17 Nov Five Furniture Finds With Bobby Berk

Tis’ the season of design markets and trade shows! We contacted home design extraordinaire, Bobby Berk, to give us the inside scoop regarding his latest trip to market. From mixed materials like oak and concrete to  glass and vinyl, Bobby’s fave five furniture pieces are contemporary and perfectly crafted.

Bobby Berk’s Top Furniture Finds

I had the privilege of meeting the strikingly beautiful Stacy Garcia a couple of years ago in the hallway at a previous Market. We were introduced at the same time that I met designer Kelli Ellis, and remarkably both of them became friends. I was able to get together again with Stacy for dinner a couple of Markets later, and she brought her uncle, who works at her company and whom I absolutely loved talking with. They are just fantastic people, and proof that Market is the best place to make industry connections and rewarding friendships. It’s always great having people to go to for advice when you’re entering into a new deal, working on a product line you haven’t done before, or need guidance navigating anything in the business you aren’t familiar with.  Stacy and I have shared lots of good advice with each other and I value her experience and knowledge. When Stacy’s team contacted me about doing a guest blog, I figured that I would share some of the finds I saw at a past show and give a little background about some of my picks and the companies that produce these great products. You can follow my instagam @bobbyberk, for market finds which I frequently post about for Market shows. Here’s some of the great stuff that has caught my eye!

 

Kahn Dining Table

The Kahn Dining Table is a beautifully architectural table, drawing inspiration from bridge construction. The base is made from hand polished concrete and metal, and is cast by local craftsman. The top comes in raw oak, seared oak, or glass and grey concrete. Or there’s a version with charred oak and acid black concrete. I’m obsessed with its clean lines and mix of materials. It has an industrial, contemporary feel with spectacular weight, and can be paired with different chairs to satisfy a variety of styles. It’s shown here with their Kahn Dining Chairs from the same collection, which echo the shape of the supports under the table. The solid surface shell chairs with the blackened steel base emanate from a central concrete structural core underneath the seat. District Eight is a design-build company that operates out of Vietnam. Aside from their modern industrial line of furniture for residential and commercial, they do custom pieces for design projects and their office and workshop are combined to allow them to rapidly prototype furniture and lighting. Definitely check out their line!

 

The Sydney Mod Table

Selamat, which is known for their great woods that come out of Indonesia, had some great finds. Justina Blakely’s take on a rattan peacock chair, which is in her licensed collection, has been getting a lot of attention at Market. I also found this drum shaped table that I really loved. It’s carved from mango wood. The carving doesn’t read as deep as in their product photo, and definitely has more of a weathered look in person, which I found understated and really textural. The pattern on it is called “Pomegranates” by Florence Broadhurst. The top is marble, which modernizes it and adds another great layer of texture and beauty to the piece. In the natural finish, it has a bit of a boho/coastal feel with a Spanish/Gothic flavor. It also comes in black!

 

Willoughby Chair 

Michael Berman is another industry friend who I have the utmost respect for. He and his team are absolutely fantastic, and every detail of their collection is perfection. I was astounded at how great their designer pricing is as well, so if you haven’t seen the line please take a look at this collection. You won’t be disappointed. The piece I chose was their Willoughby Chair, which has terrific shape and scale. It sits on a swivel base of sable oak. The back has a yoke handle and cut out, which draws inspiration from vintage auto interiors and is intended to look like a steering wheel handle. They designed a round back pillow that coordinates with the relaxed, California Coastal inspired fabric. His new collection has a wonderful blend of inspirations, from California Chic, to 30’s and 40’s shapes and Art Deco influences. The finishes are unique, and the materials are exquisitely crafted. It’s a perfectly tailored, impeccably tasteful collection that I can’t wait to use in one of my projects very soon!

 

Pippa Table Lamp

I’m definitely more of a minimal, modern and masculine designer and tend to bring that sensibility to most of my interior projects. The Pippa table lamp from Elements of Design, or ED, is a lovely, understated piece. The translucent, marine-blue glass shade sits on a dark wood base. It is a great contemporary jewel-toned accent. It uses an Edison bulb and is perfect for a console, desk, bookshelf or anywhere really! I like their lighting collection, and they’re based out of downtown Los Angeles, where I have my design office. It’s always nice to support local businesses, so I am looking forward to working with them on some projects in the future, now that I’ve discovered them!

 

Dansk Chairs by Gloster

I just specified these amazing outdoor chairs on a project I’m working on in Las Vegas. They are reminiscent of a swan chair, with a nice low profile and terrific shape. They are made of teak and the seat is covered in a marine grade vinyl which makes them stand up to any climate. They have a Danish feel which is very on trend right now, and the gentle curves are almost soothing in a way. There are some other great pieces in the Danks collection that coordinate, including a coffee table, side table, and stacking chairs. Gloster has gorgeous products and great craftsmanship. Their new LED lanterns are really great too, and coordinate with their teak and white material palette. I’m really looking forward to seeing how these chairs look out on the deck of my current project that’s installing in a couple months. For a great outdoor line, be sure to check out Gloster!

 

About Bobby Berk Home:
Bobby Berk’s rise to bona fide “IT” status in the home design world has more in common with being a rock star than it does a contemporary designer. Bobby brings a unique millennial viewpoint to the design industry, with substantial experience across many facets of the trade. With Bobby’s extensive background and success in retail, manufacturing, interior design and licensing, he is often invited to give lectures on a range of industry topics at seminars and events internationally including being the on-camera personality for the High Point Market.Originally hailing from Texas, Bobby had big dreams of the big city and moved to New York in 2003 with only a few dollars to his name and no job in sight. After working his way up in retail at Bed Bath & Beyond and Restoration Hardware to Creative Director at Portico Home + Spa, Berk decided that it was time he started his own brand. Since 2006, Bobby’s retail division has consistently provided customers with a unique approach to modern design. Epitomizing hip, minimalist urban luxury, Berk’s designs reflect a stylish and youthful spirit that perfectly fits any cool, relaxed lifestyle. Bobby has appeared as an expert on numerous television networks including HGTV, Bravo, NBC, and CBS. With the success of his retail brand, Bobby’s launched a design division where he’s designed residential & commercial projects including the show homes for Builder Magazine’s Intl Builders Show. His home was awarded the prestigious Gold Nugget Award for the “Best Custom Home under 4000 sq ft.” Bobby’s products are produced through multiple license partners and are carried at a broad-array of retailers, ecommerce and catalogs both domestically and internationally.