Vroom

I've been extremely busy lately, but I also just went to the New York International Auto Show.  I LOVE the Auto Show.  So I'd like to post some of the things I found most interesting.

I'm not particularly crazy about SUVs, in principle, but of all the new ones, I thought Land Rover's LRX Concept had the most beautiful profile.  It's a really stunning vehicle.

Ryan Witte

Cyberpunk Granny's House

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Okay, this is some of the freaking coolest lighting I have seen in a VERY long time.  It's a Williamsburg, Brooklyn company called Collura & Co.

Back in 1960, Denis Collura asked grandma to describe what kind of lamps she thought she'd have in the year 2060.  I'm kidding, he's very likely much younger than that.  But they're almost like precious--even prissy--little antique lamps that have just completely overdosed on steroids and turned into cyborgs.  The contrast between the delicacy and the heavy, futuristic industrial edge--the feminine and masculine, actually--is absolutely brilliant.  They might be a little difficult to mix into an aged brown-leather and mahogany pipe-smoker's library, but I love them nonetheless.  [Click the images for larger views.]

The hardware on this one in particular is really stunning:

©2008, Ryan Witte

Edge of the World

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Here's a group of designers from New Zealand distributed by Essenze (spelled with "nz" for the location).

Lucy Tupu

"Sally"

Catherine David Designs

This was really fun and quite beautiful: "Vintage Axminster 'Cow Skin'"

David Haig

This piece was at the show and I thought it was extremely elegant: "Signature Rocking Chair"

Conscious Design

This was at the show, as well: "Tio"

 

I'm really loving these old-timey upholstery fabrics a LOT, especially when used on clearly contemporary pieces.

Their star designer though, in my humble opinion, is David Trubridge.  He's doing a lot of really amazing work with housewares, lighting, and furniture.  Some misses here and there, but mostly hits from him.

I'm not terribly crazy about his housewares, but one item I did really like is his "Pebble Bowl Set"

I really appreciate how natural they look, and they're quite stunning in a group.

Similarly, much of the lighting I don't feel is breaking any especially new or interesting ground.  However I do really like "Squirt," which is quite distinctive.

And "Floral" is kind of really lovely, and could look very organic.

I imagine them being hung in groups.  The light patterns they'd fill a room with would be very interesting, too, I suspect.  There's another very similar to this called "Coral," with a more geometric pattern.  I wasn't sure that one was quite as successful.

His furniture is extremely elegant, though, and he obviously has an eye for line.  "Dondola":

"Smile"

"Coromandel"

"Ruth Rockers 2 & 1"

 

"Ruth Upholstered"

A good number of their designers' smaller items: housewares, jewelry, pottery, glassworks, etc. are available by mail order.

©2008, Ryan Witte