Having been up and running for around 18 months we think we know you, our customers, pretty well by now. We certainly know that you appreciate original design, excellent craftsmanship and brilliant service (all at a good price), however we also realise that it is the story and provenance of our designer furniture collections that interests you too.
Last weekend The Telegraph selected our Brunel Dining range for their Property Section’s 'Bargain Hunter' feature with an offer of £100 off any one of our dining sets (find out below how you can enjoy this offer). The Brunel collection, which includes three dining sets, combines beautiful veneered acacia hardwood with industrial framing in solid black washed steel and visible, exposed hardware. The dining table can be combined with six Brunel Dining Chairs, two Dining Table Benches or a combination of the two (as seen below), depending on your preference. A truly original range of industrial style furniture!
Rather than simply sharing news of this offer, we thought it would be a good opportunity to tell you a bit more about the range and how it came into being. I chatted to Daniel Fairburn, founder of O&OO to find out more about the creative process.
ZR: What was the original inspiration behind the Brunel collection?
DF: We were essentially looking to bring out a modern industrial dining set. We were looking for something really elegant but with all the hallmarks of industry. When we finalised the design that was to become Brunel, we knew it was just what we had been looking for and, after some final adjustments with the leg design [see below], we were there.
ZR: What sets it apart from other industrial inspired furniture on the market?
DF: Everything out there was rough and made without precision. Ironically, industrial production is precise, not at all rough and half done, so we wanted to create furniture following that premise.
ZR: At O&OO there is a strong focus on sourcing the right materials. What were you looking for when creating the Brunel collection?
DF: We knew it had to be made from solid galvanised steel (most furniture is made with tube profile steel), and it had to be laser cut rather than stamped so that it looked sharp and contemporary. It also needed visible but functional hardware - a lot of people put industrial features on their furniture to make it look industrial, but the features serve no purpose. We wanted bolts that were industrial but also functional.
ZR: In addition to finding the perfect design and the best materials for a collection, I know that finding the right producer is of great importance to you - you often work closely with them to finalise the product and they need to be highly-skilled. Who did you work with to produce the Brunel collection?
DF: The Vietnam-based producer is a very close friend of mine. He’s from a Danish family that has been producing furniture since the 1960's and he is continuing their legacy of high quality, expert construction.
ZR: How did the name ‘Brunel’ come about?
DF: Amazingly the dining tables stood rock solid with only eight bolts. From then we knew it would be born ‘Brunel’ after the British engineer who became famous for creating incredible steel bridges in the 18th century. [As seen below – the Royal Albert Bridge in Saltash Cornwall, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1859 by Prince Albert].
We are offering £100 off any one of the three Brunel Dining Sets, or if you would like to preorder directly from the maker, you can enjoy an additional £50 discount. To receive your discount, enter the coupon code “Brunel100”. Valid until 31st August 2014, while stocks last.
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