Tag Archives: Seating

This sustainable + contemporary collection of bathroom seating was made using recycled cork

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Bathtime is probably one of my favorite times of the day. It’s that precious hour of the day when I can indulge in self-care, and pamper myself without having to worry about the world. And I’ve realized that filling up your bathroom with thoughtful designs, only makes your time in it much more comfortable and smooth. And this collection of bathroom seating by Italian bathroom brand Agape strives to be exactly that! Designed by Marco Carini for Agape, the collection includes two seating designs created from recycled cork.

Designer: Marco Carini for Agape

The first design is called Vis-à-vis, and it is a light and sturdy stool that also doubles up as a tiny side table. The second design is Rendez-vous, and it’s a bench that serves as an extensive seating option for bathroom users. Both designs function as comfortable spots to sit and relax in the bathroom.

“Like in a child’s drawing, or a fairy tale by Gianni Rodari, these whimsical and playful elements show both lightness and originality of thought. In a world that wants everything neatly categorized and defined, these pieces celebrate their versatility and freedom of use,” said Agape.

The stool features a cylindrical form that is quite inviting to look at. It was made using heat-treated cork and has a rather curving form, that looks like someone smiling, according to Agape. The “smiling” shape of the stool is quite unique and allows it to function as a side table as well – one that could hold your excessive bathroom products. The bench, on the other hand, was created using hand-woven cork ropes, that are wrapped and intertwined between recycled aluminum tubing, which has a hearty brick-red tone to it. The bench is a larger and more extensive seating design as compared to the stool, and works well for longer seating durations.

Both Vis-à-vis and Rendez-vous were made using cork that was sourced from the material discarded during the production of wine bottle stoppers. Both designs are water-resistant and have been designed for residential and commercial purposes. They provide a tranquil and relaxing space to unwind and reflect in your bathroom.

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This minimal + visually light seating collection is inspired by the gentle curves of the hillsides

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We often underestimate the importance of a great chair! When in reality we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on chairs, whether we’re working in our home office, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting and reading a book for leisure! Hence, this piece of furniture needs to be not only comfortable but ergonomic, and aesthetic as well. And one such design I recently came across is the Terra seating collection.

Designer: Sebastian Alberdi for Missana

Designed by Sebastian Alberdi for the Spanish furniture brand Missana, the Terra seating is a curvy yet gentle seating design that will add a burst of personality to any space it is placed into. The minimal yet sturdy furniture piece is inspired by the gentle curves of the hillsides, which is depicted in its intriguing form.

Missana says that the Terra chairs and sofas feature “a sinuous valley of backrests”. Alberdi designed the seats to mimic picturesque landscape sceneries. The gently curving structure of the chair is supported by slender iron legs, and a rather slim profile, which gives the impression that the chair is quite light and free-flowing. “I had two clear purposes – to create a compact design collection that at the same time looks visually very light,” said Alberdi.

The seating collection includes two- and three-seater sofas as well as a chair, armchair, and bar stool. The frame of the chair features a classic black color, while the cushioned seating is available in a variety of diverse fabric colors. You can pick upholstery in the color of your choice.

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This modern and minimal snaking seating system is inspired by German highways

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How often do you pay attention to the seating system in your office cafeteria or any public space for that matter? Not very often, or to be honest not at all. And I don’t blame you, since the seating system seen these days are monotonous, uniform, and quite blah. There is simply no reason for them to grab our attention, or inspire us to compliment their aesthetics. But this is where the Autobahn Seating proves to be different. Created by designer Alexander Lotersztain in collaboration with the Australian brand Derlot, Autobahn Seating is a unique and modern seating system.

Designer: Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot

What makes Autobahn so unique and interesting is the fact that is it inspired by German highways! Autobahn was originally designed in 2012 to be a modular and flexible seating system whose various components can be effortlessly reconfigured to provide for a wide range of functions in all kinds of spaces. It aims to be a continuous and free-flowing seating solution.

Autobahn is defined by both straight and curved bench seating modules, which can be connected to create one long and slithering snake-like structure. The various modules also come along with small circular tables that can be optionally added by attaching them to the legs. An upholstered armrest at a raised angle can also be added to the system. The armrest will run parallel to the seats.

“Just like the German highway, the Autobahn collection is all about flowing lines, open spaces, and endless possibilities. A refined and pared-back form allows Autobahn to effortlessly change gears and adapt to both formal and informal environments,” said Derlot. Autobahn comes in a variety of fabrics and leathers that you can pick and choose from. The legs and tables are also available in a diverse selection of powder-coated colors and wood veneers.

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These delicious candy-like chairs are shockingly made from real balloons

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Chairs, stools, and couches come in all shapes and sizes, but they are bound by a single hard requirement. They must be stable enough and sturdy enough so that people can sit on them with confidence that they won’t fall on their butts when they least expect it. Some seats put that requirement at the heart of their visual design, exuding that stability and durability simply by the way they look. Others, on the other hand, try to trick the mind by presenting what is almost like an optical illusion, making a sofa float in mid-air without making you crash to the ground. This striking collection of chairs and seats straddle the fine line between these two, offering furniture that seems to be structurally sound yet fragile enough to pop and burst at the slightest touch.

Designer: Seungjin Yang

There is something about balloons that bring out the inner child in us. Even grownups still find something fascinating about balloons twisted into different shapes and creatures. A balloon dog made of metal steel even became a famed designer Jeff Koons’ iconic signature. Balloons’ often shiny colors convey a sense of playfulness, while their round forms that encapsulate air almost give them an ephemeral character, two qualities you might not exactly associate with something that needs to be stable and sturdy, like chairs.

That, however, is exactly what the Blowing collection brings to the table, or rather to the floor. Made from different balloon sizes shaped into rods, circles, and spirals, the chairs immediately capture one’s attention because of their unusual shapes. Whether opaque or translucent, the bright colors and shiny surfaces will probably make one think of candies, which should probably be a cautionary note for parents with toddlers and babes.

Despite how whimsical they look, the chairs are all serious business when it comes to being chairs. Each balloon is blown up and shaped before being bathed in epoxy several times over. The multiple layers of resin are necessary to make them solid enough to support people of different weights. Once that treatment is done, the parts are assembled into a single eye-catching piece, turning several balloons into stools, chairs, or even couches for people of different ages.

The design allows for a variety of color combinations, whether going for a single chromatic theme or letting loose on the paintbrush. Admittedly, the fanciful visage of these chairs might not fit some interiors, but if you’re looking for something that will instantly spark interest and conversation, you can do no wrong with a chair that both looks charming and yet also a little worrying at the same time.

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Camber envisions chairs and benches made from a single sheet of metal

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Furniture is so critical and so common in our lives that few of us probably give a second thought to how they’re made. As long as they serve their purpose and look good, tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture might as well be made from alien material for most people. Unfortunately, the materials and processes used to make these essential products have started to chip away at the health of the planet for the sake of keeping humans comfortable. Designers have started to become more aware and conscientious of this problem, and they have started to put their creativity to work in solving it. In addition to using sustainable materials right from the start, another potential answer is to reduce the amount of waste that results from the manufacturing process, like a single sheet of metal that is then cut and bent to form a sharp-looking chair.

Designer: Paul Coenen

Even the simplest piece of furniture sometimes uses multiple parts. A table will be made of at least four legs attached to a tabletop, and those connections might require screws or other means to keep the table from falling apart with the slightest weight. With conventional furniture designs, these parts are often cut out or formed at different times from different materials, a process that often yields wastes bits and pieces that can no longer be used anywhere else.

Some furniture designs have become a bit smarter by attempting to utilize every inch of a single sheet of wood or metal, but those might still need extra parts to connect them together. A more efficient way would be to just use the whole sheet and nothing else, but it’s also more challenging to create visually appealing designs. You might think it’s a simple case of folding metal, for example, but making it usable while also looking good is actually harder than you might think.

Camber is an attempt to check all those boxes by cutting and bending a single sheet of stainless steel to form seats you’d want to look at as much as sit on. Rather than simply bending two ends to form legs, the design actually involves making two angular cuts where the folds would happen before actually bending down the legs. This creates not only a more interesting design but also adds some stability to the bench or stool’s legs.

Sanding gives the seats a reflective yet matte surface, removing the need for any harmful coating. It’s an almost perfect complement to the designer’s SST mirror, which uses the same single-sheet principle, except that the surface is polished to the point that it becomes more reflecting. Stainless steel might not be the most environment-friendly metal, but its longevity ensures that these chairs and benches should last far longer than other types. Camber is simple, almost brutalist in its appearance, but its appeal goes beyond looks, offering a design that isn’t only efficient but also, in some odd way, charming in its own right.

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Butt Be Dry Waterproof Seating Pad: So Long, Soggy Pants!

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Because nobody likes a wet butt (I only face forward in the shower), the Butt Be Dry (affiliate link) is a portable seating pad to prevent the back of your pants from getting soaked while sitting on a wet seat. Perfect for sports stadiums and the great outdoors, it probably won’t prevent you from getting wet if you decide to sit in a pool, just to be clear.

The 18″ wide pad rolls up to just 3″ when not in use and can be worn around the waist like a fanny pack for hands-free transportation. Available in blue, light blue, green, and camouflage, I can’t recommend buying the camo version unless you want to lose it on a camping trip. I could have sworn I set it on a tree stump around here somewhere!

Alternatively, do what my wife does whenever she doesn’t want to sit on a wet seat and sit on my lap. Why should two people have to suffer when only one can, and that person be you – that’s her motto. Such an angel.

[via DudeIWantThat]

The Entropy Chair Looks Entirely Chaotic

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Presumably inspired by the tangle of cords under my desk, the Entropy Chair created by Phillips’ Collection doesn’t look like a chair at all, just a cube of randomly strung wires. Those wires have actually been carefully placed to create a seat. How about that! Plus it’s only $1,800. The stainless steel chair measures a near-perfect 29″ x 30″ x 30″ cube and, according to the product website, “Is perfect for contemporary interiors and rooms with an industrial chic vibe. It’s also perfect for people with $1,800 to spend on a chair that looks like it was spun by a giant spider.

Will I be buying one? Probably not, but I will be making my own and trying to sell them online for half the price. Will I sell any? I suppose that depends on willing people are to spend $900 on an Entropy Chair that’s so entropic it’s not even a chair anymore, just a pile of rusty metal bars and tangled USB cables.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Plushie Animal Chairs: Stuffed Animal Seating

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Because who hasn’t dreamed of sitting on a chair made of stuffed animals, AP Collection is selling a line of seating upholstered in numerous stuffed animals. There are monkeys, chameleons, dogs, panda bears, and woodland creatures – you name it! All for your butt to enjoy. I have a feeling Cruella de Vil is going to be all over this collection.

Each of the chairs is a limited edition of 30 to 100, and there aren’t any prices listed on the website, so you can rest assured they cost a pretty penny. I suggest making your own for cheaper by taking a trip to Home Depot for lumber, then to the arcade to pump money in a claw machine until you’ve collected at least fifty stuffed animals. Actually… maybe it won’t be cheaper.

You know what I’d really like to see? A collection of chairs made out of valuable Beanie Babies to make them even MORE exclusive. Crazy rich people would buy them. I know I would if I were crazy and rich. I’m not, though, so I just occasionally sit on a pile of my dog’s toys and pretend.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Skrolla is a striking lounge chair that curves and bends to offer a comfortable seat

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It’s easy enough to downplay the importance of a well-designed chair. That is, until your back and posterior start to complain about the soreness in those areas. It might not be that difficult to design a chair with ergonomic curves and angles, but one that also looks good seems to be a bit more difficult to find. It almost gives the impression that ergonomics and aesthetics are mutually opposed, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Granted, it might require a lot more creativity and ingenuity, but the end result will be so much worth the effort. A shining example of that is Skrolla, a beautiful wooden chair whose curves are more than just for show.

Designer: Dan Harden

Chairs with curved surfaces are nothing new, but you’d often find those forms in seats made of plastic or metal. These materials are easier to bend than wood, of course, but they also have less impact when it comes to portraying natural beauty. That novelty serves to augment Skrolla’s beauty, its smooth wooden surface and smooth curved form creating a visually appealing appearance that will sit well in almost any room. Plus, those curves were carefully designed to offer the best comfort for anyone sitting on this magnificent piece of furniture.

The seat, which resembles the eponymous paper scroll, isn’t carved but made from 13 layers of plywood veneer, joined and curved using a novel patented process. The wide arms provide ample room for people to support their bodies on, and the seat reclines at what is considered to be the most comfortable lounging angle. It’s so comfortable that the designer is confident you won’t even need cushions for it.

The assembly of the other parts is just as intriguing as the seat and backrest themselves. The legs, for example, go through the bottom of the scroll to the underside of the arm, creating a stable hold that requires no bracing or screws. The actual legs have larger diameters, so they’re able to hold the entire weight of the chair without additional support. The curved backrest is mortised to the back legs, again removing the need for screws or metal parts.

That practically means that the lounge chair has only six parts, all of them made from wood. The simplicity of its construction contrasts with the sophistication of its form, creating a kind of harmony that you’ll rarely find even in the prettiest of lounge chairs. It also makes the production process a bit simpler, even if the construction of the curved wood itself is just as nontrivial as its appearance.

What’s important is that Skrolla is designed to be comfortable, both in terms of ergonomics as well as visual appearance. It makes its presence in any room immediately known without being gaudy, using instead its minimalist yet sophisticated design to attract attention. It is a prime example of a design that goes beyond the limitation of the material to deliver something that is both innovative yet also familiar, something beautiful and comfortable just as a lounge chair should be.

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Kreoo brings nature’s great art indoors as design objects you can sit on

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Zen gardens, whether actual gardens or miniature recreations, have become symbols of calm, relaxing spaces in today’s hectic world. It isn’t just the fine sand that conveys that imagery, and, in fact, the sand is more therapeutic and effective if you actively draw on them rather than just looking at their undulating patterns. A zen garden is almost like a microcosm symbolizing a miniature universe, at least the ideal one from monks’ minds. Every piece and part of that garden symbolizes nature’s true beauty, including the unhewn rocks and large smooth pebbles stacked on top of each other. It’s the latter’s beauty that Kreoo is bringing to homes, rooms, gardens, and poolsides to offer a piece of furniture that is both beautiful, calming, and thought-provoking, all at the same time.

Designer: Enzo Berti

There is something beautiful and also symbolic about smooth pebbles of different sizes stacked on each other. The pebbles themselves have been sculpted and polished by flowing river waters and blowing wind over the course of months and years, showcasing Mother Nature’s artistic talent. At the same time, the cairn, as it is sometimes called, is a man-made structure that is used to represent, among other things, higher aspirations as well as balance, attempting to find and create some semblance of balance in life.

Of course, these stacked pebbles are mostly only just for viewing, but Kreoo takes the concept and turns it into something you can both see and use every day. Its Pavé collection turns the concept of meditative stacked pebbles into furniture, especially ones that you can sit on. Rather than waiting for years for nature to take its course to create large, smooth pebbles, Kreoo employs modern techniques and materials to emulate Mother Nature as close as possible. And it’s not all just hard stone either, which would have made for an uncomfortable sitting and shipping experience.

Instead, the Pavé Stone seats use an oval marble base to deliver the sturdy foundations of this unique piece of furniture. It places a wooden seat on top, one that has been formed in the shape of a smooth pebble similar to its base. The lighter wood seat allows for rather visually unbalanced designs, with a top that’s twice as large as its base, something that would have been impossible using real rocks or marble. The design almost stands in defiance of nature while, at the same time, is a tribute to it.

At Salone del Mobile 2022, Kreoo introduced a new combination for its Pavé Stones. Normally just made of two pieces, a marble base and a wood seat, the furniture maker added another layer to increase the seat’s height and accommodate more people of varying heights and needs. There now exists an option to have two marble bases beneath the wooden seat, and the appearance of each piece can still be chosen as desired.

The Pavé collection also includes the Pavé Log bench, where a wooden board is made to overlap and overshoot two marble bases, and the Pavé Drink, a table that adds an element of metal in the stem that raises the round wooden top up high. These beautiful pieces of furniture are easily mistaken as design objects and can add a bit of Zen to any room, garden, or space while also offering something to sit on while you contemplate the meaning of life.

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