Ideal Designs For a Perfect Minimalist Environment | Manhattan Home Design Reviews

Much has been said and written about minimalism, most of all by specialists in interior design and decor: that it’s a convenient trend due to its use of space, a sense of practicality, an aesthetic style based on simplicity, and many more advantages. In this entry of Manhattan Home Design reviews, we want to give you some valuable information about the products that you can use to make your MCM minimalist environment live up to your expectations and be just as you need and imagine it.

Currently, many people are still asking: Why should I choose minimalism? Is it really something that suits me? And the answers to these questions are fully subject to personal criteria, taking into account that each style has its own characteristics and each person will choose one or the other depending on their priorities, but what we can guarantee you is that this is one of the best ways to have your space organized without necessarily losing elegance, beauty, and still being very attractive to any user.

The Ducaroy Collection

What Do you Need For a Minimalist Layout?

Since minimalism is a style based on the practicality and elegance of simplicity, it’s best to choose furniture designs that follow these same guidelines. Not surprisingly, some of the most popular pieces of Mid-Century Modern, such as the LC3 Sofa by Le Corbusier, the Ducaroy sofa (also known as the Togo sofa), or the Bellini sofa by Mario Bellini are products that give people something to talk about because of their aesthetic value and also for the technical characteristics that make them highly functional.

The Le Corbusier sofa is famous for its impressive leather finishes that cover its dense and robust cushions, its external tubular steel structure, and its outstanding design, with such great aesthetic versatility that it’s capable of making practically any environment look amazing. It’s a timeless sofa with a so noticeable magnetism that it has continued to attract the attention of all kinds of audiences for generations.

Le Corbusier Chair

The Ducaroy sofa, for its part, is probably the emblematic creation of Michel Ducaroy and one of the reasons why his name has become so famous in the world of design, to this day. It’s one of the most interesting and original pieces of furniture, with a silhouette that its own creator compared to a “bent toothpaste tube”, and a type of modernism that proved to be extremely ahead of its time. This is the type of sofa that is not only visually unforgettable but so comfortable that users always want to return to it again and again.

The Bellini sofa, on the other hand, is perfect for “creative minds”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out how a model of this style became what it is today: one of the main references in modern modular sofas and an icon of its style. Mario Bellini wanted to deliver a technically advanced and efficient sofa that looked appealing and could be transformed in many ways, very easily, without neglecting ergonomics and durability, and he succeeded amazingly well.

These are just a few examples of pieces that you can use to successfully configure your minimalist environment and enjoy the advantages of this trend that is so suitable for an agile and simple lifestyle like yours.

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | The Barcelona Ottoman | A powerful piece of furniture you need

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | The world of furniture has a lot of surprises in store, waiting for you to discover them and put them to good use! One of those kinds of pieces are the ottomans, a quite useful and practical piece with antique origins back to the ottoman empire. They can be large, with the capacity to store things like linen or magazines and be placed more centered in the room, or smaller and be intended to be used primarily as a footrest to complement an armchair or chair. Today, in this entry of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we will be sharing more insight, specifically on the Barcelona Ottoman and its features

The Barcelona ottoman is a design originally conceived by the great Mies van der Rohe back in 1929 and first shown in the German Pavilion at the International Exposition in Barcelona that same year. 

It is certainly a simple, but effective design that follows the same principle as its creator “less is more”

Barcelona Ottoman

Let’s talk about the features

The Barcelona Ottoman consists of a chromed resilient urethane foam and with a down-like dacron polyester fiberfill stainless steel frame in a very elegantly shaped curved X as the legs, and the cushions are upholstered in premium grade leather and filled with resilient urethane foam and with down-like dacron polyester fiberfill. As we said, it is very simple, but does its job flawlessly and with elegance

What could you use the Barcelona Ottoman for?

Honestly, a lot of things really, and that is such a great thing about the ottomans, their versatility, and adaptability. While you could put your feet on the table, it is not recommendable nor the intended use – On the other side, you can 100% place your feet on the ottoman to serve as an elegant footrest AND as a kind of small table to place other things on it, be it a smartphone, a magazine, keys, etc. You can also combine it with any other sofa, armchair, or chair to increase your comfort and resting time efficiently and maybe enjoy even more whatever you’re doing while at it! The practicality of this piece of furniture is something to never underestimate

More technical features

With an overall height of 17 inches and an overall width of 24 inches, the Barcelona ottoman has a very standard set of dimensions to ensure its use with most kinds of armchairs, sofas, and chairs

The Barcelona ottoman is, without a doubt, worthy of kings and queens, but available to everyone at Manhattan Home designs! Be sure to check out our other articles

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Barcelona Bench: The Missing Element In Your Living Room

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. The Barcelona Bench is great for many reasons and in many ways. It represents a comfortable place that will always be waiting for you; a station to recharge or take a nap after a highly stressful day. Also, its modernist versatility allows you to combine it with almost everything. It’s a highly efficient design that’s also very easy to keep clean and in good condition. These and other qualities are what have allowed it to conquer a place of prestige as one of the most popular and coveted elements of the Mid-Century Modern style. In this entry from Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we’ll help you learn in a little more detail the characteristics of this memorable and influential product.

There are several versions of the Barcelona bench, but one of its best sellers is the one with 3 seats, probably due to its large dimensions: overall height 14.9″, overall width 19″, overall length 71″. Technically, the materials of this piece are also remarkable -Its thick padding and distinctive interlocking tufting make it look very beautiful. Plus, the upholstery that covers its cushions isn’t just any leather, it’s genuine Italian leather, also present in the closures that wrap around the frame. It also has asymmetrical straps throughout the seat.

barcelona bench
The Barcelona Bench

It’s possible that the 2-seater Barcelona bench is not large enough to satisfactorily cover the functional needs of a user, most of all if it’s going to be installed in a frequently used area where several people usually enter. This 3-seater bench will do a great job as it’s longer and stronger, enough to seat three average-sized people.

The Mind Behind The Work

Mies van der Rohe was a 20th-century German-American architect who began his career in architecture at the young age of 15. After World War I, his work rose to national prominence, helping him lead the modernist movement in art and architecture. He wasn’t only a creator of furniture, but he had also designed buildings and museums. The creator sought to accentuate lightness within delicate structures, which is why for some his style is “Industrial”.

A high point in van der Rohe’s professional history was the Barcelona Exposition, which helped him gain great prestige internationally. It was there that the designer presented his well-known Barcelona chair which, over time, became one of the main references of the Mid-Century Modern Style and is considered one of the most popular pieces in the history of design, since it’s still a perfect and very warm addition to any home or apartment.

barcelona modern bench
Barcelona 3-Seater bench

Having a piece like the Barcelona Bench in your home or office represents an aesthetic and functional benefit that you should never underestimate. Never forget that this piece is part of a collection that has conquered the taste of many generations: the Barcelona Collection, and surely it deserves that you also give it an opportunity in your spaces.

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | The Florence Knoll Sofa: A Great Gem for Mid-Century Modern Fans

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | When talking about specific kinds of styles in furniture, it is important, in terms of knowledge, to know about the different representative pieces of said styles! Be it Baroque, Art Deco, Bauhaus, or many other ones. In this particular entry, we at Manhattan Home Design Reviews decided to take a closer look at one of the gems of the Mid-century modern style, we are talking about the magnificent Florence Knoll Sofa, a timeless piece that is still to this day, as striking and influential as the day it was first crafted.

Today we will take a look at its characteristics and features, and you will see why you should definitely get one of the gems of the mid-century modern style!

Originally designed in 1956 by one of the most influential women in architecture, Florence Knoll, the Florence Knoll sofa was Knoll’s take on three-seater furniture for living rooms and layouts looking for a sophisticated and comfortable experience that leaves users satisfied

Florence Knoll Sofa

As you can see, being a three-seater sofa, it has plenty of sitting space for a quick chat with friends or family while sharing a cup of coffee or watching tv, so it is a pretty decent choice for a family household

But what if I have children or pets in my house? No problem, because the Florence Knoll Sofa replica is made with high-quality and highly resistant leather to ensure its safety and enjoyment.

It is worth adding that in case of any unexpected high damage to the seat and back cushions, they are removable with zippers and also fireproof – It is a safe option for households

Let’s talk about the crafting process

Manhattan Home Designs follow the same crafting process and materials as the original design back then in 1956 – This is done to ensure the most authentic replica representation possible and to not alter anything from the original one.

What about the aesthetic?

This is one of the main reasons to get one – The Florence Knoll Sofa perfectly encapsulates the design philosophy of the whole mid-century modern wave, from its smooth surfaces with the exact number of curves and shapes, ideal colors to match the era, to the vibe and atmosphere it gives to any room lucky enough to have one. If you are a fan of the mcm style, this is a very recommendable sofa

It is also worth noting that it comes with a 10-year warranty and if case you were wondering, there’s no assembly required

And there you have it, a quick recap of the Florence Knoll Sofa and why it is considered a gem. Be sure to check out our other articles

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | The Bellini Sofa Leather: A New Way To Experience Modernism

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. Sofas are an exceptional type of furniture piece since they are made to occupy a very important place: to declare the style, to be in many cases the focal point, and to be one of the most valuable elements in a living room. With the heyday of Mid-Century Modern, many designers have tried to innovate in this regard. However, few models have had the transcendence and relevance truly high enough to be considered iconic. Others, like the Bellini sofa, not only succeeded but continue to conquer the tastes of new generations. In this installment of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we will discover this design and why it’s so important within modernism.

One of the most striking things about the Bellini sofa is that it’s a modular sofa; that is, a design that can offer great functionality due to its technical capabilities. Within its category, the Bellini Camaleonda sofa rethought, in a revolutionary way, how to conceive and use this type of piece and gave a new meaning to the idea of transforming a sofa into different modalities or even dividing it into several sections or individual seats. A level of sophistication and flexibility that was unknown until then.

bellini sofa
The Bellini Modular Sofa

Many Sofas In One

Indeed, having a Mario Bellini sofa in your layout is like having several sofas inside one. The intention of creating a transformable piece up to this level is evident when closely evaluating the hook system through which the different modules can be assembled. This is something very convenient for lovers of dynamism within modern environments since you can easily and quickly transform it into a sectional sofa, linear sofa, corner sofa, and sofa with ottoman and thus make your living room or the place where you decide to use it look very different on a regular basis.

The Bellini sofa looks spectacular in any of its versions, but recent trends have indicated that the tan leather version is one of the favorites of the public today. Users have come to appreciate leather more closely in recent years due to its great versatility, durability, beauty, flexibility, and elegance. You can use a leather sofa like that for many years with the certainty that it will continue to look spectacular for a long time.

bellini modular sofa
Bellini Camaleonda Sofa

Also, the piece is not only great on the outside: its multiple interior layers of high-density polyester foam provide an unforgettable wearing experience, which will allow you to see that not everything in this piece is about style and aesthetics, but also about ergonomics. All these attributes make it one of the indisputable favorites of many people around the planet. Know its advantages too and you’ll discover why it should be part of your life.

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Halifax Chair – A sober and professional piece for your setup

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | In today’s landscape, there are a lot of great options for the avid home decor fanatic. But because there are so many, it can sometimes be overwhelming if you don’t have the correct objective and path in mind! Let’s take a home office, for example, it is recommended that you furnish it with more severe and professional-looking pieces so you won’t get distracted, then, you should avoid more “funky” pieces. One of those severe pieces is what we are taking a look at today at Manhattan Home Design Reviews – A chair suitable for professional spaces, and more homely layouts, we are talking about the Halifax Chair, one of the different choices available in the market today, that you should strongly consider for your layouts

Halifax Chair

Why choose the Halifax Chair? well, let’s take a look at the following features – Starting with the most apparent one

Industrial and professional vibe

One of the first things people notice when entering a room, is the vibe, and what are the vibe-defining aspects? the furniture and decor, of course. The Halifax Chair provides a boost in seriousness to any room, especially if it is a room designated for work or studies, but not only that because another one of the great features of the Halifax Chair is the unexpected versatility it offers

For homely areas too

Yes, it fits right at “home” in more familiar layouts – For a more sober and modern-looking area, be it a living room, the studio room, or the study room, the Halifax Chair represents a fine addition thanks to its variety of color presentations (Laurentian Onyx and grey currently), Softness of its cushions, and overall design made with adaptability in mind

Safety can never be secondary

The Halifax Chair has a wide range of safety measures to ensure pleasant use without any kind of risk. The solid and sturdy steel frame to avoid breaking it (you may take it as a given). It is manufactured to meet California TB117-2013 fire safety standards without the use of flame retardant additives in the upholstery foam, so you can rest assured it won’t be catching fire so easily. Pet and child friendly too, because we know the company of loved ones, human or animal, is important for the mental safety

Ethically constructed

Constructed using FSC®-Certified hardwood, what does this mean? it means that the wood used in the crafting of the Halifax Chair is being harvested in a self-sufficient forest and it’s not contributing to any deforestation, so you don’t need to worry about it

And there you have it, a quick description of the wonderful features of the Halifax Chair and why you should give it a chance. Don’t forget to check out our other articles

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Florence Arm Chair: an Idyllic Modernist Design For Your Decoration

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. To talk about accent chairs is to enter a world full of many possibilities. It’s enough to take a look at the catalogs of the various furniture stores of that style to realize that the number of options available is not only very large, but also complex and diverse, in the best imaginable sense: sizes, materials, colors, finishes, upholstery, and a long etcetera that also includes all kinds of functional and technical characteristics. Taking all that into account, you are probably wondering: How do I know which criteria to follow specifically when choosing the perfect accent chair for my layout? Why should a model like the Florence Arm Chair be the chosen one? What’s special about it? In this edition of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we’ll introduce you to this model that has received such good comments and applause since its release on the market.

The first thing you have to know about this elegant piece is that it’s an ultra-comfortable seat presented by Florence Knoll in 1956. It’s a Mid-Century Modern model upholstered in leather with a surprising aesthetic, visually welcoming, and at the height of the most demanding users. Its finishes are formed with flexible aniline, natural oils, and waxes to give it an appealing and sophisticated look. Inside, steel springs and solid wood provide strength and stability. The cushions of this sofa are filled with dense foam, which offers incredible comfort, made of safe and reliable materials that don’t present health risks of any kind and have a high resistance to flames.

florence arm chair
The Florence Arm Chair

A Design That Has It All

The best thing about a chair as iconic as this one is that it basically has everything that a design of its stature and importance should have: a timeless modernist aesthetic that not only made a huge impact in its time but still looks amazing today on every kind of environments (either in its version of tan leather or black leather), materials of extraordinary quality, which give it great durability and useful life that can be extended for many years. What’s better for a piece of furniture than to become a family heirloom? Better yet: What could be better for a piece like this than to be loved by many generations to come, who can continue to give it a place of honor in their spaces?

florence modern chair
Florence Modern Armchair

On the other hand, if you like designs based on clean and straight lines, dense cushions, and a minimalist flair that doesn’t need too much sophistication to look highly cozy and welcoming, this piece is most likely in tune with your tastes and expectations. There are many indoors in which you can integrate it with great success and enjoy its benefits.

Never forget that style is defined based on the tastes and personality of the users. At least, that’s how it should be, so that the spaces reflect what they like and they can feel comfortable enough in them. The Florence Armchair can be one of your great allies in this task and help you achieve the interior decor project of your dreams.

iconic armchair
Florence Accent Chair

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Lem Piston Barstool: A Surprisingly Practical Piece For Your Layouts

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | One of the most important things about designing layouts, areas, stablishments, and rooms in general, is that variety of thought and differences in how people execute things, opens the way to all sorts of types of designs and ambients, depending on what the objective and theme desired is. Let’s say, for example, deciding on which three-seater sofa to place in your living room may be a pretty easy task, after all, it is only required for you (and your family, if any) to like it, but if we’re talking about a bar project, your customers will need the best furniture possible in terms of quality, atmosphere, and practicality. A good option for that is the Lem Piston Barstool. Today, at Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we will tell you more about it and why you definitely need it on your projects.

Lem Piston Barstool

Practicality without sacrifices

Often, when looking for practical solutions for anything, we tend to find that, in order to achieve said practicality, style and comfort are sacrificed. Still, in the world of furniture, that should always be the last option available. One of the great features of the Lem Piston Barstool is that no matter the situation or place, it is always practical thanks to its ergonomic architecture, sturdy materials, and 360-degree rotation angle – A marvelous combo to make anyone feel in control of its position. Never underestimate this!

Versatility of adaptation

The ability to fit in a wide range of different layouts is something that not most barstools have, be it because of their architecture, color, the vibe they transmit, or overall feeling – And this is another instance where the Lem Piston Barstool shines. Designed in mind to flawlessly fit in most modern layouts, this kind of furniture is a godsend if you need something fast that is good, affordable, and durable, that is not noisy and doesn’t really stand out (due to its color and architecture) but does the job exceptionally well.

Classic looking, Modern working

At first glance, you can appreciate the classic look that the Lem Piston Barstool rocks with the single silver-plated base going all the way to the seat, a very stylish footrest that is useful and goes according to the design, and a color solid seat – But all of those features are not the only ones. Because modern times require modern solutions, the Lem Piston Barstool also features the 360-degree stable swivel motion swivel for total control of the surroundings, a Pneumatic piston height adjustment for people of all heights, and on top of that, the seat is made with high-quality leather for maximum comfort and usefulness

And there you have it, a quick run-down of the great features of this truly marvelous piece that you should definitely consider getting. You can check out our other articles too!

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | The Bellini Collection: An Impressive Resource For Your Indoors

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. It’s easy for an interior design enthusiast to connect with the creative processes that can be generated during interior design & decor work.  Working with forms, space, materials, colors, light, proportions, aesthetic sense and even symbology within design are things that require a lot of preparation and, at the same time, represent the most exciting part of a profession where surprises and novelties never end.

Within this order of ideas, the world of furniture design is defined by products such as the Bellini sofa, and its entire range of accessories that make it an admirable prodigy. In this installment of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we’ll talk a little about the Bellini Collection and why it’s an option that could represent a very valuable finding for you.

bellini sofa
The Bellini Sofa

Decoding Genius

The first thing you have to be very clear about is that modular sofas are designed under a concept of functionality that’s very different from that of traditional sofas. A modular sofa is so called because it’s supposed to be divided into several components called modules, which almost always represent each of the seats or other complementary pieces, such as armrests, ottoman, or other components. In other words, they are products that can be assembled or disassembled very easily.

The main advantage of that is that you can reconfigure them according to the characteristics of the environment, your particular needs, or other criteria. Even if you are one of those people who quickly get bored with a certain configuration, the modular sofa will allow you to change it as many times as you want, in the ways you prefer. The most sophisticated modular sofas can be transformed in many ways with simple and friendly procedures.

bellini modular sofa
Bellini Sofa Armrest

The Bellini sofa can be easily converted from a linear sofa to a sectional, corner sofa, loveseat, T-shaped sofa or any other way that’s feasible and the user can imagine. The most important thing is that you are very clear about what you want to achieve and the aesthetic and functional application that you want to give to your pieces of furniture. The Bellini Camaleonda Sofa is a creation in which the modules can be easily interconnected thanks to its hook system.

The model created by Mario Bellini is so amazing that it looks spectacular with both fabric and leather upholstery, mostly tan leather. Additionally, from the first time you use it you realize that it’s a highly ergonomic model, in which the details, the proportions, the dimensions and how it was adapted to the human body can provide an optimal user experience. The materials with which this piece is made are first-class and its assembly, as we have explained before, is not so demanding.

mario bellini sofa
The Bellini Camaleonda Sofa

In addition to everything, you can get and add accessories, such as the Bellini Middle Module, Bellini Left Armrest, Bellini Right Armrest, or the Bellini ottoman, which are sold separately and can help you achieve an impressive interior decor. As you can see, the Bellini Camaleonda Collection didn’t become famous for vain reasons, but rather is a marvel of mcm design that can transform the way you use and enjoy your spaces.

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | 3 Tips to make the most out of the LC5 Sofa

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Sometimes, just getting that piece of furniture is just not quite enough to make your layout feel fresher or better. Complementary actions are more often than not, required for said furniture to make a noticeable impact. In other words, you just can’t drop a table or sofa right there in a room and expect it to do magic by itself! That’s why we at Manhattan Home Design Reviews, compiled a short list of tips to make sure you’re taking full advantage of your new piece of furniture. This time, we are focusing on the iconic, LC5 Sofa

Le Corbusier LC5 Sofa

1. Give it some company

Let’s start things by making sure your LC5 Sofa is just not there by itself. One Key thing is making sure you pair your LC5 Sofa with similarly designed furniture so it doesn’t feel out of place, but it doesn’t have to be other pieces from Le Corbusier necessarily, it will be okay as long as the room maintains a well-established theme with the furniture. A nice suggestion from us is to pair your LC5 Sofa with two single sofas of the same color and a glass coffee table

2. Not too much company!

It’s important to know that, too many things might become overwhelming if the designated space is too small. You got to make sure you get the right balance of free space, furniture, and decorations. That way you will be able to freely move in the room and still keep your desired decor. You can place a cabinet with pictures and decorations or crockery for showing. A floor lamp is a decent option too for a more cozy feeling at night. You could also place your favorite houseplant next to it for a natural look, or maybe just an end table for more versatility! Just remember, don’t oversaturate your layout with all of this at the same time, especially if it’s rather small

3. Maintain a free flow

This tip goes hand in hand with the before-mentioned tips. It’s crucial to keep free space in the living room so you and your guests can move around without hassle, after all, there will be a lot of movement in a living room! A good rule of thumb for this tip is to maintain around 90cm of free space between furniture and any decoration piece you wish to include

And there you have it, 3 quick and easy tips to maximize your experience with the amazing LC5 Sofa