Laurie Beckerman's designs could never go in an optometrist's office; they draw the eye, hold it's attention and don't let it go.  Their uniqueness and apparent defiance of gravity are truly spellbinding and set this New York-based furniture designer apart from the pack.

Her "Luminous" coffee/lounge table, delicate and airy with its thin frame and four multicolored glass tops, seems to float.  While it does have four legs, Beckerman stretches out the typical rectangular shape of a table so far that it's shape is no longer discernible and it's ability to stay up impresses.

Beckman's "Whistle" lamp, inspired by the pipes of church organs and brass band instruments, is a 7-foot tall work of art.  Its lights shine out at different angles and against the mirror-polished bronze of its frame to create a warm and rich glow.

An elegant and artistic way to stay organized, the "Filing Tree," available in a range of colors, amazes the eye with its use of positive and negative spaces.  Holding books at a 45 degree angle to the floor is not only stylish but, logistically-speaking, makes it easier to read the titles on the spines of the books as well.

Similar to the "Luminous" table, the "Tête-à-Tête Rocker" seems to stay up by sheer will alone, allowing a couple to rock back and forth together while gravity tries to pull them apart.

Like the finest works or art, Laurie Beckerman's designs are best viewed from multiple angles.  It's up to the viewer whether the design from a particular angle is, like the choice in an eye exam, better or worse.

by Brock Duke