What’s Hot Now

Modern Approach:
Some of the hottest home furnishing trends emerge at the annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy, one of the world’s top design fairs. In April, half a dozen students and professors from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) furniture design program represented the university in person at the event’s SaloneSatellite, an exhibition that features the best designers under 35.

The “Colchone Group” of stools by John McMahon (MFA, furniture design, 2012) was just one of the pieces on view. Other SCAD work on display included fine handcrafted pieces ranging from lamps and benches to stools, plus four large, highly detailed digital images.

“The design aesthetic and craftsmanship found in these pieces is admirable,” says SCAD furniture design professor Sheila Edwards, who served as a mentor to many of the designers. “And while they are beautiful, they also open up a dialogue on what luxury means in today’s marketplace. This ‘new luxe’ seeks to strike a balance between artistry and a better way of living.” scad.edu

Picture Perfect:
Amy Flurry and Nikki Nye created Paper-Cut-Project in 2009, a collaboration that transformed simple sheets of paper into dramatic silhouettes. Fashion houses, including Hermès and Cartier, came calling, followed by a collaboration with London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Coverage in the pages of Italian Vogue and The New York Times, among others, garnered this Georgia duo a global following. Now, Flurry and Nye are releasing limited-edition prints of several of their favorite original designs. Prices range from $380 to $550, depending on size. paper-cut-project.com

Design to Inspire:
Modern Atlanta (MA) and its Design Is Human Week 2013 are back for the sixth year. A celebration of design excellence, the event includes guest speakers and panel discussions with noted design experts, as well as unique art exhibits, new product launches, a pop-up shop and film series. There’s even a studio crawl, which provides entrée into the work spaces of some of the city’s top architects. This year’s MA Home Tour (June 8-9) features contemporary homes from all across Atlanta, including this pool house in Buckhead by Philip Babb Architect. June 3-9; modern-atlanta.org

A retrospective of the work of renowned Finnish architect Eero Saarinen—best-known for his designs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the TWA Terminal at New York’s JFK Airport and Knoll’s Tulip and Womb chairs—continues at the Museum of Design Atlanta through June 30. “Eero Saarinen: A Reputation for Innovation” reviews Saarinen’s short, brilliant career (he died in 1961 at the young age of 51), and the design principles he followed. museumofdesign.org

Making Scents:
Andrea and Jason Moattar are best known as the stylish brother-sister duo at the helm of Moattar, Ltd., a top purveyor of new and antique rugs for the design cognoscenti. But it’s almost serendipitous that the pair would launch a candle fragrance, which recently debuted at Woo Cosmetics and DRTC Studio. After all, “Moattar” means fragrant and aromatic in Farsi, the native language of Iran. “The scent is a gorgeous blend of ebony wood, patchouli and bergamot, but is quite subtle,” says Jason. “We didn’t want an intrusive candle; we wanted something that would add ambiance to any room without overpowering it.” The hand-poured, soy-based candles are all natural, made in America and have a 50-hour burn time. And the packaging is as unique as the scent: an old Moorish tile pattern served as their inspiration. moattar.com

Flower Power:
• The Atlanta Botanical Garden is featuring a stunning larger-than-life exhibition of mosaiculture—the horticultural art of creating giant topiary-like sculptures (some 25-feet-tall) using thousands of living plants. “Imaginary World: Plants Larger than Life” continues through October. atlantabotanicalgarden.org
• The 2013 Georgia Historic House and Garden Pilgrimage takes place on June 7 in Macon, and will highlight the city’s gentleman architects and gardeners who, in 1932, founded the first public camellia show in the U.S. There will also be an exhibit on classicist architect Neel Reid. For tickets and additional details, go to fgcmacon.org.
• Gardens in the Northlake, Toco Hills and Buckhead neighborhoods of Atlanta will be featured on the American Hydrangea Society’s 2013 Garden Tour on June 8. The genus Hydrangea will be featured in a variety of settings, including cottage gardens and Japanese gardens. For ticket information, go to americanhydrangeasociety.org.

Modern Classics: Luxe materials define a new breed of contemporary designs
1. The Tic Tac Drink Table from Baker’s Thomas Pheasant Collection is made by hand from more than 300 brass parts—it’s a table made like jewelry. Through Mathews’ Furniture Galleries and Baker, Knapp & Tubbs. bakerfurniture.com
2. Whether it’s used for extra seating, as an ottoman or in front of a vanity, this lucite and cowhide bench (measuring 16″ w x 14.5″ d x 19.5″ h) from Bungalow Classic is as versatile as it is chic. bungalowclassic.com
3. Ochre’s Seed Cloud fixture is made from solid cast bronze “buds,” each polished and housed in tempered glass. Available in various sizes through R. Hughes, this one features 112 lights. ochre.com