Alvar Aalto Stool 60

Carine Roitfeld has an eye for the classic in modern design and even the stools in her kitchen nook are a fine example of her aesthetic. The timeless and innovative stool that Carine prefers is the vision of Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, one of the most influential artists in Scandinavian modernism. Designed in the early 1930s, the Stool 60 is an icon in modern furniture, a simple stackable piece constructed of solid natural birch and coated with a thin veneer to accent the beauty of the wood grain. Carine has selected a black laminate finish for the seats of her stools; other color choices are birch, red, and grey. The Alvar Aalto Stool 60 is also part of the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Alvar Aalto Stool photos courtesy of alvaraalto.fi. Carine Roitfeld and Christian "Sisley" Restoin apartment photo © 1998 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Le Corbusier

Carine Roitfeld describes the décor of her Vogue Paris office as "very minimalist because it's better for my mind. When everything is clean and empty it cools me down; if someone brings in pictures or articles to show me, I can see them better." In keeping with this chic minimalist vibe, she works on two beautiful Le Corbusier tables, using one as a desk and the other as a conference table. The Roitfeld family dining table was formerly a desk that belonged to Le Corbusier.

Le Corbusier was born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, a Swiss-French architect, furniture designer, writer, painter, and sculptor who helped to pioneer modern design. He adopted the pseudonym Le Corbusier in 1920, from the name of his maternal grandfather, "Lecorbésier"; this act reflected his belief that we are all capable of reinvention. Cassina S.p.A. of Milan is the only manufacturer authorized by the Fondation Le Corbusier to produce his furniture designs today.

Carine Roitfeld Vogue Paris office photographs courtesy of fashionspot.com