Fad*ish- fashion and design

I wracked my brain trying to think of ways to use cardboard furniture -- ok, maybe it wasn’t a thorough ‘wracking’, but I gave it some thought. CardBoarDesign is literally a hole-in-the-wall shop nestled in a crack between Armani and DKNY on New York’s West Broadway. There, strewn across the sidewalk like high priced litter, is a collection of cardboard furnishings that are practically avalanching out of an otherwise unnoticeable doorway. I am not sure what they do when it rains, but on any given hot and humid summer afternoon in NY, you can find their collections of goods ranging from a cardboard spaceship (for entertaining the kids) to a cardboard dining table (for entertaining guests).

Are their products durable? Sure they were used for a Guggenheim Gala in 2007, but could they be more than just a one night stand? Their Series 55 collection is designed to get the maximum durability from recycled cardboard. No glue, screws or space aged bonding method is needed, but one might suggest a waterproof varnish (or even a coaster) if you actually intend on putting a drink on one of their tables -- because there is no escaping the fact that they are still cardboard. More awe-inspiring is their imported ‘cousin’ Flexible Love ^TM, an expandable accordion-like chair/sofa/loveseat. Fresh from Taiwan and distributed by CardBoarDesign, Flexible Love ^TM expands to sit 16 and contracts to fit in your closet. The accordion-like seating gets 'comfortable' with time, which is just an euphemism for 'worn and a bit tattered' -- but even upholstery gets more 'comfortable' after one too many bums.

No amount of cute shapes, neat snapping and folding techniques is going to turn cardboard into a piece of wood, and no amount of painting is going to turn it into an elegant piece of furniture. But for a romp room, a twenty-something apartment, a eco-friendly event or a conversational piece cardboard furniture is perfect. I guess anyone who would furnish their dwelling with cardboard has more on their mind than just fashionable interiors -- maybe they are also thinking about saving the world for future generation.

*ms.b

links we love:

www.cardboardesign.com

www.flexiblelove.com

Labels: Decor