Fine Print: DesignPOP by Lisa S. Roberts

Architect and collector Lisa S. Roberts new book DesignPOP (Rizzoli 2014) surveys the best furniture and accessories (so far) of the 21st century. In between the bold photographs of these iconic contemporary pieces, Roberts discusses new materials and processes, as well as how sustainability and social responsibility, influence designers’ paths. She points out that even the definition of designer is changing as disciplines merge. For example, products from companies like Apple and Dyson often exemplify considered cutting edge design.

As I flipped through the colorful pages of DesignPOP, I was struck by how many of the items I’ve come across in my life, and even own. While I covet high end design, I don’t have the funds for splurging on it. However, Roberts mixes the practically unattainable with practical everyday products

For example, she puts forth the Soft Urn designed by Hella Jongerius, which appears to be a traditional pottery vase, but is instead made of silicone. I discovered silicone urns a number of years ago (I think mine are by Menu though), and love them because if the kids knock them over, they won’t break.

I’ve bet you seen the Bobble, even if you don’t realize it. Bobble is an ergonomically-shaped, thin plastic water bottle with built in filter, designed by Karim Rashid. I have one for each of my kids to keep by their bedsides; I purchased them at Target. I’ve never changed the filters… should probably get on that.

Other designers highlighted include Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson, Marcel Wanders, Yves Behar, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Philippe Starck, Ross Lovegrove, and Jasper Morrison.

I sent Roberts a few questions to answer about her findings and favorites from DesignPop, answered below, complete with products featured in the book.

Were most of these products familiar to you before starting the research? Any new finds?
I knew many since I follow the industry very closely. But during my research I discovered the Flip Flop Vase by Diederick Schneemann, the Chubby Chair by Dirk Vander Kooij, the Lytro Light Field Camera by New Deal Design, and the Nest Thermostat by Tony Fadell.

flip-flop-vase

Flip Flop Vase by Diederick Schneemann
Made from recycled flip flops washed up on Kenyan beaches .

green-chubby-chair-2

Chubby Chair by Dirk Vander Kooij
Made from 3D printed recycled refrigerator plastic, with their waste made into clothes hangers.

black-nest-thermostat

Nest Thermostat by Tony Fadell
$249 at Amazon
We purchased one of these, drawn in by both the design and “smart” functionality. Unfortunately we couldn’t get it to work with our HVAC system, but not for lack of trying. This 2.0 version may be easier to implement. They have a great help line.

Your picks all come out of the 21st century. What are some products designed before 2000 that may have been included if  you expanded the time frame?
There were a lot of game-changing designs before 2000. There’s the Vermelha Chair by Humberto and Fernando Campana, the Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry, and the Bookworm by Ron Arad.

vermelha-chair-in-red

Vermelha Chair by Humberto and Fernando Campana
$12,821 at Switch Modern
The upholstery is completely made of intertwined cotton ropes.

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Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry
$1,140 at AllModern
Designed back in 1972 and made from cardboard.

worm-book-shelf

Bookworm by Ron Arad
$408 at Lumens
I’ve always been intrigued this piece in the MoMA catalog. It’s flexible and can be made into any shape.

Which brand new products would make the list if you did a follow up?
The Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders. It’s made of carbon fiber and resin, weighs about one and a half pounds, and can hold up to 198 pounds. Also the Polygon Chair by Joris Laarman, which combines advanced technology with hand assembly. It’s comprised of mathematically designed CNC milled pieces that are assembled like a puzzle, by hand.

carbon-balloon-chair

Carbon Balloon Chair by Marcel Wanders
An ultra light carbon fiber chair inspired by balloons.

Do you own any of the products featured in the book?
I own many of the products in the book. Some are on display in my personal gallery and some I live with. I love the Collapsible Strainer by Boje Estermann because it takes up so little space in my drawer. The Peacock Chair by Dror Benshetrit sits in my foyer and is as attractive as it is comfortable. The Fred Humidifier by Matti Walker comes out whenever someone in the family has a cold. I also have two Midsummer Lights by Tord Boontje that hang over the conference table in my home office.

collapsible-strainer

Collapsible Strainer by Boje Estermann
$60 at Lumens
Last year I bought a collapsible silicone salad spinner at T.J.Maxx for our little condo in Florida. It is one of the best gadgets you can buy, because really, who has room for a salad spinner. Ditto for a full-size colander.

dror-b-peacock-chair

Peacock Chair by Dror Benshetrit
Two-and-a-half years ago I interviewed Dror Benshetrit at his studio in NYC for Design Milk. He had one of these chairs there and I was instantly smitten. It’s felt and very visually satisfying. The full interview is here, and you can see some extra tidbits and photographs here.

midsummers-light-green

Midsummer Light by Tord Boontje
$98 at A+R

I bought two Midsummer Light shades, one in citron and one in violet, many years ago, thinking I might use them in the guest rooms on the Cape. I didn’t, but I still have them. I know one day I’ll find the right spot. They’re magical.

Which are your favorites?
The iPhone because I can’t live without it and the Bank in the Form of A Pig by Harry Allen because it always makes me smile. I love my Rainbow Chair by Patrick Norguet because it captures light in the most amazing way, casting a rainbow shadow on the floor. Also, of all the designs I own, it has increased the most in value since I purchased it!

pig-bank-in-silver

Bank in the Form of A Pig by Harry Allen
$200 at Nordstrom
This design, which is now done in shiny turquoise, pink, gold and other colors, was modeled on an actual suckling pig that had died of natural causes, cast it in resin. $10 of every pig bank sale goes to the Humane Society.

rainbow-chair

Rainbow Chair by Patrick Norguet
$8,500 on eBay

Which design do you most covet?
Tide Chandelier by Stuart Haygarth, but it’s so big, I would have no place to put it.

tide-chandelier

Tide Chandelier by Stuart Haygarth
£20,000 – 30,000  at Phillips
A valuable example of trash to treasure.

Design Pop Book By Lisa S Roberts 2014

Design Pop by Lisa S. Roberts (Rizzoli, 2014)
$26.27 at Amazon

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Get the Look: 34 Linear Suspension Lights

In addition to wall-to-wall carpet, pink bathroom tile, and misplaced doorways, the Delray Beach condo doesn’t really have overhead lighting—except for one oddly placed linear suspension lighting fixture. If you can get your eyes to focus beyond the nautical fanfare, you’ll see the fixture above the former owner’s dining table. We are changing the layout, so that spot will function as an entry area, probably with a console table and/or bench. (The entry door is to the right of the table.) As I mentioned yesterday, the carpet and fake wood floor will be ripped out, and a plywood floor will run throughout. So, for the purposes of this post, the question is: What to do about replacing that light fixture?

I perused the usual suspects to figure out my options—Lumens, Ylighting, Lightology, Lamps Plus, etc., and found more ceiling lights, including an interesting option I didn’t see on the US ones (#6) on the British site Argos. (And I learned a new term in all this: linear suspension lighting.) I would love to know what kind of light you think would work best. Remember, it will be an entry space, not a dining area. Ideas please!

 

 

S H O P P I N G

1 Pinto 1 Linear Suspension by Eglo, $372 at Lumens.

2 White Birch Plywood Lamp byArtek, $995 at Hive.

3 Logico Triple Linear Suspension by Artemide, $3,115 at Lumens.

4 Hola Suspension Light by LZF, $1043 at Ylighting.

5 Prisms 3 Light Suspension by ET2, $178 at Lightology.

6 Arteriors Home Caviar Staggered Pendant, $2,760 at All Modern.

7 LED Over Light, £120 at Argos.

8 Classique Slender Rectangle by Stonegate, $1,008 at Lightology.

9 Jamaica Suspension by Foscarini, $2,738 at Switch Modern.

10 Lyra 48 Linear Suspension, $1,040 at Lightology.

11 Larmes Linear Suspension by ET2, from $318 at Lumens.

12 Silhouette Linear Suspension by Besa Lighting, $1,000 at Lightology.

13 Noto Suspension Lamp by Artemide, $2,940 at Hive.

14 Titanium Linear Suspension Light by Access, $359 at Lightology.

15 Odyssey Linear Multi-Light by Access, $333 at Lumens.

16 Sioux Suspension Lamp by LZF, $1,732 at 2Modern.

17 Zen Linear by Fredrick Ramond, $1,399 at Ylighting.

18 Mouille Style Bent Arm, $6,800 at Urban Archaeology.

19 Sonneman Puri Four Light Pendant, $990 at All Modern.

20 Cellula Swarovski Crystal Chandelier, $2,730 at DWR.

21 Helix LED Linear Suspension by ET2, $1,328 at Lumens.

22 Flexxxibile Long Suspension, $2,009 at Lightology.

23 Long & Hard Suspension by Philippe Starck for Flos, $1,895 at Hive.

24 Long Light by Marcel Wanders for Moooi, $814 at Hive.

25 I-Club Small Suspension Light by LZF, $1,713.60 at Ylighting.

26 Troag Suspension Lamp by Luca Nichetto for Foscarini, $1,488 at Hive.

27 Cirrus Linear Suspension by Hinkley Lighting, $599 at Ylighting.

28  T-2205 Series Island Light by Estiluz, $1,008.80 at All Modern.

29 Tolomeo Double Suspension by Artemide, $720 at Hive.

30 Revel Linear Suspension by Tech Lighting, $1,200 at Lightology.

31 Artcraft On the Spot 3-Light, $342.91 at Lamps Plus.

32 Forecast Alexis Nickel 3-Light Rectangle, $665.91 at Lamps Plus.

33 Scandia Three Light Oval by Artcraft, $347.43 at All Modern.

34 Louvre Suspension Light by Established & Sons, $3,020 at Unica.

 

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When choosing a light, be sure to note what kind of bulbs it requires, and if the wattage is bright enough to light your space. A guide to choosing the right GU10 LED or other similar guides light might provide helpful information.

Get the Look: 51 Floor Lamps

Following up on last week’s Montage: 43 Rooms with Floor Lamps, here are 51 floor lamps in lots of different colors, finishes, shapes, and styles. Scroll down for links for where to buy.

 

Row 1:
’50s Jielde Lyon Floor Lamp designed by Jean Louis Domecq, SOLD at Almond Hartzog, 1st Dibs.
AJ Floor Lamp designed by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen, $882 at DWR.
Tri-P Floor Lamp by Foscarini/Diesel Home, $729 at Lumens.

Row 2:
Foscarini Caboche Floor Lamp designed by Patricia Urquiola & Eliana Gerotto, $3,553 at All Modern.
Jonathan Adler Lancaster White Leather Floor Lamp, $636.91 at Lamps Plus.
Marset Scantling Floor Lamp designed by Mathias Hahn, $1,010 at Y Lighting.

Row 3:
Swisslamps 1956 Robert Hausmann Kristall Floor Lamp, $5,500 at Downtown, 1st Dibs.
Beacon Floor Lamp, on sale $199 at CB2.
Pablo Cortina 60-Inch Floor Lamp designed by Pablo Pardo, $ 390 at DWR.

Row 4:
Robert Abbey Shinto Tripod in Wrought Iron, $302.50 at All Modern.
Flos Glo-Ball Floor Lamp designed by Jasper Morrison, $792 to $1112 at Hive.

Row 5:
Sonneman Quadratto Swing Arm Floor Lamp in Satin Nickel, $600 at All Modern.
Foscarini Tress Media Floor Lamp designed by Marc Sadler, $1,349 at Y Lighting.
Excel Floor Lamp by Rich Brilliant Willing, $1,200 at Wright Now, 1st Dibs.

Row 6:
Moooi Trix Floor Lamp designed by Marcel Wanders, $452 at Hive.
Tom Dixon Felt Shade Floor Lamp, $505 at Lumens.
Moooi Dandelion Floor Lamp, $2,912 at Lightology.

Row 7:
Pablo Brazo Floor Lamp, $460 at Neena’s.
Pipes Floor Lamp at Showplace, 1st Dibs.
1950s Artluce Multicolor Floor Lamp, price upon request at Eccola, 1st Dibs.

Row 8:
Allen Resin Floor Lamp, $349 at Crate & Barrel
LZF Sioux Floor Lamp, $1,788 at O Lighting.
Flos Stylos designed by Achille Castiglioni, $1,228 at Unica Home.

Row 9:
Tolomeo Mega Floor Lamp designed by Michele De Lucchi & G. Fassina, $983 at Hive.
Foscarini Birdie Floor Lap designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, $747 at Lumens.

Row 10:
Slamp: Bach Floor Lamp, $508 to $968 at O Lighting.
Sonneman Treluci Piccolo Floor Lamp, $1,400 at Y Lighting.
Virtual Comfort Hudson Floor Lamp designed by Thomas O’Brien, $839.90 at Neena’s.

Row 11:
Umbrella Floor Lamp, $220 at Lightology.
Foscarini Havana Floor Lamp designed by Jozeph Forakis, $602 at Lightology.
Flos Spun Floor Lamp designed by Sebastian Wrong, $1,592 at Hive.

Row 12:
Drink Floor Lamp designed by Donegani and Lauda, $676 at Y Lighting.
Flos Arco designed by Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni , $2,696 at O Lighting.

Row 13:
Pablo Link Task Floor Light designed by Peter Stathis, $420 to $440 at Lumens.
Kartell Toobe Floor Light designed by Ferruccio Lavian, $620 at Hive.

Row 14:
Taper Shade Floor Lamp, $199 at West Elm.
Vibia I.Cono Floor Lamp designed by Lievore, Altherr & Molina, $1,405 at Y Lighting.

Row 15:
Foscarini Twiggy Lettura Floor Lamp designed by Marc Sadler
, $1,897 at Lumens.
Bolio Floor Lamp, $1,108.28 at Y Lighting.

Row 16:
LZF Link Large Floor Lamp by Ray Power, $1,776.80 at Y Lighting.
David Trubridge Reed Bamboo Floor Lamp, $4,120 at Y Lighting.
Fabbian Twirl D49 Floor Lamp in Blue, $849 at Neena’s.

Row 17:
Woody Floor Lamp with Red Silk Dupioni Shade, $384 at Y Lighting.
Encaixe Floor Lamp designed by Alturo Alvarez, $1,795 at Lumens.
Z-BAR Gen 3 LED Floor Lamp, $324 at Y Lighting.

Row 18:
Gubi Grasshopper Floor Lamp designed by Greta Grossman, $875 at DWR.
Foscarini Orbital designed by Ferruccio Laviani, $1,844 at Lumens.
Tripod Wood Floor Lamp, $249 at West Elm.

Row 19:
Lights Up! Flight Floor Lamp in Anna Green, $280 to $396 at 2Modern.
Moooi Position Floor Lamp, $5,448 at Lightology.
Vibia Jazz Floor Lamp designed by Diego Fortunato, $2,185 at Interior-Deluxe.