Shibui (simple elegance) in crafted chairs

Michael Puryear is a studio furniture maker whose works are featured on Guild.com (where incidentally there's an ornament clearance sale). His designs incorporate influences from Shaker and Scandinavian designs along with Janapese and African styles. He sums up his design goals: "I wish to imbue my work with shibui, the Japanese term for simple elegance. This simplicity belies the complexity of creating and joining furniture elements aesthetically, while maintaining full functionality in the design. " The barrow chair, made of bubinga wood and black leather, capture modern dynamism.

Mixed in to the examples of craftsmanship below are two mass-produced chairs. Can you spot them?





The chairs' names give you a clue: the other artisan finds include Seth Rolland's Finback Chairs, Gregg Lipton's Circle Back Chairs, Eric Ziemelis' Circle Stool, and Richard Judd's Ribbon Chair.

Artisan Furniture with a Modern Take

From the Yessy collection of artisanal furniture comes a unique variety of furnishings. Here's a few from Turkis Reha Erdogan that caught my eye:Barcode, made of 26 pieces of joined plexiglas, $2000

Clone, bentwood chair in human shape, $600

Line, in wood with glass seat, $500

Contact, a statement on the intimate opposition of male and female, $700

This three-legged wedge table by Wisconsin artist Bruce Bodden has a unique finish and shape.

After XMas Web Sales

While modernist designs often lack spare storage, there's some sales afoot, giving you a chance to stock up on decorative pieces for Christmas 2007 if your space allows. The 4-foot mirrored tree and 3-foot red lit trees are now 50% off. Wire trees and wreaths and tons of other options are also available at CB2, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Pier1.

The pick of ornaments up for grabs includes simple color-stripe globes (now $18 for 6) and bead-stripe ornaments. CB2 has an assortment of glass, coiled wire, and beaded ornaments on sale, and Pier1's entire Feliz Navi-Mod collection featuring several color palettes is 50% off.


There's also some finds to put into use right away. Gump's online sale offers a variety of modern pieces like this Michael Ruh vase, where each stem sits in its own green glass pod within the large cylinder. It's now 50% off, $47.50. An owl-shaped mango wood carved stool is a great accent for an eclectic entryway and has the bonus of adding storage (now $95). The Whitney ceramic lamp is a sleek shot of color. CB2, West Elm and Chiasso (where the "RING10" code gets an additional 10% off through 12/30) all have some great offerings that can bring a new, affordable punch to your mid-winter decor. From what I hear, IKEA's got a sale as well.

Modern Miniature Chair Contest

If you've cruised for modern chairs on the web, you've probably come across some of the Vitra miniatures of classic modern designs. But modern miniature chairs don't need to cost a fortune. Miniature Miller Marshmallow sofas and globe chairs are offered on eBay for under $50. Or you could craft them yourself. Design within Reach is sponsoring another edition of the champagne cork chair crafting contest. Entrants must use the cork, foil, cage and labels from only two champagne bottles to fashion their design. The prizes include gift certificates to DWR. Click here for a full list of last year's winner and the honorable mention entries. Submissions are due to DWR's headquarters by 1/15/2007.

Coffee Table Modern

Since when did Stacks and Stacks go beyond all the organizing paraphernalia and begin to sell furniture? I found this modern glass, chrome, and capuccino laminated particleboard coffee table for $210 at the online site (there's also an espresso version and a matching end table offered). I like the low profile (it's only 17 inches tall) and the storage drawers help keep visual clutter under control. While I've grumbled about the variable quality of furniture, I give S&S credit for full disclosure on the materials used in the piece. There's no claim of solid wood construction with veneers. If you're going to do affordable modern, fessing up about construction is the honest way to go. For the mod-inclined, hey've also got some retro-modern Futuro swivel chairs (pair, $499) and the light block table ($299).

If you're browsing, also take a look at the offerings in their outlet section. Also, until 12/31/06 with coupon code BMLTEN you get $10 off an order over $50.

Frank Gehry meets Tiffany

Tiffany and Co launched a collection of pieces by Frank Gehry that it bills as "exquisite jewelry, years in the making, born of a revolution and steeped in a new and daring sensuality. Chic. Glamourous. Fashionable. Defiantly so."

The Orchid drop pendant (left) is one of a series of pieces designed by the architect including earring and brooches. The most extravagant ($6,800) of the pieces features round brilliant diamonds and a 16" chain.

The small drop pendant in sterling silver on a 16" chain is $150. A nephrite green jade pendant on a chain is $350. Nearly one hundred different pieces are in the collection, sure to satisfy many admirers of modern, sparkly things.

Color for a Cause

While shopping online for those last few holiday accessories and gifts, I found that web shopping search site TheFind is making a donation to Doctors Without Borders of $1 per day for each person who searches for something red. There's over 36,000 items in the search results for "red chair" available and each item's pricing information from many online sellers is included in the results. As a bonus, I've discovered several new selling sites while hunting for a few nifty finds.

Red refrigerators, red lamps, red pillows. The pictured lamp is by Murray Feiss and has a red amber finish to its mod teardrop design. The chairs are both models, one a Vitra miniature of a 1918 Rietveld piece, the other a resin dollhouse version.

TheFind has committed to a $10,000 donation to the humanitarian organization this holiday season as a way of announcing its new "seach by color" option. Don't like red? After you click to donate, try "charcoal modern" on for size.

DWR's Eames Film Festival

This Thursday evening December 7th, DWR at Travis/McKinney will feature several short films (including Powers of Ten and The Lounge Chair) by the Eameses along with refreshments and an opportunity to browse the store. Other stores have already hosted the event with good response.

The legacy of Ray and Charles Eames extends far beyond their classic furniture pieces. Taking a multidisciplinary approach to design long before that was the norm, the Eameses created over 100 short films between 1950 and 1982. Join DWR, in conjunction with the Eames Foundation and Herman Miller for the Home®, as we celebrate their film legacy. We’ll be screening seven films ranging from 1–30 minutes in length. Attendees are encouraged to stay for a discussion following the screenings. Refreshments will be served.

Eames Film Festival
Thursday, December 7, 6–9pm
Design Within Reach
4524 McKinney Ave, Suite 103
Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: 214.521.0100
Powersof10.com

Off-the-beaten-path gift sources

Art is Art (which I've blogged about before) has art, funky furniture, and handmade jewelry offerings that make unique and affordable gifts. The assortment of sculptures, canvases and hand-crafted furniture pieces fills the two-room store.




The Dallas Museum of Art's Store features its annual Holiday Spree from December 2 through the 9th. Members enjoy 20% off throughout the store on all its books, prints, jewelry, and gifts.

At the MAC next weekend, enjoy the 10th annual Blue Yule Holiday Party and Ornament Sale fundraiser. Handmade ornaments by local artists, music and food and an auction promise a fun and artsy opportunity to pick up a gift or two, one artist had a fun time in 2005, though this artist's review of a the 2002 "Blew Yool" event is a little more pessimistic and .

Next weekend is also the Urban Street Bazaar at the Dallas Farmers Market. Over sixty booths featuring handmade jewelry, clothing, and accessories and a slate of fifteen bands will make for a festive shopping experience. There will also be an auction and raffle of items from participating vendors.

For gift giving that helps others, consider this article from the Dallas Morning News: More and more Americans are changing their approach to holiday wish lists. A lot of people are saying, 'You know what? I don't want any more stuff,' and a charitible donation in their honor may be just the ticket. A wide variety of charities offer donation gift options: UNICEF, the North Texas Food Bank, the Emergency Artists Support League, and La Reunion are a few to consider.

What I've been waiting for

This item from the Shopping blog is music to my ears: an annoucement of Scott + Cooner's semi-annual warehouse clearance sale! The last time I visited their sale, a fabulous Foscarini pendant fixture and two Flos sconces were mine for a fraction of their cost.

Need a lunch break?
Then hurry and head over to the Scott + Cooner warehouse at 1400 Turtle Creek (not the showroom location). Through Sunday, the modern decor company is slashing prices on sofas, beds, lighting, desks and chairs to make space for new merchandise.
"We just don't have the real estate to keep things that long," says company rep Rebecca O'Dell. "Some of the pieces were showroom samples other might be new but have a slight scratch."
Expect savings from 20 to 70 percent she adds, and, best of all, to see prices dip as Sunday approaches to clear it all out! They're open until 5:30 p.m. tonight, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.