Lahoma Uses Parametric Modeling to Design Custom Furniture

The year 2020 has brought a heightened awareness to the significance of living spaces, with many individuals investing in renovations, redesigns, and refreshes to adapt to new routines and increased time spent at home. This shift has propelled the demand for custom, made-to-order furniture and decor, moving beyond the traditional offerings of large retailers. Smaller, direct-to-consumer, and online-only brands are now at the forefront, making customized pieces more accessible and affordable to both design professionals and everyday consumers. Interior designer Rydhima Brar notes that internet-savvy clients are conducting extensive online research and are willing to purchase custom products without prior showroom visits, drawn by exceptional customer service and competitive pricing. The appeal of these brands also stems from their meticulous quality control, transparent processes, and superior customer service, benefits often attributed to their non-mass-produced nature and shorter lead times. Several brands are exemplifying this trend. Coley Home, for instance, specializes in fully-upholstered beds like 'The Crown Bed,' offering customization in headboard shapes, fabrics, piping, and leg finishes, all delivered within ten days. Their emphasis on easy assembly further enhances customer convenience, reducing the need for external help, which is particularly beneficial during a pandemic. Society Social provides a range of custom furniture, including lounge chairs with various styles, fabrics, and optional embellishments like tape trim and fringe. Their commitment to quality is evident in their North Carolina factory, and they offer in-person consultations at their Charlotte store. Casa Kids stands out with its innovative, multifunctional, and modular pieces, such as bunk and loft beds integrated with desks and storage. Handmade in Brooklyn from sustainably-sourced Baltic Birch, these items are customizable with Benjamin Moore colors and feature adjustable heights, making them ideal for smaller spaces and promoting longevity. The Inside offers a wide array of customizable products, from dining chairs to other home items, with over a hundred fabric options, including collaborations with esteemed brands. Their dining chairs, though limited in style, are highly versatile due to the extensive fabric choices. Interior Define is celebrated for its clean, modern contemporary designs, providing numerous options for sofas in terms of fabrics, leg styles, and configurations. They offer complimentary one-on-one assistance and prioritize practical features like child and pet-friendly upholstery. BenchMade Modern addresses specific spatial needs by offering sofas and sectionals in 100 sizes with five-inch increments, along with diverse arrangements, upholstery, and wood choices, all handcrafted domestically within 30 days. Beyond furniture, custom decor is also gaining traction. Paynes Gray, an online boutique, offers a curated selection of custom pieces, including the Morris Writing Desk from Redford House, which is available in twenty finishes and various hardware options. Pepper provides custom throw pillows in multiple sizes and fabrics, allowing for personalized accents. Edie Parker features a bespoke collection of vintage-inspired decor, such as hand-poured acrylic trays that can be customized with choices of tray, font, and text color. The Brooklyn Teacup repurposes vintage China into tiered stands, offering unique serving or display pieces, with options to use sourced China or customers' own heirlooms. These brands collectively highlight a growing demand for personalized, high-quality, and accessible home furnishings and decor, catering to a market that values individuality and practical solutions for modern living. #InteriorDesign #CustomFurniture #HomeDecor #DirectToConsumer #OnlineRetailers #PersonalizedHome #MadeToOrder #DesignTrends

This week's Dezeen Showroom features seven new product introductions, highlighting innovative furniture and lighting designs from various international brands and designers. A prominent introduction is the Worm sofa bench by Clap Studio for Missana, a modular seating solution characterized by its millipede-like shape. The bench consists of three adaptable modules—an end module, a straight module, and a curved module—allowing for flexible arrangements to suit diverse spatial requirements. Its design incorporates a rounded upholstered seat and distinctive metal legs, contributing to its unique aesthetic and functional versatility. The sofa is a testament to contemporary design that balances playfulness with practicality in modular furniture. Another notable product is the Arholma outdoor collection, designed by Alexander Lervik for the Swedish brand Skargaarden. This collection emphasizes minimalist design principles, offering a range of outdoor furniture pieces including chairs, tables, sofas, and sun loungers. Each item is constructed from galvanised powder-coated aluminium and durable outdoor fabrics, ensuring longevity and resistance to various weather conditions. The Arholma collection aims to provide elegant and resilient options for outdoor living spaces, blending seamlessly with natural or architectural environments. Fogia, another Swedish brand, presents the Big Sur Low coffee table, a collaborative effort between glass artist Simon Klenell and carpenter Kristoffer Sundin. This coffee table features a thin, tinted glass tabletop supported by rounded wooden legs, available in multiple color options. The fusion of Klenell's artistic vision in glass and Sundin's woodworking expertise results in a piece that is both functional and sculptural, adding a sophisticated touch to interior settings. For workplace environments, Narbutas has introduced customisable features for its Silent Room acoustic pod. This pod is designed to create private spaces for calls or meetings within open-plan offices, addressing the need for sound isolation and concentration in bustling work areas. New additions include an optional glass insert for the back wall, enhancing its adaptability, especially for installations near windows. The Silent Room aims to improve productivity and comfort in modern office layouts. Shakúff, a US-based brand, unveils the Dew pendant light, a design inspired by the natural phenomenon of dewdrops on leaves. These glass pendant lights are intended to be hung in multiples, forming elegant chandeliers. Available in clear, grey, or amber glass, the Dew pendant lights offer a delicate yet striking lighting solution, capable of creating varied atmospheric effects depending on the chosen color and arrangement. The design focuses on bringing a subtle, organic beauty into interior spaces through illumination. Andreas Engesvik's Lyra lounge chair for Fogia is highlighted for its contrast between soft cushioned seating and a graphic metal frame. The chair's design prioritizes both comfort and aesthetic appeal, aiming to evoke a sensation of sinking into a pile of pillows. The Lyra lounge chair embodies a modern approach to comfort, combining supportive structure with luxurious softness, suitable for various residential and commercial lounge settings. Finally, Zuma introduces the Lumisonic downlight, an innovative lighting solution that integrates a loudspeaker and is operated via voice activation. This wireless device offers additional functionalities such as circadian rhythm lighting and mood lighting, positioning it as a comprehensive smart home fixture. The Lumisonic downlight represents an advancement in home technology, merging lighting, sound, and intelligent control into a single, discreet unit, enhancing the ambiance and functionality of any room. #ProductDesign #FurnitureDesign #LightingDesign #InteriorDesign #ModularFurniture #OutdoorFurniture #AcousticSolutions #SmartHomeTechnology

Studio Moto, founded by Thomas Hick and Mo Vanderberghe, has launched its debut furniture collection called Stack. This modular system offers a new approach to interior design by enabling continuous customization and adaptation of furniture pieces. The collection is designed to be a playful and intuitive system that evolves with the user's needs and aesthetic preferences, reflecting the changing dynamics of their lives. The genesis of the Stack collection stemmed from Studio Moto's own search for a timeless and adaptable filing cabinet for their office. Unsuccessful in finding a suitable option, Hick and Vanderberghe conceived a system prioritizing simplicity, effectiveness, stability, stackability, and expandability. The result is a highly versatile, durable, and flexible furniture system capable of numerous configurations and combinations. Stack comprises 14 recyclable aluminum components: three vertical connectors, three circles, three squares, and five rectangular shelves. These components can be assembled to create various furniture types, including cabinets, multi-level shelves with dividers, totems, and round coffee tables using the circular plates. The components are available in six distinct shades—Raw Aluminum, Granite Grey, Patina Green, Zinc Yellow, Peach Pink, and Night Blue—allowing for both monochromatic and custom multi-color palettes. The choice of aluminum for the Stack collection is based on its recyclability, strength, lightness, and timeless appeal. The material's distinctive imperfections contribute to each piece's unique visual identity, and it develops a beautiful natural patina over time. Aluminum's pliability further enhances the system's design flexibility. A key feature of Stack is its tool-free assembly. The components click together without the need for screws, mechanical fixings, or any specialized tools, making reconfigurations straightforward. This ease of assembly allows for dynamic changes; for example, two round aluminum plates can form a coffee table, while six stacked plates can create a sculptural totem for display. Studio Moto's broader portfolio includes significant projects such as The Wunderkammer Residence for the Dhondt Dhaenens Museum, mirrored chip shops in Brussels, and contributions to the redevelopment of the botanical garden in Meise and the new Westerpunt observation tower in De Panne. The team is also involved in the master plan and scenography for the Middelheim Open-Air Museum in Antwerp. The Stack collection embodies freedom in design, offering an extremely minimalist yet multifaceted and adaptable system. It integrates function with an element of adventure, designed to align with and reflect an individual's constantly evolving state of mind. #ModularFurniture #CustomizableDesign #SustainableDesign #AluminumFurniture #InteriorDesign #StudioMoto #FlexibleLiving #ProductDesign #FurnitureInnovation

Nidhi Kapur founded Maiden Home, an online furniture company, out of frustration with the limited and often low-quality options available when furnishing her first adult home. She observed that existing large chain stores either lacked elegant designs, appeared cheap, or leaned heavily into a mid-century modern aesthetic, none of which met her desire for quality and value within her price range. Leveraging her background in e-commerce, Kapur embarked on a mission to create a direct-to-consumer model that would revolutionize the furniture shopping experience. The company name, Maiden Home, symbolizes the significant life changes that often prompt furniture purchases, such as marriage, moving to the suburbs, or buying a first home. Kapur's vision for Maiden Home centered on handcrafted, high-quality furniture made in North Carolina, drawing inspiration from her parents' long-lasting furniture purchases from the region. She traveled extensively across North Carolina to identify family-owned businesses specializing in custom upholstery that could meet her stringent requirements for affordable, handcrafted pieces. This extensive search culminated in establishing partnerships with skilled artisans capable of producing the desired products. Maiden Home distinguishes itself by cutting out traditional intermediaries, adopting a direct-to-consumer approach that has proven successful in other industries. This model eliminates the markups associated with selling through boutique furniture stores or outsourcing manufacturing to international factories. Consequently, a custom-made couch that might cost $6,000 through a traditional retailer can be purchased for $2,000 directly from Maiden Home, without compromising on quality, comfort, or elegance. The development of Maiden Home took two years, during which Kapur meticulously addressed the complexities of delivering custom American-made furniture nationwide. Her customer service philosophy prioritizes keeping promises and avoiding the common pitfalls of mistreating customers, a stark contrast to her perception of the furniture industry's historical practices. Maiden Home offers a streamlined customization process starting with four core sofa and four chair designs. Customers can personalize their selections based on size, fabric, and color through the company's website, which provides complimentary swatch kits and access to design advisors. These advisors offer guidance throughout the purchase journey, ensuring that selections align with a customer's aesthetic and home environment. After an order is placed, Maiden Home provides weekly updates on the manufacturing process, covering stages from cushion creation to final inspections. The company also guarantees a six-week white glove delivery service across most of the United States. An exceptionally customer-friendly policy allows for a 30-day full refund return, a rare offering in the custom furniture market. Although primarily an e-commerce platform, Maiden Home maintains an appointment-only showroom in Kapur’s Tribeca apartment for customers who prefer to view products in person. The brand officially launched on March 7, with pre-launch beta users already expressing satisfaction with the designs, comfort, and transparency regarding product origins. Maiden Home's top-selling Minetta Chair exemplifies its commitment to detailed craftsmanship, featuring 16 rows of stitch detailing and available in a wide range of fabrics and leathers. All sofas are designed for longevity, preventing flattening and cushion slippage. Kapur plans to expand the product line beyond couches and chairs, prioritizing customer feedback to introduce new furniture types based on demand, always with the customer experience at the forefront. #HomeDesign #FurnitureDesign #CustomFurniture #DirectToConsumer #MaidenHome #ECommerce #InteriorDesign #LuxuryFurniture #HandcraftedFurniture

The Barrow Collection by Toronto-based designer Mary Ratcliffe represents an expansion of her design philosophy, initially introduced with the Barrow Dining Table in 2021. The collection, which now includes a bench, side tables, and a mirror, is unified by its sculptural aesthetic and a distinctive approach to woodworking, drawing inspiration from the centuries-old coopering technique of barrel-making. This method involves shaping repeated trapezoidal staves into curved, yet angular, volumes, thereby creating a visual language that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design principles. Ratcliffe's work is characterized by a dialogue with wood as a dynamic material. The design process emphasizes the manipulation of wood's inherent properties to achieve precise, repeatable forms. This involves taking traditional rules governing wood movement and applying a contemporary interpretation, simplifying these principles to create shapes that evoke a sense of thoughtful repetition and sculptural meditation. The resulting pieces maintain a balance between a monumental presence and an approachable feel, defining a softness that also highlights a nuanced aspect of brutalism in design. The Barrow Table exemplifies this design approach through its clustered or split bases. The angled cuts within these bases interact with light and shadow, creating an illusion of lightness despite the table's substantial form. The Barrow Bench reinterprets the table's forms, applying them to its edges, which in turn reveals the precision of the design from different perspectives. A subtle six-degree contour in the bench's seat is incorporated to enhance comfort, demonstrating an attention to user experience alongside aesthetic considerations. The Barrow Side Tables, scaled-down iterations of the collection's larger pieces, feature cantilevered marble tops. These elements introduce negative space, creating visual breaks that contribute to a lighter overall composition. The side tables can be arranged individually or as a nested pair, offering flexibility in their display and function. The Barrow Mirror extends the collection's geometric language, featuring a hand-polished aluminum frame complemented by faceted wooden 'claws.' This design choice refines the collection's aesthetic into a more intricate, jewel-like, and wall-mounted form. The development of the Barrow Collection involved significant technical challenges, particularly in achieving the signature angled cuts. Ensuring these cuts were crisp, repeatable, and stable, despite wood's natural tendencies, required years of experimentation, the development of custom jigs, and a crucial innovation in construction. This breakthrough involved replacing solid sections with a veneered, hollow-core build, allowing for the precise execution of the designs. The evolution of these pieces, from initial concept to final form, reflects a hard-won technical journey that culminates in a seemingly inevitable design. The collection is presented in blackened oak, a deliberate choice intended to minimize the visual distraction of wood grain and allow the ethereal qualities of the forms to take precedence. When viewed as a cohesive unit, the pieces appear less as individual objects and more as a unified set of artifacts. They evoke the impression of originating from a shared architectural concept, embodying a tradition that values material honesty, conscientious construction, substantial presence, and the subtle drama inherent in well-defined forms. Ratcliffe's work redefines brutalism, presenting it not as cold but as a language of precision, patience, and craft delivered with warmth, emphasizing the human element in production through a small, dedicated team overseeing the process from raw material to finished product. #HomeFurnishings #InteriorDesign #FurnitureDesign #ModernDesign #Woodworking #ProductDesign #SculpturalFurniture #MinimalistDesign #DesignProcess

The field of design emphasizes customization to create spaces that resonate with individuality and emotion. Every aspect of interior design, including furniture, lighting, materials, and decor, contributes to a tailored aesthetic. This article explores the role of customized furniture design software in facilitating this process by leveraging computational technology to transform design concepts into tangible interiors. Such software aids in iteration, enhancing both functionality and visual appeal through algorithms and parameters. Choosing the appropriate software depends on specific needs, considering factors like skill level, budget, features, and ease of use. The article presents a list of ten prominent software options. SolidWorks, renowned among engineering and product designers since the 1990s, is a powerful 3D modeling tool with advanced features for intricate furniture details and parametric modeling, ideal for complex technical drawings despite a steeper learning curve. Rhinoceros, or Rhino, excels in parametric programs and accuracy for complex, organic shapes, offering extensive tools for experienced designers, though it may be challenging for beginners and lacks a free trial. SketchUp Pro is a widely popular 3D modeling software used in engineering, architecture, and interior design. Its free version suits simpler needs, and its extensive library of plugins and 3D models makes it a time-saving solution with a user-friendly web-based interface for easy sharing. Vectorworks acts as a comprehensive design software, suitable for various disciplines and larger projects, offering an all-in-one package for designing, rendering, and modeling with flexible import/export options and specialized tools for detailed 2D and 3D custom designs. CAD Pro Furniture Design is an affordable option favored by engineers and designers, providing efficient rendering and a comprehensive suite of tools to bring concepts to reality. It includes pre-designed elements and the ability to convert scanned drawings into templates. PRO100 is professional software focusing on woodwork, cabinetry, and interior details, offering important features at a lower price point and including a library of components, a free trial, but limited 3D image format support. eCabinet Systems is specialized for drafting and modeling furniture, capable of managing entire projects and supporting various formats, user-friendly, with constant updates, but restricts file sharing with other software. 3ds Max is a powerful application widely used in the entertainment industry, offering robust modeling and rendering capabilities for furniture design and visualization. Its extensive toolkit helps create realistic, detailed designs and is integral to professional workflows across multiple disciplines. Sweet Home 3D is a free architectural design software for drafting 2D plans with 3D previews, allowing import of background images, textures, and 3D models, featuring an easy-to-use interface that operates offline and provides numerous preview perspectives. Sketchlist 3D is specialized for furniture, woodworking, cabinetry, and interior design, producing realistic renders and catering to both professionals and beginners with its advanced tools, file import capabilities, and pre-built component libraries. These software solutions empower individuals to actively participate in fostering creativity and shaping environments, bridging geographical gaps, smoothing idea exchange, and enhancing design styles. The continuous evolution of furniture design software promises more accessible interfaces and extensive libraries, promoting international collaboration and integrating traditional values with futuristic designs to revolutionize the design industry. #FurnitureDesign #InteriorDesign #DesignSoftware #3DModeling #CustomizedDesign #CAD #ArchitecturalTechnology #DigitalDesignTools #ProductDesign

3DVIA, a Dassault Systèmes brand, focuses on bringing ideas to life in 3D within the home and furniture industry. Its primary platform, HomeByMe, offers online 3D experiences that allow users to create and visualize their dream interiors, discover furnishing inspiration, and personalize products and decor. This intuitive platform is accessible anytime, anywhere, and from any device, providing omnichannel solutions that redefine how consumers envision their ideal homes. The 3D experiences cater to two main audiences: HomeByMe for Consumers and HomeByMe for Enterprises. HomeByMe for Consumers offers free or subscription-based access to individuals, craftsmen, and interior designers, enabling them to directly engage with the platform for personal or professional projects. HomeByMe for Enterprises is designed for companies such as furniture, kitchen, and DIY retailers, as well as brands and manufacturers. These businesses can integrate HomeByMe into their websites or physical stores, or both, to enhance customer engagement and streamline the sales process. The solution supports companies of all sizes, from international retailers to independent businesses, across various sectors including kitchen, bathroom, storage, DIY, furniture, and home decor, with multi-language and currency capabilities. A key customer success story highlights Cabinets.com, the largest online retailer of U.S.-manufactured and assembled cabinets. Cabinets.com adopted HomeByMe to revolutionize the kitchen market by allowing consumers to design their ideal kitchens online. This approach eliminates the need for physical store visits, enabling customers to personalize kitchens based on their needs and budgets, and make faster, more informed decisions using realistic 3D visualizations. Jeff Robertson, President of Cabinets.com, emphasized the importance of an easy-to-use, web-based experience, praising HomeByMe's simplicity and intuitive workflow for digital kitchen design with the latest styles and trends. 3D space planning solutions, like HomeByMe, are tools that facilitate the visualization and design of interiors in 3D, providing an immersive experience for various users. These users include consumers looking to renovate their homes, interior designers and architects who present ideas to clients, contractors and installers planning home improvement projects, realtors showcasing properties to potential buyers, and retailers and manufacturers offering interactive design tools to customers. The platforms allow users to effortlessly create, modify, and visualize room layouts in 3D, personalizing spaces with furniture, decor, and appliances. Modern 3D planners are often web-based and cloud-enabled, focusing on intuitive user experiences. Some specialize in specific areas like kitchens or bathrooms to meet diverse business requirements. HomeByMe also supports the creation of detailed and accurate 3D floor plans, which are valuable for visualizing entire home layouts before construction or remodeling begins. The platform's seamless omnichannel approach integrates online and in-store experiences, making it versatile for various design needs. Consumers and interior designers can access HomeByMe directly for free or via subscription, while businesses can connect with 3DVIA Sales for enterprise solutions tailored to their specific needs, including specialized planning for different rooms and product categories. #3DHomeDesign #InteriorDesignSoftware #HomeByMe #RetailTechnology #DigitalTransformation #FurnitureIndustry #KitchenDesign #SpacePlanning

Holly Hunt, a significant figure in the interior design industry, has been inducted into the 2024 Interior Design Hall of Fame. Born in 1942 in San Angelo, Texas, Hunt initially pursued a career in fashion after majoring in English at Texas Tech. Her early professional experience included an executive training program at Foley’s, a Houston department store, and a role as an assistant buyer in millinery, followed by designing for a costume jewelry company in New York City in 1969. Hunt’s pivotal entry into the design world occurred in 1983 when she acquired R.J. Randolph, a struggling showroom at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. She rebranded it under her own name, HOLLY HUNT, and embarked on a mission to redefine the showroom experience. Her approach was revolutionary for its time, focusing on elevating customer service, improving product display, and introducing transparency in pricing—a practice that faced initial industry resistance. Hunt curated showrooms that resembled actual living spaces, integrating architectural details, artwork, and a diverse mix of products and styles. She championed established designers like Vladimir Kagan and Rose Tarlow, while also discovering and promoting emerging talents such as glass artist Alison Berger and furniture maker Christian Astuguevieille. The company’s sophisticated branding and marketing materials were developed with the avant-garde graphics studio Thirst, all united by a commitment to superior quality. A key collaboration in the early 1990s was with French furniture designer Christian Liaigre, whose sleek, monochromatic aesthetic resonated with Hunt’s own. Hunt’s company became instrumental in manufacturing and distributing Liaigre’s designs in the U.S., influencing American interior design with rich dark woods and creamy textiles. This partnership gained significant recognition when André Balazs's Mercer Hotel in Manhattan opened with Liaigre-designed interiors in 1997. Hunt’s strategic vision extended to expanding her showrooms, notably opening one in the nascent Miami Design District in 1998. Designed by architect Alison Spear, this showroom deviated from conventional layouts, offering a luxury boutique experience accessible to all. Another Manhattan showroom, intended to open in October 2001, was successfully launched just two months after the 9/11 events, demonstrating Hunt’s resilience and foresight. She navigated the 2008 recession by restructuring her company, which led to the creation of Holly Hunt Modern, a collection that surpassed the profitability of her previous collaborations. In 2014, Knoll acquired HOLLY HUNT for $110 million. Hunt remained CEO for two years, overseeing expansions in Dallas and Los Angeles, and continued as a consultant until 2019. During this period, she undertook design projects such as a penthouse at the Surf Club in Miami Beach. Currently, Hunt leads House of Hunt, a Chicago-based interior architecture and furniture studio, engaging in projects ranging from product design, like the Dune sofa for HOLLY HUNT, to comprehensive home renovations. Her career trajectory is marked by continuous evolution and an adaptability to challenges, consistently eschewing rigid business plans in favor of dynamic engagement. #HollyHunt #InteriorDesign #HallOfFame #FurnitureDesign #ShowroomInnovation #DesignEntrepreneur #LuxuryDesign #ChristianLiaigre #DesignIndustry

The ARBA chair, a collaboration between French designer Erwan Bouroullec and raawii, emphasizes the tactile and material qualities of objects, offering a blend of strong lines and balanced composition. The chair was unveiled at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, an exhibition that explored the interplay between market, gallery, and studio spaces, encouraging visitor interaction with all displayed items, which were also available for purchase. This initiative highlights accessibility as a core principle for the new partnership. The project seeks to address how designers can increase their involvement in the distribution and production of their work, aiming to grant them more influence within the industry and to re-evaluate product consumption. The ARBA chair is designed for end-user assembly, arriving flat-packed. Its construction incorporates two molded plywood forms that provide a balance of flexibility and stability, with careful attention paid to proportion and shape. The physical weight of the chair underwent continuous refinement to optimize its visual and environmental impact. The design strikes a delicate balance between a prototypical aesthetic and expertly proportioned elements. The ideation process for the ARBA chair took place in Bouroullec's countryside studio in France, where he concentrated on exploring the limits of engineering and testing within that specific environment. Erwan Bouroullec articulated that the design process began with a simple concept, followed by several days of welding, drilling, sewing, and painting in his studio. The aim was to achieve a “positive minimum” by being swift and lightweight in both conceptualization and physical execution, utilizing existing resources without extensive prior planning. This approach fostered discovery through the making process and intuition-driven finalization. The result is a lounge chair that is easy to comprehend and exhibits an intentional "roughness," which Bouroullec clarifies is not a stylistic choice but rather a foundational element for more efficient manufacturing in the future. Starting in September 2024, the ARBA Lounge Chair will be available in three base colors: Dark Green, Light Grey, and Burned Orange. It will also offer various painted and veneered finishes. Upholstery options from Kvadrat Textile and Spoor Leather are provided, contributing to an elegant and inviting profile that allows for additional comfort and personalization. The chair's design and production reflect a commitment to thoughtful methodology, affordability, and elegant materiality, aiming to create a lasting product. #FurnitureDesign #ProductDesign #ErwanBouroullec #Raawii #LoungeChair #HomeFurnishings #DesignProcess #InteriorDesign #FlatPackFurniture

The Multi-Tier Shelf system, designed by KALO, represents an innovative approach to home furniture, incorporating unique design elements and a blend of traditional and digital fabrication methods. This system, part of a new collection unveiled at Design Days Dubai in March 2016, challenges conventional furniture construction with its hardware-free design. The shelves are crafted from Maple and are supported by vertical slanting legs. A distinctive feature is the absence of traditional hardware connections; instead, the legs are secured to the topmost shelf using custom-made solid brass pins. This allows the legs to fold down, facilitating flat-pack shipping, a practical solution for transportation and storage. The Maple legs are designed to emerge organically from the horizontal top surface and extend downwards to the floor, creating a cohesive and natural aesthetic. Attention to detail is evident in the connection points where multiple pieces converge. These junctions are either subtly highlighted through the manipulation of the surrounding material, creating a 'soft' formal response, or expressed tectonically to seamlessly integrate the components. Further enhancing the design, inset camel leather collars are incorporated into the shelves, providing a snug fit around the legs and preventing slippage. The modular nature of the system allows for additional shelves to be installed at various heights, with precisely cut hole patterns that align with the leg slant angles. The broader collection from KALO, showcased alongside the Multi-Tier Shelf system, includes a coffee table, stools, and a lounge chair. All these pieces share the same organic formal language, demonstrating a consistent design philosophy across the range. The entire collection is designed and manufactured in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. KALO is a creative practice spearheaded by Ammar Kalo, a designer and architect whose work focuses on the intersection of digital technology and traditional craftsmanship. Kalo's methodology involves combining conventional material processes with advanced digital fabrication techniques. This approach explores the intricate relationships between materials, fabrication tools, and the resulting forms. His academic background includes undergraduate studies in Architecture at the American University of Sharjah and a Master of Science in Architecture from the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, with concentrations in Material Systems and Digital Technologies. Ammar Kalo currently serves as the Director of CAAD Labs and an Assistant Professor at the American University of Sharjah, where his research interests include developing design and fabrication projects that emphasize the inherent connections between materials, tools, and form-making. The Multi-Tier Shelf system exemplifies this philosophy, offering a modular, smart, and aesthetically pleasing furniture solution. #FurnitureDesign #KALO #DubaiDesign #ModularFurniture #DigitalFabrication #Craftsmanship #HomeDecor #InnovativeDesign #SustainableDesign

The 'Connected' project, a collaboration between British furniture brand Benchmark and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), emerged from the unique challenges posed by a global pandemic. This initiative brought together nine designers to create furniture pieces aimed at enhancing the working-from-home experience. A significant aspect of this project was the designers' inability to physically visit the workshop or interact directly with their creations, necessitating reliance on remote communication tools like Zoom and WhatsApp, and a considerable degree of trust in the craftspeople at Benchmark. Sean Sutcliffe, co-founder of Benchmark, highlighted the increased leap of faith required from designers in trusting the technical, visual, and sensory aspects of the craftsmanship without in-person observation. An example of the innovative problem-solving employed by Benchmark is demonstrated in Studio Swine’s chair, which required its red oak and cherry wood components to be submerged in the River Kennet for a week to facilitate steam-bending. This resourcefulness is characteristic of Benchmark's workshop, which boasts 58 skilled craftspeople. Sabine Marcelis, a Wallpaper* Designer of the Year, praised Benchmark's willingness to push creative and technical boundaries, a stark contrast to the limitations often encountered with other manufacturers. Marcelis's contribution to 'Connected' is the 'Candy Cubicle,' a maple-veneer box designed to conceal home-working tools, including her partner’s monitor, with a surprising acid-yellow interior. Sustainability is a core principle of 'Connected,' mirroring previous collaborations between AHEC and Benchmark. Designers selected from red oak, maple, and cherry—woods that represent 40 percent of American hardwood forests but are often underutilized. David Venables, European director at AHEC, explained the council's mission to reintroduce these 'unfashionable' woods to designers and consumers, thereby promoting the sustainable use of all natural resources. The project underscores how consumer choices influence forest composition, advocating for a broader appreciation of timber species beyond the obvious choices. The pandemic and the chosen materials appear to have fostered a renewed appreciation for nature among the designers. Works range from Thomas Heatherwick’s biomimicry-inspired maple planters to Studiopepe’s 'Pink Moon' chair, reflecting a collective desire to connect with the natural world. Despite a common theme of natural inspiration, each designer's individuality is evident. Maria Bruun created a Scandinavian-style table from rippled maple, while Jaime Hayon’s 'Mesamachine' showcases complex, humorous, and movable cherry wood components. Ini Archibong's 'The Gate,' an outdoor collection, draws inspiration from the Giant’s Causeway, featuring a hexagonal plinth of red oak and cherry and a green-lacquered red oak top with brass inlays. Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska's seat utilizes barrel-making techniques for its curved form, and Sebastian Herkner designed 'Stammtisch,' a modern Lazy Susan with sliding trays made from various woods and finishes. The designers will see their completed pieces in person for the first time at London's Design Museum, where 'Connected' will be exhibited from September 11 to October 11. This exhibition marks the culmination of a project that navigated unprecedented challenges through remote collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to design and sustainability. #FurnitureDesign #Woodworking #RemoteCollaboration #SustainableDesign #HomeOffice #Craftsmanship #DesignMuseum #HardwoodExports #InteriorInnovation

The article introduces "Patch," a novel modular sofa system designed by Chris Martin for Massproductions, a furniture company he co-founded with Magnus Elebäck nearly 15 years ago. Massproductions, known for its successful and recognizable furniture brand in Scandinavia, launched its first product, the “Tio Chair,” in 2009. The "Patch" sofa system is characterized by its unique diamond-shaped backrest panels and aims to offer a warm, welcoming, informal, and luxurious seating experience. One of the key innovations in the design of "Patch" is its construction method, which minimizes the use of polyurethane foam. Instead, the sofa incorporates steel springs, typically found in the bedding industry, and features innovative corner designs. This approach not only conserves resources but also reportedly provides a superior comfort experience compared to traditional foam and webbing straps, offering a buoyant feel without dead zones, as explained by the designer, Chris Martin. The aesthetic inspiration for the "Patch" sofa draws from diverse elements such as an upturned duffle bag, moc toe boots, and a string of sausages. These inspirations contribute to the sofa's distinctive design language, particularly evident in its eye-catching diamond-shaped "patches." The rounded shapes of the top panels are deliberately incorporated to soften the substantial volumes of the seating and backrest modules, thereby giving the "Patch" sofa its unique personality. Chris Martin emphasizes that a sofa system should be an inviting refuge, a comfortable space for individuals to enjoy with family, friends, and even strangers. He believes that the "Patch" sofa successfully captures this feeling, offering a range of various and limitless configurations to suit different needs and preferences. The design reflects Massproductions' ongoing commitment to innovation and comfort in furniture design, building on their established reputation since their inception. Overall, the "Patch" sofa represents an evolution in modular seating, combining aesthetic appeal with thoughtful engineering to enhance user comfort and minimize environmental impact. The integration of steel springs and the reduction of foam usage highlight a move towards more sustainable and durable furniture solutions. The design's modularity also allows for adaptability, ensuring it can fit into various living spaces and cater to different functional requirements, maintaining the brand's reputation for quality and inventive design in the furniture industry. #FurnitureDesign #ModularSofa #InteriorDesign #ChrisMartin #Massproductions #SustainableDesign #ProductInnovation

This article highlights Henrybuilt's approach to home systems, particularly focusing on their customizable products designed to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of various rooms, especially the kitchen. Scott Hudson, the founder and creative director at Henrybuilt, aimed to integrate luxury and performance in home design, addressing the complex demands placed on spaces like kitchens. He recognized the need for products that are not only high-performing and functional but also organized, comfortable, and beautifully designed. Henrybuilt's philosophy centers on creating adaptable systems that cater to individual tastes while ensuring long-term durability and performance, differentiating their offerings from traditional custom millwork. The company's product line includes the Opencase Wall System, Horizontal and Vertical Bar Blocks, the Functional Partition Wall, and Interior Components, all designed with versatility in mind. The Opencase Wall System offers reconfigurable panels for various rooms such as kitchens, mudrooms, entryways, and studies, providing customizable organization. The Functional Partition Wall serves as an elegant spatial divider in the kitchen, offering both privacy and transparency, and features a sculptural side and a utilitarian 'working side' that can be attached to an island or be free-standing. The Horizontal Bar Block is designed to be integrated into islands or peninsulas, functioning as a specialized toolbox for cooking and serving, and is capable of holding accessories and providing electrical access. The Vertical Bar Block maximizes functionality in corners and small spaces, offering effortless reconfigurability and open storage for easy access. Hudson emphasizes that while custom millwork might offer a personal touch, it often lacks insight into long-term performance. Henrybuilt prioritizes both aesthetic appeal and sustained functionality, ensuring their products not only look good but also perform well over time. Each project is assigned a dedicated designer to ensure the client's system reflects their taste and integrates seamlessly with the home's architecture. The article stresses the unique ability of Henrybuilt's systems to deliver both elegance and utility simultaneously, citing how individual components are reconfigurable yet form a cohesive family of products. Ultimately, Henrybuilt's goal is to enable homeowners to live in spaces that truly reflect their lifestyle, combining form and function to create a lasting positive experience. The brand's focus on striking this balance results in highly specialized products that are also considered works of art, offering a solution that is both visually appealing and enduringly practical. #HomeDesign #KitchenDesign #CustomizableSystems #LuxuryHome #ModularFurniture #InteriorDesign #StorageSolutions #FunctionalDesign

Industrial designer Manu Bañó has expanded his OBJ collection with a modular shelving system crafted from a single sheet of hot-rolled steel. This new addition exemplifies Bañó's design philosophy, which centers on applying simple gestures to raw materials to create functional and aesthetically compelling objects. The shelving system's manufacturing process is intentionally straightforward, involving only several laser cuts to shape the steel sheet into its final form. This minimalist approach allows the inherent qualities of the material to remain prominent. A key characteristic of the OBJ shelving is its raw finish. Bañó deliberately chooses not to remove the natural scratches or defects that result from the manufacturing process, allowing the object to retain its original character and a connection to its industrial origins. This decision aligns with the designer's focus on material authenticity and a celebration of imperfection. The modular nature of the shelves offers significant versatility, enabling users to extend the system both vertically and horizontally, thereby adapting to various spatial requirements and display needs. Bañó emphasizes the dual function of the shelving system, noting that it can serve as a practical display unit for objects or stand alone as a sculptural piece. This interplay between utility and aesthetic ambition is a recurring theme within the OBJ collection. The designer's creative methodology is rooted in intuition rather than extensive preliminary research or reliance on references. He describes his process as an evolution from simple sketches in notebooks to tangible, three-dimensional objects, where initial strokes gradually materialize into functional designs. The OBJ collection, beyond the shelving system, includes a variety of utilitarian objects such as lamps and a lounge chair, all produced using similar simple manufacturing techniques like cutting and folding metal sheets and brass tubes. This consistency in approach across the collection highlights Bañó's commitment to a design language that values directness and material honesty. He acknowledges that while his designs prioritize aesthetic beauty, their functional purpose remains an inherent consideration, reflecting the designer's comfort in creating objects that can integrate into a living space and serve a practical role. Ultimately, the OBJ collection, and particularly the new shelving system, represents a contemporary exploration of material transformation through minimal intervention. By embracing the raw state of industrial materials and employing straightforward fabrication methods, Manu Bañó creates pieces that are both visually impactful and inherently functional. The collection challenges conventional notions of refined finishes, instead highlighting the beauty that can be found in simplicity and the untouched qualities of raw materials. #FurnitureDesign #SculpturalDesign #IndustrialDesign #MetalFurniture #ModularDesign #RawMaterials #DesignProcess #MinimalistDesign

This week’s "Product Preview" highlights a collection of new and notable design debuts, featuring a variety of home furnishings and materials that aim to inspire and refresh sourcing lists for high summer. The launches showcase innovative collaborations and novel approaches to design across multiple categories, from outdoor furniture to bespoke hardware and textiles. Patrick Mele has partnered with Aronson’s Floor Covering to introduce the Color Field collection, a line of four pure New Zealand wool rugs available through KRB. This polychromatic series draws inspiration from Josef Albers’s color-blocked art, featuring designs such as the optical art-influenced Centered, the geometric Placid Landscape, the asymmetrical Burst, and the prismatic Centered Burst, adding vibrant and artistic elements to interior spaces. At Casual Market Atlanta, Ultrafabrics unveiled Ultraleather, a new brand offering residential-minded leather alternatives. This launch includes high-performing indoor styles and a range of outdoor-friendly collections. Notable additions are Pumice, a soft material; Brisa Frontier, which has a slightly distressed look; and Summit, a rustic, vintage-inspired option, providing durable and stylish choices for various environments. Rachel Robinson and Michael Dunham of Dunham Robinson, a New York-based architecture studio, have launched DuroDeco, a customizable furniture brand. Each piece is handmade to order, including an H-shaped solid wood side table with an integrated shelf and a low-profile coffee table that can be customized with over a dozen stone options. This brand emphasizes bespoke craftsmanship and personalization in furniture design. Tuuci introduced its Ocean Master Max Bolero Ombré Blossom parasol at Casual Market Atlanta. This outdoor-rated parasol features a domed canopy adorned with hundreds of vibrant, hand-tufted blossoms, subtly scalloped edges, and cascading handwrought ribs, offering a visually striking and functional outdoor accessory. Akdo collaborated with global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to release the Dyad collection. This collection features two mosaic marble patterns available in brushed and honed finishes. Imala, one of the patterns, is a kaleidoscopic design offered in three neutral colorways, while Pavo is a two-tone pattern with undulating linework, providing sophisticated options for surfacing. Ukrainian design brand Yakusha launched the Drevo series, a collection of 18 stainless steel wall panels crafted by artist and founder Victoria Yakusha. These panels are engraved with whimsical tree of life symbols derived from ethnographic records, offering highly collectible folk art-inspired pieces that can be installed individually or in a gallery arrangement. San Diego-based hardware brand The Details released four new collections of cabinet hardware. Handcrafted in small batches from recycled brass and available in three finishes, these collections include the midcentury-style Avalon, the pill-shaped Beacon, the curvaceous Descanso, and the brutalist Vallon, providing diverse aesthetic options for cabinetry. Workshop Collection’s At Ease series features nine creations by Workshop/APD, designed to promote relaxation. The series includes the Hiro accent chair, the arched Warren dresser, and the Isla console and coffee table, which are cast-resin pieces with drapery-like folds. These items combine comfort with distinctive design elements. Salam Hello introduced Siroua Shades, a line of hand-dyed rugs made by Moroccan artisans. The collection includes nine flatweaves, six knotted high-pile styles, and over 20 accent and wall pieces. Designs like the ombre Tifawt and the striped Tasskalya are pigmented with natural henna, ensuring unique and artisanal textile offerings. CB2’s Fall 2025 collection features numerous designer collaborations within its 571-piece lineup. Highlights include Ross Cassidy’s jade green velvet sofa with contrast welting, Brett Beldock’s black marble-and-aluminum Aster dining table, and Evan Jerry of Studio Anansi’s Davison fluted wood bed with attached nightstands, showcasing a blend of contemporary styles and functional designs. British lighting brand Original BTC collaborated with German architect and designer Fabian Freytag on a limited-edition portable Blossom lamp. This reinterpretation features a fluted ceramic shade, a metallic green stem, and a black-and-white hydro-dipped base, offering a high-contrast and distinctive lighting solution. New York– and London-based designer Helena Clunies-Ross launched her inaugural furniture collection, Calma, currently on display at Room. The American-made line comprises six sleek, bespoke styles: a linen-upholstered sofa, a gently curved daybed, an Art Deco-inspired dining table with antique brass accents, a leather-clad dining chair, an ebonized walnut-topped coffee table, and a console with curved burnished steel panels. The collection emphasizes sophisticated design and custom craftsmanship. #ProductPreview #DesignDebuts #HomeFurnishings #InteriorDesign #OutdoorFurniture #TextileDesign #HardwareDesign #LightingDesign #CustomFurniture #ArtisanCrafts

The Dezeen Showroom highlights a diverse range of new products for interiors and design, featuring collaborations between designers and brands, and showcasing innovative materials and functionalities. The collection includes a padded, upholstered chair, a door pull made from colorful timber, vibrant bathroom lighting, a sturdy meeting table, versatile storage units, and eco-friendly wall tiles. The Amia chair, a collaboration between Italian brand Miniforms and design studio E-ggs, is presented as a key feature. This chair is described as being conceived like a sofa, with padding and upholstery covering all its surfaces. It features flat, thick legs and a round-cornered backrest, offering customization options with various bold fabrics and optional wooden armrests. The design blends comfort with contemporary aesthetics, making it suitable for modern living spaces. Another notable product is the Sensible Streaker door pull by Australian interior design studio YSG for Bankston Architectural. This slender door pull is crafted from alternating bands of naturally colorful timber, part of a wider collection. It comes in three unique colorways, each utilizing unusually-hued solid wood forms, emphasizing natural beauty and craftsmanship. The Pastello bathroom lighting collection by British brand Curiousa introduces a colorful assortment of wall-mounted lights. This collection includes posable, dish-shaped, or suspended lighting fixtures, all unified by a cohesive pastel color palette. The designs aim to bring a soft, artistic touch to bathroom interiors. For communal or office spaces, the Planar table by Rodolfo Dordoni for Spanish furniture brand Andreu World is featured. This broad and sturdy meeting table is characterized by A-shaped legs at each end and a top that combines a chunky lower section with a slim, contrasting tabletop, providing both stability and a sophisticated appearance. British workplace brand Bisley expands its MultiDrawer storage units, originally launched in 1958. The updated collection includes new colors and functionalities, offering various hues, including limited edition options, and different size formats. Some versions are designed to serve as bases for desks, enhancing their versatility in modern workspaces or home offices. Cicil, a US brand, presents its Tartan Shuttle Weave rugs, made from pure wool and featuring an exaggerated check print. These rugs are available in three color combinations: warm neutral Daylight, blue-and-burgundy Dusk, and cool neutral Twilight, offering timeless appeal with a contemporary twist. Elora Hardy for Bamboo Pure introduces the New Moon chair, a lounge chair with a sweeping backrest made from bamboo. This piece combines the design aesthetic of European steam-bent seats with bamboo, a sustainable and native material in Southeast Asia, highlighting eco-conscious design principles. Designtex's Borealis wall covering features multicolored, painterly strokes designed to create a calming effect in interiors. This product is intended for wellbeing, hospitality, and healthcare settings, emphasizing aesthetics that promote tranquility and comfort. Finally, Impact Acoustic's Archisonic Mycelium wall tiles showcase an innovative approach to materials. These wall tiles are grown from mycelium, the root network of fungi, rather than manufactured. They are available in a single natural color and possess innate sound-absorbing properties, offering a sustainable and functional solution for interior acoustics. Ted Todd expands its Project collection flooring, adding new shades, plank sizes, and thicknesses. The oak floor planks are available in a spectrum of shades, from pale Almond to rich, chocolate-hued Tattenhall, providing a wide range of options for flooring projects. This comprehensive overview demonstrates the breadth of new products available on Dezeen Showroom, catering to various design needs and preferences. #ProductDesign #Furniture #InteriorDesign #SustainableMaterials #Lighting #StorageSolutions #Rugs #WallCoverings #AcousticPanels #Flooring