Ranalde Baker has an eclectic collection of objects that reflect his love of good design.
Ranalde Baker is the account manager at Cite, an Auckland-based interiors company and store and exclusive New Zealand dealer for European furniture brands including Vitra, Arflex and Belux.
Baker's passion for good design has a long history: it began when he worked as an exhibition and furniture designer for 11 years before joining the team at Cite in 2007.
He talks us through his eclectic list of favourite things, from a simple hammock to the George Nelson-designed ball clock.
10 FAVOURITE THINGS
1. Organic chair
I love this chair for many reasons. It's unmistakably a design classic, super-comfy and was the result of a collaboration between two of my favourite designers of the past, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen. I remember seeing an image of the chair while studying 1940s design in high school. I didn't think much of it at the time, until I had the chance to take one for a test drive.
2. The Thing
John Carpenter's classic alien film from the early 80s was my first experience of cinematic hard-core horror. [It was] way before CGI was ever used, and many of the alien shots used animatronics and plenty of fake blood.
I was 11 at the time and I was completely terrified watching it. The perfect mix of isolation, distrust and of course, blood-born, shape-shifting aliens. Okay, the lead is played by Kurt Russell, but no film is perfect ...
3. Alexander Girard wooden dolls
Not quite the GI Joe or Barbie I had as a boy. Did I say Barbie? But what Alexander Girard's dolls lack in suppleness and accessories, they certainly make up for in character and charm. Originally created for himself back in 1963, Girard drew his inspiration from the popular art of South America.
4. Ball clock
I studied George Nelson while at design school and ever since then I've had a huge appreciation for the role he played as one of America's pioneering architects and designers. The ball clock is definitely my favourite, but the others in the range are all worthy of being classic timepieces.
5. Cork bowl
Designed by Jasper Morrison, it's made using the cork cast-offs discarded by the wine bottling industry. Very green indeed. We love fruit, but like wine, it never lasts long enough in our house to warrant having a special place to store it, which is why we tend to throw everything from magazines to mail to keys and loose change into it.
6. The Black Keys
For being just a two-piece, these guys from Ohio throw out a fantastic sound and their latest album Brothers is no exception. It's been out for a few months now, but still getting plenty of play round at our place. Another amazing album well worth mentioning is Passive Me, Aggressive You by the Naked And Famous.
7. PH5
Hella Jongerius' Blossom lights come a very close second, but the PH5 by Louis Poulsen has to be my all-time favourite light shade. At home, we have the pendant version hung low over the dining table, replete with fabric-covered cable and resident spider.
8. Tivoli radio
I remember seeing one of these at a friend's house years ago, thinking at the time how I'd love to get one. They've got plenty of style and for their compact size they actually sound pretty good - and I'm quite deaf too, or so my wife says.
9. Hammock
I bought this from a little old weathered Mayan woman in a Mexican market during my travels through Central America. It was completely different to all the others I had seen, so as soon as I laid my eyes on it, I knew I had to have it. Made from old fishing nets, it's incredibly durable and big enough to hold the entire family, dog 'n' all. It's loads of fun and it's about this time of year when we start thinking about dusting it off.
10. Spirits Bay
This has to be one of my favourite coastal camping spots. Good surf, the beach seems to meander on forever, the sunsets are magic and there's plenty of fishing opportunities around the point.
What more could you ask for? Apart from perhaps a double rainbow, all the way.
