Monthly ArchiveDecember 2007
Plastic Bar Stools Lizza on 31 Dec 2007
Upbeat chairs for your bar: The Kant stool by Karim Rashid
Modern bar chairs come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they seem more than just commercial furniture, quite a few seem to be works of art as well. But a combination of funky design plus practical functionality would be a winning combination. After all, if it looks good but is not too comfortable to sit in, then it probably wouldn’t be ideal for use either at home or in a commercial setting. The Kant Stool by Karim Rashid seems to have both those qualities.
The soft curves of the stool and the way the footrest juts out gently help make it a pleasant sight. Add to that the cool colors in which the chair is available and you have a modern seating item that would liven up your bar or restaurant. What’s more, you can choose from among a range of colors available to complement your establishment’s overall design and color scheme. The stool’s seat is independent of the structure, enabling a choice between a monochrome or two-tone chair. There are seven color options available for the structure and nine for the seat; all in all, there are 63 color combinations from which you can choose.
Uncategorized Lizza on 29 Dec 2007
Practical whimsy: The Marrakech stools by Ton Haas
Marrakech, a city of mystique and tradition; it’s an ancient place that is said to embody the true spirit of Morocco. The suuqs, the mosques, the narrow streets – all these and more are characteristic of this city that is so popular with both the locals and foreign travelers. Small wonder then that it was somehow part of the inspiration for the Marrakech – or Marakes – Stool collection by Ton Haas.
These contemporary bar chairs remind me of a fez, those cute-looking hats they wear in those areas. They are also similar to head gear worn by whirling dervishes, but those are Turkish not Moroccan, aren’t they? Anyway, Haas’ stools look like those, except for the fact that his furniture comes in candy colors. I can’t see those whirling dervishes wearing a bright lemon-yellow fez.
Uncategorized Lizza on 27 Dec 2007
African craftsmanship in the TaTu furniture collection by Stephen Burks
We are going to be talking about TaTu here. No, not the body art kind, nor the female pop duo from Russia. TaTu in this case is the name of a modular furniture collection from American industrial designer Stephen Burks, who founded Readymade Projects in New York City, specializing in various design projects.
A stool is included in the collection. Manufactured by Artecnica, it is made of galvanized steel that is finished in white or red coating. Very versatile and durable, it can be used as commercial bistro furniture indoors or outdoors since it is weatherproof. I like how you can use hollow seat as a storage space. Doing so can accentuate the general look or design of your café or restaurant. It’s a handy and convenient thing to have, measuring just 16 inches high and with a seat diameter of 12 inches.
Uncategorized Lizza on 25 Dec 2007
Modern barstools from Blu Dot: The CounterstoolCounterstool
CounterstoolCounterstool. No, you aren’t seeing the visual form of an echo here. That really is the name of this chair from Blu Dot. I’ve seen many crazy names furniture designers come up with for their creations, but this one just made me laugh. Or should I say, laughlaugh?
The chair itself is nothing to laugh at, however. It is simple, understated, functional. It doesn’t grab you with any bizarre shapes, looks, or materials. It meets all the basic requirements for a functional barstool – attractive though unassuming design and comfort – and that in itself is more than good enough.
The CounterstoolCounterstool is available in bar-height and counter-height versions. (Shouldn’t they have called the first one the BarstoolBarstool?) I don’t see any reason why they can’t be used as contemporary café chairs. They are stackable and come in a variety of wood finishes: ebony, ivory, white oak, and graphite oak. The bar-height version measures 42.5 inches high, 16 inches wide, and 19.25 inches deep with a seat height of 30.5 inches. The counter-height version meanwhile measures 36.5 inches high, 16 inches wide, and 19.25 inches deep, with a seat height of 24.5 inches.
Uncategorized Lizza on 23 Dec 2007
Palatial seating: Barstool for royalty by Eckart Muthesius
When you think of grand examples of architecture in India, probably the first thing that would come to mind would be the Taj Mahal. It’s true that it’s a magnificent structure, breathtaking in its grandeur. But there are also other architectural examples that while not as opulent as the Taj Mahal are still impressive in their own right. The Manik Bagh Palace, residence of the Maharaja of Indore, Shri Yeshwant Rao Halkar Bahadur (whew, that was a mouthful!) is an example of German architecture in India. How did it come to be that German influences characterize the residence of a maharaja? This was because when he was studying in Europe in the 1920s, he made friends with the German designer Eckart Muthesius. Muthesius was commissioned to build the palace in Indore and to furnish it as well.
Uncategorized Lizza on 21 Dec 2007
Show highlight: One Family chairs by Konstantin Grcic
It’s been a busy year so far for German designer Konstantin Grcic, but then again, is there ever a time when designers of his caliber and reputation when they are not too busy? One of his most recent high-profile activities happened in October 2007 at the designblok exposition held in Prague in the Czech Republic. He had an installation called One Jungle, which featured his One Family stacking chairs. Actually, they were slightly altered versions of those chairs, and this exhibit was part of the promotion of the new One Family barstool.
The legs of the chair are made of polished anodized aluminum while the seat is of die cast aluminum that has been treated with sputtered-fluorinated titanium and then given a polyester powder paint finish. The way it has been treated makes it resistant to fire and also suitable for outdoor use. The original One Family stacking chair was launched in 2006; I don’t really know when the barstool version was launched, but as mentioned earlier, it was being promoted at designblok 07, as part of an exhibition titled “Four Diamonds.”
Plastic Bar Stools Lizza on 19 Dec 2007
Zig Zag stools by Fernando & Humberto Campana: Woven in plastic
Back when I was a kid I remember we used to learn handicrafts in school. One thing we used to do was to weave baskets using wicker or rattan fiber. Depending on the way we would weave, we would create baskets that that various patterns: crisscrossing lines, lines that ran parallel to each other, lines that looked like a jumble of networks, but which still formed a pattern somehow. The seat of the Zig Zag Stools by Fernando and Humberto Campana reminds me a bit of the weaving we did back then.
A seat that does not have one solid, whole surface is a bit troubling to me, especially if it has large gaps like this one. I’m not sure if it would be that comfortable to sit in since I really don’t know if it will carry the user’s weight evenly. And uneven seating can have unpleasant effects after some minutes, like a painful lower back. That’s how it is in my case anyway.
Uncategorized Lizza on 17 Dec 2007
Fun-looking Ribbon Stools - presented by Nendo
It’s that time of the year again, the time to say and hear words like “ho ho ho,” the season to be merry, although that can be hard at certain moments, especially when you are all knackered from shopping and buying Christmas gifts. It can be like going to battle and there’s nothing more you’d like to do than to sit down and rest those aching legs, perhaps drink a tall coffee at a small bistro or restaurant that isn’t too crowded.
The Ribbon Stools designed by Nendo would make wonderful contemporary café chairs. They would look good all year round, but they would probably take on more significance and relevance during the holidays. It’s undeniable that they do look like ribbons that adorn Christmas presents, especially the shiny, brightly colored ribbons that have a metallic sheen.
Plastic Bar Stools Lizza on 15 Dec 2007
Plastic perfection: Spoon bar stool by Antonio Citterio
There are many things associated with the word spoon. Obviously based on the eating utensil, we have terms like spoon-feeding and spooning and…a spoon stool. Yes, there is a spoon stool in existence, and it is actually a design classic. Designed by Antonio Citterio and manufactured by Kartell, these stools are being used as modern bistro chairs or as seating in other types of restaurants and in the home.
It doesn’t exactly look like a spoon, but the way the seat curves really is reminiscent of the dining utensil. And just as we have plastic spoons, the Spoon Stool is made entirely from smooth polypropylene. Unlike plastic spoons though, it isn’t disposable. What establishment owner or homeowner would want to get rid of a perfectly serviceable furniture item, and one that looks so eye-catching at that?
Uncategorized Lizza on 13 Dec 2007
LEM Piston Stool: A winner of a chair
With its sloping design and minimalist look, the LEM Piston Stool by Shin and Tomoko Azumi is certain to attract attention. And that it did, in a major way: by being designated as Product of the Year at the 2000 International Interior Design Awards. While it can’t be called extremely radical, there’s no denying that it looks more unusual than your regular bar stools.
The LEM Piston stool’s height is adjustable – so it can be used at either counter height or bar height – via a gas-lift lever at the bottom of the seat. The zinc-plated metal base has a stainless steel layer, the column is of matted chrome steel, and the plywood seat comes in either a beech or walnut veneer. The stool’s height can be raised from 29.5 inches to 34 inches. It is 14 inches wide and 16.5 inches deep. The seat height can go from 26.5 inches to 31 inches.
Uncategorized Lizza on 11 Dec 2007
Modern casual seating with the B-Pop Barstool
Not everyone is a fan of pop music, but it there’s no denying that it has a big following. The same goes for other aspects of pop culture, like fashion, cuisine, art, and furniture. Pop culture is simply our modern, everyday culture that anyone experiences, whatever their social status. It has its bads and goods, but the great thing is there’s something for everyone.
Bar-hopping is part of popular culture, and it isn’t any far stretch of the imagination to think that the furniture in bars is a reflection of this. When I saw the B-Pop Barstool , what immediately struck me about it is how ‘pop’ it looks. It’s very aptly named. With its bright stripes and modern look, there’s no doubt that it would look right at home in modern, casual establishments. I’m thinking they would even be suitable as contemporary reception chairs at small, not-too-formal inns and hotels.
Uncategorized Lizza on 05 Dec 2007
Modern aluminum seating: Jamaica bar stool by Pepe Cortes
Looking at numerous blogs and sites about furniture, I’ve come across items that have made my jaw drop in admiration because of how radical they look, or because they have high-tech features, or simply because they are just breathtakingly gorgeous. I can safely say I like most of the restaurant furniture, hotel furniture, café furniture and bar furniture I’ve seen online so far.
But things like the aluminum Jamaica Bar Stool, created by Spanish designer Pepe Cortes, give me pause. On the one hand, there’s no denying its ultra-modern, sophisticated look. On the other hand, the anodized cast aluminum seat kind of reminds me of a speculum for some reason. I realize it doesn’t really look like one, but that’s what came to mind when I first saw it. I know that bars and similar establishments can be fraught with sexual tension sometimes, what with all the flirting that goes on in them. Still, something that triggers an image of gynecological device isn’t probably what I’d welcome in a bar.