Haunted by Gervasoni’s Ghost
We’ve found once again an extraordinary line of furniture that just works. Comfortable, stylish, elegant, confidently irreverant. It’s Gervasoni’s Ghost collection, a semi-spooky, seams-out fog of soft seating. When you have a space containing art and artefacts worthy of attention, you can either go museum-bench rigid with the upholstered pieces, or sit back and opt consciously for seating that whispers eloquently instead of shouting. Let’s all sit comfortably to take in our surroundings and the people occuppying them, shall we, rather than poising rigidly while eyeing the nearest exit?
We love the slipcovered nonchalance of the Ghost collection, with its wrinkled ease. Relaxed, after all should be authentically relaxed, yet with good bones and proportions. This is it. These pieces are draped in a way that’s more like a summer home taken by surprise than a stuffy Miss Havisham horror. And Gervasoni’s Ghost collection is emininently practical, one might add. It’s all slipcovered, ready to wash and wear and wear and wear. No ironing necessary.
Here Materials Matter Most
Been looking for alternatives to hard-edged modern-minimalist rectilinearity? Alternatives suited to a non-urban, natural island lifestyle? Here’s one – - furniture, lighting and accessories by Bleu Nature. This is rustic primitive minimalism without apology. Driftwood and hairballs against icy white set the tone of their new 2008-2009 collection. It’s beachy and arctic at the same time.
Bleu Nature’s site is nice, too. Its “about” page is utterly enchanting. First off, it’s not called “about”, it’s called “a nice story.” And nice it is. Founder Franck LeFebvre’s portrait reveals a jovial, robust and relaxed character who is patently French. The very same character flavours Bleu Nature’s collections.
“In our studio we build, nail, adjust, fasten and balance our pieces,” LeFebvre states. “All Bleu Nature creations are born of an encounter between the technical mastery of a French craftsman and the prolonged work of nature.”
That’s a theme I can subscribe to. What would a Barcelona Chair look like if it had been washed up on a beach for fifty years? Interesting.
Come Play Outside with Paola Lenti’s Landscape Collection
Searching for simple outdoor furniture to work with a modern tropical house. It’s harder than you might think. Most wood collections are too heavy, and conflict with existing woodwork in the house. Most collections made of modern materials look more like weapons than furniture. I can feel their sharp metal points and abrasive surfaces digging into my skin just by looking at them. And synthetic rattan is just too Target for an exclusive project. Done to death, and mostly done badly.
Finalmente! Found a collection that screams, “lounge on me, now and never leave!” And it won’t argue with the minimalist aesthetic of the house, nor does it demand either bandaids or bodybuilders when you move the pieces around (which one must do in order to create comfort in a variety of situations day and night).
It is Paula Lenti’s Landscape collection, a lush yet simple group of pieces that represent soft-tech at its best. The materials are technologically advanced, but their lounge-ability is earthy, exotic and inviting.
Let’s go play outside in Paola Lenti’s lush landscape. It’s a perfect landscape for Bali.
Al Fresco Elegance by Basco
We’ve discovered a Spanish design firm that makes elegantly understated structures and furniture for living outdoors. The simplicity of their aluminum pergolas, furniture and accessories makes such a beautiful backdrop for beautiful people.
Gandia Blasco’s outdoor collection is a blank canvas on which I long to compose perfect al fresco experiences. An afternoon nap, a big glamorous bash, and everything in between. And the website is a treasure, too.
Can we get some Blascos in Bali? They have a Singapore distributor. I want to sprawl on their sunbeds, and slink around their party pergolas. Can we make something here with a similar concept, perhaps, using local materials and techniques? Or take the concept a step or ten further? White prada cloth pergolas perhaps? Any ideas?
Get Met Mania This Summer : Special Exhibitions Galore
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has outdone itself this year with a schedule of summer exhibitions to amaze its seasonal sea of visitors and keep the revolving doors turning at 78rpm until “back to school” time comes around.
We don’t usually go Baroque here, but must make note of Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe, on show in the Met’s special exhibition galleries until 21 September.
Java Folk Art Furniture Book
My old friend David Smith is an enigmatic character who divides his time between three islands: Bali, Java and Vashon Island near Seattle. His business is furniture, and he’s been collecting antiques in Java for 20 years. As the supply of antiques in the field dwindled, David shifted his focus to furniture making. He has a workshop in the historic town of Blitar in East Java with about 100 local workers crafting furniture for his retail showroom in Seattle and for contract clients.
During two decades of antique-hunting in Java, David has been setting aside his favourite finds for his own enjoyment and has amassed an astounding collection. The pieces he prefers are folk-art furniture from the Ponorogo area, and this is his collection’s strongest suit. He is currently preparing an enormous coffee table book on the collection, to be published in 2009. Art dealer and author Bruce Carpenter is working on the text now.
The Puget Sound Business Journal ran an article on David last month, with a nice portrait, in which he looks – - as ever – - enigmatic.
Photos Dan Schlatter
Chris Lehrecke Furniture : It Just Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This
Almost roshi-like in his clarity, acuity, devotion and low profile, Chris Lehrecke is a modern furniture master whose studio in upstate New York recalls Shaker values in its robust simplicity. Yet Shaker furniture his is not. The simplicity is there, and the earnest sobriety. Yet here is a collection that teaches us that what others might call asceticism is in fact abundance. Aesthetic discipline and adherence to one’s principles is not in fact self-restraint, it’s liberation. This furniture is strong, sculptural, primitive, modern, brut, and refined at the same time. And the proportions are perfect, which is something that cannot be taught. You have it or you don’t. Click. Look. Read. Learn. Buy.
Interior Design, As It Should Be
One of our favourite interior design firms is Douglas Durkin Design. Douglas and his partner in the firm, Greg Elich, are two of the smartest, most honest and most genuinely talented designers out there. Specialising in high end residential work, the firm has grown exponentially since it was founded, exclusively by word of mouth. Their work is impeccable, tasteful, client-focused (not ego-focused), and it’s all about Quality with a very large Q. No smoke and mirrors here, dear. Would never fly in Dubai. Or Vegas. So if it’s Swarovski tap handles and ruched pelmets you’re wanting, look elsewhere.
The Design Library for Textilians
An amazing resource in New York State, serving the world. The Design Library sells and licenses antique textile designs from their vast collection of original documentary textiles. Most of their clients are in home furnishing, fashion and graphic design industries. They have satellite offices in London and Manhattan, and staff who can assist clients to find what they are looking for among the Design Library’s five million or so textile designs. For “textilians” this is a mother lode of inspiration.