Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Barcelona Bench: A Design Tool with Unlimited Potential

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | One of the truly beautiful things about the world of home designing, decorating, and furniture in general, is the fact that creativity and innovation are welcomed with open arms, this way, designers are given a free pass to experiment with different kinds of furniture in order to find more ways to decorate and furnish bedrooms, living rooms, and spaces in general, to be improved in a certain way. In today’s entry of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we take a look at the underrated but highly useful, Barcelona Bench! A tool you may not know much about yet, but definitely will want to try out!

A bench? really?

Yes! This bench is an amazing piece of furniture that not only serves as an actual piece you can sit on but also works as an outstanding tool you might want to use in places where a chair wouldn’t fit (for lack of room, for example)

Barcelona Bench
Barcelona Bench three-seater

Where can I place a Barcelona Bench?

Basically everywhere – One of the most acclaimed features the Barcelona bench has is its adaptability and versatility of places you can put it. You can place the Barcelona Bench behind a sofa for more seating or for display reasons. You can place it in a hallway along some wall decor so it doesn’t feel so empty. It does wonders when placed in front of your bed as you can place anything on it (really useful). Honestly, the possibilities are limitless, heck, you can place it in your backyard and it would probably look good too!

So it is safe to say that finding a place to put it won’t be the issue, but rather choosing the ideal design decision for your needs and likes

Some technical features of the Barcelona Bench

As you can see, it is of quite large proportions – with a height of 14.9″, a width of 19” and an overall length of 71″, it is what you would expect from a quality three-seater bench

The design and the mind behind it

A substantial three-seater bench with ample padding and distinguishable lace tufts. The outside is covered in gorgeous, authentic Italian leather, and leather is also utilized in the fastenings that are wrapped around the frame. The seating has an all-over asymmetrical webbing pattern. A German-American architect from the 20th century, Mies van der Rowe started his work at the tender age of 15. After World War I, when he assisted in leading the modernist movement in art and architecture, his work attained widespread recognition. After years of studying and developing further, he created his Barcelona Collection, and the rest is history

After this quick run-down of the facts and a brief history of the Barcelona Bench, it is safe to say that it is one of the finest pieces of furniture you can get right now! Be sure to check out our other articles

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Wood: a Resource That Can Transform Your Layout

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. You may have heard it said many times and you’ve likely seen it yourself in almost all the most popular decorating styles and the most claimed design trends: wood is always present. It’s that this material has had a great role and a place of honor within the world of interior design and decor since its inception and throughout the centuries. Any mid-career professional furniture designer or interior decorator will quickly recognize the aesthetic value that only wood can offer. However, very few people know the secrets of this wonderful resource and the properties that earned it its wide reputation. In this Manhattan Home Design Reviews post, we’ll talk a little about the benefits of wood and how you can use it to your advantage for your interior decor project.

Wood is an element that comes directly from nature, specifically from trees, and as such is unique, because it’s a material that only time and the ecosystem as a whole are capable of forging through the years. Some trees take hundreds of years to reach their most optimal and amazing states, allowing them to develop incredibly strong and extremely beautiful trunks. These logs are used for the manufacture of first-class parts and are quoted on the market at high prices. Some woods from trees such as pine, cherry, oak, and mahogany are highly requested for the manufacture of pieces of all kinds. Others like the American Walnut stand out for their undeniable beauty and smooth texture.

modern decor
A Stunning Interior Decor Project With Wood

What Makes Wood So Special?

Many furniture pieces, especially chairs with sophisticated designs, are manufactured using special techniques to give them a specific shape. In the middle of the twentieth century, a wave of architects and designers who began to gain a lot of fame for their creations led the movement of innovative designs that’s currently known as the “Mid-Century Modern” style and, to this day, continues to be one of the most requested and adopted trends worldwide. Pieces that became world-famous have wooden components that are especially appreciated for the whole process they go through before being assembled into the piece.

classic lounge chair
Classic Lounge Chair

Some products from Manhattan Home Design, like the Classic Lounge Chair, use plywood, which is molded in the workshops to give it its appealing curved shape. The plywood or walnut veneer components of this chair are introduced into a conveyor that applies glue to both sides. One veneer made for this chair can have up to seven layers of plywood. These veneers then go through furnaces where the high temperatures allow them to give the shape that they will finally have. Thus, the result will be a high-quality chair, considered by many to be a luxury piece, with incredibly attractive wooden components not only for its sculptural design but also for its bright colors and its lacquered, shiny, and gleaming surface.

modern lounge chair
Classic Mid-Century Chair

The above is just one example of the many wonders that wood allows us to do. The development of industrial techniques and specialized processes to make it look better and make parts more and more functional were mainly the drivers of its development and its use in tables, doors, dressers, stools, beds, shelves, desks, media centers, sideboards, and even complete architectural projects. If you haven’t had the opportunity to know all the advantages that wood can offer you, it’s never too late to experience all the benefits that this material can give to your spaces.

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Be Different with the Unique Egg Chair

Manhattan Home Design Reviews | In the search for the most elegant and professional design for our layouts, there’s the chance to lose track of what we consider important and just focus on what the most expensive and critically acclaimed pieces are, for example, you can like one specific table for your room, but the most famous one is there, really tempting you! It is fundamental to set up your designs and layouts with a clear objective in mind and with a focus on your likes, after all, you will be seeing them daily. Today, in this entry of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we take a look at a peculiar-looking chair, the Egg Chair – Yes, you read that right

What is the Egg chair?

This funny-looking piece was originally designed by the Danish mastermind, Arne Jacobsen himself in 1958 as part of a commissioned work by the Scandinavian Airlines System (a.k.a SAS) Royal Copenhagen Hotel, located in Denmark, and now more than 60 years after its creation, it is still a very influential piece and one of Jacobsen’s finest

Egg chair

It is surprisingly comfortable

Despite what you may think after seeing it for the first time, yes, the Egg Chair is pretty much comfortable and capable of holding out sessions of book reading, binge-watching your favorite shows, and even enjoying a little snack while having a chat. While it is not recommended to have a long sleep on it, you can be sure about its interesting design not making it uncomfortable in the slightest 

The interesting shape of the Egg Chair

As you can appreciate, the main thing going for the Egg Chair is, without a doubt, its unique and compelling design that will catch anyone’s eyes. It is a piece with a distinctive personality and will massively improve the atmosphere of any of your layouts. One thing worth highlighting about it is that many people find this particular design to be funny and joyful (that being the main reason they got it) without touching the realm of goofy clowny furniture, which is a commendable feature

Technical features

With a seat height of 14.9 inches and a complete height of 43 inches, it is a fairly large chair that you should think twice before putting it in a smaller space. It is available in a wide variety of colors like antique brown, tan, red, yellow, burgundy, and of course, black. Comes in two upholstery options, fabric, and leather, so there are a lot of options to choose from depending on your desired outcome. And we cannot forget to mention that it also features a 360-degree swivel for increased mobility and a little bit of practicality

To conclude this mini-review, we can 100% say that this amazing chair is a fantastic choice that you will not regret

Be sure to check out our other articles too

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

WFH in Style with Manhattan Home Design Reviews

Working From Home turned out to be one of our common realities now. Maybe you are another member of the growing teleworking crowd, or someone very close to you is already at the time. If you are getting now in this powerful trend, you can count on Manhattan Home Design Review to make your choice and set a WFH space in style for you.

Working From Home is for Everyone

Working from Home’s popularity has to do with all the benefits it brings to employees. Avoid commuting time, to spend more time with your beloved ones, will incentive you to be more productive and assertive.

You can Work From Home in style

To stay home working doesn’t mean just getting swallowed by your sofa in your pajamas, with the company of a used potato chips bag. You can make a productive workday with ergonomics and with comfort and style. Manhattan Home Design has the right stuff for you, and Manhattan Home Design Reviews can tell it:

Finn Juhl Nyhavn Desk

Get into the beauty and style of this classic Modern table, with the detailed signature elements that made Finn Juhl so famous about frames of steel pipes and three colored trays with the colors that made Finn Juhl so characteristic. But let’s see what Manhattan Home Design Reviews say about it.

Mid Century Gem. I love Finn Juhl’s art and I am so excited to have this design in my home now :)”. Tiffany.

1949 Protractor 98″ Desk

With a stunning design that merges traditional and modern elements, this 1949 creation by the Italian Carlo Mollino leaves nobody indifferent. With its long body, hyper stylish boomerang frame, and solid walnut wood drawers, this is definitely a winner choice. As Manhattan Home Design Reviews notice it:

“Home office purchase”. Unique-looking piece of furniture – it made my home office stand out so well!. Matt K.

Cool design. Very cool desk, a ton of personality” Anuj.

Nelson Swag 39″ Leg Desk

Designed for small spaces, the Nelson Swag is a colorful choice that keeps a dynamic spot with beauty and grace. As time goes by and we are increasingly filled with smartphones, laptops, and other gear, Nelson Bench keeps as a modern, cool alternative. According to Manhattan Home Design Reviews:

“Working with clients that requires the high-quality furniture for the best price is not always easy. The MHD team always delivered what my clients expected and more. Fantastic store, glad to be working with you.” Jason Londono.

For inspo, info and great offers in furniture, don’t miss the opportunity in Manhattan Home Design, the alternative for Mid Century Modern style furniture, with masterpieces like the Barcelona Chair  or the Barcelona Daybed.

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