A spirit of experimentation pervades everything Dutch designer Maarten Baas does. His smart, playful pieces—all unique and most handmade—are marked by elements of theater, film, and storytelling. And Baas’s latest project, the Plain Collection, picks up where his popular Clay furniture series–which featured metal furniture “skeletons” covered in hand-modeled, brightly colored synthetic clay–last left off. Like Clay, the new collection appears to been shaped by a child’s inexpert hands, as the finger prints of the hand-squeezed clay are still visible, making each piece a truly unique product. However, the Plain line’s materials are treated in such a way that the pieces don’t need to be lacquered like the original. All are made by hand in a barn-turned-workshop run by Maarten Baas and Bas den Herder in the south of Holland.

Describing his approach to me in late 2011 (while I was interviewing him for the book Design Voices), Bass told me, “It’s not that I strive to make something unexpected, but if it’s something that you already expected, then I don’t see the necessity of making it. I want to explore areas that are not explored yet. So in that way I definitely like to play with something unexpected.”

For more information, visit www.maartenbaas.com And to read our full Design Voices interview, along with conversations with several other great designers, check out the book on Amazon.

*All photos by Frank Tielemans. All images courtesy of Maarten Baas.

Describing her work, Dutch designer Rianne Koens says, “My products are simple and clear with a poetic touch.” Her Oturakast cabinet embodies this notion completely, playfully elevating our expectations for a simple cabinet into an opportunity for joy. Its multi-sized and colored drawers can be stacked in a variety of configurations, according to the user’s needs (or whims).

Koens, who graduated cum laude in 2011 from the Design Academy Eindhoven, says Oturakast was “inspired by the warm hospitality of my Turkish in-laws. . .The Turkish word for ‘sit’ is otur, and the word for ‘stool’ is oturak. This chest of drawers is intended for a Western interior that may not be furnished for receiving guests at short notice. It consists of a stack of separate storage components with legs that fold out, turning drawers into stools. When visitors leave, you fold up the legs, stack the stools-cum-drawers and have a complete cabinet again.”

She goes on: “Products have an impact on their environment. Therefore I continue to design products that through their use result in a positive effect. I think that I am, as a product designer, responsible for what I bring into the world.”

*All images courtesy of the designer.

We’re loving Italian designer Luigi Billiani’s playful Numbers Collection. This solid beech wood or lacquered seating collection sports open back frames counting from zero to nine. Each Billiani numbers chair is available in more than 180 colors, and pieces are available in the U.S. through Eurotrend Furniture LLC located in New York, or its website www.eurotrendusa.com (retail price is $585.00).

Inspired by the beehive, Wellington, New Zealand-based designer Rebecca Asquith has created the Nectar Lamp Shade. She notes that the hexagonally shaped honeycomb cell is one of nature’s most efficient designs – strong, simple, and structurally sound.

Asquith credits her love of nature to growing up in the small coastal village of Waitara, Taranaki. She draws inspiration from her Te-Atiawa roots (North Taranaki Maori Tribe – Iwi) and from the forms and processes of nature.

Nectar comes in two sizes, “Full” and Half,” as well as four colors (Myst, Clay, Simba and Orange). It is made of lightweight felted polyester, which is fully recyclable, easy to clean, non-allergenic, and UV stabilized to provide resistance to color fade and moisture. The shade is laser cut or die cut with parts tightly nested together to minimize waste, and comes flat-packed to minimize packaging materials and reduce transport size.

Nectar debuts at this week’s Milan Furniture Fair, and will be in production soon. To order, visit rebeccaasquith.com.

*All images courtesy of Rebecca Asquith.

We’re big fans of Uhuru, a Brooklyn-based furniture design company celebrating sustainability and local craftsmanship.

The firm’s Coney Island Line is made of reclaimed wood taken from the iconic boardwalk, which was installed in the late forties and weathered for 70 years under snow, sun, and salt before being demolished. The Coney Island Line plays on the area’s famed landmarks, including the Cyclone roller coaster, Wonder Wheel, and Parachute Jump.

Enjoy!

*above: Cyclone Lounger, with undulating dark and light Ipe wood and a crisp white laser-cut metal base

*above: Boardwalk Console, made of reclaimed wood and echoing the inlaid pattern of the original boardwalk, as seen from above. The wood sits atop a blackened steel base.

*above: Drop End Table, inspired by the Parachute Jump, a historical landmark punctuating the panorama of Coney Island. Once part of the World’s Fair, the now defunct ride looms over the rest of the park. Uhuru captures its essence through mechanical connections on a steel base, crowned with a faceted Ipe top.

*above: Wonder Coffee Table

*above: Rum Lamp, inspired by the concrete-filled oil cans that dot Coney Island’s landscape.

*All images courtesy of Uhuru.

Just in time for the winter holidays, Swiss-born, London-based designer Rolf Sachs introduces “insepar-able,” a charmingly surreal coffee table/bench made of two classic “Davoser” ash hardwood sleds.

Describing the piece, the acclaimed lighting and limited-edition furniture maker says, “insepar-able” “takes your memory back to playful days in the snow.” This new addition is produced by Swiss sled and luge-maker Graf Schlitten in Sulgen, using traditional wood bending techniques.

Material: Ash wood, felt
Size: H26cm x W160cm x D50cm
Limited Editon: Edition of 12
Stockist: www.rolfsachs.com

*image courtesy of Rolf Sachs

Named after the Great Rift Valley, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola’s new Rift sofa and chair series was geologically inspired. Just as tectonic plates diverge, collide and overlap – creating several layers – Urquiola’s Rift series for Moroso convey the effects of sliding movement and asymmetric fusion. The range includes eight interior pieces: a small chair, a slightly larger chair and a settee, three Y-shaped islands and two L-shaped compositions that could be considered either islands or sofas. They’re made of stress-resistant polyurethane foam in varied densities and polyester fibrefill on a hardwood frame. There are also indoor/outdoor chairs made of polyurethane shell and lacquered steel base. They come in two heights and about six colors including gray, violet, green, black and white.

Urquiola’s partnership with Moroso began in 1998 when she was asked to produce designs under her own name, making Moroso the first manufacturer to produce her work. Since then, the Milan-based Urquiola has been working with Moroso, designing not only furniture but also her first US interior project- the New York City Moroso store.

*Images courtesy of Moroso.

Bernhardt Design introduces Curio by DUE, the El Salvador-based design studio of husband-and-wife team Harry and Claudia Washington. Intended as a chameleon of sorts, the Curio occasional table has been described as “the Meryl Streep of furniture. Whatever accent you want, the table can do it.”

Crafted in solid walnut or maple, Curio is designed to accommodate alternative tops for individual needs. If color is needed, it may be specified in bright or muted shades. In natural wood finishes, the table takes on a more conservative, reserved appearance. In high traffic areas, when more durable surfaces are required, a glass or Corian top may be selected. The beveled top, similar to a tray, creates a delicate profile without sacrificing strength. The shape of the tapered legs presents an unexpected visual twist, depending on the perspective. As Bernhardt’s team describes it, “The Curio table is a chameleon, but it is never vanilla.”

Curio is available in three different sizes. The 19” and 22” diameter tables have three legs; the 42” diameter table has four legs. Offered in a variety of natural wood finishes ranging from clear to ebony, Curio may also be specified in a variety of lacquer colors.

According to Bernhardt design, “A successful occasional table is the equivalent of a design sound bite: it should be clear, concise, and easily understood. Limited to the role of supporting player, it is frequently overlooked. Rooms are often designed to highlight the architecture, a rug, or a sofa, but rarely an occasional table. Although blending with its surroundings is essential, there is still a desire for interesting and notable small tables. Claudia and Harry Washington’s Curio table is one such piece, managing to embody the antithetical qualities of being understated and remarkably intriguing.”

About DUE Studio: Claudia and Harry Washington, heralded as the “first couple of design” in El Salvador, received unprecedented international press in 2009 for their six piece debut collection, Calibra, for Bernhardt Design. Relatively new to the global scene, both graduated with Interior Design degrees from the University of Applied Arts in San Salvador, and opened their design studio DUE, in October 2004, specializing in residential and retail interior design, product design, and retail branding. The Washingtons are ardent advocates for the design industry in El Salvador: they consult for USAID; judge Contempo, the design competition which catapulted their career; and lecture at numerous universities throughout Central America.

*Images courtesy of Bernhardt Design.

Blu Dot is determined to make good design accessible to everyone by offering top quality, contemporary designs at affordable prices. At the same time, the Minneapolis-based furniture design firm stands out for its laid-back attitude and sense of humor – no stuffy design hierarchy here, just quality work and playful presentation.

Partners John Christakos, Charles Lazor and Maurice Blanks launched Blu Dot in 1997. “The three of us were college friends and shared a passion for art, architecture, and design. After we left college and began to furnish our first homes, we didn’t like the stuff we could afford and we couldn’t afford the stuff we liked. We figured we were not alone and we were naïve enough to try and do something about it.”

Describing their work environment, they say: “Blu Dot is fast-paced and rewarding, but most importantly we play croquet every Friday at 4:00.” Their goal is to bring good design to as many people as possible through a collaborative process that creates useful, affordable and desirable products.

And that collaborative approach is working; Blu Dot was honored with the editors award for overall “Body of Work” at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) earlier this month. Check out pieces from their latest line below…

above: Rook Lamp: You don’t need to be skinny to be beautiful (take that Real Good Chair!). This little light of ours is, unapologetically, a bit chunky- and we think it’s pretty hot. It’s also a confident show off: Rook can sit on three legs, but he prefers to sit on one! Solid walnut with an off-white linen shade and a gray 80” cloth cord. $199

*above and below: Toro: Ole, motherf#@!xer! You will be hanging (literally) in style in the thick, saddle leather sling of this lounge chair. It’s comfortable and marvelous all at once. Choose between day (natural leather sling with white-stained, solid beech frame) or night (black-tanned leather sling with black-stained, solid beech frame). $999

*above: Cant Desk: A cantilevered silhouette sets the stage for hard work. Or update your page so everybody knows that you just bought a sweet desk. Desktop is in a warm walnut veneer with solid walnut legs, and your choice of grey or bright red powder-coated steel accents. $599

*above and below: Flat Out: The name says it all. Sit up or sleep it off. Quickly convert from upright lounging to horizontal sprawl. Playful contrast stitching, kicky French seams, and a solid stainless steel base add pizzazz to the straightforward yet inviting form. $999

All images courtesy of Blu Dot.

Friends since childhood, Daniel Hellman and Eric Chang began their furniture design/build practice – Hellman Chang – together on weekends in a Maryland garage. As enthusiasm for their furniture grew, their weekend obsession turned into a thriving business. Shortly after launching the firm, their dramatic, handmade pieces got the attention of Interior Design Magazine, which awarded them the 2006 Best of Year Product Design Award. Since then, the duo has moved to Brooklyn, and their client roster now includes names like the Four Seasons Hotel, Setai Hotel, Sotheby’s, and Metropolitan Home’s Showtime Showhouse.

Hellman Chang currently distribute their line through designer showrooms throughout the US. Below, two of our favorite Hellman Chang pieces, from the boldly angled “Z” series…

*above: Hellman Chang’s Z Dining Table, available with either a static base, with a pedestal base which expands, or as a large dining table with fixed pedestal bases placed apart from each other.

*above: The Z Bedside Table’s softly twisting legs create a dramatic effect.

*above: designers Daniel Hellman and Eric Chang

To learn more, visit Hellman-Chang.com.

*Images courtesy of Hellman Chang