Contents
Good news for everyone who follows the latest trends in the world of interior design: the novelties of world brands, presented at imm Cologne 2008, have appeared in Moscow furniture showrooms.
In the 1960s, the Finnish company Marimekko was famous for its fabrics with bright floral prints (red poppies were its trademark). Progress does not stand still: now designers draw inspiration not only from the plant, but also from the animal world. Spring collection 2008 is just a celebration of the soul for a young naturalist. The Umi fabric depicts corals, deep-sea fish and sharks, while others peacefully “graze” herds of cows. For the most passionate fauna lovers, bed linen, towels, mugs and trays with the same decor are available.Studio A la Carte, t .: 207 9144.
Fighter invisible front
Someone reflects on the fate of humanity, and someone just quietly does their job, improving our lives. Rolf Benz, for example, has been working on the perfect dining chair for several years. The result is the RB 670, which meets all the necessary requirements. The ergonomic design contributes to the correct posture during meals, and the soft seat cushions and backrest, which recline slightly back, allow you to relax comfortably on it during a table conversation. Sitting on such a chair – and you can spend hours talking about the new president and the future of Russia!Neuhaus Galleries, t .: 780 4747, 780 4757; showrooms “Interiors Extra Class”, t .: 954 3725, 609 1180.
The fashion for open-plan spaces has led to the emergence of a huge number of storage systems that can be used for space zoning. What is most interesting, it is now proposed to put them not only and not so much frontally, but end-to-end – in several rows, as in libraries. For the most part, these are modular systems assembled from different elements, like this new rack from the Baleri Italia factory. The multi-colored parallelepipeds that Obo is made of can be screwed together, or can be attached to the ceiling and wall, providing additional strength to the structure. Salons “Private collection”, t .: 240 0304.
All facets of beauty
Facets and crystals continue to be one of the leading design trends: at imm Cologne 2008, cut furniture with bevelled corners could be found on almost every booth. We especially liked the new sofas, armchairs and ottomans of the German brand Cor – their unusual trapezoidal shape was borrowed by the designers from … the mail envelope, as evidenced by the name Cuvert (from the German Kuvert – “envelope”). The collection also includes acrylic coffee tables and felt rugs with wool appliqué.Salons “Interiors of Extra Class”, t .: 954 3725, 609 1180; Neuhaus galleries, t .: 780 4747, 780 4757.
Let there always be sun!
As recent furniture exhibitions show, pure, as they say, open colors are returning to fashion: blue, red, yellow, green … The latter is often found in combination with white or black: this is the range that Molteni & Co designers chose for their new 808 storage system And it was right! Such a sunny finish will always delight the eye, regardless of the weather outside the window. For lovers of more traditional decor, the assortment has a lot of other colors, as well as finishes for natural wood – gray oak, guiburtium, wenge.Salon “Private collection”, t .: (499) 242 8690.
All the secret becomes apparent
“I look at you like in a mirror, to the point of dizziness …” – these lines must have been spinning in the head of the designer Philippe Starck when he designed the Frame rack for Driade. Four glass shelves in a mahogany frame, if desired, can be folded, and a portrait of a half-naked beauty will open on their reverse mirror side! We do not know who this stranger is, but certainly not Stark’s young wife Jasmine. Salon Altagamma, t .: 245 0809,
Spinning, spinning …
Modern furniture must be mobile – this is the law of the market. Therefore, even such traditionally bulky and massive objects as sofas lose their former immobility and become “easy to lift.” They are overgrown with wheels and all kinds of mechanisms that allow one movement of the hand to move the modules from place to place and change their shape. Take Walter Knoll’s new model: its name, Living Landscape, speaks for itself. You can arrange soft sections in a row, like in a classic sofa, you can make an angular composition from them, or you can fold them in the shape of a Z in the very center of the room!Neuhaus Galleries, t .: 780 4747, 780 4757; showrooms “Interiors Extra Class”, t .: 954 3725, 609 1180.
Beautiful legs are the main decoration not only for women, but also for the table. And here the designers show wonders of ingenuity! Indeed, you can’t really experiment with the countertop: it must remain smooth, even and durable, otherwise the product will cease to fulfill its main function. Well, with legs there is where to play out the design imagination! Indicative in this respect is the new Boboli collection, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for the Cassina factory: a glass, wood or marble top is attached here to a whole “forest” of aluminum tubes. Reliable and effective!Salon “Flat-interiors”, t .: (499) 978 2212, 788 3300.
Five plus
The German market leader Interlübke re-released several of its hits in 2008. Including compact storage systems nocto, which are now called nocto Plus. There are really many advantages to these dressers compared to the previous version: improved design, thinner finishes and a lot of possibilities for organizing the interior space. They are available in several versions (different heights and widths) and will look great in the bedroom next to the bed from the same collection.Neuhaus Galleries, t .: 780 4747; Extra Class Interiors, t .: 954 3725.
Both old and young
At the stands of the Ligne Roset brand, things of eminent designers are traditionally side by side with the works of yesterday’s graduates of art schools. This time, too, the company showed in Cologne a collection in which accessories from young talents (such as the Azra linoleum carpet) stood next to the Pumpkin armchairs, sofas and ottomans designed by Pierre Polen * himself! These items were designed by Pohlen for the Elysee Palace: under President Georges Pompidou, they decorated the famous art gallery. Now the cult products are re-launched into production, and anyone can purchase them.Ligne Roset showrooms, t .: (499) 242 9796; 509 8380.
My bird!
Designers Charles and Ray Eames loved to surround themselves with unusual gizmos that they brought from travels to different countries of the world. Once in the Appalachian mountains, they bought a wooden bird from the beginning of the century from local residents, which became a talisman for them. In 2008, Vitra reissued this toy and included it in its collection, along with other replicas of historic products: Frank Gehry’s Wiggle Stool and Le Corbusier’s Modulor measuring scale.Flat-Interiors Salon, t .: (499) 978 2212.
That’s a man’s!
Many kitchen manufacturers exhibited in Cologne this year, and one of the brightest premieres was a new product from the Poggenpohl factory, developed for it by the Porsche Design studio. Bearing in mind that the best chefs are men, the designers decided to create a model that would fully meet all the requirements of a strong half of humanity. Hence the choice of the range, strict, minimalistic design, as well as the possibility of integrating audio and video equipment into furniture. For real men. Salons “Interiors of Extra Class”, t .: 954 3725, (499) 243 0738.