Sometimes creativity burbles to the surface under the pressure of deadlines. Take this new CK Side Chair ($575), designed by celebrated Denver furniture maker DoubleButter. Last year its principals, David Larabee and Dexter Thornton, were invited to participate in the Denver Art Museum’s Design Lab exhibition, which showcased innovative approaches to architecture and design. With the exhibition as inspiration, they set out to design a whole new line. What emerged were prototypes for gorgeous, glossy, and utilitarian chairs (and tables and dressers) featuring metal, animal hides, and bright paint combos—with modular (interchangeable) components. We caught up with the DoubleButter guys this winter as they feverishly prepped the line for a spring launch. “These are high-tech components,” says co-founder Larabee. “And every element is made right here in Denver.”