With a new focus on great design, build quality, sustainability and materials made to last, the concept of luxury has evolved.
Swoon
Swoon is a brand known for its use of luxe materials: think plush velvet upholstery on settees and chaises, acacia cabinets with rich brass frontages, and art deco-inspired lights clad in gleaming golds. But beyond the glitz, these thoughtfully designed products offer shrewd functionality and crucially, longevity. “We seem to be taking extra time to search for better quality, better value products,” says Sam Baldry, the brand’s Head of Design. “We’ve seen a rise in popularity in more luxurious, premium furniture pieces, which feature superior build quality and textiles made to last… This trend of investing in premium pieces rather than impulse buying is set to stay.”
Nazca sideboard, £749 (swooneditions.com)
BOConcept
“When you combine pleasing proportions with beautiful colours, materials and craftsmanship, you create a design that evokes a good feeling,” says eminent furniture designer Morten Georgsen. The designer has been working with iconic Danish brand BoConcept for over 25 years and his latest piece, the Lund glass cabinet, is part of the brand’s New Kollektion, which launches this September. Crafted in black metal with clear glass at the front and sides, it is a timeless piece that reflects BoConcept’s ethos: expert craftsmanship, quality without compromise, and unique Danish design. Understated luxury at its best.
£3,049 (boconcept.com)
Photography: Patrick Williamson
Albion Nord
Naturally, a home that’s rich in texture is a luxurious one. Camilla Clarke, Creative Director at Fitzrovia-based interior design studio Albion Nord believes that we should “consider texture to be as important as colour and pattern” when designing a luxury living space. “There is nothing worse than a flat design,” she says. “Interiors are all about evoking the senses and therefore texture is a vital ingredient to every design to get our sight and touch senses going. Try mixing different textures such as natural linens with soft velvets or robust leathers with thick wools.”
King Living
Australian brand King Living’s raison d’être is luxurious and considered design. Established in Sydney in 1977 it has since garnered a reputation for covetable, design-led, high-end furniture pieces, with showrooms across the globe including our own Tottenham Court Road. Part of the brand’s wider AW22 collection is a range of ottomans and cubes that celebrate texture. With upholstery fabrics in a huge choice of premium leathers, plush velvets, and rich wool mixes, this is luxury to the touch, not just the eye. And with each piece customisable and made to order, the collection is pleasingly sustainable – with a personal touch.
From £291 (kingliving.co.uk)
Bolia
Bolia is a Denmark-based collective that includes over 60 international designers whose shared passion for sustainable solutions and new Scandinavian design sees them release two collections annually. The brand’s AW22 offering features luxurious handmade-to-order pieces that are designed to create a timeless expression. In other words, luxury that lasts. With a focus on bringing the outdoors in, the collection uses natural materials for a soothing aesthetic. The elegant Caro corner sofa range comes in 100 per cent warm white wool, while its slender legs and slimline under-frame are fashioned from solid oak.
From £3,299 (bolia.com)
Heal’s
For some, new luxury is about making an emotional investment in our furnishings. As savvy consumers, we want to know the story behind the piece. Excitingly, Heal’s’ Designed By You collection allows us to take on the role of designer with a fully customisable range that focuses on quality and sustainability. Sabina Miller, Head of Buying at Heal’s says, “Our furniture collections are often built to order, which not only reduces waste and ensures it is made to the highest standard, but also means that we can put customers in the driving seat at every stage of the design process.”
Berlin table from £2,199 (heals.com)