Generally when I think of sectional seating a large, overly plush couch with too many throw pillows and a 90 degree angle comes to mind, the kind you sink into and can't get up out of without a helping hand. The "Pantonova" couch is something else altogether though, made of chrome steel it consists of 4 pieces that fit together to form a very cool looking (and also very uncomfortable looking) 74" sofa. Designed in 1971 it still looks modern and contemporary, and although cushions aren't included (you can ask about getting them though, for an additional charge) I think you would definitely need them (sitting on this couch without them brings to mind the infamous "waffle print thighs" that result from certain types of lawn furniture). $5,000
Talk about a unique combination of materials, this Steel and Stone Cello Sculpture is created out of (yep, you guessed it!) steel and river stones. It's an amazingly life-like, free-standing, and full-sized rendition of the instrument complete with a copper-stringed bow. The fact that it's only the outline of the instrument keeps it a light and airy piece without sacrificing any of the the musical essence the artists (Nerio Festa and Heidi Hummler) wanted to capture. Can be placed indoors or out, made in California. $3800
I'm a sucker for accent pieces that find a way to blend the whimsical energy of happy childhood memories with a dose of maturity for the adult I am today. These stainless steel pinwheels from Chiasso take the breezy fun from days past and mix it with a healthy dose of class and durability by creating them of lightweight stainless steel. I think they'd make a fun summertime addition indoors or out, and considering the average plastic pinwheel goes for $2 or less, these are actually a little pricey at $15 each.
When it comes to durability and timelessness in the kitchen very few things can compete with stainless steel, but the downside is that stainless steel dishes almost always have to sacrifice beauty for functionality. But that's not the case with this deep steel bowl by Simon Pearce. A brushed and traditional "stainless" look on the outside leads to the surprising shine and glisten of hammered steel on the inside. The combination makes for a nice mix of tough meets pretty, art meets function, you get the idea. $128.
The latest design from TeNo is the YuKoN, a rubber bracelet with changeable elements that can be taken from basic all the way up to posh. The bracelet can be customized with a variety of pieces made from steel, red gold, yellow gold, wood, horn, mother of pearl and diamonds. The line starts at $165 for a plain bracelet and goes up to $3,585 for a bracelet with a total of .248 carats of diamonds. Bracelets can be ordered complete or piece by piece depending on your style and the elements slide off so you can mix and match. The bracelets are available in seven different wrist sizes.
Starchitect Daniel Libeskind has branched out into furniture. The architect who is famous for his angular building style has worked with Toronto furniture designer Klaus Nienkämper to create the limited edition Spirit House chair, inspired by the angles of Liebeskind's design for the new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition at the Royal Ontario Museum. The Spirit House name refers to the heart of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, where the support beams create an open space.
The chair is made of 14-gauge stainless steel with a brushed finish and weighs 180 lbs. The chair can be used in five different positions (good luck moving it around) and can also serve as a side table. 13 Spirit House Chairs will be placed on the first level of the Spirit House, three will be placed at the front entrance to the Lee-Chin Crystal and two will be on display in the new ROM Museum Store and will be available for purchase after June 2nd through KLAUS by Nienkämper. The chair sells for $12,000 Canadian.
Wine storage is usually an elegant wood affair. Pretty, but heavy wood wine racks often take up a lot of space and may not work with modern decor. Boltz has taken their metal and glass, no frills aesthetic to the world of wine racks, creating simple utilitarian products that seem perfect for concrete floor lofts. The corner wine bar, shown here is made of solid steel and can hold 15 bottles as well as six to eight wine glasses in the rack above. It has has a glass shelf on the top rack and a triangular glass top. It sells for $299. Boltz also makes wine racks, wine towers and a countertop wine rack.
The German-made Bebop Fireplace Tools set is minimal and modern, lacking the ornate detailing that is commonly found on the handles of many older tool sets. It was designed by Andre Gilli and is made of solid stainless steel. Along with the stand, the set includes a brush, poker, tong and shovel, and measures 29.13"H x 10.62"W x 9.05"D. There is also a coordinating log holder available if you have a wood-burning fireplace or simply want to use real logs to accessorize a gas/electric fire installation. Price: $467.
It's a stone, it's an egg, it's... actually a sort of metal ice cube designed to chill your drinks without the diluting effect that ice has. The Piet Hein Drink Cooler is made of seamless stainless steel and has a liquid core, which hardens when the egg is frozen and allows the cooler to actually cool your drink. They are no larger than ordinary ice cubes, so the only potential downside is that you might have to pay a bit more attention to what you're doing when you toss ice into glasses. Price: $31 each.
Sleek and simple, the Steelogic Planks Table has the look of a table that has been constructed from wood slats, much like a picnic bench, but is made entirely from steel. The table measures 72 x 34 x 30 and could be used as a dining table or as a desk, particularly in a home where a modern, minimalist decor is already being used. Steelogic is know for being an environmentally friendly company and 85 percent of the steel used in their products, including this table, is recycled scrap. Price: $7,031.
While it's still quite warm to be thinking about the cold days and colder nights of winter, there is no harm in being prepared - especially since you can use the Vision Steel Fireplace Tool Set with your patio fire pit in addition to an indoor fireplace. The black-matte coated steel tools include a poker, a shovel and a brush, all of which have stainless steel handles. The triangular stand is also stainless steel and takes up very little space; the whole unit measures 29.5"x10"x10". Price: $628.
The Architect Series of office furniture from Boltz must have been designed for the paperless office. The credenza, desks and bookcases formed of glass and metal seem too sterile and clean to support much mess. It looks like there is a printer in the picture above but no paper anywhere in site. Boltz creates furniture that is made of heavy steel for a modern look that is far from flimsy. The pieces in the Architect Series start at $1,000.
You set your cell phone to vibrate, what about your watch? Luxury Gadgets covers the elegant Vulcain Golden Voice, a watch that has a movement with two barrels, one for the watch and one for the alarm which discreetly vibrates. The watch has a 42- hour power reserve and a 12-second striking period. The Vulcain Golden Voice movement powers the hour, minute, seconds and vibrate functions. The steel watch is available in either a square or a round version each with an alligator strap.
There was a time when having a home bar meant only one of two things: either you had a full, wet bar or you had a wooden cabinet with some wine, a bottle of whisky and a few glasses stacked on top. Now, there are many non-permanent bars to choose from, like the stylish and modern Amisco Manhattan Bar. The bar is built on a metal frame and has a front panel of stainless steel. Behind the bar, there are three frosted-glass shelves, one of which is actually a workspace for the bartender, and plenty of room for a large collection of drink mixers and glasses. The colors for the bar are not limited to black and silver, as pictured, and can be custom finished with a non-toxic glaze to match the colors of the room you would like to keep it in. For an even more unique look, if you have enough room, two Manhattan bars can be combined to make one large semicircular bar. Price: $1020.
Posted May 15th 2006 4:37PM by Anne Metz Filed under: Wheels
With Deidre's recent post about Bike Friday in mind, I thought I'd give some props to Oregon's other manufacturer of foldable bikes, Co-Motion. In both single and tandem varieties, travel-friendly foldable bikes are hand-crafted at Co-Motion's Eugene factory.
What gives Co-Motion so much commotion in the folding bike industry? The proprietary S+S coupling system developed for its travel bikes. In just a few moments, you can transform your suitcase into a smooth racing or touring bike while saving the $80 the airlines charge (each way!) for bringing a bike on board.
In other words, you get a collapsible bike that doesn't collapse your street cred.
The foldable version of Co-Motion's steel racer, the Espresso Co-Pilot (as if they couldn't get any more Oregonian, Co-Motion names its bike models after the Pacific Northwest's favorite caffeinated beverages), starts at $1925 for a hand-crafted frame and fork.
When it comes to durability and timelessness in the kitchen very few things can compete with stainless steel, but the downside is that stainless steel dishes almost always have to sacrifice beauty for functionality. But that's not the case with this 
With Deidre's recent 
