Common Thread
November 23, 2022
Exaggerated, over-stuffed, and playful.
Puffy, overstuffed, inflated—no, we’re not talking about that feeling you get after a few hours lingering around the dinner table with good friends and one too many second helpings (no one is judging this time of year). We’re talking about the rounded forms that furniture has been embracing, with sloped arms and dimpled seats designed to envelop. The food reference is not far off though, with chairs that resemble bao buns and tiny, rotund portable lights that bring to mind the crackle of a campfire below charred marshmallows.
Image credit Mahad Aamir
LED lights from oOumm Paris
In a shift away from the streamlined, mid-century influences that have been dominating the market in recent years, there is comfort to be found in these chunky, playful pieces. Check out our round up of the best and the plumpest.
The Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia is in the midst a major comeback. First released in 1970, the sofa has been reissued with improvements for comfort and sustainbility and can be found popping up on your Instagram feed in the homes of designers and celebrities alike.
The Ina nesting table from Mary Ratcliffe Studio stands on a cluster of five rounded legs.
The Cetus candleholder, designed by Eric Dolent and Camille Thevenet for oOumm, is a stone base made of softly sculpted marble or travertine that looks as if it has been squished by whatever item it holds.
The Glove Couch from John Vieweg for The High Key.
“By softening hard edges, we discover the human qualities within,” the designer shares.
Les Ateliers Corbet’s Fold Console, designed by Pieter Maes, juxtaposes the wood’s hardness with its softly bent shape.
Zieta Studio’s Sonar Mirror recalls an inflated foil balloon.
The Chunky Cup and saucer by Swedish architect-turned-designer Gustaf Westman of Gustaf Westman Objects.
Gubi’s Pacha Lounge Chair was designed in 1975 by Pierre Paulin, whose vision was to create the sensation of ‘sitting on clouds’. Finding itself well-suited to the tastes of today, the overall feel of the chair is described by Gubi as “organic and hyper-relaxed,” something many of us are aspiring to be.
The Muse Sofa and Huggy Swivel Chair by Sarah Ellison for Design Within Reach.
“My collections are all about comfort, sculptural shapes, and bold proportions,” the Australian designer says of the pieces she created for DWR.
The Donut Coffee Table from Soft Geometry has a plump base of solid oak topped by glass, though the brand shares that the table is also available on request without the glass top, “for those who cannot resist running their hands all over its curved facade, or want to settle into the rather inviting center.”
Yabu Pushelberg designed the Pukka collection for Ligne Roset.
You May Also Like
-
Common ThreadKeeping Britain Great
Craftmanship and creativity reign supreme in this year’s exhibitors from Great Britain, with offerings ranging from mouth-blown lighting fixtures to burlesque-inspired wallpaper designs.
Read Now -
Common ThreadFace It
Visages—both abstract and carefully rendered—are smiling back from wall coverings, furnishings, and decorative objects.
Read Now -
Common ThreadLet It Rock
Whether raw, jagged, tumbled, or stacked, stone pieces are throwing their weight around in interior and exterior environments.
Read Now