Let the zoo come to you with these winsome pieces. Animal-inspired designs for the home have always won us over — whether a classic Eames Elephant (#3) or a Hare doormat from Droog (#4).
If pets can lower your heart rate, a Hippo Footstool (#5) can at least lift your spirits. These sophisticated picks suit adult and kid spaces alike – the Polar Bear Storage Unit (#1) has even been spotted at the modish Crosby Street Hotel. The fantastical Rhinocrétaire (#2), from French sculptor François-Xavier Lalanne, dazzles as it did when it first appeared in 1964. Whatever blows your hair back, a friend from the animal kingdom will surely lighten the mood.
1. Polar Bear Storage Unit, Pedlar's
2. François-Xavier Lalanne’s Rhinocrétaire, 1964, via u-topie
3. Eames Elephant Stool, $290 at ModernSeed
4. Droog doormats by Ed Annink, $133 at Unica Home
5. Hippo Footstools, $875 at Scully & Scully
6. Green Chicken, Hayon Studio
7. Traccia Table, Meret Oppenheim, via artnet
8. Pony by Eero Aarnio, $2,600 from Finnish Design Shop








Comments (11)
I ABSOLUTELY MUST buy that Polar bear! SO creative and unique...no one would ever forget my fun design sense.
The only thing stopping me from putting it on my card RIGHT NOW is the $2080 USD price tag....and i doubt I can convice the MR. that i NEED to buy a 2K shelf haha.
but I LOVE it. it is posts like these that make me a devoted reader.
I'm with you clpizzo. I want it so much, but that price tag.. ARGH!
Maybe my Grampa, who is a carpenter can make something similar for me. :)
I don't get it.
Maybe the Traccia table, or the elephant in a kid's room... but the others? Yea, NO...
I don't get it - these seem to be for children, but I wouldn't put anything in a child's room that cost over a thousand dollars!
What are those yellow books with the 331 and 667 numbers on the spine? They are in the edges of so many design photos right now. They are like the Keep Calm and Carry On poster these a days.
The Polar Bear is available domestically at SwitchmModern.com.
And DWR now carries the Elephant Stools.
See also: Rosma Gutierrez
http://www.voosfurniture.com/#/designers/rosma-gutierrez/oppi---bench
Some people apparently don't appreciate the whimsical. I think these are all great for that unexpected touch by those who don't take themselves too seriously. The price tags are definitely reason to think outside the box and get creative if you're longing for something similar, but that doesn't mean these kinds of things shouldn't be shown, if only for inspiration.
Love the bear. I'm thinking of making a copy.