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Spanish Outdoor Luxury | Kettal
Brand Focus | Published on August 2, 2011
In the last ten years Kettal has developed their lifestyle brand into a world-class contemporary line. Acquiring the necessary subsidiaries to produce an eclectic and well-rounded outdoor collection, they have collaborated with some of the industry’s top designers.
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Established in Barcelona in 1964 with a focus on bringing quality outdoor furniture to the market, in 2005 they achieved the ISO 9001 certification in production and management.The Kettal factory(left) is located 65 km south of Barcelona, in the municipality of Bellvei.
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The most current release is the BITTA series(above) by Rodolfo Dordoni. Design as a nest to cradle the user, the weave is built of polyester bands that allow air to circulate through the structure. The name BITTA comes from the Italian word for ‘mooring’.
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Hästens | Passion for Beds
Brand Focus | Published on January 10, 2011
Though Hästens has been around since 1852, you may have never heard of them. As Canadians, we have been ignorant to true, divine sleeping comfort – few select retailers in Canada carry the brand and only since 2007.
If you find yourself questioning the value of Hästens and a great night’s sleep, please take note: The Swedish royal palace is outfitted with Hästens, as well as the best hotels around the world. The Hästens store in Beverly Hills is selling vast amounts of Hästens to undisclosed celebrities and those who really appreciate the value of a great night’s sleep. In Scandinavia, Hästens has become a status symbol – you will even see bedroom doors left ajar simply to show off the iconic blue stripes which are unique to the brand.
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Cappellini | Classically Contemporary
Brand Focus | Published on September 28, 2010
It all started in 1946, Enrico Cappellini opened a small workshop in Carugo, Italy. Since it’s origin, Cappellini has never been boring nor absurd, often with a healthy dose of humor, other times proposing simple, dynamic formal solutions: these are the characteristics that make the Cappellini collection full of vivacious fractures and contradictions. The company has since been taken over by Enrico’s son, Giulio(picture left).Cappellini continues to seek out new talent with varying temperaments, that don’t create a real “Cappellini’s style” but compete to form a balanced and logical collection.
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Established & Sons | Made in Britain
Brand Focus | Published on August 20, 2010
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Established & Sons was founded in 2004 by publisher Alasdhair Willis of wallpaper* magazine fame(above). He sought the talent of his art school chums in an effort to create designer furniture which is truly British.
Willis always wanted to start a design company and was tired of seeing good British talent going to Italy and the United States due to no real platform for them at home, in the UK.Designer Sebastian Wrong, Tamara Caspersz the PR Guru and design director Mark Holmes are the other creative minds behind Established & Sons.
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Andreu World
Brand Focus | Published on August 10, 2010
Francisco Andreu was classically trained as a cabinetmaker at a very young age, working for his father in the family wood factory in Spain. By seventeen, the factory in which he grew up was in peril, Fransisco saw this downfall as an opportunity to start all over. At first, the woodworking was done in the workshops of local artisans who lent Fransisco their spaces after regular business hours. Originally, the pieces were completed without the use of electricity and transported to nearby furniture shops via handcarts. The beginning demanded much work and energy but the company was showing growth and promise.
Andreu World factory worker long ago, the Andreu North saw mill, furniture fair exhibit
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Yamagiwa Lighting
Brand Focus, In Store, Staff Picks | Published on May 8, 2010The Yamagiwa brand has been bringing high end lighting to the masses of Japan for decades. Established in 1923 the received high acclaim for their 2007 Lighting Design exhibit in Milan for their works with well renowned designers and architects.
Working with a wide range of range of materials they focus on the beauty of the light itself and how it works with people and its environment. Many projects have focussed specifically on how lighting affects the way people work.
With products designed by Toyo Ito, Tokujin Yoshioka, Ross Lovegrove, Naoto Fukasawa, and Shiro Kuramata to name a few the collection is varied but well curated.
Purchase Yamagiwa lighting from informshop.com
Above the TEAR DROP table and pendant light by Tokujin Yoshioka is a beautiful glass orb hollowed out to encapsulate the light inside.
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Shawn Place Works
Brand Focus, Design Information, In Store, Inform News, Staff Picks | Published on March 24, 2010Early last year Shawn Place came to us with a prototype of his rocking chair. With a several more of these prototypes (one currently at my family home) he came to the beautifully proportioned SP210 rocking chair.
The frame is made of rift cut white oak with a soap finish. The seat and back are hand caned by Shawn in his Prince George workshop.
A great piece of Canadian design and craftsmanship. Try it out in store today.
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