Decorating
Trend Report: Wood is the Star Material at Tent London 2014
This year’s Tent show at The London Design Festival revealed designer-makers are using natural wood in new and exciting ways
A tour around one of The London Design Festival’s key shows – exciting, innovative Tent – this month proved our long love affair with wood is as strong as ever. Designer-makers are taking this age-old material and finding modern ways to celebrate its strength and beauty. From highlighting grain to combining woods to create intricate patterns, a range of innovative designs showed just how versatile and glorious wood can be. Here are nine different ways to bring the trend into your own home.
Where Tent London
When September 2014
Top Trend Wood, in many different forms
Where Tent London
When September 2014
Top Trend Wood, in many different forms
2 Raw edges
One of the best ways to connect to the origin of wood is with a live edge – the thin surface left rough-cut.
Spotted at Tent
Several designers had employed this technique, including Whetstone Oak, with lovely big table tops seemingly chopped straight from the tree.
One of the best ways to connect to the origin of wood is with a live edge – the thin surface left rough-cut.
Spotted at Tent
Several designers had employed this technique, including Whetstone Oak, with lovely big table tops seemingly chopped straight from the tree.
3 Modern marquetry
One of the most exciting timber trends that popped up again and again was modern marquetry. Rethinking this age-old technique has produced some beautifully crafted pieces with a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic – think geometric shapes and modern brights. Other pieces used a traditional mix of different-coloured woods, but in a modern way.
Spotted at Tent
Anthony Roussel has inlaid occasional orange and pink chevrons in pale grey wood for a table that would be the star of any interior scheme. Turner Furniture’s Cubist sideboard is inlaid with random triangles in timbers from pale to dark, while Cillian Ó Súilleabháin’s Tetrahedral cabinet is made from rich walnut inlaid with slim chevrons of pale ash.
One of the most exciting timber trends that popped up again and again was modern marquetry. Rethinking this age-old technique has produced some beautifully crafted pieces with a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic – think geometric shapes and modern brights. Other pieces used a traditional mix of different-coloured woods, but in a modern way.
Spotted at Tent
Anthony Roussel has inlaid occasional orange and pink chevrons in pale grey wood for a table that would be the star of any interior scheme. Turner Furniture’s Cubist sideboard is inlaid with random triangles in timbers from pale to dark, while Cillian Ó Súilleabháin’s Tetrahedral cabinet is made from rich walnut inlaid with slim chevrons of pale ash.
4 Grain and texture
Celebrating the grain and texture of wood is no longer the preserve of country-style homes. From rough-hewn pieces warming up slick schemes to smooth, waxed planks set against pure-white backgrounds, timber can play a starring role in any style of home. Designers are increasingly playing with grain to highlight it in exciting ways.
Spotted at Tent
Curley Burrows hand-carves the grain in her furniture to accentuate it, while Lee Borthwick makes Grain chopping boards with the contours of the grain burnt into thin lines reminiscent of an Ordnance Survey map.
Learn how to introduce raw texture in the right way
Celebrating the grain and texture of wood is no longer the preserve of country-style homes. From rough-hewn pieces warming up slick schemes to smooth, waxed planks set against pure-white backgrounds, timber can play a starring role in any style of home. Designers are increasingly playing with grain to highlight it in exciting ways.
Spotted at Tent
Curley Burrows hand-carves the grain in her furniture to accentuate it, while Lee Borthwick makes Grain chopping boards with the contours of the grain burnt into thin lines reminiscent of an Ordnance Survey map.
Learn how to introduce raw texture in the right way
5 Eco design
Sustainably grown, locally sourced and hand-crafted are still important factors for many designers working with wood – and for homeowners looking to add a timber element to their interior.
Spotted at Tent
Sebastian Cox makes everything from wardrobes to candlesticks from coppiced hazel, bringing a ‘straight from the woods’ aesthetic indoors.
Discover how to use natural wood to stunning effect
Sustainably grown, locally sourced and hand-crafted are still important factors for many designers working with wood – and for homeowners looking to add a timber element to their interior.
Spotted at Tent
Sebastian Cox makes everything from wardrobes to candlesticks from coppiced hazel, bringing a ‘straight from the woods’ aesthetic indoors.
Discover how to use natural wood to stunning effect
6 Artisan skill
Introducing an artisan feel in a subtle way has never been easier.
Spotted at Tent
Dan Hoolahan at Freeform makes pieces that are both simple and very usable – think side tables put together with chunky wooden nuts and bolts. Slow Wood’s curvy accessories, such as vases and pendant lights, would be perfect for adding a touch of timber to a slick scheme.
Introducing an artisan feel in a subtle way has never been easier.
Spotted at Tent
Dan Hoolahan at Freeform makes pieces that are both simple and very usable – think side tables put together with chunky wooden nuts and bolts. Slow Wood’s curvy accessories, such as vases and pendant lights, would be perfect for adding a touch of timber to a slick scheme.
7 Fine, pale wood
Hans J Wegner’s classic CH24 Wishbone chair, featured in this kitchen, has always come in pale woods, and modern designers are using these timbers in equally inspiring ways.
Spotted at Tent
Alp has given its beech 102B stool a modern edge with mismatched turned legs half-painted in a matt finish. Sebastian Erazo Fischer’s fine-lined pieces, meanwhile, would slot right into a barely there aesthetic.
Hans J Wegner’s classic CH24 Wishbone chair, featured in this kitchen, has always come in pale woods, and modern designers are using these timbers in equally inspiring ways.
Spotted at Tent
Alp has given its beech 102B stool a modern edge with mismatched turned legs half-painted in a matt finish. Sebastian Erazo Fischer’s fine-lined pieces, meanwhile, would slot right into a barely there aesthetic.
8 Decorative and delicate
Several designers are using wood in new ways to create delicate, decorative pieces, such as wall tiles.
Spotted at Tent
Sandra Owens’ beautiful milled-wood tiles are a lovely example of marrying the ancient appeal of timber with a modern aesthetic. The designs are derived from abstract photos of texture, but the pieces have kept that handmade feel that adds character to an interior.
Several designers are using wood in new ways to create delicate, decorative pieces, such as wall tiles.
Spotted at Tent
Sandra Owens’ beautiful milled-wood tiles are a lovely example of marrying the ancient appeal of timber with a modern aesthetic. The designs are derived from abstract photos of texture, but the pieces have kept that handmade feel that adds character to an interior.
9 Illuminating timber
New lighting designs are pushing wood to show its delicate and playful side.
Spotted at Tent
Alice Blogg’s petal-perfect pendant is made from steam-bent wood, while Yufei Liang’s lovely 1+1=1 shades are created from paper-thin circles of wood linked to form geometric shapes, such as the very pleasing Rhombus.
TELL US...
Are you a fan of timber? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
New lighting designs are pushing wood to show its delicate and playful side.
Spotted at Tent
Alice Blogg’s petal-perfect pendant is made from steam-bent wood, while Yufei Liang’s lovely 1+1=1 shades are created from paper-thin circles of wood linked to form geometric shapes, such as the very pleasing Rhombus.
TELL US...
Are you a fan of timber? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Pale woods, such as beech, birch and ash, have been a bit overshadowed in recent years, but there were many inspiring designs at the show. This image shows how a slice of palest birch can look beautiful in a contemporary scheme.
Spotted at Tent
Marque Furniture took that idea and ran with it. Its beautifully simple beech Hat & Coat Trees are made from a run of planks that curl gently at the top and bottom to form hooks and shelves.