Home & Design

Contemporary Style

New designs launched at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, or found right here at home

Contemporary Style


Animal Sofa by BluDot

Whether you desire the larger (102 inches long) or smaller (82 inches) model, the Animal Sofa from Blu Dot brings a sophisticated edge to any room. A gracefully curved stainless-steel base supports the sofa, and contrast stitching and tufting add subtle detail to the otherwise minimal design. Available at Apartment Zero in Washington, DC. Phone (202) 628-4067 or visit www.bludot.com.

A classic design upgraded with contemporary details, the Clifton Oval Dining Table by Michael Weiss for Vanguard extends up to 120 inches long. A second glance, however, reveals the sleek geometric base, which makes it an elegant complement to the rest of Weiss’s Modernism Collection. Available through IMI Furniture in Sterling, Virginia. Phone (703) 430-2100 or visit the Web site www.vanguardfurniture.com.

Nolen Niu, Inc. Furniture brings fresh design to the living room with the XO sofa, a two-seater concept piece that takes its inspiration from chaise lounge-style seating. Choose among several upholstery options, from leather to fabric by Maharam. Visit www.nolenniu.com.

Sleek, bold design is distilled to the letter in the Z Side Table from Hellman-Chang. The ebonized walnut piece features smoothly beveled leg supports crossing between a sturdy top and base. Sold individually or as a pair. Visit www.hellman-chang.com.

Sixty-plus years and still looking good. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Charles Eames’s birth, Herman Miller has re-launched the classic Eames molded plywood chair in eight fresh new shades, including light blue (pictured), orange, purple, black and yellow. Visit www.hermanmiller.com.

MShelving from Loadbearing makes stylish shelving to fit any need or space with customizable storage systems. Create your own look with interchangeable powder-coated steel and wood veneer sliding doors. Sizes include the credenza (shown here), a lower media console, plus taller space dividers and bookshelves and a smaller storage cabinet. Choose from a dozen colors, six metallic finishes and three wood veneers. Visit www.loadbearing.com.

Furniture designer Andrew Muggleton’s Balustrade Chaise defies gravity with grace. Layers of curves come together to form the elegant finished piece, from the Makore base, topped with brushed aluminum rails, to the row of walnut supports finished with the ultra suede-upholstered headrest. All pieces from the studio are custom made to order. Visit www.andrewmuggleton.com.

Available made-to-order in a variety of woods (including wenge, shown here), the Monahan Drinks Cabinet by designer Michael Wells features a tall center drawer for up-right bottle storage. Inside, shelves of varying

heights feature racks for suspending wine glasses, pigeon holes for wine bottles, plus room for miscellaneous bar paraphernalia. Visit www.logical-progression.com.

A playfully traditional design highlights Iannone’s contemporary Graphic Armoire. Glossy white laminate cuts away to show an under-lying surface of Kirei—made from the waste stalks of the sorghum plant. Below the soft-close doors lies a natural birch interior with adjustable shelves and two drawers, all constructed from FSC-certified plywood. Visit www.iannonedesign.com.

Contemporary Kids

The mod rocker by Lisa Albin Design for Iglooplay puts children on the cutting edge of modern. Crafted using resource-efficient molded ply construction and hardwood veneers, all from sustained-yield forests, the piece is simple yet intelligent. An optional micro-suede pad with non-skid rubber underside tops it off. Visit www.iglooplay.com.

Cozy up for a good read with your little one in the Storytime Rocker from Nursery Works. Generously proportioned for extra snuggle room, the rocker is perfect for a long read or a late-night calming session. The upholstery comes in a choice of colors and materials including cotton canvas, felt, polyester, micro suede and cotton twill. Available locally through Mod Décor in Gaithersburg and Bratt Decor in Baltimore. Visit www.nurseryworks.net.

Fresh on the nursery scene, Celery focuses on making deceptively simple furniture without hardware. Parents testing them at the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair found the peg-constructed pieces to hold strong. Available in playful shades of pale pink, blue and green, the Lullaboo Changing Table is crafted from bamboo and/or 100-percent recycled formaldehyde-free MDF, using non-toxic adhesives and low-VOC paint. Visit www.celeryfurniture.com.

Wren & Divine introduces the 9000 crib by Canadian company Morigeau-Lépine. Made from solid birch wood, the crib comes in three finishes, including eggshell and toffee (shown), eggshell and blond or eggshell and chocolate. Also available in the collection is a matching chest of drawers. Wren & Divine is located in McLean, Virginia. Visit the Web site www.wrenanddivine.com.

This high-performance modular seating collection from DesI Living Innovations in Rockville comes in almost as many combinations as you can think of. Choose from durable fabrics in a variety of colors and many configurations—square, corners, lounges and more—to create a cozy seating area as large or as small as you need, for true “seating flexibility.” Visit www.desisofas.com.


Clifton Oval Dining Table from Vanguard.

Z Side Table from Hellman-Chang.

New colors in store for the Eames molded plywood chair.

Andrew Muggleton's Balustrade Chair.

Iannone's green-friendly Graphic Armoire

Storytime rocker from Nursery Works.

Lullaboo Changing table from new children's furniture company Celery.

9000 Crib at Wren & Divine


Modular seating available through DesI Living.

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