Mesh Chair

If anyone is travelling to Chicago in the near future and wondering what to do, I highly recommend taking a little trip up to Andersonville to the shops on Clark. I met a friend there last weekend and we had fun perusing some really cute places for vintage furniture and clothing (and new items as well). I saw this great chair and fell in love...now if I just had a place to put it!!

Bike Furniture

I love the idea behind the cool collection of Bike Furniture by designer Andy Gregg!!! Talk about functional art that is great for the environment! Andy has taken old, run down bikes and created furniture pieces using the wheels, frames, handlebars and anything else he can come up with...I LOVE the outcome!! I'm not much of a bike rider (something about riding on the city streets with cars whizzing past doesn't sit well with me) but I have a group of friends who are obsessed with biking and fixing up old bikes. Wonder what they would think of these pieces!

Designer of The Month-Shelton and Mindel

Today is the second post in the Designer of the Month series featuring Shelton and Mindel Associates. I thought I'd feature their furniture line for Knoll Studio and do a separate post on their plumbing fixture line for Waterworks.

Just introduced last year, the line features lounge seating and tables that would fit well into any of their interiors. The pieces are clean-lined and classic ensuring that they will be a staple in the design world for decades. My favorite is the side chair which is just too cool! I love how they've photographed it, it looks like they used the interior of the Mindel home as the setting for the gorgeous photos.

Desk Chair Dilemma

So I've been spending so much time at my home computer lately that I feel it's time to break down and purchase a new desk chair. Unfortunately, I have (as my dad would call it) "champagne taste" on a beer budget. If I had all the money in the world, these are a few of my favorite choices (a girl can dream, right?):

Of course, my all-time favorite has got to be the Herman Miller Aeron Chair (which I use at work). This is by far the most comfortable desk chair I've ever used!

The Axess Plus chair designed by Antonio Citterio for Vitra.

The Meda Chair designed by Alberto Meda also for Vitra.

Saarinen Executive Chair for Knoll.

MV9 Swivel Chair for HBF, I used this when I worked for them and it was actually very comfortable.

Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair for Herman Miller.

Eames Soft Pad Chair for Herman Miller.

Hudson Swivel Arm Chair for Emeco (this doesn't look that comfortable but is surprisingly not bad-one of our clients has one).

Fortunately for me, there are some great, affordable options from various companies. Some are pretty blatent copies (Target?) but others are cool original designs. Which one to get...this is my dilemma!

Chicago Office Chair from Target.

Gregor Desk Chair from Ikea.

Swivel Leather Desk Chair from West Elm.

Studio Office Chair from CB2.

Patrick Arm Chair also from Ikea.

Surf Office Chair also from CB2.

Tiburon Office Chair also from Target.

Designer of the Month-Barbara Barry

It's time once again for a post about the designer of the month! For those of you who may have missed it, here is the first post that I did this month on the beautiful and talented Barbara Barry. Since Ms. Barry has created so many unique and varied pieces for many different companies, I am doing a number of posts throughout the month, each one concentrating on a different dicipline. Today is all about furniture, both residential and commercial. Barbara has designed pieces that are carried at a number of furniture companies including HBF, Mc Guire, Henredon and Bloomingdales (just to name a few).

During my internship at HBF, I had the privilege to work in an environment where I was literally surrounded by her furniture designs every day. I think the pieces they carry are still my favorites of all her designs. Her collection for this company features a modern and starkly simple look that is perfectly suited to the contract environment. Here is a brief look at some of those pieces (check out the HBF website for more):

My all time favorite piece has got to be the Atherton Coffee Table which features a huge, crisp piece of glass inset into a rich, espresso colored wood frame. (Atherton Side Chair also pictured)


A more recent introduction to the line is the Scoop series of lounge furniture. These pieces are so sleek and cool, yet have a distinctive feel that makes them instantly recognizable as a BB design.


The Westwood collection is another older design but with it's simple, classic lines it's sure to be a lounge staple for many years to come.


Another of her more recent additions is the Oval Egg series of occasional tables. These tables are available in various sizes and finishes, each one in the signature oval that BB has become so well known for.


Now for the residential pieces! These are a little more relaxed and inviting than some of the contract pieces (which is usually what one is looking for when decorating their home!). There are so many great designs to choose from that I had a hard time narrowing them down...here are my favorites:

Of course I had to begin with the Oval X-Back chair that almost everyone is familiar with. This is arguably her most recognizable furniture piece but for good reason, it's gorgeous and classic!!


I love the delicate quality of these Nesting Tables.


This is simply called the NO. 442 chair. I love it, I can see this in a fabulous dressing room in a glamorous hollywood apartment (umm...or in my own bedroom-a girl can dream, right?!).


One of the many case pieces BB has designed, the Glass Front Cabinet is made for displaying one's collections.


Can you imagine how many people you could host dinner for around the Grand Oval Starburst dining table? (it's massive)


I love the elegant and aptly named Graceful Bed with its softly curved head and footboards.


The simply stunning Arclight Cocktail Table features a silver leaf metal base and glass top.


I would have to buy some monogrammed stationary to keep at the gorgeous Lady's Desk (I guess that would mean I would actually have to write letters too?).


And finally, the Bracelet Chair is definitely fit for a jewelry designer (at least a very successful jewelry designer)!

Well, that's it for today but stay tuned for posts to follow featuring lighting and accessories for the home! Whew!! I'd better get busy...

Rock and Roll!

This is the coolest furniture line I've seen in some time...It's a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces designed by the British duo Jimmie Martin. Each piece is custom painted and embellished with grafitti-inspired wording and chic colors. I love how the antique and vintage pieces are totally updated and given a new urban feel with just some paint and a marker. I could totally see these pieces used in a restaurant or boutique store, I just wish our clients were rock and roll enough to handle it!



The Stardust Cabinet is painted gold then written on with with black markers and spraypaint.

The I Used to Be Blue chair has a black leather upholstered seat and a painted canvas back.

The Silver Imperfection console is just too cool! I LOVE the lacquered orange interior...LOVE IT!!

This Cocktail Cabinet features a handpainted cupid image over orange paint and has a black emulsion finished interior...

The collection of Imperfection Chairs feature hand-painted artwork and wording written on fabric and frame alike.

The Imperfection 6 wardrobe is so dynamic with the striking black wording over the crisp white background.