Exclusive Interview: Andrew Thornton of Argington
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Yes! We've got another fun, modern kid's furniture designer to bring to you today. Why do we focus on kid's furniture so much? Well, as any modern parent would agree, nothing ruins a clean home aesthetic like brightly-colored and oddly shaped kid's accessories. That's why it's so important we bring you furniture companies making gorgeous kid's furniture for the enjoyment of kids and parents alike. Today's company, Argington, excels at creating furniture that looks good, is safe to own, fun to use and is even good for the environment. The only thing cuter than Argington's lines of cribs, toddler beds, bassinets, storage, bunk beds and more is the couple behind the company. Jenny Argie and Andrew Thornton aren't just young and attractive, they've got the skills and talents to run a successful kid's furniture and produce modern furniture products that anyone would love. Jenny, an artist, and Andrew, an architect and mathmatician, combined their skillsets when their first child was born, and soon Argington the company was born. Caring about aesthetics and the environmental impact of their products, we love that this modern furniture is sleek and cool, but also warm, inviting, and family-friendly. We got to interview both Jenny and Andrew about their company, where they get their inspiration, and what's up with some of those furniture names:
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Exclusive Interview: Sandy Chilewich Pt. 1
We love and appreciate plenty of things in this modern world, but when a designer can take innovative materials or processes never used for home decor before, well, then you get our attention. Today's exclusive interview is Sandy Chilewich, the founder of the amazing company Chilewich. Not only did Chilewich practically reinvent the placemat, they create products that combine stunning aesthethics with fabulous price points.
Speaking with Sandy, you're bowled over by her intelligence, grace and expertise. This is a design genius who has been in the design world for a long time, and her contributions to the world she has graciously offered through her company.
Interview: Robert Kwak of Muu
Kids change. Rapidly. They grow physically fast. Their personalities flourish and waver. Their likes and dislikes are different from one day to the next. How is it that we expect them to be satisfied with one aesthetic look to their room for the entirety of their childhood? And even more, how do we expect kids who use hand-me-down furniture to enjoy the same looks that their older siblings did? With the amazingly versatile and customizable options of kids furniture company Muu, you won't have to.
Muu's unique in that they offer modern kid products -- cribs, storage and more -- with interchangeable graphic panels, so that whether you're letting your little one change their tastes as they get older or using the same furniture between different kiddos, you'll always be able to give them what they want and let them express their personality. And, of course, Muu cares about sustainability, the health of their products and those that are American-made, too. We got to speak with Robert Kwak, the founder of Muu, and he shares what's important to them and their company, the origins of the name "Muu" and what's coming up in the future.
Interview: Will Kavesh and Emrys Berkower of Token
We've got yet another awesome new company to talk about that's recently joined us at 2Modern, and that's the brilliant designs coming out of Brooklyn-based TOKEN. Founded by designersWill Kavesh and Emrys Berkower, the furniture they create is certainly lovely and attractive, but they do more than just build furniture that looks nice. Though, we'd be lying if we said these designs are darn fine looking.
To Will and Emrys, it's about making furniture that is functional, comfortable, isn't ironic for irony's sake, is honest and true and modern because of the engineering and design, not because it looks "cool." They take a very academic approach to how they tackle design problems and are clearly two very thoughtful, intelligent guys. It's not all seriousness, though; they add in plenty of details that are fun and whimsical, meaning though this is smartly designed furniture, it can be enjoyed by everyone. Listen or read on to hear more about how they come up with designs, how they work together and what it is about their furniture designs that makes them so awesome:
Exclusive Interview: Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel
We're so excited to announce another great designer to 2Modern, this time Brooklyn-based artist and designer Shanan Campanaro of the home good brand Eskayel. To say Shanan is good with pattern is a major understatement. We're melting over these stunning designs that blend organic shapes with geometric and digital designs to create really one-of-a-kind patterns that look killer on wallpaper, fabrics, pillows and more.
Exclusive 2Modern Interview: Francois Chambard
2Modern is so pleased to announce yet another designer who has come aboard this summer: François Chambard of UM Project. "UM" stands for "user" and "maker" and François' philosophies about creating furniture fit ours to a "T". He believes in connecting the person making the product with the person who will be using it, and considers it a value when someone knows the background of his pieces before they buy them. We do, too!
We just love all the simple, fresh shapes of UM Project, as well as all the fun colors that pop up in unexpected places. His pieces have a light-hearted, funness to them, and we enjoy that they can also be taken very seriously because they are all handmade of the highest quality. François finds inspiration for his work from all sorts of sources, from designers of old to current designers to even the materials themselves. We sat down with him to ask him about his inspiration, how he got into furniture design and what UM Project's future plans are!
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Exclusive Interview: Sandy Chilewich Pt. 1
We love and appreciate plenty of things in this modern world, but when a designer can take innovative materials or processes never used for home decor before, well, then you get our attention. Today's exclusive interview is Sandy Chilewich, the founder of the amazing company Chilewich. Not only did Chilewich practically reinvent the placemat, they create products that combine stunning aesthethics with fabulous price points.
Speaking with Sandy, you're bowled over by her intelligence, grace and expertise. This is a design genius who has been in the design world for a long time, and her contributions to the world she has graciously offered through her company.
Interview: Robert Kwak of Muu
Kids change. Rapidly. They grow physically fast. Their personalities flourish and waver. Their likes and dislikes are different from one day to the next. How is it that we expect them to be satisfied with one aesthetic look to their room for the entirety of their childhood? And even more, how do we expect kids who use hand-me-down furniture to enjoy the same looks that their older siblings did? With the amazingly versatile and customizable options of kids furniture company Muu, you won't have to.
Muu's unique in that they offer modern kid products -- cribs, storage and more -- with interchangeable graphic panels, so that whether you're letting your little one change their tastes as they get older or using the same furniture between different kiddos, you'll always be able to give them what they want and let them express their personality. And, of course, Muu cares about sustainability, the health of their products and those that are American-made, too. We got to speak with Robert Kwak, the founder of Muu, and he shares what's important to them and their company, the origins of the name "Muu" and what's coming up in the future.
Interview: Will Kavesh and Emrys Berkower of Token
We've got yet another awesome new company to talk about that's recently joined us at 2Modern, and that's the brilliant designs coming out of Brooklyn-based TOKEN. Founded by designersWill Kavesh and Emrys Berkower, the furniture they create is certainly lovely and attractive, but they do more than just build furniture that looks nice. Though, we'd be lying if we said these designs are darn fine looking.
To Will and Emrys, it's about making furniture that is functional, comfortable, isn't ironic for irony's sake, is honest and true and modern because of the engineering and design, not because it looks "cool." They take a very academic approach to how they tackle design problems and are clearly two very thoughtful, intelligent guys. It's not all seriousness, though; they add in plenty of details that are fun and whimsical, meaning though this is smartly designed furniture, it can be enjoyed by everyone. Listen or read on to hear more about how they come up with designs, how they work together and what it is about their furniture designs that makes them so awesome:
Exclusive Interview: Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel
We're so excited to announce another great designer to 2Modern, this time Brooklyn-based artist and designer Shanan Campanaro of the home good brand Eskayel. To say Shanan is good with pattern is a major understatement. We're melting over these stunning designs that blend organic shapes with geometric and digital designs to create really one-of-a-kind patterns that look killer on wallpaper, fabrics, pillows and more.
Exclusive 2Modern Interview: Francois Chambard
2Modern is so pleased to announce yet another designer who has come aboard this summer: François Chambard of UM Project. "UM" stands for "user" and "maker" and François' philosophies about creating furniture fit ours to a "T". He believes in connecting the person making the product with the person who will be using it, and considers it a value when someone knows the background of his pieces before they buy them. We do, too!
We just love all the simple, fresh shapes of UM Project, as well as all the fun colors that pop up in unexpected places. His pieces have a light-hearted, funness to them, and we enjoy that they can also be taken very seriously because they are all handmade of the highest quality. François finds inspiration for his work from all sorts of sources, from designers of old to current designers to even the materials themselves. We sat down with him to ask him about his inspiration, how he got into furniture design and what UM Project's future plans are!
Exclusive 2Modern Interview: James DeWulf
Is concrete...sexy? Before you laugh or start to say no, we implore you to check out the evidence in the amazingly creative work of James DeWulf, of DeWulf Concrete. He's making concrete look sleek, modern and yes, quite sexy. He's not only using concrete, he's mastering it...finding new and exciting ways to manipulate, creating furniture for the home that is unlike anything else we've seen in awhile. He's creating furniture that would look stunning in modern homes, as well as spaces with any style.
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The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 2
You know what’s even better than coming across a gorgeous, eco-friendly and available modern piece of outdoor furniture? Buying that piece of furniture from a lovely couple completely deserving of your business. Perhaps one of the greatest pleasures of doing this job is getting to know the people behind the brand names of furniture out there, and it was especially nice to get to know the folks behind a new modern outdoor furniture company that’s fresh, stylish and must-have for this upcoming outdoor season.
Andrew Stoneman and Laura Haskell, besides being adorably in love and the parents of the cute and almost two Laird, are also behind what’s one of the coolest looking new modern outdoor furniture collections that we’ve seen in awhile: the Haskell Collection. Also, the Haskell Collection is one of 2Modern’s newest vendors!
Interview: The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 1
You know what's even better than coming across a gorgeous, eco-friendly and available modern piece of outdoor furniture? Buying that piece of furniture from a lovely couple completely deserving of your business. Perhaps one of our greatest pleasures of doing this job is getting to know the people behind the brand names of furniture out there, and it was especially nice to get to know the folks behind a brand new modern outdoor furniture company that's fresh, stylish and must-have for this upcoming outdoor season.
Andrew Stoneman and Laura Haskell, besides being adorably in love and the new parents of the cute and almost 2 years old Laird, are also behind what's one of the coolest looking new modern outdoor furniture collections that we've seen in awhile: the Haskell Collection. A new collection that just so happens to be one of 2Modern's newest and most anticipated vendors!
We got to sit down with both Andrew and Laura to hear about their backgrounds (creative yet surprising), why they decided to go into the furniture business and particularly the outdoor furniture business (really genuine and touching) and what makes their new products able to compete and stand out in a sea of pretty cool furniture (fresh details we've never seen before and their absolutely astounding cradle-to-cradle eco-friendly and sustainability features.) They were both not only knowledgeable about their field and their company, but they were friendly, kind and witty, too.
We'll admit: we liked them so much we're splitting their interview into two parts. You can check out the first part below, and you'll want to check back next week when we post the second part and get a little more indepth into each designer's backgrounds.
Exclusive Interview: Darin Montgomery of Urbancase
It's a well-known fact that modernism--with all its sleek, no-fuss trappings--sprang up at least partially due to the fact that folks were strapped for cash and looking for a style that would work without a lot of pieces. Introducing the masses to the idea that less is more, it's no wonder that modern styles continue to be popular in homes today. This whole idea of making your life more simple by adopting less stuff resonates with many folks who are over-worked, over-stressed and tired of tripping over clutter in their homes. We've found one punchy furniture and design build company not just building simple, streamlined modern furniture, but creating designs that hope to shape the way users interact with the world and help them live that highly sought-after, simple lifestyle.
Urbancase, a furniture, accessories and design build firm based in Seattle, Washington, has pretty lofty aims with its furniture pieces. They want to change how you actually live your life (for the better) by making furniture pieces that hearken back to a time when life was more simple. Take their "Ledge;" it's a streamlined, wall-mounted desk that plays homage to the secretary desks folks to compose letters at. If handwriting isn't your thing, this modern equivalent is equipped with all kinds of digital-accommodating details. Their "Emergency Cocktail Station" is designed with the old tradition of having a drink after work and before dinner in mind--when folks used to socialize, reconnect with loved ones and unwind after a long day over an old fashioned.
You might notice that many of urbancase's furniture designs are compact; this plays into founder Darin Montgomery's personal views on design and space needs. Darin and his wife live in a tiny Seattle apartment (like under 600 square feet tiny) and don't feel like they need more space--especially by incorporating modern and space-saving ideas and designs. Rounding out urbancase's current catalog are some more fun furniture designs, some sassy textiles and some clever candles that will make you miss old technology that's no longer around.
Exclusive Interview: P'Kolino
Kids need a lot of things to grow into the healthy and happy adults they were meant to be. And while food, clothes and a roof over their head is important, there's one thing they need a lot of that's tons of fun: play. The children's furniture and toy company P'Kolino (pronounced Pee - ko - lee no) are experts in creating products that encourage play, are safe for kids to use and parents won't feel like are an eyesore for their house.
Creativity isn't just reserved for their furniture and toys; the founders and designers at P'Kolino understand that business itself is a kind of art--and infuse every aspect, from marketing to design, with creativity. We got to talk with J.B. about the company's beginnings, his own background and just where the unique name P'Kolino comes from:
Exclusive Interview: Dean Heckler of Heckler Design
Excuse us if we sound a bit like rabid fans in this post, but we are so, so into the creations of Heckler Design. Helmed by the brilliant Dean Heckler, these are the sorts of products that we've needed for a long, long time. More than just good-looking, his products are filling in the blanks and meeting the needs of consumers today--and we're loving every shiny, boldly-colored bit of it.
It all started with OneLessDesk. See, back when we had lots of paper to spread out or giant 1980s monitors...we needed huge, bulky, giant desks and tabletops. But with sleek laptops, monitors and keyboards that hardly look like they can work they're so small, the need for desks that take up your whole home office (and whole life) just aren't needed any more.
Following on the success of OneLessDesk, Dean listened to customer feedback and created products for other needs in the home office, like OneLessStand (for printers) and OneLessFile ("the last file drawer you will ever own"), all to create a streamlined office that fits today's needs. What else is super cool about him? He "gets" how things work today--for his idea of OneLessDrop, an innovative way to keep your power cords from slipping off your desks and tables, he enlisted the help of backers on the popular website Kickstarter to help figure out how to get this product off the ground (and showcase the behind-the-scenes production of his pieces).
We interviewed Dean about his background (surprising!), how he chose his innovative materials for his products and what's in store for us lucky consumers (you're going to want to hear about his upcoming ideas!):
Exclusive Interview: Monte Design Group
Comfort. That's not a word we use often when speaking about modern design and modern furniture. That's not to say that there isn't any comfortable modern furniture out there; plenty of our favorite designs to look at are also enjoyable to use. But to meet leaders of a company that stress that comfort, over the look of a product, is their main goal, well that's just refreshing. Luckily for us, the founders of Monte Design Group not only concern themselves with comfort, they also happen to produce darn good-looking furniture pieces.
With four kids, Michelle and Ralph Montemurro sure know a thing or two about the needs of stylish parents who desire a comfortable, functional and stylish home. In fact, when starting their family and trying to build and design a home, they just weren't able to find what they were looking for; Monte Design Group was born. With a variety of products geared specifically for parents who have kids to rear and not a lot of time to spend trying to find furniture that will withstand them throughout the years, Monte's products are perfect both in looks and in comfort. And, as we learned during our conversation with Ralph, these products are built to last (as only the dad of four kids under 10 years of age would know). Learn more about Ralph, Michelle, their family and their products in this awesome interview:
Exclusive Interview: Architect Craig Steely
We discovered architect Craig Steely a few months ago, and even mentioned him in a post last month here on the 2Modern blog. One post just couldn't contain all the love we have for this creative guy, though. More than just a "modern" architect, Craig's designs are part of what's amazing about the modern design movement: they're tackling design issues in new and unique ways, and doing so in the most aesthetically-pleasing way.
His structures approach the landscape with a very interesting philosophy, and his designs are just cool and fun. Versatility and the ability to marry his style with those of a client are paramount, and make for a portfolio that is bursting at the seams with all different types and styles of architecture. Make no mistake, Craig Steely is a modern architect, but his ability to listen to clients' needs, situate structures in varied landscapes and integrate new and surprising materials makes him more like an ambassador of how modern design should be everywhere.
We sat down with Craig over Skype to discuss his background (like getting to study art and design in Florence, Italy), how he primarily designs in two very different environment types (Hawaii and California) and what his definition of modern design is.
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We've got another fabulous company (actually two!) manufacturing gorgeous and modern baby and kid furniture. Why focus on furniture for people who can't even afford to buy their own? Well for one thing, there's a lot of notoriously terrible-looking kid's furniture out there. And for another, having kid's meaning adding a lot of new stuff to your home. Make that stuff look good and be safe. We'll be showing you the products of Tulip and Leander today; you get two company profiles in one with this interview! We don't have audio for this interview--just words. But they're great words, and we've added a ton of photos in the slideshow to make up for it.
Exclusive Interview: Sophie Demenge of Oeuf
In the ever-overwhelming world of kid and baby furniture and accessories, Oeuf stands out as the perfect example of not only the kind of products you want living with your children, but also the type of company you want to support.
Quite the family affair, Oeuf (French for egg) is run by the lovely and French Sophie Demenge, and her equally wonderful and American husband Michael Ryan. They are both held in line by two very discerning quality assurance agents that also happen to be their two young children. Passionate about what they do and serious about producing children's furniture that is meaningful, healthy and aesthetically-pleasing, we've been fans of Oeuf for awhile. We sat down with Sophie to hear about why they started a kid's furniture company, learn about their design philosophies and be charmed by her delightful French accent.
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Edgar Blazona's no stranger to the design world; starting right out of high school and continuing through to today, Blazona's got an impressive resume and and even impressive design philosophy. We did his style and appreciate his attempts to create modern furniture at reasonable prices, ensuring that those who seek modern design will be able to find it.
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We sit down with the founder and lead designer of Skram Furniture, Jacob Marks, who talks with us about what inspires him, how he got into the furniture making business and what books are by his nightstand at night. Skram is really unique in the way in which they approach design, and that have a distinctive design approach that smacks of the new American craft aesthetic.
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Is concrete...sexy? Before you laugh or start to say no, we implore you to check out the evidence in the amazingly creative work of James DeWulf, of DeWulf Concrete. He's making concrete look sleek, modern and yes, quite sexy. He's not only using concrete, he's mastering it...finding new and exciting ways to manipulate, creating furniture for the home that is unlike anything else we've seen in awhile. He's creating furniture that would look stunning in modern homes, as well as spaces with any style.
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As you might imagine, the definition and look of "modern" architecture varies wildly not just between people, but also between regions of this country. We may be a nation of united states, but we're hardly a nation of united design styles, and that's never been so clear as when you move between climate and cultural regions. Some of it is born out of site necessity, but still other variances are intangible and oh so intriguing. In order to fan the flames of the modern design discussion and celebrate how wonderfully diverse the word "modern" really is, we've delved into our 2M Directory to find an architect doing beautiful work in Atlanta, Georgia: Steve Robinson of Axios Architecture.
The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 2
You know what’s even better than coming across a gorgeous, eco-friendly and available modern piece of outdoor furniture? Buying that piece of furniture from a lovely couple completely deserving of your business. Perhaps one of the greatest pleasures of doing this job is getting to know the people behind the brand names of furniture out there, and it was especially nice to get to know the folks behind a new modern outdoor furniture company that’s fresh, stylish and must-have for this upcoming outdoor season.
Andrew Stoneman and Laura Haskell, besides being adorably in love and the parents of the cute and almost two Laird, are also behind what’s one of the coolest looking new modern outdoor furniture collections that we’ve seen in awhile: the Haskell Collection. Also, the Haskell Collection is one of 2Modern’s newest vendors!
Interview: The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 1
You know what's even better than coming across a gorgeous, eco-friendly and available modern piece of outdoor furniture? Buying that piece of furniture from a lovely couple completely deserving of your business. Perhaps one of our greatest pleasures of doing this job is getting to know the people behind the brand names of furniture out there, and it was especially nice to get to know the folks behind a brand new modern outdoor furniture company that's fresh, stylish and must-have for this upcoming outdoor season.
Andrew Stoneman and Laura Haskell, besides being adorably in love and the new parents of the cute and almost 2 years old Laird, are also behind what's one of the coolest looking new modern outdoor furniture collections that we've seen in awhile: the Haskell Collection. A new collection that just so happens to be one of 2Modern's newest and most anticipated vendors!
We got to sit down with both Andrew and Laura to hear about their backgrounds (creative yet surprising), why they decided to go into the furniture business and particularly the outdoor furniture business (really genuine and touching) and what makes their new products able to compete and stand out in a sea of pretty cool furniture (fresh details we've never seen before and their absolutely astounding cradle-to-cradle eco-friendly and sustainability features.) They were both not only knowledgeable about their field and their company, but they were friendly, kind and witty, too.
We'll admit: we liked them so much we're splitting their interview into two parts. You can check out the first part below, and you'll want to check back next week when we post the second part and get a little more indepth into each designer's backgrounds.
Exclusive Interview: Darin Montgomery of Urbancase
It's a well-known fact that modernism--with all its sleek, no-fuss trappings--sprang up at least partially due to the fact that folks were strapped for cash and looking for a style that would work without a lot of pieces. Introducing the masses to the idea that less is more, it's no wonder that modern styles continue to be popular in homes today. This whole idea of making your life more simple by adopting less stuff resonates with many folks who are over-worked, over-stressed and tired of tripping over clutter in their homes. We've found one punchy furniture and design build company not just building simple, streamlined modern furniture, but creating designs that hope to shape the way users interact with the world and help them live that highly sought-after, simple lifestyle.
Urbancase, a furniture, accessories and design build firm based in Seattle, Washington, has pretty lofty aims with its furniture pieces. They want to change how you actually live your life (for the better) by making furniture pieces that hearken back to a time when life was more simple. Take their "Ledge;" it's a streamlined, wall-mounted desk that plays homage to the secretary desks folks to compose letters at. If handwriting isn't your thing, this modern equivalent is equipped with all kinds of digital-accommodating details. Their "Emergency Cocktail Station" is designed with the old tradition of having a drink after work and before dinner in mind--when folks used to socialize, reconnect with loved ones and unwind after a long day over an old fashioned.
You might notice that many of urbancase's furniture designs are compact; this plays into founder Darin Montgomery's personal views on design and space needs. Darin and his wife live in a tiny Seattle apartment (like under 600 square feet tiny) and don't feel like they need more space--especially by incorporating modern and space-saving ideas and designs. Rounding out urbancase's current catalog are some more fun furniture designs, some sassy textiles and some clever candles that will make you miss old technology that's no longer around.
Exclusive Interview: P'Kolino
Kids need a lot of things to grow into the healthy and happy adults they were meant to be. And while food, clothes and a roof over their head is important, there's one thing they need a lot of that's tons of fun: play. The children's furniture and toy company P'Kolino (pronounced Pee - ko - lee no) are experts in creating products that encourage play, are safe for kids to use and parents won't feel like are an eyesore for their house.
Creativity isn't just reserved for their furniture and toys; the founders and designers at P'Kolino understand that business itself is a kind of art--and infuse every aspect, from marketing to design, with creativity. We got to talk with J.B. about the company's beginnings, his own background and just where the unique name P'Kolino comes from:
Exclusive Interview: Dean Heckler of Heckler Design
Excuse us if we sound a bit like rabid fans in this post, but we are so, so into the creations of Heckler Design. Helmed by the brilliant Dean Heckler, these are the sorts of products that we've needed for a long, long time. More than just good-looking, his products are filling in the blanks and meeting the needs of consumers today--and we're loving every shiny, boldly-colored bit of it.
It all started with OneLessDesk. See, back when we had lots of paper to spread out or giant 1980s monitors...we needed huge, bulky, giant desks and tabletops. But with sleek laptops, monitors and keyboards that hardly look like they can work they're so small, the need for desks that take up your whole home office (and whole life) just aren't needed any more.
Following on the success of OneLessDesk, Dean listened to customer feedback and created products for other needs in the home office, like OneLessStand (for printers) and OneLessFile ("the last file drawer you will ever own"), all to create a streamlined office that fits today's needs. What else is super cool about him? He "gets" how things work today--for his idea of OneLessDrop, an innovative way to keep your power cords from slipping off your desks and tables, he enlisted the help of backers on the popular website Kickstarter to help figure out how to get this product off the ground (and showcase the behind-the-scenes production of his pieces).
We interviewed Dean about his background (surprising!), how he chose his innovative materials for his products and what's in store for us lucky consumers (you're going to want to hear about his upcoming ideas!):
Exclusive Interview: Monte Design Group
Comfort. That's not a word we use often when speaking about modern design and modern furniture. That's not to say that there isn't any comfortable modern furniture out there; plenty of our favorite designs to look at are also enjoyable to use. But to meet leaders of a company that stress that comfort, over the look of a product, is their main goal, well that's just refreshing. Luckily for us, the founders of Monte Design Group not only concern themselves with comfort, they also happen to produce darn good-looking furniture pieces.
With four kids, Michelle and Ralph Montemurro sure know a thing or two about the needs of stylish parents who desire a comfortable, functional and stylish home. In fact, when starting their family and trying to build and design a home, they just weren't able to find what they were looking for; Monte Design Group was born. With a variety of products geared specifically for parents who have kids to rear and not a lot of time to spend trying to find furniture that will withstand them throughout the years, Monte's products are perfect both in looks and in comfort. And, as we learned during our conversation with Ralph, these products are built to last (as only the dad of four kids under 10 years of age would know). Learn more about Ralph, Michelle, their family and their products in this awesome interview:
Exclusive Interview: Architect Craig Steely
We discovered architect Craig Steely a few months ago, and even mentioned him in a post last month here on the 2Modern blog. One post just couldn't contain all the love we have for this creative guy, though. More than just a "modern" architect, Craig's designs are part of what's amazing about the modern design movement: they're tackling design issues in new and unique ways, and doing so in the most aesthetically-pleasing way.
His structures approach the landscape with a very interesting philosophy, and his designs are just cool and fun. Versatility and the ability to marry his style with those of a client are paramount, and make for a portfolio that is bursting at the seams with all different types and styles of architecture. Make no mistake, Craig Steely is a modern architect, but his ability to listen to clients' needs, situate structures in varied landscapes and integrate new and surprising materials makes him more like an ambassador of how modern design should be everywhere.
We sat down with Craig over Skype to discuss his background (like getting to study art and design in Florence, Italy), how he primarily designs in two very different environment types (Hawaii and California) and what his definition of modern design is.
Antonio De Bonis
We've got another fabulous company (actually two!) manufacturing gorgeous and modern baby and kid furniture. Why focus on furniture for people who can't even afford to buy their own? Well for one thing, there's a lot of notoriously terrible-looking kid's furniture out there. And for another, having kid's meaning adding a lot of new stuff to your home. Make that stuff look good and be safe. We'll be showing you the products of Tulip and Leander today; you get two company profiles in one with this interview! We don't have audio for this interview--just words. But they're great words, and we've added a ton of photos in the slideshow to make up for it.
Exclusive Interview: Sophie Demenge of Oeuf
In the ever-overwhelming world of kid and baby furniture and accessories, Oeuf stands out as the perfect example of not only the kind of products you want living with your children, but also the type of company you want to support.
Quite the family affair, Oeuf (French for egg) is run by the lovely and French Sophie Demenge, and her equally wonderful and American husband Michael Ryan. They are both held in line by two very discerning quality assurance agents that also happen to be their two young children. Passionate about what they do and serious about producing children's furniture that is meaningful, healthy and aesthetically-pleasing, we've been fans of Oeuf for awhile. We sat down with Sophie to hear about why they started a kid's furniture company, learn about their design philosophies and be charmed by her delightful French accent.
Exclusive Interview: Payam Sarabi of Sarabi Studio
Payam Sarabi of Sarabi Studio is full of wonderful stories. Stories of how he got into this business. Stories about why he chooses the materials that he chooses. Stories about why he creates what he creates. Listen to his audio podcast interview to hear these stories for yourself.
Exclusive Interview: Edgar Blazona of TrueModern
Edgar Blazona's no stranger to the design world; starting right out of high school and continuing through to today, Blazona's got an impressive resume and and even impressive design philosophy. We did his style and appreciate his attempts to create modern furniture at reasonable prices, ensuring that those who seek modern design will be able to find it.
Jacob Marks
We sit down with the founder and lead designer of Skram Furniture, Jacob Marks, who talks with us about what inspires him, how he got into the furniture making business and what books are by his nightstand at night. Skram is really unique in the way in which they approach design, and that have a distinctive design approach that smacks of the new American craft aesthetic.
2Modern Exclusive Interview with Wallter's Max Geiser
This is a great interview with Max Geiser, who along with his wife Linda, runs the modern home decor company Wallter. They design, make and sell a ton of fun and affordable items for the home, including wall decor, mobiles, textiles and more.
Bernard Brucha
A great interview with Bernard Brucha, a multi-disciplinary design firm out of Los Angeles that work on projects ranging from interior design, architecture, retail products and furniture design.
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Interview: Architect Steve Robinson of Axios Architecture
Interview: Architect Steve Robinson of Axios Architecture
The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 2
The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 2
Interview: The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 1
Interview: The Creative Couple behind the Haskell Collection Part 1
Exclusive Interview: Darin Montgomery of Urbancase
Exclusive Interview: Darin Montgomery of Urbancase
Exclusive Interview: Dean Heckler of Heckler Design
Exclusive Interview: Dean Heckler of Heckler Design
Exclusive Interview: Payam Sarabi of Sarabi Studio
Exclusive Interview: Payam Sarabi of Sarabi Studio
Exclusive Interview: Michael Yates of Michael Yates Design
Exclusive Interview: Michael Yates of Michael Yates Design
Exclusive Interview: Michael Iannone of Iannone Design
Exclusive Interview: Michael Iannone of Iannone Design
2Modern Exclusive Interview with Wallter's Max Geiser
2Modern Exclusive Interview with Wallter's Max Geiser
Exclusive Interview: Andrew Thornton of Argington
- 1. Exclusive Interview: Andrew Thornton of Argington
- 22. For more information about Jenny Argie, Andrew Thornton and their company, visit argington.com. For more podcasts, design posts and design advice, check out the blog at 2modern.com