Before there was Cottagecore,
April 30, 2025
Japandi or Maximalist style there was High Tech. It was the 70’s. And architect Joe D’urso was the crown prince of the movement. His loftlike interior projects were a rich elegant statement in minimalism with an industrial edge. Plywood seating platforms wrapped in charcoal industrial carpeting, black rubber Pirelli flooring, stark white walls and the punctuation of a simple black and white photograph were signatures. If an additional piece of furniture was needed a simple piece constructed of commercially used industrial materials was put into play. The D’urso Occasional Table was such a piece. Constructed of steel with a glass top and lower shelf these were equipped with castors to make them easy to use and move around to suit the application. Three sizes, three types of glass and three finishes made them even more flexible for a variety of interior uses as coffee table, side table, occasional table or bedside table. While the red finish had a certain Halston-esque appeal my favorite combination was the stainless base with the wired glass top. I did say it was the seventies and I was loving all things industrial. With Knoll’s recent reissue of this collection you can indulge yourself in that chic 70’s vibe once again. A smart coffee table book, a pot of orchids or a chemistry beaker holding a perfect single tropical is all that you’ll need to add to the mix to recall some of that magic.
photos: knoll
Another five easy pieces, and…
January 19, 2015
it’s not your mother’s dining room. With the holidays behind us and life moving back to ” business as usual” it’s clear that the new dining room is put to great use every day, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, more comfortable with an eclectic mix of personality rather than the stuffy suite of mahogany stained boredom. It’s this simple: 1) a dining table, 2) a chair selection, 3) a long bench 4) a buffet height storage cabinet 5) a statement sized piece of art. It’s all in the quiet mix of old and new…polished and raw… that give this room it’s simplequietmodern edge. With enough seating for a group or room for one to spread out that special project, your end result is sure to earn its keep every day of the year.
Top to bottom:
The Joseph Paul D’urso “Supper” table for Donghia Furniture ( discontinued ) is the key player in this dining space, complemented beautifully by the vintage modern sideboard and Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs. The simple plank bench provides additional seating for four. photo:http://blueberrymodern.tumblr.com/
An alternative chair selection could be this ch47 chair, also by Wegner, designed in 1965. Photo:
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product493/carl-hansen-hans-wegner-ch47-chair
It doesn’t get more dramatic than the grand scale of this Lisa Spindler photograph. Photo: gp
When the real thing is hard to find, there are plenty of mid-century inspired quality pieces available, like this Atlantico sideboard. Available in classic modern woods and finishes, it has plenty of space to store dishes, serving pieces and linens as well as home office supplies. Photo: http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1397/de-la-espada-atlantico-006-sideboard
simplequietmodern 