08/28/2026
These are a few 'quick concept sketches' of a dynamic new contemporary furniture design, that's not afraid to be different. An unexpected performance experience that doesn’t lack drama. As most contemporary furniture designs reveal themselves all at once, this stellar contemporary furniture design, (that I call 'A Star Is Born') leaves something in reserve, evolving before your eyes... literally! The compelling design concept for this sumptuous Rococo style, painted desk cabinet appeared in another one of my dreams, and it completely captivated me. It began with the discovery of a random, draped wooden freight crate, towering above me, I was stunned to watch it suddenly open, to reveal a large black LED screen cabinet inside, (set like a theater stage, I watched a fascinating video performance... I was convinced someone was inside it, constantly in motion, painting the 2D image of an extravagant Rococo style, painted desk cabinet. Each stroke of the paint brush exuded the lavish elegance and theatrical artistry of the Italian Rococo) to then see the LED cabinet doors open and reveal an actual Rococo style, painted desk cabinet inside, richly adorned with magnificent gilded accents and elaborate sculptural ornamentation.
I love how this innovative design concept brings a fresh perspective, as it's unveiled before your eyes and allows for so many unexpected spaces to be revealed, (the draped wooden freight crate opens to the LED screen cabinet, that opens to the Rococo style, painted desk cabinet, the top cupboard doors that open to a small cupboard door, that opens to the safe, that opens to the jewel box.) This is what happens when 'CMMD' dares to push a contemporary furniture design over the top, in a distinctly forward looking and playful way... an experience that amazes and amuses.
The exterior shell of the large wooden freight crate and draped white furniture dust sheet is created from a life size mould, using carbon fiber, (carbon fiber and steel are very similar, but carbon fiber is about five times lighter than steel, making it comparably five times stronger, and carbon fiber can last indefinitely as carbon strands don't fatigue like metal) and the surface of the moulded exterior shell is covered with printed photorealistic vinyl sheets, added by hand. The wooden freight crate and draped white furniture dust sheet are photographed from an actual size draped wooden freight crate and then the image is reproduced onto printed photorealistic vinyl sheets... to ensure that the limited edition of 100 painted desk cabinets produced, are always exactly the same. The interior of the draped wooden freight crate, (front, sides, back and top) is lined completely in thick sheets of memory foam, (as used in actual wooden freight crates, by museums and art galleries) with black memory foam sheets protecting the surface of the LED screen cabinet and white memory foam sheets protecting the surface of the painted desk cabinet. The illuminated LED screen cabinet shows a video of a Rococo style, painted desk cabinet image in 2D, with only the shadow of an artist appearing inside, gradually painting the front and sides of the painted desk cabinet and adding the various details, one color at a time, contrasted against a striking white background, until completed. The video fades to black at the end and then the large LED cabinet doors swing open, to reveal an actual Rococo style, painted desk cabinet.
The draped wooden freight crate is set up on a wide brushed stainless steel base, with the 'CMMD' trademark embossed at the center front. The white furniture dust sheet, draped over half of the wooden freight crate, falls to the floor in a pile, resting next to the stainless stell base for full effect, (the draped wooden freight crate has no hint of doors anywhere, as the door hinges are hidden at the back, there are no door handles as the opening is hidden behind the front, center, vertical plywood panel that is attached to the front edge of overlapping fabric.) The back of the wooden freight crate is a blank surface of brushed stainless steel... as the back is intended to stand against a wall, and never meant to be seen in the round. (There is a pair of cabinet doors in the back, to allow easy access to the LED cabinets digital network/control panel as needed.) There are four heavy duty stainless steel/rubber wheels hidden underneath the base, set at each corner, to allow the draped wooden freight crate to be easily rolled forward and backward as needed.
To be clear, the 300 year old Italian Rococo style, painted desk cabinet shown is not my original design... it's a modern 'reinterpretation' that's close to the heavily embelleshed gilt, blue and cream Rococo style, painted desk cabinet that I saw in my dream, (there would have been no way for me to remember and recreate all of the exuberant decorative painted details of the painted desk cabinet that appeared in my dream, and then sketch them all when I woke up. Soooo, I chose to search online for a remarkable painted desk cabinet, and found this exceptionally ornamental, theatrical design. In fact, it's soooo overloaded with embellishments, and the paintings have so much detail, its hard to comprehend the complexity at first glance. I decided to stop adding such frivolous details to these 'quick concept sketches' as it serves no point... it's the unique design concept as a whole that I'm celebrating, and not the insane number of paintings and gilded detail. Any of my contemporary furniture designs could be set inside a wooden freight crate with a video, but I wanted to follow the original design concept as it appeared in my dream, as close as possible. I think the theme of a painted desk cabinet works with the artist shown in sillouette, painting the Rococo style, desk cabinet. I have no interest in pretending the painted desk cabinet shown is my original design, (I did change the color and replaced the religious details... it was created for a Pope in the 1700's, by an unknown master cabinetmaker.)
The LED cabinet is powered by rechargeable batteries hidden in the stainless steel base, (to avoid any unsightly electric cords hanging out when plugged into a wall, and interfering with the illusion of a solitary, random, draped wooden freight crate.) The two front LED digital door panels sit flush to the corner edges of the side panels and the top panels, and when illuminated, the edges disappear seamlessly into the video. The full height LED cabinet doors swing out when pressed by hand, and are attached to large stainless steel piano hinges set vertically at the back. The large scale of the LED screen needs to fit within the defined space of the draped wooden freight crate interior. The video is a defining element of the design as a whole... something meant to command attention and shape an experience. LED screens, (as opposed to video walls) are appealing because they’re easy to install and designed for straightforward mounting. You choose a size, mount it, connect the power and signal, and you’re done. The large LED cabinet occupies a large portion of your field of vision, as it stops being something to just look at and becomes something you’re immersed in, with a video playback that makes the experience unique. (I love how this 'CMMD' concept brings new meaning to the expression 'stargazing.') The video would need to be produced by a team of professionals, (to map out sequential scenes, camera angles and transitions to visualize the narrative flow) such as a director, a cinematographer, a gaffer, a lighting designer, a post production editor that controls the pace and how long it is, (I think between 10 and 15 minutes would be acceptable.) I would also need to hire an actor that would perform as the artist, (and have them sign a disclosure form, that waives their rights to any future claims on the material.) Also, the addition of blue light filtering would remove harsh light when viewed at night, and protect your eyes.
The LED cabinet doors swing open automatically when the video ends, (or the doors can be opened at anytime by remote control) revealing the actual painted desk cabinet. The painted desk cabinet design is based on Rococo painted furniture popular in Italy, during the 1700's... 'lacca povera' furniture, (meaning "poor man's lacquer" which was a decorative furniture technique that immitated expensive Asian lacquerware. Artisans carefully cut out screen printed paper artwork, and then they glued the printed paper cutouts onto painted wooden furniture surfaces. They often hand coloured the printed paper cutouts after they were pasted, and hand painted all of the intricate decorative gilt details. Then they sealed the entire piece with multiple layers of clear varnish to create a smooth, glossy finish.) The colors of the original painted desk cabinet have yellowed over the centuries... the patina is due to the layers of varnish aging, and also the assumulation of dust and grime from being in a room filled with cigar smoke and fireplace smoke. I think I would prefer to keep the new painted artwork as clean and fresh as the day the original painted desk cabinet was delivered 300 years ago, only choosing to age the giltwork for a softer visual impact.
My modern day version of a Rococo style, painted desk cabinet is reimagined with the painted desk cabinet wrapped in various printed photorealistic vinyl sheets, (like those used to wrap the exterior surface of sports cars) and the new painted artwork will match the cartoon style painted artwork from the 1700's, but there are subtle, playful, modern references added, (for example, added to one of the larger painted landscapes, there are movie cameras and a film crew set off to one side of the painting, while filming a hunting scene on location, as if it were a period drama set in the 1700's... the crew is set in 2026 wearing teeshirts and shorts with their cell phones, but they are painted in the same style as the other cartoon style characters from the 1700's. I was also thinking of adding carved ear buds to the carved head of Jupitor, (shown in front of the scalloped shell at the top of the painted desk cabinet... it's all in the details. Haaaah!) The carved gilt trim added to the painted desk cabinet are also covered in gold printed vinyl sheets, to match the gold on the printed photorealistic vinyl sheets that cover the entire painted desk cabinet surface, instead of using gold leaf. (I will need to work in collaboration with an exceptionally talented artist that can recreate the painted artwork for the various painted panels and all of the gilded details, in the style of the 1700's.) I think this brilliant new contemporary furniture design has a sense of playfulness and vitality... a design concept separated by centuries, united by imagination and inspiration. It's a compelling example of daring innovation, intricate artistry and craftsmanship, that allows it to be celebrated as an object of art.
This opulent Rococo style, painted desk cabinet is made in two separate sections... the upper part, with a scrolled arched cornice, centered by a bevelled mirrored panel, surmounted with carved and pierced cresting of a scalloped shell and the crowned head of Jupiter, (Jupiter was the king of the Gods in ancient Roman religion) set above a pair of arched bevelled mirrored cupboard doors, opening to reveal a square bevelled mirrored cupboard door, (hiding a fireproof burglary safe, for the storage of jewelery... custom made to fit the square cupboard space and equipped with a silent signal alert feature, that can be directly connected to a home monitoring system) flanked by a pair of cupboard doors, beneath pigeonholes and an arrangement of small drawers below. There are also four large gilt finials on top, set at each corner. The lower part, with a slant front writing desk opening, enclosing three pigeonholes above three drawers, and two small gilt shelves hidden in the gilt horizontal trim, that slide forward for candlesticks to be placed... each shelf has a small stainless steel pull k**b at the front center. I would include a pair of Rococo style, stainless steel candlesticks, and a box of a dozen cream coloured candles. Each candlestick would have a white satin storage bag, (with the 'CMMD' trademark woven into the jacquard fabric, in a tone on tone repeat pattern.) The curved shape of the bottom front, has four large serpentine drawers, fitted with brushed stainless steel drop handles, keyhole plates, (the locks, keys, drawer pull k**bs and the hinges are also made in brushed stainless steel, as is the hidden safe.) The canted corners and sides of the painted desk cabinet, with shaped pilasters, continue to large outscrolled acanthus leaf carved feet. The drawers are lined in white satin, (with the 'CMMD' trademark woven into the jacquard fabric, in a tone on tone repeat pattern) to match the white tassels attached to the key. The painted desk cabinet is covered in printed photorealistic vinyl sheets, that appear to be 'lacca povera' incorporating landscapes, hunting scenes, varicolored birds and animals, on cream reserves and a blue background, highlighted with gilding and covered in varnish. An inspiring statement piece, reinterpreted with a 21st century spin on a venerable Italian Rococo painted desk cabinet, where the past meets the future.
As I mentioned, only a limited production of 100 of each Cary Michael Morris Design will ever be made. (The 2 artist's proofs and 1 prototype will be kept in house/the showroom and are never to be sold... they can only be donated to a charity auction, when the 100 units have been sold and discontinued.) With every piece sold, there is included a hardcover book of photographs and a production history, with an informative DVD video, which highlights the journey of 'CMMD' over the years and details the step by step creation of the design process, through production and showroom delivery, with credit shown to the various master craftsmen and artists that worked on it. Along with a personally signed, trademarked 'CMMD' hologram certificate, as proof of provenance... each piece (or set) is also numbered, and then registered when sold.
Copyright 2026 CARY MICHAEL MORRIS All Rights Reserved
THIS IMAGE AND RELATED DESIGN ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND IT'S UNAUTHORISED DUPLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR EXHIBITION MAY RESULT IN CIVIL LIABILITY AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION BY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.
The design contained in this image is the intellectual property of the copyright owner and is protected by The United States and other countries copyright laws and no part of this design may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photographic or used in any manner without prior express written permission of the copyright owner Cary Michael Morris. The copyright owner is entitled to recover the actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the infringement, and any profits of the infringer that are attributable to the infringement and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages. You may not alter or remove any copyright notice from copies of this content.
