[int]: grand designs live - wood furniture

With this series of posts I'll be putting the focus on specific groups of furniture to talk through what I saw at Grand Designs Live. This time, it's the turn of wooden furniture of all shapes and varieties.

I love using wood in the home. A lot of people shy away from it because they think it doesn't look 'modern' enough and use chrome or painted furniture instead. But well designed wood furniture is stunning and adds warmth both to your colour scheme and to your interior - unlike glass or metal which saps the heat from your skin when you touch it, wood feels the same temperature as the rest of the room. Touch is a very important sense to consider when buying furniture, as you're going to be interacting with the piece with more than just your eyes.

Dovetail Joint, Fineline Furniture

It's tempting to be taken in by the overall look of a piece, but make sure to check the detail. The more you use a piece of furniture, the more you will notice every single aspect of it, good or bad. I love this dovetail joint by Fineline Furniture, using dark wood for the vertical pieces and light wood for the horizontals to highlight the junction. It's stunning how the designer has drawn attention to the joint rather than trying to hide it.

Chair, Joined + Jointed

There were some gorgeous pieces on show, like this chair from Joined + Jointed. Its 70s style curves give movement and balance to the chair, and it would be ideal as a statement piece.

Bureau, JackJames Furniture

I absolutely loved this fold-out bureau from JackJames Furniture; the bright corners of paint give a modern, fun feeling to the piece when closed, and it's filled with functionality when open. It would work so well in a project where you're tight for space.

Table, Fineline Furniture

But style alone isn't the only reason to choose furniture. Take this table from Fineline Furniture. I love the ingenious way that tables like this open up to add a couple of extra spaces. There are a few types of systems that you can get like this, folding or opening, but this is one of my favourites with its sleek mechanism. You can tuck it away when you want some extra space, or open it out for guests.

Dining chair, Fineline Furniture

Comfort is also something to consider. Again from Fineline Furniture, this seat back follows the gentle curve of the spine to support the back, and gives the chair its elegance.

Lamp, Joined + Jointed

I'd like to leave you on this lamp by Joined + Jointed, an all-wood lamp. It's finished to a high polish so the light plays of the curved surface of the shade beautifully. And it's just that little bit different, which really adds a touch of individuality to your room.


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