Michael Iannone of Iannone Design is a Philadelphia based design-build firm that creates eco-friendly furniture with a technological flair. Michael Iannone graduated from Rowan University, a quick hop from major design centers, New York City and emerging Philadelphia. For the past 6 years, he has been designing furniture that responds to the growing demand for eco-conscious products. What’s different about the designs of Iannone Design is the integration of technology and sustainable materials. The stereotypical appearance of reclaimed materials as weathered and worn is blown out of the water by the precise and graphic designs of Iannone.

Kirei board. Designed by Iannone Design.

Each piece uses a variety of materials chosen for their inherent beauty and eco-friendly properties. These include FSC plywoods and formaldehyde free plywoods, locally sourced lumber from managed forests and sustainable materials such as bamboo, cork and sorghum borard (kirei board). Kirei board, which is manufactured from reclaimed sorghum straw and no-added-formaldehyde adhesive, is highlighted in the designs for its textural qualities. Sorghum is a grain harvested in Texas which is used for animal feed, which also makes a very attractive green product. All the furniture is finished with a low-VOC waterbased topcoat or an all natural hand applied oil wax finish.

Credenza. Designed by Iannone Design.

Sideboard. Designed by Iannone Design.

Unlike most sustainable furniture products, there is a playful graphic element of Iannone’s pieces. Designs are integrated into the doors of credenzas through the use of multiple colors of cork, or a change in the orientation of the grain of a bamboo or sorghum board. My favorite is the Trees Graphic Console, with kirei doors covered in white gloss laminate into which patterns are cut and the kirei underneath is revealed. The design pushes the limits of sustainable materials to become artistic masterpieces.

via re-nest