Design

While covering the great industrial and furniture designs of Russel Wright yesterday, we particularly enjoyed a set of dining chairs he designed. Though we normally feature a lounge chair or a credenza for our Perfect Pair series, we think these chairs will work just perfectly with a great pair of Swank Lamps! Wright’s set of four chairs by for the Conant Ball company in 1935 was part of the "Modernmates Collection" he produced. We really fell in love with the modern and organic feeling these chairs give off. Though the chairs feature a simple shape, the curve of their profile is quite powerful. The upholstery is a fresh and neutral light gray, and the seat is placed on four substantial and blond-colored wood legs. Our favorite parts are the three subtle button tufts in the crease of the seat. These pulegoso-winged Murano lamps in coke bottle green by A.V.E.M. are rare because you don’t often see vintage Murano glass in this color. The pattern and clarity of the glass is a...

Since we profiled the fabulous Dale Chihuly , master glass artist, yesterday we thought for today’s perfect pair we’d go with someone a little more local. Austin woodworker Michael Yates creates gorgeous Japanese-inspired furniture with exquisite detail, known for not using any nails or screws in his work—just great Japanese joinery techniques. We’ve chosen one of his pieces of furniture and paired it with some Swank Lighting lamps! Yates’ Omikoshi is unique because it’s actually a line of stackable furniture pieces. Shown in these photos are three separate units which can be rearranged based on the owner’s needs. The piece is even offered with a tall stand or a low stand, allowing for any number of configurations. The piece is a great mix of modern and ancient, both having sleek lines and stunning details known in Japanese design. Featuring Yates’ signature style of intricate joinery techniques, you’ll love this piece for as much as it looks as how it’s put together. We profile Joe C...

Did you fall in love with Raymond Loewy’s work like we did yesterday? Though more well known for his industrial product design than his furniture, he still did a pretty darn good job creating furniture designs that were cool. We think many of his modern pieces would look fabulous with Swank Lighting lamps, but one piece in particular caught our eye… This chest of drawers designed by Raymond Loewy is apparently very rare and is called the DF 2000 Chest of Drawers. Made in France in 1965 for the Doubinsky Freres company, these two individual pieces are bright, punchy and exciting. The drawer fronts are made of a custom molded plastic material and feature four different (but equally fabulous) colors. According to 1stdibs, the pieces are “extremely heavy and well made, can be used together or apart or as two bedside dressers.” One of the chests has six drawers and the other three drawers and a door. Glossy, with curved edges and a modern aesthetic, these are cool pieces! These vintage Swa...

We enjoyed a lot of Edward Wormley’s work that we featured yesterday, but we fell in love with one of his simpler pieces. Though it’s fun to include bright, bold and interestingly shaped furniture in an interior space, it’s equally satisfying to find a piece that, while neutral, makes all of your other furniture and accessories pop. This 1950's Edward Wormley couch was created for the Dunbar Furniture Company, and features lovely nubby upholstery with a great warm gray color. It’s a long couch, measuring over seven feet, and so gives quite a narrow and elegant appearance. The arms are high and boxy and connect gracefully to the back of the couch with a slightly curved upholstery detail that is unexpected. The couch comes with three plush back cushions, but when removed they expose a simpler button-tufted back, creating an even more sleek appearance. The bottom cushion is all one cushion rather than three, also visual elongating the couch. Finally, all these subtle and great detail...

In honor of yesterday’s design influence Verner Panton, we decided to choose a rather colorful combination for today’s perfect pair. Known for his gutsy and bold color palette choices, you might not immediately think about pairing the two colors we’ve chosen today, but know that just about any two colors can make a pretty dynamic pairing when on the right pieces. Verner Panton’s Phantom Chair is a study in confusion. According to Panton, "sitting should be funny—like playing—an experience". And so he designed his Phantom chair (also known under the name Lupoflex) as more of an experience than just a static piece of furniture. This piece of furniture can be used as a chair, a 2-seater, a bench and a table. It’s also an important piece because it is his last piece of furniture before his death in 1998. Made from blow molded plastic, this chair (or table, bench, whatever) is also made in a vibrant, crimson orange-red color, making it bold and sculptural! These Swank Lighting Ba...

Yesterday we brought you the fresh and modern designs of Mid-Century furniture maker, sculptor and artist Harry Bertoia . We loved the Diamond Chair as much yesterday as we have for years, and thought it was high time we featured it in a Perfect Pair! We think Bertoia said it the best when he described his Diamond Chair (or any of his grid-like, steel welded furniture) “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them." We love the description of a chair made of air, one of our earth’s elements. It makes something otherwise completely industrial looking have a more natural-feel to it. Not that the undulating curve of the back of the chair doesn’t give off a natural feeling itself. Altogether, the piece is a stunning example of furniture standing for something other than just a piece of furniture. It's good-looking, and if you’re worried about the comfort of sitting on a metal grid, know that many upholstered cushions ar...