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I used to have a simple old pine table that served as a computer table. It was always cluttered with cords, keyboard, and mouse along with the inevitable pile of papers. Maybe I needed a desk but even a vintage desk would end up in pretty much the same state, minus the paper piles maybe. Still I loved that old table, I just could never see it under the mess.

I'm all for reusing old things in a new way but sometimes the best solution is the old form with new functions added. One of the best examples of this principal is this Shaker inspired computer table by Inventia Design. It was a special commission for a customer who wanted a simple design to stay clean and minimal while serving a modern function.

All the clean classic lines of Shaker furniture are preserved. The proportions (all important in Shaker style) are maintained. But there is much function here that is hidden.

Hidden holes allow you to keep the cords out of the way. The height of the keyboard takes the strain off your wrists and shoulders, de rigueur in ergonomic design. 

My pine table is retired now that I have bundled up my life into a laptop otherwise it would be green with envy.

Matthias Pliessnig started out exploring the cooper's methods (barrel makers) later he developed unique and sensuous forms taking steam bending of wood to new levels.

Why this drive to bend wood into such unlikely shapes? “Wood has a lot of natural plastic resins in it,” Matthias explained, “so it is capable of far more than what has been done with it in the past few hundred years. People are making very sexy and attractive forms with plastics, but I feel you can do anything with wood that you can do with plastic and carbon fiber. When you do, you end up with something much warmer and more alive, and made of a material that is more ecologically responsible and sustainable.” Quote courtesy of  Wood Workers Journal.

Matthias Pliessnig from Philadelphia, pushes steam-bending to a new level. This curvaceous bench is created entirely from air-dried responsibly harvested sheets of oak.  It speaks for itself.

the work....

Pliessnig has mummified an old Thonet chair in woven strips of oak just because he can.

a place to curl up and take a nap

One of many tiny sculptures built under incredible tension. Watch your fingers...

"Insum Itineris"  armchair made from white oak strips

Seemingly fragile; this bench dares you to take it on

Gotta light?

The artist relaxing in his studio

Sources:  Mattias Pliessnig; Core 77; first photo: courtesy of Gene Young - Smithsonian American Art Museum

Jaime Hayon hails from Madrid and is a force to be reckoned with in the design world.  He immersed himself in the skateboard and graffiti culture of the 70's and that whimsy and playfulness is evident in his designs. He is an artist, a celebrity (and apparently a bird-lover)  but he is foremost a designer. He works with some big names—Camper, Berhardt, Moooi, Faberge, and Baccarat but I especially love his chairs.  

a stunning chair made for Ceccotti

Jaime in his studio 

The Ceccotti chair is made from 22 carved individual pieces of wood

The reference to Charles Eames is obvious but Jaime has added his own personality to the  "The Lounger" made for BD

it comes in a variety of colors to match any outfit

This is called the Bardot sofa for obvious reasons.  Although curvaceous, it has a deceptively small footprint to work in city apartments.

a detail from one of his chairs in the Showtime series 

Jaime worked with Camper to design this chair for their showroom. this guy is NOT afraid

this may not be for everyone but it can also fit in an apartment.  Where is the melting watch?

Photos courtesy of Hayon Studios

This week we got in so many great chairs from Bloomberry that we thought it would be fun to talk about some of the iconic chair designs from mid-century modern designers.

One of the most influential designers of the era was Charles Eames, and American who was (some say) equal parts Charles and Ray (Bernice "Ray" Eames). The couple are responsible for some of the most recognizable designs of the 50s and 60s. Charles' philosophy was to get back to simple, organic forms.

A Zenith Arm Chair made to fit the seated form.

Here is second edition fiberglass chair with the characteristic cross bracing and with wooden legs.

Here are some with the original black "Eiffel" bases

And when you thought the basic idea had been explored, you get what I think is perhaps his most playful design the Eames Rocker. Boy you bet it's comfy.

Lest you think he was only using fiberglass here are two formed rosewood chairs from Eames, still just as simple and organic in form.

Warren Platner made use of parallel wire to create a variety of organic forms

Gianfranco Frattini liked to incorporate more of the streamlined Jet Age into his designs

And we finish with these side chairs from Frattini for the George and Jane Jetson in all of us.

Dave Allen's shop, Artefact Design and Salvage in Sonoma has an eclectic mix of architecural salvage, organic stone forms, and reclaimed furniture designs.

Check out his marble sink:

curved slab table

detail of a table made from reclaimed railroad ties, concrete top with metal corners

stone cubes from Java—the same natural forces that make caves also make furniture aparantly

Sometimes the materials speak for themselves and the designer just has to get out of the way

Dave knows how to put a showroom together.

Sources: Artefact Design & Salvage

A great use for all those one-eyed dolls in the attic;  extract and mount them under glass.  Below are vintage mechanical doll eyes from France.  "Here's looking at you kid"

From the UK; a vintage child's car dating to 1900.  It's been overhaulled and ready to roll.

The incredible frog below is crafted by Edouard Martinet from France.  He assembles amazing sculptures from found objects in fleamarkets along with old typewriters parts, and kitchen utensils. He does not use solder but carefully fits each piece together like a puzzle. This frog can also swallow coins from his paisley-lined gullet.

a fantasmical bee by Edouard crafted from typewriter keys, among other things....

Edouard holding one of his scaly creations

An old train signal post from the UK.  A great decorative element that can double as a serious wake-up call.

These four French vestal virgins were reclaimed from an old hotel and are looking for a new home.

Nine happy bowling pins from France.  These date from the '30's and ready for action.

Below is an articulated dress-stand model made of plaster and papier-mache' with hands and arms that can be arranged to pluck birds from cages or any number of other poses. It is in excellent working condition made for the stylish boutique of the 1930s.

Andy Aaron rebuilds vintage electronic calculators from old heavyweight switches, cranks and levers.  Each one is unique.

Who says downspouts can't be a work of art?  The marine creatures below are made from cast iron and sport one of natures best finishes—rust.

Sources:  Du Cote du Design; elemental UK; Edouard Martinet; nord 'ouest antiquities; Aaron Adding Machines

Who says fluorescent tubes can't be stylish? These communist-era pendants were discovered in a factory in Eastern Germany and made of polished steel with bakelite junction boxes.  They are from an incredible London shop called Trainspotters who specialize in industrial, architectural salvage and, of course, lighting. We always check with them when looking for something unusual like these.

These early production cast aluminium spotlights were made by Strand in the 1950's also from Trainspotters.

Vintage Sollux "grandiosa" from France.   This metal and bakelite lamp was originally designed to provide heat therapy (note the red filter.) Excellent for warming up while reading your novel.

Below is a fun pair of vintage street lights from France. Make sure to mount above head height (these are sturdy.)

British made "Furse" theatre lights from the 70's.  heavy bases have been added to the tripod legs for stability.   Eyeball and focused beam lenses allow plenty of options from making movies to lighting your coffee table.

These Art Deco wall lights from 1939 were removed from the famous Ascot Cinema in Glasgow and still have their original green and silver paintwork. The opaline glass has been replaced. They are truly one-of-a-kind.

Stupendous cast-iron industrial pendants from a communist-era factory in the Czech Republic with prismatic glass domes at Trainspotters.

Elegant counterweight Stilonovo pendant lamp beautifully crafted from brass and plastic with a green metal shade. 

This 60's Italian beauty is by Sergio Mazza and is currently residing in Amsterdam at Bloomberry.

Super set of seven seventies sconces 

Beautiful hand-stitched leather sconce by Gemma Povo in Barcelona

Sources:  Trainspotters, Gemma Povo, Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs, Bloomberry, LeGrenier

I met Mesa Bonita founder Benedicte Bodard when I was working and staying in Madrid one Summer. She lives in Barcelona and has such passion for the underappreciated and often discarded Spanish decorative tiles that it is contagious. She literally scours the streets for the discards of remodeling projects, cleans the tiles up and turns them into tables, coasters, and wall art. Marte Marie Forsberg writes about her here.

Here is the video:

This week I found myself gravitating to playful, colorful furniture (probably due to the relentless rainy weather in Seattle.)  I found some great mid-century pieces as well as new designs this week. Starting with mid-century:

 Wim Rietveld  was a master when it comes to using color. Below is a beautiful example from his 5600 series that is available here

with drawers open

a small wardrobe by Willy van der Meeran, 1952 available here

below is another example from Willy van der Meeran.  It is aptly called the "Tomado" and sports nine adjustable shelves in carnival colors. 

Friso Kramer was also adept at using color-blocking.  Below is a cabinet from his Stabilium series available at Vintage Interiors

Six jaunty chairs by Arne Jacobsen with a rich warm patina

Now for the contemporary:  Piet Hein Eek is well known in the Netherlands, and although he is a true original; his work harkens to Wim Rietveld and the Dutch designers of the 50's. Below are a few examples of his designs using wood scrap:

Dark Waste Box

detail of handles

Classical Cabinet - wood scrap

Classical Cabinet in open position

Small wood chair made from Indonesian teak wood scrap

Enormous Lounge Chair, 2000 

Piet's shop

Sources: Vintage Interior, Piet Hein Eek

Steelcase (an american company) and Forges de Strasbourg created the Strafor brand in 1926, which was to become the renowned pioneer of French metal furniture. Below are two  "Forges de Strasbourg" (or Strafor) cabinets.  

their signature detailing

a three-column Strafor file cabinet below.  these cabinets were originally painted but are now typically stripped and waxed when they are restored 

..nice legs..

a petite Strafor cabinet. (notice the brass details)

Strafor from William Oury's shop in the Paris Flea Market

okay this is not Strafor but it is elegant.  From the UK

A beautiful Strafor desk from the 50's

Refer to link for more information on Steelcase/Strafor

Sources:  le grenier, les nouveaux brocanteurs, nord-ouest, elemental uk, little Paris store, william oury

This is my 8^th and last guest post here on FarFetchers, and I want you to know that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing these Tuesday posts. It’s been so much fun to share some of my design finds with you, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them too.

I can’t wait to continue reading new posts here on the blog from the FarFetchers and their unique finds around the world.

And while you’re here reading, do swing by their inventory of finely curate pieces. They source the world for us and I’m constantly inspired by what they find.

Today, meet Swedish furniture designer Sophia Lithell, who strongly believes in modernizing traditional craftsmanship in her design.

A while ago I came across her “Naver” stools. In the Scandinavian countries this birch bark is traditionally used to make baskets, cups and Christmas ornaments, but this Swede is taking the tradition to new heights with this beautiful stool.

Sophia Lithell has managed to blend tradition and modern design beautifully. Her ’Naver” stool is playful-looking with it’s unfinished edges that freely dance along the borders of the seat.

In her design she raises the issue of how the traditional craftsman needs to renew their way of thinking in order to thrive in todays design world. Earlier in January we featured the English furniture designer  Tortie Hoare, who also played around with this question choosing to incorporate the old technique of boiled leather in her furniture designs, creating ergonomically correct seats and chairs.

Sophia Lithell’s seat is created using a traditional craft of weaving birch bark into a basket, however she’s defying tradition with leaving the lightest colored side of the birch on the outside, and not completing the basked leaving its sides unfinished. Then turning it on its head she’s creating a new look to an old stool.

It’s encouraging to see an upswing of interest that young designers are showing in using traditional techniques to create new designs. In an era of mass production and cheap design solutions this speaks of interesting design times to come.

Written by: Marte Marie Forsberg

( Author of the blog Le voyage creatif )

Photo via: Sophie Lithell

Note from the Editor: Thanks to Marie. I don't know how you find all of these up and coming designers but we'll be watching your blog (and linking there) to see what you find next. Visit Marie's blog for some great interiors too.

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Tolix chairs are wonderful but there are other great designers in the world of vintage metal chairs.  Below are a sampling of our finds in France this week

MULTIPL: this was (arguably) the first brand to make Bistro chairs that were nestable. Created by engineer Joseph Mathieu in 1922 they were hugely popular in restaurants in Paris and Lyon

This model is from about 1938 and has the signiture wooden "fibrocrit" seat stamped to look like aligator hide. Not to worry, no aligators were killed in its manufacture. These were sold very quickly and you can see why.

And here is another example of the metal seat design. This we found at the Paris Flea Market but sadly was also sold. 

Here are six vintage cream and "fibrocit" Multipls. They are Belgian models and represent the continuing tradition. Better than Tolix?  

Cute nicely worn Multipl stools in the classic design with metal seats.

SURPIL: This company created more than 40 models of industrial metal chairs.
They are a competitor to Tolix and were made from recycled welded steel tubes in the 30's and very popular in cafes and restaurants throughout France. The two shown are the first model Surpil made called the "avante-garde" chair Surpil still makes new versions which are available at http://www.surpil.fr/ 

CHAISE BIENNAISE:  Two nice examples of the Biennaise chair made in the 1920's, Versailles.

A Biennaise adjustable stool in nice condition

SINGER:  A singer stool with cast-iron foot and black leather seat (recovered.)

Here are four "compass" style adjustable stools made in 1950.

An unusual barber chair with adjustable back and headrest. Despite it's spare appearance, it is extremely comfortable (or so I'm told). 

Sources:  Nord-Ouest Antiquities, Metal and Woods, Du Cote Du Design, Dedale l'atelier

It flexes, it bends, and it’s the yoga of chairs, constantly working that seat pose.

I often find myself drawn to more sturdy wooden furniture pieces that are committed to a lifelong relationship with me. The chair and table, from the contour line by Bodo Sperlin, are both pieces that can, even though they look fragile, stand the test of time with it’s classic lines and sensual curves. And since they are made of hardwood they will also age quite gracefully.

I’ll admit that I am in fact a tad seduced by their flexibility and playfulness, especially by the chair and it’s beautiful pose that I know for a fact I’ll never be able to do no matter how determined I am to practice yoga.

Bodo Sperlin is a boutique design consultancy led by designer Bodu Sperlin, and the sensual curves mentioned above is a part of their trademark when it comes to their in-house furniture line.

Bodu is originally from Germany but moved at a young age to England where he studied to become a product designer at what is now called the University of Arts London. Bodu has a long track record of working big international clients, but it’s his contour furniture line I fell for.

The sensual and curvatious chairs are just as perfect companions to a rustic long dinner table, as they are to a heavy round cements desk. They remind me of Danish classics from the golden design age of the 50’s and 60’s, and I have no doubt these chairs will go down in history as somewhat of a collectors item.

If you want more posts on great finds within the furniture and interior world, I daily update my design blog called Le voyage creatif

Written by: Marte Marie Forsberg

Photo via: Bodo Sperlein

Rare dental cabinet from the 1920's standing five feet tall in brushed stainless glory. (Original Bakelite handles and glass doors).

A pair of Strafor metal cabinets. Interesting note: Steelcase headquartered in Michigan joined with Les Forges de Strasbourg (Strafor) in France and in 1926 became the Steelcase/Strafor joint venture. Below is a beautiful example of two STRAFOR cabinets

19th century rustic (and we mean RUSTIC) wood table.  this one is approximately six feet long.

Who needs another carrousel horse when you can have a carrousel pig?  Original paint circa 1900

1920's painting avec Jacques Russell

two original blue Tolix Bistro Tables. 

Double-sided 1930's Slave clock

Fun set of industrial stools

folding metal wash cabinet with marble top circa 1900

Capron coffee table from 1950 stone and wood. Four feet long

Slat wood chair 

Which do you prefer? Both are fun and durable (the coffee table measures five feet log.

Photos from Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs, Le Grenier,and  Nord-Ouest Antiquites

What is it with rusty and old that causes us to swoon over products that are so far from glamorous?

Whenever I show my grandmother about great new furniture pieces made from reclaimed wood, or objects that go under the chic-sounding name of industrial vintage, she just looks at me with an empty gaze. She cannot fathom why I would want own that rusty piece that looks like it belongs in an old garage.

Maybe it’s the sustainability aspect of it that is appealing, or maybe the uniqueness of each piece as none are alike. Maybe it’s the lack of shiny, perfect or fake that so often and so easily can be mass produced. 

Or maybe it's the intrigue of a very creative mind, that looks at all these torn, rusty and weathered objects, and gives them a second life by creating something new, that is so appealing to us? 

No matter what it is, this is the time of recycling and Sean Woolsey is a master at this blending of mixing old and new.

Sean Woolsey is an artist and a craftsman who creates great lamps that have the perfect weathered look from his Costa Mesa studio.

His background is in fashion, but recently he was looking for a carreer adjustment and looking to work with more challenging materials than fabric. So he rolled up his sleeves and got to work with salvaged wood and rusty objects he found.

On his site Sean Woolsey writes about his art as 'a marriage of the natural aging process and experimental techniques  which together create an almost otherworldly outcome... Where he; 'explores reworked, cast off materials blended with the new.'

And what a great blend it is!

These lamps have a beautiful sense of personality, and are ready to embark on a new life illuminating someones home.

Work like this, that makes use of materials that are already here, undergoes a hands on make over, and becomes something that can last a lifetime is an art-form.

If you want to see more of Sean's work go here.

Written by: Marte Marie Forsberg

(Author of the blog Le voyage creatif)

Photos via: Sean Woolsey