Maker Monday: Big Banquette Build from Core77

Photos from hipstomp on Core77

[Charles] Here's a re-post from Core77 on how the process of building a huge built in banquette can go. I especially like that he includes all of the screwups and lessons learned in the process. Hopefully next week I'll have some photos of my platform bed build that I can share.

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/monster_post_crap_ive_built_-_banquettes_poor_mans_couches_17752.asp

Maker Monday - Nightwood

Photos from Nightwoodny.com
[Charles] Strange and beautiful mixes of old wood and fabric are incorporated into Nightwood's collections. This dreamy mix of pieces takes salvage and leaves it rough enough to appreciate where it came from and to show how cool it can be to let it all hang out - if you're a coffee table. Check em out. I like it a lot. From NYC of course...

Nightwood's site is definitely worth checking out.

Recycled Rubber Chaise... Awesome

[Charles] I read a lot of other blogs and lists that show what other people make from recycled materials. This chaise is so awesome and I'm just completely jealous that we don't have it in our little shop. It was on Great Green Goods which does a decent job of finding unique things online although most things are still in the Lebron James price range - (see I can put in random sports news references too!)

http://www.greatgreengoods.com/2010/06/05/recycled-rubber-chaise-lounge/

http://en.dawanda.com/shop/PunctureBags

The second link is to the Berlin artist Jaap Wijnants website for the Puncture Bags from inner tubes. It sounds like furniture designer Patrick Kerti was a partner on this one although my german is a little rusty. Very cool although a little out of my price range still... and shipping from Germany...

Neocon Gallery from Core77

Photo from Arktura

[Charles]This month is the Neocon show which sounds like some sort of Matrix get together but which is actually a convention so commercial furniture companies can show off what's new and exciting. I was snoozing my way through "new" cubicle designs when I smacked right into Arktura's designs which look a lot like the sort of things we at TSM would love to make. Lots of detail on a simple and sustainable framework of standard issue items like benches and tables. Here's the link if you'd like to check them out...

Also, here's the link to the whole Core77 gallery blog post

Enjoy the diversion and inspiration!

Brooklyn Designs 2010 - Wish we were there!

[Charles] So we are definitely furniture design nerds over here at TSM. We attended ICFF a few years ago and we have been known to hit places like the Noguchi museum or the Cooper Hewitt over the typical tourist attractions. Instead of dwelling on our depressed state from not being able to afford to go to NYC this year for design week, I've decided to post a few of the best designs I've seen while doing a virtual tour through the coolest and most outlandish new eco-friendly furniture pieces. Brooklyn Designs (May 7-9) is held on the weekend before ICFF and showcases the best of Brooklyn design studios which tend to be the greener design studios in New York.

First off, check out Uhuru Designs where they are happy to mix salvaged wood and metal just like somebody else we know... They probably have a pretty nice workshop and I'm gonna just say, it must be nice to have salvaged wood planks from Coney Island available for incorporation in designs like these. I can't hate on em too much though - this stuff is amazing!

http://www.uhurudesign.com/

Another place in Brooklyn I tried to drag Amy to was City Joinery where they do some really amazing and unique woodwork such as this table - The Winged Eliptical.

http://www.cityjoinery.com

Another studio called Ecosystems caught our eye earlier this year with their interesting shelf support system that allows for user configuration or as the London Financial Times referred to them - "Legos for design savvy adults."

If you'd like more info on Brooklyn Designs here's their link.

Also, you can read Core77 or Inhabitat for more info on the designers, parties, and the hobnobbing that goes on in the city.

Hopefully this time next year, we'll be sending posts from our own visit!

Zero waste furniture - locally designed too?

My buddy Mickey is an architect and I like to rib him about taking real "furniture classes". I build furniture and design things, but most of what I've learned comes from trying things and reading. I am happy to experiment and have had some really great ones and some that never saw the daylight. Mickey has had some really great designs and I still remember when I told him months ago about this contest to make furniture from one sheet of plywood - no glue - no fasteners. We quickly imposed upon ourselves the idea that it should be zero waste. I had heard of other zero waste designs and I believe it is not only a better challenge but also much more responsible to not waste material when making things.

We worked on our own designs, and I had a few I liked, but nothing I was really happy with. Mickey on the other hand, showed up one night to a cookout with an MDF prototype in tow of a child-size chair. I wanted to offer advice, but it was pretty nice the way it was. Time got away from me and as I entered a busy and stressful part of my year, the deadline passed without my entry. Mickey however, entered two and kept it quiet. After seeing the designs and all the other entries, I wish more people could see it. There were all sorts of crazy designs in there with an honorable mention even going to a plywood bird's nest. It looked cool, but come on, seriously? Some of these things look like alien spacecraft not furniture. Anyhow, Mickey's designs didn't win, but he did build them both and photographed the assembly. He even did it with zero waste which I didn't honestly see another design attempt to do. I'll publish his shots here and hopefully we can get them in the shop soon so you can see them in person.

The desk is called Dorma and the table and chairs make up Ella's Party. When you see how cool these are, keep in mind these are one sheet of plywood, no glue, no screws, and built and designed by one guy.

If you want to see the other entries go to http://www.design21sdn.com/

-Charles