Common Parts: A Spirited Line of Furniture from Sue Skeen and the New Craftsmen

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

Stumpy

Trunk

Stick

Peggy

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