© jabberwocky381

Supernatural is a modern furniture design studio in San Francisco which has recently won a prestigious design award at the Compasso d'Oro ceremony in Italy. The company's Vita modular system and Yale sofa were both recognized for stand out design at the Compasso d'Oro awards in Rome this year at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Compasso d'Oro awards are given in recognition of excellent products which serve as benchmarks in the evolution of large scale design. The Yale sofa project is an armchair and sofa set which feature many small cushions. Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud and developed by MDF Italia, this padded sofa design was recognized for its minimalist structure which is made from extruded aluminum. It has die cast aluminum legs which are opaquely painted in black or white depending on the version.

© s_w_ellis

McDonald's is remodeling their stores with modern furniture design and other changes in an effort to copy Starbucks. They are offering espresso drinks like cappuccinos, WiFi connections, real wooden tables, earth toned décor and more as part of a major remake of the company image that will take years to complete. McDonald's plans to remodel hundreds of US stores, but their executive team rejects the notion that they are simply copying Starbucks.

Rather, they say that the US remodel efforts are inspired by their own international stores in Australia and Europe, where the McDonald's restaurants already have a modern look and feel. The US remodeling is borrowing design elements from European locations where higher pricing goes hand in hand with the fancier décor. The color scheme and cafe like feeling, along with free WiFi, are a bid to attract patrons who want to hang out for snacks and coffee rather than just meals.

© Charles & Hudson

The popular HGTV interior designer Taniya Nayak is taking viewers of her show "My Favorite Space" on a tour of her own condo in the latest episode. Nayak's Lower Mills condo fronts the Neponset River and features a modern design furniture theme throughout.

Nayak also operates a design business out of Boston, and shares her penthouse with her restauranteur husband Brian O'Donnell. The condo is located in a top corner of the building and has a lovely river view from all the windows. Nayak completely customized the unit by knocking down walls and replacing them with an open floor plan. She favors a modern neutral design theme, and uses this extensively in her own home. The couple plans to eventually move into a house and so she didn't go to crazy with the design to ensure she would eventually be able to sell it.