Donald Judd's Furniture.

Donald Judd's furniture has always proved to be an interesting and inviting compliment to his formal and seemingly flawless sculptural artwork. He originally began his furniture design and construction for his own family use at their home in Marfa, Texas.

Though more minimal than luxe, the use of raw materials and simple construction methods in creating sharp and elegantly unique pieces is certainly a source of inspiration for many designers working today. Pictured last is Judd's NY apartment. Rough Luxe before its time? We think so.

Photograph by Mark Seelen.

Handcrafted Modern.

In this beautifully laid out study, photographer Leslie Williamson investigates and documents the homes of the some of the most influential mid-century designers of all-time. With heavy-hitters such as Wharton Esherick, George Nakashima, Walter Gropius, and of course, the Eames, the images in this book are not only historical in nature, but also inspirational to the fullest extent of the word.

To imagine these creative powerhouses at home, surrounded in their ideal environment is like drinking ice cold spring water directly from the source. By including both zoomed-out shots and close-ups, Williamson creates a very warm and delightful capsule for both architecture and interior design alike. We love this book.

Interiors photographed by Richard Powers.

Enzo Mari's "Autoprogettazione" via Apartment Therapy.

We just got our hands on the second edition of this book and have been loving each and every design in a different way. Some are more extreme than others and work best conceptually, but several designs reflect a refined utilitarianism that is unmatched in so much of what we see today.

In the 1950's Italian designer Enzo Mari was noticing that mass-produced furniture was starting to change people's tastes away from quality and craftsmanship, so he created simple designs, as a series entitled "Autoprogettazione," to help reconnect people with how things were made. During his 1974 exhibition he gave out a free catalogue with detailed instructions for making these basic, easy-to-assemble furniture pieces using standardized wooden planks and nails. All materials could be purchased cheaply from a hardware store. His hope was that a connection would develop during the construction, therefore making the end product that more much intrinsically valuable to the owner. After contracting two of these tables ourselves last fall, I have to agree, not only are they quite handsome (we get a lot of compliments), but I also find them to be a reminder of a special moment captured in the form of a table. More images available at here at Apartment Therapy.

Scrapwood Stools by Piet Hein Eek

We came across these Scrapwood Stools by Piet Hein Eek recently and were pretty excited by them. The clean silhouette and unique, masterful construction paired with reclaimed, naturally distressed wood and a rustic vibe is exactly what piqued us. I'm picturing a few of these at my apartment with houseplants resting on top, or lined up in a row at a work table. Priced at $368.00 each and available here, they are a very cool option for any designer and a timeless piece, all around.