| Designers today continue to seek new materials and | | | | suede colors, the chair designed with an adjustable |
| innovative ways to use them, which means that | | | | headrest and so those who sit down can achieve a |
| furniture designs continue to evolve and never | | | | neutral position recommended by doctors. |
| become entangled in the rigidity of tradition. | | | | On a different note, the Alaskan Stainless Steel Chair, |
| Modern designers can focus on delivering maximum | | | | designed by Cattelan Italia and constructed entirely of |
| comfort in new ways. Traditional design often | | | | stainless steel, is sure to become the artistic |
| sacrificed comfort for appearance, but modern | | | | centerpiece of any living room. The rugged, polished |
| designers are not bound by those traditions. | | | | design and strong lines evoke the starkness of the |
| Comfort also comes from the pride of owning a | | | | tundra. |
| unique piece of furniture. In living rooms, bedrooms and | | | | Platform beds lead the way in bedroom furniture |
| offices, modern furniture has become art, prized for its | | | | In the bedroom, modern platform beds have brought |
| unique quality as well as its comfort and functionality. | | | | elegance and new features. As with modern living |
| Many of today's best furniture designers are Italian and | | | | room furniture, platform beds can become a bedroom |
| come from a tradition that began after World War II, | | | | centerpiece instead of simply being crammed against |
| when large swaths of Italy had been destroyed and | | | | a wall. |
| the greatest challenge was to rebuild much of the | | | | The Selex Blok Red Walk-on Modern Platform Bed, |
| country. The rebuilding spurred design innovation in | | | | for example, imported from Spain, has a walk-on |
| areas from architecture to industry to furniture. | | | | platform finished in wenge and red lacquer that can be |
| Design innovation reached a high point in Italy during the | | | | located on either side. Storage is available beneath the |
| 1960s, then slipped into a period of minimalism during | | | | bed. |
| the following decade until designer Ettore Sottsass | | | | Bedroom dresser designs haven't evolved that far |
| founded the Memphis Group in 1981, which rebelled | | | | away yet from the standard rectangular cube to |
| against the minimalist era and produced bright colored | | | | dramatic new shapes. But the Diamond Dresser, |
| furniture and other pieces. The Memphis Group | | | | manufactured by Rossetto of Italy, adds leather |
| brought its colorful and often shocking designs to | | | | upholstery in a crocodile print to the traditional shape. |
| products that ranged from typewriters to cars to | | | | The dresser comes in black or ivory and a matching |
| furniture. | | | | mirror also with a leather crocodile print can be added. |
| The Italian tradition of producing high quality modern | | | | Modern office furniture makes a statement |
| furniture is carried on today by designers like Rodolfo | | | | Office furniture always has been functional. Old roll-top |
| Bertozzi, who designs spectacular Italian leather sofas | | | | or rectangular wooden desks were well suited to a |
| for Polaris. | | | | working environment where moving and filing paper |
| Sleek, clean lines of the modern living room | | | | were the chief activities and computers existed only in |
| In modern living room furniture, sofas, coffee tables | | | | fantasy. |
| and chairs feature sleek, clean lines without the | | | | Contemporary desks add another critical element to |
| ornamental features of traditional pieces. The designs | | | | functionality. Their designs aim to make a bold |
| are focused on functionality and comfort, offering | | | | statement about the executives who occupy them. An |
| spaces for lounging as well as sitting. | | | | example is the Luna Modern Italian Office Desk, |
| With wide armrests and slender chrome feet, the | | | | designed by Paolo Pininfarina for Uffix. The desk |
| popular Malaga Italian Designer Leather Sofa appears | | | | features a sweeping red or black leather arch design, |
| to be floating above the floor. This handmade | | | | a painted aluminum frame and a glass top. |
| Bertozzi-designed sofa features a wood frame, | | | | Like many pieces of Italian-designed furniture, the Luna |
| comfortable polyurethane foam filling and is available in | | | | desk is a work of art as well as a functional furniture |
| 50 colors. | | | | piece and its design received the Wellness at Work |
| Other modern living room furniture also has shaken off | | | | Award at the 2006 International Furniture Show of |
| the standard old designs. The Navile Contemporary | | | | Milan. |
| Coffee Table, for example, definitely is not your | | | | These pieces of furniture are only a few examples of |
| grandmother's coffee table. The folds and curves of | | | | the broad palette of innovative designs being created |
| the glass top and base truly make the table the artistic | | | | today. As it has done for the past century, modern |
| centerpiece of any living room. The table top can be | | | | furniture design is sure to move in new directions and |
| clear glass or painted black or white. | | | | further stretch the limits of traditional design in the |
| Ultimate comfort is the goal of The Perfect Chair 95 | | | | coming years. |
| by Human Touch. Available in nine leather and two | | | | |