Factory 20: vintage beauty

Contemporary, mass-produced furniture loses its aesthetic values very quickly while vintge objects seem to preserve their beauty forever. Is it a question of craftsmanship, the loving touch of artisan hand? Is it a question of material? Pieces made of noble, genuine materials, solid wood, leather, linen, felt or metal, age with dignity and with time become even more visually attractive. Patinated, rusted, worn-out and faded... why do we love them so much? I think the reason might be that vitage, being a witness of the past, addresses our need of continuity. The need of knowing our personal, family history and... belonging.

Browsing through the selection of vintage objects from Factory 20 I got lost in time. Each piece tells a story: from Early Century harbour or doctor's office, from artist's atelier, French farm, Victorian bedroom or Danish kitchen. A treasure box!

www.factory20.com

Tortie Hoare

Tortie Hoare was announced BDC New Designer of The Year for her Leatherwork Furniture Collection at UK graduate exhibition New Designers. I love the medieval feel of her designs!

Judges Comments: The judges celebrated Tortie’s ‘innovation, personal passion and an incredible sensitivity to materials which has reinvented a lost process from medieval times to produce an outstanding collection of contemporary furniture.’ Now, instead of trying to find a job, Tortie has decided to pursue her leatherwork and see where it takes her. She will be spending some of the prize monies on leather for a new collection. “I have never had a reaction like this,’ said Tortie. ‘I have been shocked by the interest. With all of my furniture I have used the process of forming leather to dictate the piece. It was not until I came across the French medieval process of boiled leather that I could create solid, strong forms in an eco-friendly way. “

seen at Kurbits

Styling inspiration: warm wood

Why do I like wooden furniture so much? And fall so easily for the beauty of old wooden floors? Is it the great sensation of touching the worn-out surface, feeling the warmth and genuity that vintage pieces emanate? Wood can be both humble and magnificent, but it always stays truthful to itself. It's always full of life!

Solid wood furniture items are not so easy to find and usually very expensive. But we can always choose something with real wooden veneer...

Mesmerizing blue light... and Billy bookcases from Ikea. Beautiful, atmospheric library created by interior stylist Lotta Agaton. I like the colour composition here: warm browns and cool inky blues.

Found at a great blog of stylist Charlotte Bladh

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A family hut in the mountains - inspiration from Sköna Hem. Cosy, isn't it?

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Wood in the most raw and humble incarnation: wonderful photo series showing the work of carpenter Andrea Brugi taken by Ditte Isager. Eco-beauty seen at Pure Green.

Jaanisays 2011 Collection

Furniture collection by finish designer Jaani Vaahtera... pure poetry.

"I have a dream. I want to awaken thoughts and interpretations. And I want to open doors - happy doors, surprising doors and sometimes sad doors, but only when the purpose is to lead to something good. I believe I will get closer to my dream by imagining and creating things that tell stories, that arrest, awaken and inspire. Things and thoughts that we want to take care of - things that are not disposable. Good design tells a story and then it asks you to tell it. Put simply, it talks - to you, to me to us.

www.jaanisays.com