A new line of furniture from the New Craftsmen and British stylist Sue Skeen comes with a manifesto—and a crossword puzzle. The line, called Common Parts, integrates traditional craft and is produced by makers across the British Isles. Skeen, who worked for Min Hogg at World of Interiors and with Ilse Crawford as deputy editor at Elle Decor, came up with five shapes—Plank, Stumpy, Trunk, Stick, and Peggy—and took it from there. Here’s a look.
An excerpt from Skeen’s manifesto:
Homes Need Homeness: “A bit elemental, a bit bohemian, and also a bit folksy.”
Together and Alone: “Not a matching set but not random either.”
The Vigour of Utility: “A cross between an art school canteen, the Chelsea Hotel of the 60s and 70s, and a 19th-century tavern.”
Free-Spirited Furniture: “Furniture that looks a little bit regional but the region can’t quite be named or identified.”
One Eye Sees, the Other Feels: “Craftsmanship and the handmade are at the core of all our endeavors.”
N.B.: For the aforementioned crossword puzzle, download the Common Parts PDF at the New Craftsmen.
Plank
Above: The Plank Settle is an interpretation of an old English settle found in pubs and churches. The settle is available in three sizes, in raw or sealed wood (oak, shown above, ash, or Douglas fir), and can be hand-painted in an oil-based gloss or matte finish with the choice of seven colors. The Plank is made by Inglis Hall in Sussex. It starts at £5,100 ($6,884) at the New Craftsmen. Above: Further bespoke options are available, including hand-stitched leather seat cushions by Otis Ingrams and canvas cushions with a feather filler (shown). Above: A hand-stitched leather storage bag is another option; it’s also by Otis Ingrams. Above: The Lacquered Plank Settle, a custom build, has a hand-lacquered finish by historical paint and lacquer specialist Pedro da Costa Felguieras, who works with each customer to create a one-off art piece. Above: The 2.4 meter (just under eight feet) bench in a green oil-based gloss paint.
Stumpy
Above: The Stumpy Bench is a low-backed bench with square legs and is also made by Inglis Hall in Sussex. It comes in three widths and the same wood and paint options as the Plank Settle. Prices start at £3,850 ($5,196) at the New Craftsmen. Above: The Stumpy Bench in red oil-based gloss paint with bespoke detailing.
Above: A closer look at the bespoke option for the Stumpy Bench: a hand-stitched leather sleeve (in tan, sludge, or olive). Also available with a rush seat cushion by Felicity Irons.
Trunk
Above: The Trunk Table is a “stout and hardy” refectory table made by Inglis Hall in Sussex and comes in natural wood options (oak shown) or painted options, even two-tone; £4,100 ($5,534) at the New Craftsmen. Above: The Trunk Table with Giant Terrazzo is the custom build option with a terrazzo top of bardiglio, Carrara, and eclipsia.
Above: Terrazzo comes in green or red tones and each slab is selected and cut with the positioning of the tabletop in mind.
Stick
Above: The Stick Table is a lightweight, canteen-style table with different options for wood and paint as well as for tabletops (marble, raw, or sealed wood, and Formica); £750 ($1,012) at the New Craftsmen.
Peggy
Above: The Peggy Chair is a modern take on a traditional Irish chair and is made by Sitting Firm Chair makers in Coventry. It’s available in ash (shown) or a painted gloss finish; £500 ($675) at the New Craftsmen. For more furniture, see our posts:
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