Below: Benches by Henry Built

Below: Barber and Osgerby bench

Below: Perry Bench from Room in NYC

Below: Photo by Roger Davies

Below: Argon bench designed by Arik Levy for Bernhardt Design

Below: Toronto-based Bookhou makes some really lovely products. I love the random lines on this steam bent ash wood bench

Below: Photo from Robert Stilin Interior Design

I love the BDDW Captain’s Mirror along with their Lake Drawer, as seen below. Pulltab Design also makes a great all-in-one option with their Entry Mirror. Bottom photo from J.Weiss Design.

Finally, this last photo barely shows a glimpse of the vestibule, but I do really like the wall-mounted drawer featured in the entrance.

Still, that won’t stop me from sharing my top picks. Starting with Naoto Fukasawa’s Hiroshima chair. I first spotted these unbelievable chairs at Mjolk in Toronto. The wood is ridiculously smooth and I love the added comfort from the grey upholstered seat.

Below: The Formstelle Morph chair by Zeitraum is seriously lovely. I particularly like the version made from American walnut with cloth upholstery. Plus, I have to say that this chair looks even better in person.

Below: The CH20 Elbow Chair was designed by Hans Wegner in 1956 and looks as current as ever. Produced by Carl Hansen & Son.

Below: The Deer chair by Turkish design firm Autobahn has a great mix of style and function. It looks pretty damn good and is supposedly quite comfortable. Produced by De La Espada.

Below: Margot Chair by Dune. I love the design and the name! (Well, I’m biased, for those that know).

Below: A Knoll classic – the Flat Bar Brno Chair by Mies van der Rohe. I never get sick of this design and they are seriously comfortable.

Below: I think with kids, the Eames Molded Plastic Side chair is a great choice. They’d be easy to clean, are surprisingly comfortable, and look great.

Below: The chair below was designed by Belgian furniture designer, Alain Berteau. Discovered on the blog Belgchic (who in turn found it through Remodelista). How’s that for recycling?

Below: Ecole chair by Benjamin Hubert Studio

Below: To finish things off, you must watch the making of Bernhardt’s Corvo Chairs by French designer Noe-Duchaufour-Lawrence. Whether it’s food or furniture, I love seeing where things are made. The video adds a whole new level of appreciation to this design.

Corvo Chair by Bernhardt Design from Sight Unseen on Vimeo.

In any event, I’m particularly excited about picking out pieces for the dining room. There are so many possible looks. I love mixing and matching types of woods and styles. I’m not yet sure what size table we’ll be able to fit in this room, but here are some shots to get things going.

Below: It doesn’t hurt that the setting for this room is quite dramatic, but I think these chairs have it all. They’re comfortable, sleek, and I haven’t seen them in thousands of homes. Photo by Richard Powers.

Below: Another totally unique look. Not sure about the comfort factor, though. Photo care of RUM magazine.

Below: Yes, Hans Wegner wishbone chairs are everywhere, but they are beautiful, aren’t they? I love the light wood paired with the dark oak table. Photo by Ray Main.

Below: Another set of Wegner chairs care of Bulthaup. Bulthaup not only makes the most beautiful kitchens, but some pretty fab tables as well – light, durable, sleek. I love this look.

Below: Beautiful Cherner chairs care of Specht Harpman Architects.

Below: Jean Prouve all around, care of Taschen. From the table to the chairs to the lighting – it all works for me.

Below: A practical option that fits perfectly in this space. Design by Burd Haward Architects.

Below: Oh where can I find these chairs? I’m not sure where they’re from, but I love the look paired with a big parsons table. Photo via Emmas Blogg

Below: Bryan Adams Paris apartment featured in Elle Decor. I did a recent posting on the living room in this home. Now for the dining room, which is as equally amazing – old school desks make up the table, Bulthaup cabinetry, and flee market chairs – a pretty creative mix that completely works.

Below: This is the dining room from the home of Louise Olsen, Dinosaur Designs founder, and her husband, artist, Stephen Ormandy. It was featured in Vogue Australia in their Jan / Feb 2010 issue. The space feels airy and modern, yet lived in. I wouldn’t mind snagging one of those paintings, either.

Above: Meridiani sectionals
Below: Minotti sectional

Below: Didier Gomez designed sectional for Ligne Roset

Below: Technically the photo below from designer Magdalena Keck is a couch…but with the two pieces it feels close enough to a sectional for me

Below: Sidsel Z

Below: Linteloo Mauro Sectional

Above: Vintage Eames Aluminum Group chairs. Photo care of Owen and Vokes.

Below: Vintage Arne Jacobsen Tulip chair and Swan chair. Photos via stylist Lotta Agaton. It’s funny – I was never into the tulip or swan chairs until I started this build process. I’ve just seen them placed in so many amazing rooms that they’ve grown on me – I particularly like them when they’re well worn.

Below: Arne Jacobsen Library chair

Below: Didier Gomez Dessau chair for Ligne Roset.

Below: Cappellini Low Pad Chair by Jasper Morrison

Below: Walter Knoll Fabricius Armchair

Below: I don’t know if the chairs below are Knoll or knock-offs, but it doesn’t matter. I love them. Spotted in RUM magazine. Pretty lovely scones as well.

This is the space where everything will come together – our choice of windows, furniture, the rug (of course). We need to decide what type of bookshelves we want, how the fireplace and TV will sit together. You get the picture.

I’ve been clipping lots of shots for inspiration.

I see Bryan Adams in a whole new light after catching a glimpse of his Paris apartment. It was featured in Elle Décor a few years back. The space is refined and minimalist. The entire apartment is beautifully put together in a way that doesn’t feel too “put together”. Definitely worth checking out.

Ditto for Dixie Chic Emily Robison. I’ve posted this image before, but I thought I’d include it again since I think the room has a great vibe.

Here are a few clean, simple spaces that caught my eye




Above: Light Locations; Living Etc.; Emmas Blog; Steven Harris Architects; Metropolitan Home

And, then there are some spaces that are just plain old spectacular without needing very much added at all. Check out these digs…

Above: Joseph Dirand; Poteet Architects; Richard Powers Photography

Above: Table and chairs by Bloom, Eco Tots, Nume

If you really want to stir that designer instinct from an early age, check out some modern classics from Little Nest – including Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair and their Little Bert set.
(Cole Haan ad care of The Selby)

French designer Ludovic Renson is also redefining contemporary kids space with his felt and wood Playtime collection. Photo care of Minor Details.

If price wasn’t a factor, I’d be buying one (or 4) of these:

Above: BDDW Square Guest Stool, Bassam & Fellow Tractor Stool

If I can convince myself to land somewhere in the middle, here are my picks:

Above: Cherner Classic Walnut Stool, Established & Sons Alto Stool; Walter Knoll Jason Lite Stool

If I stick with my budget, here is where I’ll land:

Above: Blu Dot Stool Stool and Timber Stool; Crate and Barrel Felix Walnut bar stool; Ikea Sebastian Stool

The first set of chairs I noticed was from Laplace & Co architecture and design. You could get very lost at this site. Stunning. These chairs are from their Place St. Georges project.

Then I spotted these cheery yellow chairs care of stylist Elodie Rambaud

I was flipping through the latest LivingEtc. and saw this yellow kitchen. It’s a bit too bold for me, but then again, so is living in a concrete house. But you’ve got to give architect Greg Katz and wife Caryn credit – it really works for this space.

We’re just starting the process. My husband is excited to toil over plans and I’m dreaming of chairs and sofas. I have a thing for chairs. For some reason I’ve always had a thing for chairs. But, I’ve been somewhat nomadic for my adult life and have never felt the urge or need to accumulate.

I still want to keep things simple, and maybe that’s why I fell in love with the loft chair from Bernhardt Design as soon as I saw it. It’s sleek and simple. I love the lines. With our daughter running around at home with crayons in hand, I also love that there’s no upholstery or fuss. When I found out this chair was designed by student, Shelly Shelly, as part of a sponsored studio course at Art Center College of Design, I fell for it even more.