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Have A Seat!
“The chair is the thing that is closest to people, so it is important that its detailing is in order.”Carl Hansen & Son
I’ve heard it said that a chair is by far, one of the hardest pieces of furniture to design, no matter how simple or how complicated it may look. I think I agree with that. And when it comes to well designed chairs, I tend to look towards the 1950s, because during the course of those years, you had designers like Hans J. Wegner producing some of the most iconic and amazingly functional chairs for that period. It’s funny, I recently visited a showroom here in Manhattan where I sat on a chair that had similar designs to Wegner’s CH07 lounge chair.
The Ultimate Seating ComfortHans J. Wagner Lounge Chair
Hans J. Wegner CH24 Chair
Also known as the Wishbone Chair
Clean Elegance
Carl Hansen & Son CH33 Chair
Bold and ColorfulThe new edition of Hans Wagner’s CH 24 Chairs comes in these variant green colors, and orange,
blue, purple, white and pink!The owner volunteered the name, but low and behold, the copycat’s identity went from one ear and out the next. As we all know, just about anything can be duplicated these days. Now let’s talk about the real thing. Carl Hansen & Son recently recreating one of my favorite designs, the CH33 chair, which came out in 1957 by Hans J. Wegner. It was produced for just 10 years before it went out of production! After learning Wegner’s daughter Marianne chose the chair for the desk in her very own first bedroom, Carl Hansen was inspired to recreate it. Aren’t we glad that he did! -
The Vital Role of Art to Interior Designers
Tueday, February 7th 20126:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Desiron Showroom151 Wooster Street
Between Houston & PrinceMAKING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INTERIOR DESIGN AND COLLECTIBLE ART
Join the IIIDA for a stimulating dialogue between one of the most influential figures in contemporary art, two of America’s foremost residential designers, and an artist whose celebrated and controversial work has been featured in major museums for over 3 decades.Interior Designer Amy Lau will be signing her new book, “Expressive Modern: The Interiors of Amy Lau,” which will be available for purchase.MODERATORStephanie B. Simmons, Director, Jason McCoy Gallery In addition to representing international contemporary artists, Simmons has curated several independent exhibitions in NY, as well as in her native Germany. For the past decade, her articles on art and interviews with artists have been published in various national and international magazines and newspapers. Simmons is also a contributing editor of the acclaimed art reviews site Artcritical.com.SPEAKERS:Mario Buatta, Principal, Mario Buatta “Prince of Chintz”Recognized as One of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers, Buatta has influenced interior design for decades. Initially associated with Elisabeth Draper, Inc. he later formed his own design firm. Buatta has created his own unmistakable style which he calls, “The Undecorated Look.” Celebrated as “The Prince of Chintz,” Buatta is known for his use of chintzes with textures, patterns and stripes, and expertly balancing contemporary and antique furnishings.Amy Lau, Principal, Amy Lau DesignRenowned contemporary interior designer Lau also currently serves as an independent advisor to collectors of 20th Century decorative arts. In 2005, she cofounded the prestigious Design Miami fair, which assembles the most significant galleries specializing in design from the post-war period to the present. Her new book, “Expressive Modern: The Interiors of Amy Lau” is testimony to her vibrant, innovative design.Lauri Simmons, ArtistRepresented by New York City’s Salon 94, Simmons is an internationally celebrated artist whose work has been featured in major museums and collections for over three decades. A central figure in the Pictures generation, artists who came to prominence in the late 70s and early 80s, Simmons is widely known for her work with human surrogates (dolls, puppets, cut outs, etc…). Her most recent photographic series exhibited at Salon 94 Bowery last spring was entitled “The Love Doll: Days I – 30.”Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Owner, Salon 94 As a highly respected innovator and visionary in the art world, Rohatyn’s work as a collector, art advisor, and independent curator has made her one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. She founded Salon 94, a project space built within her home as an alternate to the traditional white box gallery in 2002, and launched Salon 94 Bowery in the fall of 2010. She hosts critically acclaimed exhibitions of noted artists in both spaces, as well as oversees numerous important private and public collections.To Purchase Tickets, visit the IIDA Official Website -
Industrial Clocks by George Nelson
He was widely known as one of the founding fathers of American modernism, who was also admired as the creator of beautiful and practical things. As an interior designer, I appreciate the aesthetics of George Nelson’s designs, and make use of them whenever the project calls for it. Yes, I’m much enthused with his industrial clock designs, but do not want to over look his architectural contribution; his iconic furniture designs, like the 1956 kangaroo chair, his sling sofa and coffee table, and of course, his ever more popular steel legged chairs. A room with a view: The George Nelson retro modern chairs (circa 1956)are a perfect compliments to his industrial clocks. Photo via ArchzineThe settees, the bedroom pieces he designed while working with the Herman Miller company in the 1940s will forever remain in the archives as a notification of what great design really signifies. George Nelson was an amazing industrial designer with a vision that left an imprint and is still carried out by today’s top 21st Century Product Designers.
Futuristic!George Nelson’s Clocknik Table Clock
Message in a bottleGeorge Nelson Design for Herman Miller Clock Company, circa 1950
Round and Around We GoTop: Re-issued by Vitra, The Wheel, circa the 1950s, or 1960s. Right: Ball Clock, circa 1964Bottom: Tripod Clock, circa 1947. Right: An extremely rare Vintage George Nelson ClockSpoonfedGeorge Nelson Spoon Pendulum ClockForward to a new Modernism
The EssensialsTop: George Nelson: Architect / Writer / Designer / Teacher/ Full color, extensively illustrated, this book from the Vitra Design Museum is a fitting tribute to this seminal figure. With eight essays by German and American design historians, the publication deals with all of the areas of his work, many of which are presented here for the first time. Bottom: Building a New Europe: Portraits of Modern Architects (Yale School of Architecture) covers a series of articles from the 1930s, as Nelson eloquently introduced astonishing buildings and fascinating personalities from across the Atlantic to wider American audiences.NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
