Good design is everywhere these days. Great design—the objects, places and ideas that fuse functionality and aesthetics and then push the boundaries a step further to capture the imagination—is more elusive. Take a look at the standouts.

TEXTILES

MaharAm

dek

Maharam

Modern designers clamor to work with this family-owned textile manufacturer. Among the firm's recent collaborators are Paul Smith, Jasper Morrison and Hella Jongerius, whose new felt Layer fabric (shown right) is already in the permanent collection at MOMA.

Next Timorous Beasties