SIT DOWN WITH NOBODY

Danish design company Hay never stops to amaze me. I fell in love with their furniture and accessory collection when I visited their flagship store in Copenhagen, and now I'm crushing on Nobody—an industrially produced chair made strictly from textile. The chair is molded in one piece and in one single process, resulting in a light weight and stackable chair meeting modern demands of sustainability in both materials and production. Its design is inspired by a piece of cloth used over a chair to protect it. Using a technique borrowed from the car industry, the Nobody chair is manufactured from a 100 % recyclable material made from used water and soda bottles. Amazingly, the production process neither requires an internal frame, plastic, screws, glue or any other type of reinforcements. I'm a big fan of this chair's modish vibe and the powerful statement it can make in a room.

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A CHAIR OUT OF THE BOX

I've seen several interpretations of cardboard furniture, but this latest find, by San Francisco-based designer Dan Goldstein, is one of my favorites. The Re-Ply Reclincer is made with just four layers of upcycled heavy-duty corrugated fiberboard that are cut, laminated, molded and folded into a strong, comfortable shell. The triangular steel base that supports it allows the chair to comfortably rock and recline. You can then use your creativity to dress it up to match your home decor. I'm impressed!

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CHAIRS WITH A CAUSE

Pioneer chef and restauranteur Jamie Oliver has challenged a select group of artists and designers to lend their creativity and customize Arne Jacobsen's classic Ant chair. The one-of-a-kind designer chairs will be auctioned off to raise funds for his The Better Food Foundation which trains unemployed youngsters to become professional chefs. Designer like Paul Smith, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Christopher Bailey for Burberry are among the famed few invited to participate in The Big Chair Project. Each chair, like the ‘Truly Scrumptious’ by Julien McDonald, above, is quite unique in its own right. These are some of that caught my eye for their funkiness and creativity. You can take a peek at the rest of them here.

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PAST AND PRESENT

Danish design has been in the vanguard for decades. We've all come to know and love the classic traits that have made this style an international force. While in Copenhagen, I paid a visit to the Danish Design Center, Denmark’s knowledge centre for design, and was able to see some very cool exhibits. One of my favorites was Denmark by Design, an exhibit showcasing the development in Danish design from 1945 to 2010 and how it has become an integrated part of our everyday lives and mindset. The exhibition also explores the new generation of designers and companies that will design the decades to come and maintain Denmark's position as a leading design nation. The pieces were displayed by decades in a very clever way, giving a clear scope of the extensive contributions by Danish designers to modernity. I enjoyed everything about it, particularly being surrounded by so many iconic pieces of furniture I love and use in my everyday life, like Arne Jacobsen's Egg and Ant chairs and the Pantone chair by Verner Panton.

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CREATIVE MINDS THINK ALIKE

There's nothing that will keep creative minds from creating, especially when talented ones join forces—like German product designers Eva Marguerre and Marcel Besau, who teamed up to create Studio Besau Marguerre. Besides product design, their services range from interiors design to visual communication and branding. I'm glad I came across their site–it's a wonderful source of inspiration and eye candy. Take for instance this DIY project they worked on for Brigitte magazine. It's overly clever how they came up with these beautiful vignettes of chairs that have been refurbished together with the materials used for the transformation. Plus each of the chairs turned out simply gorgeous and give you some unique ideas to try on your own... right? If you have a few minutes and want to enjoy some of the behind-the-scenes happenings of the shoot, click here.

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STREET SEATS

The Armory Show is a staple in New York's art scene. Considered one of the most important events in the city, The Armory is the leading international contemporary and modern art fair showcasing works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Bade Stageberg Cox has developed “Street Seats, a furniture project created for the Pier 94 Coffee Bar at The Show. The 50 chairs, found abandoned on the streets of New York, were repaired and given a new life with a coat of taxi cab yellow paint. Like the city’s residents, the chairs are an eclectic mix, migrating throughout the fair during its five-day run. The bottom of each chair is stamped and documented with the date and location it was recovered.” Aren't these awesome? These are just a few of the chairs from the project, but if you want to see all 50, you can do so here. Which one is your favorite? Actually, I have a couple. This would definitely be a fun DIY project to take on—of course, on a much smaller scale. BTW, you can get your hands on any of these as the chairs are available for purchase.

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MY DESIGN ADDICTION

I never get tired of gushing over impeccable Scandinavian interiors. You know, I sort of have a weakness for this style. There's something so sexy about it that it's rather addictive. It's unreal how all these homes have flawless white floors—I guess it's almost part of their DNA. This particular flat, photographed by Copenhagen-based photographer Line Klein, is home to Britt Marie Hørsted which he shares with his girlfriend and kid. The place is filled with great pieces of furniture, art and loads of personal touches. I'm totally crazy about the amazing batch of mid-century chairs they have all over. They almost become sculptural pieces in every room.

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A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE

As part of a collaborative effort between Danish furniture company BoConcept and Egyptian-born designer Karim Rashid, this collection of affordable dining room pieces is just to die for. Every single piece in the Ottowa Collection has the distinctive fun and quirky style that Rashid is known for. It includes a complete dining room set with table, chairs, sideboard and cabinet. But that's not all. Rashid wanted to extend his vision to complementing accessories as well to create a complete dining experience. From lamps, dishes and vases the accessories add the finishing touches to the room. But one of my favorites is the bold black and white fingerprint rug that I find simply irresistible. Although the collection was designed for the dining room, most of its components would work just as well in any room of the home.

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