Cool furniture, design objects and desiderata

[brokencycle]

Furniture generally - couches, armchairs, swivel armchairs.

Lighting and other furnishings as well. Open to all recs.

gdl recently posted this:

Hmm... I’m not very good at keeping bookmarks of stuff. Some that come to mind: TRNK NYC, Crofthouse LA, Schoolhouse, Akron Street, Thuma, hem, Hay, Tom Raffield (bentwood), humanhome (lighting), Menu.

I think Floyd is also a nice upgrade from Ikea but I don’t own any of their stuff. Blu Dot if you like their design aesthetic. The quality varies a lot in my experience. The metal styles are better made than the wood/MDF stuff.

then there’s of course a number of replica-focused places that have been discussed here before, like Rove (we own a few), Eternity Modern... those scratch the itch of a classic design at a lower cost. Rove also sells non-replica stuff and the quality is quite solid in my experience (we have a bed and a couple of side tables from their own line).

Other recommendations on furniture:
Room & Board -- I have a few pieces, and the quality is good, but they're a bit pricey
Herman Miller (I really like some George Nelson designed stuff) -- again tends to be pricey but can be found on sale or used
Honestly I think Crate & Barrel (and the modern CB2) has as good or better stuff than RH for a lower price

For lighting:
Honestly check out lumens.com or something and get a feel for what you like.
Flos is a classic, but pricey option
Rejuvenation has similar vibe fixtures all made in the US. As an example, here is the first fixture if I just clicked lighting on RH's website and it is a member price of $521 vs this rejuvenation one at $309. The shade is smaller, but they have a lot of customization available. Any fixture you see often has dozens of shades available.

 

[shortlefty]

Considering a ton of funirure I like is expensive, what are the chances of building a decent console table/basic furniture out of wood with little experience? Any good recommendations on videos to watch of types of wood/products to get? Not looking for anything insane or complex

 

[bourbonbasted]

Considering a ton of funirure I like is expensive, what are the chances of building a decent console table/basic furniture out of wood with little experience? Any good recommendations on videos to watch of types of wood/products to get? Not looking for anything insane or complex

I've had similar impulses in the past but would wholeheartedly recommend against the DIY route unless you're more interested in showcasing your work than you are thoughtful design/craftsmanship (and I've known people who feel this way). You're bound to be disappointed with your efforts once your expectations are set so high. Even seemingly simple pieces, if being compared to thoughtful makers, can be incredibly challenging.

Now if you're looking to practice the trade and not interested in immediate gratification/outcomes, that's a different story.

 

[rokor]

I've had similar impulses in the past but would wholeheartedly recommend against the DIY route unless you're more interested in showcasing your work than you are thoughtful design/craftsmanship (and I've known people who feel this way). You're bound to be disappointed with your efforts once your expectations are set so high. Even seemingly simple pieces, if being compared to thoughtful makers, can be incredibly challenging.

Now if you're looking to practice the trade and not interested in immediate gratification/outcomes, that's a different story.

Agreed. It takes in inordinate amount of dedication to achieve what resembles that of something made by a trusted maker. Unless you have related skills going into it (machining, welding, woodworking)it's going to be more trouble than it's worth imo.

 

[Bromley]

I don't know what tools or work space you have available, but with minimal equipment you could make something decent as long as you have good instruction. There's a used book store in my city with an entire section of really good DIY furniture making books. "Home furniture from 2x4s" and stuff like that. Find a good book or set of instructions, and use that to decide if it's something you want to try. A decent cabinet can be made with a table saw, screws, paint and plywood.

Also, nice to see @bourbonbasted around again.

 

[sugarbutch]

I've had similar impulses in the past but would wholeheartedly recommend against the DIY route unless you're more interested in showcasing your work than you are thoughtful design/craftsmanship (and I've known people who feel this way). You're bound to be disappointed with your efforts once your expectations are set so high. Even seemingly simple pieces, if being compared to thoughtful makers, can be incredibly challenging.

Now if you're looking to practice the trade and not interested in immediate gratification/outcomes, that's a different story.

I mostly agree with this. An exception might be if you're extremely meticulous and capable of unflinching self-assessment. Chris Salamone's channel has a few projects where he shows how to do them with more basic power tools, and he offers plans which include routing templates you can print out. If you like his style, this could be an option.

Chris Salomone

I love designing things..and I tolerate building them. I'm not the greatest designer, woodworker, film maker, speaker, or anything else. But I think the thin...

www.youtube.com

 

[otc]

I like this guy's channel. He has a "Woodwork for Humans" series where he builds up a simple hand tool kit from affordable tools, covers basic skills, and applies them to a growing list of projects.

Rex Krueger

Disclaimer: My videos here are for entertainment, to share what I do, and to maybe provide some inspiration. Woodworking can be dangerous if all safety preca...

www.youtube.com

But you'll soon find that if you are into the aesthetic mostly presented in this thread...well...you're a long way from getting there on your own without a lot of big tools and practice.

 

[true.to.size]

Considering a ton of funirure I like is expensive, what are the chances of building a decent console table/basic furniture out of wood with little experience? Any good recommendations on videos to watch of types of wood/products to get? Not looking for anything insane or complex

I am a hobby woodworker, who doesn't have much in the way of formal training. I've taught myself and accumulated basic tools over the past decade or so and have made things for myself, friends, and family.

I find it can be rewarding, but it is definitely time consuming, and I would think that only in the past 3–4 years I've started to make things that will really stand up well over time. I've found myself redoing/getting rid of the things I built in the first few years.

I think Kreg tools and similar jigs are a great way to get started... they ensure solid joinery and if you think through the design you can minimize the appearance of the joinery with these methods... though they will not compete with beautiful, handcrafted joinery of a master craftsperson.

 

[double00]

DIY is such a great approach, why not? a lot of great instrument builders get started this way and often enough wind up contributing to the state of the art.

not sure why anybody would discourage such

 

[dapperwoodworks]

Considering a ton of funirure I like is expensive, what are the chances of building a decent console table/basic furniture out of wood with little experience? Any good recommendations on videos to watch of types of wood/products to get? Not looking for anything insane or complex

I got my start in woodworking by building furniture for my house, and I have learned a ton from doing so. I just found plans online and mostly used pretty basic tools including a circular saw, miter saw, drill, Kreg Jig (someone else mentioned this above), and sander. Personally I wouldn't sell the pieces I've made for my home because they're not anywhere close to perfect, but that's part of the learning process! If you've got the time and patience then I definitely recommend getting into woodworking as a hobby. If you're looking for some videos on diy furniture with construction materials and minimal tools check out https://www.youtube.com/c/ModernBuildsDIY/videos
I would also check out Chris Salamone as recomended above by @sugarbutch. Chris design some really nice furniture and incorporates more machinery and nicer materials in his projects.

 

[trafficjam]

I made my coffee table out of some old (mostly rotten) 2x8s I found on the side of the road and lemme tell you, it's dogshit, and if I hadn't had access to a jet planer, the quality of the wood would assuredly demote the table to an even lower tier of shit. But I learned a lot while doing it and definitely wouldn't make the same mistakes the second time around, so I'd recommend the process to anyone.

 

[gdl203]

I came across this furniture designer recently and I'm digging his work. No idea what prices are

Piet Houtenbos

Modern timeless design executed with heirloom quality craftsmanship. Custom solid wood furniture tailor made in Brooklyn, New York by furniture designer Piet Houtenbos.

www.piethoutenbos.com

(shagreen inserts dedicated to @RJman )

 

[RJman]

I came across this furniture designer recently and I'm digging his work. No idea what prices are

Piet Houtenbos

Modern timeless design executed with heirloom quality craftsmanship. Custom solid wood furniture tailor made in Brooklyn, New York by furniture designer Piet Houtenbos.

www.piethoutenbos.com

View attachment 1504479
(shagreen inserts dedicated to @RJman )

Those inserts are unexpected!

 

[Gus]

I came across this furniture designer recently and I'm digging his work. No idea what prices are

The "petal" pulls on cabinets are certainly a creative touch.

 

[lordsuperb]

I came across this furniture designer recently and I'm digging his work. No idea what prices are

Piet Houtenbos

Modern timeless design executed with heirloom quality craftsmanship. Custom solid wood furniture tailor made in Brooklyn, New York by furniture designer Piet Houtenbos.

www.piethoutenbos.com

View attachment 1504479
(shagreen inserts dedicated to @RJman )

How do you find out about these brands?