Artifex Animalia

Buy the mountain house; mount the antler rack. Buy the pied a terre; throw down the ubiquitous zebra rug. Expect the expected. Not anymore. Designer Merve Kahraman has just raised the bar merging nature and humor in his Hybrid collection of chairs. With terrific scale, beautiful products, and the perfect dose of animal influence, his antler and rabbit ear chairs can carry a room. Kahraman, based in London, deftly marries contemporary craft with the age-old art of working with indigenous products found in nature. The result is a stylish statement that is not only utilitarian, but a wonderful, entertaining piece of art. www.mervekahraman.com