It used to be that you needed a house in the country, or at least a floor-through loft, to purchase one of the massive leather sectionals from Restoration Hardware. The same was true of their heroically proportioned chandeliers and headboards. Well, not any more. The venerable home design company has released a collection of furniture designed for intimate rooms. Big Style/Small Spaces offers up tailored versions of Restoration classics (handsome plank tables, chesterfield sofas), as well as some fresh ideas (lean, mid-century-inspired seating, statement-making floor lamps) that help you make the most of your space, be it a city apartment or a cottage by the sea. “We call it a collection of epic proportions,” says Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of Restoration Hardware. Directing attention to the cover of the collection’s sourcebook, which features a climber scaling Abraham Lincoln’s nose at Mount Rushmore, Friedman adds, “And good design is all about proportions.”
“The Madsen Sofa if pares down – the bones of what good design is,” says San Francisco-based designer Ken Fulk. The dapper social butterfly has decorated homes for Silicon Valley heavyweights Mark Pincus and Jeremy Stoppelman and designed events like the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition gala at the De Young Museum in March. The look gets extra points for versatility, too. “You can float a sofa like this between lots of interiors,” Fulk says. “And frankly, it’s terribly comfortable.” $2,995; restorationhardware.com
“Not everyone has the sapce to hang a Starburst Chandelier,” says Fulk. “By putting it on the floor, you don’t have to worry about ceiling height or electrifying it. To me, this piece is fun. It has a sense of humor.” Sputnik floor lamp, $595; restorationhardware.com
“I’ve always been a fan of classic utilitarian chairs,” Fulk says, “and this color adds so much exuberance. These Hagen chairs would be wonderful around a big classic table or a small, round glass table.” $99; restorationhardware.com
I love the clubby look of distressed leather,” Fulk says of the Maxime sofa: “It feels very familiar, full of character, like it’s got a story to tell. And then, in contrast to that, you have the sexy tuck-and-roll upholstery at the frame.” $3,195; restorationhardware.com
Photos Courtesy of Restoration Hardware (4)
