Eco Furniture Design

As indicated in Furniture Style "Anxieties about globalization have sparked greater consumer interest in the provenance of manufactured goods. The Internet has facilitated consumers’ ability to determine which brands are proving to be good stewards of the environmental and human capital they employ." In the year 2008 sustainable businesses are proliferating all around us. To honor earth day, I am inaugurating the first installment of the Furniture Design Gallery's monthly profile of design excellence in sustainable furniture.

At Green Designs, Green is more than just a name. Green manufacturing means creating designs that endure - structurally and artistically - to last for generations, without harming either the environment or the people that make or use them. Our work is done using domestically grown solid wood, logged following sustainable forestry guidelines. Whenever possible, our manufacturing waste products are recycled or repurposed.

Attaining the summit of great design requires the seamless integration of aesthetic beauty with brilliant function. Great design reaches the highest level of sustainability by continuing to provide pleasure and comfort for your lifetime and for generations to come.

For more information and the complete online showroom go to Green Designs.

Ekornes: Comfort, Quality and Design

Ekornes introduced the Stressless® recliner in 1971 . Meticulously developed and designed to provide your body with the ultimate in comfort and support while sitting upright or reclined. This revolutionary design has made Stressless® the ultimate recliner for the past 35 years. For decades we have been committed to our comfort philosophy while continuously refining and improving every detail. We continue our pursuit of perfecting the ultimate seating comfort of Stressless® recliners and sofas today. The innovation of the Stressless® PlusTM System is integrated into our line of chairs, oveseats and sofas. Offered in both high- and low-back sofas, Stressless® offers individual adjustment of each seat for a personalized comfort. Ekornes. The Innovators of Comfort.

For the full line of Ekornes recliners and sofas go to Galerie Danoise.

Highlights of High Point 2008

The High Point Market returned to the Furniture Capital of the World this month with plenty of furniture introductions and stylish home accessories in the mix. From April 7-13, buyers were able to find new items to display on their showroom floors. Here are a few of the highlights:

Part of the PaTS accessory line, hand-carved bowls, trays and stools by From The Mountain are crafted by the indigenous Yanesha people of the Peruvian rainforest.

From Palm Springs Rattan & Garden Classics, the new Windsor Collection features a beautiful dark brown vinyl wicker over the stackable chairs and two coordinating tables.

Al Fresco Planters by Palecek are woven with UV-resistant plastic in a chic mocha color and have aluminum liners to hold the plants.

The sleek Horizon sun lounge from Barlow Tyrie combines a solid plantation grown teak with Textilene sling for a modern take on lounging outdoors.

Veneman Collections’ Barrel chair is a modern-day lounge/dining piece highlighted by round contours designed for the curves of the human body.

For the complete article go to Casual Living.

La La Lamp

La La Lamp is a floor lamp designed by Helen Kontouris, made of two conic, internally opaline coated fabric shades. Noiseless IGBT technology dimmer. Small: 2 x E27 (E26 U.S.) max 100WLarge: 2 x E27 (E26 U.S.) max 150W Kundalini Lighting Design Products were conceived to create evocative and harmonious light atmospheres. These luminous bodies establish emotional relations with those should observe and experience them. Kundalini product designers include; Karim Rashid, Norman Foster and Future Systems amongst many other world renowned design leaders. Kundalini products have frequently appeared in international movie products, advertisments, TV programmes and video clips. Historic products such as the floor lamp E.T.A, the collection of lamps Shakti, the armchair Hara and recently the lamp Bokka or the Gerkin edition have alrerady become cult icons for the media world. For the full Kundalini collection go to Kalusto Furniture.

Galerie Danoise

La Galerie Danoise is Montreal's leading source for Scandinavian furniture designs in teak. Since 1968, Galerie Danoise has been furnishing homes in the greater Montreal area and now, through its newly added online store, the entire globe. Galerie Danoise selects only the finest wooden furnishings from premier manufacturers. The timeless elegance and durability of fine quality furniture provides the best value. We are proud to represent the premiere names in Scandinavian furniture design. For the full collection of furniture designs go to Galerie Danoise.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German-American architect considered one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture. Mies sought to establish a new architectural style that, just as Classical and Gothic did for their eras, could represent modern times. Extreme clarity and simplicity are the trademarks of his influential Twentieth-Century architectural style. Mies utilized modern materials like industrial steel and plate glass. He also developed the use of exposed steel structure and glass to define space and imply freedom of open space; Mies called his buildings "skin and bones" architecture. For more information go to Eurofurniture.

Lockheed Lounge

'Lockheed Lounge', and pattern mould, fibreglass/ aluminium/ polyester resin/ polyurethane, designed by Marc Newson, made by Marc Newson and Eckhard Reissig, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988-1990. Chaise lounge of continuous curve shapes formed around a reinforced fibreglass shell. The lounge is clad in aluminium sheets which are beaten to shape and fitted by had with blind rivets. The lounge has three legs with slightly curved feet, one at the front and two at the rear. Full size mould for chaise lounge constructed of reddish brown coloured polyester resin and polyurethane. The mould reproduces the continuous curve shapes of the lounge and was used to make the shell for lounges.

Shakti Air

Shakti Air is a suspension dimmerable lamp, made of three plexiglas laser cut diffusers, mounted on a single structure and electrified with cable and floor plug. Designed by Marzio Rusconi. Kundalini Lighting Design Products were conceived to create evocative and harmonious light atmospheres. These luminous bodies establish emotional relations with those should observe and experience them. Kundalini product designers include; Karim Rashid, Norman Foster and Future Systems amongst many other world renowned design leaders. Kundalini products have frequently appeared in international movie products, advertisments, TV programmes and video clips. Historic products such as the floor lamp E.T.A, the collection of lamps Shakti, the armchair Hara and recently the lamp Bokka or the Gerkin edition have alrerady become cult icons for the media world. For Kundalini Lighting Design Products go to Kalusto.

Eames Lounge and Ottoman

In continuous production since its introduction in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair is widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century. It was the culmination of Charles and Ray Eames' efforts to create a club chair using the molded plywood technology that they pioneered in the '40s. In Charles Eames' words, the vision was a chair with the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." The result has become the consummate lounge set, timelessly blending old-fashioned comfort and visionary modernism. Pairing soft, inviting leather with the sleek form of molded plywood, the seat is balanced on a five-star, die-cast aluminum base. All parts are replaceable by Herman Miller;. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. For more information go to Design Within Reach.

Tonelli Tables

Glass coffee table. 15mm thick transparent glass. Available in three sizes: 900mm x 900mm, 1180mm x 880mm or 1280mm x 680mm. Tonelli is an Italian company founded in the mid-1980s and is the result of a deep and lasting passion for research and experimentation. Tradition and technology have been brought together to forge Tonelli’s company philosophy, the very heart of which is based on the value given to design and therefore, to the designer, when it comes to enhancing the characteristics of this unique element. For more information see the full Tonelli collection.

The New Feeling of Jazz

The Stressless® Jazz is a result of more than 35 years of refining our two core values, function and comfort. Though highly contemporary, the rounded base and sleek steel frame pay tribute to our true classic: The Stressless® Jazz Original from 1971. The Stressless® continues our tradition of comfort, function and quality. The Stressless® Jazz and its ottoman can be adjusted to match your height. Adding or removing any of the three rings on the base allows you to choose between low, medium or high settings. For the full range of Ekornes designs go to Galerie Danoise.