Put fun in furniture
Sculptural furnishings add flamboyance and function to a home — and don’t cost a fortune
SCULPTURAL furniture was once the reserve of those with mansions who could afford to splash out thousands on art which also serves a practical purpose. But, thanks to High Street stores picking up on the trend, opulent sculptural furniture can now be introduced into the home whatever your budget.
‘The sculptural trend invites us all to introduce an element of fun and whimsy into our homes, so there is no right or wrong way to embrace it,’ says Lou Graham, co-owner of Graham and Green (grahamandgreen.co.uk). ‘Just like art, it’s more about how it makes you feel.’
Having the confidence to use sculptural furniture and strong silhouettes is easy when you know how. But it’s important to introduce it wisely.
‘Abstract furniture and lighting can be an energising addition to a room when used in moderation,’ says interior designer of the moment Brandon Schubert. ‘The key is to be careful with it. It’s like a dash of chili flakes or a pinch of wasabi.’
So, whether it’s a statement chair or abstract vase, a piece of sculptural furniture will bring art deeper into the space and give you and your guests the chance to physically interact with it.
TABLE PLAN
COFFEE tables are natural focal points and can be a brilliant way to play with a bold silhouette. Made’s Yepa coffee table in white concrete packs a design punch without being overbearing with its thick white legs which join at the bottom (£385, made.com).
The Century Coffee table from Cult Furniture (pictured right) has a glass top which exposes the elegant sculptural walnut base beneath (£269, cultfurniture.com).
Sculpted side and occasional tables are also worth looking into. Atkin and Thyme’s Balzac Side Table in hammered antique brass is a refreshingly robust cylinder shape and doubles up as a stool (£129, atkinandthyme.co.uk).
STATEMENT CHAIRS
SCULPTURAL chairs come in all shapes and sizes. Oliver Bonas’s Tress Velvet Chair in mustard yellow is guaranteed to add colour and interest to a room with its three statement legs, rounded back and cut- out sides (£445, oliverbonas.com).
The khaki velvet Curved Armchair from Six The Residence, meanwhile, has a similar silhouette and would work well in an awkward corner of a living room (£475, sixtheresidence.co.uk).
To add some fun to your dining room, introduce colourful dining chairs with a sculptured silhouette. Made In Design’s Bold Padded Chairs are just the ticket and come in 12 colours including bright yellow, pink and green. The chairs are made up of two tubular metal parts, upholstered and padded with thin polyurethane foam (£384, madeindesign.co.uk).
If a soft, subtle silhouette is what you’re after, go for Urban Outfitters Amaia Swivel Chair which comes in a cream textured weave with a curved wrap back and cushioned drum base (£341, urbanoutfitters.com).
ARTY ACCESSORIES
‘WHERE home accessories are concerned, there are more sculptural designs on the market than ever before,’ says Sabina Miller, buying director at Heals. ‘Abstract vases such as the Alesi vase by Annabel Cucuz and the Aura vase by Schneid Studio are challenging the purpose of a vase, bringing beauty as an object with and without floral arrangements.’ (£185 and £85, heals.com).
Interior designer Brandon Schubert says sculptures are best used in table and floor lamps. ‘I love nothing more than buying objects such as art pottery and sculptural pieces and repurposing them as lamps’.
Oka’s Ashinoko table lamp in gold is a great example of this trend as it marries artistry and function.
The gold-plated aluminium body of the lamp is a fabulous undulating swirl on a square stand. Just add a plain shade and these will make any room sing (£225, oka.com).
Candleholders can double as art, too. Amara’s Mette Ditmer Denmark resin candleholder has the silhouette of a twisted tree and would make a beautiful table centrepiece (£88, amara.com). And Anthropologie’s Lucie de Moyencourt Taper Candleholder is shaped like a scallop shell (£36, anthropologie.com).
Now there’s no excuse for a boring interior.