Emeco 111 Navy Chair.

Emeco's original 1006 Navy Chair is so iconic and not forgetting eco-friendly. It is made of 80% recycled aluminum. The new 111 Navy Chair follows in its "daddy's" footsteps being made from 111 recycled plastic Coca Cola Pet bottles to form 1 chair. The price is around half the price of the aluminum one and it comes in an array of colours. My favourite has got to be the red as well as persimmon. They make great chairs for an outdoor dining area or even in cafes.

Red.

Snow.

Persimmon.

Grass.

Flint.

Charcoal.

Mulberry Home.

I am a fan. I love Mulberry as a brand and with Mulberry Home, it's no exception. I love the old school simplicity of their fabrics and the somewhat familiar feeling it gives. I don't think a whole room in plaid is the way to go but think of a little splash of it in a room in the form of a chair or even cushions in muted damask prints. It could bring into the room a little cosiness and yet a different touch without anyone thinking your granny had a hand in your decor.

Henry Built.

From the first time I set my eyes on a Henry Built ad in Dwell magazine, I was mesmerized. The attention to detail, how well thought the kitchen was, the simplicity of the entire design caught me by surprise. I remember staring at the page studying their choice of materials, proportion of their pieces and colours. Without a doubt, I had set my eyes not on a luxury kitchen like a Poliform Varenna but on something that I knew I could actually have and use. That's why I am also happy to share with you this newfound interest.

Presenting to you, Henry Built. Enjoy.

Thonet 214K Chairs.

This is one of the most iconic chairs that is so easily recognised. It is known by so many names; the Vienna, "consumer chair", "coffee shop chair", "chair of chairs" or just plainly No. 14. From 1859 to 1930, up to 50 million of these chairs were reproduced. Last year, a new twist was added. They have decided to knot (that's what the K stands for) one of the legs. I think it would be fun to have a couple of pieces of the classic pieces and have one or two of the knotted pieces mixed among them. Then your guest might just discover the knot in their chair and have something to rave and rant about or feel special.

By the way, there is also a kid's version of the classic piece. Adorable.

Thonet

Joyce Cabinet By Pinch Design.

It's not often that I come across a piece of furniture that I would really want to own. Sure there are a lot of pieces that I think are drop dead gorgeous or nice to own. However, this piece from Pinch Design is absolutely me. I love how simple it looks, painted wood frame with sliding glass doors, inside shelves and drawers in cherry wood. It reminds me of an updated vintage cabinet that I would find in my grandpa's place.

Peacock Chair by Cappellini.

The Peacock Chair was introduced to the world at this year's Milan Furniture Fair by Cappellini. It is designed by New York based Israeli, Dror Benshetrit. I love the chair's construction, check out the last image on how the lovely rich wool felt is pleated near the legs. The chair is made with two pieces of felt (to create a rich colour on one side and a muted grey on the other) and pleated lovingly into shape. Look at the way the backrest meets the seat, so orderly and perfectly in place making it aesthetically provoking yet charming.

Worker Sofa and Chair By Vitra.

Another fine example of functional art meets furniture. Hella Jongerius of Jongerius lab designed these for Vitra's 2006 collection. Her style signature is distinct; a mischievous play of different materials, textures, colours and manufacturing technics. In this case, you can see the mixture of aluminium and wood, prints and solid colours, and if you look close enough, you will notice parts of it are machined and handmade.

The little details like the choice of different kinds of wood matched with powder coated aluminium joints, the handles on the top of the seats, the backrest in a contrasting material, the simple back brace and also the front legs being so different from the back legs. I am a lover of thoughts. It intrigues me that so much thought has been put into designing one single piece of furniture. You can simply stare at the piece and never get quite sick of it. I assure you, this is not just an artwork, it is also a very comfortable chair.

Limited Editions.

I came across the Limited Edition Fortuny Lamp done in silk taffeta. I love the beautiful purple folds which Mariano Fortuny has made famous. He was remembered as a dress and fashion designer, but he was also an engraver, painter, photographer, architect, lighting technician, set designer, inventor and impresario. That's why this lamp encapsulates what makes Mariano Fortuny, him. Simply Inspiring.

For some reason, I thought of the Limited Edition Eames Egg Chair as well which was reproduced by Fritz Hansen did for the 50th anniversary of the chair. This chair ranks rather high on my list of favourite chairs. Many people don't know that Eames was a smoker, and because of that, on most of his chairs, you would be able to balance an ash tray on its arm. Why I love this edition? The dark leather, matching suede underside and the cooper legs makes this chair so sensually inviting. Gives an old chair some form of grandeur and a new lease of life.

ici et la.

I love antiques, all kinds of antiques. They add character to a space and a little nostalgia. Ici Et La in Australia is stocked full of European antiques. Besides the usual antique furniture, the sell the odd items like speakers, linen napkins, upholstery, flatware, and even an old set of shutters.

I am an absolute fan of reusing old furniture. I think that beautiful things are made to live a few lives with many people. The older they get, the more stories they tell (from their surfaces, colour or condition). It is almost like sharing your joy with someone else. Moreover, this is definitely environmentally friendly. It reduces your carbon footprint because you are not manufacturing a new piece and also not having it thrown away as waste.

Our earth is dying, we need to preserve it for our future by having a "green" conscience.

Roche Bobois.

Roche Bobois is a French furniture company which initially started as just a distributor of contemporary furniture in the 1960s. Now they are not just a distributor, they have also had some collaborations with famous designers to manufacture furniture exclusively for themselves. They had also a small collection of furniture designed with an environmentally healthy conscience.

I particularly liked their bookshelves and storage consoles. I suppose that's why I featured them instead of their sofas or tables.

Enologist Cabinet. The French manufacturer looked to the past for inspiration for its Architecte collection. This 94-inch-long, cherrywood-veneer Enologist chest is based on an old piece used by vintners to store bottles. I love the vintage feel and look of the chest. Stunning.

This shelf is designed by a young French man, Christophe Delcourt with wood harvested from chemical-free, sustainable wood forests. The item requires minimal packing and can be flat packed to improve it's carbon footprint.

What I like about this bookshelf is the way it reaches upwards and outwards like a tree. It's simple wood structure makes it beautiful to display pieces or shelf books.

This one almost seems to defy physics with it's very minimal skeleton. To me it looks like two sine curves inter-twined. Sure to bring out the "geeky" or "cheeky" side in a person.

Milan Furniture Fair 2009.

If there are three periods of the year which requires maybe a year in advance booking of hotels (and be warned, they aren't cheap then) would be The Milan Fashion weeks and The Milan Furniture Fair. The Milan Furniture Fair has just ended its run last week. As usual, thousands of buyers, designers, and manufacturers flocked to Milan (I hear that sometimes they do share rooms with quite a few folks to save on cost) to see the fair and get insight on what to look out for in the year ahead.

As always, there were a few stand outs in the sea of  furniture (and people). Unfortunately, I couldn't get my hands on any of the images of Aun2h4 Studio's "I on the Flower" chair. It is made of polypropylene petals, the armchair opens up under your weight. I hear that there was quite a queue to sit on it.

Anyway, enjoy the photos of those I could find that were featured as well.

Opus Incertum, 100% recyclable polypropylene bookcases designed in a colourful honeycomb structure by 41-year-old Sean Yoo for Casamania.

Bartoli Design's Highway Seating. It is a modular seating system where the flat seat wraps itself to form a vertical loop.

Liesmichl Bedside Table, made from Birch Plywood.

Out of Stock's Naked Chairs, which come flat packed (very light as it is made of thin sheets of steel and wood) and can be easily assembled with butterfly nuts, no tools required. 

Store Muu Design's Pit In. It is a wooden docking station for cyclists. Once the bicycle is parked, the cyclist doesn't have to move; their saddle becomes their seat, they can rest their arms on a wooden stand, their feet on platforms, and they can spread a newspaper on the table in front or take their laptop out for a quick work session.