Downsizing and Questioning Authori-TAY

In a few months, we'll be moving from our spacious casa in Brasilia to an apartment in Rio.  Although the apartment is generous by Big City standards, it will mean a lot of downsizing for us. 

I'm nervous about moving with two, energetic kiddos into an apartment - and exasperated when everyone says, "Oh, you'll just go to the beach." Like it's a magic cure for the maladies of tight living quarters.  It might be. I'll find out.

What the move also means, though, is we'll be selling many of our household goods - keeping only what we really need and love.  I'm actually very excited about this part.  Right now, our furnishings are a mix of things we've inherited, cobbled with a few lower-end items we've had since our first home. I won't be able to make a lot of upgrades, but we will be trading in on some more space and taste-appropriate items.

I think I've got Ben on board to selling his Shaker-style dining table, and buying a Saarinen tulip table.  I'm really digging the oval shape set with more traditional chairs.

barrie benson via Domino

We have several traditional, but non-matching chairs that I'm thinking I can recover in the same fabric to pull it all together in a fun, eclectic way for our new place.  Because after all, Rio is nothing if not fun and eclectic.

Lonny

I recently did some window shopping to see a tulip table in person.  In general, household items in Brazil are much, much more expensive than they are in the States, so I figured I'd check them out here, but end up ordering one from the US.  

The salesladies at the shops stated the tables were "authentica," and they look spot-on to originals online. So I found it puzzling when the Brazilian prices were about 1/3 of the price you'd pay if you ordered a similar tulip table from a website like All Modern. (Dum da DUM)  I thought maybe the copyright laws were just more lenient here, and that they can claim the tables are authentic.

Good thing I've got a design-savvy (and legally-versed) Brazilian friend who explained that the worldwide copyright on Saarinen's design has expired, so that anyone can replicate it, and call it a tulip table.  If the dimensions and materials match the specifications of the designer's original, then it can be called "authentic."

Lonny

My own thinking as to why the authentic versions in the States are so much pricier is that they are still manufactured by Knoll - the company Saarinen originally worked with on the design.

Southern Living

So, there ya go.  

Brazilian Saarinen tables.

Almost free. 

Skonahem

In other Makes-Monday-Good news:  I found out some of my design work has been selected for a little e-glossy love.  Stoked doesn't even begin to explain my feelings.

Tom Scheerer