TEXTURE TELLS THE TALE / Weaving in feel of 1950s

When Zocalo’s designers Jorge Jaramillo and Margaret Leigh set out to design furniture for those hungry for mid-century pieces, they decided not to copy or reproduce the classics but reinterpret them.

The two lines they introduced in 2005 but which have just arrived in stores are Echo and Otto, bedroom, dining and accent furniture that follows what Jaramillo refers to as the “ethos” of mid-century design.

Part of that characteristic is a desire to experiment with new materials, which the two San Francisco designers did, using bamboo for the Echo line and a recyclable polyweave material resembling rattan for Otto.

The veneered fronts of Echo’s cabinets use sheets of plywood with a top layer of bamboo, making them easy to bend. The section fronts use the directional grain of the bamboo to great effect. They are also bent into a curve in some corners to create the pull handles, giving “a certain depth to the piece,” Jaramillo said.

He said he refused to look at other reinterpretations of modernism, but studied original work by Ray and Charles Eames and others before going to work, preferring not to second-guess his results.

Jaramillo incorporated a contrasting finish to the base of many of his pieces, another mid-century characteristic, giving case goods an “aerial, elevated feeling.”

Functionality is important as ever in the ingenious dining table with its circular ends that flip back to make the table square.

The Otto line emphasizes the idea of a durable outdoor material, the polyweave, with its use indoors, a very contemporary trend, Jaramillo said.

And then there’s price. Starting with $150 for the two-shelf nightstands to $1,099 for the armoire, these goods are affordable.

– Laura Thomas

American dining furniture

If you’ve got a 50s vibe going on in your life, then you might be interested in Little Book of Furniture’s American Diner collection (The Motos), which can bring a touch of Americana to either your kitchen, dining room, or if you’re feeling flash, to your patio.

The collection is made up of three styles of dining chairs and two dining tables. The Moto Chairs have steel frames and vinyl, cushioned seats which are finished with a beige piping. Each model is then distinguished with its own distinctive detailing.

As for the tables, well, the moto26 has a curved rectangular shape which can seat six people, and the moto19 has a circular design which seats four. Both have unusual curved steel legs and are finished with a Formica table top in cream or black.

Each chair will set you back £135, with the tables coming in at £355 for the six-seter and £275 for ther four-seater.

Little Book of Furniture website

Source: retrotogo

Bali-GRFurniture - Bali Furniture Wholesale

The Leading Bali manufacturer and exporter of Teak Furniture.
Established in 1998, Bali-GRFurniture is an exporter of handmade Bali furniture located in the heart of Bali, Denpasar. Bali-GRFurniture has since then been exporting handmade Bali furniture to countries all over the world. Their stockroom, located in Kuta, Bali, is a place where you can find their collection of exquisite Bali furniture. Custom-made designs are always welcome. The teak furniture products range from chairs, cabinets, beds, benches, buffets, bedsides, mirrors, tables, coffee tables, etc. All of the furniture is crafted from recycled and kiln-dried teak wood (Tectona Grandis) to ensure years of durability from warping and cracking.

Our Bali teak furniture is made by using logs from government-regulated teak wood plantations in Indonesia, therefore ensuring you that our Bali furniture is made in strict compliance with all environmental regulations. We strive to provide the best in high-quality products, services, and competitive prices. Your interest, whether in ready-made or custom-made Bali furniture products, is always welcome.

Contact Information:
Mr .Peter Gwie
G&R Furniture
Tel. (62-361) 738593 / 738594
Fax. (62-361) 738595
Email: info@bali-grfurniture.com
Website: www.bali-grfurniture.com

Bina Antiek Furniture

Bina Antiek Furniture is a furniture company that based in Jepara. they are leading export company of antique furniture. Their product from old teak wood (recycle) by legal raw material with goverment license to produce good furniture without any problem. They produce goods such as: Dining Table, Coffee Table, Side Table, Telephone Table, Round Table, Office Desk, Opium Table, Chairs, Chest, Vitrine Cabinet/ Shop Cabinet, Audio Video Cabinet, Computer Cabinet, Dress Cabinet, Corner Cabinet and etc. they also accept a certain design in order to meet the demand of costumers. they also produce paint finishing with combination materials between Damar Wood and MDF

Contact Information:
Showroom :
Jl.KH. Wahid Hasyim 167 Bapangan Jepara Indonesia
Phone : 62.291.596649
Fax : 62.291.596649
E-Mail : info@bina-antiek.com
Website: http://www.bina-antiek.com/

Warehouse :
Desa Pekalongan Rt. 5 Rw.1 Batealit Jepara.

Tokushima Handicraft Association exhibition

The Tokushima Handicraft Association of Japan has chosen Malta to hold an exhibition of traditional handicrafts to celebrate its 35th anniversary of its foundation.

During their visit to Malta members of the association will organise an exhibition as well as provide demonstrations of their skills in the production of Japanese traditional textile crafts.

The fine art involved in the production of traditional Japanese textile handicrafts, as well as the participation in a tea ceremony during one of the many presentations that the association will be holding, should be appreciated by visitors.

The first of these demonstrations will be held on Friday, 16th March from 1200CET to 1700CET at Great Siege Square, Valletta.

Following this demonstration, a full exhibition of the same craft will also be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta on Saturday, 17th March from from 1200CET to 1700CET. Visitors can participate in a dressing up of the yukata dress (a costume similar to kimono) as well as attend a tea party ceremony. Admission is free.

The visit of the Tokushima Handicrafts Association is being made possible by Nippon Express Ltd of Japan and SIT of Malta in association with MTA’s representative in Japan and the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

For further information one may contact one of the tourist information offices on 21237747.

Furniture-maker lets craftsmanship be his guide

In our progress-obsessed era, sleek and modern is the reigning aesthetic. Fortunately, people like Alf Sharp have not forgotten the virtues of simple, hand-wrought craftsmanship.

Currently the featured artist at the Gordon Jewish Community Center’s Janet Levine March Gallery, Sharp has developed a thriving career building furniture that draws heavily on 18th- and 19th-century design. Far from anachronistic, however, he also incorporates contemporary approaches to furniture-making, locating his work on a continuum that stretches from the Revolutionary era all the way to the present day.

Sharp found his calling almost through happenstance: After finishing college, he began pursuing a legal career before realizing that he found much greater satisfaction working with his hands. Over time, he built a successful business making cabinets, but he became so enmeshed in the details of running his small company that he decided to sell the business and focus on the thing he loved: making functional pieces out of wood.

In the years since, he has received numerous commissions from some of the area’s most notable historic sites and institutions, including the Tennessee State Capitol, Belle Meade Mansion and Travellers Rest. After a 1998 tornado downed trees at The Hermitage, Sharp made two pieces from the fallen wood, including a beautiful bench that sits in the Tennessee State Museum.

An active member of the local crafts community, Sharp is president of the Cumberland Furniture Guild and teaches at O’More College of Design. He has shown at the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists’ annual fair, but this exhibit represents a chance for Nashvillians to witness the scope of his skill and imagination.

The show opens with a reception 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Information from: www.tennessean.com

Gallery for craft in Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek’s downtown has a new addition, Calypso Twist — a store celebrating the energy that art brings to life and the home. Miriam Michael wanted to elevate craft and opened the retail gallery after leaving an executive career with Estee Lauder in 2005.

Calypso Twist offers hand-painted glassware, beautiful serving pieces, ceramic dishes in bright dots and stripes, and the coolest flatware by more than 200 nationally acclaimed artists.

The store is perfect for lighthearted gifts for friends and family — adorable picture frames; greeting cards; beautiful wall hangings in glass, ceramic, fabric, metal and wood — all with heartwarming messages. There’s a special niche of Judaica featuring art and functional craft from newly discovered artists here and in Israel.

The exuberant collections of handcrafted (and mostly hand-painted) furniture would take any room out of the ordinary. Pieces come from Oakland artist David Coddaire (his Wavy Cabinets shown, $1,320 for unit on left, $1,100 for right), Sticks (leather bench below, $2,645), Shoestring Creations, Mitch Levine, Studio 78 and others.

Freddy Moran’s colorful quilts and wall hangings, Frannie’s hand-painted gourds and the selection of decorative pillows (Message pillow from Susan Hargrove shown at top, $99), lanterns, lamps, floor rugs, decorative and functional drawer pulls, seasonal and holiday accessories, and jewelry complete the “something for everyone” array of merchandise.

Prices range from $10 on small novelties and up to more than $3,500 on original art.

Calypso Twist also hosts a monthly art series called Celebrating Art, which features local artists, wine and hors d’oeuvres. The March 3 evening event will celebrate Berkeley artist Kay Harper and her original greeting-card line of Kid’s Quotes. April 21 puts the spotlight on Sticks hand-painted furniture.

Calypso Twist, 1357 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. (925) 944-4860; www.calypsotwist.com. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.