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One day when I have a couple thousand quid lying around I’ll treat myself to one of Young & Norgate‘s buy-it-for-life home furnishings. The small design group makes all of their products by hand (“we make, not manufacture”) in their Devon workshop, using high quality, high price materials. THey hand select FSC certified timber from local suppliers and source premium leathers tanned and dyed in Scotland, while their iron work is done in New York.
Each pice in their pared down collection is made to order and is one of a limited edition of 100. Since each item is made for a particular buyer, you can specify details like the type of wood, the finish or the color of the leather. No project is too big or too small, “from umbrella stands to custom made libraries.”
With my penchant for writerly paraphernalia, I fancy the Animate Writing Desk. It has a slim profile and a tray sunken into the pullout drawer, which is lined with red leather (or color of your choice). I love details like the contrasting wood finish on the drawer pulls and the outer panels, giving it a kind of racing stripe on either side. And while I’m at it I might as well spring for the coordinating Animate Bedside Table, with contrasting American Black Walnut and bright formica. I know, formica! It’s great to see unexpected materials used in high quality craftsmanship, especially in retro baby blue. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of their workshop.
