I’ve been to plenty of antique shops over the years – and have come across enough of those hand crocheted doilies to know that they were once really chic. While in many ways they may represent grandmotherly charm more than style, lately designers have been incorporating the vintage look into their work in an entirely fresh way.
Above, Pure Designs has reinvigorated embroidery to embody a whole new, completely contemporary look. Here on the Hazel Setee set against a deep blue fabric it has that wonderful vintage meets post modern feel. Below, RazorTooth has a wide array of lacy laser-cut cascading panels that can be used as room dividers, curtains, or anywhere you need a bit of a screen.
Below Arktura has created the feel of lace or even perhaps macrame with their Hive Bench (which is also a coffee table). Set against bright orange it sets quite an edgy mood. Bottom is the Dahlia Chair from Lumisource which features ornate laser etched foliage – shown here in green.
I’ve been noticing a lot of cool canvassy and burlappy looking furniture lately made using coffee bags and tarps that have been re-purposed. It’s a very interesting trend that I think has been done really well with these two pieces.
Above is the Upcycle Ottoman from Gus Design Group upholstered in fair trade coffee bags – I love the look and because each is created from original bags, each is entirely unique.
Below is the Bobo Wing Chair from Bobo Intriguing Objects that’s upholstered using reclaimed tarps. The tarp is Libeco mill-washed linen that comes from vintage South American truck tarps. The piece also features hand-carved wood legs.
I’m sure when Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, founders of the Beekman 1802 line of bath products, leave their remarkable 200 year old farm in upstate New York and head into the city, there must be something of a sense of leaving nirvana and heading into a hornet’s nest.
Good thing they have this fabulously renovated sanctuary to call their home away from home. You might expect that guys who spend most of their time working on a rambling goat farm and garden estate would find this 900 square foot spot to be a bit confining. But thanks to careful planning, color and furniture choices, this sweet spot is anything but cramped.
In keeping with Beekman 1802 principles, Brent and Josh wanted their apartment to be as eco friendly as possible when they were planning their renovation. For starters this meant no VOC paint, sustainably harvested wood used for cabinetry, and the use of recycled or repurposed materials whenever possible. All major kitchen appliances were rescued from a demo project nearby, and much of the furniture, as you can see, is vintage mid-century office furniture. Floating white cork flooring that required no toxic adhesive was used throughout.
“The apartment has three exposures, so the idea was to let as much light flow through the apartment as possible, so all the doors in the apartment were made from floor to ceiling frosted glass–even the bathroom,” says Brent Ridge of the apartment.
“We like to be organized. As you can see from the photos, there’s very little clutter in the apt,” says Ridge. “Almost all of the “walls” you see in the apt are concealed closets and cabinets that open up to reveal copious storage space (so important in a small city apartment).”
“The stainless steel sink in the bathroom, the steel bed, and the steel coffee table in the living room were all custom-made and turned out to be a cheaper alternative than buying furniture/fixtures off the retail floor.”
What a fab space for trips to the city! Be sure to visit the Beekman 1802 website to see a great gallery of the Beekman Mansion, Farm and Gardens for a bit of contrast to this lovely spot.
