Designer Tim O. Walker could be ”The Fonz” of furniture art, a cool dude with a thing for leather.
Not those plush, marshmallow sofas that swallow loose change and squeak like new shoes when you sink into them.
These jet-slick pieces use patent leather, a shiny plastic cover that resembles a fresh coat of paint.
”They`ve been described as cartoon-like forms,” said Walker, who works in North Carolina. ”They`re simple but provocative. People say, `Is it a palm tree? A mushroom? A lady with a hat?` I like the idea that people see something in them.”
Walker has several pieces on display at Jordan McClanahan Ltd., 580 N. Bank Lane, Lake Forest, including his zoom chairs, $4,000 seats with firm, rigid backs. ”People are extremely surprised how comfortable they are,” he said.
There`s also a looming blue lamp ($3,500), Walker`s attempt to make lighting more attractive. ”It just seems, on the whole, to be pretty ugly.” Despite a ”cool” affiliation, Walker is blase about the material. A buddy with a hippie leather shop introduced him to the method and Walker just got used to it.
”There`s nothing magical about leather for me,” Walker said. Now, what would Fonzie say?
