Sneak Peek: West Elm furniture by Paul Loebach

West Elm has announced its roster of designers for home furnishings to be released before the holidays, and the list includes: Brooklyn furniture designer Paul Loebach; graphic designer Dana Tanamachi, also from Brooklyn; Crosley Radio; the nonprofit crafts group AID to Artisans; Egg Press, a letterpress studio in Portland, Ore.; and Schmidt Brothers Cutlery.

Looking at the designs, which are due out this week, I found myself gravitating toward the contemporary furnishings by Loebach, who has a background in woodworking. Loebach gets playful with the multifunctional pieces shown above: a gate-leg dining table ($449), dining chair ($249), tall shelf ($349) and media credenza, ($599).

"I am interested in the fundamental language of the way form is expressed through wood," Loebach said from New York. The designer said the affordable line is designed with small-scale living in mind, as well as memory. "That is what makes a design successful," he said. "The way an object triggers a memory in a person. It comes from shared experiences."

Loebach sees the new pieces as traditional pieces updated in a modern way. "Why not adapt furnishings to people's lifestyles today?" he said. Case in point: The dining room table was inspired by old hunt tables. Loebach gave it drop-down leaves that allow seating for two to six people. He also added pared-down turned-wood legs.

"It's about breaking down the structure and presenting it in a new way," Loebach said. "It's a bit surprising."

West Elm premieres the holiday collection this week online, and the catalog is scheduled to arrive Oct. 4. Or see the pieces in stores. West Elm, which already has a store in Santa Monica, plans to open an L.A. store at 8366 Beverly Blvd. Nov. 3. Store locations nationwide