Walrus, Octopus & Rhino Chairs by Maximo Riero

The Animal Chair collection by Maximo Riero consists of a diverse range of species; an octopus, a whale, a rhino, a walrus, a lion and even a beetle. Each unique chair is faithful to the animal's image and yet has incorporated traditional tufted seating in its appearance. Thus far Maximo has completed three of his intended collection, the first being an Octopus, followed by a Rhinoceros and a Walrus. A Lion, a Beetle and a Whale are the next three to come.



The Octopus Chair:













The Rhino Chair:











The Walrus Chair:





















About the artist:

Máximo Riera has been a practicing artist for over thirty years. Whilst predominantly working in photography, painting and sculpture, he has also published a collection of poetry. Inspired by his travel and experiences through Europe and the Caribbean Islands, Máximo's vibrant use of colour and evocative attention to detail have been an inspiration which convey the meaning of his creations. His work also demonstrates a predominant influence from abstract expressionism and the Pop Art movements.



Even though his artistic career was relegated to a secondary role due to his professional life in the medical industry, Máximo still organized several exhibitions and events for his work, with all proceeds going to charity.



Born in Asturias, Northern Spain, Máximo has now retired to his studio in Cadiz, where he paints and sculpts each day.



www.maximoriera.com

The Puma Chalk Ping Pong Table By Aruliden

The CHALK ping-pong table, designed by aruliden for PUMA redefines the ping-pong table for that after hours athlete. Made by hand, the chalk table incorporates ash wood legs and a ceramic chalk surface.



A steel chain-link net introduces steel elements to a sport often played in basements or a neighbor's garage. (standard net also included.)



Materials and design considerations such as angled black ash wood legs and storage compartments for objects or beverages, along with the overall graphic nature of the table serve to enhance a game that is often overlooked.




Indoor Only. Not for outdoor use. Limited quantity available. Delivery is drop off only. Assembly of table requires 6 people.

Dimensions: W108 x D60 x H29 in
Price: $3,900.00 (Exc delivery)
Exclusive to The Conran Shop.
Buy it here


images and info courtesy of Conran and Aruliden

Deeply Madly Living: Eclectic Uber Chic

One of my favorite things about surfing the web is that one finds things they almost never otherwise would. One of those is Garry Jensen and Elena Bertinetto's unique online store and company, named Deeply Madly Living.


Above: owners Garry Jensen and Elena Bertinetto

Their "philosophy" on their site reads as follows:

Deeply Madly Living is Danish born Garry Jensen, a former international investment banker and design enthusiast and Elena Bertinetto, an italian interior decorator and trompe-l'oeil artist.

The company was founded after we moved back to the United States and attempted to furnish our Manhattan loft, a former button factory in the heart of New York City, with the décor from our previous homes in Europe. The aim was to give our interior an exclusive, eclectic, metropolitan twist and to create a new sense of style that would harmonize with our new "urban industrial" setting and still be a reflection of our own individual personalities.

It was a question of reinventing and rebalancing the furniture we already had (a combination of fine antiques, understated contemporary furniture and quirky modern artwork) by adding striking accent pieces, bold colors and uncommon objects that would be fresh and exciting to the eye and mind. The standard lifeless, modern and monochromatic picture perfect loft décor was never an option.

We soon discovered that looking for these accent pieces was an incredibly frustrating and time consuming experience. Even in a city like New York, filled with designer shops and galleries, there a was a need for a store offering a comprehensive line of unique, "cool" pieces for the home.

So, what's so 'cool'? I think these are.

The Celebrity Lamp, made with 40 pairs of aviator "shades":




Buy it here.

Pistol Paperweights , ceramic glazed with real platinum or 24k gold:


Buy it here

Funky Deer, cast polyresin in lime green or silver:


Buy it here.

Erotika Chair (please note that the following images may be offensive to some):



Buy it here.

Swarovski Skull Bath Towels:


Buy it here.

Lace Knife Set, the steel blades of the knives extend into an intricate pattern encased in a lucite handle:


Buy it here.

The Roy Maccassar Table (chairs not included but available):


Buy it here.

The Barbarossa Chair, stainless steel cubistic frame with aged soft leather cushions:

Buy it here

They have many more unusual items, check out the store here.

Now, all they have to do is redesign their logo!

Tanya Aguiñiga Sees Furniture A Little Differently Than Most

Tanya Aguiñiga (b.1978) is a Los Angeles based furniture designer/maker raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Tanya’s work is informed by border experiences: the interconnectedness of societies, the beauty in struggle and the celebration of culture. She uses furniture as a way to translate emotions into a three dimensional objects and tell stories trough color and touch. Her work encourages users to reconsider the objects they use on a daily basis by creating work that explores an objects’ unseen aspect, such as half chairs that rely on the wall to function and whose image is only complete as its shadow is cast upon the wall.

Hand felted Folding Chairs:




The Lowrider stools:




The Modular Lounge:



She has also dedicated much of her time to using art as a vehicle for community empowerment. She has been a member of Border Art Workshop BAW/TAF, a bi-national artist collaborative for ten years. Through BAW/TAF she helped to build and run a community center in an impoverished area of Tijuana built on trash from the US. For the 6 years she worked there, she focused on bringing national and international attention to the community’s plight through arts only based programs.

The P Tree:


The Hole Table:



Seating trays:



In the US, she worked on diversifying audiences through arts education at the San Diego Museum of Art and at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum through outreach programs. She has also done a great deal of work for migrant rights through art installations across Mexico and the US.

The Embrace Lounge:




Tanya is now working on ways to combine furniture design and community activism. Her formal education includes a BA in Furniture Design from San Diego State University and an MFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.

The Moño Table:


She was recently awarded a prestigious United States Artists Fellowship and was named a USA Target Fellow in the field of Crafts and Traditional Arts. Her work has been exhibited from Mexico City to Milan and included in major international publications such as Wallpaper magazine and “Pure Design, Objects of Desire” published by Monsa Editions in Spain.


Above: A permanent installation of her work will be part of the new Children’s Museum of San Diego as a “Texture Forest” for toddlers, scheduled to open in May 2008.

See more at her website.

Contact the artist here.