mix

We've spent far too long debating whether or not our 'mix' posts need to have any words. What do you think? If you think not, then stop reading now and pretend there isn't any text here. If, on the other hand, you think 'yeah, words are good, we'll take some words please', then by all means carry on …

We've plumped for a monochrome mix this week, focusing on shaped black wire and shapely leather curves.  There.  That's it.  We really, really tried, but we couldn't think of any more words.  We're off to get some medicine for writers' block ... have a great weekend!

PS:  Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Images:  
Stendig via Line Thit Klein | 'Hang It All' via Utility Design | 'In the Neighbourhood' newspaper stand via Minustio | Bertoia's Diamond chair via The Brick House | 'Dewey Decimal' antlers via antler&co | black/white interior via Varpunen | black leather sofa via Beanfield | 'Kopra Burst' light via David Weeks Studio | Bertoia's Diamond chair via Time of the Aquarius

harry

We've never sought to seek out the man behind one of our favourite chair designs, and then this photograph popped up when we were doing essential interweb research - yes, you read that right - and, well, what a fabulous photo it is. Wonder what he's thinking?

Image: baisers volés

please

Have black, need white.  As well.   Is that asking too much?  Just one.  Please.  Pretty please.  We've been good.  Really, really good.

Image:  Dejavu

barred

So what have we got? A couple of bar stools designed by Harry Bertoia constructed from vinyl-coated bent and welded steel, with white seat shells and contrasting black bases.  So what haven't we got?  A bar.  We haven't got a bar.  Dammit, we need to get a bar!

 

Images:  Adore Modern via Deconet

stunning

A little Bertoia research late last night found us drooling over these set of images, which, to be quite frank, took our breath away.  The furniture and lighting within these interiors - which comprise three apartments converted by fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa from a traditional 17th century building in the Rue de Moussy of Marais district in Paris - have been selected from a range of the designer's favourites.  Jean Prouvé, Marc Newson, Arne Jacobsen, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Paulin as well as Harry Bertoia, are everywhere.  Everywhere!  To find out a little more about these beautifully executed spaces, press here.

All images © Alexandre & Emilie, Persona Production via Yatzer

watch the birdie

We had always considered Bertoia's Bird Chair - or Model No. 423LU - to be a strange creature, an odd looking invention designed to provoke or merely grab one's attention, and to that end we'd written it off as nothing more than a little bit silly.  But this design has really grown on us.  In fact when we saw it here we positively thought it looked like the most comfortable of chairs, if not a little quirky.  And what's so wrong with quirky ... huh, huh?

Images:  Art Value (© ADAGP, Paris 2009)

out and about

Love these pictures, that's all!

Images:  Henri Aho via Flickr

Back to black

She was always a thing of beauty, just a little sad, tired and neglected.  Now she's back to her old self and, whilst she likes to bear all, can be spotted from time to time draped in sheepskin.  Phwoar ...... what a stunner!

Images: © chairsmith

Modern comforts

We came across these images over at The Brick House some months ago and have been dreaming about them ever since.  This 'stateside' home blends modern classics - Bertoia's Bird Lounge Chair and Ottoman, an Eames Lounger and Walnut Stool and half a dozen Navy Chairs by Emesco - with contemporary furniture in the form of this mid-century style sofa upholstered in inside-out denim, to create a comfortable and laid-back living space.

Images:  The Brick House

Black or white

It was only going so well ..... until the powder-coating man asked "So what colour then, black or white?"

Image:  Cococozy

Black and white

After what seems like an eternity, we've finally managed to lay our hands on an original model 420C side chair by Harry Bertoia.  We didn't plump for a shiny new chair from a fancy shop, oh no!  Rather, we decided to rescue this forlorn and generally unloved looking chair which, as you can see, is in desperate need of some TLC.  This baby has, at some point, been sprayed white and sadly left to go a little rusty around the edges.  But with the 'new' paintwork chipped in places, there are small glimpses here and there of the original black vinyl-coated finish.

Contrast

Black on white with Bertoia's Bird chairs, white on black with Eero Saarinen's Womb chair.

 
Images:  The Brick House, Omahku

The Eames?

According to The Style Pages of The Times Deyan Sudjic, director of the Design Museum, has an enviable collection of iconic chairs;  among them Aalto's K65 low back stools, Hans Wegner's Wishbone Chairs, Le Corbusier's LC4 chaise longue, Harry Bertoia's Diamond Chair, Gerrit Rietveld's Red Blue Chair and a Ron Arad Rover.  So, one might think choosing where to sit could prove to be a tricky conundrum, but not for Sudjic as he "likes to sit ......... in the Eames chair".  

Huh, which Eames?  You never mentioned an Eames!

Images:  Jefferson Smith Photography

Classic living

Everything you could (almost) want .......  a Bertoia's side chair, an Eames Lounger and some DWRs, the Florence Knoll Sofa, the Noguchi table and the must have three volume set of Phaidon Design Classics.  When can we move in??!

Images:  Filip001

Nice

Nice space. Nice decor. Nice chairs. Oh, and those sofas. Nice!

The Eames Sofa is the last piece of furniture produced by the Eames Office, which completed the design after Charles Eames died in 1978. It went into production in 1984 and has been manufactured by Herman Miller ever since. Charles and Ray Eames designed the sofa to complement their plush soft pad chairs; it stands as a graceful reminder of the honest genius of Charles and Ray Eames.

Credits/Images:  Barbara Hill Design, Herman Miller