The Future Perfect Collection
Three sofas and a chandelier comprise the NYC-based design boutique’s debut furniture line
by LinYee Yuan
When The Future Perfect opened its doors on a then-quiet block in Brooklyn’s artist outpost of industrial Williamsburg, they were described as carrying “home décor pieces that poke fun not only at the establishment but also at those who buy them.” Now, a decade later, Williamsburg overflows with condos filled with young professionals and TFP counts two additional retail locations in their mini-empire, with a store in Manhattan’s NoHo district and a brand new location that opened just last week in San Francisco. There’s no doubt that The Future Perfect has become a stalwart of the design establishment and, earlier this week during NYC Design Week, they debuted the next evolution of their retail vision: a private label collection consisting of three sofas and a chandelier.
With a focus on hand-craft production methods and natural materials, founder David Alhadeff explains, “I believe what’s very modern right now is honoring tradition, respecting the environment and acknowledging the lessons of craftsmanship.” The sofas are manufactured in the UK using materials like horse hair and coconut fiber for the cushions and sustainably harvested hardwoods in the frames. The process of manufacturing the chandelier was inspired by low-tech lamp making craftsmanship from the early 20th century.
Like Alhadeff, the designers of the three sofas in the collection draw heavily on nostalgia. Lindsey Adelman, in her first piece of furniture for any manufacturer, translated memories of ’70s interiors in her Tardi sofa. Contrasting cushions on a simple suede frame offer a bit of pop to the simple piece. Jason Miller’s Kent sofa borrows from the proportions of mid-century furniture and employs traditional upholstery detailing. Russell Pinch’s Goddard, with its rolled arms and turned feet, has a sentimental quality but the tight backs and clean silhouette create a balance and brings the piece into a more modern moment.
The most interesting piece of The Future Perfect Collection is San Francisco-based designer Charles de Lisle’s Linden chandelier. Inspired by tree branches, the solid brass fixture is clean and uncomplicated, its naked candelabra bulbs are unmitigated by extraneous shades or screens.
As a member of a new vanguard of small-scale American furniture and lighting manufacturers, The Future Perfect’s private label collection has yet to find a unique voice. But its emphasis on responsible craft-based manufacturing and sustainable practices sets a positive example for others entering the marketplace. To learn more about the collection visit The Future Perfect in store or online.
Images courtesy of The Future Perfect
