I was looking for furnishings that stir me.  I found some great ones and saw a bunch of dining chairs and it reminded me of my dad’s philosophy.  I visited my parents a few years ago and noticed that all the chairs around the dining room were business rolling chairs.  The kind behind your desk at the office.  I was like – “what’s this?  Ya’ll have a meeting here or something?”  My mother looked at me with an amused look on her face, and said “ask your father.”  So I did – the story was that my father took all the chairs out of the dining room and replaced them on purpose with business chairs.  He did this because he said he can have meetings all day long and his bum never falls asleep but after 45 minutes in dining room chair he’s always sore and his bum fell asleep.  Hahahaha.  I love that story.

Now on to the Store of the Week – Zuri Furniture.  They are on Alpha road in what I suspect is the Modern Furniture zone of Dallas.  There are other stores over there which I’ll highlight another day or week.

This is a lovely vase that has zen feel to it.  And it reminds me of my friend’s house that also has a modern house and is very zen in her design plan.  The only thing is she wouldn’t ever have a vase because that adds a cluttered feel.

Zuri 01 - Vase

Modern beds always suck me in. I love the expression that any bed brings to the bedroom whether master or other. But the unique flavor of a modern bed often sets the tone for the entire experience in the bedroom. I go for comfort. The bed is my safety net. I don’t just go to bed, I retire to the bedroom. But I understand other people think of the bed as more utilitarian and the modern culture definitely can welcome that aesthetic. But I know of no other genre of design where you can express yourself so completely in a bed frame.

Arezzo Collection

I wish their site wasn’t all in Flash so I could direct link these and also highlight a larger picture. I love the night table as part of the headboard. I’ve seen that a lot. We have that sort of in our Ikea bed in that the shelves behind the bed pull out for a night table or shove in for a cleaner look.

I also like the pedestal approach or on a platform. Again with my Zen theme today.

Finally chairs. I love the look of this chair. It has a funky flair but looks actually comfortable. I would hope a different color is available and of course I would have to give it an official bum check.

Mia Chair

There are, of course, lots of stores all over the nation that highlight modern aesthetic which I’ll move into after we have exhausted the Dallas area.  The internet has made cities just villages one click over and we should as appreciative consumers, exploit that as well.  However, I want to pimp the local as much as I can.  See my love affair with Dallas a few posts ago to understand.

Recently I a friend, gave me a flyer she got in the mail about a new store called Natuzzi.  It’s apparently new to Dallas as the card is for a “Grand Opening Sale”.  The sale is over tomorrow (October 24th, 2008) but I explored the site and found a piece that I’m attracted to.

DURINI WALL UNIT

This wall section appeals to me – I would prefer lighter lacquer which I swear “a wide range of finishes are available”.  The dark makes me think seventies decor but I like the flush shelf with the wall and the presentation of the objects versus what’s holding it  up.  The versatility of the arrangement allows multiple configurations and allow artful presentations.  I also can envision technology integrated which would fuse this together perfectly for me.  Think flat screen snuggled up in the space.  Here is Natuzzi’s page on the piece.

KOLE Sectional Couch

This couch is not exactly what I wanted you to see.  It looks comfortable though.  My dogs on it would be a disaster.  Perhaps another color.  But I was very attracted to the wall unit and shelving behind it.  Again flush, the color is lighter and the wall unit just accents the clean lines.  It looks modular so you could arrange it allow for heights and products but it’s really attractive to me.  Good for a common room.  But being wacky, I could see it in a kitchen for plates, glasses in an open setting.  See pics, details here.

I’m not on their payroll but in the essence of giving you complete data, here are their two addresses in the local area if you are interested.

NOW OPEN
Natuzzi Plano
7300 Lonestar Drive – C100
The Shops at Legacy
972-801-6933

Natuzzi Dallas
11700 Preston Road
Next to Whole Foods
214-363-7070

In site news, I got to go back to Urban Reserve.  I am very excited that Diane Cheatham has responded so enthusiastically to educating me and allowing me access.  If you notice a trend toward me highlighting both Urban Reserve and Diane Cheatham, you’ll know why.  An entire Modern Home community that I can walk and take pictures of and ask questions, I’m in heaven.  It’s easier than knocking on strangers doors and saying – HEY Can I take a picture or two of your house.  Most people are rightly creeped out by that.