TOTAL TRANSPARENCY: LUCITE DESK ACCESSORIES

Clearly, lucite's favor is not on the wane. Beloved for it's sleek clarity and minimalist clean lines that disappear,  the material is becoming more readily available in home decor and accessories.  Having a desk that is devoid of clutter is near impossible, but these lucite pieces will help coral the clutter in style.

 Got piles of stuff all over your desk? You are not alone. Capture the stray papers and piles in this lucite tray by Russel and Hazel at Anthropologie.

Hold files together in a lucite box by Russel and Hazel at Anthropologie  with cut-out handles for easy portability. To easily identify, the contents, it looks like a little color coordinated folder action is needed.

Also from R and H at Anthro, a brass hued stapler encased in a lucite body.

I have this lucite tape dispenser from Anthropologie, and love that it basically disappears on my desk. I know where it is when I need it, but it is attractive to look at rather than being a blight in my sight line.

 Pencil lovers everywhere, i.e., all you architects, rejoice! Standing at attention, sharpened pencils can be within arms reach with Anthropologie's lucite holder.

FOR THE LOVE OF LUCITE

Photo courtesy of CB2

The workhorse: CB2's Peekaboo tables

My love for lucite knows no bounds. A few seasons back I wished there was more of an array out there, and voila, that time has come. For a long time, CB2's Peekaboo tables were the go-to for many an interior designer.  Their easy - to-live-with waterfall tables are on my apartment essentials list, as you can place them anywhere.  Now, that list of chic basics grows with a few market finds. From bowls to a bevy of cocktail tables, the see-through material that adds a weightless presence is finally widely available. But available does not necessarily translate into easily affordable. Because the material comes from petroleum, the prices make these pieces commitment pieces. But once you have them, you will enjoy their new classic status, and endless versatility.

Alexandra Von Furstenberg's lucite pieces are getting bigger, as her furniture assortment expands. Her acrylic Sledge Coffee table with neon pink detailing

 One of her bestsellers, the Candy Bowl, now come with ink swirls embedded in the clear material

Taking dinner in front of the TV to a chic place, Grace and Blake's foldable table with chrome supports

Design Legacy's rolling Bar Cart is really well done

 The Jacques collection, launched last year by Jonathan Adler, is a crowd-pleaser with brass corner details.

 

The bi-level table also by Adler could be used behind a sofa to break up the space, or in pairs around a doorway

I spotted this cut-out coffee table at Bernhardt while at High Point Market.  

Paired with a smoky black top, Festoni's lucite table looks Deco-inspired

 Cool and confident, Bernhardt's ball pedestal tabouret Aubrey is uber chic.

Another lucite bowl, the Bel Air, this time with a pop of monochromatic white. Jonathan Adler's version is thick (read heavy) and substantial

Making desk accessories and trays from a rainbow of lucite, Tara Wilson Designs, available through Bespoke Custom Gifts,  mix monograms and shiny surfaces for personalized gifts that go a step further.

A CLEAR WINNER: TIMOTHY WHEALON FOR PLEXI CRAFT

Interior designer Timothy Whealon in his Southampton home, designed with his fresh, American-inflected style.

 Photos courtesy of Timothy Whealon Interiors

Light, elegant and sophisticated are how I like to describe the work of one of my favorite interior designers, New York-based Timothy Whealon. Incorporating a bit of transparency into his work, Whealon has created a capsule collection of furniture with Lucite makers Plexi-Craft. Long an industry go - to, designers love Plexi for their custom capabilities and inventive creations. Orders take about 10 weeks and can be done to custom dimensions. Above, a look at how he brings a bit of clarity into the serene spaces he creates.

 Photos courtesy of Plexi-Craft

With a vast knowledge of antiques, Whealon understands the history behind the pieces he works with, which are many. Using history as his guide, he re-created the classic Greek Klismos Chair in clear lucite. The arm support and scoop back provides a clean silhouette. A faux leather seat provides a pop of color.

Photos courtesy of Plexi-Craft

A bi-level Bar Cart on casters is sleek and a storage star.

An octagonal motif runs along the sides of the 5-shelf Etagere.

TOTAL TRANSPARENCY: INVISIBLE FURNITURE FROM PAGODA RED

Made in Beijing, July Zhou takes traditional Chinese Ming furniture forms and reinvents them in crystal clear lucite. The handmade, highly- detailed pieces glow with a lacquer like luster. Adding a piece to any interior brings a modernist sensibility and a dash of cool factor. The pieces have just launched at Betsy Nathan's Chicago-based Pagoda Red booth at 1st Dibs on the 10th floor of  The New York Design Center. Her Chicago store is a must-visit destination, so I am sure this will be too.

Photos courtesy Pagoda Red

Summer Palace Altar Table

Pair of Blue and White Invisible Chairs 

Summer Palace Low Table 

Summer Palace Square Table

Forever Roundback Chair

Invisible Stool

The Mirage Stool has color on the underside of the lucite that gives it a glowing red presence