The Macassar Ebony furniture collection by Andrew Muggleton.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
ON A CLOUD
High-end Italian furniture manufacturer Poliform unveiled the Bug bed at the Milan Furniture Fair earlier this year. Designed by Paola Navone, it’s meant to conjure the feeling of sleeping on a cloud. The Bug bed is available with removable fabric or leather upholstery through Poliform | Sagart Studio in DC. poliform-dc.com
EXOTIC WOOD
British designer Andrew Muggleton bends and shapes exotic woods to create his contemporary furnishings, as evidenced by his recent Macassar Ebony collection with its distinctive wood grain of black and brown stripes. Here, pieces of Macassar ebony fit together without glue to form the Interlocking Console; stainless steel at one end supports a three-quarter-inch thick glass top. andrewmuggleton.com
ISLAMIC COOL
Taking his inspiration from North African Islamic cultures, Pascal Mourgue designed the Tazia chair for Ligne Roset of France. This contoured stool features a curved, natural or ebony-stained oak back. It’s available in a wide selection of fabrics and colors, along with a matching polyester ottoman. ligne-roset-usa.com
SOMETHING FISHY
Created in 2005 by Indian designer Satyendra Pakhalè, Cappellini’s whimsical Fish Chair has become such a popular item that the Italian company joined forces with Disney in 2010 to produce 99 limited edition Fish Chairs in kid-friendly patterns. Made of eco-friendly plastic, the chair is still available in other colors through Contemporaria in DC. cappellini.it; contemporaria.com
ANCIENT TREASURE
British artisan Adrian Swinstead uses ancient trees—some as old as 8,000 years—to create his furniture designs. Among other wood materials, he culls his pieces from bog oak, preserved underground for millennia in unique, low-oxygen conditions. Swinstead seasons his wood finds for up to four years before carving. Pictured here, a cabinet made with the African wood afrormosia, rippled sycamore and bog oak. adrianswinstead.com
SOFA STYLE
Made by The Leather Collection, the Veneto sofa is versatile, with a headrest and back that can be adjusted for comfort. Shown here in soft lavender leather, it’s available in 50 colors and grades at Contemporary Concepts Furniture in Rockville, Maryland. contemporaryconceptsfurniture.com
GAME TIME
The Fusiontable from Belgium-based Saluc is a slate-topped pool table that doubles as a sleek dining table on a steel frame with adjustable legs. Wood-veneer panels conceal game accoutrements. The nylon stretch pockets enlarge to hold the balls, then flatten out again when empty. Matching benches can be stashed under the table when not in use. Available through Posh!, Inc., in Vienna, Virginia. fusiontables.com
FASHION FORWARD
Fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier has partnered with France’s Roche Bobois to commemorate the furniture company’s 50th anniversary. The result: Jean Paul Gaultier Pour Roche Bobois Paris, a home collection that reflects the designer’s edgy sensibility. Pictured here, the Paravent bed with an upholstered headboard and acrylic panels in anodized aluminum. roche-bobois.com
BUTTERFLY BEAUTY
Designed by the venerable English furniture company George Smith, the handcrafted Butterfly Chair offers a traditional silhouette with contemporary flair. Available in a choice of 37 fabrics, leathers and kilims at J. Lambeth & Company in DC. jlambeth.com
A TASTE OF INDIA
At home in a contemporary or classical environment, the Silver Coin Ram’s Head Chair by Sona Design is handcrafted in India. Twin ram’s heads on the chair back and intricate embossed floral detail lends this ornate chair an exotic flair. Available through Skynear & Company in DC. skynearonline.com
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