Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb was the guinea pig for an office makeover by HGTV's "Designed to Sell" designer John Gidding.

It's an interesting view behind what is normally so polished and "done". What Hoda reveals in the beginning is that space design really isn't her thing, and that she moved into her office, but did nothing with it.

Gidding redoes the entire space, using furniture from BoConcept. The 5-minute clip shows what a few key pieces of furniture, some color, and a little thought can do to really awaken a space.

How much time do you spend in your office, sitting? Think you've got the best looking, most ergonomic, greenest chair around? If you're like me, you sit on what they gave you, which isn't much.

Allsteel's new Acuity chair, recently introduced at NeoCon, is a combination of ergonomics, thoughtful design, and environmental consciousness. I can type about the details, but I'll let you watch the video:

Could I replace my work chair with Acuity? Absolutely. Want to buy me one?

Photo credit: Allsteel via flickr.

This is the kind of headline that should be in the Globe or Herald, but they're too busy worrying about reverends and the election.

Phillipe Starck's Mr. Impossible chair, the star of last year's ICFF, is now available for purchase at Kartell.

The $490 chair is dubbed Mr. Impossible because this construction process has never been done before. It consists of two layers of polycarbonate - a clear bottom and a translucent, colored top. The two layers were to be bonded together by a laser, but laser can't do it's job if it can't "see" what it's hitting (because the two layers are see-through). Kartell developed an element that is invisible to the eye, but not to the laser, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mr. Impossible is available in nine different colors and sells for $490. The two layers only touch at the edges of the chair, so you sit on negative space. The clear legs add to a sense of floating.

I sat on Mr. Impossible at ICFF 2007 have can attest to it being not just super cool looking, but stable and very comfortable as well. It's ultra modern design will fit well in any manner of forward-thinking home.

Kartell Boston
10 Saint James Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
617-728-4442

I was just looking over my writeup of the Vessel Dot Spot Party and realized, for a celebration of a new line of furniture, there aren't any photos of the furniture! Well, let's fix that, shall we?

Blu Dot at Vessel

The Buttercup Chair

Oh man, I love this chair! The Buttercup's bent plywood shape owes a bit more than a nod to the Eames LCW, but sits more upright and swivels, giving it a different feel. This particular one was the raffle prize of the night. I talked to Stefan and Dwayne over the weekend, and alas, I didn't win it. There is a rumor floating around that there might be a monthly furniture giveaway at Vessel. If that happens, you heard it here first!


Couchoid Lounge Chair

The Couchoid line, both chair and sofa, have incredible, low lines and possess a laid back, chill attitude. And they're vegan too, covered in "a cow-friendly, flesh-free leather alternative." I have a few friends that would love that!


The Real Good Chair

Modern American design meets IKEA flat-packability. The Real Good chair is made of powder-coated steel. It arrives at your house flat; simply fold it along the laser-cut lines, attach the legs, and voila! a chair. By flat-packing it, the chair is super inexpensive, too - only $99! You can even by this off of the Vessel website.

Stella Chairs

Talk about a sweet lounge chair! Positioned to lean back just so, the chair is perfect for all those cocktail parties I know you throw. And covered in rich leather, it exudes just the touch of luxury that party needs.


Drift Credenza

If there's one fact in decorating your home, it's that you can never have enough storage. Enter the Drift credenza. With its gently curved grips made of bent plywood, the Drift is one smooth credenza - there are no knobs or handles to get in the way. Very cool.


Do you like what you see? Then go visit the gang at Vessel!

Vessel
125 Kingston St
Boston, MA 02111

Okay, this is more than a week late. I apologize. Working 70 hours a week is doing no good for the whole consistent blogging thing. Are you looking for an intelligent, social, design addict for your company/firm/store? Yeah? Let me know! Anyway...

Last Thursday, Christopher and I joined some friends for the Dot Spot Party at Vessel, celebrating the addition of Blu Dot to the Vessel lineup.

Blu Dot, from Minneapolis, makes great furniture with a hip look and very clean, modern lines. Everything they make has a fun vibe to it. After meeting Blu Dot's CEO Maurice Blanks (that's him in the middle of the photo, with Christopher and his coworker Emily), it's no wonder why. A smart, affable guy, Maurice had no shyness about how the idea for Blu Dot came up (a backpacking trip across Europe with all that that entails...), and was more than happy to talk furniture, architecture, food.. you name it.

As with any Vessel party, the Dot Spot party was a fun time. Aside from all the great design items for sale, the store was filled with people enjoying the festivities. There was a raffle during the party to win a free Blu Dot Buttercup chair. I haven't gotten a call to say I've won, so I'm thinking I didn't.

Of course, the crew was in on the fun as well. I got a chance to reintroduce myself to Traci, aka the girl in the green dress, and I got the chance to meet Eric and Omar, who has quite the funny TMZ story - this isn't the first time he's held his hand up to block the camera! Go into Vessel and ask him, he'll tell you.

Speaking of the crew, everyone, meet Milisa. She is the first subscriber I have met in person. I know I'm supposed to act like I have thousands of adoring fans following me everywhere I go, but really, this was cool. Say hi, Milisa!

Oh, I can't forget: Vessel has opened a second location! They have taken over the space formerly occupied by Motley Home and whipped it into a Vessel. The next time you're on Tremont Street, check it out.



Vessel
125 Kingston St.
Boston, MA 02111
617-292-0982

652 Tremont
Boston, MA 02118
617-425-292

Inspired by blogging goddess and good friend Meg Fowler, I've decided to start a Friday Love List series. Sometimes every week, sometimes every now and again, but always on a Friday, I will show you what I love. Which is what a blog is all about, right? So, without further ado...

The lounge chair. So beautiful. So comfortable. So sophisticated. The kind of chair you can read in. Fall asleep in. Comfort the little ones in. The lounge chair is the king of the living room, and for that, I am giving it the honor of my first Friday Love List.

For the sake of fairness, and that EVERYONE has seen it before, I have decided to leave the king of lounge chairs (that would be the king of the kings of the living room, for those keeping score at home) out of the list.

Ready? Let's let the love flow...

K10 Dodo from Cassina
Oh. my. goodness. In general, I'm more of a fan of Scandinavian and MCM American furniture. But how can you deny this sexy Italian beauty? Wrapped in some of the softest leather (must have been some happy cows), this chair demands attention. The headrest and folds back (good for shorter people) and the footrest folds back under the seat. Sexy and functional. This particular chair was spotted at Montage on Arlington St. Bellisima!






MYO from Ligne Roset
"That chair is so chill," is the comment below my photo of MYO on Flickr. And it is. This chair isn't meant for business meetings. Look how far back that reclines. This is a "relax in the splendor that is your home" chair. Proof the French are more easygoing than us Americans. Available at Adesso on Arlington St.



Corona from Poul Volther
Here we go. Origninally released in 1961, Corona is an icon of Scandinavian modern design. The shape is simple: Four ovals held up by chrome steel supports. But wow, what a shape! This chair was spotted at Just Scandinavian on Hudson St in NYC.

What about you? Are there any lounge chairs that you love? If so, let us know! Let me know what you think of the new series, too!

Another question came in, this time from Chris:

We're new to the Boston area and are having a really hard time finding a nice, modern, good quality - sleeper sofa. Do you have any ideas on furniture stores that we should visit?

We found one we like at Crate & Barrel but we were hoping to look at a few other options. We like the Axis and the queen-size Nuevo at C&B (comfy, modern, both about $2500).

Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
Chris

Chris, I know your frustration. There are a ton of great, modern sofas available, but few high quality modern sofa beds. I looked and looked for a suitable modern sofa bed for months, and ended up moving to a larger space before I actually found the right one.

I like the lines of the C&B Axis sofa, but the mattress in the Nuevo sofa is much more comfortable, and is what I would recommend if you're going to be sleeping on it nightly (disclaimer: I worked at C&B on Boylston St for a while).

Does anyone have a recommendation for other quality sofa beds?

Will I ever post something that is NOT an event? Don't worry, I've got some new ideas spinning that should see the light of day pretty soon. Until then, let's party at the Dot Spot!

Vessel is celebrating the addition of Blu Dot to the lineup of their Kingston St. location. They have created the Dot Spot, "a cohesive representation of Blu Dot pieces; a cool store within an even cooler store."

This Thursday, Vessel will host the Blu Dot founders and their staff, and as many Boston-area design fanatics as possible, to introduce the newest and best Blu Dot designs.

On top of a great event in a beautiful store with fantastic people, you will get 10% off all Blu Dot purchases that night, as well as a chance to win a Blu Dot Buttercup chair (similar to what's shown above).

I'll be there, checking out the new space and hoping to have a lucky night. Check out the new haircut and keep an eye out for me!

RSVP: rsvp@vessel.com

When: Thursday, April 10th, 6-9pm

Where: Vessel
125 Kingston Street
Boston, MA 02111

If you're looking for a new sofa, April may be the perfect time.

For the month of April, BoConcept is offering 20% off all fabric indivi 2 sofas. The indivi 2, like all BoConcept pieces, has clean modern lines that fit a variety of spaces. Its aluminum legs lift the sofa, both physically and visually, making it appear to float above the ground.

The indivi 2 can be had in a multitude of figurations. That, and the choice of over 60 fabrics, means that BoConcept is sure to have just the right indivi 2 for you.

BoConcept
999 Mass. Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

Do you use StumbleUpon? It's a great way to find interesting things that you otherwise may miss. Like I did with Thomas Baekdal's post about Livingstones.

Livingstones are a creation by French designer Stephanie Marin. Made from virgin wool, they resemble actual stones, but are actually soft, comfortable cushions. Well, cushions may be a stretch, as some of them are the size of sofas.



I think these would look great in a large, open, modern space. Too bad that's not what my apartment is.

Recently I had a chance to sit down with the Vice President of Sales for Kartell to discuss some of the new designs available this year.

The Dr. Yes chair by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet immediately stood out.
The story is quite simple. Chair with four legs. But it has a matte finish on the interior and a glossy finish on the outside of the piece. This is done using only one mold. Quite impressive.

For those of you familiar with the Dr. No chair seen around town at a variety of eateries such as the South End favorite Joe V's, the Dr. Yes is the next evolutionary leap.

The piece offers an aesthetic that works very well in high end spaces. And with the matte interior you're less likely to slip out of the chair after your fourth glass of vino.

Manufactured from batch-dyed polypropylene using gas-blowing technology. Like it's predecessor the Dr. No, it can be used in indoor and outdoor installations.

Keep an eye on Kartell, they've been doing big things with plastic since the 40's and if this is any indication, the best is yet to come.

Colors:
Kartell Red, Black, Grey, White, Brown and Yellow

Due:
Spring '08

I'm not a huge fan of ApartmentTherapy's new site design. It's well organized and visually pleasing; with an all white background and light blue accents, it's certainly not going to offend anyone's sensibilities. But Maxwell has put all four cities - New York, LA, Chicago, and San Francisco - on the front page, making it a terribly busy place.

I understand why he did it. Now, people that would normally only check out the old main (New York) page will see what the rest of his team is doing. But having the content that 18 people create show up on a single page is overkill. There have been seven posts in the last hour alone. By posting so much, so often, I'm sure readers, like myself, are merely skimming the site, and not digging in to some of the great subjects that Maxwell and his crew present.

Like a post earlier today by sarahc, one of AT's Chicago bloggers, titled "Furniture That Survives the Test of Time". In the article, Sarah tells what types of furniture you should invest in - arm chairs, a good mirror, and a low bench, and gives examples of each. She also talks about antiques, but as if they are a type of furniture, instead of a segment of the furniture market.

"Buying furniture with the long view in mind can be difficult...you can't guarantee you'll still love it as much 10 years down the road as you did when you first saw it in the store, but there are a few things we've found that stand the test of time."

Sarah's reasoning for spending more money on a piece of furniture is so that it will last. I believe buying only quality, long lasting furniture is at the heart of sustainability. Buying inexpensive furniture that will only end up being replaced in a few years is great for the companies that manufacture and sell such items, but it's terrible for the environment.

I'm not just talking about IKEA, either. New companies that make more eco-friendly furniture (recycled or recyclable content), but at no better quality than the mass marketed pieces, are just as bad for sustainability. And bad for sustainability = bad for the planet.

Buying only high quality pieces ensures yourself, and the world, that that piece won't end up in a landfill in 5-10 years. Buying antique or vintage furniture does this even more so, by using that which is already made (that's the second part of the three green R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

I think it’s great that AT tries to teach people why they should save up and pay more for quality furniture, but they should explain the environmental benefits that come along with the decision.

This doesn't just apply to furniture, either. For more information, check out Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff.

Or in this case, it's furniture.

You've heard it many times, "only Starck could be so bold". Well now it seems that the well-established fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana is upping the ante with their unique reinterpretations of Philippe Starck's 2004 design. The Mademoiselle Chair shown here as interpreted by Dolce and Gabbana is now being offered by Kartell as a limited production run and special edition piece, $918 USD.

Starck's design, which plays on the perception of space and shape has now been dressed in this season's hottest fabrics. These limited edition pieces are bound to make a statement and are already in hot demand by design conscious fashionistas.

For more information visit kartell.com for your nearest showroom. If you're in the Boston area, be sure to swing by the Kartell showroom located at 10 Saint James Avenue, 617.728.4442 for a look at what's hot on the runway this season.

High end modern baby furniture manufacturers are quite common these days. However, it's still not everyday that you come across products that look great and are well made. Ooba changed that. This Chicago based company started by Scott Wilson struck a cord with their Nest Collection 2 years ago. The line was featured in design publications and even picked up by Design Within Reach as part of their now defunct DWR Jax collection.

It is with great sadness that we announce that Ooba will soon be closing its doors. My suggestion, go out and snatch one of these cribs up before they're all gone. Because let's face it, there's a lot of horrible nursery furniture out there.

www.ooba.com

If you have kids, you know how wild their imaginations are. Try and picture what their ultimate bedroom would look like? I bet the Boom Cabinet, with its exploded-then-frozen-in-mid-air vibe, would fit into a few of the little ones' bedrooms.


(via ThisNext)

One product that was deemed a failure by one retailer in Seattle is the Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius for Vitra.

This product is one of more versatile designs to have come along in years. The piece was designed in 2005 and it allows you to sit, recline, to interact in so many different ways without having to alter the piece's form. The sofa's dynamic asymmetrical design allows this wide range of movement.

This product can hardly be considered a failure. The only failure in this instance was the location and local market in which the product was retailed. In the article it was remarked that this product would do well in New York, I believe this to be true. It's different, and the customers who have embraced this piece are looking for different.

Ideal Bite, the daily go-green-the-easy-way email I wrote about back in July, hit us right in the backside today: eco-conscious office chairs.

One of the plethora of criteria that goes into LEED certification, a good office chair will have the earth's health in mind as much as your's. Here's IB's recommendations for your next office upgrade:

• Ikea Markus Swivel Chair - a reasonably priced option from a company that forgoes PVC and uses only sustainable wood; more options here ($199).
• Hermann Miller Aeron Chair - this way-comfy work of art is made from 66% recycled materials such as aluminum and steel, with 94% recyclable parts ($949).
• Steelcase Think Chair - made with up to 44% recycled materials and available in 12 colors, from the world's first LEED-certified factory. Also: recycled guest chairs ($239-$719).
• Twenty Gauge Steno Chair - adjustable vintage steel chairs restored to working condition; customizable with your choice of fabric ($625).
• HealthyComputing - tips on better desk habits.

Other than their daily email (which you can sign up for on their home page), they also have a blog.

And they're still growing: Soon, there will be Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle Daily Bites. Yet still no Boston...

Since I missed the opening reception (and I've moved down the street from it), this past Saturday I visited CW Quinn. Upon walking in, Chuck (as he introduced himself as) instantly recognized me - I guess I'm becoming some sort of local internet celeb, huh?

Chuck was busy with some clients (which is the point, right?), so I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but I was able to check out the furniture. "Custom modern furniture made with 'time-tested, labor-intensive handcraft processes'" is how I described it earlier, and that' s about the best way to describe it.

CW Quinn
2 White Place
Brookline Village, MA 02445
617-738-1681
info@cwquinn.com

Who doesn't love a good three-legged chair design? New from Fritz Hansen this Fall, the PK8. Originally designed by Poul Kjaerholm in 1978, the chair was never originally put into production. However, using plans, sketches, and prototypes, the piece has been posthumously resurrected with the help of Kjaerholm's wife, architect Hanne Kjaerholm. The shell is a dyed ABS material that rests atop an anodized aluminum frame. The piece is available in Black, white, grey and red.

Drawing upon inspirations such as Ray and Charles Eames as well as Gerrit Rietveld, the piece's sculptural shell resembles the iconic PK9. Other pieces in the iconic PK series can be found furnishing the 2004 Museum of Modern Art extension and most recently the National Art Center Tokyo.

"Would you like to supersize that? No, but I will invest in knockoffs".

At least that is what furniture producer Fritz Hansen is alleging that worldwide fast food giant McDonald's has done.

"Arne Jacobsen chairs, including The Egg, The Seven and The Swan are seen as timeless, elegant pieces of Scandinavian modernist design, and are an integral part of the McDonald's strategy to give its fast-food restaurants a facelift and revamp dull decor with upmarket designer fittings."

"However, Fritz Hansen has accused the company of installing "pirate" copies of the furniture in a number of stores. It said it was stopping deliveries to McDonald's immediately, even though it would cost the company "millions in lost sales"."The fact that McDonald's has chosen to use pirated copies is even more surprising since the company itself is legendary across the world in pursuing trademark and copyright suits to safeguard its product and name," stated a representative for Fritz Hansen.

Checkout the rest of the press release here.

Now...who's hungry?