Mid-range Design. The October issue of Metropolis arrived this week and it's chock-full of good stuff. The article A Council of Five looks at the new San Francisco–based furniture company, Council, founded by Derek Chen. (One of our favorite booths at ICFF.) The company adapted a European model of a furniture company — independant designers paid in royalties...
Council's first collection featured designs from both established names like Arik Levy and newbies:
We think this excerpt from Kristin Palm's piece says it best:
With many Americans’ design savvy growing along with their disposable incomes, Chen saw an opening for a small firm exhibiting an international design sense. Thinking of the customer who wants modern-influenced pieces a step (or two) up from IKEA, he explains, “Right now you only have two choices. You can buy European or you can get the design classics from Knoll and Herman Miller. That’s great design, and I have them in my home, but maybe there is somebody out there who wants something a little bit fresher but still with European quality.”
We do! We do!
(Pics: Council)
• ICFF 2007: Council
• NY Gift Fair: Arik Levy for Gaia & Gino
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Nice... but where the hell are you supposed to find pricing and purchasing options? Why do these people expend the time and effort to design and create beautiful furniture, but then fail MISERABLY at the marketing? I hope those so-called "independent designers" get pi$$ed off when the realize that they aren't getting paid because their furniture ain't selling.
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I am SO with you hejiranyc. When I see postings like this I am thinking, ok, here's a link to the online store or at the very least here's a link to the website that's gonna tell me where I can buy it. I think AT should at least explain why there is NO INFORMATION on the website about where a regular person who is not in the "business" can check out or purchase this stuff.
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