Our annual trip to the 2011 International Furniture Fair in Milan has sadly come to its conclusion as we landed late last night at JFK Airport. Although some levels of separation anxiety from the world’s designer modern furniture wonderland are hard to ignore, it is exciting to share some snapshots of what this year’s fair represented from the perspective of practical and livable furniture as well as one-of a kind masterpieces.
Jesse Showroom
Creative representations of butterflies have been used in many cultures for over 3,500 years, often symbolizing beauty, love, rebirth, freedom, grace and innocence. So it comes as no surprise, and perhaps a bit overdue, that this universal symbol enters the enchanted and creative world of modern furniture design in the form of the Butterfly coffee table realized by a young Bulgarian designer, Svilen Gamolov. A fascinating and pure cornucopia of elegance, Butterfly modern coffee table is a multi-dimensional and highly aesthetic concept brought to fruition using glass, plywood, and glossy lacquer fused into exceedingly precise object with no ostensibly functional restraints.
Designed by Peter Harrison for Lavassa, Convergence contemporary coffee table and Divergence modern console table epitomize craftsmanship ingenuity and creativity of design in a striking fashion. Featuring exposed polished stainless steel and incorporating raw and hard materials like concrete, glass, metal and wood, these designer tables are sculptural and functional with urban themed details that distinguish them as art first and furniture second.
Convergence coffee table by Peter Harrison for Lavassa
Divergence console table by Peter Harrison for Lavassa
The prominent and awe-inspiring Air collection by Lago makes it look like everything is in the air floating flawlessly and effortlessly. A conversation starter, modern furniture wonder and design genius, the Air collection just expanded its aesthetic coverage to the living room with Air designer sofas and sectionals. Standing on the same clear Plexiglas feet as its predecessors, the Air bed and the Air dining table, the Air sofa denotes the feeling of a “magic carpet” that is complemented by its minimal demeanor, clean lines and extensive custom tailored upholstery.
People’s infatuation with Royalty (current and former), leads to relentless commemoration of their lives and legacies. Sometimes it takes the shape of buildings and monuments, street names and museums, and sometimes it’s in the form of modern furniture made to look like art. A few such examples are the labor fruits of renowned European designers who teamed up with leading Italian manufacturers en route to create spectacular modern furniture pieces with timelessness and innovation as their defining miens.
Marie Antoinette by Sam Baron for Casamania
Marie Antoinette by Sam Baron for Casamania
