walnut planks are beveled and assembled to create a side table for your preferred cocktail.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
Room by Room – the Henningsen PH5
Jul. 22 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at lighting that has stood the test of time – the PH5 by Poul Henningsen.
Designed in 1958, this spun aluminum and sand-blasted glass hanging pendant has become ubiquitous throughout most of Denmark. With a form created from 3 shades of expanding diameter with a crowning concave curved cone, light is distributed right onto the surface below while also being thrown out above the shade area. All of this is accomplished without seeing the actual light source. Available in white as well as a myriad of bright colors, this pendant can either harmonize gently with its surroundings or become a focal point itself. Although he never finished his schooling as an architect, Henningsen created a line of iconic functional pieces, beginning his collaboration with Louis Poulsen lighting in 1925, with this gorgeous piece still distributed by Poulsen today.
Bright color and Scandanavian styling is such strong part of this pendant lamp that it became a clear inspiration for my handmade choices for today. A cotton pillow brings in bright color with a open-form graphic, playing off hand-printed linen napkins with a retro floral motif. A caramelized bamboo clock has cutout numbers to mark the time. A walnut plywood coffee table in a basic form includes a felt sling to hold your books and magazines, while preserved moss fills a leaf-shaped wooden bowl.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
Room by Room – the Perriand Refolo Bench
Jul. 15 10
This week, Room by Room with FormFire Glassworks takes a look at a gorgeous modular seating bench by a oft-forgotton icon of the Modern movement, Charlotte Perrriand.
Charlotte Perriand was an integral part of the modern scene in the 50s, collaborating with such greats as Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé. Perriand was a furniture designer and architect in her own right, and created this gorgeous, malleable system called the Refolo. Based on a slat bench system, upholstered armrests, seating cushions and backrests are added and connected through the slats as desired, allowing for a multitude of possible configurations. One of my favorite looks is shown here, as the base bench becomes an integrated side table. The base is available in natural or dark-stained oak in three lengths, and cushions are sold separately to suit your personal configuration. Distributed by Cassina, this piece from 1953 is a stunning example of modern design.
The clean lines basic forms of this seating system require that the materials used are of high quality, and that was my inspiration for today’s handmade picks. Walnut plywood shows off its amazing grain pattern in an ampersand decor piece which can sit in a shelf system or hang on a wall. Squat stoneware vases beg to be touched, while a hand-printed canvas pillow adds a graphic edge. A felt and leather sleeve is the perfect laptop accessory, while walnut and powder-coated metal make the everyday tissue box a piece of art.
Next week I will choose a new iconic piece and give you my picks for accessorizing your modern home.
