They’re Back – Tam Tam Stools

2008 commemorates the 40th anniversary of Henry Massonet’s Tam Tam stools of the late Sixties. The stools are a classic, simple and economical solution to casual, contemporary seating. Tam Tams also serve well as seats or small tables for children’s rooms and play areas. The removable top allows a child (or a resident grown-up) to have a secret hiding place for small treasures.

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Le Corbusier

Le Courbusier Le Grand, the spectacular visual biography of one of the greatest architects of the 20th Century, is available at Zinc Details. 768 pages and over 2,000 images and documents, many of them previously unpublished. Le Corbusier was the creator of some of the most important and impressive buildings of the last century, but also an accomplished painter, sculptor, furniture designer, and urbanist. Letters in “Le Grand” reveal his intimate relationships with the likes of Picasso, Leger, and Josephine Baker. By the editors of Phaidon Books, intro by Jean-Louis Cohen.

Milano Salone 2008

“The Salone del Mobile Internazionale” is the International Furniture Fair of Milan, the largest and most anticipated trade fair in the world. It is renowned as the leading exposition for new products by furniture manufacturers and designers and is covered by most leading design periodicals.

At the show we saw many exciting new products, emerging young talents and had a chance to meet design superstars such as Philip Starck, Jasper Morrison, Ron Arad, Arik Levy, Boroullec brothers and Tokujin Yoshioka.

During the week of Salone there were as many as 413 events, exhibition and parties happening all over the city. It was simply design overload! Here's snap shots from Salone 2008.

Salone 2008

Ceramics from the Summer of Love

Well, they could be. Aldo Londi produced these ceramics between 1950-1970. They have so much of the 60s aesthetic (think the credits for James Bond films of the set from Laugh-In) that they could have helped prop up a Peter Max poster. Great retro vases re-produced by Flavia. Available at Zinc Details.

Rugs with a punch line

Former San Franciscan Dan Golden is producing a line of rugs, made in New York, from a series of his very sardonic cartoons. The rugs are made from New Zealand wool that is dyed in Georgia and tufted by hand in Long Island City. The cost at $120 per square foot reflects local labor conditions and attention to ecology, says business partner Ford Lininger. Golden and Lininger both graduated from San Francisco State more than a decade ago in the drawing and painting program.

“I thought the cartoons would be great on rugs,” Lininger said.

The rugs have proven popular overseas and to people with contemporary homes who want a unique piece. Golden’s rugs are available through Zinc Details.

(From an article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Laura Thomas, March 26, 2008.)

The Best Folding Bicycle - EVER!

Strida - the first completely new bicycle geometry in 95 years. Inside a triangular frame of lightweight aluminum, power is transferred to the rear wheels via a silent clean Kevlar belt. Handlebars are mounted horizontally, so the rider can sit comfortably upright with an excellent view of the road. The genius of the triangular frame is that it can fold. In five seconds, you have a light, compact form that you can easily wheel before you, stow in a closet, load in your car or take on the train. With no external grease or oil to soil your clothes, Strida makes daily commuting fun and practical. Now, instead of being snarled up in traffic, you can ride wherever you want, then fold up your transport and take it with you. Designed in England. Now at Zinc Details.

Riding the Strida is Channel 5's Liam Mayclem, who had just finished interviewing Zinc Details' Vasilios Kiniris for an "Eye on the Bay" segment. Deal was, he had to ride the bike. Problem was, we couldn't get him off!

Not just dinner, but A dinner

Give your table the easy aspect of “A Dinner” rather than just “dinner,” with PlateBowlCup, the first complete Alessi tableware collection. Designed by Jasper Morrison, the Alessi collection lets you “eat in, like you eat out.” Complete place settings, along with glassware and utensils, are available at Zinc Details.