Long Ago…
February 26, 2025
and far away. Or at least that’s how it feels. Remembering back to my very first apartment I’ve been trying to recall the specific vibe. Clearly it was simple, quiet and modern executed on literally NO budget. And, of course, as impossibly chic as it could have been for someone just starting out. Something a young Halston could appreciate before all of the RED. Imagine my excitement when I managed a pair of copies of Marcel Breuer Cesca Chairs at a department store warehouse sale for $80.00! My small dining room, came together like magic. I created a table from a Sonotube covered in a remnant of grasscloth painted black and topped with a precut glass top from Pier One. A giant wall treatment/sculpture was fabricated using white styrofoam packing found in a dumpster at work attached to the wall with bank pins. Finally a large round paper lantern was added for more drama and a soft ambient light. Done. The perfect setting for my morning coffee or ending my day with a bowl of $.17 Ramen. Good times.
photos: knoll
New Year, New Decade
January 9, 2020
While hindsight might be 20/20, the New Year brings with it new vision, new possibilities, a new look at old favorites. Take the classic Saarinen Dining Table for example. As long as I can remember there were only two options for me…white base with a white laminate top or, if your wallet was feeling generous, the white base with the Calacatta marble top. simplequietmodern perfection. Then the recent introduction of a new size and new top finish had me rethinking things…re-examining the fluid lines and sculptural form. In it’s new incarnation, the Saarinen oval dining table at 96″ will seat eight. And, the black base finish with the matte black laminate top…well, it’s just too good. While I’m comfortable most days in head to toe black, it’s no wonder I’ve fallen so hard. Add into the mix the Saarinen Executive Armchair upholstered in Knoll’s Classic Boucle in Onyx and the 20’s are off to a very good start.
Photos: https://www.knoll.com/shop
It’s Back
October 2, 2017
And, it’s made in the USA. The re-issue of Harry Bertoia’s molded plastic side chair. Designed in 1954 with its debut in 196o, this iconic piece of modern seating is back. The shells are available in neutrals and brights with the bases finished in black or white powder coat or polished chrome. Now might be a good time to think about that additional seating you’ll be needing come Thanksgiving.
Photos: http://www.knoll-int.com/home/by-designer/classic-designers/harry-bertoia/bertoia-plastic-side-chair—outdoor
Don’t Fight It
May 4, 2017
Like so many May flowers, sale signs are popping up everywhere now that it’s Spring. Yard sales, garage sales, rummage sales….you name it. My advice? Follow your gut. If you have an inclination to stop…stop. You might just come across a find like this early Florence Knoll table. The base is solid stainless bar stock and the top, walnut. While the surface had a large chunk taken out of the edge, for an initial investment of under $20 it was worth having a new top fabricated. That’s right, under $20. Boom.
photo: gp
Worth the Wait
July 14, 2016
Perfect for dining al fresco now or to put into service indoors during Fall and Winter. Harry Bertoia’s plastic side chair for Knoll International, a re-issue of the original 1956 design in celebration of his 100th birthday. Shells will be available in neutrals to brights…the frames in polished chrome or powder coat.
Bucket List
February 25, 2016
On your bucket list of things you’d like to see or do, can there be room for those things you’d like to have? I’m thinking yes. Like the Mies Van der Rohe Barcelona Couch. A classic. And, simply one of the most beautiful pieces of modern furniture produced. Even with the Knoll Classics Sale going on now this piece is still a major investment. Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet.
Photo:http://www.knoll.com/product/barcelona-couch
Get Your Sled On
December 27, 2014
Ward Bennett’s 1966 Sled Chair will have you sitting comfortably as you wait for the next good snowfall. In this seasons absence of the white stuff I might find it a good place to sit and give quiet thanks for the 40 degree temps.
photos:http://hivemodern.com/pages/product6735/mattiazzi-ward-bennett-geiger-sled-chair
April Showers…
May 15, 2014
bring May…OK, more showers. While we’re waiting for the May flowers to grace us, there is the Chiara Chair to consider. Designed in 2013 by French designer Noe Duchaufour-Lawrance it has a decidedly 60’s appeal…ready to complement your growing collection of modern classics or infuse a more traditional space with a little punch. The generous flower petal inspired shape and self-returning swivel base provide the perfect perch to lounge, relax and wait.
Photos via :http://hivemodern.com/pages/product6578/bernhardt-design-noe-duchaufour-lawrance-chiara-lounge-chair
simplequietmodern 