The seating collections debuting at the 2016 ICFF furniture and design show called to eventgoers, and not just because of the thousands of steps they were logging at the Javits Center, in New York. When designers and manufacturers weren’t displaying gorgeous manipulations of wood, they showcased an array of bold colors, often in monochromatic schemes, that beckoned like mouth-watering fruits and candies. Below are some of the offerings that caught ARCHITECT’s eye.
Tête à Tête Chaise, Polart
Creating Baroque-inspired furniture in the 21st century is a statement; producing it in mold-injected polymer and vinyl upholstery, and in super-saturated, monochromatic colorways, turns that statement into a shout (and a smile). Polart’s Tête à Tête conversational chair—available in six colors, including this burst of berry red, suitable for outdoor use—wouldn’t look out of place in Louis XV’s home ... if his heyday were the 1960s. polartdesigns.com
Tessera, Iollo
Named for the tesseract, the 4D analog of the cube (known as a hypercube), and designed and manufactured in Moscow, Iollo’s Tessera chair is a bold geometric presence in any room. Available in five monochromatic colorways—including a saturated yellow (shown), blue, or red—as well as three real or artificial leather options that contrast the powdercoated steel frame with the upholstery. iollo.io
Mezcala Sofa, Mexa
A prime example of Mexa’s contemporary spin on a well-known typology—webbed seating—the Mezcala sofa is a bit of tropical paradise for your backyard or deck. As with every Mexa product, it is available in multiple cord, color, and finish combinations. The Guadalajara, Mexico–based company has also updated its palette of PVC cord to a rainbow of 14 intense hues, plus white. mexashop.com
Dervish Collection, SohoConcept
Echoing the fluid, circular motions of its Turkish namesakes, the Dervish Collection from SohoConcept is suitable for commercial or domestic uses and is offered in multiple colors, including a new pistachio hue (shown), and with a number of base options. The chair’s Camira wool is guaranteed to maintain its color for five years. sohoconcept.com
Mellow, Bernhardt Design
Designed by Océane Delaine, the Greenguard-certified Mellow sofa from Bernhardt Design is unusual in several ways. Among them: its use of a memory-retention fabric sourced from the medical industry, the cover’s single-seam construction, and a unique system of cords beneath the sofa that allows sitters to modify the sofa’s shape and surface tension. Available in a warm orange-red (shown), black, and taupe, with a natural-maple or black base. bernhardtdesign.com
Peacock Lounge Chair, Bend
Made of powdercoated steel wire, the form and intricate lines of Bend’s Peacock Lounge Chair elevate the iconic 1970s wicker chair design everyone is familiar with. Four standard colors (black, white, gold, and peachy pink) are available; custom colors—such as the neon green on display at ICFF—are encouraged. bendgoods.com
Coco Chair, Oasiq
With a solid, friendly bearing and suitable for indoor or outdoor use, Oasiq’s Coco Chair combines a powdercoated steel seat and backrest with teak legs. Available with or without arms and in four colors: lime green, bright yellow, black, and white. oasiq.us
R Chair, Markamoderna
Based in El Salvador, Markamoderna combines the talents of local designers, fabricators, and artisans to produce elegantly practical seating. The powdercoated steel R Chair—designed by Eliseo Quintanilla, winner of the Bienal de Diseño Contempo 2015—is no exception. Available in three colors, including a new-to-the-company yellow. markamoderna.com
Webstr, Amlgmatd
Miami-based designers Natalie Zlamalova and Laz Ojalde combine brightly striped new and vintage polypropylene webbing with a hexagonal aluminum frame to create the Webstr, a limited-edition series of indoor and outdoor stools that will never clash when combined in any number. amlgmatd.com
T-CG001, Tatiisu
Standing desks may be great for one’s overall health, but explain that to your back. Japanese designer Masaya Ogiyama developed the Tatiisu line of, er, vertical chairs to ease the pain and provide better posture. Model T-CG001, made of powdercoated steel, comes in light blue (shown) and four other colors. tatiisu.com
This article has been updated.
