New York Design Week kicked off this week with BKLYN Designs - a Brooklyn-based furniture design event showcasing the Kingsborough's hottest "locally grown and internationally known" designers. The Inhabitat editors went to the show to scope out our favorite green designs, and we've selected 14 extraordinary finalists for our 2014 BKLYN Designs Awards. From some incredible reclaimed wood furniture to eye-catching lighting and other fun housewares and home designs, check out all of the finalists here and vote up your favorite to decide the winner!
Uhuru‘s Shou Sugi Ban Stool is made from Japanese cedar treated with a traditional process that preserves the wood by charring it. The beautifully textured seat is made from a reclaimed cedar pole from the Pacific Northwest.
VOTE FOR UHURU HERE >
To create this stunning sculptural Drop Light, designer Casey Otis melted salvaged bronze and collected the drops as they cooled. He then suspended them around a light source to create a mesmerizing lamp that casts delicate shadows upon nearby surfaces.
VOTE FOR OTIS + OTIS HERE >
Phil Gautreau‘s gorgeous hand turned bowls are made from salvaged pieces of locally sourced timber. Gautreau starts with a solid chunk of wood and then carefully lathes away layer by layer to expose the hidden character concealed within.
VOTE FOR PHIL GAUTREAU HERE >
Pickett Furniture revitalizes furnishings that have fallen out of fashion by realizing them in striking new forms. Case in point: This octagonal card table is made from reclaimed red oak, and it features insets made from rapidly renewable cork.
VOTE FOR PICKETT FURNITURE HERE >
Pickett Furniture also showcased a rocking tube guitar amp and a series of friendly robots made from salvaged wood offcuts.
VOTE FOR PICKETT FURNITURE HERE >
Schiller Projects‘ WMC Table is made from a massive bird’s eye maple burl (which is essentially a tree tumor). The designer carved off the bulbous burl without casing serious harm to the tree and then sanded it to reveal the rosy woodgrain within. The finished piece is set upon structural legs that strike contrast with the wood’s organic form.
VOTE FOR SCHILLER PROJECTS HERE >
Garrison Architects has developed a resilient urban housing prototype to provide displaced city residents with shelter in the event of a catastrophic disaster.
VOTE FOR GARRISON ARCHITECTS HERE >
Off Centre showcased a lush living wall made installation from handblown glass containers. The designers’s beautifully formed vessels and lamps celebrate the subtle imperfections inherent to the glassblowing process.
VOTE FOR OFF CENTRE HERE >
This sublime couch by Mark Jupiter is made from slats of reclaimed softwood and light tan leather sourced from North Carolina.
VOTE FOR MARK JUPITER HERE >
Coil + Drift‘s Hover Shelving Unit is made from salvaged architectural joists and scaffolding sourced from around New York City. Founder John Sorensen-Jolink chose to leave the wood unfinished to let its raw natural character shine through.
VOTE FOR COIL + DRIFT HERE >
Coil + Drift also showcased this gorgeous geometric Dusk Table, which is made from planks of salvaged wood set atop a geometric metal base.
VOTE FOR COIL + DRIFT HERE >
Inhabitat favorite Nadia Belalia returned to New York Design Week with a fresh collection of lamps made from repurposed colanders. The reclaimed lights let bits of light shine through to cast pointillist shadows on nearby surfaces.
VOTE FOR NADIA BELALIA HERE >
Brooklyn Slab‘s Mothwing Lamp Table draws an accord between different elements: intricate woodwork is juxtaposed with simple, coarse metal legs. The studio’s use of markedly different materials shows that contrast—when used well—can create startling and appealing effects.
VOTE FOR BROOKLYN SLAB HERE >
Inspired by American folk art and mid-century modern aesthetics, Alexandra Ferguson has created a line of cushions that complement any living space (and speak volumes about the residents)!
VOTE FOR ALEXANDER FERGUSON HERE >
GN Woodwork focuses on crafting quality heirloom furnishings made from sustainably sourced wood. They also showcased a series of colorful, cushy pillows made of vintage fabrics from Paula Rubsenstein.
VOTE FOR GN WOODWORK HERE >
CASA Kids‘ brilliant transforming children’s furniture is designed to grow with your child. This cozy cradle expands into an elegant set of bunk beds with the addition of a simple kit.
VOTE FOR CASA KIDS HERE >
Mass Transit Made Art memorializes the subway and bus systems of cities around the world by turning them into colorful prints.
Pratt alumni Jason Freeny‘s creepy Anatomical Barbie peers beneath the skin of a toy commonly perceived as a model for beauty.
Artist and designer Liz Collins makes unique eye-popping knit blankets, pillows and rugs using upcycled deadstock fabrics as well as organic alpaca.
Pratt alumni Michael Weaker’s fun customizable Obos Toys 100% recyclable, packed it minimal materials, and made from FSC-certified materials.
Pletz launched a line of sculptural lamps at BKLYN Designs that combine midcentury modern aesthetics with sustainably finished, FSC-certified wood.
Richard Wyman‘s natural wood lamps are made of slabs of walnut imbued with colorful eco resin that glows when illuminated from behind.
Think Fabricate debuted a multitasking wood writing table that features built-in power plugs, a pull out drawer, and compartments for pens and other supplies.
Respondé‘s responsible modern furnishings pair beautiful, sustainable materials with eco friendly finishes. This red oak table is made from fallen wood set atop a powder coated aluminum base.
Katy Skelton unveiled a walnut credenza made from beautifully sculpted wood treated with eco-friendly finishes.
Elkamii‘s delicate porcelain pots are slipcast and glazed with a pop of color. They can be sat upon a tabletop or hung from above, and they do double duty as containers and planters.
Team Inhabitat takes on BKLYN Designs 2014!
