Back around the turn of the 19th century, one of the most common cafe chairs in the world featured bent wood and caning at the seat. This chair caning was a narrow hexagonal pattern that almost mimicked the delicacy of Moorish windows. I have a sof spot for this chair because my parents owned several which we loved to use at the dinner table. Fast Forward one hundred years, and we have Patricia Urquiola taking this concept to the extreme for B&B Italia’s outdoor collection. Her seat collection, entitled Canasta, evokes the feeling of the old cafe chair but she pumps up the pattern to a macro scale so that you can really get the feeling for the exceptional pattern.

This has to be one of the most useful pieces of furniture I’ve seen in a long while. It’s called the Doc System, and it folds from a sofa into a bunk bed. I’m, of course, being heavily biased because of the recent arrival of my first child. Here’s the deal, my wife and I own a one bedroom apartment in San Francisco. Space is at a premium here, so I’ve been search for just such a piece. Now would I really use a convertible modern piece of furniture like this? It depends upon how lazy you are. I’m lazy, so in the end, this piece would just stay a sofa or a bunk bed ninety-nine percent of the time.

Sancal

Founded in the early 1970s, Sancal has always had a clear concept of upholstery and occasional furniture. Its products have a timeless air where pure simple lines are underscored by an unrivalled attention to detail.

Over the years, the company has become consolidated and the brand Sancal has be promoted around the world. The company has always invested heavily in technology and has increased its production capacity time and again to keep pace with demand.

Sancal is a design orientated company where meticulous planning and selection of forms produce creative, elegant yet functional pieces that fit into virtually any space.

This vision has attracted significant interest from beyond the frontiers of its Spanish birthplace. Today approximately half of the company’s production is sent abroad to over 29 countries with permanent showrooms in Belgium and Holland.

The company has one many awards over its lifetime, yet the greatest satisfaction comes from serving its customers.