Gallery: SOLV STUDIO

Many of us who live on the coasts develop a bias for the outer edges of our country. I think it’s safe to say that we often assume trends develop from the outside and make their way in, rather than the other way around. If you fall into this category, then here is a little reminder that some spectacular and ultra-hip designs are originating in the middle. The Twin Cities are something of a mecca right now for great architecture and design. One that caught my eye recently is Solv Studio, the Minneapolis furniture company of designer George Mahoney.

Prior to entering the field of furniture design, Mahoney worked in photography and graphic design, both of which inform his current work, giving an elegant visual language to his pieces. He creates limited production and one-of-a-kind items from a variety of materials. The chair pictured above is made of bent birch on a steel frame. The same chair comes in a more flexible and luxurious version with strips wrapped in cashmere (see below). The clean profile is complemented by the softness of the lines, making the chair modern but not austere.

Other pieces include a chair wrapped in felted wool with a bright red detail, and two minimalist wooden pieces which I love: Telephone and H.A.L. are gorgeous geometrical containment pieces that combine cantilevered wood with high-shine metal to create functional sculptures for use as telephone stands or computer tables. A little bird told me that future versions of Mahoney’s chairs may incorporate recycled rubber and other sustainable materials, so keep an eye out for more modern (and eco-friendly?) design from the middle.

Link: Solv Studio