To kick-off Design Within Reach’s summer season, your source for modern living has introduced The Journal, an evolved catalog which just landed in homes. The Journal is a place where DWR will delve deeper into modern design, art, culture, and creators. “It’s a place to connect with the diverse community of design lovers who are as passionate about modern design as we are,” says Omar Nobil, DWR’s new VP of Creative.
The theme of the first edition is “Explore.” Summer is here, and with it comes and inspiring spirit of freedom and adventure. Key highlights include “The Drama of the Desert,” - from the striking landscape of Joshua Tree, reflected in arresting architecture like the Invisible House, to the vibrant arts community of Palm Springs.” The exploration of desert frontiers continues with a feature on the influential Frey House II, sharing the story behind Swiss architect Albert Frey’s masterfully inventive house perched cliffside in Palm Springs.
L-R: Architect Albert Frey in his Palm Springs home, dramatic side elevation of Frey House II on the hillside, the large boulder Frey incorporated into the house’s design, the “Invisible House,” on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park
Artfully showcased throughout The Journal are the Summer 2023 product launches. “If I had to sum up this season’s introductions in one word, it would be ‘comfort,’” said Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail for MillerKnoll. “The desire to feel embraced, to relax, and to connect is an understandable one in the world right now, and we’re excited to introduce exclusive furniture that does just that.”
L-R: Chromeo Chair and Ottoman by Sarah Ellison, Soffi Swivel Lounge Chair by Gabriel Tan
The Soffi Swivel Lounge Chair, a DWR-exclusive design from Gabriel Tan, perhaps best expresses this desire for comfort. Inspired by inflatable furniture from the 1960s and ’70s, Tan has captured their inviting friendliness in plush, luxurious materials. Gabriel mentions that he sought to bridge the connection between form and comfort with this design. The result is an enveloping chair that gives the sitter a sense of lush security and coziness. Recognizing that face-to-face interactions are more precious than ever, Tan gave Soffi a swivel function to facilitate conversation and social interaction.
A DWR exclusive, the Chromeo Chair and Ottoman is Australian designer Sarah Ellison’s first foray into working with metal. Pairing curved chromed tubing and bolster cushions, the geometric Chromeo is a study in materials and form. Sleek and contemporary, with a wink toward its Bauhaus inspiration, this crisp new classic is offered in texturally rich piccolo velvet or ivory corduroy upholstery.
Togo Seating Collection featuring Maharam Velvets
DWR’s exclusive new Kura Swivel Stool, designed by Hlynur Atlason, features a similarly curvaceous, embracing silhouette. DWR is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original Togo Seating Collection designed by Michel Ducaroy with an exclusive partnership with Ligne Roset featuring Maharam velvets.
An exclusive new art collection with London-based artist Laxmi Hussain is another exciting highlight. Hussain’s work blends the abstract with the realistic – a combination of free-flowing forms and intricately ordered patterns. The precision in her work stems from years of studying architecture, a field that frustrated her with its rigidity and led her to the less constrained creative possibilities offered by art. Her inspiration comes from the forms encountered in everyday life, the tenderness of motherhood, and the natural shapes of the body as a vessel and its evolution throughout life.
L-R: Kura Swivel Stool by Hlynur Atlason, Laxmi Hussain art collection
The Summer 2023 collection is now available through dwr.com and DWR studios across North America. If you haven’t received a copy of The Journal at home, you can request one HERE.