ICFF 2011

May 16 2011

I just returned from a fabulous NYC weekend and a great visit to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. It’s always fun to walk around ICFF and I really felt the need to get back to New York for a bit. A little dirt and smog is good for my soul, it seems. I’m totally recharged.

Here are some of my favourite finds from the show:

Tools at School
I love that Bernhardt Design paired up with studio Aruliden and 44 eighth grade students from The School at Columbia University to re-invent school desks and furniture. You’ve got to love New York, where else would you get that sort of opportunity as a 14 year old?


Rich Brilliant Willing
I fell for the Quart floor lamp by Rich Brilliant Willing. So sleek and compact. I’ve been looking for a floor lamp with a small base and this one definitely caught my eye.

Wästberg
Wästberg debuted some of their newest lights to the North American market at the show. Hard to narrow down my favourites, but the Van Severen floor lamp and table lamps by Claesson Koivisto Rune would certainly be up there.


BENSEN
BENSEN had their Radius table on display, which made me do a double take. Stunning. I love the thin profile and simple lines of this piece.

Weplight
That BENSEN table would look seriously nice with Weplight’s Emilia pendant hanging overhead. Weplight is an Argentinian based lighting company that displayed some really beautiful pendants made out of various wood finishes. Customs sizes are available, but I had my eye on the 63″ diameter Emilia pendant in Ash.

Wilkahn
While I’m at it, I’d add some of Wilkhahn’s Chassis chairs to the mix (in black) – designed by Stefan Diez. As you might know by now, I have a thing for chairs. I also have young kids. Sadly the two don’t always (usually) mix. So I have a laundry list of pieces that I’d love to get sometime down the road, but for now, I have to be a tad practical. The Chassis has great lines, but also a surface that can withstand a meal with 3 year olds.

Koi Design
After the show, I took a stroll down to the meatpacking district for a walk along the Highline and a quick bite at The Standard. I was motivated after chatting with British designer Kirsten Jones who told me that her K:2 chairs were used at the hotel. These chairs are unique, beautifully made and really comfortable. Same goes for the Isola lounge chair which is also on my wish list.

It was a bit of a whirlwind visit, but has already got me thinking about when to return. It’s nice to only an hour flight away.

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Happy Mother’s Day

May 8 2011

I’m inherently someone who is always striving or searching for more – except when it comes to motherhood, to be honest. In this department, I really couldn’t ask for more. I have two remarkable daughters.

Don’t get me wrong, there are moments when I want to bang my head against the wall. This morning, even being mother’s day, was actually no exception. But I am constantly amazed at my kids. They have opened my eyes in ways I could have never imagined.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who is fortunate enough to share a bit of this joy.

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Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan: 2011

Apr 18 2011

The world’s largest furniture fair has come and gone and I haven’t moved an inch. It’s true. Here I sit at my desk in Toronto, trying to catch just a glimpse of all the fun from last week.

So, here it is. My best attempt at a virtual round-up from Milan’s 50th anniversary show:

Cast concrete pendant lights by Foscarini. These remind me of the Benjamin Hubert lights I featured a little while back.

Tom Dixon paired up with Blackberry to promote the upcoming launch of their Playbook tablet (i.e. ipad challenger) and his own collection. There was an interactive installation including a theatre, restaurant, broadcasting center, etc…Love the idea behind this.

The British designer also showcased a few new pieces, including The Etch Shade shown below. It’s a pretty wild new lighting collection made of digitally etched brass sheets.

Hermes launched its first collection of furniture. Here’s a shot of a chair designed by Enzo Mari.

Below: Patricia Urquiola’s modernized Windsor chair.

Target bookshelf by Nendo. Very creative take on this household staple.

Super Sputnik Stools by Ahmet Sismanoglu (Sisman) and Counterbalance fixture by Daniel Rybakken. Both part of the best young designers showcase.

Finally, these Frana pencil & paperclip holders by Christophe Guberan/ECAL for Alessi are right up my alley. These obviously aren’t major furniture pieces, but something fun that would spruce up my desk nicely. I can’t seem to resist grey and yellow these days.

So there you have it. Now, wouldn’t it be nice to actually get to be there in person next year!

Photos care of Monocle and the/aesthete blog and Apartment Therapy

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Stockholm Furniture Fair 2011

Feb 15 2011

Well, I didn’t exactly make it to the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Someday. For now, I’ll continue scouring the web. Here are some highlights from my couch surfing:

Below: Floor lamps originally designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman and reissued by Gubi. Lovely!

Below: Designer Catharina Kippel’s Cobalt breakfast set for Design House Stockholm

Below: ‘Darjeeling’ trolleys by Anna Kraitz for Kallemo.

Below: ‘Gram’ lighting by Jonas Fosman for Zero One

Below: Workshop light by student Sami Kallio.

Below: Royal Pendant by Niclas Hoflin and Nomad Floor Lamp for Ruben Lighting

Below: The 2011 Green Furniture Award was won by designer Maria Westerberg for her T-Shirt Chair. Not something I’d probably put in my place, but cool nonetheless.

Photos care of Wallpaper, Dezeen, Designboom, Dwell Magazine

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