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Biophilia can be defined as an inherent human desire to connect with the natural world and elements of Arteriors’ interior décor encourage this. Biophilic design isn’t just trendy from an aesthetic perspective – surrounding ourselves with nature has additional benefits elevating our mood and creating a holistic environment.

In residential design, a biophilic environment can encourage relaxation and a separation from bustling outside life. In an office space, benefits include increased productivity and creativity. In both instances, including elements of nature into the design of a room boosts overall physical and mental health.

Margot Lounge Chair, £2771; Nemby Lamp, £900; Morgan End Table, £2078
Palma Pendant £2,486; Palmer Dining Chair £2,175; Palista Lamp £1,088

Natural materials are the obvious addition and just one of the ways we can ensure we are benefitting from mother nature’s touch. Materials such as rattan, wicker, and various woods are great additions and can be used in furniture, lighting and accessory design. Season upon season we’ve seen more brands offering designs that integrate natural weaves and raffias, making it easier for designers and their clientele to create a grounded, organic décor scheme.

The positive influence on people is paired with the sustainable credentials of using these materials. Inherently biodegradable and regenerative, the resulting products are crafted with the future in mind.

Palmeda Lounge Chair £4,661; Serrano Floor Lamp £2,020
Eleanor Lounge Chair, £2,824; Omega Cocktail Table, £1801

Striving to further our connection with nature, our design team has endeavoured to include additional materials such as corn husk, coconut shell and abaca fibres that give a varied aesthetic but provide the same benefits. We’ve always wanted to ensure we honour the ingenuity of master artisans, where skills are passed down from generation to generation – particularly in places such as Southeast Asia, where the incredible artistry has inspired our collection of natural materials where we’ve weaved in inventive details (pun intended). Combining contemporary form with rich texture and traditional craftsmanship evokes a warm, welcoming aesthetic.

Palmer Dining Chair, £2,175
Ronaldo Chandelier, £4,040

Another key element to consider is the colours used in a space – neutral tones, and earthy hues are grounding and provide an effective canvas to incorporate additional elements of biophilic design. Pops of green are also proven to reduce heart rate and promote calm whether selected as a key colour in furniture choice or across a statement wall.

Raffie Vase, £777
Itiga Dining Chair, £1524

Final additions make a world of difference, with planters and hanging baskets, dried flowers and fresh posies quite literally adding an element of the living natural world. More than aesthetic, plants and flowers work like gentle air purifiers moderating temperature, humidity and levels of toxins present to create a more pleasant living environment.

Midori Pendant, £2,771
Spaulding Box, £311

Key to a positive outlook and beneficial to health in all senses of the word, it’s no wonder designers are keeping this as a priority for residential, commercial and hospitality design. Each season, we want to make sure we’re creating products that work with, not against the environment and encourage biophilic living.

About Arteriors

For over 30 years, Arteriors delivers impeccable style and artisanal quality craftsmanship within the lighting, furniture, wall décor and home accessory categories to discerning customers worldwide. This three-decade journey in pursuit of extraordinary product – from the understated to the unexpected – had been and remain at the core of what Arteriors do each day. Arteriors’ business has matured and expanded into a timeless lifestyle brand that has become premier resource for interior designers and retailers worldwide.

Today, Arteriors continues to reinterpret materials, forming objects of perfect proportions and scale, resulting in bold interiors that bring ease to everyday luxury.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Consistently expanding on its contemporary custom designed offering sofa.com is delighted to introduce the launch of the SS23 Collection to a trade audience.

Launched on February 7th, the new season collection at sofa.com is a celebration of bespoke, high-quality comfort and sleek, shapely style. The collection comprises two hero upholstered seating options, new dining and storage furniture, and expansions of best-selling ranges, with a focus on growing bedroom and dining categories as well as presenting range expansions for the residential areas. Catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects, the collection introduces two main trends, with elements of coastal charm and modern rustic weaved through new product design.

Sofa.com Seattle accent chair in Oyster boucle £940 each and Alexandria side table in black £310
Sofa.com Memphis round table £1,000 and Piper dining chairs Cosmopolitan in smart velvet £270 each

The overarching palette for Spring is one that calms and comforts. Relaxed shaping and minimalist detailing are present throughout. Thirteen additions to the already vast assortment of fabric options include new varieties of velvet, subtly patterned weaves, and trendy tweeds, with a myriad of seascape blues central to the selection. All pieces of the expansion are also available as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.

  • Carmel joins the upholstered furniture family as the all-encompassing comfy sofa choice, with a relaxed slouch and bulbous features. Extra cushioning creates oomph and a welcoming squish. Available as armchair, sofa, chaise and footstool to create a complete and streamlined aesthetic.
  • Memphis plays with negative space with shapely open detailing core to the new dining table design. Available as rounded, square or rectangle, with a wooden top – configure to suit varying dining requirements from intimate meals to family gatherings.
  • The perfect occasional chair for modern design lovers, the Seattle armchair, with clean lines and a simple silhouette, is a statement seat that epitomises sofa.com’s new contemporary design handwriting and a desire to cater for countless décor schemes.
Sofa.com Carmel Chaise in Santorini Easy Care Velvet £3,300

Speaking on the collection, trade development manager Laura Tarratt comments:

“We have seen a slight uptick in coastal and rustic styling and predict these themes to be the trends for 2023. Our new SS23 collection perfectly caters for these re-emerging themes with relaxed and minimalist shaping present throughout the collection. This season seating is at the core and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby.”

Sofa.com Seattle armchair in Oyster luxe boucle, £940

“The overarching palette for spring is one of light tones and natural materials that embody comfort.  Beautifully represented with plush velvets and subtle patterned weaves, we are expecting coastal themes to emerge in hotelier commercial and residential projects. Complementing this neutral colour scheme is the presence of rustic textures and solid fabrics rather than patterns.

Modern rustic radiates a relaxing and comfortable feel, which fits in with people’s desire for cocooning furniture.  Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base.”

Sofa.com Memphis Table with Metal Detail, £1,000

Cover image: Sofa.com Seattle accent chair in Oyster boucle £940 each and Alexandria side table in black £310

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Autumn proved to be the season the interior design community returned to pre-pandemic normality – out and about at every opportunity, and Sofa.com team were so pleased to be involved in some of the key events that attracted crowds of design enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Sustainability: Your questions answered – 13th September

Kicking off the season, they hosted an insightful podcast recording in the newly refurbished Chelsea showroom. Led by the host of Interior Design Business, Susie Rumbold, who took centre stage to discuss all thing eco – looking into how products are made, and the life cycle of everyday items.

A captivated audience participated in a lively discussion between Alexandra Jurkiewicz, Creative Lead at Helen Green Design, Chloe Bullock, founder of Materialise Interiors, and David Chenery, founder and director of Object Space Place – three designers leading the way toward a greener future, considering best practice, material innovations, and non-negotiables.

Full conversation available here.

Sofa.com at Design Central

Design Central – 27 / 28th September

Providing a variety of furniture for a number of spaces at Cheshire’s beautiful Capesthorne Hall, comfortably seated both guests and speakers for a variety of panels and discussions. Sofa.com’s highlight of the week was working once again with The Interior Design Business Podcast as they delved into the nation’s favourite interior design TV shows and how they benefit the industry – with insight from Verity Coleman from Rascal & Roses, Siobhan Murphy from Interior Curve and Peter Grech from The SpaceMaker Interiors.

Available to listen here.

Sofa.com at Design Central

Independent Hotel Show – 4 / 5th October

Sofa.com were proud to be the official furniture provider for this year’s sell-out show, providing furniture for several main stages and communal areas. Partnering with the IHS provided the opportunity to showcase new and best-selling designs to an elite group of hoteliers, commercial specifiers and leading interior designers. Their seating provided the perfect platform for industry experts such as Hamish Kilburn, Gavin Couper, and Eljesa Saciri as they spoke on upcoming trends and industry innovation: link here.

The first edition of the event post pandemic proved a roaring success, with visitors enjoying business conversation, insightful discussions and unique networking opportunities.

Sofa.com at Independent Hotel Show

Decorex – 9 / 12th October

Working with Linwood over many years, Sofa.com know how beautiful their fabrics look on their seating, so they jumped at the chance to upholster our best-selling Bluebell sofa in their new Maypole linen. Decorex offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the finished result which was a real showstopper. One of their key offerings for design clientele is COM provision and judging by the number of entrants in our giveaway, it was a much-coveted item.

Four days of bustle as visitors enjoyed a world of inspiration across all categories of design.

Sofa.com at Decorex
Sofa.com at Decorex

Sofa.com’s trade team was on site at each event to speak with both new and prospective customers, recommending product and demonstrating their wealth of knowledge on furnishing both contemporary and traditional décor.

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

KI has confirmed that Postura+ will begin a transition to a circular economy, with all one-piece chairs manufactured from December 2022 set to contain at least 30% recycled polypropylene.

Following over 3 years of trials and testing, this achievement sets an important milestone on KI’s journey towards taking a leading position in the circular economy. Over the coming years, KI will work towards increasing this percentage to future milestones 50, 80 and ultimately 100%, bringing all standard colours into line with the increasingly popular Jet Black chairs which are already made with 100% recycled content.

The unique, UK-based supply chain development will see 600 tonnes per year of waste plastic being fed into the standard production process, the equivalent of over 2,000,000 food containers per annum. These new mixed virgin/recycled polypropylene chairs have been rigorously tested and have achieved the same certifications and standards as the fully virgin plastic chairs, so the unparalleled, proven Postura+ 20-year warranty remains in place.

Jonathan Hindle, President, KI EMEA comments: “We manufacture approximately 400,000 one-piece Postura+ chairs alone each year, making it one of our most successful and high-volume product lines. Eliminating 600 tonnes of virgin polypropylene from this supply chain demonstrates our commitment to realistic, impactful steps towards sustainable practices, without compromising colour options, quality, durability and warranties.”

Jeremy McWhinney, KI’s Finance & Operations Director adds: “Whilst other products in our lives have been able to utilise recycled polypropylene for years, they are routinely single or limited use items – Postura+ chairs must withstand the toughest learning environments for decades. The testing and production processes involved have been years in the making, and we look forward to continuing our journey towards our ambition of 100% recycled content in the future.”

This innovation in Postura+ chair production further enhances the product’s environmental performance, outlined in its independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Manufactured in the UK, these chairs are transported in 100% recyclable packaging, and are themselves 100% recyclable at their end of life.

Alison Mallett, KI Europe’s Director of Education Furniture comments: “Our customers both in the UK and across Continental Europe are looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of their procurement practices, without adding unrealistic cost or compromising quality. What we’ve managed to achieve with Postura+ chairs is a fantastic step in the right direction and we are confident that this exciting news will be met with great enthusiasm from our customers.”

About KI

KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments. Bringing together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

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As we approach the end of another busy year, Sofa.com shares their favourite projects and reflects on their achievements from 2022…

For us, working collaboratively with various designers has been a real highlight – helping to bring their creative vision to life and seeing our products in a range of gorgeous spaces. The breadth of projects this year has been wonderful, from larger hospitality work, to commercial settings and a wealth of boutique hotels; this is where sofa.com product really comes to life, with bespoke elements and extensive fabric choice meaning no two projects look the same. Here’s what they had to say!

We have compiled some of our favourites of the year, from the hills of Edinburgh to the coastal waters of Cornwall and everywhere in-between, featuring design specifications that we’re most proud of and are thrilled to see completed to such a high standard.

National trust Scotland - Bluebell chairs

One of our most recent collaborative projects has just recently completed in time for the holidays. It was a joy to work with Unique Homestays on the renovation of The Hatch, a pared-back coastal property next to the glimmering seas in Cornwall. Finishing touches in the dining room convey the aesthetic of the property perfectly, but with a slight bias our favourite room has to be the Scandi-inspired living room, featuring our bestselling Isaac sofas.

Unique Homestays - The Hatch

Another key project with Unique Homestays was the completion of Little Inka, a cottage finished with trending combinations of black and brass. This modern farmhouse aesthetic is the perfect setting for our Chesterfield style Patrick loveseat in beautiful vintage leather.

Unique Homestays - Little Inka

Additional highlights include working with The National Trust Scotland, Alice Leigh design, and The Bath Arms to name a few.

Alice Leigh - Claude armchair
Hill Street - Larsen corner sofa

It’s wonderful to look back and celebrate with our customers on the completion of their projects. Thank you to all for working with us, and we look forward to collaborating in the future. As we look towards 2023 and exciting projects on the horizon – we’ve are thrilled to be part of such a vibrant industry.

Crabtree Designs - Bluebell and Humphrey sofas

Cover image: Emma Gurner

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Celebrating 35 years of luxury design, Arteriors is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collaboration collection with renowned American interior designer, Jay Jeffers. As part of the brand’s successful Guest Designer programme, Arteriors welcomes Jay back for a third collection. The range features 28 new furniture, lighting and accessory designs launched as part of their Autumn 2022 collection, debuted at Focus/22.

Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Holm Pendant £1177, Giorgio Centrepiece £666
Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Torino Mirror £1886, Tapio Small Pendant £1028

Jay’s collection prioritises versatility while embodying his “liveable luxury” approach to interior design. Influenced by mid-century décor, from designers including Carlos Scarpa, Franco Albini and Jena-Michel Frank, the collection embraces classic masculine elements including antique and polished brass and pairs them with etched glass and pierced metals.

Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Giordano Chair £3048, Tapio Large Pendant £1540, Spiazzo End Table £1455
Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Pavo large pendant £1843

“With each collaboration, I prioritise quality and craftsmanship. This third collection with Arteriors reflects the skill of their network of artisans that make each product come to life, a hallmark I wanted to celebrate as part for the 35th anniversary. Each piece is handcrafted and meant to feel collected over time. This new offering introduces lighting and accessories that are adaptable to different environments, whether it be a sprawling luxury resort or a compact apartment.” – Jay Jeffers, speaking on the collaboration.

Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Torino Mirror £1886
Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Pavo Centerpiece £1662

The final result is a beautiful mix of sculptural silhouettes, vintage metal elements, and 20th century inspired design. Expanding on his past two collections, Jay and Arteriors developed new pieces across a variety of categories, including furniture, accessories and lighting created with signature Jay touches.

Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Cantu Cabinet £9697
Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Chaka Accent Table Set of 2 £5781

These design elements can be found throughout the collection, notably in the Trento Mirror, crafted with hand-formed brass, and the Holm Sconce, created with two separate layers of glass for a beautiful diffused light. The Carl Pendant blends smoked glass with pewter and multiple layers of glass for a fixture that can be shown long over a kitchen island or shortened for hallway or bedroom fixture. Finally, the handsome Cantu Cabinet boasts a rich ebony stain and tapered legs for a beautiful addition to an entryway or living space.

Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Giordano Chair £3048
Arteriors x Jay Jeffers - Holm Chandelier £3048

“We are thrilled to have Jay return as a guest designer. What better way to celebrate our 35th anniversary than with one of our longest-standing collaborators?” says Barb Fuller, Vice President of Marketing & Visual Merchandising for Arteriors. “Jay’s eye for designing entertaining spaces can be seen across his three collections for Arteriors, from accessories to seating and casegoods designed for comfortable and stylish gatherings at home. For this newest assortment, we worked together to expand on this theme with lighting that creates a warm ambiance and accessories that offer chic touches to interior spaces.”

About Arteriors

For over 30 years, Arteriors delivers impeccable style and artisanal quality craftsmanship within the lighting, furniture, wall décor and home accessory categories to discerning customers worldwide. This three-decade journey in pursuit of extraordinary product – from the understated to the unexpected – had been and remain at the core of what Arteriors do each day. Arteriors’ business has matured and expanded into a timeless lifestyle brand that has become premier resource for interior designers and retailers worldwide.

Today, Arteriors continues to reinterpret materials, forming objects of perfect proportions and scale, resulting in bold interiors that bring ease to everyday luxury.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

What are the origins of your brand?

Olivia’s was born out of a desire to bring the best of the furniture world into one space. We search the world for the latest trends in designer and luxury interior design, working with industry experts to bring you beautiful furniture, normally only for industry insiders. Our award-winning interior designers hand-pick each item, working closely with various artisans, designers, and brands.

How do you work with interior designers? 

We pride ourselves on being readily available for our clients as we work across many communication channels. We can also work in multiple ways depending on the type of client and project. Some companies use us solely as an ordering function with minimal intervention whereas others may use us to help source products, design spaces, and manage logistics.

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

The main benefits of working with Olivia’s Trade are: access to over 50 vendors/brands, no minimum order value, storage solutions, and a dedicated account manager to handle everything from creative ideas to logistics and delivery. We also take away the hassle of having to set up multiple accounts with trade suppliers giving you the ability to order across multiple brands for a single project.

How do your services/offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

We offer a very personable approach where you will have a single point of contact for all your needs. Our trade team members have an in-depth knowledge of not only Olivia’s as a brand but also an understanding of each of our vendor’s wider catalogs of products, which as a trade client you have access to. We are able to take over the time-consuming job of sourcing, selecting, and styling either single rooms or full house renovations. If you have ideas that need bringing to life or if you had your eye on a particular product that has gone out of stock, we’re on hand to assist. With a huge warehouse space, we have the ability to offer great storage & flexible delivery options; storing all items for a single drop along with white glove delivery available on each job, taking away the stress of organising any element of logistics.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

There has been an increase in key focal pieces like bright art deco occasional chairs & oversized chandeliers along with the continued love of minimal design and maximum function

Questions answered by Sara Barnes, Head of Buying & Product, Olivia’s.

About Olivia’s

Trade at Olivia’s is a service for interior designers, architects, property developers, and more. Our dedicated team of account managers work closely with you to source and supply luxury homeware, lighting, and accessories. We have over 14,000 items across 90+ suppliers and brands at our fingertips. We aim to make your buying experience as stress-free as possible by giving you the ability to buy products from multiple brands with just one account.

If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Arteriors’ F22 collection offers interior designers an array of location-inspired design aesthetics, with influences from Monaco and Berlin, previewed as part of the showroom reset ahead of Focus/22. Informed by traditional techniques and use of materials from across the globe, intertwined with Arteriors’ statement flair, these collections are designed to create a timeless, contemporary scheme with accents that add visual interest and inspire awe.

Hoover Chair £2840, Ollie Desk £10251
Hoover Chair £2840, Ollie Desk £10251
Arteriors Middlebury Pendant £2771, Arteriors Leandro Settee £3740

Monaco Glamour

The most traditionally luxurious of the two aesthetics brings the warmth and richness of colour of Monaco to life. Opulent and extravagant, this is a dream scheme that combines the crystal hues of the ever-blue sky and sea, with shades of golden yellows. The selection of furniture, lighting, accessories, and wall décor that make up the collection feature plenty of jewel tones, decadent marble detailing, and glamorous gilded-gold designs, with each piece epitomising grandeur. Indulge in sumptuous velvet seating, incorporate lavish lighting, and finish with accessories that complement the myriad of colour-rich tones.

Arteriors Nola Sofa £6926, Mika Chandelier £6372
Arteriors Navel Chandelier £2318, Misha Accent Chair £2909
Arteriors Navel Chandelier £2318, Misha Accent Chair £2909

Berlin Bauhaus

A nod to mid-century design, the selection of products featured within the Berlin Bauhaus collection utilise strong lines and geometric accents to create a more contemporary look. Unique material choices run through the range of home furnishings with a particular focus on leather detailing on upholstered items, accessories and as part of lighting designs. The juxtaposition created by featuring a material ordinarily used to create a more traditional aesthetic but incorporated into furnishings with sculpted and soft design fashions a more contemporary look. An unexpected and distinctive material choice complementary to woods, metals and marbles, Arteriors designers predict leather pieces to be the next ‘it’ material t inspired modern interior schemes for seasons to come.

Arteriors Olympus Settee £8312, Neville Cocktail Tables Set of 2 £4017
Arteriors Meyer Desk £5403, Hoover Chair £2840
Arteriors Meyer Desk £5403, Hoover Chair £2840

Pop into the showroom in Chelsea Harbour’s Design Centre to view the complete showroom transformation with new product across all categories, featuring items inspired by Monaco, Berlin and beyond.

Arteriors Meyer Desk £5403
Arteriors Nampa Candleholders Set of 2 £693

About Arteriors

For over 30 years, Arteriors delivers impeccable style and artisanal quality craftsmanship within the lighting, furniture, wall décor and home accessory categories to discerning customers worldwide. This three-decade journey in pursuit of extraordinary product – from the understated to the unexpected – had been and remain at the core of what Arteriors do each day. Arteriors’ business has matured and expanded into a timeless lifestyle brand that has become premier resource for interior designers and retailers worldwide.

Today, Arteriors continues to reinterpret materials, forming objects of perfect proportions and scale, resulting in bold interiors that bring ease to everyday luxury.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Alexander Purcell, a notable British architectural designer, is pleased to introduce the Henley Collection—a sleek and nautically informed array of furniture. Inspired by the racing boats that enable one to enjoy the river, sea, or lake, the Henley Collection is perfect for contemporary homes looking for a sophisticated yet welcoming aesthetic. With its aquatically inspired designs and luxurious materials, the Henley is ideal for any modern home looking to add some flair.

The Henley collection debuted in London with the opening of the new Pavoni flagship showroom at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour on September 5. The showroom carries the entire collection, with all of the upholstered pieces customized with Pavoni’s fine Italian vegetable tanned luxury leathers.

Henley Lounge Chairs (AP Smooth Leather Ink 07123 and Natural Walnut Frame)

The inspiration for the Henley is both quite personal as well as a result of Purcell’s fascination with classic boat design. In fact, the seed for the collection goes way back: In 1998 he and his teammates entered the famous Henley Regatta. His college having not won since 1962, this year proved to be different. Established in 1839, the world-renowned rowing event is held annually on the River Thames in the town of Henley-on-Thames and attracts participants from all over the world. Purcell and his eight ended up winning the extremely competitive Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. Celebrating that feat a few years ago as the team marked the 20th anniversary of their win, Purcell was driven to bring the aqua-dynamic forms and language of racing boats into his furniture collection and so was born the Henley.

Henley Lounge Chairs (AP Velluto Asphalt and Nordic Oak Frame)
Henley Round Dining Table (Nordic Oak and Bronze Base Plate) & Dining Chairs (AP Velluto Dark Clay and Nordic Oak)

The iconic Riva yacht also makes its mark on the collection. Purcell has always loved the luxury wooden runabout built by Italian yacht builder Riva. The shape, speed, beauty, and craftsmanship of their namesake boat, produced from 1962-1996, earned it praise as the Ferrari of the boat world. The vintage yachts are now coveted by boat lovers worldwide.

Henley Rectangular Dining Table (Natural Walnut and Obsidian Base Plate)

With the new Henley collection, the formal nods toward the shape of oars and rowing boat hulls, as well as the elegant silhouettes of the Riva boat are obvious. It all started with the chair arm and its upholstery detail—the rest of the array was built off that one detail with the goal of creating pieces that can be enjoyed both functionally and visually. The collection launches with four designs:

  • The Henley Dining Chair – the jumping off point for the whole collection, the chair features a gently rounded back composed of an upholstered upper half and cut-out lower half, all framed in walnut or oak, that wraps around the sides to meet the upholstered arm front. Particular attention has been paid to the back of these dining chairs as ultimately that the direction in which you actually view them when around a table. Tapered wooden legs and elegant chamfer details add to the stylish look and help create a dashing silhouette when viewed from any angle. The dining chair has a sleek appearance and is a unique piece that will add personality to any space.
  • The Henley Dining Table – the exquisitely crafted warm walnut top gently tapers at the edge, a slope modelled on boat hulls, particularly that of the wooden back of a Riva yacht. The dramatically bisected base utilizes its negative space to create the dynamic illusion that the table is gliding through the water. The two feet are made of an aluminium which can be lacquered or brushed. The table is available in a round or rectangular shape and an array of Atelier Purcell oak and walnut finishes.
  • The Henley Lounge Chair – an elegant chair that would be equally at home welcoming guests in a living room or sitting fireside in a den or bedroom. Informed by the nautical detailing of the Henley dining chair but with a lower profile and featuring a roomier seat with a gently sloped back that wraps the sitter in a graceful embrace. A back pillow is included and an ottoman will be added to the collection soon.
  • Henley Bar & Counter Stools – slender armless stools with the same maritime inspirations as the Henley dining and lounge chairs. These stylish and effortlessly modern stools are available in bar height (36 inches) or counter height (40 inches) and are made from 100% solid hardwood. This contemporary stool is perfect for any setting: at home, in your office, bars or restaurant.
Henley Dining Chair (AP Velluto Dark Clay and Nordic Oak Frame)
Henley Lounge Chairs (AP Velluto Asphalt and Nordic Oak Frame)

The Henley Collection is available now at fine to-the-trade showrooms in the U.S. including B. Peterson in Palm Beach, De Sousa Hughes in San Francisco, Dennis Miller in New York, MOD in Denver, Thomas Lavin in Los Angeles and Laguna, and Paul+ in Atlanta. For more information on the Henley and Alexander Purcell, please visit atelierpurcell.com

Cover image: Henley Dining Chairs & Henley Rectangular Dining Table

About Alexander Purcell

Alexander Purcell is a British designer, based in London and LA with soon-to-open offices in NYC, and a multi-disciplinarian practitioner of industrial design and architectural interiors with his namesake firm as well as the designer of a line of furniture and lighting under the Atelier moniker. Purcell studied architecture at Cambridge University and worked for the iconic Richard Rogers Partnership before going solo in 2009. He quickly became known for elegantly stylish residences and hotels around the world before adding furniture design to his portfolio by collaborating on products with Holly Hunt, Promemoria, Link Outdoor, and De Castelli, among other luxury brands.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Continuing to expand on its contemporary design offering, sofa.com is delighted to introduce its AW22 collection to a trade audience.

Comprising of four new designs across upholstered seating catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects. The collection includes the new hero range, Tiffany, a vintage-inspired armchair, Shelby, and two new stylish dining chairs, Lola and Piper all available in 75+ fabric options as well as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.

Piper Dining Chair in Pumice House Basket Weave £240
Tiffany corner sofa in Cosmopolitan smart velvet £3000

Inspired by modern renaissance design – a trend which integrates contemporary shapes with classic detailing to bring together refreshing pieces with a sense of refinement, glamour and a touch of charm from the Art Deco era – each piece incorporates an element of pleated stitching which unites the new look across the collection.

Aissa 2.5 seat sofa in Amber smart velvet £2390

Also including expansions upon two of sofa.com’s bestselling designs, the Larsen armchair and Teddy chaise join AW22. All-time favourites in the sofa range, these pieces offer a more traditional aesthetic to cater for a variety of residential projects.

Larsen armchair in Lichen heathland weave £800
Lola tall back dining chair in Mushroom heathland weave £310

The new colour palette for the season includes velvets in warming autumnal tones – vibrant oranges, forest greens and salmon pinks – alongside a range of weaves in pared-back neutrals and subtle blues and greens. These palettes will help create differing interior styles from modern luxe to a more organic, minimalist aesthetic.

Piper dining chair in Shore heathland weave £270
Shelby armchair in Cruise smart velvet £780

Speaking on the collection, trade development manager Laura Tarratt comments:

“Seating is at the core of this collection and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby. The continued expansion of our dining collection has proven popular with sales increasing season upon season. We also wanted to ensure we weren’t compromising on comfort or style, and have focussed on ensuring optimal dimensions and fillings to create the ultimate design combination of ergonomically sound and elegant. Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base.”

Teddy chaise in Meadow smart velvet £2650

Handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks – now available online and in store.

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

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