David Lehmann of New Jersey based Studio-L has literally reinvented the wheel – or in this case, the bench.  How can you take a common piece of furniture that has been in use for 1000s of years and still create something new and fresh … a modern beauty of stainless steel and wood?  To start, you have to think outside of the box and have conviction in your abilities.

Made by hand with over 400 individual walnut pegs, this great bench is novel and what’s more amazing, super comfortable!  The pegs “float” and conform to the body of the sitter, so you have the comfort of a padded feel, without the actual cushion.  And don’t worry about losing the pegs – they are actually fixed to the frame, so the bench can be moved and turned upside down without anything shifting or falling out.

I’ve seen my fair share of chairs and benches approaching something along these lines – six recently at the 2012 and 2013  ICFF and another at the Architectural Digest Home Show this past April.  But compared to this, they are all prototypes … or bad gimmicky wanna bes! Kudos to David for designing something handsome, contemporary and well, very useful!

richard rabel
principal
richard rabel: interiors + art
interior design and art advising
new york city

image credits: David Lehmann courtesy of Studio-L, New Jersey