Lunada's Favorites: Paola Letni Furniture

Most of the time, the content posted on this blog is regurgitated from some of my favorite design blogs and I offer my opinions and general praise.  Every once in a while, a random google search with inspire me, as it did today.  I found a great re purposed planter made of precast manholes minus the manhole covers.  By stacking the donut shaped concrete, a super modern and very good looking planter is created.

 

And so my landscape inspiration google search started and what did I find?  Paola Letni.  An Italian designer who specializes in modern furniture, textural rugs all in fun and playful color palettes.  Despite it's uber modern design aesthetic, the scale and colors of all of her pieces feel casual, inviting, and very very comfortable.  The pieces also give off the intent of being used as a set or by multiple users, social furniture, furniture for friends and loved ones. Great style, great find.  Good one, Leslie.

Advantageous Ambiguity

Question: Is it a bench? A sofa? A table? An ottoman?
Answer: Depends on the application.
Question: Does it?

OK, most of the time it does depend on the application, but basically it is the same fundamental design.  The first piece of furniture that I learned about in college was a 3-legged stool used for milking animals (or something); 2 Legs were too unstable so a 3rd leg was added and voila! Stool.  And then there were tables, aka bigger stools with 4 legs. Skip ahead thousands of years and here I sit at a "desk" with a "printer table" next to me.  In your home you probably have a "dining table", or a smaller version but same application (mostly by college students) a coffee table.  Or is it an ottoman?  Where is it?  Is it in front of your sofa, next to it?  Is it in your entry or at the foot of your bed?

For the sake of writing a blog and not philosophy paper, I will call these ambiguous furniture pieces benches.  I love benches, they are low, linear (sometimes) and have millions of different uses.  They can define a space, they can be completely utilitarian, decorative, or dare to say.....both? Formal, informal, playful or interactive, benches are probably the most versatile piece of furniture.  If you don't already have one, here are some images to inspire you! Ah, the beauty of a good bench.

Traditional

Modern

Conceptual

Architectural

My new must have, gossip chairs!!!!

Hmmm....let me zinc.

A while back, Lunada spec'd a zinc countertop out for a client.  Being a young designer and at that point, still in school, I had never heard of using zinc for countertops.  My boss (who pretty much knows everything about anything and it is amazing!) told me that it is similar to stainless steel in properties.  It's non-porous but can be scratched, great if you want a different look. Over time it will patina and develop more depth of color.  Well, we ended up going in a different direction for that client and it was never fabricated so that I could see one in person.  But, ever since then, I have been on the lookout for zinc countertops and along the way found all kinds of different furniture pieces that I think are absolutely gorgeous.  I even found a dresser on Restoration Hardware's website.  I don't know if I would trust it not to snag my sweaters or other pieces of clothes, but it looks rad and isn't that what's most important? Just kidding.

Studded Headboards

Headboards have always been an essential element in any bedroom, they are a great way to tie together pieces of furniture, patterns and colors in a variety of styles. Upholstered headboards aren't for formal bedrooms anymore; today's consumers are looking to these furniture pieces to contrast or enhance any bedroom's decor. One trend that I have really been noticing is the use of nail heads or studs to accent the headboard's shape or add contrast and texture. Nail heads can add rigidity to baroque shapes and subtle embellishment to the contemporary and clean. Here are some examples of affordable headboards that are easily found on websites such as Resoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. But if you aren't looking for something mass produced this style can easily be achieved at home after a quick trip to the fabric or hardware store [but please keep your Bedazzlers up in the attic].







Lunada custom designed this headboard for one of our clients upholstered in linen that resembled burlap with antiqued brass nail heads.

Be sure to check out our website: lunadaconsulting.com

Lunada's Favorites

This week, Lunada's Favorite Pick is the Phila Chair by Kaleo Kala, a furniture designer who was born in Hawaii, educated in Tasmania, established in New York and now based in D.C. The chair was inspired by the designer's stay in the historically rich and eclectic city of Philadelphia. The design was meant to reflect the city through the mix of the old and new, warehouses and townhouses, business districts and open spaces.Every custom piece created by Kala Studios is sustainable and thus limited in production. The company utilizes reclaimed woods recognized by the Forestry Stewardship Council [FSC] , bamboo plywood and sustainable glues and finishes.

The shots of the chair alone reflect the juxtaposition of it's concept by using graffiti art and warehouse spaces as backdrops. When something is so beautiful, it is hard to write when all you want to do is admire.