Report from BKLYN Designs 2009

This year's BKLYN Designs was short and sweet. The 7th-annual co-production of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and auster*events, it presented work by 40 Brooklyn-based designers and craftspeople from May 8-10 in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

Compared with last year when the show sprawled through three buildings and one huge outdoor tent, this year the whole enchilada was wrapped up inside St. Anne's Warehouse, with two children's furniture designers set up on the steps of Jane's Carousel. (There was also a showcase of "green design" inside a high-end kitchen store, but when I went it had closed early, so unfortunately I didn't get to see this section at all.)

Highlights this year included:

Students from Pratt always have a nice spot to show their experimental work. Stand-outs this year included the very comfortable tubular steel and nylon "Through" chaise by Thomas Stern (pictured top) and the round reclaimed-sweater-covered soft "Salvation" stools by Sara Ebert (above, img sourced here).

Working with heavier timbers salvaged from old buildings and construction sites, the newly-formed RE-CO BKLYN (Reclaimed Collaborative Brooklyn) is a joint effort of Roger Benton of Benton Custom (a veteran of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival held Oct. '08 at the Brooklyn Flea) and David Siegel of Boo-Coup (see below). (Img sourced here.)

Boo-Coup is using bamboo plywood and creating texture in the outer layer of the wood, then finishing it in bold crayola colors. Really fun and different.

Always a show stand-out, Uhuru (who also showed during the Furn Fest) showed their latest creation, the Standard Chair. Pairing wooden Louis XVI chair backs found at Build It Green with steel seats they fabricated in their Red Hook workshop, the chairs remind me of Stark's Ghost Chair, but updated with texture, detail, and color.

Another Furn Fest veteran Scott Behr of TMRnyc presented a line of SideWired Tables, small end tables outfitted with power outlets. Smart!

Brave Space Design presented an insanely complex hexagonal coffee table made from the triangular strips of wood removed when making the bevel on their shelves. This table is made from over 5000 pieces of wood.... (Furn Fest vets? Yup.)

It was refreshing to see Flavor Paper's colorful booth filled with their sort of nouveau baroque wallpaper designs (including two scratch-n-sniff varieties!) They are moving up to Brooklyn from New Orleans -- welcome, guys!

Eric Manigian always goes his own way. This year he showed an astonishing table made from several sections of spalted hardwood (maple?) joined together in a ring. (Note that the table is unfinished - those aren't the intended legs.)

EcoSystems, who showed flat-pack chairs last year, had a very clever piece: a dining room table that transforms into seating. These guys are definitely ones to watch.

Takeshi Miyakawa's shelving to the ceiling caught my imagination and was perhaps my favorite piece in the show.

Among the several labor-intensive, one-of-a-kind pieces shown throughout the show, the Nebu Chandelier at um's booth was especially amazing. It's made of 250 antique wine glasses in various colors, shapes, and styles, hung upside-down on a stylized aluminum rack frame. Yowza.

In the eco-friendly furniture for kids category, Casa Kids (left) and Argington (right) showed nice modern cribs that convert into youth beds, great little chairs, and good looking changing tables and cabinets.

A notable thread this year: 3-legged stools and tripod floor lamps. The stools I liked, especially um's Milking Stool (pictured). But there was too little variation among the tripod floor lamp designs for me -- it's a known fact that designers borrow from each other freely, but in this case it was a little silly to find three almost-identical lamps in three different booths.

As a final note, and as might be expected, a great deal of the furniture shown involved salvaged wood. This has become a very identifiable Brooklyn motif. We've seen a lot of the slats-of-reclaimed-wood-bonded-together look over the past few years, and we saw more of it again this year executed with varying degrees of success. It's worth noting that it appears some of the originators of this idea have moved on and are experimenting with new ways of using different sorts of reclaimed materials.

I love watching the evolution of Brooklyn design up-close, and look forward to what's to come...!

Posted and images (unless otherwise noted) by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Correction and Apology

I must proffer a burningly red-faced correction to my previous post:

West Elm did not plagerize Roger Benton's design of the three-tiered side table. It was, quite openly, somewhat the other way round.

It's all explained in this interview with Benton for the blog Brooklyn Modern from September 2008... an interview I read, obviously not with great care, months ago.

"BrooklynModern: How did you arrive at this particular design?

"Roger Benton: I came up with this design while flipping through an old West Elm cataloge out of boredom at my laundromat. There was a table with three stepped tiers, but it was very square and boxy, made of m.d.f. or something. I kind of adapted the basic shape to a solid wood format, and I wound up drawing about five different versions of it. I finally settled on a plan, but as soon as I cut the first piece of wood I started changing features, adjusting things; the final product looks way different than the final drawing."

Great thanks to "Pia" for posting the comment to my blog and setting the record straight.

My apologies to West Elm for the insinuation it was stealing design ideas.

And to Roger for any unwanted attention it might have drawn.

Next topic: "Are Brooklyn Craft Bloggers Too Quick to Judge Corporate Design Stores?"

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Is West Elm Ripping Off Indie Brooklyn Furniture Makers?

NOTE:

PLEASE SEE CORRECTION TO THIS POST! WEST ELM DID NOT COPY ROGER BENTON.

While surfing blogs today I came across this little number (at right, in white) by West Elm in design*sponge's side table round up.

It looks mighty familiar. Remember this great design (at left, in walnut) by Brooklyn furniture maker Roger Benton that we showcased in our Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea in October?

Yeah.

Not only do they clearly resemble each other, but the dimensions and proportions are almost exactly the same. The knock-off is offered in "chocolate" too.

Of course, Roger's has quite a bit more soul, style, and substance, but c'mon, really?? Like I needed any more reason to dislike West Elm.

Stuff like this absolutely makes my head spin around. I need to learn more about how designers and craftspeople can protect their intellectual property. Anyone have some suggested reading for me?

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Top image sourced here. Bottom image courtesy of Roger Benton.

Apartment Therapy's Coverage of the Furniture Festival

HUGE thanks to Miss Amy at Apartment Therapy for covering all four weeks of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea!

She posted about Week 4 today.

If you missed the Furn Fest or the coverage, here's the complete list of the Apartment Therapy links:

Week 1 (Oct. 5)
Week 2 (Oct. 12)
Week 3 (Oct. 19)
Week 4 (Oct. 26)

The furniture makers, the Brooklyn Flea, and I all greatly appreciate your time and attention to come back each week and report on our show, Amy. You totally rock!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Image by Amy A. at Apartment Therapy, sourced here.

Fall Furniture Festival - Pics from Last Day

What a perfectly gorgeous day we had on Sunday for the last day of our Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea!

With above-average attendance and nothing but blue skies, it was an enjoyable day for those who exhibited and those who came to check it out.

Click here for a slide show of 14 images from the day. Apartment Therapy was there again covering the scene, and I'll post a link to that, too, once it's up.

Exhibiting this week:

Anthony Sisto
Bergman Furniture (Scott Bergman)
Mine Metal/Art (Kristina Kozak)
SMC Furnishings (Amy & Brandon Phillips)
Standard 41 (Andrew Raible, who also showed on 10/5)
Wonk (who also showed on 10/19)

Ladies examining the beautiful white lacquered desk by Wonk.

Thank you to all the exhibitors and everyone who came out to see the Furn Fest, and to all the bloggers and press people who covered it before and during -- it was a huge success and we can't wait to do it again!

Sign up for our e-newsletter or stay tuned to Greenjeans Blog to find out when the next one is...

And remember, if you're in the market for new furniture, always check your LOCAL options first!

Scott Bergman of Bergman Furniture (r) -- who came down from Walcott, VT, to show in the Furn Fest -- and his brother (c) sit and talk with Steven, partner of by fave brocante dealer Un Jour, Georges.

Posted and photos by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

LAST DAY of Furniture Fest this Sunday

We have a fabulous line-up of local furniture makers (and one from VT!) on tap for the LAST DAY of the Fall Furniture Festival this Sunday.

I've been a bit under the weather this week, so for a nice preview of who's exhibiting this Sunday, check out Senor Flea's post on the Brooklyn Flea blog here.

Click here for more on the Furn Fest -- and hope to see you Sunday!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Report from Week 3 of Fall Furniture Festival

Week Three of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival, held at the Brooklyn Flea on Oct. 19, was fantastic!

See all the pictures here.

This week we featured work by seven designer/makers based in Brooklyn:

4Korners (Scott Raffaele, table pictured top right)
Aswoon (Susan Woods)
Benton Custom (Roger Benton)
Counter Evolution NYC (Jim Malone, who also showed on 10/12)
Nightwood (Nadia Yaron and Myriah Scruggs)
Uhuru (Bill Hilgendorf and Jason Hogarth, who also showed on 10/5)
Wonk

Over 4000 visitors passed through the Flea on Sunday, braving the suddenly seasonal weather to see great local furniture, taste delicious food, and enjoy the always evolving scene that is the inimitable Brooklyn Flea.

We also enjoyed a third welcome visit from Apartment Therapy, who beat me to the punch this week with their blog coverage of the Furniture Festival booth. So did Reclaimed Home. Thanks, guys!

This coming Sunday is the LAST DAY of our Fall Furniture Festival, and it's a biggie -- I have nine furniture makers on tap to show! So come on by and check it out!

(The list of this Sunday's exhibitors will be posted soon... stay tuned.)

Taking a card for future reference to Counter Evolution NYC.

A pooped kid experiments with lounging on this ribbon-y chair by Susan Woods of Aswoon.

Overall view of the booth, with Aswoon at front (ribbony low chair and steel screen).

Here, Flea organizers Eric Demby (left) and Jonathan Butler (right) help to wheel in the brick oven used to make the most tasty and toothsome mini-pizzas you could ever want. (In fact I had two on Sunday, and am craving one right now....)

Posted and photos by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Showing this Sunday @ the Furniture Festival

How much furniture-making talent can one borough hold?

Come find out this Sunday when we present work by seven more Brooklyn-based furniture designer/makers at the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea!

Top right:
Curvaceous lounge chairs (like the one Jae's trying out here) and undulating screens by Aswoon.

Minimalist pieces with hints of color by Wonk.

Counter Evolution NYC returns with long lean pieces made from salvaged bowling alley wood.

Uhuru is also back this week with their bourbon barrel and truck spring Bilge Chair, and other pieces.

Flea regulars Nightwood will be exhibiting in the Furniture Fest booth this week, and I'm told the two lovely ladies have collaborated on new pieces just for the Fest!

Salvaged wood becomes fabulous furniture in the hands of 4 Korners.

Benton Custom will show this rad three-tiered table along with other pieces built in his workshop at Bushwick's 3rd Ward.

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Images by Greenjeans or courtesy of the furniture makers.

Report from Week 2 of Fall Furniture Festival

If you missed Week 2 of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea, it was a great day with perfect weather and an awesome group of furniture makers.

Here is a slideshow of pictures I took this past Sunday (Oct. 12).

Six Brooklyn-based furniture designer/makers exhibited this week along with Brian Braskie of Canterbury, NH:

Counter Evolution NYC (Jim Malone)
December Box (Mark Williams)
New York City Water Tower Furniture (David Gibbs)
Palo Samko
Scott Behr
Todd McCollister

There are two more Sundays in October, which means there are two more Furn Fest weeks to come -- on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 -- and a LOT more to see...

Learn more about the Furn Fest here.

See pictures from Week 1.

Posted and images by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Showing this Sunday @ the Furniture Festival

We have a wonderfully eclectic roster of furniture makers showing this Sunday, the second week of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea.

From the undiscovered to the well established, all six designer/makers we're featuring this week are, once again, based in Brooklyn:


Todd McCollister, whose Catenary Chair is pictured top right, works out of 3rd Ward in Bushwick.

Jim Malone of Counter Evolution NYC uses wood salvaged from closed bowling alleys. He's a regular Flea vendor, but this week he's showing with us at the Furn Fest.

Mark Williams of December Box blends slabs of gorgeous hardwood with found metal elements to create very appealing tables and benches.

Palo Samko is well-known and admired for the gorgeous sculptural details of his work.

Roger Benton of Benton Custom also works out of 3rd Ward, building cool experimental pieces like this walnut three-tiered table. [UPDATE: Roger Benton is showing on Oct. 19.]

David Gibbs of New York Water Tower Furniture makes great benches and tables that show off the gorgeous aged patina of old cedar and redwood water towers.

Scott S. Behr does great tables, shelves, mirrors, and custom installation work in copper and steel.

Come see it all under the big white tent this Sunday at the Brooklyn Flea!

And if you missed the Furn Fest last week, you can see some pictures right here.

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Images courtesy of the furniture makers.

Report from Day 1 of Fall Furniture Festival

Despite the unexpectedly rainy early start, Day 1 of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea was great!

Tons of people from the curious to the serious came through the Festival to check out work by Brave Space Design, City Joinery, Nine Stories Furniture, Standard 41, and Uhuru. Most of the furniture makers were on hand and both the press and the public enjoyed talking with them directly about their work.

Many told me they had no idea there was so much great furniture being made in Brooklyn, so the Fest seems to be doing its job of raising awareness of the amazing skill and talent to be found in our fair borough!

Major thanks to Sam, Nikki, Andrew, Jamie, Bill, Dave, and Rob for helping set up and take down those huge tents -- it was quite a task and your help made it not only possible but fun -- it practically felt like a barn raising! And thanks to everyone who came to see the work -- please come again!

Looking forward to the next three Sundays in October when we'll present work by more than a dozen additional local and regional furniture makers. Come check it out!

Link to Furniture Festival webpage, including list of exhibitors and dates.

Posted and photos by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Fall Furniture Festival - Exhibiting Oct. 5

The first day of the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival at the Brooklyn Flea is coming up this Sunday, Oct. 5!

All exhibitors this Sunday make their work in Brooklyn:

Brave Space Design
City Joinery
Nine Stories Furniture Co.
NYC Water Tower Furniture
Standard 41
Uhuru

Here's a sneak peek inside some of the Brooklyn workshops of this week's exhibitors...

Large table made from reclaimed elm, in progress in the workshop of City Joinery.

Sleek yet slightly quirky chairs and table by Standard 41.

Checking out the beautiful reclaimed water tower wood David Gibbs (NYC Water Tower Furniture) uses for his work.

And here are some pieces you might see:

Delta Table made from plyboo by Brave Space Designs.

Elsie Side Table "veneered" with metal from old car bodies by Nine Stories Furniture.

Stoolen Round made from scrap hardwood by Uhuru.

Come see all this and lots more on Sunday at the Brooklyn Flea!

Link to the Fall Furniture Festival webpage.

Posted and top three images by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Bottom three images courtesy of the furniture makers.