The New Way

We here at the DC headquarters are so busy painting the last happy duck stencils along our borders, rehearsing with the marching band, and doing final fittings for the majorettes in prep for Erin's baby's homecoming that we can barely find the time to remember our names.  So, we've decided to do things a little differently for the next couple of months:  we're rockin long weekends for the rest of the summer.  Yep, from now until the school bell rings we're taking the easy way out on Fridays.  Here's how it's gonna go down:  we're going to show you ONE pretty picture like this:

A quick description like this:

The Cloud Sofa by D.K. Wei:  a concept couch supported by nothing more than a magnet

And maybe we'll even throw in a link to a new blog we've found like this:

Hey, check out this new blog we love: me melodia

Happy Summer, homies!  See you on Monday!

Seat Treats

Because we are not four legged creatures and gravity is a bitch, us bipeds need to take a load off and rest our tushies now and then. Small wonder, then, that there is nothing more reimagined, recycled and redesigned than the humble chair.

(Per Ranung)

But chairs are not content to be merely functional; they are the shoes of the furniture world. You can't have just one pair -- oh no. If you're like me, you can't even walk into a thrift store without picking up a stray or two, because who can resist a sad, lonely chair with good bones, just begging for a spit shine and new fabric? Evidence of my obsession lives throughout the house. And the garage. And the shed out back. And now that I am stuffed to the gills with chairtastic finds, I get busy convincing my friends that they need such and such chair. It is a disease, I tell you.

So while I may not have a spare square inch left for these beauties, I though I'd share some sweet fantasy finds with you guys. Who knows? Maybe you could provide a good home for these fellas.

Jurgen Bey is a master of transformative chair design. He takes a simple, recognizable form and ratchets up the crazy a notch or two with this chair designed for his Fitness Flat exhibition. You know you want grandma to crochet you a snake coozy for your dusty shaker chair, don't you?

Bey is also responsible for the cultured neanderthal look shown in this Suzy Hoodless designed room. The Tree Trunk Bench costs $15,700, but let me tell you a secret: it's just a log with some chair backs stuck on it. Who wants to make one and send us the pics?

Fredrik Farg gave these classic shapes a glamorous boost with dressy details. Thrift store finds were reupholstered with suiting details and me likey.

(OWI)

This ain't no hollaback chair -- this beauty was destined to be noticed on the initial cruise through the store and will always have first pick of admirers. Mmmm, her purple tufted wings make my heart sing with lust. I can think of a few chairs I'd kick to the curb to make room for her, but shhhhh, don't let them know just yet...

You can't talk hot chairs without mentioning Jaime Hayon. Homeboy knows how to tweak a form to bring out the best in chairness.

He also knows how to pimp the goods, like this slutty red chair he designed for Camper. Hello, sexy!

(Stephen Randazzo)

While I appreciate and desire chair bling, a well designed form will always be on point, much like a classic piece of sculpture. Old school boyz Bertoia and Eames knew a thing or two about how to make a lasting impression.

And sometimes the right chair is like the perfect piece of jewelry. This home photographed by Tom Scheerer isn't really my style, but that El Greco-esque attenuated chair takes the whole room to another, edgier level. What I wouldn't give for a set of six of those babies...

But, of course, I will always be drawn to the weird and unattainable, like this Cow Chair designed by Niels van Eijk, via Droog Design. I don't think I'll be getting one of these anytime soon unless someone slaughters a cow and sends me the entire hide in one piece. I'm pretty sure I can take it from there.

And then there's this. It's a frame! It's a chair! It's my butt in the Mona Lisa's face! Somehow that doesn't seem quite right. What do you think?

On the other hand, I feel pretty confident that this Coin Chair by Johnny Swing is a solid investment. Welded from 1500 half dollar coins, it costs a mere $59,000. Yes, that is more than $58,000 in profit for the artiste, but humor in the face of a mounting recession is priceless, right? Right.

Old School Designers: Vladimir Kagan

After over 60 years in the industry, Vladimir Kagan serves as a reminder that good design has no expiration date, and that creativity and imagination are not hampered by age. Plus, I really love cute, old men:

At 82 years old, Kagan could easily rest on his laurels after achieving top dog status as one of the 20th century's most influential furniture designers, yet he still continues to work, tweaking his classics line, producing carpets, and creating fresh, new icons of design. Kagan started designing in the 1940's and by the 50's his work was as readily recognizable as it is today.

No student of mid century design could possibly be unaware of Kagan's iconic pieces, and the ones above are so sought after that they're still in production. Kagan's Unicorn base range, his biomorphic walnut coffee table, and his organic, sculptured wood pieces are so classic that they can easily exist as statement pieces, or blend seamlessly into a mix of styles.

Of course, I love the mostest some of the oddities he produced that are a little less ubiquitous, especially his hubba hubba 70's designs:

A quick search on 1st Dibs yields a treasure trove of deliciousness, including a lounge chair I would give a tooth for, but these babies ain't cheap and I don't think my lowly tooth is worth that much $$$: 1) Lounge chair and ottoman - $6500. 2) Dining set - $37,500. 3) Burl and lucite coffee table - so expensive the dealer won't even list the price on 1st Dibs... 4) Pair of lucite and lamb chairs - $3800. Ebay, anyone?

Also, you have no idea how much I want this.

I generally think of Kagan's work as sleek and spare (but with a touch of whimsy), so when I came across a house tour of his personal pad, I was surprised at how warm and inviting it is. And human -- I love the dust underneath a Kagan-designed red chair with chrome base. I think a lot of the eclecticism may come from his wife, who is needlepoint doyenne Erica Wilson:

Between her sense of pattern, texture and color, and his sense of form, they've created a unique home that reflects over 40 years of collecting and living in the same space.

Of course their house includes many of Kagan's signature pieces, including a lucite base sectional, his iconic rocker, a chrome base table and a multitude of sculpted walnut tables and chairs, but it's no minimalist parking lot for modern furniture.

The magic is in the mix.

And did I mention the color?

How sweet is a guy who will let his wife put a hot pink chaise in their bedroom? (Ok, ok, he did design it himself...)

I really admire the sense of humility in their home; with Kagan's success, they could easily afford to have a brand new, enormous mansion filled with all the latest and greatest.

But you know, I think they just really like their own stuff.

I am so overcome with cuteness -- cute people, cute life, cute home -- that I just can't think of anything snarky to say. Hmmm, maybe I'm coming down with the flu, too? Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be back to my usual nastiness next week, but until then I wish you unicorns, puppies and rainbows!