Karkula

There's a certain optimism with design school product that doesn't manifest itself anywhere else. Short of lifting objects from design school exhibitions, Karkula is about close as you'll get to acquiring these undiluted designs. The store curates a collection of furniture, light, accessories and even some jewelry from a select group of international designers. A design school graduate himself, the owner picks designers with strong vision, bold material choices and a unique perspective--in other words, the type of designs that come out of design school. Unlikely materials are paired with abandon--heartwood and ceramics bowls, aluminum and plexi glass chairs, metal-coated glass pendant lamps, sure, why not? Conventional forms are questioned--rings look like haphazard curls of bronze, vases like large funnels, chaise lounges are wave-shaped.