THANKFUL

What a perfect way to start the holiday season!

We are thrilled to share and so THANKFUL that our Woven Rush Side Chair has been chosen to be featured in this months, December issue of Elle Decor - The Top 10 Occasional Chairs. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. You can also watch the video of the designers discussing their choices here.

Warhol + Smilow. Great Minds ...

"The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will."

This great quote from Andy Warhol rings true for Smilow Furniture too! Made in America since 1949 our designs remain “enduring, modern, classics.

#andywarhol #smilowfurniture #enduring #modern #classic #MelSmilow #midcentury #Design

Smilow Furniture Featured in Elements of Craft

Smilow Furniture has been invited to participate in 100% Design @ London Design Festival 2014.

The Smilow Furniture 60” Woven Rush Bench RLB 60 will be featured in the exhibition Elements of Craft, Mint Shop - Brompton Design District, 2 North Terrace, London September 13 - 21.
Opening reception Thursday, September 18 from 7 - 10pm.

The talented Lina Kanafani, owner of Mint Shop, curated the exhibition focusing on the influence of craft in design. Mint Shop is an interior design store established in 1998. It is based in central London and is renowned for its contemporary collections and creative merchandising, offering cutting edge design cleverly mused with innovative one off pieces.

100% Design is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors and is touted as the biggest event during the London Design Festival from September 18 - 21, 2014. If you’re in London make sure to come by and check out this terrific shop & exhibit and say hello!

Don’t miss these other great venues/sites during London Design Week:

Brompton Design District

Design Junction

Mint Shop

Design Museum
East London Design District
The New Craftsmen
designjunction

And if you are not in London follow @smilowdesign on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the know during the Festival.

And check out our complete SMILOW Furniture 2014 catalogue.

For more information and U.S. locations contact us at info@smilowdesign.com.

A Gift to Be Cherished, for your Valentine!

It’s that time of year again when you ask yourself -what shall I give my loved one for Valentines Day?

You want to find the perfect gift, something they will cherish for a lifetime. That will represent your ever lasting love. A present that is ‘enduring, modern, classic’ is what you strive for.

That is the essence of Smilow Furniture - a timeless gift that will last a lifetime and beyond. 

Contact us about giving the enduring gift of Smilow Furniture.

It will be forever cherished by those you cherish.

2013 It's A Wrap

We had a fantastic 2013 and we are looking forward to an even more productive and exciting 2014. Here is a round up of Smilow Design and Smilow Furniture’s accomplishments in 2013 and a look forward.

2013 Was Action-Packed!

We Reintroduced Smilow Furniture - including 2 signature collections - the Woven Rush and Railback Collections featuring 10 pieces.
Branded & Launched SmilowDesign.com
Got a lot of great Press - Dwell, Elle Decor, Treehugger, Worth Magazine, Dering Hall & WGSN and received many heartwarming testimonials from legions of lifelong fans of Smilow Furniture.

More Great Things In 2014

Smilow Furniture is proud to announce the next pieces in our expanding furniture offerings with the reissued WLC22 Woven Leather Lounge and WO22 Woven Leather Ottoman originally designed in 1956 and the Classic Pedestal Extension Table PDT48 designed in the late 1950’s.

The furniture continues to be on display and available at reGeneration on Renwick Street, NYC and available online and through select dealers. Inquire for specifics and don't forget about our custom capabilities. Email: info@smilowdesign.com

We have recently become a proud member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and are part of an invited group of manufacturers in PORTE-COCHÈRE, the members-only online marketplace for interior design firms as well as continuing on 1st Dibs. Online we are also featured on the new website MadeClose.com.

Please follow us and stay tuned for more exciting news about smilow furniture and its enduring, modern classic furnishings and design.

November continues to be an exciting month for Smilow Furniture

This month, Worth Magazine in their Curator section, features the Smilow Furniture
Rail Back Collection.

We are thrilled to be featured in this terrific piece by Editor in Chief, Richard Bradley. By the way... the Art Direction is beautiful as well.

Thanks to the entire Worth crew. You can read the Curator section of the Magazine and see this page online here

History of an Ottoman

In 1955 the Woven Rush Smilow- Thielle Ottoman was chosen and included in the Pratt Institute's exhibition featuring well designed objects.Today the newly reintroduced ottoman proves the smilow furniture motto: enduring, modern, classics.

Now almost 60 years later, in the current issue of Elle Decor Nov, 2013/ "Truth in Decorating column, Smilow Furniture's Woven Rush Ottoman (RLO44) was chosen as 1 of the 10 best ottomans by designers Bernie de Le Cuona and Brian J. McCarthy.

To watch a fun video of the designers describing and enjoying the ottomans (especially coveting the Smilow funiture ottoman! click here

Smilow Furniture, RLO 44 Woven Rush Ottoman

Smilow Furniture in the News

A mid century re-introduction. Authentic design by Mel Smilow

It has been an exciting month since the Relaunch of Smilow Furniture at the ICFF. Read about Smilow Furniture in the News. Mid-Century Designer Focus: Mel Smilow Magazine July/August 2013 An unsung mid-century designer is poised for a triumphant revival. MORE >> Dwell Magazine Slide Show >> Smilow at ICFF 2013 A notable trend among the smaller makers is domestic manufacturing. East Coast factories are partnering with designers to bring back skill sets that have been handed down through the generations, reviving some long lost disciplines in the process. One of our favourite finds this show was the American company Smilow. An authentic mid-century brand that started as a retailer in NYC in 1949, Smilow has created a collection of enduring modern classics in a very accessible way.  MORE >> 50 Years In the Making: A Mid-Century Modern Master Debuts at ICFF Perhaps there’s no better testament to the enduring power of a designer and his designs than celebrating the relaunch of his signature pieces half a century after they were first produced. For Judy Smilow, who is launching a capsule collection of furniture based on Mel Smilow’s original designs at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair, this enormous undertaking was much more than reintroducing the world to some of the best examples of mid-20th century modern furniture, it was a labor of love. MORE >> Old Is New Again Mel Smilow (1922–2002) was an American furniture designer, manufacturer and retailer whose seating, case goods and lighting are widely regarded as among the very best of the mid 20th century. The works were entirely crafted by hand (in America) of solid walnut, birch and oak, rather than the more common teak of the time. Known for clean lines and impeccable proportions, they were sold under the name Smilow-Thielle and offered through namesake retail stores, from the late 1940s through the 1970s. MORE >> For more information contact us at info@smilowdesign.com or visitsmilowfurniture.com. Additionally you can see and purchase the Smilow Furniture collection at reGeneration Furniture at 38 Renwick Street in New York City and DeringHall.com

ANNOUNCING the Smilow Furniture re-launch!

This spring, look for and visit the re-launch of Smilow Furniture at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair...booth # 2039!

Rush Woven Lounge Chair part of the WR Collection, Made in Solid American Walnut, design c. 1955

So pleased to announce that we have chosen reGeneration to host the re-launch of the Smilow Furniture line in their booth 2039 at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) May 18-21 in New York City. In addition, at an event co-hosted by Dering Hall, reGeneration will be featuring an additional selection of Smilow Furniture at their 38 Renwick Street showroom concurrent with the show.

Smilow Design has sourced a 50-year old family-run factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where the furniture will be hand crafted and made from the original Mel Smilow drawings.

reGenerations's 20 year reputation selling the finest vintage mid century modern furniture as well as their keen eye for the current market (they have their own line of contemporary pieces, "re") make them a perfect fit to partner with, for the reintroduction of the Smilow Furniture line .

"Mel Smilow's iconic work is familiar to design enthusiasts and collectors, but because most of it was unsigned, we are particularly excited to let people know whose work this is after so many years of misattributions". - Val Guariglia, co-owner reGeneration

The same Rush Lounge chair as it appeared on the cover of the New York Times Home Magazine in 1975

Between the store on Renwick street and the booth at ICFF, there will be a selection of Smilow Furniture on view, both vintage and new, including lounge chairs, tables, sofa, table and pillows with Smilow Textiles. 

Appropriate for residential, hospitality, contract, institutional and retail applications, Smilow Furniture is fully customizable and made to order.  It will be available beginning this spring to consumers and design professionals through ReGenerationFurniture, and Smilow Design.

Register for ICFF and visit us at the booth or email me if you'd like an invitation to the Smilow Furniture launch party at reGeneration on the evening of Monday May 20th. 

 

More of the  furniture that will be on view from the Smilow Furniture RB Collection. design c. 1950
These pieces will all have upholstered cushions with Pollack Fabrics inspired by the mid-century 

Ceramics in Finland and tea cups for a cold day

On a recent visit to Helsinki Finland, I had the great pleasure to visit the Arabia Ceramics factory. For those not familiar, Arabia is a Finnish ceramics company, founded in 1873 and renowned in the history of Finnish design. Arabia became known in this country for its mid-century modern designs. Still in operation today and marketed around the world, they are now owned by Fiskars (as in scissors). 

The Arabia pattern, Ruska, shown below was one of my first and favorite dinnerware patterns. Also one of my earliest design memories/influences. The designer of the 'Ruska' series was Ulla Procopé (1921–1968), who worked for Arabia from 1948 to 1968. Ruska was in production from 1978–99

Today the original factory building functions in part as a museum, and visiting was full of visual treats. Among the most memorable, was their collection of teacups. Still looking modern today all of these designs are vintage Arabia patterns. They were pioneers in the production of rice grain porcelain (top row, center) which was in production between 1945–75 and for a short time in the 80’s. They also formed an innovative design department in the 1930s and over the years collaborated with many designers and artists to produce much of the work below. 

Who says you can't go home again?

 A couple weeks ago, my sister Pam and I got invited to lunch at the house we grew up in.

Rob Mandolene photographer

The house is located north of New York City in a Frank Lloyd Wright community called Usonia. Usonia Homes was founded In 1945, a 100-acre rural tract was purchased by a cooperative of young couples from New York City, who were able to enlist Frank Lloyd Wright to build his Broadacre City concept. Wright decided where each house should be placed. Wright designed three homes himself and approved architectural plans of the other 44, which were designed by such architects as Paul Schweikher, Theodore Dixon Bower, Ulrich Franzen, Kaneji Domoto, Aaron Resnick and David Henken - an engineer and Wright apprentice.

The layout of the community was planned by Wright with circular plots, preserving most of the original trees and "encouraging the flow of the land". The community was named "Usonia" in homage to Wright, whose ideas on the way Americans should live together guided their plan.

My family moved to Usonia in 1962. It was the first resale of a home in Usonia and for my parents it was like winning the lottery. The house designed by Aaron Resnick, was everything a modern enthusiast could dream of. Resnick summed it up nicely in this New York Times piece. ''We were united on several concepts: we wanted natural or organic houses, we wanted a sense of community spirit and we needed homes that could be built inexpensively. And, of course, we were all admirers of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.''

 Smilow Home, Usonia, 1965. 

The new owners had generously offered to have us over for lunch. They were curious what it had been like to grow up in the house they now owned. As the day approached I was nervous to visit and remembered how hard it had been to leave this wonderful house and community.

My sister Pam is an artist and I am a product and graphic designer. Pam and I  count Usonia, both for its architecture and for the close knit community as a major influences in our lives, art and style. Obviously the fact that we were surrounded by our father, Mel Smilow's furniture (Smilow Furniture) and artwork–as seen in the above picture–was also a major influence. 

Here I am, on the right, with my sister Pam, sitting on the concrete ledge (our favorite spot in the house) in front of a roaring fire. After a really lovely lunch, I was charmed and impressed by the new owners interest and dedication to the house and community. This time it was easier to say goodbye.

Smilow Chairs on Display!

We have a major milestone to report. I was excited to see the very first Smilow Furniture custom order on display today.

Last year at a museum opening I had the pleasure of meeting Adam Rolston, a partner at Incorporated. It was through that meeting that he discovered that I was attempting to reestablish and reintroduce my father Mel Smilow's designs from the mid century. Adam–an architect– was an instant admirer of the designs and has since became our first customer. These newly reissued Smilow WAC 33 Arm chairs have been installed in the model apartment of a new luxury building on west 87th street condo  in Manhattan that Incorporated, designed the interiors for. Check out the pictures below.

 

 

Photographs by Maia Schoenfelder

These gorgeous chairs can be ordered in many types of wood and custom upholstery. Pictured above in american walnut, with leather cushions.
Send us an email for inquiries.