Meet the Supplier: Benchmark Furniture
Nestled in the Berkshire countryside is a leading UK furniture maker we love. Renowned for its sustainable luxury and craftsmanship and favoured by a discerning client base, Benchmark has brought style and elegance to several Studio Hooton schemes. Showroom manager, Rebecca Bowman, tells us what makes their furniture a standout choice.
Why do you feel good furniture is important?
I feel strongly that furniture made by hand by people who care deeply about the process will always have more soul than mass manufactured pieces, helping to create spaces that are nurturing and comfortable, both physically and psychologically.
How does sustainability influence your working practices?
We have always considered the materials we use, our products and the way we make them as well as the way we manage our workshops, our employment practices and our waste. We design and make for longevity – creating pieces that can adapt to changing needs, made with materials that can be easily refurbished.
How do you decide which materials to use for a project?
We look to nature for our inspiration, working primarily in hardwoods and using oiled finishes that keep the timber looking and feeling as natural as possible.
How does your furniture actively enhance human wellbeing?
In creating furniture that actively enhances wellbeing we ensure that we minimise potential negative impacts by using 100% natural, non-toxic materials with complete transparency via Red List Free Declare labelling which certifies that our furniture does not contain toxic chemicals nor emit harmful VOCs. This includes our natural upholstery and natural wool fabrics which meet fire regulations without the need for harmful fire retardants. To positively enhance wellbeing we make our furniture from natural materials, colours, textures and forms which provide a connection to nature and promotes a restorative environment.
What qualities prolong the longevity of your furniture and joinery?
First and foremost we aim to create well-made and timeless designs that people will want to keep for a very long time. Because we mainly work in solid timber with natural oil finishes, our furniture can be easily refurbished. Dents can be steamed or sanded out and the finish gently removed and reapplied. We have recently refurbished a very old Terence Conran designed table for a client that was made by us many years ago. The old finish was removed, and we reapplied a new finish that we developed with the customer. It has given the table a whole new lease of life.
How was it working on the latest Studio Hooton project?
Emma and the team are always a pleasure to deal with. Their relaxed and creative approach produces beautiful results for their clients and makes my job supplying pieces to them a real joy. We have worked with the Studio now for a long time and always get real pleasure from seeing our pieces in their projects.
You’ve long supported young designers, from Sebastian Cox to Thomas Heatherwick. Who are your current rising stars?
Nottingham-based designer Mac Collins has created a collection that fuses his African-Caribbean roots with British craft, a reflection of his upbringing in Nottingham as a child of British and British Caribbean parents. His Iklwa Chair is crafted in Ash or Oak. Much like a throne, the visually intense high back is intended to frame, enhance and empower those who sit in it. It is very popular with both residential and commercial customers as a feature piece.
What is the most unique furniture piece you’ve designed?
We have made so many pieces of interesting furniture in the last forty years that it’s hard to choose – the huge oak refectory tables and Dumbledore’s chair for the Harry Potter films are a favourite of the team. We are currently working on a whole collection of custom pieces for a residential project in Oxford made from glorious Brown oak with beautiful hand carved details which is an absolute joy.
What current projects are you most excited about?
We are working on a few cultural projects which are always a favourite because we make furniture to last 100 years. It brings us such joy to work on projects for clients such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Oxford colleges, where we know the aim is to keep our furniture for 100 years and more.
Explore more of what makes Benchmark furniture exceptional at their website benchmarkfurniture.com and to see how we incorporate bespoke furniture into our designs explore our latest projects here.
Image credits: Main Image: Martin Gardner | Dining Table Image: Benchmark Furniture
