Where should you turn, though, when you want to buy a piece of furniture that has been lovingly made and designed to last for ever?
Several, little-known sites out there celebrate great materials, craftsmanship and design. Many of them keep British talent at the heart of their vision, too. Here, we pick out eight very special furniture sites.
CERAUDO
www.ceraudo.com
House & Garden says of Ceraudo: “Beautifully refurbished vintage finds sit along contemporary homewares in this extensive, eclectic online shop – there’s something for almost every taste and price range.” That is for sure. What we love best about the site, though, is its stunning Pome! By Ceraudo range. Head here for pretty, decorative, old-fashioned-but-somehow-very-cool pieces of furniture.
We desperately want the Sofia armchair in pepper. We would team it, in our on-going fantasy, with the Gaia coffee table in forest. Sisters Emily and Victoria Ceraudo gave us a great gift when they set up this site in 2016.
ANOTHER COUNTRY
www.anothercountry.com
Founded in 2010, Another Country designs and makes contemporary wooden furniture that is built to last. Using British country, Shaker, Scandinavian and Japanese design as inspiration, they say: “Our mission is to be a responsible, purposeful and useful company that is fit for the 21st century, and our ambition is to sell our sustainably made furniture to as many people as possible.” Their round or rectangular dining tables and sleek chairs are complete gems – and the Kids Table One is a delight.
LOVE YOUR HOME
www.love-your-home.co.uk
A boutique, family-run business, Love Your Home is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Leigh Harmer and Abi Boura, who set up the business in 2008, in Hackney, London, before moving it to a gorgeous barn in the Surrey hills. They focus on sustainability and longevity, sourcing the finest beechwood and fabrics from third-generation mills in Europe. Head here for great beds, sofas, blanket boxes and footstools. We love the Austin armchair, which goes with most interiors, contemporary or period.
JOINED + JOINTED
joinedandjointed.com
A shared love of contemporary design and meticulous craft brings together this collective of artisans. Creating dining tables, shelving and everything in between, these talented makers – who come from a range of diverse backgrounds – are devoted to excellence.
We’d love a pair of the Hans small side cabinets in oak. The FT’s How To Spend It magazine says that Joined + Jointed offers: “Exceptional quality achieved through careful artisan production”. Sounds enticing, no?
DESIGN & THAT
www.designandthat.com
Interior architect Emma Shone-Sanders founded her interior design practice in 2016. In 2019, she added an online and physical store to her offering, selling her charming edit of furniture, lighting and accessories for the home.
Each piece is chosen to complement the next. We’d like a turn daybed in natural cotton linen.
THE NEW CRAFTSMEN
www.thenewcraftsmen.com
The New Craftsmen is dedicated to the commission, curation and sale of contemporary British craft. The four founders collect makers from across the British Isles and sell their exquisite wares through the site and in their handsome Mayfair store. Their goal is simple: “Our aim is to redefine the value of craft around the world and create bright futures for Britain’s makers.”
At any one time you can find on this site exquisite lighting, ceramics to die for, the dining chairs you’ve always wanted and an occasional table you’ll insist on finding space for. Every piece is unique, covetable and alluringly presented.
CULT FURNITURE
www.cultfurniture.com
This site is a haven of modern and mid-century pieces. Colourful and on trend, these great products are ready to be shipped from their Essex warehouse within 72 hours. Add glamour to your sitting room with the round metal tray side table in grey and gold and to your kitchen with the TAJ polypropylene zebra print floor rug.
JELKS ENGLAND
www.jelksengland.co.uk
From 1835 to 1958, W. Jelks & Sons was a well-known, London-based furniture store, famous in particular for its billiards tables. Keeping the Jelks design tradition alive today is Kieran Chant, a direct descendant of the family who owned and ran the original shop. From a workshop in Watford, Kieran creates a stunning range of wooden furniture that he sells through his website, Jelks England. Inspired by the classical proportions of English country houses, the collection currently comprises just five pieces – a workstation, prep table, cabinet, storage bench and folding screen, all of which can be painted in the Farrow & Ball shade of your choice.
We love them all but the Jelks cabinet is truly the stuff of dreams. Jelks London also offers a bespoke service on their site, for which they use clever computer aided design (CAD) to work with you on your vision.
By Becky Ladenburg
May 2021
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