Tone On Tone
May 16, 2024
It’s been a modern classic for near 100 years. Now Knoll is reimagining the Marcel Breuer Wassily Chair in three new frame finishes; Onyx Ultra Matte, White Ultra Matte and Dark Red Ultra Matte. I immediately focused on a simplequietmodern expression of tone on tone. What could be a more fresh take than black belting leather on a black frame, white leather on the white frame or for that punch of color, red leather on the red frame? Who knew that this small change from the original chrome frame would have such an impact? I’m sure Marcel would approve.
photos: Knoll
The heart wants what it wants.*
February 8, 2024
Your Valentine might be easier to please. With Valentine’s Day just a week away you better get on it. While flowers and candy are the standard, it doesn’t have to be all red roses and tacky heart shaped boxes of cheap drug store chocolate. I’ve assembled a few ideas that might just help get you started without falling into the usual clichés.
If your Valentine is putting in the hours working from home, this Saarinen Executive Chair will have them looking forward to logging in in the morning.
photo: Knoll
Who could say no to this John Hardy hinged Surf Cuff in sterling set with diamonds?
photo: John Hardy
At few dollars a bunch near everywhere now it would be an impressive romantic gesture to fill every vase, glass and jar and fill the house with an early Spring.
photo: gp
With Valentine’s Day mid-week, how bout staying in and making pizza at home, finishing things off with some chocolate mousse cake, berries and something sparkling that you picked up on the way home. photos: gp
Nothing like making a splash with red cashmere. And, better yet, this red cashmere from Naadam is the best value around.
Berries and roses as only Diptyque-Paris can blend them…Baies. Yes, the place will smell that good.
With the perfect small vase, you can extend your Valentine gift by filling it with a few lovely stems all year long. You just can’t go wrong with this Bud Vase from Heath Ceramics.
photo: Heath
If your Valentine is a fan of salted caramel you can push them over the edge with these handmade caramels from Bequet Caramels in Boseman, MT. There might not be any sharing, they are that good. Just saying. photo: gp
Even little Porkchop deserves a special treat. This tennis ball in fun turquoise should keep him busy. Well, at least until it looks like confetti.
And just a little something extra to add to any of the above or for just that little touch of a corny sugar rush… small bags of Jelly Bean Hearts from Trader Joe’s. Sweet.
photo: gp
*Emily Dickinson
Then and Now
October 7, 2018
Continuing the celebration of Florence Knoll’s 100th year, let’s focus on some new additions to her 1954 Lounge Group. What she originally considered a “fill in” piece, the Florence Knoll Bench has been impressively resized, elevating it to a “statement” piece. Whether you select the small, medium or large, and put it to use as a bench, ottoman or coffee table, the clean geometric profile of this modern classic is available in a dizzying selection of approve Knoll textiles and leathers. Wow!
Photos: https://www.knoll.com
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
Dining Out
April 11, 2017
Outside, out of the house, on the patio, in the yard…any which way but indoors. Two great modern classics from Knoll’s iconic 1966 Group of outdoor furniture by Charles Schultz, ready to be set for dinner. I’m torn between the 60″x 60″ square and the 90″ x 38″ rectangle. Both will easily accomodate 8, the later even up to 10 guests. The original white finish is now joined by a striking black, either being a great place to start, especially when taking advantage of the Knoll Outdoor Furniture Sale which starts on April 13th.
Photos: https://www.knoll.com/product/1966-dining-table-60×60
Modern Milestone
March 25, 2017
What a fitting tribute. In celebration of Florence Knoll’s 100th Year, Knoll has reissued several classic pieces by one of my favorite icons of mid-century furniture design. The simplicity of her designs had me hooked from the start. I’ve collected so many vintage Florence Knoll pieces that friends would joke that I owned more Florence Knoll than Florence herself. One piece that eluded me was this small table originally released in 1948. A simple round top on steel hairpin legs… a design that set into motion a wave of knockoffs that continues to this day…The Hairpin Stacking Table.
Photos: Knoll
https://www.knoll.com/product/florence-knoll-hairpin-stacking-table
Right place…right time…
May 5, 2016
It’s always good to follow ones intuition. While this particular stop was not planned, it couldn’t have produced a better result…this vintage Eero Saarinen executive lounge chair with walnut legs designed for Knoll in 1957.
Photos:gp
All you need is love
February 8, 2015
Valentines Day on the 14th will have you seeing red all week. Not such a bad thing considering most of the country is up to their eyeballs in white.
A few of my simplequietmodern favorites that just happen to work their magic beautifully in red.
top to bottom:
A pair of Heath budvases in red suede and ruby. photo:http://www.heathceramics.com/
Classic: Florence Knoll 1954 three seat sofa…still the best. photo:Hive http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1164/knoll-florence-knoll-sofa
Always simple quiet and modern…the Elsa Peretti redlacquer “donut” bangle for Tiffany & Co. photo: http://www.tiffany.com
Luxurious handspun wool, “Cast Away” in Strawberry Sparkle from Knit Collage Yarn. Thick and thin saturated color with a thread of metallic for a mid-60’s vibe. A blanket for the arm of that FK sofa perhaps? photo: http://www.nobleknits.com/knit-collage-cast-away-yarn/
Making a statement since its introduction in 1961, Cato from Knoll Textiles. Wool and rayon never looked sexier than it does here in Fire Red. photo:http://www.knoll.com/knolltextileproductdetail/Cato
“Firecracker” jatropha curcas. What can I say? Not your garden variety Valentine offering. photo:gp
One, two, four or more…the Executive Side Chair with metal legs designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957. Produced by Knoll in the USA. photo: http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1265/knoll-eero-saarinen-executive-side-chair-metal/
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