Latest news with #furnituredesign
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
These industrial chic benches are made out of old concert barriers
Concert barriers are built to be baked in the hot sun, transported through busy venues, battered by excited concert-goers, and, ultimately, disposed of. A company in Paris is giving them a second life. Maximum, a French furniture designer that specializes in turning industrial and municipal waste into luxe home goods, has now transformed defunct concert barriers into customizable, office-ready bench seating as part of its latest project called 'Bultan.' The firm works by first identifying industrial surplus that, because of overproduction, imperfections, or wear and tear, can no longer serve its original purpose. Then, they find a way to extend the lifetime of that material by fashioning it into something entirely new. Past projects include a line of chairs made from discarded ground plastics, a stool fashioned from imperfect banknotes, and a chic lamp built out of used fluorescent tubes. Yesterday's concert barriers become today's found material While concert barriers may be built to withstand force, they're surprisingly susceptible to fatal flaws, according to Maximum. 'Their legs are their Achilles' heel,' the Bultan's product description reads. 'Often crushed, they condemn the entire frame to the dumpster, even when it remains intact. A few bends are enough to transform a Vauban barrier into a structure for Bultan.' Maximum is rescuing these out-of-commission frames to serve as the structure of its Bultan benches, offering them in either a colorful powder coated option or a sleek galvanized steel. And the company isn't stopping there—every other element of the Bultan seat is also fashioned from a recycled material. Repurposing unappealing wood and plastic scraps into works of art To structurally support the benches' seating and back rest, Maximum sourced wood from local workshops that was discarded due to the presence of wood knots, which caused them to be deemed aesthetically unusable. Because these slats are hidden under the Bultan's cushions, they're perfectly suitable for the task. For the cushions themselves, Maximum turned to La Maison de la Mousse et du Caoutchouc, a rubber goods supplier. 'Below a certain size, the production waste from La Maison de la Mousse et du Caoutchouc is deemed unusable,' the product page reads. 'As thin and elongated as they are, the Bultan cushions fit between the bars and exploit this waste, which results in the scrapping of several cubic meters of high-quality foam every day.' As a finishing touch, the company pulled rejected fabrics from the automotive interiors company Tesca to serve as the chairs' dark-toned upholstery. The result is a chair that visually evokes its origins as a concert barrier, but also appears perfectly suited for a professional or commercial setting. It's a compelling case for reimagining how we might use industrial waste to more sustainably furnish our offices, waiting rooms, and public spaces.
Associated Press
04-08-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Stereo Furniture Announces Partnership With Kvadrat as a Select Vendor for Debut Collection
Bringing Danish textile excellence to bold, functional furniture design SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / Stereo Furniture, a new brand within the premium mid-tier modern furniture space, is proud to announce its partnership with Kvadrat, the renowned Danish textile innovator, as a select vendor for the release of its debut collection. Known globally for its commitment to longevity, sustainability, and elevated design, Kvadrat has long been a trusted partner to some of the world's leading designers and architectural firms. Stereo joins a distinguished roster of collaborators integrating Kvadrat's industry-defining textiles into distinctive, high-quality products. 'Our pieces are meant to be lived with - to be in, on, and around,' says Matt Daines, co-founder of Stereo. 'They're compelling, yet functional, and stand-alone beautiful. Kvadrat's bold textures and rich colorways add depth and durability to that story. They allow us to stay true to our design ethos - fun, functional, and lasting - while giving our customers access to an internationally renowned textile house.' Stereo Furniture launched with a clear mission: to reclaim the individual furniture piece as an anchor of expression - not simply a contributor to mood or atmosphere. As an online, direct-to-consumer brand is the place to explore the collection, make purchases, and learn more about their process and team. Stereo's debut collection, made in the U.S., showcases their unique aesthetic - compelling, bold silhouettes paired with Kvadrat's sustainably produced, tactile upholstery. Together, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality, longevity, and the emotional resonance of everyday objects. Kvadrat's textiles are manufactured to the highest environmental standards and have become synonymous with innovation and timelessness - an ideal complement to Stereo's belief that furniture should hold the room. The Stereo x Kvadrat collection is available now at For press inquiries, interviews, or sample requests, please contact: Contact Information Matt Daines Co-Founder [email protected] +1.888.559.0001 SOURCE: Stereo Furniture press release
Wall Street Journal
10-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
‘Nobody Sits Like the French' Review: The Chair That Charmed Paris
One could argue that there is no better vantage point for dedicated people-watching than from a rattan bistro chair on the bustling terrace of a Parisian cafe. Maison Louis Drucker, established in 1885 by a Polish expatriate, is the oldest surviving rattan-seat manufacturer in France. Its diverse wares (a dozen of which are pictured above) are crafted from thick lengths of rattan bent around beechwood frames to create a paragon of posterior satisfaction. The original bistro chair was developed in 1859 by the German-Austrian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet (pronounced like bonnet), who discovered how to bend strong wood into graceful shapes using hot steam. His No. 14 chair first captured the world's attention at the Paris Exposition of 1867. Its iconic status is one of the topics explored in 'Nobody Sits Like the French,' Charles Pappas's sprightly yet authoritative history of the seven universal expositions held in Paris between 1855 and 1937. The No. 14 chair is emblematic of the book's broader survey of how the expositions fostered innovations at both micro and macro levels. What began as everyday items—cafe seats, Louis Vuitton trunks and Roquefort cheese—would become enduring classics, fit to stand alongside engineering marvels like the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais. The No. 14 chair cemented its reputation when it won a coveted gold medal at the 1867 fair, which drew more than 15 million visitors. 'From that moment on its fame spread with the quickness of a meme,' writes Mr. Pappas with customary éclat. Thonet's chair—considered to be the first piece of mass-produced furniture—could be shipped in parts: 36 disassembled chairs fit into an approximately 36-cubic-foot crate, making it ideal for cafes and bistros. The chair, under the name 214, is still produced by the Thonet company in Frankenberg, Germany. It remains a masterpiece of reduction, consisting of only six wooden elements, 10 screws and two nuts. In 1925 Le Corbusier, the celebrated Swiss-French designer, even gave it his seal of approval: 'Never was a better and more elegant design and a more precisely crafted and practical item created.'
Cosmopolitan ME
03-06-2025
- Business
- Cosmopolitan ME
Cosmo Cribs: I dropped most of my paycheck on this item and I don't regret it
Okay, hear me out. Dropping a large portion of your paycheck on a single piece of furniture sounds chaotic… but what if it's actually a power move? I'm talking about a fully custom-made-for-you item. When I moved into my new place, I promised myself I wouldn't go down the basic couch route just because it was 'easy.' I wanted something that looked like me. Neutral, yes, but also cosy, and a little bit fancy. After deep-diving into the furniture side of Instagram, I found Palm Living and instantly fell into a rabbit hole. Their vibe? European minimalism meets modern desert girl. Sold. Palm Living is based in Dubai and specialises in bespoke furniture that doesn't feel like everyone else's Pinterest board. You don't just click 'add to cart', you actually design the piece with them. I booked a visit to their showroom, and it was giving 'main character on a home makeover show.' Think perfectly lit setups, cosy textures, and helpful humans who genuinely want your sofa to be a 10/10. I tested different styles, lounged on everything as if I lived there, and then got into the fabrics, which was the best part. Boucle, velvet, chunky cotton blends… literal heaven and the team guided me through foam firmness (yes, that matters), custom sizing, and finishing touches. It felt less like shopping and more like curating your future living room personality. I landed on a cloud sofa with textured fabric that's basically the quiet luxury of couches. When it arrived, I actually gasped. It changed the entire energy of my space. It didn't just look good, it made me want to light a candle, put on a face mask, and take a thousand photos of my living room. Was it cheap? No. But honestly, investing in quality furniture is peak self-care. We're in our soft homebody era. I wanted something that wouldn't flatten in a year or become dated. I wanted a couch that would survive mood swings, dinner parties, and spirals alike. And I got it. The best part? Palm Living isn't some faceless furniture chain. The brand was founded in 2020 by two British co-founders, Nikki Martin and Karen Dougall, who wanted to bring affordable, high-quality, Euro-inspired design to Dubai. Everything is made to order in their own UAE-based factory, and all their designs are created in-house. So no, I don't regret spending most of my paycheck. My sofa is hot, my space is calm, and I now have a living room that looks like it was curated by someone who has their life together…even if I don't. Visit if you're ready to enter your custom furniture era. Just don't blame me when you start planning your next glow-up around a boucle armchair.
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Review: Canadian brand Cozey launches modular sofa bed
Could the Cozey Neptune Sofa-Bed be filling a gap in the Canadian marketplace? It's definitely filling a small corner in my spare bedroom. Article content I've found it particularly challenging to find a sofa bed that can fit in my spare bedroom, as it's a very small space. The Neptune is a modular sofa bed, so you can order a configuration that accommodates your needs. Article content Cozey is known for its modular sofas (we've tried quite a few of the brand's products, from its original modular sofa called the Altus, to the plusher Ciello sofa and the new outdoor dining set). The Montreal-based brand continues to expand to create pieces that can conform and complement spaces of different uses, sizes and styles. Article content Article content The Neptune is unlike any other sofa bed I've tried. Traditionally, a sofa bed is a couch with a heavy, springy mattress folded beneath the seats. The Neptune is a completely different mechanism. The conversion of sofa-to-bed and vice versa may take longer than the traditional style, but it's not arduous and awkward to pull out and fit in. It's a smoother, lighter experience. Article content
