Another Country at Clerkenwell Design Week

Surprisingly I have not written about the fantastic Another Country before on ATELIER TALLY. How can this be? If you like veneers and laminates, look away now as I’m going to show you show solid wood furniture. *Gasp*

Another Country launched in 2010 to much acclaim in the industry. The brainchild of Paul De Zwart, founding publisher of Wallpaper* magazine who wanted to make furniture that would last and have a timeless appeal.

Another Country makes contemporary craft furniture calling on the familiar and unpretentious forms of British Country kitchen style, Shaker, traditional Scandinavian and Japanese woodwork. It’s the spirit and functionality of these honest forms of furniture that we endeavor to re-interpret for a modern customer.

“This first collection from Another Country is as clear and simple an interpretation of our intention as we could manage. The second mixes things up a bit.” Paul says when asked about the two collections that they have released.

The antidote to poorly made furniture, Another Country makes furniture from solid wood, FSC-certified no less, thankfully, creating objects and furniture that will last a lifetime and get passed down through generations. And these pieces will wear so well, as have products from the likes of Ercol in the past. Now we have a new player in this game and the world is all the better for it.

Benchmark furniture

Benchmark has a passion for craftsmanship, design and a commitment to sustainability. Established by Terence Conran and Sean Sutcliffe, it is one of the most technologically advanced workshops in the UK, working on projects for offices, public institutions, hotels, bars and restaurants as well as the Benchmark furniture collection.

Based just off the M4 between Swindon and Reading lies this company hand-crafting furniture out of solid wood in a style that is modern, clean and mostly timeless. Having created the furniture for The Boundary in Shoreditch, The London Library and Jamie’s Italian restaurants, they have big projects under their belt that would be hard to challenge.

Many of the products are designed by Conran himself, with others from designers such as Thomas Heatherwick and Russell Pinch as well as pieces from up-and-coming young designers and our own in house team.

Each item is stamped and logged as an authentic Benchmark original and has a distinctive yet discreetly-fixed polished pewter disk to prove authenticity that this is a Benchmark product. Some of the designs have made their way to cheaper alternatives that can be found on the high street and the web, so this distinction is more important now than ever.

Side tables by Curtis Popp

I am a real sucker for wood furniture. I just love the way that wood is crafted into all shapes, sometimes steamed and bent, sometimes very rigid and solid, either way solid wood furniture is a great addition to a room.

“Furniture is a natural progression for me as a designer,” Curtis Popp, designer of the SOFT side tables says, “I’ve created many site specific furniture pieces for my space clients, and I felt it was time to take this step”.

The table is named SOFT due to its lack of harsh angles… “I didn’t use any hard edges and I think it makes the piece more welcoming and accessible”. I certainly agree with this and really love how soft the table is so smooth.

The round table-top features exposed leg tops, in a button-like pattern. A really beautiful touch to add and makes a distinction between similar products on the market with coloured legs. Each table is currently made to order with American walnut or rift sawn white oak. The SOFT Side Table will be available later in the summer from cpoppworkshop.com for approximately $500.