The 2009 Hit List

MOST WANTED Iron in the Fire Caldo Fire Screen - Philip Nimmo Ironworks Los Angeles interior designer and metalworker Philip Nimmo looked to one of his favorite artists for inspiration for his latest design. Nimmo calls the Caldo fire screen an homage to Ed Ruscha. The iron rods of the fire screen are coated in a black acid finish to dramatically offset the bright yellow-and-white powder-coated letters. Nimmo’s designs can be found at Thomas Lavin in L.A. and Sloan Miyasato in San Francisco (philipnimmoironworks.com).

MOST WANTED
Shopping Stop

Brick Monkey - Redwood City

Three Bay Area interior designers took over a lofty former bank building on Redwood City’s main drag and filled it with choice home furnishings and accessories. Brick Monkey (mentioned in CH+D’s September/October 2009 issue) was founded by Kirsten McKay, Stephanie Kolkka and Barry Johnson. The historic space, complete with original brick walls and vaulted ceilings, provides the ideal backdrop for the eclectic pieces: work from local designers and artists are displayed beside items sourced from the owners’ travels around the globe (brickmonkeyonline.com).

MOST WANTED
Space Saver

Cornerture - SJ Sallinger

Expertly crafted wood furniture tends to take up space in the home, not save it. But San Francisco designer and woodworker Scott Sallinger decided that, with the increasing number of people buying diminutive condos and apartments, it was time for high-quality furniture to follow suit. Earlier this year he introduced Cornerture, a modular system of case goods that fit perfectly into corners, maximizing an underutilized space. The smart designs can be customized to include shelves, drawers, wine racks, closet storage, glass doors or any other number of functional and decorative features (cornerture.com).

MOST WANTED
Glass With A Past

Floating Blue Glass Surface - Vetrazzo

As silvery blue skyscrapers sprout up across the state, a glamorous byproduct is finding its way into the home in unexpected ways. Vetrazzo, a manufacturer of recycled glass countertops, has a new addition to its color choices. Floating Blue is created with the blue architectural glass frequently used in condo and office towers. Any imperfect sheets—too thick, thin or damaged—are sent over to Vetrazzo in Richmond, where the pieces are mixed with recycled clear glass and a cement base. The resulting eco-friendly surfacing material has been a hit with consumers, who have requested the glittering blue material for built-in barbecue surrounds in addition to kitchen and bath countertops (vetrazzo.com).

MOST WANTED High-Tech Art "Re:action" Series - Phillip Hua When San Francisco artist Phillip Hua wanted to make a statement about the economy, technology and the environment, the old mediums just weren’t cutting it. For his newest series, “Re:action,” Hua traded in the canvas and paintbrush for less conventional materials: Sheets cut from The Wall Street Journal are carefully collaged together to create the “canvas” on which he prints ethereal images of trees that he creates in Photoshop. Hua then seals the finished product with carefully applied strips of packing tape and mounts it on aluminum. The pieces have caught the eye of both the art and design communities. Hua will be part of a show opening in January at Hang Art in San Francisco (philliphua.com).

MOST WANTED
Table of Content

Light Gets In Table - Stranger Furniture

To Los Angeles–based furniture maker William Stranger (profiled in CH+D’s August 2006 issue), there is no such thing as unusable wood. When he salvaged the trunks of walnut trees cut down to make way for new construction, he made sure that, from the sawdust to the scrap, each part of the trees found a second use. Most notably, he made the Light Gets In table with a minimalist frame topped by a natural-edge slab. The organic shape not only allows for less waste and greater yield from each tree, but Stranger says the visible imperfections emphasize how true beauty can occur naturally (strangerfurniture.com).

MOST WANTED
Eco Escape

Hotel Indigo - San Diego

San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel just opened its doors, boasting stylish and environmentally friendly accommodations in the heart of the city’s re-energized downtown. Located just steps away from the popular Gaslamp Quarter, Hotel Indigo San Diego was designed by local firm Joseph Wong Design Associates with generous daylighting and the use of low-VOC paints, coatings, adhesives and carpets for better indoor air quality. The interiors feature a palette of organic colors and textures, while outdoor spaces by Teshima Design Group include two living roofs planted with drought-tolerant plants (hotelindigo.com/sandiego).

MOST WANTED Local Map San Francisco Terrain - Conor Fennessy San Francisco interior designer Conor Fennessy was inspired by the dramatic topography of his city to create the San Francisco Terrain. The 10-by-10-inch gypsum tile perfectly captures the city’s steep hills and shallow valleys in stark black and white. Fennessy, whose eponymous antiques store can be found in North Beach, counts among his clients the Mayor’s Office of Protocol, which keeps the piece on hand as a memento to give to visiting dignitaries (sanfranciscoterrain.com).

MOST WANTED
Whole Grains

Sunrise Collection - Frank and Lila Cooper

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and traditional Japanese woodworking methods, Frank and Lila Cooper created their latest collection, Sunrise, with a nod to handmade decorative arts. The Mountain View–based husband-and-wife team start with sustainably harvested and reclaimed wood specifically chosen for its colors and unique grains. The resulting furniture line, which includes coffee tables, cabinets and étagères, are rich with detailed paneling, geometric pulls and contrasting finishes. Perfectly integrated drawers, shelves and hooks gracefully meld aesthetics and functionality. The étagère (top-left) is made of reclaimed mahogany and bird’s-eye maple, and was finished with 18 coats of hand-rubbed shellac.

MOST WANTED
Wall Decor

"UV Ink of Bamboo" - Parvez Taj

For those who can’t run out and pick up a Picasso to complement their new sofa, Los Angeles artist and entrepreneur Parvez Taj came up with an artful solution. His decorative panels have found a following with homeowners and designers looking for affordable and stylish ways to liven up their walls. Priced from $90 to $1,000, the works are abstract photographic collages printed with UV ink. For a truly unique texture, the panels are available in bamboo, Kirei and 3Form. They have been picked up by CB2 and ZGallerie, and the latest designs will be in stores next season (parveztaj.com).