Subtle glamour for the home
If you think that minimalism and glamour are polar opposites in the design lexicon, think again. Ochre, a boutique London-based design house, is making industry insiders sit up and take notice of its brand of minimalist glamour with new additions to its product lines. In their latest collection of artisanal LED lights and handcrafted furniture, the design trio of Joanna Bibby, Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Solenne de la Fouchardiere once again demonstrate the sense of integrity and exclusiveness they have shown in their earlier products.
“We prize a subtle glamour that emanates from innovative techniques, visceral patinas and handcrafted detail,” says Bibby. “Glamour is for us a thing of beauty that is slightly unusual, with a hint of mystery, and totally enchanting.”
Ochre’s chandelier lines are a fitting manifestation of this ideal. In Seed Cloud, solid cast bronze buds housing glass drops illuminated by LED lights are suspended from the ceiling organically. Available in a polished bronze and satin nickel finish, Seed Cloud is designed to be highly customisable – from an intimate cluster of three to a cascade of 300. Drawing from the lessons learnt and pushing the boundaries of Seed Cloud, Ochre then developed Celestial Pebble, which comprises larger glass drops, each measuring 12.5cm in width and 21cm in height. Similarly illuminated by LED, these dimmable stone-shaped lights are suspended from patinated bronze or satin nickel finish caps with matching chains. Sold singly or in groups of three or five, the product is the culmination of experimentation with materials and technology.
Products from past collections are also reworked and redesigned to create fresh interpretations. Take, for instance, the new Willow dining table, which is an oval interpretation of the Whippet. With its elegant granite-grey steel legs and polished plaster top, the table also complements the Sable dining chairs in hand-dyed leather.
The 2015 collection introduces the Sable stool. Crafted in the finest Italian saddle leather with hand-sewn pinched seams, scalloped corner details and a brass foot bar, it comes in two versions: a tall bar stool with a back and a low backless stool. For those who love minimalist furnishings but are looking beyond the usual black, brown and cream, Ochre’s leather products are offered in a variety of delectably named hues such as blackcurrant, ivy, blueberry, mushroom and truffle.
The founders’ fascination with pushing boundaries has resulted in a consistent and distinct style. Ochre stands out from its peers not for being fashionable, but for its consistent ability to deliver timelessness.
Ochre
