Firstly, sorry to all you regular readers of TFCR out there for my lack of posts last month.

I have recently started a new job working for a stunning contemporary furniture showroom called CHAPLINS in Hatch End, Middlesex. The showroom even has its very own Design Museum so for the first time in my life I actually look forward to getting up in the morning!

CHAPLINS pieces are regularly featured in interior design magazines such as Elle Decoration and Living Etc so I am sure many of you will be familiar with both their name and the brands they stock such as Vitra, Knoll and Kartell.

Anyway, once things have calmed down I hope to get back up to speed so please keep checking back! J x

www.chaplins.co.uk

Rare Knoll Advertising Posters

Item number: 300328300254

KARTELL 4676 Magazine Rack - Designer GIOTTO STOPPINO

Item number: 290329747686

RETRO ROSEWOOD CURVED STOOL WITH REMOVABLE CUSHION

Item number: 140331856904

While the design world is continually rocked by up-and-coming talent, two men whose names you should familiarize yourself with right now are Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders. These men have designed pieces for reputable brands including Kartell, Magis, Moooi, Droog, and Alessi, just to mention a few. In a world filled with uniformity and conformity, each one of these designers is a breath of fresh air.

Philippe Starck: The Paris-born designer started his career at age 19, where after graduating from École Nissim de Camondo in Paris – he started his first design firm. A year later, Starck became art director of his firm, joining forces with French Fashion designer Pierre Cardin. His career really took off in the early 80s when he designed the interior of French President François Mitterrand’s private apartments.

Starck has worked both as an interior designer and a product designer, creating products for brands like Microsoft, Alessi, Fossil, and Target. The designer is often sought after by hotel owners and has designed the interiors of hotels in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris and Hong Kong.

Starck’s Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell is one of his best-known pieces. Made from transparent polycarbonate, the chair’s form is inspired by the baroque era, but the clear plastic material is completely modern. Other well known pieces include his Bubble Club Sofa, and Eros Chair (both for Kartell) and the Juicy Salif Citrus-Squeezer (for Alessi). Starck even designed a line of strollers for Maclaren.

Marcel Wanders: Born in the Netherlands, Marcel Wanders is not as well known as Starck, but he certainly has his own following in the design community. Wanders first garnered acclaim for his 1996 Knotted Chair, which was produced for Droog. In addition to furniture design, Wanders is accomplished in both interior design and architectural design.

Not only does Wanders contribute his artistic vision to modern European contemporary manufacturers like B&B Italia, Magis, Moroso, Flos and Cappellini, but he also is art director and co-owner of Moooi. His pieces are featured in design collections and exhibitions all over the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the V&A Museum in London to name a couple. His works have been featured in prominent design publications like Blueprint, Wallpaper, Nylon, Elle Decor and The New York Times.

Among his list of accolades: being selected as one of Europe’s 25 leaders of change by Business Week, 2005/2006 Designer of the Year by Elle Decor and one of Identity’s “World’s 50 Design Icons.”

Whether you like the designs of Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders or not, there’s no denying their talent. These men are icons in the making. If you don’t know them now, you had best start familiarizing yourself.

Many thanks to Jamie at www.allmodern.com

Early Version Nest of Stacking Tables for Kartell Italy c1968 by Giotto Stoppino.

Available from Fragile Design:

http://www.fragiledesign.com/tableDining.html

50′s 60′s Danish Teak Coffee Table made by Lovig for Dansk

Item number: 190309077674

Original 1950s Small Table / Plant Stand

Item number: 280347694614

Original 1970-80s ‘Radio’ analog radio

Item number: 280347643456

Vintage Robin Day leather & chrome armchair desk chair

Item number: 170335073892

RETRO 60s DANISH ROSEWOOD CABINET BY BORGE MOGENSEN

Item number: 280348545138

Loving these new ‘Easy Gold Slim Pendants’ from Kartell.

Designed by Ferucci Laviani and made from robust polycarbonate, this clean lined and simple gold pendant looks particularly affective when hung in rows or clusters.

Available from Heals

Jacobsen, Eames, Saarinen – the shapes of their most famous chairs are combined to form this ‘masters’ chair by Kartell with Stark and Quitlett.

Further information at Design Boom

Cindy is a table lamp by Ferrucio Laviani, designer of the now iconic Bourgie Table Lamp, for Kartell.

With its conical shaped lamp shade and round teardrop base it has a distinct 1970s look.

The retro appearance, though, is brought right up to date with Cindy’s chrome like finish in a variety of rich metallic tones : gun metal, violet, flamingo, tangerine, platinum, mint green, ultramarine and gun metal (shown left to right in the picture). These gorgeous colour shades add a touch of lustrous glamour to Cindy too and radiate a multitude of iridescent reflections.

Available from Utility Design:

http://www.utilitydesign.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UtilityDesign/_KARCINDY/-/Kartell%20Cindy%20Table%20Lamp

Cindy has good eco credentials also and uses an energy saving light bulb.

Simple yet effective, these Kartell Suspension Lamps ooze class. Personally I would have 2 or 3 of these in a line above a dining table for extra effect.

Available from Panik Design:

http://www.panik-design.com/acatalog/Kartell_-_Ferruccio_Laviani_-_Easy_Gold_or_Silver.html

“How do you warm up an iconic Modernist House? Tactile materials and hits of colour bring a touch of cosiness to this clean-lined retreat….” Elle Decoration Nov ’08

This cosy Modernist Lounge includes the iconic Le Corbusier sofa and LTR Occational Table by Charles and Ray Eames. The straight lines are toned down using the flokati rug and I love the Perpex ‘Usame’ coffee table by Patricia Urquiola for Kartell which houses a selection of book and magazines.

Kartell Coffee table available from Nest:

http://www.nest.co.uk/product/kartell_usame_coffee_table/?print