By: Jack Stanley
The Wassily Chair is an icon for a reason. The piece was the first (and only) “legendary” design item that I brought, and it still manages to appear futuristic and modern almost 100 years after Marcel Breuer first designed the chair. Over the course of that century, the chair has become one of the world’s most recognizable designs, complete with a Supreme collaboration last year. Although its appearance is purely functional — just leather and steel — the chair is surprisingly comfortable. I’d recommend the classic black belting leather finish, but the more eye-catching tri-color haired hide runs it close.
Where to buy: Knoll for $2782 USD
Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer
BAPE x Modernica Coffee Table
By: Mallory Chin
Originally released in 2012, BAPE’s collaborative Modernica Coffee Table is one of the best furniture items to currently grace my apartment. I was lucky enough to get this rare piece from my uncle back in the day as a gift, and now the table sits on display in the middle of my living room. However, I don’t usually allow my guests to put their drinks on it. As a huge BAPE fan, I love that this ubiquitous Ape Head-shaped table is crafted from stained wood, adding a luxurious feel to a somewhat outlandish home staple.
Upon its release, the BAPE x Modernica Coffee Table retailed at ¥68,000 JPY (approximately $620 USD). You can still find some left on eBay and StockX for more than five times that amount.
Where to buy: eBay for around $2,999 USD
V1 Coffee Table by Lichen
By: Emily Engle
I’m of the mindset that a successful coffee table should serve as an accent piece, highlighting displayed objects that represent the owner’s personality, from books to flower arrangements to tea sets. I’ve had my eye on this sleek design by Lichen ever since I first set foot in the studio’s shop, which is filled with curated vintage furniture finds, in-house designs and a selection of home goods from brands like HAY. The table’s sturdy, plywood material makes it ideal for carrying the heavy load that is my coffee table book collection, while its evergreen tabletop adds an upscale touch that would complement instead of overshadow my other belongings. Each table is made to order, which is an added bonus atop an already reasonable price point.
Where to buy: Lichen for $299 USD
Banqueta Iaiá by Atelier Gustavo Bittencourt
By: Emily Jensen
Brazilian designer Gustavo Bittencourt studied at Rio de Janeiro's Federal University and the Polytechnic University of Turin before founding his own furniture studio. There he produces pieces that mix the clean elegance of mid-century modern styles with futuristic curved lines, with natural materials like wood and leather accented by delicate pops of colored velvet. In brief, they're the kind of pieces I want for my imaginary beach home — starting with the Iaiá stool, which features a wooden seat with hand-woven straw, and legs of either black metal, copper, chrome or stainless steel, and rendered either with or without a backrest.
Where to buy: Reach out to ateliergustavobittencourt@gmail.com for purchasing information. Prices start at $775 USD
Vintage Elephant Chair by Bernard Rancillac
By: Felson Sajonas
I’m quite the neophyte when it comes to furniture shopping so my pick is more aspirational rather than practical. In my hunt for something “avant-garde” that would fit my imaginary contemporary cliffside home, I came across this vintage Elephant Chair that, to me, has tons of character, especially at first glance. It’s designed by 1930s-born French artist Bernard Rancillac who is a sculptor and painter renowned for his vividly colorful works. The Elephant Chair is a reflection of his quirky, yet grounded design ethos and is as rare as they come in the world of vintage furniture finds — only 100 were made in 1985. The near $13,000 USD price could justify its rarity but the added value to me is the standout, sculptural aspect. It’s practically a lounge chair disguised as a museum-worthy piece (or the other way around depending on perspective) and makes for an interesting conversation starter for guests. It also just plain looks fun to sit on.
Where to buy: Pamono for $12,997 USD
Becoming your own interior designer to spruce up your humble abode can initially be fun but ultimately daunting come time to actually bring your vision together. With so many styles to choose from such as art deco, mid-century modern, rustic or bohemian to name a few, it’s quite easy to get lost on your way to narrowing down a particular look. Regardless of the style chosen, however, one thing’s for sure, selecting the right accent furniture can make or break a room.
While some use accent pieces to make a bold statement, others might use them to just simply complement other items in a space. Desks, side drawers, lounge chairs and coffee tables are just some of the many options and the way they’re designed and placed can vastly make a difference to how a room’s particular vibe is defined. For this edition of Editors’ picks, we’ve chosen some pieces from a wide variety of tastes ranging from the avant-garde to the more streamlined, contemporary offerings. Check some of them out below and see if they’re items that would work for your home.
A selection of pieces ranging from the avant-garde to the more practical designs.
Editors Picks: Best Accent Furniture
Image Credit: Pamono
Image Credit: Sean Munro
Image Credit: Atelier Gustavo Bittencourt
Image Credit: Knoll
Image Credit: StockX
By: Eric Brain
Toronto-based architectural firm Partisans and its acrylic Gweilo lamps reinvent the light source as a sculpture. It begins life as a solid sheet, but once heated up to 400 degrees, it is hand-molded into an ethereal, almost solidified liquid state that acts as part artwork, part lighting system. The custom-made LED strip that slots into the Qin’s structure lasts up to 40 years, and offers multiple sizes of its Gweilo lamp, ranging from 25cm desk lights to 6ft-tall floor lamps — like this $2,645 USD piece. Each is made to order, taking eight to 10 weeks to be complete — a worthwhile wait for a statement piece such as this.
Where to buy: Monologue London for $2,645 USD
Partisans Gweilo Qin Floor Lamp
George Nakashima Conoid Chairs, Signed 1989
By: Charlie Zhang
It’s common to hear the term “East-meets-West” in our hyper-globalized world, so much so that sometimes we take the phrase for granted. But before the arrival of the internet, true cultural knowledge required tremendous commitment, as exemplified by George Nakashima, an American-born master woodworker who bridged his Japanese heritage with his Western identity. The Conoid chair is one of the last pieces he sculpted before his passing. It comes in a muted black walnut base with hints of vermillion and blond grains, accented by cream-colored hickory spindles. One distinctive feature of the chair is its two-leg design that supports a cantilevered seat, achieving a seemingly impossible weight distribution thanks to the addition of a long horizontal base to each leg. A signed and dated (1989) pair of two of these chairs is currently available at 1stdibs’ website.
Where to buy: 1stdibs for $24,500 USD Per Set
By: Nia Groce
There’s something so irresistible about the allure of a swanky bar cart. Is it the automatic air of classiness (or at least the mere perception of such an air) that comes from housing your favorite spirits in a dedicated space instead of on a simple counter? Or, could it be the thought that you are entertaining enough — so much in fact — that a full cart has become a necessity in this thrilling new walk of adulthood? Perhaps it’s the simple appeal of being able to stage and have access to your very own minibar within the comfort of your own home. Probably for me, it is the latter, but I’ll take the perks of all three.
Where to buy: EQ3 for $299 USD
EQ3 Perrier Bar Cart
Image Credit: Monologue London
Image Credit: 1stdibs
Image Credit: EQ3
Noguchi Coffee Table Walnut
By: Keith Estiler
Though famous for his masterful conceptual sculptures made of stone with a brief stint in metalworks, acclaimed Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi also dabbled with minimalist furniture design. In 1939, Noguchi designed one of Herman Miller’s most iconic products: the artist’s eponymous coffee table that featured a freeform sculptural base and a biomorphic glass top for optimal use at both home and office settings. The late artist’s namesake museum in New York City is currently purveying the perennial furniture item in walnut, white ash, and black options.
Where to buy: Noguchi for $1,995 USD
By: Jake Silbert
PUEBCO is a Japanese company founded with the mantra that “the objects we share our homes with should carry that same sense of history and weight” as our own lives. This informs a variety of their militaria-inspired home goods, from chunky wireframe baskets to an apron crafted from vintage army trousers. Unfortunately, I don’t have a ton of room to play with in my apartment, so the Standard Bench and Vintage Steel Trunk are out of reach, but the Tent Mat is much more versatile. Ostensibly just a flat slice of vintage military tent, the Mat is available in a variety of versatile colors, complete with printed “ALL-PURPOSE” verbiage. The heavy canvas allows it to work well as an area rug or it can be easily converted to drapes, a dust cover or even a room divider.
Where to buy: PUEBCO for $100 USD
PUEBCO vintage military Tent Mat
Image Credit: Noguchi Museum
Image Credit: Editlife
Image Credit: Pamono
Image Credit: Sean Munro
Image Credit: Atelier Gustavo Bittencourt
Image Credit: Knoll
Image Credit: StockX
By: Jason Dike
Homme Plissé Issey Miyake is a favorite in the HYPEBEAST London office -- specifically the trousers. The reason is simple: they’re exceedingly comfortable. They offer the ease of sweatpants but not the look of them, making wearing them on a daily basis extremely tempting.
This piece makes for an ideal layering addition from Homme Plissé. While technically listed as a shirt, it could easily work as either a light jacket or a layering piece under a jacket and above a base layer. It’s an item one or more of us in the London office will be wearing during these transitional months.
Where to buy: Browns for £375 GBP (approximately $463 USD)
Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Pleated Press Popper Shirt
Image Credit: Monologue London
By: Torsten Ingvaldsen
Stone Island’s Shadow Project immediately conjures layering to mind. After all, ACRONYM head honcho Errolson Hugh originally established the PARSEQ GRID system with the label some-odd years ago, developing collections that whose layers operated in unison to create new options. Within the offshoot’s latest Fall/Winter 2019 collection, one notable piece that remains within this methodology is its latest Quilted Fishtail Parka. The two-layer ripstop shell has been garment dyed in a head-turning mint green, refined to present a unique industrial texture and feel. More details of the fabric include superior abrasion resistance and an anti-drop formula to help in solidifying its place in your everyday wardrobe. The piece has been finished off with a large detachable hood and visor, as well as removable knit cuffs to keep your hands warm during the colder months.
Where to buy: MATCHESFASHION.COM for $1,845 USD
Stone Island Shadow Project Hooded Ripstop Parka
Image Credit: Editlife
By: Eddie Eng
As the temps drop, I find myself going more to denim and jeans than joggers and sweats. Maybe it has to do with the ruggedness and flexibility to coordinate with hoodies and long-sleeves and even tees should the office’s heat be cranked up. Nevertheless, I was a fan of the customized/savage/crash denim styles of the early-to-mid 2000s from brands like Levi’s Phenom, its other sub-label LVC and even UNIQLO’s foray into washed Selvedge denim — not to mention wearing in your APCs till they fell apart. However, I remember I was always drawn to NBHD Savage denim with its over-the-top patching, stitching, embroidery and details. These new ones are a step in the right direction with the past trend, where the location and selection of customization is more subtle, for lack of a better term. I really hope NBHD Savage picks up again — would be a nice return and a step back from athleisure!
Where to buy: END. for $495 USD
Neighborhood CLAW MOD SAVAGE Denim
Image Credit: 1stdibs
By: Emily Engle
This pick is dedicated to all the cozy people out there who can’t wait to put their hoods up and tie ‘em on tight as soon as fall weather hits. AMBUSH’s Multi Cord Hoodie is part comical, part tactical, stuffed with multiple cords to get creative with. Leave the cords flat and hold them together with the included AMBUSH-branded metal toggle, or figure out ways to make the piece your own through different bows and knots. Belongings never stay put in the awkward, oversized kangaroo pockets that are on most hoodies, so I love that this silhouette features a functional angled and slightly raised version of the classic detail. The oversized hoodie also comes in beige and blue colorways, but I prefer the black option because the branding across the chest is a bit more subtle.
Where to buy: AMBUSH for ¥49,680 JPY (approximately $464 USD)
AMBUSH Multi Cord Hoodie
Image Credit: EQ3
By: Keith Estiler
When layering, I usually go for a classic work shirt that I can easily throw on over a white tee and leave unbuttoned. I’m a sucker for Dickies’ 574 work shirts because they’re long-lasting and come in tonal options like dark green. Lately, however, I’ve had my eyes on Snow Peak’s Shijira Shirt in grey. The top is a bit more intricate than your ordinary overshirt. It’s executed in the traditional Japanese weaving style of Awa Shijira that gives off this crepe-like texture and knobby surface. Some say the fabric construction resembles seersucker, but it’s not as visually loud. Versatility is also a key attribute as this shirt can be worn both outdoors and casually at home.
Where to buy: Snow Peak for $219 USD
Snow Peak Shijira Shirt
Image Credit: Noguchi Museum