The sculptural edge of Roberti modern outdoor rattan furniture will appeal to those who love to surround themselves with beautiful things.

Sofas, sun loungers, tables and chairs, and sun shades: the shapes and style of each piece is carefully considered to combine comfort and functionality.

Three new lines of outdoor furniture will be on show at the upcoming 2009 Milan Furniture Fair in April.

Furniture manufacturers Ligne Roset presented a collection of seating by designer Philippe Negro at IMM Cologne this week.

The range consists of brightly-coloured, upholstered lounge chairs that fit together, appearing to cuddle up to each other. Photos: comtemporist

Pictured here is the Chester sofa in white. It is inspired by the elegant and stately Chesterfield sofas, which are in fact a variation of davenports. The Chester sofa looks elegant with its unique leather pattern and the classical design. However, this classical design inspired sofa is quite modern too, thanks to designer Amanda Levete’s postmodernist ideas.

This sofa has been inspired by sculptures as well; she has created a really chic polyurethane shell on which the cushion is placed. The Chester sofa is a cross between classical elegance and postmodern chic.

It’s a limited edition product and measures 39″ x 112″ x 28″. Retailing at $19,344, the Chester sofa truly will help revamp one’s living space.

The first auction devoted solely to contemporary design will take place at Christie’s in New York this autumn.

“It really is an increasingly popular market,” said Carina Villinger, design specialist of Christie’s New York. “There is a huge overlap with contemporary art. It has got to the point where we need a separate auction.

The Christie’s sale will feature items such as a polyurethane table by the London-based Iranian architect Zaha Hadid, who designed the aquatics centre for the London Olympics, estimated to raise $200,000.

Another lot will be a highly polished steel sofa by the British-born Israeli designer Ron Arad for $300,000. Arad’s work will be exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York next year.That sofa is made of steel that’s polished to match the reflection of a real mirror!

A Ron Arad sofa may fetch up to 80,000 pounds ($159,000) at a London sale this week that aims to tap demand for “design art.”

The steel work looks amazing — just don’t sit in it. “If you’re sitting on a polished metal sofa with rivets on your jeans you have to be careful,” said Ben Williams, a design specialist at Phillips de Pury .

“Sitting on these pieces tends to be reserved for special occasions. They’re usually just looked at as a sculptural element in the room.” [...]