The “Accordion Cabinet” is the result of collaboration between designer Elisa Strozyk and artist Sebastian Neeb. The piece of storage furniture is composed of an exterior layer of wooden textile, 
made from lamellas of various veneers that have been folded in a manner similar 
to that of an accordion. Each of the laser cut pieces of wood are fixed to a textile base (such as lycra) by hand. The combination of materials presents the wood as having 
a flexibility similar to that of a piece of fabric. The accordion wraps around a rectangular base and hides shelves within when pulled shut. Combining slim legs with a voluminous body the two designers created a piece of furniture with its very own character, something you can emotionally relate to. This way, they aim for a longer lasting relationship between object and user.

The product fits nicely whether in a minimalist or a traditional interior. Its dimensions (163 x 100 x 43 cm) are definitely to be considered when planning the decorating elements for your room. With its unique shape, it is surely a furniture piece that stands out. Furthermore, it has been awarded first place in the 2011 Premio Salone Satellite Awards as part of Milan Design week.

Elisa Strozyk
Sebastian Neeb

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Ten days passed, you visited us and we managed to bring together the most voted objects, whether they were loved, liked or questioned…

Created by A+A Cooren, ‘Tourbillon‘ is a glass vase whose shape evokes the cycle and water movement. It was the most loved and appreciated item, gaining 4 Wow, I love it! and 4 I like it! dots.
A+A Cooren

On the second place, with 7 dots of positive appreciation, is the ‘Cellular Chair’ by Mathias Bengtsson.
“The chair relies on the same principle as bone tissue, which consists of an airy cellular structure providing a construction which is both strong and light. Cellular Chair has a pre-programmed exterior shape, but the interior geometric cell structure is unique”, the designer explains.
Mathias Bengtsson

‘Biknit‘ represents Patricia Urquiola’s latest design for the contemporary brand, Moroso. Available in a chair and chaise lounge version, the collection features an enlarged stocking-stitch design which acts as both the primary surface and the structure. Takes the second place also with 4 Wow, I love it! and 3 I like it! red dots.
Moroso

The whopping ‘Cookie Drawer‘ with the tall legs, and the small drawer for its size tries to restrain us from our sugar-tooth temptation, while its design includes the nostalgic element of a traditional cookie drawer. This piece is part of the Oak collection, a collaborative activity between 18 students from Lund University, Sweden. Our visitors really enjoyed the idea, and so it gained 6 red dots of appreciation.
Industrial Design

Created by Benjamin Hubbert for Casamania, ‘Maritime‘ was inspired by the maritime world. An elegant and refined chair carefully constructed from solid timber, which picked up 3 loves and 2 likes.
Casamania

With the same number of loves and likes, but in the mean time, being questioned twice, ‘RememberMe‘ is a chair that embodies the current focus on sustainability and recycling (‘RememberMe’ is entirely made from old jeans). The race towards the future and the desire to keep the past alive coexist in ‘RememberMe’.
Casamania

Another favourite piece was the ‘Workshop‘ lamp, designed by Sami Kallio. ‘A armature made of untreated ash, where the cord is hidden inside the steam bended arm. The base is in metal and shade in aluminum. With the skrew of brass you can adjust the hight on the arm. The shade is easy to moved along the arm with the leatherband’, says its creator.
Sami Kallio

The Bouroullec’s iconic ‘Quilt‘ series of feature seating is now available in a new colourway, taking inspiration from iconic comic book superheroes. It consists of an upholstered, honeycomb-like skin of hi-tech stretch fabric with individual foam inserts, which is fitted over a fibreglass shell. ‘Quilt’ is an antithesis to the formal, structured sofa and seating designs we have become familiar with and even though one person questioned it, the sofa was liked for 5 times.
Established & Sons

Considering them to be taken the forth place, the following eight pieces gained the same number of positive appreciation dots.

The collection, called ‘Klara‘, was designed by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso and it is manufactured using both industrial processes and local hand-craft techniques in the chair-manufacturing district of Manzano, Italy.
Moroso

‘Sliced’, created by Sami Kallio, is an easy chair inspired by the classic Windsor Chair. It’s made out of bended wood and solid ash.
Sami Kallio

‘Loop‘ is a hybrid chair / rug which is inspired by the designer’s interest in the technique of “tufting”, commonly used for making carpets. This modern chaise lounge, designed by Sophie De Vocht for CasaMania, is known for its meticulous craftsmanship.
Casamania

Designed by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka for Moroso, ‘Moon‘ is a chair inspired by the beauty of the moon, its glowing light and shadows. The chairs express the full moon when seen from above, the half moon when seen profile, and the crescent when seen from an angle.
Moroso

Jaime Hayon’s ‘Candy Light‘ is designed for Baccarat and it juxtaposes the bright finish and solid form of ceramic with the clarity and cut of textured crystal. Yummy!
Baccarat

Benjamin Hurbert’s ‘Pod‘ is a large chair designed for breakout areas in offices or residential projects. It was designed for the Netherlands manufacturer, De Vorm. You can read an article about it, right here on our blog.
De Vorm

The ‘Aim ‘ lamps adapt to the style of different settings, because they make it possible to direct the light freely and adjust the height of the diffuser by sliding it up and down the suspension wire. They are designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Flos.
Flos

The ‘Extension chair‘ was designed by Sjoerd Vroonland for Moooi. A variety of 3 extensions each with a different function, coat-stand, handbag-hanger and a card-holder can be attached to the chair.
Moooi

Till this point you have seen the most loved or liked pieces, but now it’s time to present you also the most voted items as being questioned, strange and intriguing.

Being somewhere in between, ‘Marie Coquine‘ has been voted with 3 I like it! and 3 I question it! dots. Created by French designer Philippe Starck for Baccarat, the ‘Marie Coquine’ standing lamp sets a crystal chandelier into an umbrella suspended in mid-air, layering imagery and textures in a display both imaginative and functional.
Baccarat

Gaining the same number of I question it! dots, we will put the following two designs on the second place in the ‘most intriguing pieces’ top.

The ‘Mindstream‘ cabinet was designed by Diesel for Moroso. It’s only a matter of taste…
Moroso

This unique storage is designed by Fredrik Hansson of Brikolör and called the ‘Bågar‘. The Brikolör itself is a company that designs and manufactures furniture based in Göteborg, Sweden. The form of this furniture is very similar to the structure of old buildings in the Roman Empire.
Brikolor

The transparent sofa is part of the Poltrona Frau’s collection of upholstered sofas in clear, see-through plastic to illustrate the raw, hand-knotted strings and steel springs of the brand’s furniture. The highlight is this transparent Chesterfield which gained the highest number of I question it! dots, positioning it on the first place in the ‘most intriguing pieces’ top.
Poltrona Frau

Thank you for voting!

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The iconic and architectural cross-leg structure is the main feature of the “No Early Birds”collection. Now it has been developed and stretched out to serve as the base for these fresh products.

The high stool is ideal for the kitchen island. You sit comfortably with both feet on the ground. The triangular seat in vegetable-tanned Tärnsjö leather is made to last.
The low stool and footstool use the same leather. The products came about when the artist was looking for an extremely low stool to sit cross-legged on. Unable to find it, he came up with the idea to stretch out the cross-leg structure. The result is an elegant clash between the powder coated metal and Tärnsjö leather.

The cabinet ‘La Pasticceria’ is inspired by the classic Milanese pastry shops that he has seen during his student years in Italy. This cabinet is a perfect place to put all of your sweetest things in, exposed or… unexposed.

Among Per Söderberg’s former projects you’ll find the storage system Funk from Asplund, private houses, shops, restaurants and office interiors for clients such as David Design, Moschino, J.Lindeberg and Orrefors.

The whole philosophy of the brand “No Early Birds” will continue to be a hybrid of design, lifestyle and fashion, because its creator can’t make up his mind and choose only one domain to include his work in.

No Early Birds
Per Söderberg

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The Paper pulp cabinet by Debbie Wijskamp, is a totemic white furniture piece, constructed from various oblong boxes stacked upon one another. Some have drawers, while others are left open to function as shelves. At first glance, they look like they are made from the polystyrene containers used to pack fish, but instead each inch-thick box component has been moulded from paper pulp and assembled using simple box-jointing techniques borrowed from woodwork.

The Paper pulp cabinet was on show at Designhuis, Eindhoven as part of the second annual Talent exhibition during Dutch design week. The works of graduates from 30 European design institutes and universities were showcased from october 17th to october 24th, 2009. I was really taken down because I couldn’t answer the invitation, but surely next year I’ll be there and document the event.

Debbie Wijskamp

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PROCESS: The Modern Workshop exhibition
At Tent London, it was presented a rare, behind-the-scenes look at De La Espada manufacture. The exhibition highlighted the relationship between craft and modern design through the presentation of raw materials, components and products.

PRODUCT exhibition
At the A Foundation in Shoreditch, thre were presented 18 new products designed by Autoban, Leif.designpark, Matthew Hilton and Studioilse. A vast, open plan exhibition space allowed the products to exist in their own area, whilst interacting with one another, highlighting the diversity of the products as well as the common ethos they share. The relaxed environment was enhanced each evening with casual drinks and nibbles.
If I were there, I’d take the following tour: I’d start with Matthew Hilton: Fracture Table
Brando SofaMars Table.
In 2008, De La Espada launched a collaboration with one of Britain’s most highly respected designers, Matthew Hilton. Hilton’s designs are understated, sculptural and meticulously detailed, with many already considered design classics. The Matthew Hilton range is designed by Matthew Hilton, and produced under licence by De La Espada. The complementary expertise of the two firms has ensured a furniture range true to Matthew Hilton’s creative vision, as realised through De La Espada’s material options and expert manufacturing.

Gloves put, tank fueled, wheels rolling, we enter the Autoban.Deco Sofa & Pumpkin Table
Holy Table
Wired King
Nest Lounge
The collaboration between Autoban and De La Espada launched at New York’s ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) in 2007. Autoban is an Istanbul-based architecture, interior design and product design studio, founded by Seyhan Özdemir (architect) and Sefer Çaglar (interior architect) in the historic and bohemian district of Galata in 2003. The products, largely made from natural materials, cross boundaries of time and culture and playfully reinterpret the familiar. A selection of designs from Autoban’s ever-growing product portfolio are supported by De La Espada’s manufacture and understanding of solid wood.

Crossing the ocean, I’d wreck on Leif.designpark’s isle :Tone Cabinet
Lin pod Bench
Tone chair
Tone Chair for kids
Leif.designpark, a Japan-based design studio consisting of Takashi Ueno, Mamoru Naito and Keizaburo Honda, has been designing products in a variety of natural materials, with a specific emphasis on wood since 2006. Leif.designpark holds monozukuri- the art of traditional craftsmanship- in high esteem, and values the warm, playful relationship between a product and the user, as well as the comfort of the space where the two enjoy interaction. Their aesthetic is a result of applying monozukuri to the construction of modern designs to give the products a connection to traditional Japanese culture. Since 2007, De La Espada has manufactured and distributed select designs from their portfolio.

Heels kicking, neck twisting and enter into StudioIlse’s teritory:Low Bench & Stools
Settle &Low Bench
De La Espada recently launched a collaboration with renowned London-based design office, Studioilse. Ilse Crawford, principal of Studioilse is a creative director and designer who crosses the worlds of brand creation, interior architecture and products. She is a figurehead for design as a means for change and revitalisation; with a human approach that is emotional and intelligent. As the licensed manufacturer and distributor for Studioilse products, De La Espada will realise her designs through premium materials and expert craftsmanship.

PHILOSOPHY: Seating for EatingThe London Design Festival marked the beginning of our collaboration with Studioilse. Leila’s Shop in Shoreditch housed an installation of the new Studioilse seating collective, allowing visitors to sit on the products while enjoying a meal. A series of Kitchen Table Talks were held on the premises each evening focusing on the link between growing food and community. Speakers included the founder of Aesop, Dennis Paphitis and Tristram Stuart, author of ‘Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal’. The installation remains until 1 November.

You wish you were there too, I know…

De La Espada
Matthew Hilton
Autoban’s
Leif.designpark’s
StudioIlse’s
London Design Festival

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Let’s start with his Extensions. A project that “questions contemporary furniture design, from the concept of multipurpose use and uncertain quality (due to rationalized industrial production), to the ambition or desire for durability. Products are envisaged in a non-fixed state, to be extended or lengthened, according to uses which vary and evolve over time. Starting with assembly and a concern for eco-design, I rethought the idea of furniture in kit form, taking into account packaging, transportation, storage, mounting and dismantling by the user.”
And then, a lamp was added to bring some light in this wired process…

After you sucessfully mounted your desk, table or lamp, you can take a break and go out with your friends…
Madame est servie is a very nice name for this double-faced product – a metaphor for practical ladies.

Before you go out, leave a nice message for your room mate. A small effort for an easy smile after a long working day.Or prepaire a good teaOr start a play

And, when you come home, and you find it hard to reach to your bed, you might consider Newton, a “concept of a room based on the principle of attraction of the bed. All the interior architecture is distorting and move towards the bed, the attraction center of the room. The furniture gravite around the bed and could adapted on every incline of the floor. By their shape, the Newton dumbell gives the illusion of being stuck in the floor. (realized with Quentin Vaulot).”Here’s the trick:

If is still not enough for you, you might consider changing your job: try light painting.Halo is a handy light-writing tool, preserving the techniques and gestures that graffiti artists use with spray cans. It is possible to change the color and the brightness of the led to change the graffiti’s styles. If the light doesn’t have enough battery, users simply have to shake it to have energy again.

One of his latest projects – Alinea, a rocking chair and a chair made of steel for outdoor purposes might seem out of the picture, but it is a nice and neat exception.

Aïssa Logerot

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Indeed, this was the turning point. I became a fan of Marina Bautier and I forsee her with a beautiful future.
She is a Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (UK) graduate and in 2002 she set up her own design practice in 2002, back in her home town, Brussels. She works on a wide range of projects, from products to interiors. Developing her own designs for manufacturers, interior projects for private clients, as well as self-initiated projects.
Surfing through her website, I got hooked by a Sewing workshop, every diligent girl’s dream

And by a set for Collection for Idee,a Japanese online shop:
Photo by Koomi Kim
Or by a Bureau:

A Chair & Tabouret:

Or a concrete Gardenslab:

And the list goes on.

Marina Bautier
Idee

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Something seemed familiar at this cupboard and my intuition was right. The designer of Modus:cover is Fredrik Färg, whom I knew from Stockholm Furniture Fair. He is actually one of the winners of Glimåkra Designers Prize, distinction received for his Coat chair:

The intention with this chair was to fight against the trend of easy replacement of furniture and to create more confortable and durable pieces. Pieces that you fell in love with and you don’t get rid of them easily.

RE:cover – Bespoke dresses for old chairs.
On the same mindset, along with Modus:cover, Fredrik Fräg presented at Salone Satellite 2009 a range of found chairs rejuvenated with felt coverings.

The fabric structures are inspired by vintage tailoring.

The project looks to the beauty of those shapes that never change. Fredrik takes his inspiration from classic tailoring, such as suits and dinner jackets that never go out of style.

Material: Old chairs and a new cover of 100% recyclable polyester felt.

Fredrik Färg

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“There is no concept outside the product itself. The question is rather: can there be such a thing as quality within? Is there a sort of soul of a product or furniture in itself? If so, how is that created? Is it when the many years experienced craftsman or designer builds something that truly matters to him or her? Can you feel any of that by looking at a particular piece of furniture? By touching its texture? Do we even need to experience that feeling in order to build a lasting relationship with the product?
Brikolör has the ambition to manufacture furniture with a guaranteed emotional and technical durability of 300 years. Milan 2009 marks the start of our ambition.
Brikolör will save the world.”

Pretty enthousiastic, huh? Well, I still wear the broch my grate-mother gave it to me. And it looks like my niece will wear it too. So, hardy but not impossible, isn’t it?
Let’s take a look at the “saviours”:

Hägg
Storage/cabinet in ash veneer. Plinth, iron-weighted. Pattern by Rasmus Hägg.

Pärlan
A chair made from turned solid ash. Laminated wood-sides. Varnished.

Alta-Alta
A stool with legs of solid ash

Lodlärk and Våglärk
Storage/cabinets in solid larch. Part-varnished/part untreated.

Brikolör are Victor, Mathias, Fredrik and Sami.
Victor Alm (b. 1975) is a trained carpenter and MFA from HDK, School of design and Crafts, Gotebörg University with additional education at Pratt University, New York,USA and at Rietvald Akademie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathias Eriksson (b. 1981) is a project manager and partner of Sinnes advertising agency in Gotebörg, Sweden with education from from Nordiska School of journalism and Gotebörg University
Fredrik Hansson (b. 1981) is a carpenter and a partner as well as an architect of Okidoki Arkitekter. He is educated at Chalmers University of Technology, Gotebörg.
Sami Kallio (b. 1975) is a carpenter and a MFA from HDK, Gotebörg University. He is also educated at UIAH Helsinki, Finland. Sami was awarded the first price at Caiazza Memorial Challenge 2006 for his chair Stich.

Brikolör

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Arco
Dutch Design Awards
Raw Edges

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